In the third month of the year, several major events unfolded in Bianjing City.
Two of them were directly related to the Six Gates.
The first was a change in one of the positions among the Four Great Constables.
Last year, the Lianyun Bandits were falsely accused of being outlaws, leading to a military campaign against them by the imperial court. However, they were later proven innocent and granted official recognition through an amnesty, seemingly bringing the matter to a close.
Yet, after this incident, Iron Hand Tie Youxia, one of the Four Great Constables, grew deeply disillusioned with the blurred lines between lawmen and bandits. Taking advantage of Lianyun Bandits' ongoing reconstruction, he resigned under Zhuge Divine Marquis.
As the teahouses and taverns of the capital gossiped, it was a case of a promising constable abandoning his career to become a bandit leader.
Had the Lianyun Bandits not been legitimized by the amnesty—preventing them from being outright labeled as outlaws—the uproar in the capital would have been far greater.
But the more astonishing development was that Qi Shaoshang, the former leader of the Lianyun Bandits, joined the Six Gates, effectively swapping places with Tie Youxia.
The first case he handled upon taking office was accompanying Chief Constable Wuqing to the residence of Chancellor Fu Zongshu.
This marked the second major event.
During the Lianyun Massacre, many of the bandit leaders were killed, and Qi Shaoshang himself lost an arm—largely due to Fu Zongshu’s orders.
Yet Chancellor Fu, ever the pragmatist, had already "sacrificed his own kin" before the scandal could reach him, handing over all those responsible for the attack on the Lianyun Bandits—including his adopted son, Gu Xichao—to face justice.
By doing so, he had successfully distanced himself from the affair.
When Wuqing and Qi Shaoshang arrived at his doorstep, Chancellor Fu even mocked Qi Shaoshang, saying he still didn’t look the part of a constable despite his new uniform.
Little did he know, they weren’t there to settle old scores—they had come to demand the release of two individuals running a martial arts contest for marriage in Bianjing.
The look on Fu Zongshu’s face was as if he had swung his blade in a public duel, only to miss entirely.
But what followed was even more unexpected.
Just as the Mu father and daughter were about to be escorted out of the estate, they crossed paths with the chancellor’s wife.
The moment they locked eyes, the wandering swordsman who called himself Mu Yi suddenly paled, declaring that the chancellor’s wife was his long-lost spouse, separated from him years ago during wartime chaos.
Had it been a one-sided claim, it might have been dismissed.
But Madam Bao, who had lived in luxury all these years, immediately recognized him as Yang Tiexin—the husband she had believed dead.
She had never forgotten the deep love they once shared, and upon seeing her "deceased" husband return, she refused to remain the chancellor’s wife any longer. She resolved to leave with their son, Fu Kang—or rather, Yang Kang—and reunite with Yang Tiexin.
Had this reunion played out solely within the chancellor’s estate, Fu Zongshu’s power, status, and formidable martial prowess would have been enough to stop them.
But Chief Constable Wuqing, known for his impartiality, was also present to retrieve the Mu family.
Thus, the reunion became an official case under the Six Gates’ jurisdiction.
Madam Bao Xiruo, who should have remained a member of the chancellor’s household, along with Yang Kang—now facing an abrupt identity crisis—as well as Yang Tiexin and his daughter Mu Nianci, were all taken away under Wuqing’s protection.
According to the official statement released by the Six Gates, the ownership dispute would only be reassessed once the old case of Yang Tiexin and Madam Bao Xiruo’s forced separation was thoroughly investigated, and both parties had calmed down from the sudden reunion.
Of course, before that, Yang Kang’s abduction of Yang Tiexin and Mu Nianci into his residence was a clear violation of Bianjing’s laws, and he would have to face legal consequences first.
Not all the details were disclosed in the gossip circulating among Bianjing’s citizens, but just the news of "Chief Constable Wuqing's visit, leaving Minister Fu bereft of both wife and son" was enough to stir up quite a spectacle.
If Fu Zongshu ended up not only failing to reclaim his wife but also losing his son, it would mean that, because of Wuqing, he had lost two sons in succession.
Rumors said that in his early years, before becoming prime minister, he had kept very few concubines to maintain the facade of a virtuous man, leaving him with only two children—neither of whom lived to adulthood.
Fu Kang might not have been his biological son, but he had been raised under Fu’s care since birth and was treated no differently from a true heir, even being presented as such in public—far more important than his adopted son, Gu Xichao.
And besides—
Now that he had risen to the position of prime minister, why should he surrender his wife and son to some powerless wandering martial artist?
……
"What does Madam Shi make of all this commotion?"
Shi Qingruo had just withdrawn her gaze from the view outside Sanhe Tower when Su Mengzhen posed this question.
At least in the eyes of the public, the Mystic Sky Alliance and the Golden Wind Pavilion of Fine Rain were hardly allies—if not outright hostile, they maintained a cautious distance. Thus, this renewed meeting could not take place at the Golden Wind Pavilion on Tianquan Mountain, nor at the Mystic Sky Alliance’s recently reactivated headquarters.
The chosen location was Sanhe Tower, where bandits had once ambushed the wedding procession.
After minor repairs, the signs of the earlier destruction were no longer visible.
But the more important reason for selecting this place was that it still technically belonged to the Mystic Sky Alliance’s territory.
As Shi Qingruo had put it—if a defenseless woman like herself dared to suddenly propose this meeting, surely the renowned Red-Sleeved Blade Su Mengzhen wouldn’t fear any tricks on her part.
"What do I make of it…" Shi Qingruo’s eyes flickered with a momentary haze before she replied, "People with morals always suffer more, don’t they?"
Su Mengzhen asked, "Are you referring to Iron Hand’s situation?"
"Yes, and no." Shi Qingruo let out a derisive laugh. "Isn’t this how it is in Bianjing—no, in the entire martial world? Those with principles agonize over the world’s decay, even blaming themselves for failing their duty as righteous warriors. They search for a way out but find only darkness. Meanwhile, the unscrupulous indulge freely, sacrificing a few pawns to secure their own wealth and comfort. Don’t you agree, Pavilion Master Su?"
Su Mengzhen did not answer immediately.
Shi Qingruo’s words were not solely about Iron Hand.
If he factored in the news Zhu Xiaoyao had relayed to him, this also implicated Fang Yingkan and… Xue Xishen of his own Golden Wind Pavilion.
With a solemn sigh, Su Mengzhen said, "Once matters in Bianjing are settled, I will give Hubei an answer."
Shi Qingruo neither agreed nor disagreed, her expression indifferent. "Pavilion Master Su speaks of answering to Hubei, not to me. That’s wise."
As for why it was "once matters in Bianjing are settled" rather than now—there was no need to ask.
Xue Xishen ranks among the Five Divine Fiends of the Golden Wind and Fine Rain Tower, holding a position of exceptional prestige within the organization. In terms of capability, he far surpasses many of Su Mengzhen’s subordinates.
At this moment, with various factions locked in a delicate power struggle, holding Xue Xishen accountable for his past actions would only incite internal chaos within the Tower—or worse, invite a counterattack from the Six and a Half Halls. Now is certainly not the time to condemn him.
But Shi Qingruo hadn’t come today to discuss this. "I imagine that when Su Mengzhen received my invitation and agreed to meet, he must have had more in mind than simply asking for my opinion on that matter."
Su Mengzhen’s gaze was steady. Though barely any time had passed since their last meeting, his complexion had visibly worsened. Yet when he lifted his eyes to meet hers, no one would doubt his resolve—no illness could bring him to his knees. "You’ve been too scattered in your actions," he said.
Back then, he had trusted Shi Qingruo’s abilities enough to place the Golden Wind and Fine Rain Tower’s operatives within the Mystic Sky Alliance under her command. Once committed, he would never micromanage in critical matters.
Doubt not the chosen, choose not the doubtful.
No one understood this principle better than the Golden Wind and Fine Rain Tower, whose rise in Bianjing was built upon it.
Even Shi Qingruo’s status as the Holy Mistress of the Mystic Sky Alliance made no difference.
But that didn’t mean he wouldn’t speak up when, at such a crucial juncture, he sensed an ally faltering.
"If you wish to formally ally with the Golden Wind and Fine Rain Tower, your recent efforts fall far short. All I see is your attempt to consolidate power for smoother operations, and your understanding of leveraging others—like having Chief Constable Wuqing act on your behalf. But whether it’s the domestic affairs of Fu Zongshu’s household or the murky waters around Fang Yingkan, neither is a pressing priority."
He spoke bluntly, and Shi Qingruo responded just as directly: "Yet Su Mengzhen can’t deny that I’ve recently secured several capable individuals."
The dossiers of Wang Xiaoshi and Bai Choufei, delivered to Zhu Xiaoyao and her from the White Tower, must have also reached Su Mengzhen. Had Shi Qingruo not recruited them first, these two would have been valuable assets to him as well.
With the case of Yang Tiexin and his daughter temporarily handed over to the Six Gates, Huang Rong and Guo Jing had remained within the Mystic Sky Alliance. Though they couldn’t yet be counted as her allies, Shi Qingruo was confident she could eventually win over these young martial artists fresh from the rivers and lakes.
As for Lu Xiaofeng and Sikong Zhaixing…
Their presence today, standing guard for her, spoke volumes about their stance.
"Too slow," Su Mengzhen said, then coughed violently.
For most, covering one’s mouth during a cough preserved dignity.
But Su Mengzhen was different.
This hacking fit was as if invisible threads tied his throat to his lungs. Every tremor in his facial nerves sent searing pain through his organs, wrenching every tendon and bone in his body.
Even the hand resting on the table had gone bloodless from the force of his grip. One might wonder if he’d cough up his very insides.
Perhaps the only consolation was…
No blood this time.
Regaining his composure, he carefully folded his handkerchief and tucked it back into his sleeve before repeating, "I don’t have that much time."
For a patient, time is the most extravagant luxury.
From another perspective, Lei Sun wouldn’t give the Mystic Sky Alliance so much time to regroup its forces and recruit new members. Once the alliance showed signs of resurgence, Lei Sun would undoubtedly act with swift decisiveness.
Shi Qingruo understood this well, but in the face of this challenge, she shook her head first. "If your time were truly as scarce as you claim, you wouldn’t have met with Di Feijing a few days ago."
Su Mengzhen’s expression flickered with surprise.
He had indeed met with Di Feijing—the most trusted subordinate of Lei Sun, the chief of the Six and a Half Halls—a few days prior.
Di Feijing, the chief strategist of the Six and a Half Halls.
This meeting hadn’t been kept secret in the capital, so his surprise wasn’t that Shi Qingruo knew about it, but rather her interpretation of it.
Shi Qingruo continued, "If you were truly running out of time, you wouldn’t have the leisure to figure out what kind of person Di Feijing really is. The rumors in the martial world are enough to tell you that he excels at judging talent and reading situations. If your condition made it impossible to send him the right signals—or even mislead him—your best move would have been a decisive strike, not first dismantling the Six and a Half Halls’ outpost on Qionghua Island and then using that victory as leverage in negotiations."
Su Mengzhen paused, taking a moment before responding. "Madam Shi… you understand me better than I imagined."
Shi Qingruo’s gaze wasn’t sharp; in fact, it bore a resemblance to Di Feijing’s—gentle and clear when meeting another’s eyes.
Yet perhaps, compared to Di Feijing, hers was even softer, lacking that scrutinizing edge.
But it was the owner of such eyes, who had only been in Bianjing for a few months, who now spoke to him like an old friend, piercing straight to the heart of his condition.
It was hard not to remind him of the illusion he’d felt when first meeting her—as if it hadn’t been their first encounter at all.
Shi Qingruo’s voice pulled him back from his fleeting distraction: "No, I don’t understand you. At the very least, I don’t know how someone with multiple terminal illnesses, along with countless unnamed afflictions, can still live in this world—and live better than most. I wouldn’t call that a mere miracle."
Su Mengzhen replied calmly, "Because the Golden Wind and Fine Rain Tower still stands, and I am the Golden Wind and Fine Rain Tower."
The words, resolute and unyielding, lingered only briefly before his tone shifted. "Enough. Now isn’t the time to discuss this. Since you know what kind of person I am, you should understand my expectations for this alliance."
"True, but speed isn’t measured by present actions alone." Shi Qingruo smiled faintly. "Besides, the reason I came to see you today was to propose a plan for your consideration."
Su Mengzhen nodded, signaling for her to continue.
Yet perhaps even he didn’t realize that in doing so, he had already handed a portion of the initiative to Shi Qingruo.
To be more precise, the moment Shi Qingruo took the initiative to dismiss the doubts about her actions being too slow and convoluted, she had already shifted the positions between host and guest in one swift move.
"Speaking of which, this plan only came to mind because of my earlier nighttime visit to the Divine Marquis's residence. At least that effort wasn't wasted," Shi Qingruo said with an even brighter smile, as if determined to regain some dignity from this trivial matter.
Su Mengzhen found this rather exasperating but listened calmly as she continued.
"Although this matter was something I accidentally heard about before even entering Bianjing, and I can't reveal the source of the information, you needn't worry, Tower Master Su, about whether what I'm about to say is true or false."
"Lei Sun won't easily let go of a piece of fat that should have fallen into his hands, and the Divine Marquis's residence lurking nearby won't just have those insignificant clowns who recently arrived. I know full well what kind of ending I'll face if I make even one wrong move. But if executed successfully, we might just catch both sides in one net."
"If I had to summarize my plan in one sentence, it would be—"
She enunciated each word deliberately: "Place oneself in mortal peril to emerge victorious."
Su Mengzhen raised an eyebrow, gazing at the peerless face before him that seemed even more striking in its strategic brilliance. Instead of questioning her calculations, he asked, "Your mortal peril or mine?"
Shi Qingruo pointed a finger. "Mine."
