Chapter 17
Seventh Yue
The drums started to play, and the whole stage was set.
The panel of judges sat in the east-side row, all dressed in neat robes, starting with Yuwen Xi, Yuwen Gao, Yuwen Hao, the third young master Yuwen Huai, and the fourth young master Yuwen Yue.
Prime Minister Wei Guang and the Wei family elders were present, along with the Wei family's young master, Wei Shu Ye, and the young princes Wei Shu You, Wei Shu Hao, and Zhao Xi Feng. At the back, on an elevated platform looking grand and magnificent, sat the Great Summer Emperor, along with Young Prince Yuan Song, Prince Yuan Che, and the two imperial concubines of the Wei State. Also present were the representatives from northern Yanbei, including Young Prince Yan Xun and his brothers, Yan Ting and Yan Shi.
From Southern Liang came the dazzling visitors, including the Liang King and Young Prince Xiao Ce.
Young Prince Xiao Ce was wearing splendid garments: a yellow-gold robe embroidered with South Liang's autumn leaves and flowers at its hem.
A dramatic entrance followed, as two young maids in front of Xiao Ce threw autumn leaves and yellow-red flowers along his path. Xiao Ce didn't miss a chance to strike a graceful pose, flashing a foxy smile in front of the Emperor and the royals.
The Wei Emperor was slightly entertained, smiling at the display, which made everyone turn to look at him and bow in respect. Meanwhile, other onlookers were stunned, their eyes darting back and forth between the Emperor and Crown Prince Xiao Ce.
Yuan Song kicked his brother Yuan Che's leg and said, "This is an unbelievable sight."
Yuan Che replied, "You bet. I'm about to throw a stone to make him stumble."
Yuan Song and Yuan Che chuckled as they waved at the young prince of Liang, who was parading himself with great flair before the crowd. Xiao Ce finally sat down, looking proud and surveying the crowd with his narrowed eyes and foxy, handsome face.
This was Xiao Ce's first visit to the Wei State, and it was also the first time the people had seen the Crown Prince of Liang. He had already made quite an impression.
At the center of the arena was an open square stage. Hundreds of spectators stood on the north and south sides, while the junior players, dressed in their neat fighting costumes, stood on the west side.
The Great Summer Dynasty hosted its annual mid-autumn lantern festival, which included the Chinese Jian swordsmanship competition, now about to begin.
Junior fighters and players had traveled from various parts of the empire, as the competition was open to all.
After the introduction of the judges and a brief welcome speech by the Wei Emperor, a commentator came forward to explain the competition mechanics for the amateur players: an elimination round, semifinals, quarterfinals, a small exhibition of swordsmanship by the Yuwen household, and finally, the championship round.
The usual rewards for the winners were as follows: 300 kilograms of gold for first place, 150 kilograms for second place, and 75 kilograms for third place. However, this year, in addition to gold, the Wei Emperor had earlier announced a prized Jian sword for the champion. The audience and players were ecstatic upon hearing about this prized sword. The Imperial messenger held the sword aloft with both hands, displaying it to the crowd.
Additionally, the Emperor announced that whoever received the sword would be assigned to the Yuwen household to serve the fourth young master, Yuwen Yue. The Emperor acknowledged Yuwen Hao's son and formally introduced Yuwen Yue as the future heir to the Eyes of God.
After the elimination round, 10 junior sword players advanced to the semifinals, which narrowed the field to six. The quarterfinals left four sword players remaining. Yuwen Gao and Yuwen Xi took note of a very young boy, only seven years old, who had made it through the elimination round, the semifinals, and now the quarterfinals.
"This boy is gifted," remarked Yuwen Gao, referring to the youngest player, the seven-year-old boy.
Yuwen Xi raised an eyebrow at Yuwen Gao and said, "I will buy his freedom whether he wins this tournament or not. I will just let him join my envoy."
The two grandmasters began to bet on the future of the seven-year-old boy.
In the quarterfinals, both matches were taking place simultaneously.
The first match was between the seven-year-old boy and a twelve-year-old boy, both fighting for a place in the championship match.
The second match, between a ten-year-old boy and a fourteen-year-old boy, also drew attention but not as much as the first.
The Great Summer Emperor clapped his hands when, at last, the seven-year-old disarmed the twelve-year-old boy, who dropped his sword in the air. The seven-year-old caught it, delighting the Emperor. Even the Wei family elders began gossiping and betting on their favored seven-year-old.
Yuwen Yue, too, was intently focused on the young boy. Somewhere in the back of his mind, as he closed his eyes, he recognized the cloud hands technique, realizing that the boy's martial arts blended with his swordplay in a way that felt familiar.
When Yuwen Yue opened his eyes, the match had already ended, and the winner had been announced as moving on to the championship round.
The seven-year-old stood formal and composed, locking eyes with Yuwen Yue. Yuwen Yue did not look away; instead, he raised his eyebrows and returned the young boy's gaze.
Then, before the main event, there was an exhibition match from the Yuwen household, the hosts of the tournament. Yuwen Yue, dressed in elegant blue Hanfu robes, with cold-blooded eyes and a calm posture, captured everyone's attention.
It was the first time the noble Wei crowd had seen him in person. On stage as well was his famous cousin, Yuwen Huai, standing confidently in his forest-green Hanfu robes, his masculine physique, fierce eyes, and protective aura drawing everyone's gaze.
Yuwen Hao was lively, and even the Emperor of the Summer Dynasty didn't expect these two young men to take the stage, providing the audience with a moment of entertainment.
The rest of the royals were equally attentive. The prince from Northern Yanbei, Yan Xun, stared at Yuwen Yue and smirked. Xiao Ce raised his eyebrows, flashing his foxy eyes toward Yuwen Yue, while Yuwen Huai also smirked at his cousin.
Yuwen Xi, proud of his son, hoped this exhibition might prompt the Emperor to bestow rewards upon both his nephew and son.
This was Yuwen Yue's first public appearance, and while all eyes were on him, Yuwen Huai already well-known and a crowd favorite, naturally commanded attention.
The two bowed to each other and assumed their duel positions. Yuwen Huai, smirking with narrow eyes, pointed his sword at Yuwen Yue, trying to anticipate his cousin's first move. But instead of waiting, Huai made the first strike. Being taller and older, Yuwen Huai had the advantage. Yuwen Yue creased his brows and, with a cold expression, struggled to counterattack.
Yuwen Huai grew more confident, launching a second strike, nearly causing Yuwen Yue to drop his sword.
Despite maintaining his cold look, Yuwen Yue seemed aware of the loud cheers for his cousin and the growing disappointment from those watching his failed counters.
Yuwen Hao, however, was still amused by his son's strategy, believing Yuwen Yue would eventually counter Yuwen Huai's attacks.
On the third attack, Yuwen Yue finally countered, and the two went back and forth. Yuwen Huai continued to dominate, while Yuwen Yue maintained his stance as the underdog throughout the match.
The Emperor clapped for Yuwen Huai, clearly enjoying the display. Meanwhile, Yuwen Yue wasn't receiving the loudest cheers, as he appeared to be holding back.
Yuwen Yue seemed to be playing with his cousin, while Yuwen Huai was giving it his all, taking the exhibition very seriously, until...
Yuwen Yue was knocked to the ground, and the blade nearly grazed his jade-like neck when Yuwen Huai made a mistake that almost killed him. At that moment, a young boy stepped in and saved Yuwen Yue from the dangerous blade, countering the attack and defending him. Yuwen Yue remained calm, his eyes not betraying much surprise as he looked at the boy in front of him. Yuwen Huai, realizing he had almost killed Yuwen Yue, dropped his sword in shock.
Yuwen Hao stood up, relieved to see that his son was safe. Others were also surprised by the boy's intervention, not fully realizing what had happened. The Emperor quietly observed, waiting to see what would unfold next, as the three stood still, looking at one another. The seven-year-old boy turned to Yuwen Yue and said:
"Young master, please get up and finish the exhibition match." His eyes, unblinking, reflected his sincere desire to help. He extended his hand to Yuwen Yue. However, Yuwen Yue, due to his aristocratic nature, did not accept the offer, standing up on his own, his cold eyes fixed on the boy.
Once Yuwen Yue was on his feet, Yuwen Huai bowed to the crowd and announced, "This exhibition match is over." The crowd erupted in cheers for Yuwen Huai's small triumph over the heir to the Eyes of God.
Yuwen Yue bowed his head, showing good sportsmanship, and glanced at his father, Yuwen Hao, who was impressed by his son's underdog strategy. Yuwen Hao knew that his son was wise, capable of deceiving others by concealing his strengths and using them at the right time, even inspiring others to intervene.
This kind of skill was hard to come by, and it also revealed the hearts of others. Yuwen Hao now knew that the seven-year-old boy would be the perfect bodyguard for Yuwen Yue. Whether or not the boy won the tournament, he was already on Yuwen Hao's list, and a plan was forming.
Meanwhile, the Emperor acknowledged Yuwen Huai with a nod, brushing aside the near-death incident to prevent causing panic among the crowd.
The show must go on, and so the host announced the final match, the championship round, where the seven-year-old boy appeared again on stage, facing the ten-year-old boy. They bowed and took their fighting positions. The seven-year-old boy was so fast that, in a flash, the ten-year-old didn't realize a sword was already pointed at his neck, game over.
The match was brief, as the ten-year-old was no match for the seven-year-old.
Yuwen Yue, impressed for the first time, realized that this seven-year-old boy would be tied to him until the day he inherited the Eyes of God.
Yuwen Gao was the first to comment, saying, "You can't buy the freedom seal from the Emperor; the boy will be under the Green Hills courtyard starting now."
Yuwen Xi smirked at Yuwen Gao and replied, "Did I say anything earlier?" His mocking tone and smile made them seem like children competing over a toy. Now that the winner was declared, and the Emperor's decree would take effect, the boy was to be assigned to the Green Hills courtyard.
The Emperor declared the winner and took the time to acknowledge Yuwen Yue, naming him the seven-year-old's master from that day forward. The seven-year-old accepted the sword from the Imperial messenger, bowed before the Great Summer Emperor, and then bowed to Yuwen Yue. Yuwen Yue, in turn, nodded to the new champion.
The Jian sword awarded to the boy was adult-sized, so Yuwen Yue asked his servant, Yue Lui, to help carry it. Yuwen Yue also carried his own Po Yue Jian sword, which was slightly longer than he was tall, but he managed it without drawing attention to the type of sword it was.
Yuwen Yue had not used this sword in the earlier exhibition match because he had no intention of making an impression on the crowd. Instead, he employed an underdog strategy to avoid upsetting Yuwen Xi and the elite members of the Red Hills courtyard family. He also wanted to avoid any envy from the Green Hills courtyard, something his father, Yuwen Hao, understood well.
After the crowd had dispersed, leaving only the royals and elite family members to attend the banquet prepared by the Red Hills courtyard, the seven-year-old boy approached Yuwen Yue. The youngsters remained, except for the Crown Prince of Liang, Xiao Ce, who bid his farewells. Xiao Ce approached Yuwen Yue but didn't say a word, only giving him a foxy-eyed glance, as if he had become fond of him.
Yuwen Yue, in polite gesture, bowed to him, and Xiao Ce, looking as fresh as ever, nodded and departed, his exit as grand as his entrance.
The young Crown Prince of Yanbei, Yan Xun, then came forward to congratulate Yuwen Yue, who seemed like the real winner, despite not having participated in the final match.
"In this match, you won! Thanks to this seven-year-old boy's bravery and your underdog strategy," Yan Xun said, playfully giving Yuwen Yue a light punch on the shoulder. Though this wasn't their first encounter, Yan Xun occasionally visited the Green Hills courtyard and sometimes joined Yuwen Yue for tea ceremonies.
Yuwen Yue thanked Yan Xun with a bow of his head, while Yan Xun, his cheerful face and sword-like brows relaxed, turned to his companion, Feng Mian. "Come, let's attend the banquet at Red Hills courtyard and paint the town red afterward!" he exclaimed with a laugh.
That night, the boy's statement of freedom was purchased from his guardian, who had also hired him from a group of ninja assassins. His guardian did not know the boy's past, particularly the details of his father and younger brother. The palace guards were scheduled to escort the boy to his new household early the next morning.
The seven-year-old acted wisely, refusing to dwell on his past. However, he hoped that by cultivating a life of goodness, he would one day find his brother, whom he had last seen at the Shangxi port or the Luoyang Shaolin temple, where their family had been together.
The next day, the palace guards arrived on horseback, allowing the boy to ride in the carriage as they transferred him to the Yuwen household. He hoped for the best in his future and sensed a positive energy from his new young master, Yuwen Yue.
When they arrived at the Yuwen household, the boy, though initially sleepy, perked up as he stepped out of the carriage. The palace guards passed through the usual interrogation process and were allowed into the Green Hills courtyard, where Yuwen Hao's servants greeted them.
Though Yuwen Yue did not show much excitement, he promised himself to treat this new bodyguard differently from others, the one who had protected him during the exhibition match was now in his household.
Yuwen Yue straightened his back as he awaited the boy's arrival, having already picked a name for him: "The Seventh Yue" or "Yue Qi."
When the seven-year-old boy arrived, he bowed to Yuwen Hao, the master of the Eyes of God, who nodded and instructed his servants to take the boy to the inner temple, where Yuwen Yue was waiting.
Yuwen Yue, aware of the boy's arrival, spoke from his place without turning around: "Who told you to counter Yuwen Huai's blade at my neck?"
"Fourth young master, I had to do what I had to do."
"What made you do it?" Yuwen Yue asked again.
"Because I knew that you might die by accident, and if that happened, I wouldn't have been able to serve you or come to your courtyard today." It was not the kind of statement one would expect from a seven-year-old, but Yuwen Yue was somewhat impressed by the boy's determination to protect him.
"And who told you I couldn't defend myself, that you had to intervene?"
"No one, young master. As I said, I just did what I had to do."
"And will you keep doing it?"
"As long as I am to protect my young master, I will."
"Even if it means your life's end?" Yuwen Yue turned around to face the seven-year-old.
"Yes, young master," the boy replied, bowing his head.
"You may look at me," said Yuwen Yue. The seven-year-old boy looked up at him, and his eyes seemed to catch the early morning light, forcing him to blink and rub his eyes. Yuwen Yue appeared radiant, like the sun, dressed in a white robe with dark blue, quilted embroidery.
Yuwen Yue glanced at the boy's attire and, feeling a brief moment of softness, gave him a look of mercy, though he spoke coldly: "Your name shall be Yue Qi. You will bear the title of the seventh Yue, and from this day forward, you will guard me day and night."
"Understood, young master."
"Take him to his room, and do not forget his uniform. Yue Qi must return here and stay by my side," Yuwen Yue instructed, dismissing his servants along with the boy.
A woman watched the boy, carefully observing his movements. She already knew how he had arrived and his age, but she couldn't believe her eyes. He reminded her of her lost seventh son.
She wanted to cry and embrace him, but she realized that such an action might put him in danger. She didn't know what had happened to him or his father. The woman decided that she would slowly uncover the truth of their missing years, though she wasn't sure if this boy was truly her lost son.
Clutching a jade stone tightly against her chest, she was overwhelmed with emotion.
After changing into his new clothes, Yue Qi returned to his master, and from that moment on, he became Yuwen Yue's personal guard. The Jian sword awarded to him after the match was a bit too large for him, so Yuwen Yue, upon his return, provided him with a more suitable sword, one that fit his small but strong hands.
Kneeling on the ground, Yue Qi accepted the new sword.
Yuwen Yue nodded, and Yue Qi stood up. He unsheathed the sword to inspect it; its blade was clean and sharp. Satisfied, he returned the sword to its sheath and bowed to thank his young master.
The next day, the woman approached Yuwen Yue and Yue Qi. To Yuwen Yue, she was a master deserving of respect, so he greeted her with reverence, and Yue Qi mimicked his master's gesture.
"What brings you here, servant mother?" Yuwen Yue asked.
"You have a new bodyguard. What is his name?"
"His name is Yue Qi."
"What a wonderful name, Yue'er. Like a seventh son."
"Indeed," Yuwen Yue replied.
Yue Qi listened quietly, sensing that the woman was gazing at him with affection.
She approached him and said, "Yue Qi, you may call me 'Mother.' The six other bodyguards of the young master call me Mother."
Not fully understanding the significance of her words, Yue Qi smiled and replied, "Mother."
Yuwen Yue did not react to their exc
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