In the afternoon.

The tea lounge.

Ling skillfully ground the tea into powder with a copper grinder, placed it into a bowl, poured boiling water, and mixed it into a tea paste. Then, as she added more boiling water, she swiftly whisked it with a bamboo tea brush until a "fortune" character surfaced on the tea's froth.

She pushed the tea towards her son-in-law, and then replicated the process for another bowl, which she passed to the young miss.

After finishing these tasks, she stood up and took her leave.

Aside from her poor martial arts skills, worrisome intelligence, and questionable character, the little tea girl was quite talented.

An Chenyu took the tea and gently sipped.

Song Cheng broke the silence, "You normally don't come to me with these matters."

An Chenyu said, "But this time, I'm not sure."

Immediately, she repeated what Song Cheng had already known through the "Out-of-body Soul," and then she shared the results of the interrogation of An Kai.

An Xu is her father, and An Kai is her third uncle; these two met a disciple from the Shanhe Martial Arts Hall while indulging in pleasures. Thereafter, the disciple eagerly invited them to various entertainments, such as gambling dens and brothels, everywhere...

"My father and An Kai felt very honored, addressing the disciple as a brother. Of course, it wasn't just the two of them, but also other wastrels from different families.

The person from the Shanhe Martial Arts Hall that An Kai previously wanted to seek out was that disciple.

This time, my father was gambling and, in desperation due to heavy losses, discovered that the other party was cheating. So, he slammed the table.

As a result, the casino's owner turned out to be the wife of his good 'brother.'

That led to him being directly arrested."

An Chenyu spoke candidly, "But the behavior of this disciple seems inconsistent with what I know of the Shanhe Martial Arts Hall. I don't believe the Martial Arts Hall would stoop so low.

Therefore, I had Hua take charge and send someone to investigate further.

Hua is capable, and the information he provided confirms that the disciple indeed belongs to the Shanhe Martial Arts Hall, but... he's just a peripheral Outer Sect disciple."

According to Hua, there's an eight or nine out of ten chance this person is doing 'coat-tailing' private jobs.

I think that if we really were to send the ten thousand taels to him, he would become insatiable, constantly wanting more, becoming increasingly greedy and never satisfied.

So, I plan to pretend I'm unaware of these details and have someone go to the Shanhe Martial Arts Hall openly and directly find the on-duty External Affairs Envoy to hand over the ten thousand taels and ask if he could release my father.

By doing so, the private job he's been doing would be exposed.

Offending him is one thing, but a martial artist without his 'tiger's skin' is something my An Family can still handle."

However, the person sent to the Martial Arts Hall must be able to hold their ground.

I've thought about it, and it must be you, Song, to go personally."

Song Cheng thought for a while, then suddenly said, "Sister An, have you considered that the Shanhe Martial Arts Hall values its reputation? Especially now during this period of warrior recruitment. During this time, they cannot afford to let their prestige fall.

If this incident gets out, the coat-tailing disciple will definitely be in trouble, but the matter will also likely be covered up, and afterward, it might even breed resentment towards our An Family for causing them trouble...

Of course, it's also possible that it won't happen that way.

But we cannot take that risk."

An Chenyu said, "I've thought of that too, but what other choice do we have?"

Song Cheng said, "Give me the ten thousand taels, and I'll deliver it to that man. Then you won't have to worry about it. I will retrieve the silver we spit out."

An Chenyu's beautiful eyes intently gazed at her man and said softly, "Don't risk it, my father..."

The young miss lowered her head, sighing softly, evidently unsure what to say.

But to not save him?

She couldn't harden her heart to do that.

She had been able to become the chamber head, and although that was partly due to An Changsheng's incompetence, it also came with her father's strong endorsement.

Even though the endorsement came because her father believed she was capable and could make money, thus convincing many people, her father after all, hadn't harmed her.

Song Cheng changed the subject, "They probably aren't only extorting our An Family, are they?"

An Chenyu lifted her head, "That's right."

Song Cheng said, "Then that's settled, I'll bring Old Wang with me.

Mr. Wang is the face of our Ruyi Commerce Chamber, and when Prefectural City mentions it, they would surely think of him."

An Chenyu nodded and then added, "Song, two martial artists from the family... have gone to the government offices.

These days there are rumors on the streets about the many benefits of being recruited...

There are also the real Form Realm Experts from Shanhe Martial Arts Hall and White Camel Estate in person to oversee matters, personally teaching the martial arts and offering cultivation resources.

Today a man surnamed Chen came and talked about how his cousin gained numerous benefits as well...

This situation wasn't there a few days ago, but now it's everywhere.

Besides, people are boasting that barbarians are not to be feared, claiming that as long as martial artists stand united, they can surely be defeated, and now is the time to make a mark.

Others shout about driving out foreign enemies and driving the barbarians back to the north.

The mood is very heated, so heated that it allows no one to be pessimistic...

Anyone who's pessimistic, suggesting that we should be cautious, will be insulted, called a coward, and lambasted for lacking courage.

I'm worried more people will head there."

Song Cheng fell into silence for a moment and then said, "If they want to go, let them go. Driving out the barbarians is right. I too hope they succeed. With the atmosphere this agitated, it's better if more people go."

An Chenyu nodded and said, "But I haven't wronged them. Whatever allowance they should receive, whatever servitude contracts that need to be torn, I haven't held back on any."

Song Cheng laughed, "Sister An is quite generous."

An Chenyu said, "My An Family doesn't block others' paths. Those who dream of being promoted to high positions and making a fortune overnight are free to try."

Song Cheng smiled and said, "There's no time to delay. I'll go to the accounts office and take a silver note of ten thousand taels, and then I'll go with Mr. Wang."

...

...

Towards evening...

The sky gradually darkened.

There was no sunset.

Rain clouds gathered, with thunder rumbling faintly from within, yet oppressively held back without falling.

In the northern district of the city, a quiet carriage came to a stop, driven by a steward, with a young lad dressed as a servant boy beside him.

The curtain of the carriage lifted, and Mr. Wang, with the silver note in his embrace, walked into an alleyway.

The servant-dressed lad sat back in the carriage, leaned back slightly, closed his eyes to rest his spirits when suddenly, his body stiffened, becoming as unyielding and indomitable as a statue.

...

For a long time...

And even longer...

Mr. Wang came back with a man covered in filth, hair disheveled.

And the lad dressed as a servant had already taken his place back on the driver's bench.

"The master has returned," Mr. Wang's voice was very hoarse, his eyes reddened, and when he looked at the lad, he even had an urge to cry but merely said, "Without dishonor."

The servant, of course, was Song Cheng.

He said, "You've had a hard time."

With these four words spoken, Mr. Wang actually wept.

Just moments ago, he had suffered unprecedented humiliation.

A disciple from the Shanhe Martial Arts Hall had actually made him crawl on his knees from the entrance to hand him the silver note, saying it wouldn't count otherwise.

Mr. Wang had never experienced such humiliation, but in the end, he had lowered his head and crawled on his knees and then brought back the master.

At that moment, Old Master An glanced at this strange scene and said, "Mr. Wang, what sort of trash is this blind servant lad? Why does he talk to you like that? I've never seen him before, he's not one of the An Family."

Mr. Wang said sternly, "Old Master, shut your mouth."

His reddened eyes glared angrily, the killing intent in them startling An Xu so much that he quickly said, "I'll stop talking, stop talking. Thank you this time, Mr. Wang.

Hey, Chenyu should be handing back the power, right?

That child was really messing around, just marry her off...

By the way, Chenyu, did she already marry that son of the Chen Family?"

Mr. Wang looked helplessly at Song Cheng, then once more said, "Shut your mouth!"

"Oh..."

Old Master An fell silent.

The biggest difference between him and the likes of An Changsheng and An Kai was that he only indulged in pleasures without minding affairs but did not cause trouble. Or rather, he was so useless that he couldn't even cause trouble...

The spring rain fell like silk, slowly coming down. When Mr. Wang got on the carriage, the young man gently patted his shoulder.

Mr. Wang had experienced everything through his Out-of-Body Divine Soul and had seen the Shanhe Martial Arts Hall disciple's appearance and strength.

Just a practitioner of the Force Realm.

Feeling the young man's pat, Mr. Wang looked back, his old eyes bitter, not knowing if the lines furrowed by his eyes were from rain or tears.

As he moved to enter behind the curtain, he lowered his voice and added, "They forced me to kneel, probably as a way to oppress the An Family. Afterwards... it's likely to be endless."

Song Cheng nodded, then waved his hand. The steward cracked the whip, and the carriage started moving.

Song Cheng said, "Old Master An."

An Xu asked curiously, "Are you calling me?"

Song Cheng said, "Aside from you, has anyone else fallen for that Shanhe Martial Arts Hall disciple's trap?"

An Xu angrily said, "I didn't fall for any trap. I didn't. I had figured it out, but they don't play by the rules. They actually locked me up directly.

But the Gao Family and the Chi Family were not as lucky as me.

One lost twenty thousand taels, and the other lost twenty-eight thousand taels. Both their families had to come to redeem them.

Hey, tell me, doesn't that count as saving money for the An Family?"

The steward rested his hand on his forehead, speechless.

Song Cheng laughed, "It counts."

Old Master An, who had been looking at Mr. Wang with anger from inside the carriage, heard this single word "counts" and was overwhelmed with joy, feeling like he had found a kindred spirit. He then said with affectation, "I didn't expect this lad of yours to understand me so well. A reward is in order!

But I don't have money on me now, when we get to the An Family, I'll have my wife withdraw some for you. My wife is the gentlest and most considerate, a real keeper."

Inside the carriage, Mr. Wang almost laughed out loud.

And Song Cheng also inwardly sighed, feeling that Miss An's current level and prowess were inseparable from her father's influence.

An ignorant old father, a stupid and wicked elder brother, a great lady adept at deception and stirring up trouble, an extremely partial grandfather, a selfish and self-serving uncle, a guard commander who coveted her body...

That An Chenyu could rise above such an environment was nothing short of divine.

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