Chapter Eleven: Fratricidal Strife

He tore off the cloth covering his face, and the pale moonlight slanted down, illuminating the masked man's features. With a cold smile, he spoke in a chilling voice, "Shiyu, you never expected your second uncle would still be alive, did you?" In the moonlight, the contours of his face were somewhat blurred, yet the hatred in his eyes was sharply conveyed to Yu Shiyu.

Yu Shiyu's expression changed drastically. He roared in fury, "Second Uncle, you heartless wretch, how dare you return? What have you done to the old patriarch?"

"Don't shout so loudly. The formation has already been activated. Not even a fly can enter the western courtyard now. Of course, even if all hell breaks loose inside, nothing will be heard outside," Yu Erye said smugly. Then, with eyes gleaming bloodthirstily, he ordered Yu Shiyu to be shot and killed.

By now, with the old patriarch making no sound at all, it was clear he was in grave danger. Yu Shiyu's heart sank to the depths of despair. He shouted bitterly, "You will get your retribution!" He threw out talismans without a care, and for a moment, fireballs, water arrows, and lightning bolts flew wildly. Yet like locusts in flight, the arrows shot at him were blasted apart before they could even reach, unable to harm him in the slightest.

"I'd like to see just how many talismans you have left!" Yu Erye brandished a black crossbow atop the wall, shouting arrogantly.

Separated by only a courtyard, Yu Youwei also heard the commotion in Anqing Hall. Though she disliked Yu Shiyu, a fire at the city gate brings disaster even to the fish in the moat. If Yu Shiyu were left to die, never mind how the Yu family would treat her afterwards—these invading villains were unlikely to spare her and Mu Yuyan either.

"Sister Wei, I'm scared," Mu Yuyan cried out in panic.

"Don't be afraid." Yu Youwei paid no mind to where the maids of Lanwei Residence had fled. Holding Mu Yuyan close, she leapt out with her in tow. Entering Anqing Hall from the rear, she found no trace of the Yu family patriarch inside, so she flashed out again through the front hall doors. Just as Yu Erye was laughing triumphantly, she raised her hand and launched her attack. Instantly, a twisting, serpentine streak of azure sword-light shot across the sky, cutting off Yu Erye's words and forcing him back.

Yu Shiyu, unaware that reinforcements had arrived, shouted sternly, "Even if I die, I will return as a vengeful ghost to settle this score!"

"Escape with me."

Yu Youwei's voice sounded by his ear. Yu Shiyu thought he was hallucinating, but the next moment, her face appeared before him. Flustered, he said, "Go check on the old patriarch!"

"There's no one inside. Let's leave first." Carrying Mu Yuyan, Yu Youwei soared into the air. Her long sleeves billowed, ribbons of colored mist unfurled, and the assassins in black atop the walls fell one after another.

Hearing that the room was empty, Yu Shiyu felt a glimmer of hope—surely the old patriarch had retreated into the secret chamber and was not yet harmed. He steadied himself and followed, leaping into the air. Witnessing Yu Youwei's formidable prowess, he was secretly alarmed. He realized that if she had not been concerned for the Mu family, and had used such methods against him from the start, he would have become nothing but dried fish the moment he threw her into the river.

Yu Erye, forced back by the sword-light and blocked by the colored mist, watched helplessly as Yu Youwei rescued Yu Shiyu and left the courtyard. Enraged, he rushed out and, with a sweep of his blade, sent a curtain of sword-light slashing toward Yu Shiyu.

Just then, a fierce shout rang out: "Master Yu is here! Who dares cause trouble?" Like a blade from the void, a flash of sword-light appeared above Yu Shiyu's head, slanting down to break through the curtain of light before continuing on toward Yu Erye.

With a boom, Yu Erye was pulled aside at the last second by a masked man in black, who had suddenly appeared. Master Yu also pushed his son away, and now stood facing the masked man.

The masked man smiled. "Heh, we’re not here to cause trouble. My brother here merely wanted to revisit his old home. Surely the young master of the Yu family wouldn't hunt his own kin to extinction?"

"So you really are alive, Second Brother!" Master Yu gritted his teeth.

"Big Brother, you schemed for my death, but I'm sorry to disappoint you!" Yu Erye shouted harshly, then waved his hand. "Fire! Kill them all!"

"Beast! You’ve colluded with villains to butcher your own family!" Master Yu was furious, his voice icy cold. He swept his sword, sending forth a thousand points of starlight that rained down upon the assassins atop the courtyard wall, accompanied by a chorus of anguished screams.

Yu Erye, caught in the vanguard, was unable to dodge. As he was about to be riddled with sword-light, a gust of wind swept him onto the wall, saving him from harm—though seeing the heavy casualties among his men, he fumed with rage. "Such ruthless means!"

Yu Shiyu shouted angrily, "Your ability to twist black and white is truly astonishing! You conspired with villains to harm your own kin, and still have the gall to insult my father! Heaven itself will not forgive a monster like you!"

The masked man in black who had rescued Yu Erye cut an elegant, almost scholarly figure, though his triangular eyes ruined his appearance, making him seem base. "Such a handsome boy—come with me. I’ll let your father go free if you do." His lascivious gaze lingered on Yu Shiyu’s fine features, his expression lecherous.

Yu Youwei nearly gagged. Even if she felt no sense of belonging to the Yu family and not much affection for her second brother, she could not help but feel a surge of shared resentment. Without hesitation, she flung a handful of colored powder.

The man in black, apparently wary, swept the powder aside with his palm, his face suddenly turning cold. "Are you one of the Seven Venoms' people?" Before Yu Youwei could deny it, he continued, "Leave a way out for others, so you may meet again in the future. The Thousand Venoms Palace has no wish to be enemies with the Lord of Seven Venoms. Don't push us!"

Yu Youwei did not deny it. She threatened glibly, "Those are words you should be saying to yourself. My young master was merely reminiscing with Second Young Master Yu, when you lot barged in and ruined his drinking mood, then had the nerve to play the victim. Do you take my young master for an easy target?"

"Very well, since we are of the same path, I’ll do you this favor. Take these two and leave. If you linger until my senior brother arrives, you won’t be able to escape even if you want to." The disciple of Thousand Venoms Palace pretended to be magnanimous, though Yu Erye secretly despised his cowardice. Still, Yu Erye dared not defy this outwardly strong but inwardly timid fellow, so he kept silent.

Master Yu was baffled by the turn of events. After receiving a look from his son, he chose to remain silent.

Smoothing Mu Yuyan’s disheveled hair, Yu Youwei asked languidly, "So, when your Thousand Venoms disciples arrive, my young master is expected to quietly leave? Is that it?"

The man in black narrowed his triangular eyes, his voice chilling. "It seems, young lady, that you insist on making an enemy of Thousand Venoms Palace. Are you not afraid of bringing unnecessary trouble to the Seven Venoms Manor?"

"Even Lord Ye Fifth treats my young master with the utmost respect. Who do you think you are?" Yu Youwei retorted with scorn.

"You’ve met my Fifth Lord?" The man in black’s face changed, clearly showing his fear.

Without answering, Yu Youwei turned to the pale and anxious Mu Yuyan and asked gently, "Sister, how big has the golden silkworm Lord Ye Fifth gave you grown?"

Mu Yuyan replied timidly, "It’s still the size of a fingernail."

The man in black’s face grew grave. Yu Youwei shot him a sweet smile, beautiful as a poppy blooming in the wind, making his heart flutter with dread. She drawled, "Well then, when we get back, I’ll squash the silkworm and say it was killed by this triangular-eyed fellow from Thousand Venoms Palace, and ask Lord Ye Fifth for two more pairs as compensation."