Chapter Forty-Three: Bringing Zhu You Home for the First Time

Because the tensions among guilds, both large and small, had suddenly erupted, considerable unrest had broken out near every dimensional gate. Some merchants, sensing the danger, had already suspended their operations—even the black market vehicles that Yi Shen had ridden earlier had departed ahead of schedule, a clear sign that this disturbance was unlike any in the past.

Fortunately, some of the local street vendors still had carts for hauling goods. Yi Shen hitched a ride on one transporting fruit back to the city center. The scenery along the way had not changed much since he arrived, but an inexplicable sense of oppression had settled over everything.

“Sigh, it’s harder and harder to make a living these days,” the fruit vendor lamented as he drove. “You young people are still lucky. For us older folks, we can’t even get near those monsters anymore. They used to say nice things, asking us to help transport goods, promising subsidies. But now the subsidies are gone, and they even charge us extra for transport and stall fees. Why don’t they just rob us instead?

“Honestly, it might be a good thing if the fighting starts. After the older generation stepped down, what have the new guys accomplished, really?”

Perhaps because Yi Shen looked young, the vendor didn’t overcharge him. The man was nearing fifty, his face etched with the weariness of years. He complained that life was getting tougher, and that the Jingmen Safe Zone had gradually shifted to guild-based management. On the surface, there was an official governing body, but in reality, each major guild managed its own territory. He regretted not joining a big guild when he had the chance—now, given his age and strength, no one would have him.

“What about the Peach Blossom Spring Guild?” Yi Shen probed gently, asking the older man about the guild. From his perspective, he knew his view was different from that of ordinary people. “I thought the Peach Blossom Spring Guild sometimes still recruited older folks?”

“Peach Blossom Spring?” The vendor scoffed. “What a sissy name. It was alright at first, I guess, but it’s changed just like everything else. They talk a good game, but if you don’t have money or connections, you can’t get in.”

He shook his head, clicking his tongue, likely suspecting Yi Shen had ties to the guild. “Didn’t you hear Jingbei Industries wants to take down Peach Blossom Spring? They’ve been blocking their way for years. Zhao Weimin was a good man—he didn’t deserve to die. Too bad Qi Lei doesn’t run things anymore; if he did, the Safe Zone wouldn’t be in such chaos.”

Qi Lei, whom the vendor mentioned, had been the chief commander of the Jingmen Safe Zone and the honorary principal of its first martial arts academy. He was instrumental in reclaiming the city when the Safe Zone was first established. Rumor had it he’d gone to help pioneer new worlds in other zones, but for years, there’d been no news—he seemed to have gone into seclusion.

The vendor, though not high-level himself, spoke knowledgeably about the Safe Zone’s major affairs, his outlook for the future grim. To Yi Shen, it was clear the cold shadow of unrest was creeping ever closer to ordinary life.

The Peach Blossom Spring Guild had originally been formed by a group of romantic idealists who wanted to carve out a place where, even as their strength grew, they would not forget the comrades lost in war or the elders who built the city in silence. Their aim was to uphold the order of human civilization, no matter how powerful individuals became.

Yet now, even Peach Blossom Spring seemed unable to escape the solidifying social hierarchy. The current chaos might have had its instigators, but at its root, it was the ever-growing rift between various powers—between solo operators and the guilds—that gave rise to such a strong reaction.

The vendor continued to grumble beside him.

“Is someone trying to reshuffle the deck in the Jingmen Safe Zone?” The thought appeared unbidden in Yi Shen’s mind.

...

The fruit vendor’s cart moved slowly, and by the time Yi Shen returned to the Safe Zone, it was past six. He messaged both Zhu Qing and Zhu You; the haul he’d brought back this time was no less than last, and the materials alone should fetch a handsome price.

To his surprise, Zhu Qing replied that her younger sister had run into trouble at the martial academy and needed help; she asked Zhu You to handle the goods with Yi Shen, or to wait until her return. She also told Yi Shen that things weren’t very safe lately and asked if he could watch the shop and help protect Zhu You.

This turmoil wasn’t confined to the areas near the dimensional gates. Even within the city and the martial academies, divisions and conflicts were flaring up among students. The forums were abuzz with talk of Jingbei Industries, their monopolies, and infighting. Some inflammatory posts were deleted, but more kept appearing—not just against Jingbei, but calling for boycotts of other major guilds as well. Many argued that the existing system, set up over thirty years ago, was outdated and that the times called for new laws.

The authorities had remained silent. It was shaping up to be another sleepless night for many.

“Orange!” Zhu You called out as Yi Shen arrived at the sisters’ shop. She looked as though she’d been waiting for a long time. Dressed in a thick white coat and black tights, her legs seemed even thinner and frailer than usual. She didn’t look well, but managed a small smile when she saw Yi Shen.

“What’s wrong? Has your sister not sorted things out yet?” Yi Shen asked, unaware of the details since he’d arrived late.

“It sounds like there was some protest at my sister’s academy, maybe even a scuffle. She wants to bring my little sister home for a few days,” Zhu You explained.

“Bring her home?” Yi Shen was taken aback. He’d been so preoccupied with thoughts about Peach Blossom Spring that he’d forgotten about this complication. From what Zhu You had told him, Zhu Ke had only applied to Jingmen First Martial Academy because she thought Yi Shen would go there.

“Yeah. Earlier today, there were a few fights between shops around here, too. Some of the small guilds don’t want to keep paying Jiang He such hefty fees every year. My sister plans to close the shop for a few days—she heard from friends that a big guild battle might break out.”

Zhu You shivered, glancing nervously out the window. She’d kept the shop locked up, only daring to stand up when Yi Shen entered.

“It’s alright, I’m here,” Yi Shen reassured her, setting down his pack, which was stuffed full of materials. He’d planned to drop them off and check on the situation at home, but now, with the goods still unsold, he’d acquired an extra burden.

He and Zhu You sat quietly together for a while. Yi Shen browsed information on his tablet while Zhu You watched him absentmindedly. Her gaze made him uncomfortable, so he suggested she keep herself busy—he would wait here with her for her sister’s return.

“Orange, which side are you on?” she asked suddenly, noticing him reading guild posts. “You must be pretty skilled to get all that gear by yourself.”

She still didn’t know his real name, and even in the black market his handle was always “Orange.”

Yi Shen glanced at her, considering, then replied, “Neither side, really. I’ve just run into some trouble lately and it’s not convenient for me to show my face. Give it a little time, I’ll be fine.”

He’d already decided to deepen his involvement with the Zhu sisters—there was no point in hiding the truth. Besides, what he said was true; despite his father’s position among the Peach Blossom Spring leadership, Yi Shen had never actually joined any guild. He was just an ordinary martial academy candidate.

Zhu Ke’s confession was likely a misunderstanding—his father had arranged for him to attend Qi Qiang Martial Academy, which had closer ties to Peach Blossom Spring, not Jingmen First. For a family like his, martial academies held little actual significance. Typically, after coming of age, a guild would sponsor his level-up process, bringing him to level thirty or forty over a few years before he was gradually integrated into management or combat teams.

But with the current turmoil and his parents’ whereabouts unknown, all of Yi Shen’s plans had been thrown into disarray.

“Will you leave in the future?” Zhu You blinked, not pressing further, only concerned whether he would one day go away.

“Of course not,” Yi Shen smiled. He’d grown up in the Jingmen Safe Zone—unless something extraordinary happened, he had no intention of moving to some unfamiliar place. When his mother had first sent him a warning to take shelter, his instinct was to hide somewhere nearby, not leave Jingmen altogether.

They chatted idly as the sky grew dark. Yi Shen thought Zhu Qing would return soon, and was preoccupied with how to handle meeting Zhu Ke—should he try to avoid her in advance?

But unexpectedly, Zhu Qing messaged again: a conflict had broken out between some minor guilds and martial academy students, and the school was now on lockdown—no one allowed in or out. She was trapped inside.

Yi Shen was speechless. He and Zhu You waited in the shop for another half hour before deciding to close up and head home.

Naturally, Zhu You, his little extra burden, accompanied him. She’d visited his place a few times before, sometimes bringing him food, but this time was different—it was her first time spending the night alone with a man.

The apartment Yi Shen had just rented was spacious but spartan, cluttered with all manner of items. Zhu You, like a dutiful new wife, helped him tidy up—even straightening his bedding. Yi Shen pursed his lips, unsure what to say.

“You’re not planning to sleep with me tonight, are you?” he teased, curiosity getting the better of him. He felt a vague sense of guilt—Zhu Qing must be truly trusting to leave her sister in a man’s home like this.

Flushing bright red, Zhu You quickly denied it, claiming she was just bored and wanted to help tidy up.

“You take the bed, I’ll crash somewhere else. There are towels and a toothbrush in the cabinet if you want to shower. Just try not to tempt me again,” he quipped, making her blush even harder.

Yi Shen shrugged. With her behaving like this, if he really wanted to do something, tonight would be his chance.

Of course, he wasn’t that shameless.

Zhu You was clearly exhausted. After a quick wash, she curled up on his bed and fell asleep.

Yi Shen set up a chair in the study and continued reading through the latest news. Zhu You hugged his pillow as she slowly drifted off.

...

Late at night.

Yi Shen left his apartment, donning a cap and mask, and headed for his family’s villa in the eastern district of the Safe Zone. He certainly couldn’t vent his frustrations on Zhu You, not now. Her sister had entrusted her to his care; he couldn’t betray that trust.

With nothing better to do, he decided to check whether anyone was still watching his home at this hour, or if his mother had perhaps returned and left him a message.

Under the cover of moonlight, Yi Shen moved more boldly. He glided through the city like a shadow—his teleportation and lightfoot techniques allowing him to traverse rooftops as if walking on level ground.

It didn’t take long to reach the villa complex. Where once every house was brightly lit, now only three or four remained illuminated. Many residents here were Peach Blossom Spring high-ups; after the disaster in Moonlight Realm, many had never returned, leaving a sense of desolation.

He slipped easily into his familiar home. The air still carried its usual scent, but nearly ten days had passed since he’d last been here. A fine layer of dust and a chill hung over everything.

“Damn it,” Yi Shen muttered after entering his room. His own and his parents’ rooms had been completely ransacked. All his treasured belongings, and even his rare manga, had been stolen. It was one thing to pilfer valuables, but to steal someone’s manga collection? Unforgivable! The only things left untouched were the iron training equipment in the workout room—everything else had been turned upside down.

At least some sentimental items remained. Yi Shen found the bottle Zhu Ke had given him when she confessed, filled with folded paper cranes. But he could barely recall Zhu Ke’s face now; his mind was full of the image of Zhu You, freshly showered, lying in his bed.

He calmed himself, then circled his villa a few times.

“Hm?” He had assumed, after ten days, that those staking out his home would have given up. But at a nearby intersection, he spotted the same vehicle belonging to Bloodslaughter that he’d seen before!