"Any recent movements from the Jin Feng Xi Yu Tower and the Mi Tian Alliance?"
Compared to the White Pagoda on Tianquan Mountain, the headquarters of Jin Feng Xi Yu Tower, the Silent Waterfall of the Six and a Half Halls was far less conspicuous as the sect's forbidden ground.
Yet anyone foolish enough to attempt trespassing would quickly realize just how many traps and sentries lurked within this seemingly ordinary place. Only a handful could ever make it this far.
In the unnervingly quiet surroundings, Lei Sun's question rang out with piercing clarity.
Di Feijing's eyelids flickered slightly, but he did not answer immediately.
As the right-hand man of the capital's most powerful gang, every word he spoke required careful deliberation—especially since Lei Sun's inquiry was not merely a request for facts.
Daily reports on Jin Feng Xi Yu Tower and the Mi Tian Alliance were already delivered to Lei Sun; there was no need for Di Feijing to repeat them.
What he needed to provide was an assessment.
Di Feijing lifted his gaze, revealing eyes as clear as washed jade. "The situation is increasingly favorable for Su Mengzhen, yet strangely, he seems desperate for a resolution."
"After the battle at Qionghua Island, over a thousand defected to his side. Excluding those coerced by vested interests, our true remaining forces number only seven thousand, scattered across various branches. Meanwhile, Jin Feng Xi Yu Tower has spent the last two years expanding its ranks and courting officials—their numbers now rival ours."
Lei Sun's fingers, hidden within his sleeves, traced the jade ring he wore. His voice was icy. "When I first saw him enter the capital with his father and arranged his betrothal to Chun'er, I never imagined he would rise this far."
Far enough that the slightest misstep could place him above his own father-in-law.
And not just above.
If only one gang could remain standing in Bianjing, it would be a fight to the death between him and Su Mengzhen.
What he did not notice was the fleeting ripple of emotion on Di Feijing's face at the mention of "Chun'er."
From his angle, it was impossible to see.
Di Feijing's neck was broken, leaving him unable to raise his head. Unless forced to meet someone's gaze, he preferred to keep it lowered.
But even with his head bowed, his words never came from a place of submission—they were always a sweeping judgment from above: "If he refuses to wait, there must be a reason."
Six and a Half Halls had struck first against the Mi Tian Alliance, hoping to seize advantages, but instead, their actions had allowed certain figures within the alliance to regain control, restricting some of their own forces.
In Hubei, cooperation between Inspector Wen and Jin Feng Xi Yu Tower had led to the interception of a major shipment belonging to Six and a Half Halls—including a particularly troublesome batch of Tang Sect explosives smuggled from Sichuan.
Prime Minister Fu had once sided with them, but after the Lianyun Stronghold incident, he had withdrawn his support. Now, another matter preoccupied him, leaving Six and a Half Halls without his aid for the foreseeable future.
"So you mean, while the situation was once in his favor, now—"
"The situation still favors him, but time may now favor us," Di Feijing replied.
Even the so-called favorable situation was not absolute.
Where there were more people, there were more variables. The merger of two factions could not be achieved through a handful of victories alone—true allegiance required more.
The advantage of time far outweighed any temporary upper hand.
Faced with this assessment, even Lei Sun's tone grew cautious. "When you say time favors us… do you mean Su Mengzhen's health is failing?"
Lei Sun had secured his position as leader of Six and a Half Halls by outmaneuvering Guan Qi, using him to eliminate rivals. But in terms of martial prowess, he remained one of the finest in the jianghu.
Countless times, he had placed himself in Su Mengzhen's shoes, trying to determine just how long the miracle keeping him alive could last—yet he had never found a clear answer.
Until now…
Di Feijing's words struck like lightning.
"Yes."
"Good. I trust your judgment." He did not lose his composure, nor did he mock his opponent's weakness. Instead, his fingers stilled around the jade ring. And though he had every reason to belittle Su Mengzhen now, he still referred to him as "Young Master Su"—no derogatory nickname slipped out.
Only Di Feijing, who knew Lei Sun's temperament well, could sense the excitement surging within the sect leader at this confirmation.
Lei Sun took a deep breath and abruptly changed the subject. "Now, tell me about the Mi Tian Alliance."
Every unstable element was something he needed to understand.
He was well aware of the Shen Tong Marquis Manor's ambitions, but for now, Fang Yingkan was on good terms with them due to Prime Minister Fu's influence. They wouldn’t cause trouble, and Lei Sun was content to let them play their part.
Whether Fang Yingkan could benefit from their eventual mutual destruction was another matter entirely.
What truly concerned him was the Mi Tian Alliance—the ones who had once humiliated him.
Di Feijing paused briefly before answering. "She is smarter than I expected."
"Elaborate."
"During the grand wedding ceremony, she lured Chief Constable Wuqing into the fray to maintain order. When the Mu father and daughter were trapped in the Prime Minister's estate, Wuqing personally sought an audience—I suspect her hand was in that as well. At first, I thought someone who habitually relied on the authorities and cooperated with the constabulary would never fit within the Mi Tian Alliance."
"True." Lei Sun agreed.
Before Guan Qi lost his mind, his elder sister had kept the alliance in check, maintaining some control over its members. But after her disappearance and Guan Qi's descent into madness, the alliance had become a den of misfits.
Those too disreputable to join Jin Feng Xi Yu Tower or Six and a Half Halls—what Lei Sun would call "scum"—had flocked to the half-dead Mi Tian Alliance.
These were men who feared the law even more than the legendary thief Sikong Zhaixing—let alone someone like Chief Constable Wuqing.
Had Shi Qingruo tried to make an example of them, using the constabulary's power to purge the alliance's ranks, she would have triggered chaos rather than compliance. But she hadn’t.
"According to Ren Guishen’s recent report, the Holy Mistress, acting on Guan Qi’s behalf, convened a meeting of key alliance members. Under the pretext of avoiding the conflict between Jin Feng Xi Yu Tower and Six and a Half Halls, she redeployed a portion of their forces northward. Not a single voice opposed her."
With the reconstruction of Lianyun Stronghold and Huinuo City, the northern trade routes had become lucrative. Many of the alliance’s cowardly members were more than happy to comply, praising the Holy Mistress for her wisdom.
Di Feijing continued, "Her other move was to re-establish the alliance’s strongholds around the capital—but she deliberately avoided the four new military camps being built nearby. She also reassigned Ren Guishen and Deng Cangsheng away from Bianjing."
"Those two had become far too brazen," Lei Sun remarked coldly.
Whether it was the veiled probing before the Mighty Heaven Alliance's wedding banquet or the fruitless efforts during the bridal procession, such actions were far too unbecoming for someone in the position of a Sacred Lord.
A new official burns three fires—such flames should be directed at people like this.
Yet Shi Qingruo's overt actions were limited to ordering the reconstruction of the alliance's outposts around the capital and deliberately avoiding the government's crackdown on fugitives, leaving no room for criticism.
With the support of the Mighty Heaven Alliance's First Sacred Lord, Yan Hefa, and Second Sacred Lord, Zhu Xiaoyao, Ren Guishen had no choice but to temporarily leave Bianjing unless he could immediately invoke Lei Sun's authority as his backer.
It was through these two directives that the Sacred Lord's wife had effectively secured her position in managing the alliance's affairs—no longer just a beauty married off to Guan Qi.
However...
After a moment of contemplation, Di Feijing continued, "But some of her methods remain rather immature."
"Avoiding conflict might be a temporary solution for the Mighty Heaven Alliance, but it is not a sustainable path. The alliance is already like a hollow, rotting tree. Unless it cuts its losses and starts anew, it will inevitably perish once we settle our score with Tower Master Su or the government decides to purge the martial world. Instead of utilizing the talents of Bai Choufei and Wang Xiaoshi, she sent them away from Bianjing—a shortsighted move."
"On another front, she has positioned herself against Young Marquis Fang, needlessly inviting trouble for negligible gains. Moreover, her proposed solution was to summon Fang Geyin back to the capital."
Lei Sun chuckled. "Fang Geyin dotes on his son too much to readily believe outsiders. Even if someone manages to bring him to the capital, it will be a futile effort."
The phrase "dotes on his son" dripped with mockery when spoken by Lei Sun.
Di Feijing understood the implication perfectly, a faint smile appearing on his handsome face.
Suddenly, Lei Sun changed the subject. "So, by your reasoning, we can ignore the Mighty Heaven Alliance for now?"
"No, quite the opposite," Di Feijing replied decisively. "A clever person thrust unexpectedly into an unfamiliar position is bound to make missteps. But we cannot afford to give her time to grow. Rather than wait for her to learn the art of decisive action and become a true threat, we should eliminate her first."
Su Mengzhen was running out of time—delaying the situation only harmed the Golden Wind and Fine Rain Tower.
Shi Qingruo needed time to mature, but the Six and a Half Halls should not grant her that opportunity.
The choice was clear: who to deal with first and how.
Once again, Lei Sun raised his hand—the same maimed left hand that symbolized the "Order of Absolute Execution," just as he had done at the Mighty Heaven Alliance's wedding banquet.
"The sooner, the better!"
...
These were the same words Lu Xiaofeng uttered as he began his journey back.
To someone like him, who had always wandered freely like a drifting cloud, the meeting between Shi Qingruo and Su Mengzhen at the Three Harmonies Tower seemed like a conversation between two madmen.
Perhaps the chaos of Bianjing had driven him mad as well.
Otherwise, why would he agree to Shi Qingruo's plan of placing herself in danger? Why would he leave Bianjing with Sikong Zhaixing to summon two individuals who were originally absent from the capital?
Never had he imagined that his connections and silver tongue would be used for such a purpose.
From the renowned constable Jin Jiuling at the Six Gates, to the informants of the Golden Wind and Fine Rain Tower, down to the underworld figures he and Sikong Zhaixing knew—all were mobilized to track down one man.
And that man was Fang Geyin!
Fang Geyin, the Great Hero, had been traveling the land with his wife, Sang Xiao'e, detached from worldly affairs.
Those who admired him, owed him favors, or followed his commands respected his wish for seclusion, making it nearly impossible to locate him through conventional means.
Had Lu Xiaofeng not coincidentally crossed paths with Chu Liuxiang and learned that Fang Geyin had recently visited Mayi Ke in Laoshan, he might never have found him within a month.
Fortunately, with this lead, the rest became easier.
Fang Geyin indeed cherished his son. Upon hearing Lu Xiaofeng's account of events in the capital, he immediately prepared to return.
Yet what baffled Lu Xiaofeng was that even after such dire warnings, Fang Geyin still believed the situation might be the result of deceitful subordinates in the Divine Marquis Manor, rather than his adopted son's corruption.
If memory served, before Fang Yingkan was taken in by Fang Geyin and his wife, his biological parents had been notorious villains in the martial world. Were it not for Fang Geyin's mercy—honoring an old friendship after the death of Fang Yingkan's mother—the young man's name would still be "Fang Yingkan" (literally "Fang Ought to Be Chopped").
Instead of suspecting his adopted son's inherent wickedness or his moral decline in Bianjing's circles of power, Fang Geyin blamed the aides assigned to assist him?
Lu Xiaofeng's mind churned with questions as he galloped back to the capital.
Equally puzzling was another figure who seemed even more eager to return.
When Lu Xiaofeng slipped in the news of the Mighty Heaven Alliance leader's recent marriage while lodging his complaint, the woman's expression shifted repeatedly.
Fang Geyin had hesitated about returning, but it was her words that tipped the scales.
Only during their journey did Lu Xiaofeng learn from Sang Xiao'e that this woman had been rescued by the couple over a decade ago.
Back then, she had been driven to despair after being forcibly separated from her husband and daughter, even poisoning herself in her anguish. The couple had sought the aid of the Wen family of Lingnan to detoxify her and took her along on their travels, hoping the beauty of nature would rekindle her will to live.
Lu Xiaofeng couldn't quite grasp it.
A third person intruding on a couple's journey would normally last a few months at most—how had these three managed to travel together for so long?
Were he not equally desperate to return and see how Shi Qingruo was faring in the capital's turmoil, he might have pressed for answers.
But thankfully—
A thousand li was nothing for swift steeds, crossed in mere days!
And thanks to Fang Geyin's fame, even before they reached Bianjing, envoys from the capital's factions had already arrived at their resting place in Chuhe Town, ten li away.
Without a doubt, news of the Great Hero's arrival had spread throughout Bianjing.
...
No matter the conflicts between factions in the capital, all had to pause in the presence of this legendary martial hero.
This was not solely due to Fang Geyin's martial prowess, but also because his influence spanned at least six or seven major sects—chief among them the Blood River Sect, the Heavenly Feather Sword Sect, and the Great Desert Sect.
If Fang Geyin's early life were to be written down, it would almost read like a legendary coming-of-age tale. Yet now, he had become a towering figure in the martial world.
Even though Lei Sun found some of Fang Geyin's actions utterly foolish, he never expected Fang Geyin to interfere in the conflict between the Six and a Half Hall and the Golden Wind and Fine Rain Tower. Still, he collaborated with the Jiangnan Thunderbolt Hall forces stationed in Bianjing to decide on the delegation to welcome him.
Upon hearing the arrangements from the Lost Heaven Alliance, Lei Sun even resolved to personally meet this "Great Hero Fang."
Regardless of how the Golden Wind and Fine Rain Tower reacted or the lavish gifts prepared by the Six and a Half Hall, the most chaotic response to Fang Geyin's arrival came from the Divine Marquis Residence.
Fang Yingkan, feeling insecure about his foothold in the capital, had first ingratiated himself with Mi Youqiao, the emperor's favorite, even promising to name his future faction the "Youqiao Group." His financial dealings grew increasingly unscrupulous.
He coerced wealthy merchants around the capital to assist him in loaning money to commoners, then used violent means to extort wealth and land from these desperate people—almost turning it into an industry.
Had Fang Geyin not come to Bianjing, Fang Yingkan's charming demeanor and ability to maintain good relations with all factions would have ensured no one dared hold him accountable.
But with his adoptive father's arrival, he had to at least publicly sever ties with these shady dealings and play the role of the dutiful son in front of him.
"A bunch of meddlers!" Fang Yingkan cursed inwardly, though outwardly, he appeared impeccably groomed, the very image of a refined nobleman.
As soon as he spotted Fang Geyin and his party approaching from afar, he swiftly dismounted and strode forward, clasping his hands in greeting. "Your son pays respects to Father and Mother."
Fang Yingkan had already weighed his options. If Fang Geyin had come because of the incident at the Marquis Residence and gave him a cold reception, he would need to proceed with extreme caution.
If it was merely a coincidence, Fang Geyin would surely help him up and affectionately call him "Little Kan," as he always had in the past.
But contrary to his expectations, Fang Yingkan remained bowed for a long time without receiving any response.
His heart sank like a stone. Cautiously raising his head, he realized Fang Geyin's inaction wasn’t due to anger toward him—but because his gaze wasn’t on his adoptive son at all.
Instead, Fang Geyin was staring into the distance.
Fang Yingkan turned to look and saw a group of riders approaching.
Judging by their attire, they seemed to be from the Lost Heaven Alliance.
The Lost Heaven Alliance?
His eyelids twitched as two figures descended from the lead carriage.
No one could blame Fang Geyin for staring.
When these two appeared side by side, no one could deny they were a match made in heaven.
Though Guan Qi’s hair was streaked with silver, time had been kind to his face, leaving him with the youthful appearance of a young man—perfectly suited to the peerless beauty beside him.
Even if his mind was impaired, a closer look would reveal the emptiness in his eyes. Yet the aura of internal energy swirling around him was unparalleled, a formidable deterrent to all martial artists present.
The woman at his side seemed entirely unaffected by this volatile energy. Her hand rested lightly on his arm, as if replacing the restraints that once bound him, allowing him to appear so dignified today.
Even Fang Geyin was momentarily stunned by their arrival, rendered speechless.
In the brief silence after the carriage halted, the first voice to break it came from behind him—from the lady he and his wife had rescued.
The woman still on horseback suddenly tore off her veil, her face draining of color as she stared fixedly at Shi Qingruo’s hand resting on Guan Qi’s arm.
For a moment, she clenched her teeth, struggling to suppress her emotions, but ultimately failed to regain her composure.
Her face, still youthful despite being past forty, lost its usual serene elegance, replaced by a dazed expression.
If anyone present couldn’t guess her identity from such a reaction, they had no place in the martial world.
Sharper observers also noticed that the moment she revealed her face, even Lei Sun momentarily lost his composure.
A more attentive eye would spot that Lei Sun’s daughter, Lei Chun, bore a striking resemblance—seventy percent—to the woman in white.
But the newcomers paid no attention to these irrelevant onlookers.
She only… only stared at Guan Qi with desperate longing before suddenly crying out, unable to contain herself:
"Seventh Brother, if she is your wife… then who am I?"
"Have you forgotten our promise?"
The crowd gasped, their eyes instinctively turning to the accused.
Under the weight of countless stares, Guan Qi abruptly halted.
At first, there was no change in him.
But that voice seemed to possess a peculiar magic, gathering the scattered light in his eyes and slowly focusing it—
On her.
Almost instinctively, he uttered a name:
"...Xiaobai?"
—Wen Xiaobai!
