Chapter 45: Someone Must Be Found to Marry

Ye Kun’s face darkened instantly. “Brother! How could you hide something like this from me?”

“Brother, look at it this way. We’re still of the Ye family, after all. If I marry the one I love, someone still has to shoulder the family’s responsibilities. Who else but you, brother? Hehe…”

With an exasperated look, Ye Kun poked Ye Qin’s stomach. “How can you be so full of mischief?”

“Brother, knowing how clever you are, I doubt you’d just let things be. You must have a plan.” Ye Qin was, in truth, perceptive. If this had been his problem, he’d have no solution, but his brother always seemed to find a way.

After all, their parents doted most on his brother. Was he really just a bonus for buying sword techniques…?

“You rascal.” Ye Kun gave him a light punch, then sat beside him, lost in thought.

Ye Qin grinned broadly. “What’s there to worry about, brother? With your excellence, the girls of Taixi County are yours to choose from. I’ve seen how some girls at the cultivation academy have eyes only for you.”

Ye Kun found no fault with that logic. In Taixi County, who didn’t know Brother Kun? His reputation for excellence had spread far and wide.

He remembered that matchmakers had once come by with proposals, but his parents had turned them all down.

But none of those girls had stirred his heart. The feeling just wasn’t there. He might as well go along with his mother’s wishes. What to do?

“Brother, what kind of girl do you like? Should I have Wanqing look into it for you?” Ye Qin asked earnestly. This was a big matter—his brother deserved someone he truly liked.

Ye Kun couldn’t quite say what kind he liked. Sometimes, it was just a matter of meeting the right person; looks were secondary. What mattered was kindness and filial piety.

“These things are a matter of fate. Forcing it won’t work. There are still six years—surely I’ll find someone by then.” Ye Kun thought to himself, at least he wouldn’t settle for someone already with a child—that would be a tragedy.

Wait!

His thinking was all wrong! There would definitely be unexpected developments. Damn! He couldn’t even guess what sort of twist might come. What if he really did end up with someone with a child? Forget it, better to die.

“All right then, I’ll respect your decision,” Ye Qin said, patting his brother’s shoulder. How could someone as outstanding as his brother stumble over this?

Ye Kun was so preoccupied that he barely spoke during dinner, weighed down with worry about his future companion.

Ye Ming and Dongmen Meng didn’t say much, as if they saw their own younger selves reflected in the two boys.

Marriage only served to stabilize both parties, allowing them to focus better on cultivation. As for having children—that was up to the couple.

Some married couples waited a decade or more before having children; Ye Ming and Dongmen Meng were such a pair.

Of course, this was typical in the Taijing region, a local custom of sorts, though Taijing itself was vast—and only a small part of Dongyou.

That night, Ye Kun slept poorly, even dreaming that his hair had grown long—but damn it, it was green!

The fright jerked him awake!

He resolved, then and there, that for his coming-of-age ceremony, he must find someone to marry, or else…

He shuddered at the thought, as if his hair had retreated into his scalp.

Sleep eluded him. Staring at the ceiling, he could hear his brother’s light snoring—not loud, but enough to ruin the quality of his rest.

Morning arrived.

“Father, Mother, we’re off to train now.”

Dongmen Meng was weeping uncontrollably against Ye Ming’s chest, as if the two sons were leaving for good.

Ye Ming waved his hand. “You two hurry along—finally, your mother and I get some time to ourselves.”

Glancing at Ye Kun and Ye Qin—

They were only leaving for three days, but their packs were as big as hills.

Ye Kun insisted they could go empty-handed, but his brother believed in being prepared.

Ye Kun thought there couldn’t be that much, but his brother had packed an absurd amount.

Even the kitchen pot was strapped to his back—the reasoning being, they’d need to cook meals.

Ye Kun could understand that, but bringing along quilts as well? What were they going out to do—was this really training?

Turned out, his brother had packed them for his wife—well, he truly was a thoughtful boy, making his brother haul everything for him.

“Brother, you’ve got a few hairs growing on your head. Why haven’t you shaved them? Need my help?” Ye Kun asked, seriously. A bald head in the sunlight was highly reflective.

Ye Qin chuckled. “It’s fine. I’m planning to grow it out. Trust me, brother, I’ll get a full head of hair someday.”

Ye Kun thought: now that he has a wife, he forgets his brother. After all I’ve done for you, you ungrateful wretch.

“Don’t be mad, brother. I’ll get you a secret formula someday, so your hair will shine and sparkle.”

“All right, enough about hair.” Ye Kun said quietly. Whenever the topic came up, he felt about ready to explode.

This was his brother—if it were anyone else, he’d have lost control long ago.

“Brother! Don’t worry. If anyone dares call you bald, I’ll shave their head myself.”

Ye Kun nearly choked on his own blood.

“Honestly, brother, you look quite dashing with a shaved head.”

Pffft!

Thankfully, Ye Kun managed to make it to the academy gates before dying of exasperation.

Pushing open the doors, everything was as it always was. Their teacher lay under the eaves, an empty wine bottle rolling across the dusty ground, snoring away—clearly still hungover.

If he hadn’t seen the teacher display his skills the day before, Ye Kun wouldn’t have felt secure. The Sunset Mountains were a death trap for children.

“Teacher, we’re here!” Ye Qin shouted excitedly, eager to set out. Ye Kun felt that, at last, he could cultivate through his own efforts, rather than relying on luck—though luck was all it could be called, for it was a truly bizarre situation.

Wu Chi frowned, forcing his eyes open and exhaling a strange breath that nearly knocked Ye Qin out.

It was the breath of a fire dragon—lethal without a trace.

“Go buy me—no, buy your teacher—a few jugs of wine. We’ll leave after that.”

Ye Qin whispered, “Teacher, I don’t have any gold coins.”

“No matter. I owe plenty already. The tavern keeper won’t refuse me. Make sure to bring enough for three days.”

Ye Qin looked at the teacher—what a pitiful soul. His wife had run off with someone else, probably with a child now.

Oh well, he’d go buy the wine.

“Brother, I’ll be right back.”

“Be careful on the way,” Ye Kun reminded him.

Not long after Ye Qin ran off, Ba Wanqing arrived. Seeing Ye Kun, her expression changed at once.

Ye Kun felt helpless, but since they’d soon be family, some things needed to be said clearly.

“Where’s Ye Qin?”

“My brother went to buy wine for the teacher,” Ye Kun replied softly.