The Young Man Returns: Chapter Thirty-Four, A Chaotic Chapter

"Whoa!"

A general clad in cloth armor and wearing a black martial cap vaulted off his horse. His gaze lingered briefly on the young girl's face before landing on the youth at the doorway. "Are you Yi Heng?"

Facing the unexpected stranger, the youth, Yi Heng, straightened his back, his eyes flashing with a proud, unyielding light. "I am Yi Heng. You have traveled a long way, sir; may I ask the purpose of your visit?"

The armored general replied with a stern expression, "The Grand General requests your presence."

Yi Heng was slightly taken aback; he had not expected the Grand General to wish to see him at such a time. He asked tentatively, "May I ask what guidance the Grand General has for me?"

"You will know once we reach the military camp." The general had no intention of revealing anything. He led out another horse and urged the motionless Yi Heng, "Quickly, mount up! The Grand General is waiting for you in the camp. If you delay his military affairs, you will be unable to shirk the blame."

"Yi Heng!" the green-clad shopkeeper called out softly, her voice tinged with faint concern. "I happen to have urgent business at the camp. Let us go together."

Before Yi Heng could speak, the general frowned in displeasure. "It is him the Grand General wishes to see, not you. Why are you trying to get involved?"

Yi Heng stepped forward, took the reins from the general, and looked at the shopkeeper. "My thanks for your kindness, shopkeeper. I trust the Grand General is not a man-eating tiger and will not do me any harm. We shall part ways here. If I have time in the future, I will certainly pay a visit and share a cup of tea."

"Very well! Come to my tea house another day; there will be plenty of tea," the shopkeeper said, lifting her chin to reveal skin as white as snow. She looked at the youth on horseback and added, "I have noted the promise you made to me today. If you break your word, do not blame me for being heartless."

Yi Heng cupped his hands in a formal salute. "A gentleman's word is as binding as a team of four horses."

"Noisy!" The general, seated on his horse, glared at Yi Heng and muttered, "It’s not like it's a life-or-death parting. Why all this tiresome chatter?"

The youth Yi Heng gave a sheepish smile, cracked his whip, and rode off after the general toward the military camp.

Watching the two figures disappear down the long street, the shopkeeper frowned slightly. "Tell me, why would the Grand General specifically seek out Yi Heng at a time like this?"

An aged figure stood up from the corner of the wooden hut. His cotton coat was already covered in a thin layer of snow. Though his eyebrows were white, his face was as ruddy and full as an infant's, though the intricate web of wrinkles at the corners of his eyes and across his forehead betrayed his advanced years.

"I imagine that although the Grand General is impulsive and has a rather eccentric personality, he is not a villain of the worst sort. I expect the lad will be fine."

The shopkeeper turned and gave the old man a sharp look. "I asked why the Grand General sought out Yi Heng, not whether he would be in danger."

"You certainly make things difficult for these old bones of mine. I am not a worm in his belly; how would I know why he wants to see the boy?" The old man reached out and poked the air. "Shall we follow and go take a look?"

"Forget it! I can't be bothered. That camp is full of men—stinky and loud." The shopkeeper snorted, crossed her arms, and turned to walk toward the first light of dawn in the east.

The old man in the cotton coat heaved a long sigh and shook his head. "Ah, women in this world are always saying the opposite of what they mean. Even a headstrong girl like you is no exception."

With that, he set off in the direction the two had ridden. The old man ran with the steady pace of a strong man, yet in the blink of an eye, he vanished into the deeper reaches of the wind and snow.

...

Inside the Grand General's tent, a charcoal fire blazed, crackling and spitting sparks. A soldier was brushing sesame oil and sprinkling spices over a whole roasted lamb on the fire. The meat was now golden and dripping with fat, emitting a rich, savory aroma.

The armored general cast a thousand hungry glances at the glistening lamb leg, his throat bobbing as he swallowed hard. Yet, the Grand General on the tiger-skin throne slept soundly, his faint snoring sounding like the rhythmic patter of spring rain.

It was a pity for the youth Yi Heng, who had only eaten a few bites of carrot to stave off hunger. Fighting the urge to let his stomach revolt, he spoke up in the shocked silence: "Grand General, do you have urgent business with me?"

In this camp, there was an unwritten rule: anyone who dared disturb the Grand General's nap would be soundly thrashed. Just as the armored general expected the awakened commander to fly into a rage, the reaction was unexpectedly calm.

The Grand General sat up abruptly, staring at the youth in silence. The armored general secretly speculated whether the commander had changed his inclinations and developed a penchant for the company of men.

Just as Yi Heng was about to speak again, the Grand General finally broke the silence. "Give the boy a piece of the best leg meat."

The armored general could hardly believe his ears. The Grand General not only refrained from punishing the boy for the disturbance but had actually offered him meat. At that moment, he felt a phantom stinging in his own backside, as if he had just received a hundred strokes of the rod.

*Could this boy be the Grand General's illegitimate son?* he wondered.

Yi Heng took the roasted lamb leg, inhaled its fragrance, and swallowed hard, suppressing his hunger. "My thanks to the Grand General for the reward. May I ask why you summoned me here?"

The Grand General hopped down from his throne, tore a piece of sizzling, golden meat from the lamb, and began to eat while pacing the tent. He did not answer Yi Heng's question immediately, instead asking something entirely unrelated.

"Yi Heng, have you ever heard of the Cangwu Cultivators?"

Yi Heng froze, a flash of surprise crossing his deep eyes. He had not expected this question. The Cangwu Cultivators were not merely myths told by storytellers; they were a reality in this world.

They were not true immortals, but practitioners of the Dao—beings with seven emotions and six desires, capable of love and hate, yet possessing powers far beyond the reach of ordinary mortals.

Rumor had it that those with profound cultivation could ride swords through the clouds, their presence as majestic as dragons rising from the sea. They could summon wind and rain, turn beans into soldiers, and rewrite the fate of mountains and rivers with their own strength, leaving mortals in awe and envy.

For anyone living in troubled times and longing to change their destiny, the chance to become a Cangwu Cultivator was the dream of a lifetime.

Suppressing the deep longing in his soul, Yi Heng answered calmly and firmly, "I have heard of the Cangwu Cultivators."

The Grand General turned abruptly, his gaze as sharp as an eagle's, as if piercing through the ripples in Yi Heng’s heart. He was quite satisfied with the youth's composure. He spoke slowly, his voice low and magnetic:

"If I could offer you the chance to become a Cangwu Cultivator, or at least the opportunity to attempt it, would you dare to seize it?"

When such a monumental temptation is placed before one, no one is willing to refuse.

In that instant, without hesitation, Yi Heng followed the deepest longing of his heart. He stared into the General’s deep eyes and asked firmly, "What must I pay to obtain this opportunity?"

His voice trembled slightly with excitement, but his words were resolute, as if squeezed from the very depths of his soul.

The armored general nearby, uncharacteristically serious, tried to interject several times, only to be silenced by a glare from the Grand General.

"Good! You are very good." The Grand General slapped Yi Heng’s right shoulder hard, making the youth wince in pain. "Truly worthy of being someone I have my eye on!"

Faced with this sudden, intense enthusiasm, Yi Heng could not help but be suspicious. He frowned slightly, his gaze probing and puzzled. "Grand General, we have... never met before, have we? Why do you value me so?" He waited quietly for the answer, his mind racing through every possibility.

The Grand General let out a boisterous laugh, waving a large hand as if brushing away dust. "Hah! The world is full of heroes; who says we must have met before? It is your potential and courage I value! Your resilience, standing tall amidst the chaos—you are the one I have been looking for!"

The Grand General's eyes shone with expectation, as if he had already seen the moment Yi Heng would shine in the world of cultivation.

Yi Heng’s mouth twitched, his suspicion deepening. *Hmph! Keep spinning your tales,* he thought. *If I actually believed that, I would be a fool.*

The Grand General returned to his tiger-skin throne with a solemn expression. Yi Heng knew that after all the posturing, rewards, and temptations, the real reason for his summons was finally coming.

The Grand General cleared his throat noisily, spat, and said slowly, "I have summoned you today because I have a task for you. If you succeed, I shall grant you the opportunity to become a Cangwu Cultivator."

Yi Heng looked at the man on the throne. "And if I fail?"

The Grand General drew a hand across his own throat, his voice low and sinister, like a summons from the underworld. "If you fail, the only thing waiting for you is death."

Yi Heng clenched his fists. "Tell me, what is the task?"

"Do you know of the diplomatic mission sent by Xiliang?"

"You mean the Xiliang mission sent to congratulate the Empress Dowager of Great Wei on her birthday?"

"The very same!"

Yi Heng asked, "What does this mission have to do with the task you want me to perform?"

The Grand General clutched his forehead in frustration. "You don't know? Someone murdered the short-lived Xiliang vice-envoy within my jurisdiction. It is a slap in the face! If my old drinking buddies found out, they would mock me to no end. I cannot afford such a disgrace."

"So..."

"So, I want you to investigate the murder of the Xiliang envoy and find the culprit." The Grand General stood up abruptly, drew the long sword at his waist, and roared, "I am going to thrash the scoundrel until his backside is in tatters!"

"That's it?"

Yi Heng’s eyes widened in disbelief. He could not grasp that the Grand General would be so serious over such a flimsy excuse. Even if the envoy was murdered, it happened in Beigu City, under the jurisdiction of the local magistrate. What did it have to do with a frontier general?

"Shouldn't it be the local magistrate who is anxious to investigate the case?"

"Hmph! Do you really think that muddled magistrate could ever find the true culprit?"

"Then why do you think I can find them?!"

The Grand General waved his hand impatiently. "You have too many questions! Ask again, and I shall have you dragged out and beheaded."

Hearing this, Yi Heng swallowed his remaining questions. *This man is truly temperamental,* he thought. *If I keep asking, I might really lose my head.*

"This is my token. It will be of great help in your investigation. Any soldier of the Beigu Cavalry who sees this must obey as if I were there in person; none shall dare to defy or disrespect it." The Grand General pulled a piece of warm, translucent white jade from his tunic. Three ancient, dignified characters were carved into it: "Yu Qingjiang"—the strokes seemed to carry the weight of a thousand pounds.

Yi Heng took the token. It was carved from the finest jade, its value immeasurable; even if it were lost in the streets, it would cause a stir. He wondered if the Grand General was truly so trusting, or if he feared no theft.

But upon reflection, perhaps this was a test of trust.

"Enough! I have said what I needed to. Take the token and get out!" The Grand General waved him away. "If you do not find the culprit within ten days, bring your own head to me."

As he spoke, a chilling murderous aura filled the tent, making the very air freeze.

"Within ten days, I shall find the culprit and return to you." With that, Yi Heng took the token and walked out of the camp.

The Grand General’s gaze swept over the armored subordinate beside him. Seeing the man’s hesitation, he commanded in an unquestionable tone, "Speak your mind."

The general frowned and gathered his courage. "General, do you truly believe that he... can find the culprit? That victim had a significant status in Xiliang. This case is as complex as a spider's web. One wrong move could affect everything, even the peace between Great Wei and Xiliang."

"I beg you to reconsider, General. You really should not involve yourself in this." The subordinate knelt on one knee, his voice choked with worry. "Or, if you must pursue the truth, choose someone experienced—someone skilled in investigation, not a green lad with no experience. He may have some cleverness, but he is not the one for such a complex situation."

The Grand General’s expression was solemn, his gaze like a torch. He turned to face his subordinate, his voice firm. "Li Xiannian, I know your thoughts, but my mind is made up. This case is vital. It concerns not only the injustice toward the Xiliang envoy but the diplomatic relations between our nations. As Grand General, how can I sit by and do nothing?"

He walked over to Li Xiannian and helped him up, his eyes full of trust. "You have been with me for years, through battles and life-and-death situations. Do you not know me yet? I, Yu Qingjiang, never do what I cannot finish, and I never give up easily."

He stood with his hands behind his back, looking out at the falling snow. His eyes revealed a fearless, heroic spirit. "There is nothing in this world that Yu Qingjiang cannot accomplish. And if there were, I believe he is the one who can do it, just as I have always believed..."

However, before he could finish, his voice, which had been as resonant as a bell, suddenly cut off, as if swallowed by the wind and snow. Only a long, deep sigh remained, echoing within the empty tent, weaving into a tapestry of sorrow and solitude with the falling snow outside.

The subordinate watched the Grand General’s suddenly haggard figure, a nameless emotion rising in his heart. He prayed silently:

*May he not have entrusted this to the wrong person.*