Chapter 20: What an Unexpected Turn of Events

At that moment, Ye Kun was terrified—he had missed his shot, and somehow, he’d killed a man! Kun, as honest as they come, had never so much as touched the notion of murder, and now, today, it had happened! Was fate playing tricks on him? Was surrendering really so difficult? Yet now the situation was even worse than conceding defeat.

Everyone stood in shock, not knowing what to do. The event had unfolded too suddenly. On this Festival of Everlasting Peace, a murder had occurred.

Ye Qin was equally stunned; her brother hadn’t lied—he truly couldn’t shoot an arrow properly, otherwise he wouldn’t have struck someone in the neck.

Feng Dian and Yuan Zhen, initially shaken, quickly found reason to rejoice. The number one archer had now killed someone! His life was ruined—he would forever bear the label of murderer.

The man struck by the arrow had not died instantly. The shaft had pierced his neck but remained lodged there; removal would mean instant death.

“Brother…we…have…been…discovered…” the man rasped, fear in his eyes, clutching his neck with both hands.

“Little brother!” Instantly, the five men seated beside him drew their swords. The eldest pointed his blade at Ye Kun. “You brat! So, you saw through our plan! You misled us! Once we kill this magistrate, we’ll grind your bones to dust in vengeance for my brother!”

Ye Kun could only stand bewildered. What on earth was happening? Where was he, and why was this happening?

The five leapt forward with surprising agility; clearly they had some skill, or they would not have chosen this moment to act.

Batay’s face tightened, his hands gripping the armrests, struggling to maintain composure.

Ye Ming restrained his restless wife, shaking his head.

“Master Batay, it seems you’ve made enemies,” Zhang Jin remarked coolly. With a flick of his finger, a small silver sword appeared at his fingertip.

With another flick, the little sword flashed with silver light and shot out like lightning.

Zhang Jin propped his chin with one hand, the other slowly turning his finger. The silver sword arced gracefully through the air, trailing a silvery glow.

The five attackers, caught mid-leap, froze and dropped lifeless to the ground.

A closer look revealed a tiny blood hole at each temple.

Batay was aghast—so this was the power of the Celestial Web Institute: to kill with effortless grace, taking five lives with a mere wave of the hand.

The eldest of the assassins had come and gone in a flash; before anyone could even change expressions, the matter was resolved.

Ye Kun alone stood dumbfounded at the center.

Batay, regaining composure, stood and barked, “Guards! Seize this man and find out who is behind it!”

The guards rushed in. They hadn’t even drawn their swords before the assailants were dead. The man with the pierced throat was quickly subdued; he might yet be saved, but a physician would be needed, and there were none in Taixi County.

Thus ended the botched assassination—as quickly as it had begun. Were it not for Ye Kun standing in the middle, one might think it all a hallucination.

Ye Kun himself wondered if he’d imagined it.

Zhang Jin looked at Ye Kun and said to Batay, “If not for this child noticing something amiss, you might well have been wounded today.”

“You are quite right, Lord Zhang. I shall make sure this boy is properly commended,” Batay replied, rising to his feet.

“Ye Kun!”

The call snapped Ye Kun out of his daze. He faced Batay. “Yes, Magistrate.”

Batay smiled approvingly, “Well done. If you hadn’t deliberately missed to confuse the assassins, they would have been more alert. My safety today is entirely thanks to you. Speak—what reward do you desire? I will see you get what you wish.”

Everyone had heard the words of the would-be assassin’s leader; Ye Kun’s discovery was clear to all. With Batay’s explanation, the crowd suddenly understood.

So it was intentional! This child was so clever—even at his age, he possessed such cunning. Surely, he was destined for greatness in the capital.

Many had doubted him before, but now saw the deeper strategy.

Ye Kun hastily explained, “Sir, I didn’t… It was an accident.”

“So modest at such a young age! I am all the more impressed. Old Wei, your eye for talent is truly sharp.”

Old Wei beamed with pride, “It is my great fortune, indeed.”

Ye Kun was speechless. Couldn’t they stop? He wasn’t being modest—he spoke the truth. Why wouldn’t they believe him?

Brother, you must believe your elder brother.

Ye Qin, in the ranks, felt utterly defeated. So it wasn’t an accident—her brother had planned it all along. His archery surpassed her own; to strike a neck from that distance, not fatally, but leaving the man alive—she couldn’t have done it.

He must have practiced secretly while she slept, and hadn’t taught her. How could he do that? They were family, after all.

Feng Dian and Yuan Zhen, who had just been delighted, were crestfallen. The bald-headed boy had been praised by the magistrate, stealing the spotlight!

But the most wretched were the would-be assassin and his brother.

Ye Kun wished the earth would swallow him. Why had he drawn so much attention, even overshadowing his own brother? He wanted neither first place nor accolades. He was just an ordinary boy, wanting only to pursue his dreams honestly.

He disdained unearned glory, but no matter how he explained, they insisted he was merely being humble.

Around him, people whispered that he was neither arrogant nor proud. If he had truly discovered the plot himself, he might have been proud, but this was all an accident.

Batay saw Ye Kun’s uncertain expression and thought, naturally, a child would be somewhat shaken.

“Though the day has brought unpleasantness, a young hero has emerged in Taixi County. Ye Kun not only won first place in the literary contest, but also exposed assassins. I could not be more gratified,” Batay declared, leading an ovation—Ye Qin’s achievements forgotten.

Ye Kun’s attempts to explain were drowned out by applause. At last, he gave up, sneaking a glance at his brother, who was now ignoring him—surely angry.

As the applause faded, Old Wei smiled, “Today’s contests of both pen and sword have concluded perfectly. Ye Kun has claimed first in the literary trial, Ye Qin hit three targets for first in archery, but Ye Kun’s uncovering of the assassins and his clever archery are most worthy of praise.”

More applause rang out.

So be it—his own brother’s light was now entirely eclipsed. Would his brother ever trust him again?

Ye Ming and Dongmen Meng could not have been more pleased—their two children were both outstanding. How eagerly they looked forward to what they would accomplish as adults.