Soon it was time for dinner. Ye Yu stood on a stool to prepare dish after dish. Unfortunately, Chen Konghao's kitchen lacked variety in seasonings; otherwise, he definitely would have given them a taste of true Chinese culinary craftsmanship.
Ye Yu had always found it baffling that while the world background was clearly modeled after his own country, the names of places and people spanned every conceivable culture. When he heard Chen Konghao's name—a format instantly familiar to him in this foreign land—his affinity for the man nearly maxed out on the spot, not to mention the fact that he was the father of the original protagonist.
Moreover, most of the available dishes were foreign-style: steak, red wine, and curry rice. While decent enough, Ye Yu simply wasn't used to them.
"I never imagined a young master of Ye Yu's noble status would know how to stir-fry and cook," Chen Konghao said with a slight swallow, looking at the fragrant dishes Lox was carrying to the table, completely astonished.
"Neither did I," Lox replied with an equally shocked expression. What kind of dishes were these? He had never seen anything like them, even back when he worked in the Imperial Capital; the variety of preparation methods dazzled him.
"Wow, it smells so good, so amazing! Big Brother Ye Yu is so cool! Mom, can we eat now?" Little Akame and Kurome clapped their hands, drooling as they asked Molanzhu. Molanzhu could only offer a wry smile and comfort the two little girls. The sheer temptation of Ye Yu's cooking had completely drawn out their inner gluttons.
"Time to eat!" Ye Yu clapped his hands with satisfaction. Given the limited time and ingredients, he had only whipped up some simple home-style dishes, but the flavor was by no means inferior.
"Oh right, Lox, what was that note about?" Ye Yu asked between bites, swallowing his food before speaking. Along the way, he hadn't had a chance to ask about it.
"Moses wants to meet me at ten tonight by the eastern graveyard. He probably has something to tell me," Lox said, glancing at Chen Konghao and the others before pausing.
"Is that so? I'll go with you." Ye Yu was just about to pick up some food when he noticed several meat dishes were already empty. He looked over at Akame and Kurome, whose mouths were stuffed to the brim while they still desperately grabbed for more meat, and mentally cried out in dismay. How could these two be bottomless pits even as kids? He hurriedly launched his own attack on the remaining dishes.
It wasn't really their fault. Although Chen Konghao's home wasn't in the slums, buying the house in Guangxi Town had completely exhausted his savings, leaving the family rather poor. Meat was something they could only occasionally bring home when Chen Konghao managed to land a decent job at the Mercenary Guild. Therefore, no matter how much Chen Konghao and Molanzhu cared about their manners, they couldn't help indulging a bit more than usual.
Everyone chatted animatedly around the table, completely at ease with one another. Ye Yu occasionally tossed in a joke, even causing Molanzhu to cover her mouth in a stifled giggle, while Chen Konghao laughed heartily without a care for his image. Lox watched Ye Yu, deep in thought, while Akame and Kurome engaged in a fiercely matched tug-of-war over the last piece of meat.
After dinner, Chen Konghao and Molanzhu cleared the table and washed the dishes together, with Akame and Kurome trailing closely behind, insisting they wanted to help. Under the dim, warm light, the scene radiated a quiet domestic comfort.
Ye Yu rested his chin in his hand as he watched this warm, harmonious family. Infected by the cozy atmosphere, he thought of the old woman who had uncomplainingly cared for him back home—though regrettably, he had never been able to let her live out her final years in peace.
"Sigh," Ye Yu breathed a soft sigh. At least the tragic fates awaiting Akame and Kurome in the original story wouldn't stem from their own household. For some reason, that thought brought a measure of relief to his heart.
Night had long since swallowed the sky. The lights of Guangxi Town shone brightly against the backdrop of the dark, while the moon appeared somewhat dim. Very few pedestrians remained on the streets; apart from the taverns, most shops had already shut their doors.
Felt that time was running out, Ye Yu and Lox informed the Chen family that they had to leave, given their appointment at the eastern graveyard.
"Leaving already? Why don't you come find me after you finish your business? I'll show you around Guangxi Town, my treat," Chen Konghao said reluctantly. Having few friends since arriving in Guangxi Town—owing to his reserved nature—he had never quite managed to fit in at the Mercenary Guild.
"If there's a chance, definitely." Ye Yu, with the two little girls reluctantly clinging to his hands, nodded at Chen Konghao. He gently patted Akame and Kurome's chubby little cheeks, smiling at their slight flinch of annoyance. Even though Chen Konghao struggled to make ends meet himself, he had raised his two daughters to be plump and healthy.
"Here, take this," Ye Yu said, pulling twenty gold coins from his pocket and pressing them into Chen Konghao's hand. "You should quit being a mercenary; it's too dangerous. Your wife and daughters need you around. Go open a shop instead."
"Young Master, we're friends, you don't need to do this," Chen Konghao protested hastily, flustered and overwhelmed. He had never seen so much money in his entire life. If he hadn't had a favorable impression of Ye Yu and believed him to be a good person, Chen Konghao might have suspected Ye Yu was trying to buy his daughters as child brides.
Yet Ye Yu insisted stubbornly, pressing the coins upon him. Chen Konghao was not particularly eloquent, and after being gently steered around by Ye Yu's logic in a couple of turns, he dazedly accepted the gold.
At that moment, Chen Konghao gritted his teeth and said to Ye Yu, "When Akame and Kurome grow up, if they don't dislike Young Master and you fancy them, feel free to take them as your wives."
"Huh?" Ye Yu's face filled with question marks. Lox stood to one side, offering no opinion; Molanzhu covered her forehead with a black line across her brow; and Akame and Kurome looked at Chen Konghao with innocent curiosity, completely missing his meaning.
With an expression of grim determination, Chen Konghao declared, "To be honest, the world is too dangerous right now. Ever since the new Prime Minister took office, taxes have become increasingly oppressive, and social scum is multiplying. In the past, Emperor Modeer would still pay attention to these issues, but now, due to failing health, he cares less and less about state affairs, and all power is leaning toward the Prime Minister."
Taking a deep breath, Chen Konghao continued despondently, "If social order collapses, I'm afraid I won't be able to protect them."
Chen Konghao looked as though he might cry. Molanzhu gently pulled him into an embrace, comforting him with tender heartache. Ye Yu stared at them for a moment, then nodded.
"Don't worry, I'm heading to the Imperial Capital soon. If you run into any trouble, you can come find me there. Don't be so pessimistic—I will definitely help you." Ye Yu hadn't expected Chen Konghao to harbor such deep anxieties and plans. "Remember: an innocent man gets into trouble because of his wealth. Don't display these gold coins casually in public; you'd best exchange them for copper and silver coins before using them. Society isn't safe right now."
With that, Ye Yu ruffled Akame and Kurome's hair, nodded farewell to Molanzhu, and pushed open the door to step outside. Lox offered a polite, slight bow and followed in Ye Yu's footsteps. Inside the doorway, Akame and Kurome waved their hands and called out goodbyes, while Chen Konghao stood straight, watching Ye Yu's retreating figure in profound contemplation.
"Young Master, you only just met Mr. Chen Konghao. Why be so generous? Families like theirs are hardly uncommon," Lox finally voiced his question after walking a considerable distance. He simply couldn't fathom why Ye Yu would show such immense goodwill to a total stranger.
Without turning back, Ye Yu's mind drifted to the original story: Akame and Kurome would later wander the streets of the Imperial Capital, leading into subsequent events. But what kind of tragedy could possibly force Chen Konghao and Molanzhu to abandon their children? Based on their brief time together, he believed Chen Konghao was a man with principles and a strong sense of responsibility.
"Some things are hard to explain, Old Luo." Shaking his head, Ye Yu let out a sigh. With no clear clues for now, he could only take things one step at a time.
Before long, they arrived at the graveyard. Moses was already standing there, his back turned to them. Even though the darkness made it difficult for Lox to see clearly, he recognized Moses instantly—the most upright and kind-hearted young man, who had endured untold hardships under his command yet persevered to become a glorious imperial soldier. Yet here he was, relegated to guarding a city gate. It must have been his own disgrace that dragged Moses down. At that thought, Lox quickened his pace.
"Moses, why are you here so early? Is there something you wanted to tell me?" Lox tried to keep his voice neutral. Ye Yu silently stepped back behind him, scanning the gently swaying woods around them as his gaze grew increasingly sharp.
"Instructor, it's so good to see you're safe." Moses turned around with a smile. As Lox drew closer, Moses's hand silently drifted toward the sword at his waist. "May I ask... for my sake, would you please die here?"
Only five paces apart, Moses's words struck Lox's heart like a bolt of lightning. Though spoken softly, Lox heard every single word clearly. From the surrounding woods, grappling hooks came flying out toward Lox. Moses instantly drew his sword, a distorted smile on his face as he hacked at Lox.
Just as the blade was about to land, a dagger materialized in Lox's hand to block Moses's strike, while Ye Yu threw a flying knife from behind, instantly knocking down the incoming grappling claws.
"You said it well, Young Master." Lox slowly raised his eyes, burning with nameless fury, and bit out each word: "I lost. Can you leave Moses to me?"
"Of course. I happen to have some pent-up anger of my own," Ye Yu replied coolly from behind him. Seeing their grappling hooks had failed, the figures hidden in the surroundings all leaped out. Clad entirely in black with silver-gleaming weapons, they slowly closed in to encircle Ye Yu and Lox.
Ye Yu shook his head slightly. Akame and Kurome had possessed such a wonderful family, yet the original story never mentioned them. That meant some terrible misfortune must have befallen them.
This world needed to change.
With that thought, Ye Yu vanished, reappearing directly in front of a black-clad assassin. Before any of the others could utter a sound, the assassin beside Ye Yu clutched his throat as a thin stream of blood seeped through his fingers. A throwing knife traced a graceful arc in the air before landing steadily back in Ye Yu's hand.
"When did he move?!!"
"What kind of speed is that??"
"The intelligence was wrong! Damn it, this brat might be an alchemist!"
"Everyone, be careful!"
Only after seeing their fallen comrade did the assassins manage to cry out. Ye Yu turned around, his cold gaze sweeping across all the assassins. Those caught in his sight felt an instant chill run down their spines, as if needles were pricking their backs. A gust of wind blew past them from behind Ye Yu, grazing their throats like the scythe of the Grim Reaper, snagging their very souls.
Ye Yu covered the lower half of his face with his free hand, leaving only his ink-black, emotionless eyes exposed.
Some of the assassins began to tremble uncontrollably. Then one of them shouted at the top of his lungs, "Don't be afraid! There are so many of us—we could drown him just by spitting! Attack together!!!"
As if shattering some invisible shackle, the assassins all froze for a split second, then roared in unison as they charged straight at Ye Yu.
That's right, we have the numbers, plus plenty of high-level experts.
The opponent is just a brat. So what if he's an alchemist?
We'll all hack at him together—as long as it's not me who dies.
We can crush him into dust!
Thinking thus, the assassins lunged toward Ye Yu with desperate resolve, though a few quietly slowed their pace. Ye Yu watched them approach, closed his eyes—*how pathetic*—and then snapped them open, plunging directly into the crowd of assassins.
Simultaneously, Lox batted aside Moses's sword and launched a fierce, relentless counterattack without the slightest trace of mercy, speaking in a stern voice: "Moses, is this the extent of your strength? With such muddy, worthless martial arts, how dare you challenge me, your instructor?"
Moses struggled to parry Lox's onslaught, pressing his lips tightly together while feeling utterly shocked. Even during the years Lox was being hunted, Moses hadn't slacked off in his training; how could the gap between them still be this vast?
Listening to the continuous screams echoing from behind Lox—that brat must be some kind of monster, taking heads amidst a mob of enemies as easily as reaching into a pocket—had the world really changed this fast?
Expressionless, Lox batted Moses's sword from his hand, slammed his other palm against Moses's face, and drove him straight down into the ground.
On the other side, Ye Yu stood amidst a pool of blood, watching Lox and Moses's battle with cold eyes. Corpses already littered his feet, and his clothes were stained red with blood. Like a predator fresh from the hunt, he paid no mind to the crimson splatters.
Pinned to the ground, Moses stared with bloodshot eyes. These men were subordinates he had cultivated for years, his trusted confidants, his bargaining chips for climbing to the upper echelons of the Imperial Capital. Now, everything was gone. The agony wracking his body choked off his voice, but Moses still strained his hoarse vocal cords and screamed, "What are you waiting for?! Come out and save me!"
Lox frowned and quickly applied pressure, squeezing Moses until he let out a shriek of pure agony. Suddenly, two pillar-like appendages lashed out toward Lox and Ye Yu at terrifying speed. Lox instantly withdrew his hand and dodged sideways, while Ye Yu blocked the incoming attack with his blade before leaping aside.
"I'm sorry, Young Master. I failed to kill that bastard." Lox stood behind Ye Yu and bowed in apology.
"It's no big deal. But if you want him dead, let's deal with the ambushers together first." Ye Yu tilted his head indifferently. Leaving Moses to Lox was fine; Lox wouldn't let scum like that survive.
"Hey, hey, hey! You guys hit so hard, I'm going to have a hard time reporting back!" From the woods beside the graveyard stepped a figure dressed in monk's robes, his face as ferocious as an Asura's. He was still retracting his hands—the very arms that had just launched the surprise attack on Ye Yu and Lox.
His straw sandals crunched softly against the ground. Though complaining, he showed not a shred of tension as he sauntered over to Moses's side and said with a troubled expression, "If you'd just called me out earlier, none of this would have happened. You really brought this on yourself."
Lox stared into the monk's hawk-like eyes and spoke in a solemn voice: "I didn't expect you to show up. Sirom of the Four Rakshasas."