TGWM Ch. 3

Chapter 3: Yun Yan

Lin Aoxue was blocked at the doorway by Beichen Ji’s guards and the enforcers of Yanyu Tower. At a glance, she counted no fewer than ten men standing in her way.

The guards hesitated upon seeing Lin Aoxue dressed in the uniform of the Northern Frontier Army, suspecting she might have been sent by the grand general, and thus refrained from acting rashly. The enforcers of Yanyu Tower, however, had no such reservations. Seeing Lin Aoxue seize one of their esteemed guests and attempt to leave, they immediately sprang into action without a word.

As Lin Aoxue dragged Beichen Ji out of the room, seven or eight burly men rushed in, poised to snatch him from her grasp.

Her left eye narrowed slightly, a dark gleam flashing within.

The first man threw a punch at her, but Lin Aoxue sidestepped with ease. With one hand still gripping Beichen Ji, she used her free right hand to swiftly strike the attacker’s ribcage with the back of her hand. A dull thud echoed as the man was sent flying backward, crashing into another enforcer. Both tumbled to the ground.

In the brief moment she had dealt with the first man, another attacker had already closed in, aiming an elbow strike at the back of her head.

It was as if Lin Aoxue had eyes in the back of her head—before the attack could land, she had already ducked to evade it. The elbow strike barely grazed past her, and she took advantage of her movement to lean backward, ramming her own elbow into the attacker’s chest and forcing him to stumble away.

The man staggered back several steps, and more enforcers lunged forward. Lin Aoxue met them head-on with calm precision, countering every move with practiced ease. In mere moments, she had taken down all eight burly enforcers.

By the time the last one was curled up on the ground, clutching his stomach and unable to rise, Lin Aoxue still held Beichen Ji by the collar with her left hand. Her expression was cold and severe as she swept a dispassionate gaze over the gathered crowd, her focus lingering on the guards standing outside the door. Her eyes narrowed slightly as she spoke in a low, measured tone, “Does anyone else wish to block my way?”

The rough mask on her face lent a menacing edge to her already imposing presence. Beichen Ji stared in shock, while the guards surrounding Lin Aoxue gulped instinctively, their throats bobbing as cold sweat formed in their palms. None dared to act rashly.

The steward of Yanyu Tower stood stiffly, his expression strained with uncertainty.

Just as the tension in the air reached its peak, the sound of crisp, deliberate footsteps echoed from the staircase. Accompanying the footsteps was a soft, melodious laugh, followed by an enchanting, sultry voice.

“Hiding your face, seizing a guest of Yanyu Tower, and assaulting its people—do you truly deserve to wear that uniform, Officer? The soldiers of the Northern Frontier are meant to protect common folk like us. Do you think the grand general would tolerate such audacity?”

The crowd parted to make way, and both the steward and attendants of Yanyu Tower bowed respectfully, addressing the newcomer as “Miss Yun Yan.”

Emerging from the gathered people was a woman dressed in a flowing, light-purple gown. Unlike the heavily adorned courtesans of Yanyu Tower, she wore only a touch of makeup, yet her mature elegance and natural allure were undeniable. Her every glance carried an effortless charm.

Lin Aoxue furrowed her brows slightly, casting a fleeting look at the woman in the purple dress. This stunning intruder was clearly intelligent. By mentioning the grand general, she was subtly reminding Lin Aoxue of Beichen Ji’s status, emphasizing the kind of people she was dealing with and the weight of the offense she was committing.

Her lips curled into a cold smile. “A soldier’s duty is to protect the nation, but we are also bound to uphold justice. I am acting under military orders to escort this young master back home. If any of you insist on interfering, this will not end with just a warning.”

Lin Aoxue’s sharp presence was undeniable, yet Yun Yan approached gracefully, her red fan unfolding with a gentle flick. She stepped in front of Lin Aoxue, unbothered by the aura of menace radiating from her, and met her gaze with a warm, unruffled smile. She was tall, standing at the same height as Lin Aoxue when she straightened her posture. As she locked eyes with Lin Aoxue, she lightly tapped the folded fan against Lin Aoxue’s shoulder, her smile soft and alluring.

“So, if you had mentioned the military order beforehand, it would have made everything right? Beating people up is now considered upholding justice, with not a single fault to be found?”

She was close—close enough that the subtle fragrance of her makeup was distinct yet not overpowering. Lin Aoxue’s brows furrowed even tighter, and without thinking, she took a step back. The moment she retreated, her imposing presence wavered, giving Yun Yan the advantage. Though Yun Yan was neither aggressive nor forceful, there was an unmistakable cleverness in the way she used gentleness to subdue strength.

Lin Aoxue’s expression grew stiff, and the pressure around her seemed to drop.

She had never been good at dealing with people. If a problem could be solved with fists, she had no patience for words. After ten years of silent meditation in a monastery, she had become even more withdrawn, never experiencing such close proximity to another person—especially not a woman as delicate and enchanting as Yun Yan, who showed no overt hostility.

There was a saying: one does not strike a smiling face. Lin Aoxue could hardly resort to violence now. With rigid posture, unsure how to respond, she simply kept her face cold and asked curtly, “What do you want?”

Yun Yan’s eyes gleamed with amusement, her smile deepening. She leaned in closer, further closing the already narrow space between them. Every movement carried a natural allure, a charm that was difficult to resist.

“I don’t want anything,” she murmured, “I’m merely curious. You’re quite the skilled fighter, yet your face is unfamiliar.” As she spoke, Yun Yan lowered her voice and leaned in near Lin Aoxue’s ear. From an outsider’s perspective, it appeared as if she were entirely nestled against Lin Aoxue’s chest. “I heard that a new recruit at the training grounds yesterday defeated twenty-one challengers in a row. That must have been you, wasn’t it? Lin Aoxue… a name that suits its owner well.”

(T/N: 傲 (Ào) means “proud” or “unyielding” and 雪 (Xuě) means “snow”)

Lin Aoxue had acted boldly, and since Beichen Long had not prohibited word from spreading, it was unsurprising that news of the training ground had already reached Yun Yan’s ears. After all, Yanyu Tower was a place of indulgence and entertainment, frequented by many, making it a hub for gossip and information.

“I deeply admire your strength, sir. Would I have the honor of inviting you inside for a private conversation?”

Yun Yan’s warm, fragrant breath caressed Lin Aoxue’s ear, curling around her neck like an invisible thread. Beneath Lin Aoxue’s rigid expression, the skin from the base of her ear down to her tanned neck prickled visibly with goosebumps. Her eyes widened in alarm.

In the next instant, a burst of energy surged from her, forcefully pushing Yun Yan away. As Yun Yan let out a startled gasp, Lin Aoxue turned abruptly on her heel, striding off with a cold expression and throwing out a terse remark, “If there’s nothing else, I will return and report to my superiors!”

She left so suddenly that neither the attendants of Yanyu Tower nor Beichen Ji’s guards had time to react. Only when her figure receded into the distance did the guards finally realize—Lin Aoxue had just taken their young master! Panic set in, and they hurriedly gave chase.

Yun Yan, however, steadied herself after stumbling a few steps, momentarily dazed before she suddenly burst into laughter. She chuckled three times in succession, her amusement puzzling everyone around her.

Closing her red fan, the bewitching expression on her face faded into something unreadable. She glanced at the enforcers still groaning on the ground and softly instructed the nearby attendants, “Call a physician to tend to their injuries.”

The steward and the servants immediately lowered their heads in obedience, replying with a respectful, “Yes, miss.”

Lin Aoxue rushed out of Yanyu Tower, her palms already damp with cold sweat. The tips of her ears were faintly red, and her heart pounded like a war drum, its heavy thud echoing in her ears. She was unbearably tense.

Taking two deep breaths of the outside air, she tried to rid herself of the lingering scent of perfume that clung to her. Without a backward glance, she strode straight toward the military camp.

“Hey!” The person being dragged along by Lin Aoxue, Beichen Ji, craned his neck and struggled. “Hey! Did you hear me? I’m not going to run! Just let go already!”

Lin Aoxue halted and looked down. Only then did she realize that she had been dragging Beichen Ji along for quite a distance. His clothes were in disarray, one of his shoes had gone missing at some point, and he looked utterly bedraggled.

She had been too flustered earlier, her mind a chaotic mess, and hadn’t spared a single thought for Beichen Ji. What she had assumed to be a simple task had unexpectedly gone awry—all because of a sharp-tongued courtesan.

Loosening her grip, she allowed Beichen Ji to stand properly. After being yanked along the whole way, his arms were stiff and sore, and he had nearly been choked breathless. Now, finally able to breathe, he gasped for air while glaring at Lin Aoxue and straightening his clothes.

“Did my dad send you to catch me?”

Lin Aoxue didn’t respond. She merely turned her head slightly to the side, her cold gaze carrying a sharp glint. Beichen Ji shuddered under her stare and hurriedly raised his hands in surrender.

“I’ll go back with you! Just don’t lay a hand on me again! I know you’re strong!” He spoke in a rush, then took the initiative to walk in the direction of the camp. Lin Aoxue gave him a glance, said nothing, and simply followed behind him.

Beichen Ji had an easygoing nature. Once he realized that Lin Aoxue had been sent by Beichen Long, he understood that while she was fierce, she wouldn’t actually harm him. Since he couldn’t escape anyway, he figured he might as well behave and go back.

After a few steps, he suddenly turned around and, unconcerned by Lin Aoxue’s cold demeanor, struck up a conversation. “Hey, you know, Miss Yun Yan is the top courtesan of Yanyu Tower!”

Lin Aoxue hadn’t expected him to bring this up. Her expression remained frosty as she frowned. “What does that have to do with me?”

Beichen Ji instantly stomped his foot, grumbling as if they were old friends. “How can you be so dense?! To this day, no one has ever been lucky enough to be invited into Miss Yun Yan’s chambers, and you just let the opportunity slip away!” As he spoke, his face showed exaggerated heartbreak, as if he were the one who had missed out on the invitation.

Lin Aoxue shot him a look filled with disdain. What a hopeless womanizer. She coldly glanced at him before looking away. “I’m not interested.”

Beichen Ji shivered under her icy stare. Quickening his pace, he continued his chatter, “Not interested?! You’re saying you’re not interested in such a beauty?”

Lin Aoxue’s patience wore thin. Her expression grew darker and darker until, finally, she reached out and struck a pressure point on his throat.

Beichen Ji’s eyes widened in horror. His face turned bright red, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t utter another word.

At last, there was silence. The peace was so refreshing that even their pace quickened. Lin Aoxue dragged Beichen Ji all the way back to the military camp and headed straight for Beichen Long’s tent.

After the guards announced their arrival, Lin Aoxue entered with Beichen Ji in tow and released his pressure point.

Even Beichen Ji, notorious for his unruliness, didn’t dare act out in front of his father. Though he had a belly full of complaints, he could only swallow them down and mutter a subdued “Dad.”

“I have brought the young master back,” Lin Aoxue said, dropping to one knee and saluting Beichen Long.

Beichen Long raised an eyebrow in mild surprise. He hadn’t expected Lin Aoxue to return so quickly. Then, glancing at Beichen Ji—who had come back without a single guard escorting him—Beichen Long chuckled.

“Tell me how it all went.”