Chapter Sixteen: Ironstone Manor
By the noodle stall, an elderly man selling beef overheard fragments of their conversation. Knowing they were searching for Yu Qi, he kindly inquired, “Gentlemen, may I ask what business you have with Yu Qi?”
The two men, who had been eating noodles, immediately turned towards the old man upon hearing this. One stepped forward and said, “Hello, we are distant relatives of Yu Qi. Due to some troubles at home, we came to inform him. Though we know he’s somewhere in this small town, we haven’t been able to find him. Might you have any news of him?”
The elder was Song Bo, the man who delivered meat daily to the Li Changchu household. He smiled and replied, “Ah, I see. Yu Qi lives by the great river several dozen miles from here. If it's urgent, you should hurry there.”
Hearing this, the man exchanged a glance and a smile with his companion, and the two quickly set off toward Ironstone Manor.
***
At Ironstone Manor
Shi Mingfeng listened to the report brought by two of his men, a faint smile curling his lips. He glanced at Shi Wansan, who sat in a chair with bandaged limbs, and said, “Son, they have nearly found Yu Qi’s whereabouts. I will make sure he tastes what it’s like to be unable to use his martial skills.”
Shi Wansan cast a hollow glance at his father, eyes dim but burning with fierce fury. “Father, I want him to kneel before me, and I will kill him with my own hands.”
Since waking, Shi Wansan had learned that he would be unable to wield his martial arts. This blow was devastating, and he had even contemplated ending his own life. Fortunately, Shi Mingfeng promised to capture Yu Qi and bring him to atone for his crimes, which gave him a reason to hold on.
From Shi Wansan’s description, Shi Mingfeng recalled the young man he had encountered earlier at the Huang family estate gate. Bitterly, he cursed inwardly, “That insolent brat dared to deceive me!”
“Both of you gather all the men and have them ready to follow me tomorrow to Yu Qi’s location,” Shi Mingfeng ordered the two messengers, then strode out.
Shi Wansan looked at his arm, attempting to lift it but was met with searing pain in his shoulder. He groaned softly, “Yu Qi, whatever I’ve suffered today, I will repay you double.”
***
At dusk, Yu Qi returned home with Little Lian, who had been training all day, just as Song Bo arrived with the meat.
Song Bo smiled at Yu Qi and said, “Yu Qi, two of your distant relatives came looking for you today, saying there’s trouble at home. Did they find you?”
Yu Qi felt puzzled. The Yu family had long since fallen—how could there be distant relatives?
Curious, he quickly asked, “What do these two look like?”
Song Bo thought for a moment before replying, “I can’t quite recall their faces, but their clothes were strange. Each had a large iron character printed on their garments.”
“The iron character?” Yu Qi stroked his chin, pondering whether the Yu family had ever crossed paths with such people.
Seeing Yu Qi suddenly silent, Song Bo asked, “Yu Qi? Are you alright?”
Startled from his thoughts, Yu Qi smiled gently. “I’m fine, Song Bo. You may go now.”
With that, Yu Qi led Little Lian inside, his expression somewhat grave.
During dinner, the Li Changchu couple noticed the change in Yu Qi’s demeanor. Li Changchu asked, “Yu Qi, are you alright? Are you feeling unwell?”
“I’m fine, Uncle Li,” Yu Qi smiled, placing a piece of meat into Little Lian’s bowl. “By the way, Uncle Li, you all should head into the forest tonight.”
Mrs. Li looked puzzled. “What’s wrong, Yu Qi? Has something happened?”
“Trouble might come tonight or by midnight. Uncle Li, it could be dangerous. You should take Mrs. Li and Little Lian and hide in the woods,” Yu Qi said, already suspecting who it might be. To outsiders, the Yu family had been wiped out. No one should know he was still a Yu, and among those he had recently offended bearing the iron character, only Ironstone Manor fit the description.
Originally, he wouldn’t have to take such precautions, but Song Bo had inadvertently revealed his whereabouts. To protect Li Changchu’s family, Yu Qi had no choice but to send them to the forest to hide.
“Yu Qi, will you be alright alone?” Li Changchu looked at him with concern, unaware of the full situation.
Yu Qi smiled faintly. “Don’t worry, Uncle Li. You don’t know my skills yet. I’ll be fine.”
“But—” Li Changchu began, but Yu Qi cut him off, “Uncle Li, really, it’s fine. Just take Mrs. Li and Little Lian and hide.”
Seeing Yu Qi’s resolve, Li Changchu relented. After the meal, he led Mrs. Li and Little Lian toward a woodland by the riverbank.
Once the Li family had left, Yu Qi breathed a sigh of relief. If they had stayed, any conflict would have forced him to divide his attention, which would have been dangerous. More than that, if anything happened to them because of him, he would never forgive himself.
“Ironstone Manor, come then. Let me see what you’re truly made of,” Yu Qi sneered, springing up to the rooftop.
Nothing happened during the night, which surprised Yu Qi. Shouldn’t Ironstone Manor have struck under cover of darkness? Or were they overconfident in their own strength?
What Yu Qi did not know was that Shi Mingfeng had sent all his men out searching for him earlier, and by the time they regrouped, dawn was nearly breaking.
At first light, after a night of training, Yu Qi opened his eyes and quietly watched the road leading to the town.
Soon, the sound of galloping horses reached his ears. He smiled softly. “They’ve come?”
In a nearby forest, the Li family lay prone, their vantage point allowing a full view of the house. Concealed by the trees, their faces were tense as they watched toward Yu Qi’s home.
Before long, a group of twenty men clad in garments bearing the iron character surrounded the house, each mounted on horseback.
A carriage rolled up behind them, and from inside came Shi Mingfeng’s voice: “Yu Qi, you dared to play me for a fool at the Huang estate gate. Today will be your death.”
Yu Qi sneered at the words, his eyes gleaming with contempt as he looked toward the carriage. “That’s your own stupidity. Don’t blame anyone else.”