Chapter 21: Reciprocity

As a modern soul in this ancient world, Xu Yi couldn't deny his curiosity about places like brothels and pleasure houses—those infamous dens of vice and entertainment.

But he politely declined the enthusiastic invitations from his peers.

First, it was too expensive. Even if someone else was footing the bill now, he'd inevitably owe them a favor later.

Second, he was too young—way too young.

After some idle banter, Xu Yi hoisted a log onto his shoulder and resumed his grueling training.

At noon, Old General Chen hosted a modest feast.

Xu Yi shared a few cups of wine with him.

The brewing techniques of this era were rudimentary, so the alcohol was weak—barely enough to warm the throat.

By afternoon, Xu Yi was back at it, pushing his body to its limits.

He needed to grow stronger—fast.

His relentless discipline earned nods of respect from the hardened soldiers around him.

As dusk fell, Old General Chen pressed several packets of medicinal herbs into Xu Yi's hands. "Steep these in your bathwater. They'll ease the muscle aches and improve circulation."

Xu Yi bowed in thanks before making his way back to the Xu estate, every fiber of his body screaming in protest. The pain was brutal—like he'd been trampled by horses. A hot bath with the general's herbs promised some relief.

He was halfway through planning his evening soak when—

A bloodcurdling shriek split the air behind him.

Xu Yi whirled around—

A runaway carriage was hurtling toward him, barely three paces away.

Ice flooded his veins.

Instinct took over. He threw himself sideways, hitting the cobblestones hard and rolling like a seasoned soldier.

The carriage thundered past, its wheels kicking up dust that stung his eyes.

"Young master! Are you hurt?"

"That horse looked spooked!"

"Heavens, that was close!"

Bystanders swarmed around him, helping him up with concerned murmurs.

"Thank you, I'm fine," Xu Yi assured them, brushing dirt from his cloak—the only casualty of the incident.

But as he walked away, his eyes narrowed to slits.

That was no accident.

First, the carriage had accelerated suddenly—if it had been galloping wildly, he'd have heard it coming.

Second, the driver hadn't even tried to pull the reins.

Someone had just tried to kill him.

A cold realization settled in his gut. Had that carriage connected, he'd be crippled—or worse.

The Chang mother-son duo? Who else would want him dead?

This changed everything. He needed to be sharper, stronger—survival was the only law that mattered now.

The Xu estate was eerily quiet when he returned, most servants conspicuously absent.

A maid scurrying through the moon gate startled at the sight of him. "Fourth Young Master! You're not at Champion's Pavilion?"

Xu Yi frowned. "Why would I be?"

"The First Young Master aced his palace examination today! His impromptu poem pleased His Majesty so much... he's been appointed to the Hanlin Academy!" Her voice dropped to a whisper. "The master is hosting a grand banquet to celebrate. They took nearly all the household staff to help serve..."

She caught herself too late—of course the unwanted fourth son wouldn't be invited.

Xu Yi's laugh was bitter. Even the servants had been summoned, yet no one had bothered to tell him.

How thoroughly he'd been erased from this family.

Xu Gan's luck was sickening. At court they said: First Hanlin, then the Grand Secretariat. With Left Minister Xu paving his way, that bastard would climb the ranks like a monkey up a tree.

Shaking his head, Xu Yi retreated to his quarters. He'd eaten at Champion's Pavilion twice before—their braised pork was overrated anyway.

The hot bath worked miracles. Xu Yi was dead asleep when raucous laughter and stumbling footsteps shattered the night's peace.

Xu Ziming's retinue had returned—drunk off their gourds, judging by the slurred shouts.

Xu Yi pulled his blanket over his head. Tomorrow's training would be brutal enough without—

BANG BANG BANG!

His door shuddered under violent pounding.

"Xu Yi! Open this damn door!" Xu Gan's voice.

Then Xu Mao's: "We know you're in there, bastard! Open up or I'll kick it down!"

Xu Yi considered ignoring them, but the racket would only worsen. He yanked the door open.

"Have you two lost your minds? It's the middle of the—"

Xu Mao, face flushed with liquor, jabbed a finger at him. "How dare you speak to the First Young Master like that! He's a seventh-rank Hanlin compiler now—you should be kowtowing!"

Xu Yi nearly laughed. In the capital, seventh-rank officials were a copper a dozen. "Piss off. Wake me again and I'll chop off your knocking hand."

"Threatening an imperial official?" Xu Mao spluttered. "First Brother, have him flogged thirty strokes!"

Xu Gan waved a magnanimous hand. "No need. Tonight's too joyous for punishments." His smile turned venomous. "Besides, I brought our dear fourth brother... dinner."

He tossed a greasy paper bundle at Xu Yi's feet. It split open, revealing gnawed bones.

"Clumsy you," Xu Gan tutted. "Guess you'll have to eat it off the floor like the dog you are."

Xu Mao howled with laughter. "What will the actual dogs eat now?"

"Let them fast," Xu Gan said. "Fourth Brother here barely gets table scraps as is."

Xu Yi's fists clenched—then relaxed. A slow smile spread across his face.

"Such generosity deserves reciprocation."

He ducked back inside, emerging moments later with his chamber pot.

"A humble gift for my esteemed brothers."

Before they could react, he upended the contents.

The warm liquid hit Xu Gan square in the face. Xu Mao got a direct splash to the mouth.

They stumbled back, gagging, slipping in their panic to land ass-first in the courtyard filth.

Xu Yi stalked forward, tipping the last golden drops onto Xu Mao's forehead.

Damn. Should've drunk more water earlier.

Chapter 22: Apologies for the Strong Flavor

"You bastard half-breed! You—gag—you poured piss on—urp—" Xu Mao retched violently.

Xu Gan spat repeatedly, face green. "I'm an imperial—ptui—official! You'll—blargh—"

"Consider it a hangover cure," Xu Yi said cheerfully. "Virgin boy's urine has medicinal properties, you know. Though..." He sniffed. "I may have been a tad dehydrated. Apologies for the... potency."

He kicked the bones toward them. "Bon appétit," before slamming the door.

Their enraged screams were cut short when Xu Yi reappeared, chamber pot in hand.

"Thirsty from all that yelling?" He gave the pot a suggestive slosh.

The brothers fled like scalded cats.

Dawn brought no summons from Xu Ziming. Either the drunken fools had passed out before tattling, or—more likely—they were plotting worse retaliation.

Xu Yi trained twice as hard at the general's compound that day, his muscles screaming protest.

That night, he barricaded his door and windows.

Exhausted, he pulled back his blanket—

A black streak launched at his face.

Training paid off. His hand shot out, seizing the thrashing shape mid-air.

Cold scales. A triangular head.

Snake.

The creature twisted, fangs glistening. Xu Yi hurled it against the wall, then crushed its skull with a bedpost.

His hands shook—not from fear, but fury.

That was no common garden snake. Its jet-black body and aggressive strike screamed venomous.

Xu Gan and Xu Mao's work, no doubt.

No proof meant no confrontation. But this debt would be repaid—with interest.

Next morning, Xu Yi marched into General Chen's dining hall with the dead serpent wrapped in cloth.

The maids shrieked when he unveiled it.

"My apologies!" Xu Yi said quickly. "It's quite dead."

Their shock at his courtesy to servants was almost comical.

General Chen's face darkened. "A Black Reaper. Where did you—"

"My bed," Xu Yi said flatly.

The general's chopsticks clattered to the table.

Silence. Then—

"That's a Daluo assassin's weapon," the old warrior growled. "Their arrows are dipped in its venom. One scratch, and you'd be dead before moonrise."

Xu Yi's blood turned to ice.

Someone in this house wanted him erased—permanently.