C20 Disaster

As dawn broke, a new journey commenced for the travelers.

Rejuvenated after a night's rest, everyone was brimming with vigor. Mengtian, though still reclined on his stretcher, had come to his senses. He listened intently as the Fang brothers narrated Ye Bufan's valiant defeat of the Wind Lightning Leopard, his admiration for Ye Bufan growing by the minute.

By midday, they had summited the hill, and from the peak, they could glimpse the distant silhouette of Sunset City. The city walls stretched on endlessly, and even from their high vantage point, the end was nowhere in sight. The city's skyline boasted numerous towering structures, dwarfing those of Cloud Peak City in grandeur. Though both were cities in name, the disparity was akin to that between a county-level city and a municipality directly under the central government.

Situated on the edge of East King State, Luoxia Town served as a crucial crossroads to Central State, Southern King Province, and Northern King Province. Its strategic importance to East King State's defenses lent it an air of significance, matched only by its bustling commerce, thanks to the many merchants that frequented the area, making it a hub of prosperity.

"Let's set off. We'll make it to Sunset Town before nightfall, and I'll treat everyone to a feast!" Ye Bufan declared, rising from their brief respite.

Yunqing got to his feet, grinning broadly. "You're on the hook now. I plan to take full advantage today and have a real feast at your expense!" The strain from the encounter with the enigmatic elder the day before had completely vanished from his expression.

A dark cloud meandered across the otherwise bright sky, casting the sun behind a thick veil of clouds. As Ye Bufan and his companions reached the base of the mountain, a gentle drizzle began to fall, offering a refreshing respite from the summer heat.

Traveling in such weather should have been a delight, yet the oppressive clouds cast a somber mood over the travelers, a heaviness that was hard to shake...

At long last, just as dusk approached, they arrived at the gates of Sunset City, only to find them firmly closed.

"Who goes there? State your names!" bellowed a guard from atop the city wall, pointing down at Ye Bufan and his party.

"Sir, we hail from Qingyang Town and are en route to Central State for the Aoyun Sect selection trials. We beseech you to open the gates and allow us to lodge for the night," Faang Mingjie called out to the watchtower.

"Wait a moment!" the guard bellowed before retreating inside.

Seconds later, the gate creaked open, revealing two rows of guards stationed on either side. Clad in dark armor, their right hands rested on the hilts of their heavy swords, ready to draw at a moment's notice.

Their disciplined military bearing exuded an imposing aura of authority without a hint of anger.

The group proceeded with caution through the city gate, feeling the weight of an invisible pressure as they passed between the guards.

Once inside the city, the persistent drizzle showed no sign of abating. Yunqing murmured, "There must be trouble brewing in Sunset City for it to be under such tight security."

Ye Bufan shared the sentiment. Despite Sunset City being a frontier stronghold of East King State, such heavy defenses seemed unusual, especially at the inner city gate. Exiting the city would likely prove difficult.

Faang Mingjie, less preoccupied with such concerns, sheepishly remarked, "Mr. Ye, we did make it into the city before nightfall..." Over the past two days, Faang Mingjie had come to appreciate Ye Bufan's easygoing nature. Their youthful spirits made their conversations more relaxed.

Ye Bufan glanced at him and suggested, "Let's find a place to stay and grab a bite to eat."

As night fell and the drizzle persisted, the streets were sparsely populated and eerily quiet.

They eventually came upon a grand door plaque bearing three golden characters: Returning Cloud Pavilion.

The three-story Returning Cloud Pavilion stood out prominently. Ye Bufan mused that such a structure would have been torn down in his previous life's secular world for disrupting the urban landscape.

"Let's stay here," he decided, undeterred by the establishment's grandeur and the likely expense.

Faang Mingjie, noting the potential cost, hesitated before proposing, "Maybe we should check out another place?"

Yunqing cast a dismissive glance at Faang Mingjie and remarked, "One look at his outfit and it's clear he's a rich kid. No need to pinch pennies on his account." With that, she strode toward the entrance.

In stark contrast to the quiet streets, the Returning Cloud Pavilion buzzed with activity. The moment they stepped through the doors, a cacophony of sounds greeted them.

"Gentlemen, right this way!" a server greeted them with enthusiasm.

"We'd like a private room," Yunqing requested, her delicate brows furrowing in distaste for the din.

The server's face fell. "I apologize, miss, but our private rooms are all occupied. Would you consider..." His voice trailed off as he glanced toward an empty table in the corner.

Ye Bufan gave a nod of assent. "The main hall will do."

They followed the server to a corner table. As he was about to recite the menu, Yunqing interjected, "Bring us your specialties, the best dishes you've got. And the finest wine—start with five pots."

As she ordered the wine, Yunqing counted their party. Mengtian had managed to walk into the city with Fang Mingqiang's assistance, but drinking was out of the question for him, so she requested only five pots.

The server nodded and retreated, reassured by Ye Bufan and Yunqing's attire that they could afford their order. These days, it wasn't rare to see young people like them passing through, all heading to Central State for the Aoyun Sect's selection. It seemed this group was no different.

The hall was filled with youths of similar age. Ye Bufan couldn't help but muse, "The Aoyun Sect's appeal is truly something else!"

Returning Cloud Pavilion lived up to its reputation for quick service. The server had barely left before the dishes were served.

The Fang brothers had never experienced such a high-end establishment. The array of dishes before them was a feast for the eyes. Had it not been for the crowd in the hall, they might have forgone chopsticks altogether and dived in hands-first. Even with some restraint, they devoured their meal with ravenous gusto.

Mengjie topped off everyone's wine before raising her glass. "Mr. Ye, this toast is for you. Thank you for rescuing us and for using your precious Wood Spirit Pill to save Tian'er!" With that, she tilted her head back and emptied her cup in one gulp.

"Meeting is predestined; there's no need for debts of gratitude or grievances," Ye Bufan replied, mirroring her action by finishing his wine.

As they exchanged cups, Ye Bufan lifted his glass and announced, "Tomorrow, after we depart from East King State, our paths will diverge. Should destiny allow, let's reunite in Central State."

Faang Mingjie cradled his cup, pausing before drinking. "Mr. Ye, if you don't mind, we'd like to join you on your journey to the Northern King Province before we all head to Central State together. We may not be as powerful as you, but we're more than capable of lending a hand and running errands for you."

Upon hearing Faang Mingjie's words, Fang Mingqiang and Mengjie both nodded emphatically in agreement.

Ye Bufan appreciated their desire to express gratitude but was reluctant to involve them in the troubles he'd face with the Situ family from East King. He half-joked, "What, have you developed a taste for my hospitality? Still looking to feast at my expense? Wait for me in Central State—I'll make sure to join you for the Aoyun Sect's selection."

Seeing Ye Bufan's resolve, the group silently acquiesced, draining their cups in unison.

Amidst their spirited battle with the feast laid out before them, Ye Bufan's face suddenly soured. The neighboring table's patrons, emboldened by alcohol, were growing louder.

"Damn, we might not even make it out of the city tomorrow!"

"It's all because of that Ye Bufan. If he hadn't messed with the Situ family's betrothed, we wouldn't be in this mess with the whole East King State hunting him down!"

"Still, it's said that the Ye family of Cloud Peak City was quite renowned, but the Situ family dispatched five warriors at the Ninth Rank of Qi Stage and wiped the Ye family off the East King State map in less than half a day. The power of the Situ family is truly formidable..."

It wasn't only the Ye family that was caught up in the turmoil; I've heard that the Yun family from the City Lord's Mansion has been dragged into this mess as well. As it stands, the interim city lord of Cloud Peak City is none other than Lin Shanfeng, the head of the Lin family, which was once ranked alongside the Ye and Yun families as one of the three great clans."

At this point, Ye Bufan barely registered the continued chatter of the people behind him. A sharp pang of pain clenched his heart, and the veins in his right hand, which gripped his chopsticks, bulged alarmingly. With a sudden, forceful squeeze, the chopsticks snapped in two.

It was then that the others noticed the distress on Ye Bufan's face and quickly inquired about what was wrong.

Without a word, Ye Bufan tossed two gold coins onto the table, rose to his feet, and said tersely, "We'll talk outside." He made a beeline for the exit.

The light rain persisted on the streets, and there, a lone figure walked silently in the downpour, letting the rain wash over his face. As the sound of footsteps approached from behind, Ye Bufan didn't bother to look back. Instead, he simply raised his hand, signaling them to leave him be, and continued his aimless wandering.

A voice inside him screamed in denial: They must be spouting lies. Wasn't it in the letter that the Situ family wouldn't come to claim Yun Ruoshuang's hand in marriage for another month? It couldn't possibly be happening so soon!

Yet, if that wasn't the case, why was Sunset City under such tight security? And how did the patrons at the next table come to know of his involvement with Yun Ruoshuang?

While Ye Bufan was still grappling with the reality of the situation, a posted notice on the street corner ruthlessly crushed all his illusions.

Wanted: Ye Bufan, 16 years old, of Cloud Peak City's Human Clan, and Yun Ruoshuang, the city lord's daughter, are fugitives. The Ye family has been decimated for harboring and abetting Ye Bufan. A bounty of one thousand taels of silver is offered for Ye Bufan's capture, and five hundred taels for any leads. Beside the notice was a sketch of Ye Bufan's face.