Chapter 5: A Scheme Takes Shape

"Yang He, take three men and fetch seven horses. There's no rush—meet at the North Gate by dusk," Yang Tian instructed.

The Yang family’s carriages and horses had been left for Wang Fu and his companions. Journeying to the desolate city at the northernmost border of Qin was impossible on foot—it would take an eternity to arrive.

Yang Tian, accompanied by two guards, strolled along at an unhurried pace. As midday approached, he decided to find a tavern for lunch before leaving the city at dusk. This would give Wang Fu and the others time to get on their way, while he kept himself visible in the capital. As long as he remained in the public eye, the mastermind behind the scenes would disregard Wang Fu and his group. But if he slipped away unnoticed, those left behind in Qin's capital would likely be tortured to death as scapegoats. He would rather they endure a difficult journey than meet such an end.

Yang Tian walked towards the North Gate, his gait leisurely, betraying no trace of anxiety. "Hmm, this one looks good," he mused after a while, eyeing a bustling tavern ahead—Auspicious Tavern.

Just as he approached the main entrance, a jeering voice called out from across the street, "Well, if it isn't the young marquis! Or should I say, the former Champion Marquis? I heard your family's estate has been confiscated. What are you still doing in the capital?"

The voice was harsh, like a cracked gong, grating to the ear.

Yang Tian looked up and instantly recognized the group. Three youths were the masters, the rest were servants and guards. The speaker, a broad-faced youth, was Li Sheng, son of the Marquis of Pingyang.

Yang Tian ignored him and continued on his way, but the other party, emboldened, quickly darted over.

You really don’t know your place, Yang Tian thought with a cold sneer.

Without betraying any emotion, he closed in on Li Sheng, then abruptly staggered back and fell to the ground, as if knocked over by Li Sheng's momentum.

He immediately shouted, his voice loud and full of authority, "How dare you assault the city lord! To commit such reckless violence under the Son of Heaven’s very nose—this cannot be tolerated!"

Leaping up with a slap to the ground, Yang Tian launched a flying kick that toppled Li Sheng, then followed with a rapid flurry of punches, pummeling Li Sheng's broad face until it was unrecognizable.

The people on the street and in the tavern were stunned. First drawn by Yang Tian's loud voice, their curiosity piqued, they now watched in shock as he ruthlessly beat the other youth.

Such violence!

Li Sheng’s guards were slow to react at first. By the time they realized what was happening, Yang Tian had already stepped back behind his own two guards.

"Aaah! Ahhh… It hurts, damn it… Damn you, Yang Tian! I’ll kill you… Get him!" Li Sheng lay on the ground, clutching his swollen face and howling with rage and pain.

His guards, realizing their failure, drew their swords in anger, ready to teach Yang Tian a lesson in hopes of lessening their punishment.

Yang Tian’s own guards swiftly drew their blades to protect him.

"I am the city lord of the Desolate City, a position granted by the sovereign himself. He attacked me, and I showed mercy by not killing him on the spot. Try it if you dare," Yang Tian declared, calm and unruffled.

"You—you’re lying—" Li Sheng, now helped to his feet by his servants, was covered in dust, his chest stamped with a muddy footprint, both cheeks swollen and red. Burning with pain, his words came out slurred and even more unpleasant.

"Who attacked whom? You were the one who suddenly struck me…" he protested.

"Heh, telling lies in broad daylight—everyone saw it. You attacked the city lord. Luckily, I dodged in time, or it would have been more than a simple fall. Now you want to twist the truth?" Yang Tian retorted confidently, not the least bit shaken.

He’d already formed a plan in his mind before making a move. Everyone had seen Li Sheng rush at him, then watched as he, Yang Tian, fell to the ground and made his accusation loudly enough for all nearby to hear.

He had seized the initiative and the moral high ground—public opinion was on his side.

"Yes, yes, I saw it. Isn't that the Marquis of Pingyang’s son? So arrogant and overbearing. No skill to back it up, yet he still provokes others."

"That’s Yang Tian, the Champion Marquis’s youngest. I heard he and Li Sheng have clashed before, and Li Sheng lost. He probably wanted revenge today, but got beaten again."

"Not surprising—the Champion Marquis died on the battlefield, and Yang Tian was demoted to the border. Li Sheng must think this is his chance for payback. Seems his skills are wasted on him."

"I heard the Champion Marquis secretly colluded with the enemy and caused his own death. Now his title’s been revoked, and only the sovereign’s mercy spared the family from execution…"

"Nonsense! The Champion Marquis family has served loyally for generations—how could they betray us? That’s just slander."

The crowd murmured among themselves, as Yang Tian had anticipated, mostly siding with him. Li Sheng’s reputation as a notorious troublemaker made it easy for the public to scorn him.

But soon, the focus of their discussion shifted to the Champion Marquis’s supposed treason, with some defending his legacy and others parroting the darker rumors.

Yang Tian knew he could not prove anything—fools would always live in the world woven by others.

"Li Sheng, do you have anything more to say? Shall we call the authorities and settle this properly?" Yang Tian asked, blocking out the crowd and fixing his gaze on Li Sheng.

Li Sheng’s eyes brimmed with fury and hatred. He realized Yang Tian had outwitted him—had he known Li Sheng would come, and deliberately set this up?

Otherwise, how could he have orchestrated it so perfectly?

Still, it didn’t seem like Yang Tian’s style; what did he stand to gain? Last time, Li Sheng had been the one to suffer. He knew Yang Tian’s martial foundation was ruined from a past mishap. Running into him now, with Yang Tian about to leave the capital, he’d wanted a bit of revenge. Instead, he’d been thoroughly humiliated—a scheme he could not even protest.

"You—just you wait. I doubt you have many days left to live," Li Sheng spat, his words bitter. But as he spoke, he realized he might not get his chance for revenge.

Yang Tian understood the veiled threat. His prediction was correct—someone in the shadows truly wanted him dead.

"You—what are you doing?" Li Sheng recoiled as Yang Tian suddenly stepped forward, instinctively covering his face, haunted by the earlier beating—forgetting even his own martial prowess.

Yang Tian leaned in and whispered, "Do you really think I can’t leave safely? I’ll be leaving the city at dusk. If you want revenge, this is your only chance. I’ll be waiting."

Noticing the flicker of doubt in Li Sheng’s eyes, Yang Tian grew more certain.

With that, he entered the tavern.

Li Sheng was left dumbfounded. What did Yang Tian mean? Did he know about the assassination attempt? Was he already prepared?

Suddenly losing his appetite, Li Sheng hurried off to make his own preparations.

...

Yang Tian ate his meal quietly, taking his time for an hour or two. His two guards remained silent throughout, unable to discern whether their young master was acting rashly or with deeper intent.

They had already resigned themselves to fate.

By dusk, Yang Tian arrived at the North Gate. Yang He and the others were already waiting with the horses. The servants from the marquis’s estate were all present, their gazes burning with emotion as they looked at Yang Tian.

"Safe travels, young master," they called in unison, bowing deeply and not rising for a long time.

Yang Tian looked over each of them in silence, then mounted his horse and rode out of the city without a backward glance.

Bathed in the glow of the setting sun, his figure stretched long and thin, gradually fading from view.

No one saw it, but the wind and sand stung his eyes.