Moonlight cast a dark, chilly path.

Song Cheng walked alone on the road back to the residence.

Armed with data, Heart's Eye, and strength, he easily avoided every passerby, turning himself into a ghost on the streets of the Prefectural City, unnoticed by anyone.

Human figures made of pale white lines were mostly asleep in the pitch-dark world.

The young man walked alone, returned to Ruyi Commerce Chamber, scaled the wall to enter, and quickly made it back to his family courtyard, where he removed his hood and cloak... and then sat down on a stone bench in the small courtyard.

He needed to dispel the malice, the murderous aura, and the dust of the outside world before entering the house.

Malice and murderous aura were for enemies and troubles.

Home required none of that.

But before long, the door opened on its own.

Miss An stepped out in a nightgown, her hair undone, yet carrying a languorous and otherworldly charm.

This woman always knew how to keep herself dignified and respectable, never showing an unsightly side, even now.

She swayed her hips and took long strides to sit across from Song Cheng, propping her chin up to look at him and asked, "Song, are you hungry?"

Song Cheng smiled, "Do you want Ling to make me some noodles?"

An Chenyu nodded.

There were many things she could do well, but cooking was not one of them.

When she was in the depths of mire, she had sworn to become a strong woman, hence she was reluctant to immerde her hands in spring water, for the kitchen was a place for lesser women.

This was her principle.

But perhaps she was too pleased with the man before her, so... the next moment, she broke her own never-broken rule, "I could go, but I'm afraid it won't taste good."

Song Cheng spoke softly, "Extortion against the An Family, Gao Family, and Chi Family's Shanhe Martial Arts Hall disciples has led to their deaths."

"Hmm."

"But it wasn't me who killed them; Yuan Qianke did. He took their money for military expenses, and that money is gone."

After a moment of silence, An Chenyu smiled gently, shaking her head as if profoundly moved, then said, "Song, you're wrong."

Song Cheng: ???

An Chenyu said lightly, "That money will definitely be returned, and it will be the Shanhe Martial Arts Hall who sends it back, politely and with full apologies, down to the last penny."

She played with her hair, explaining, "Tomorrow, the bodies of these men will likely hang on the streets. Shanhe Martial Arts Hall will have purged the rabble, established discipline, earned a good reputation, and then they will return all the money to the An Family, Gao Family, and Chi Family.

Moreover, the visitor will surely complain, speak of how hard it is to fight the Barbarians outside the city.

Consequently, our An Family will get back Ten Thousand Taels, but will also donate an additional three to five thousand to support their campaign against the Barbarians.

It's not unusual for wealthy households to donate, and the government to dispatch troops."

This event was bound to happen, just taking advantage of the situation; without this opportunity, the government would have straightforwardly requested military funds from the families.

Furthermore, I feel that not only the An Family, Gao Family, and Chi Family have this responsibility.

All the large households in the Prefectural City will need to contribute.

If you don't donate, can you be at peace?

Consider the Ma Family that left the city early; their entire family fortune was confiscated."

Song Cheng remained silent.

At the same time, he sensed a mature and intellectual charm in Sister An before him, a charm befitting a truly experienced and high-ranking individual, which, when combined with her beautiful appearance, added endlessly to her allure.

An Chenyu lazily stood up and said, "Song, you've had a tiring night; let me make it."

Song Cheng said, "Sister An, not that."

An Chenyu asked, "Then what do you want to eat?"

Song Cheng didn't speak, but stood abruptly and scooped up Miss An.

She nestled her head against his, her arms hooked around his neck, and her long legs gracefully hanging from his arms, swaying like a swing in the breeze.

The two entered the house, and mounted.

Casting repeatedly, striking hard...

...

...

The next day, events unfolded just as An Chenyu had predicted.

But those killed for a "heavenly sacrifice" were not only the outer disciples of Shanhe Martial Arts Hall who had extorted the An, Gao, and Chi families, but many others...

Scattered together, there were nearly two hundred people.

These people...

Some of them, feeling that "the Northern Barbarians are descending, and chaos is already upon us," disregarded the laws, relying on their abilities to try to control a minor family. As a result, this person had his hands chopped off, legs severed, and was hung bleeding in the city block, not yet dead.

Some had privately pulled strings, bribed the town captain for a quiet exit from the city. As a result, the family was raided, brought to ruin, those with strength were conscripted, and those without were left to become beggars by the roadside.

Some blocked the movement of family martial artists from reaching the government offices, which also led to their homes being raided...

Of course, more cases were just "extortion".

After all, many thought the chaotic times had begun, so they quickly took the chance to amass some money, then plan to flee when chaos truly erupted.

As a result, these people were completely eradicated.

Shanhe Martial Arts Hall then sent people from house to house to appease and return the extorted money.

And then, each of the small powers and families visited by Shanhe Martial Arts Hall felt deeply grateful and declared with pats on their chests that "it's hard to repay the family, only further military donations can express our hearts."

The An Family...

An Chenyu returned the Ten Thousand Taels and even added an extra Three Thousand Taels as she saw off the two visiting disciples from Shanhe Martial Arts Hall.

As the two disciples walked away, suddenly one of them turned back as if wanting to say something, only to be pulled away by the other.

An Chenyu was puzzled for a moment, but even with her intelligence, such matters were not something she could guess out of thin air.

She truly didn't know what the disciple turning around had wanted to say.

...

The two disciples went farther away.

One of them then said, "Shouldn't we extort her too? Remember that a deceased from the Chen Family had visited the An Residence before and had an altercation?"

The other replied, "Extort what? You must not have heard the External Affairs Envoy's words then?"

"What are you talking about?"

"The External Affairs Envoy said, do not complicate things unnecessarily. Let the government handle the Chen Family's matter casually and just end it.

This matter is actually simple. I feel that if the Chen Family really makes a fuss, we could just execute someone who has no Road Guide and a criminal record, and give them a closure,"

"This..."

"The External Affairs Envoy said, that one needle... killing him would suffice. Do you still want to investigate?

Moreover, you know what kind of things the Chen Family is involved with, right?"

"..."

The disciple who was about to speak suddenly fell silent, his expression solemn. After hesitating several times, he finally asked in a puzzled tone, "Is it that serious?"

Another disciple said, "There's no best in literature and no second in martial arts. Who would admit they're inferior to others?

Do you think the External Affairs Envoy would lie about this?

It's an embroidery needle!

It passed through a wall, killed a man, and went a foot into the ground. Then... it shattered the surrounding floor tiles, and when they took out the needle, the tip wasn't even bent!

The coroner checked the time of death, the night patrols reported on the surroundings, and the chief constable even interviewed the local residents, but there was not a single suspect.

Investigate?

What's there to investigate?"

The disciple's Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed.

Let's pretend it never happened.

If it were usual times, with nothing else on hand, maybe Shanhe Martial Arts Hall would still investigate.

But now... everywhere is busy as hell, with bigger issues to deal with. Who would bother about this?

It's just Young Master Chen. If he's dead, so be it.

...

...

...

Young Master Chen is dead. The frivolous rascal who used to call out in a greasy voice, "Chenyu, how will you thank me?" is no more. The person who came to boast about how talented the "Cold Frost Swordsman" was, has also disappeared.

However, these past two days, although Young Master Chen is gone, there are now many more "Young Master Chens."

These "Young Master Chens" are also quite delighted and excited, boasting everywhere about the talents their families have sent to the government offices.

And these talents are not guards or attendants but members of their own families.

It's not just individuals but whole families that are eager to establish connections with Shanhe Martial Arts Hall and White Camel Estate.

After a brief observation, many families sent out talented members from within their ranks.

Then, they received their rewards:

Their family members who were sent out indeed successfully became disciples of major powers.

Some donned the robes of Shanhe Martial Arts Hall disciples, some stepped into Flower Sea Block where White Camel Estate was located.

Gradually, the "real power structure's truth" that only top members of the family knew was slowly revealed.

"Hanping Prefecture is really ruled by the three major powers," rumors also started to spread.

This made the smaller families even happier.

Especially those families whose members became disciples of Shanhe Martial Arts Hall or White Camel Estate, even more so.

One evening, An Chenyu couldn't help but complain to Song Cheng at the bedside.

"This family and that family are all saying they've connected with Shanhe Martial Arts Hall, White Camel Estate.

They say their people have become official disciples of these two major powers.

Some also act condescendingly, trying to instruct me, a young girl.

They advise me not to be stubborn and to quickly dispatch strong members from my family, or else I'll regret it later."

"Moreover, Song, your reputation has also spread.

Many people know what you did in Shanghe County.

But this time, someone even said... the Son-in-law of the An Family is blind by birth, inherently unqualified, and missed the chance to join the major powers, such a pity."

She then mimicked that person's tone, twisting her delicate body, and said, "Such, a, pity."

Indeed, it had a tone of "looking down from a high position, watching others fall into the dust."

After speaking, Miss An rolled her eyes and continued, "Someone even asked me with a charming smile if I regretted marrying you."

She really sounded angry.

Song Cheng gently stroked his wife beside him, nonchalantly saying, "Sister An, isn't this a good thing? People are excited, the government is gathering troops, wealthy households are donating money, and everyone is united."

Miss An was just too ridiculed these days, and having her defenses opened up by the youth, she found some relief, reviving her gossipy, complaining nature, and talked a bit more.

At his words then, she responded, "That's true, it's a good thing."

After speaking, she murmured, "Everyone pushes a fallen wall, at any slight trouble, people can't wait to jump out and stand on your head, criticizing you."

"I've gotten used to it."

Song Cheng changed the subject and said, "The army is also about to set off."

"Yes, if not tomorrow, then the day after," Miss An said softly as she snuggled into the man's embrace, "Complain as I might, I too hope they win. Otherwise... the Prefectural City might face the Barbarians at its gates.

I've read many books and heard many storytellers.

The Barbarians command demon beasts, are adept at lightning raids, and swift long-distance attacks.

The Northern Barbarian Tribes are numerous, and among the five major groups, there are the Barbarian King and the Four Golden Tents. I don't know how many have come this time.

Although Hanping Prefecture is in the rear, under the mobility of the demon beasts, it's almost no different from being on the front line.

If it were me, I would definitely keep a sufficient defensive force."

"Pearl Mountain Taoist Temple hasn't participated in the recruitment, right? They must be on defense."

"True."

"Sister An, don't think too much, you've had a tiring day, let's sleep,"

"Okay... good night, Song."

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.