C22 Ni Shangxue

Gene Castle?

The image of a humble farmhouse sprang unbidden into Ye Kong's mind.

Custer, the brute, and Chang, the frail girl.

A family that oozed eeriness from every corner.

The memory of Chang crying, pleading with him to take her away, made Ye Kong's heart ache.

A cough from the old drunkard broke his reverie.

"I've got a story for you!"

"Okay."

Ye Kong wasn't particularly interested in much else, but the enigmatic Gene Castle piqued his curiosity.

The old drunkard savored a sip of wine before beginning his tale.

Long ago, there were female soldiers on the Wall.

One such leader was Ni Shangxue.

Intelligent and beautiful, her prowess was unmatched.

On one fateful outing, a Darkling Spectre took the life of her dear sister.

Driven by vengeance, she pursued the creature.

From Ping Yue Valley to Snowy Peak, she hunted.

She vanquished the Darkling Spectre but fell into the clutches of barbarians.

Their chief took her prisoner.

A year and a half later, Ni Shangxue bore a son.

Five more years slipped by.

Finally seizing her chance, Ni Shangxue fled the barbarian village and made her way back to the Wall.

The Night Watchmen Army paid her return the utmost attention.

The sight of her obsidian trove brought smiles to the faces of the high command.

They even threw her a lavish welcome ceremony.

Ni Shangxue's star rose swiftly, and she was soon a top general among the Night Watchwomen.

Her harrowing past was locked away as her eternal secret, never to be shared with a soul.

She believed she had been granted a new life.

Yet, fate is not ours to command.

Years later, a twelve-year-old boy arrived at the base of the Wall.

His first words left everyone aghast.

"I'm here to find my mother, Ni Shangxue," he declared.

The night watch soldiers were skeptical at first.

But then the boy produced Ni Shangxue's personal sword.

The revelation sent shockwaves through the entire Wall.

At this point, Ye Kong looked puzzled. "You're not that boy, are you?"

The old drunkard gave him a weary glare. "Don't digress."

Ni Shangxue was weighed down by immense pressure.

She stood atop the city wall, her gaze fixed quietly on the boy below.

A fierce struggle waged within her heart.

Two starkly different paths lay before her.

To acknowledge him: She would lose everything. By the Night Watch's code, her life wouldn't be spared.

To deny him: With her current power and position, the issue would soon dissipate.

It would barely ripple the surface of her life.

At that moment, the Night Watch's upper echelon sought her out for a private discussion.

They urged her to keep silent, promising to quell the rumors.

She would remain the highest-ranking female official.

The old drunkard's face twisted into a bitter smile as he recounted the story.

"What do you think her choice will be?"

Ye Kong's brow furrowed. "A wise person would feign ignorance, but as a mother, she should acknowledge him."

"She's a fool," the old drunk declared, his voice tinged with agitation.

That day, Ni Shangxue was flanked by two loyal protectors.

They constantly cautioned her against impulsiveness.

Below, the boy's cries for his mother tore through the air from dawn until dusk.

Ni Shangxue didn't move an inch.

Just when everyone assumed the incident would fade into obscurity,

night descended.

A pack of ghouls encircled the boy.

As they were about to rip him apart, she couldn't contain herself any longer.

She charged down from the Wall in a frenzy.

Ultimately, the child was safe, but Ni Shangxue, for her forbidden contact with the outsiders, was executed on the Wall as dictated by the Night Watch's laws.

Upon hearing this, Ye Kong let out a wistful sigh. "And the boy?"

The old drunk's face soured, his drinking intensified.

"He gathered some of Ni Shangxue's vital essence from beneath the Wall.

Then, with swift ferocity, he annihilated the encroaching ghouls and strode away."

"He was that formidable so young?"

A shiver ran down Ye Kong's spine. The boy was merciless.

His scheme was to ensnare and destroy his own mother.

"And what does this have to do with Gene Castle?"

The old drunk's hands shook with intensity.

Through clenched teeth, he revealed, "The boy's name is Custer."

"Is it him?"

Everything clicked into place in Ye Kong's mind.

It made sense now why Custer had managed to lead his family to a peaceful life in the Northern Kingdom.

He was of barbarian descent.

And barbarians were natural allies to the Darkling Spectres.

"Why are you bringing all this up out of the blue? Do you have ties to Ni Shangxue?"

The old drunkard remained silent, his gaze distant, seemingly lost in the story he had just recounted.

Ye Kong pressed on, "My antidote has something to do with Custer, doesn't it?"

"Sharp." The old drunkard's grin was unsightly.

"Behind Gene Castle, there's a memorial mound for Ni Shangxue, lined with Ni Shang flowers.

Brew those blossoms into tea, and your poison will neutralize. Fail to do so, and in six months, you'll perish miserably."

"You..."

Frustration surged in Ye Kong. He was tempted to lash out at the old drunkard's pitiful state with a few well-deserved slaps.

The irony wasn't lost on him; he was plotting against Custer, yet the cure lay in the backyard of his very home.

It was a perplexing contradiction.

With the old drunkard unwilling to speak further, Ye Kong had no desire to linger.

On his way out, he threw a cold warning, "I'll be visiting Gene Castle myself. If you're plotting against me, rest assured, you won't outlive me."

With those final words, he shut the door behind him and departed.

The old drunkard watched his retreating figure, whispering to himself, "Some tasks are beyond me; it's your turn to carry them out."

Ye Kong hadn't been gone long when two figures approached.

"Kid, remember me?"

Ye Kong quickly bowed, "I've had the honor of meeting you before, Senior Fish, and..."

"This is Yin Shisan, my best buddy."

"A pleasure to meet you, Senior Yin."

"Drop the formalities. We're peers," Fish said with a casual air, his tone noticeably softer than before.

In the past, Ye Kong was a minor character, without the standing to mingle with their ranks.

But now, having led the Giants to save the Wall, Ye Kong's heroics were undeniable.

They all owed their lives to him.

"It's quite awkward for you to keep calling us seniors after you've just saved our necks."

Yin Shisan's remark instantly bridged the gap between them, bringing them closer together.

Ye Kong simply smiled, offering no resistance.

With a more relaxed tone, he inquired, "What do you need from me?"

Fish's brow furrowed. "This isn't the place to talk. Follow us."

He led the way into an alley, and without overthinking it, Ye Kong trailed behind. They weren't exactly close, but Ye Kong trusted that Fish meant him no harm.

They quickly made their way into a courtyard.

Inside the dimly lit room, a pot of tea was ready.

As Fish set up the tea service, he made small talk with Ye Kong, mainly inquiring about his journey to the Northern Kingdom.

Ye Kong deftly steered clear of any heavy topics, keeping the conversation light.

"The tea's ready. Let's have some," Fish announced, serving each of them a cup. "You two have a good chat. I'll keep watch outside."

A sense of gravity settled over Ye Kong. All this secrecy—could it be a sign of something major?

He took a sip of tea to steady his nerves.

But the moment Yin Shisan spoke, Ye Kong couldn't help but spray out his tea.

"Do you want to live?"

"Pfft." Ye Kong clamped a hand over his mouth, his face a picture of confusion. "Excuse me?"

Unruffled, Yin Shisan repeated, "Do you want to live?"