With their new destinations in mind, everyone busied themselves with preparations. The journey ahead was long, so they needed to pack plenty of provisions and supplies.
Although battles regularly erupted outside the city walls, life inside the city went on. Other than tighter security measures, daily routine remained much the same.
After all these days, the inn’s food stores were running low. Chi Nanwei instructed Ye Beizhi to go into the streets and buy some provisions for their journey ahead.
It was noon, and both armies had just sounded the gong to cease battle and return to their camps to prepare meals. Smoke rose from the chimneys of city homes, and a few hurried figures moved through the streets in groups of two or three.
With the banknotes Chi Nanwei had handed him stuffed in his chest pocket, Ye Beizhi stood in the street, looking around blankly; he truly had no idea where any shops might still be open for business.
If nothing else worked, he could try buying from local families, he decided.
Having made up his mind, Ye Beizhi walked up to the first house by the street and knocked on the door.
Before long, the door cracked open, and a woman dressed as a housewife peeked out. She scrutinized Ye Beizhi cautiously. "What is it?"
Ye Beizhi took out a bundle of banknotes from his pocket. "I'm here to buy... uh, rice."
The woman showed no intention of inviting Ye Beizhi inside. She shook her head and said, "Who would dare sell their own food at a time ? The rice shops in the city have long been emptied. Who knows how soon supplies will run out? I’m not selling."
Ye Beizhi opened his mouth and, after a pause, said, "Just a little."
"Stop pestering me," the woman said, growing impatient. "There’s no men left in the house. I won't make the decision. Just leave!"
The woman closed the door decisively.
Ye Beizhi stood outside for a moment, but seeing that the woman had no intention of reopening the door, he moved on.
He approached another house across the street, this one had smoke rising from the chimney, and the aroma of freshly cooked food wafted from the doorway.
Ye Beizhi decided to try again.
The door opened quickly, revealing a young child with their hair bundled in a dangling bun. A grain of rice was stuck to the corner of the child’s mouth, suggesting that they were in the middle of eating lunch.
"Who are you?" the child asked, tilting their head at Ye Beizhi.
Ye Beizhi held up the banknotes. "I am here to buy some rice."
The child turned toward the house and shouted, "Mom! Someone wants to buy rice!"
Footsteps approached, and a woman hurried over. She pulled the child behind her before addressing Ye Beizhi.
"Who are you looking for?"
Ye Beizhi had no choice but to repeat, "I’d like to buy some rice... just a small amount."
The woman stood firmly in the doorway, clearly unwilling to let Ye Beizhi inside. She gave a bitter smile and said, "I’m terribly sorry, but our household doesn’t have much rice either. We’re barely getting by ourselves... I truly can’t spare any for others."
As if afraid Ye Beizhi wouldn’t believe her, she added, "If this were a normal time, I’d gladly give you some, but in times like these... If we had extra rice, my husband wouldn’t have to go to the front lines and eat military rations."
Ye Beizhi nodded, suddenly understanding why most of the households only had women at home. The men had taken up arms and gone to defend the city walls. The government would provide their rations, leaving one less mouth to feed at home.
Alas, his newfound understanding didn’t help him with his problem. Where was he to buy provisions now? Leaving the house, Ye Beizhi became even more troubled, standing idly in the middle of the street, wracking his brain for a solution.
Where would the most food be at a time ? Ye Beizhi blinked, and an idea struck him.
The military camp has supplies.
Just then, there was a sudden disturbance!
The sharp sound of something slicing through the air came rushing from behind him!
"Where is my junior sister!"
A furious roar, filled with rage, exploded by his ear. Ye Beizhi didn’t have time to turn around and dove forward desperately, narrowly avoiding the sneak attack.
The attack barely grazed his scalp, leaving a burning pain on his head! He figured it must have scraped his skin.
After falling, Ye Beizhi didn’t dare linger. He rolled several times and pushed himself up with his hand, putting some distance between him and his assailant, before standing.
When Ye Beizhi got a clear look at his attacker, he was surprised. "It’s you?"
"Where is my junior sister?!" The attacker was none other than Ah San, his face twisted with fury. "I saw it that day. You were the one who took Impending Sword and my junior sister away!"
Ye Beizhi didn’t respond immediately. He stood there, thinking for a moment, before speaking. "I see... you’re because of Qi Zongbi."
"Damn you!" Ah San swung his black umbrella, leaping into the air in a single stride. "I’m asking you! Where is she?!"
The Tang blade instantly left its sheath, firmly parrying the descending black umbrella.
Ye Beizhi's expression was icy as he stared into Ah San’s eyes, his tone as frigid as a glacier. "Where is Qi Zongbi?"
Ah San's fury intensified. He gritted his teeth and snarled, "You unscrupulous dog... answer my question first!"
Ye Beizhi felt the force from the black umbrella increase again. Sparks flew from where the blade met the umbrella. Twisting the Tang blade at an angle, he deflected the umbrella and drove the sheath directly toward Ah San’s chest.
Ah San suddenly released his left hand from the umbrella’s handle and grabbed the incoming sheath, yanking it toward himself.
Caught off guard, Ye Beizhi stumbled forward. Seeing the black umbrella sweeping toward him, he narrowed his eyes and ignored its overwhelming force, slashing straight at Ah San’s head with his blade.
A look of alarm briefly flashed across Ah San's face. He immediately abandoned his attack and retreated rapidly, narrowly dodging the deadly strike.
Ye Beizhi’s strike missed, and he saw Ah San creating distance. Taking a deep breath, he sheathed the Tang blade on his left hip in an instant, his right hand lightly gripping the hilt while his gaze locked onto the retreating Ah San.
Ah San felt a sudden tightness in his chest mid-air, as if the very air had solidified around him. A sharp killing intent enveloped his body.
With a whisper that sounded like a sigh, Ye Beizhi stepped forward with his right foot. A dazzling flash of blade light swept across the entire street, almost blinding.
A crisp sound echoed.
The sound of an umbrella opening followed.
"Hmm?" Ye Beizhi let out a faint sound of surprise.
On the street, Ye Beizhi remained in his horizontal slashing stance. But before him, Ah San stood holding his umbrella, its handle deeply embedded into the ground, breaking the paving stones. The umbrella handle had stopped the Tang blade.
"Tell me!" Ah San gripped the umbrella handle tightly with both hands, crouching slightly to stabilize himself. His hands were bloody and torn at the webbing between his fingers, but he paid it little mind and glared at Ye Beizhi with a savage expression.
"Tell me! Where is my junior sister?!"