Chapter 5: Backyard

“Wu Yi, Wu Ye.”

Wu Ma repeated the two names over and over.

He was clearly struggling to digest what Wu Ye had just revealed, his worldview shattering into pieces.

If you knew the whole truth, then you’d really feel shattered, Wu Ye grumbled inwardly.

“So, Her Highness Wu Yi is really your little sister?” 

Wu Ma stared at him in disbelief. 

“How could a sloppy, brain-fried guy like you possibly have such a graceful, refined, and dignified sister, who also happens to be beautiful, carries herself like royalty, and is adorably ditzy sometimes? I don’t buy it!”

“Believe it or not, that’s your problem.”

Wu Ye leaned against the ship’s railing, cheek pressed to a leaf of the little gourd vine, looking like he couldn’t care less.

Turning into Wu Yi seemed to change even his personality— soft-spoken, ladylike, without the slightest trace of Wu Ye’s brashness. 

Not exactly something he could explain easily.

“Unless you get Her Highness Wu Yi to show up here and now.”

“Maybe someday,” Wu Ye replied casually. 

“She’s… kind of busy at the moment.”

Busy taking care of the gourd kids.

“You can’t summon her, can you! I knew you were full of crap,” Wu Ma sneered. 

“You don’t even know Her Highness Wu Yi!”

“Sure, sure,” Wu Ye replied, unbothered.

“I swear, you’re just begging for a beating.” 

Wu Ma’s fists clenched, knuckles cracking with rage at the nonchalant response.

“Old man, you’re not strong enough to beat me anymore.”

“Oh yeah? Come ashore and say that again!”

“Why would I need to come ashore?” 

Wu Ye gave a cold laugh and suddenly raised a hand. 

“Take this!”

Wu Ma: “Paper!”

Wu Ye: “Rock!”

Tsk. Lost.

“And what does winning even get you? It’s not like I— what the—”

Wu Ye gaped as Wu Ma pulled out a tube of wasabi from his pocket.

“Are you a dog?! Why are you still carrying that stuff around after all these years?!”

And it was a full, unopened tube too!

“A bet’s a bet.”

The loser had to eat it.

Tears welled up in Wu Ye’s eyes as he took the suspiciously expired wasabi and gulped it all down in one go.

Just like old times.

The small boat sliced through the waves toward shore. 

Wu Ye dunked his face into the sea, trembling.

The brutal spiciness tore through his sinuses and scorched his throat. 

He tried cooling his face with seawater, soaking his eyes in the process.

“Cough! Cough! Cough! Cough!”

It took him a while to recover. 

That taste, he’d never forget it, even in his next life.

When Wu Ye finally raised his head, he saw Xiao Qi watching him.

Xiao Qi, that was what the little girl called herself.

Wu Ye thought it was a bit informal, but since the girl liked it, he let it slide for now.

“Wu… Yi.”

Tears brimmed in Xiao Qi’s eyes as she softly repeated the name “Wu… Yi.”

“What is it?”

“Want… Wu Yi.”

Huh?

Why would such a tiny kid be looking for Wu Yi?

“Okay, okay. Once we’re on shore, I’ll make you a clay doll.”

“No. Not clay!” 

Xiao Qi clung tightly to Wu Ye’s arm, her slender legs in white stockings twisting around his hand. 

She tilted her head up, her shiny eyes glistening with grievance, almost reflecting the entire sky. 

“Want Wu Yi!”

“Alright, alright. We’ll find Wu Yi once we’re ashore.”

Only then did the little girl rub her soft cheek against his arm, pouting sweetly: “PAPA, don’t lie to Xiao Qi~!”

“Really, I won’t lie.”

Kids this young didn’t understand anything yet. 

Once they landed, he’d secretly let her meet Wu Yi for a second.

Tch— speaking of which…

A tingling sensation buzzed in his chest. 

His spirit core was starting to feel hot and restless.

From past experience, that discomfort always meant Wu Yi was stirring— she was about to emerge.

Could be in the next second. 

Could be a day or two.

He had to deal with the little one’s situation quickly.

With that in mind, Wu Ye pushed the boat faster.

“Hold on tight.”

……

Brilliant and delicate flowers were crushed into powder and scattered across the streets and people’s bodies, coloring the air with clouds of vibrant dust.

Amid the singing and dancing, the whole of Bibo City was soaked in festival spirit.

It was Holi.

Donghuang never had Holi before, but after maritime trade reopened, travelers from Borneo had introduced the custom.

The city lord thought it was trendy, so he promoted it city-wide— commanding everyone to throw powder and celebrate on this day.

Ah Miao leaned against the small courtyard gate, gazing out at the searing, frenzied celebration in the street but not a hint of a smile touched her face.

“Mama, hasn’t Papa come back yet?”

The soft-voiced little girl looked a few years older than Xiao Qi. 

Though still childlike, she already showed signs of growing into a young lady. 

One of her cat ears drooped while the other perked up as she spoke in a tender, milky voice.

Her name was Wu Xiaoke, the daughter of Wu Ma and Ah Miao.

Ah Miao scooped her daughter up and tiptoed to look toward the end of the street. 

“Soon. He should be back very soon.”

That’s what she said to comfort the child, but in truth, she had no confidence at all.

From the moment Wu Ma had left by boat that morning, Ah Miao had felt a strong sense of foreboding.

She was sensitive and she’d long sensed that the city lord had been harboring mounting resentment toward Wu Ma.

Maybe it started last month— when the city lord proposed that the entire city convert to worshiping the Boro religion, and Wu Ma firmly rejected it.

Or maybe it was last week— when the city lord wanted to issue privateering licenses to pirates, and Wu Ma ruined that plan too.

Rumor had it that a minor official who once crossed the city lord was stabbed to death by a “mugger” on his way home. 

No one knew why that robber was so strong— strong enough to take down eight bodyguards and still escape without a scratch…

Ah Miao was terrified that something similar would happen to Wu Ma.

But some things… seem inevitable, no matter how long they take.

That morning, Wu Ma’s old subordinates had all been reassigned, and the city lord had sent him alone to lead a raid against bandits.

Ah Miao cried and meowed desperately to stop him, but he was like a block of wood—he had to go.

“No harm will come to him. He’ll be fine. He’ll be fine,” she whispered, clutching at her clothes, trembling. 

“He once followed Her Highness Wu Yi. He’s weathered every storm. He’ll be okay… he must be okay…”

Her prayer cut off abruptly.

Because a line of carriages and horses was turning into the alley and the man leading them was painfully familiar to her. 

He was the very same subordinate who had boarded the ship with Wu Ma that morning.

That sleazy-looking adjutant.

“Huh? Why’s the music getting quieter? Keep it going, dammit! Throw more powder! Beat those drums! No one stops unless I say so, anyone slacking off gets whipped!”

He strutted arrogantly through the cloud of colored powder, basking in the cheers and admiration like a triumphant hero returned home.

The townsfolk scrambled to get out of his way, clearing a broad path from one end of the street to the other— no one dared block this plague upon the city, lest they become his next target.

“Heh~ The Wu family’s two little kittens. Don’t bother hiding, I saw you already.”

Ah Miao collapsed at the doorway, all strength drained from her body.

That bastard had gone out with Wu Ma this morning. 

And now, he was the only one to return. 

Marching at the head of the column, but with no sign of his commanding officer.

Which meant…

That unspoken realization was like a blade to the heart. 

Ah Miao couldn’t even bear to complete the thought.

“Miss Ah Miao, and… you must be Wu Xiaoke?” 

The adjutant leered, licking his lips.

“Regretfully, General Wu Ma fled from battle during the raid and was unfortunately captured by the pirates. He’s dead. My condolences.”

Dead?

Tears sprang from Ah Miao’s eyes. 

She didn’t believe a word of this greasy scoundrel’s excuse.

As someone who had shared a bed, a classroom, and a battlefield with Wu Ma— she knew. 

There was no way Wu Ma would ever desert his post.

This disgusting, conniving bastard had definitely killed Wu Ma and now he was trying to tarnish his name after death.

“Although General Wuma died a bit disgracefully, considering his merits from the old campaigns, I’ve decided to handle the aftermath properly for him.”

The adjutant grinned, no longer bothering to hide his lecherous nature: “The General made too many enemies in his time. Now that he’s dead, someone’s bound to come seeking revenge.

You and your daughter should come with me.

Be my lady in the manor, and I guarantee no one will dare lay a finger on you!”

(2/1)