Volume One: The Wild Boy Chapter Eighteen: The Man from the North

Spring was at its height, the willow branches freshly sprouting, and the northern snows silent, awaiting the arrival of beauty.

The young woman parted the clouded curtain, humming a mountain tune as she skipped toward the three, voicing not a word, her gaze fixed unwaveringly upon Yu Baili. Sensing this, the knife in the hand of the northern realm’s fierce Jiu Hu was gripped even more tightly.

Unaware that tension was rising on both sides, Lin Changtian glanced peculiarly at this woman of peerless beauty, then stared straight at Yu Baili. “No wonder you told us to guard our minds so closely. So it was you, young man, stirring up romantic troubles outside.”

The young woman smiled sweetly. “You jest, sir. I am merely here to seek someone.”

“Hmph, as expected. Don’t be afraid, miss. If this fellow has wronged you in any way, speak freely. I—and Zhang Yi—will see justice done for you.” Lin Changtian spoke with an air of righteous solemnity.

Her smile did not falter. “I do not know that man, but I am rather curious about you, sir.”

“Feel free to ask, miss.”

“From where I stood, I saw a great commotion atop Si Mountain, the tumult unmistakable. You three happen to be coming from that direction. Could you explain what happened?”

Lin Changtian glanced blankly toward Si Mountain. “I have no idea. We didn’t come from there. We just got lost around here and happened to linger a bit longer, that’s all.”

The woman frowned. “Within a hundred miles, only you three remain. Do you truly expect me to believe that?”

Lin Changtian folded his hands behind his back, gazed up toward the sky, and spoke with deep gravity. “Miss, you are in the bloom of youth. Ask only what ought to be asked. As for what should not—”

She casually snapped in half a tree the thickness of a bowl, stifling whatever words he was about to utter.

The woman smiled gently. “And what of you, old man?”

“The old man feels a youthful madness, holding yellow in the left, azure in the right—words from Su Shi’s ‘River City Song: Hunt in Mizhou,’ emphasizing the core idea of growing stronger with age and never abandoning lofty ambitions. The atmosphere seems tense. Let me recite a poem to ease the awkwardness. Sister, is that acceptable?”

She gently touched her brows, her skirt fluttering in the air, turning to look at Yu Baili as he sheathed his blade. “Lord Jiu Hu, where did you find such a peculiar one? He’s rather amusing.”

Yu Baili regarded her with a blank expression. “Shen Yian, it’s been a long time. You haven’t changed at all—you can converse with any fool without issue.”

At these words, Shen Yian merely covered her mouth, laughing. Lin Changtian, however, ground his teeth in irritation and growled, “So you two know each other! Why scare people for no reason? Yu Baili, you owe me an explanation today!”

Yu Baili ignored him, turning to Zhang Yi. “We’ve been delayed too long. Go back and take charge of Yi Mountain. There shouldn’t be any trouble.”

Zhang Yi nodded. “With Yu Wenlong dead, no one remains on the mountain to pose a threat. I’ll take my leave now.”

Watching Zhang Yi’s silhouette fade into the distance, Yu Baili finally spoke. “Shen Yian, aside from their native master, you must be the one Si Mountain relies on these years. After the northern border was destroyed, what truly happened? Shouldn’t you explain?”

Shen Yian’s eyes held a smile, but her manner had grown more subdued. She gathered her waist-length black hair and replied calmly, “Yu Longxiang, show some respect to your elder sister. Don’t greet me with such an interrogative tone. You’re not the only one concerned about the northern realm.”

Yu Baili obediently responded and waited for her to continue.

Shen Yian pouted. “Still as dull as ever. These matters can’t be discussed here. Take me to your place—we’ll talk as we walk.”

Yu Baili nodded, picked up Lin Changtian with one hand, and flew with Shen Yian toward Little Green Mountain.

“Actually, when we were summoned back to the Central Plains that day, many sensed something was wrong. But you know, everyone came from their own clans or sects—no one could defy the summons. Of course, you, old man, were a special case. Later, rumors leaked, and word of the northern frontier’s destruction spread. Quite a few border walkers sneaked back north, only to witness the aftermath.”

Shen Yian’s eyes reddened, unable to continue. After all, comrades who had lived together for years were slaughtered overnight with their entire families—no one wishes to recall such memories.

Yu Baili patted her shoulder calmly. “We still bear the unfulfilled will of our ancestors, the guilt-ridden clans. We must move forward, never look back.”

Shen Yian nodded. “Afterward, the Awakening Age erupted. Who knows what really happened that day at Bohai? When the mighty border walkers returned, they were all as if soulless, locking themselves away and refusing to emerge. But the Awakening Age changed so many laws, and the powers fought fiercely over the awakened. Now, the chaos outside is no less than that of the northern realm. Yet because of this, no one cares when border walkers sneak back north.”

Yu Baili frowned. “So what’s your connection with Si Mountain?”

Shen Yian cast a strange look at him. “I was bored in the northern realm, wandering about. Then I heard Little Green Mountain had been seized by some unknown border walker, forcing a group of bandits with an average education level barely elementary school to write five-thousand-word ideological reports daily. I had to see what the fuss was about. After subduing Si Mountain’s border walker, I became the mountain master there. I never expected such inhuman deeds would be done by you, Jiu Hu.”

Yu Baili struggled to suppress the urge to strangle Lin Changtian, squeezing out a smile for Shen Yian. “Yes, all for ideological development. Later, I intend them to become the driving force in rebuilding the northern realm.”

Shen Yian burst out laughing. “Jiu Hu always has his schemes. By the way, who is this?”

Yu Baili glanced at Lin Changtian, who stood with hands behind his back, gazing at the sky and pretending to be a sage. “Just a little brother, a helper. I barely know him.”

Lin Changtian pursed his lips, realizing Yu Baili was still holding a grudge for his recent antics and ignored him, turning to Shen Yian with a serious tone. “I wonder why one named Yian, for such a name seems shallow compared to your beauty.”

Yu Baili knocked him hard on the head and explained lazily, “In those years, there was a city in the Central Lands, home to a great Shen clan. One day, the eldest grandson’s wife gave birth to a child. At birth, dragons and phoenixes cried out, prompting the clan’s top master, Lord Shen, to break seclusion and personally name the child.”

Yu Baili paused, a peculiar smile creeping across his face. “Changtian, do you know what this story implies?”

“What?”

“Throughout history, nine out of ten great figures are said to have been born amid auspicious signs. It means the more spectacular the tale, the bigger the boast—the frog pretends to be a swan.”

Lin Changtian laughed heartily, then remembered something, his expression turning odd and mouth drooping.

He had heard that he, too, was born amid auspicious signs. Yet who told him that, he could not recall.

Shen Yian rolled her eyes and gave Yu Baili a rude gesture.

As the three joked and bantered, the outline of Little Green Mountain appeared ahead.