It must be said that those in the martial world have an unusually high tolerance for assassination attempts.
By the time Lu Xiaofeng and Sikong Zhaixing arrived at the headquarters of the Mi Tian Alliance, the much-anticipated wedding in Bianjing City had already resumed without a hitch.
A servant from the Mi Tian Alliance greeted them with a smile, accepted their congratulatory gifts, and ushered them to the banquet tables.
Had Lu Xiaofeng not known what had transpired earlier, he might have mistaken this for just another ordinary wedding.
But then again…
Guan Qi was undeniably a madman.
Despite the chaos during the bridal procession—where even constables from the Six Doors were involved, and many of the Mi Tian Alliance's subordinates had fallen to the ambush—he had reined in his murderous aura the moment he saw Shi Qingruo return unharmed and obediently continued leading the procession.
As for the Mi Tian Alliance's Holy Mistress, she had rarely made public appearances before, and now, with her red bridal veil and ceremonial fan obscuring her face, no one could guess what she was thinking.
This unconventional couple set the tone, and the rest of the attendees followed suit.
Still, scattered murmurs in the crowd hinted that this was no ordinary occasion.
"...To be honest, some factions suffered heavy losses this time."
"You mean Lei—"
"Shh, keep your voice down. Who knows if there are any members of the Six and a Half Hall here?"
"So what if there are? Back in the day, the Six and a Half Hall lived up to its name—if you paid three and a half parts of your earnings, they’d fight with six and a half parts of their strength when trouble came. But now..."
"The Golden Wind and Fine Rain Tower has more honor these days."
"But Su Mengzhen is still recovering from old injuries, and his health is frail. He can’t match the stability of the Six and a Half Hall. Don’t forget, Chief Lei still has the Jiangnan Thunderbolt Manor backing him."
"..."
Lu Xiaofeng listened to these whispers, silently piecing together the political landscape of the capital, when he noticed Sikong Zhaixing studying a corner of the courtyard.
The Mi Tian Alliance’s Third Holy Master, Ren Guishen, still wore his plain blue robe, but unlike his usual relaxed demeanor within the alliance, he now had a bamboo hat with holes covering his face, revealing only a pair of piercing eyes.
If Lu Xiaofeng wasn’t mistaken, there was a deep gash on his shoulder, freshly bandaged.
Rumors said that due to Chief Wuqing’s intervention, most of the assassins had been captured on the spot and handed over to the Six Doors for justice.
Granny Douzi, who had directly attacked Wuqing, had been struck by the Lover’s Arrow and never stood a chance of escape.
The only one who got away was the young man in the long robe who wielded those dazzling hidden weapons.
Ren Guishen had arrived just in time to intercept him, but the youth’s swordsmanship was shockingly refined—he carved a bloody path through the blockade, leaving Ren Guishen wounded.
Now, the Third Holy Master could only stand guard, injured, within the Mi Tian Alliance’s grounds.
"What are you looking at?"
Sikong Zhaixing smirked. "I’m watching some people still putting on airs, refusing to give up. Pity they’ve already been exposed by Miss Shi—now they’re just making fools of themselves."
"Then you’ve got nothing to worry about. Seems your Miss Shi still holds all the cards."
As Lu Xiaofeng replied, he glanced at the sky, silently reminding himself that he’d never let himself become the kind of man who couldn’t go three sentences without mentioning a certain woman.
They said the Mi Tian Alliance’s Holy Master had gone mad because of a past heartbreak.
And now, the woman he was marrying was no simple character either…
It just went to show—sometimes, being a rogue had its advantages.
Wait.
Lu Xiaofeng’s thoughts came to an abrupt halt as he sharply averted his gaze.
His sudden reaction wasn’t because the wedding ceremony was about to begin or because the officiant had given a signal—
It was because the courtyard had fallen eerily silent.
The earlier discussions about the Six and a Half Hall and the Golden Wind and Fine Rain Tower had vanished in an instant.
Even those who had been loudly debating moments ago now stood frozen, mouths still open mid-sentence, as if struck by a pressure point.
Their gazes were no longer fixed on their companions but on the figures entering through the gates.
Or, to be precise—two figures.
Through the translucent veil of her bridal fan, Shi Qingruo only needed to tilt it slightly to see the newcomers.
The man in front wore a gray robe with wide sleeves, hands tucked into his sleeves like an elder out for a casual stroll.
Were it not for his unmistakable aura, one might mistake him for just another unassuming martial artist.
But the moment he stepped into the courtyard, not only did the earlier clamor cease—even the sunlight seemed to dim, replaced by a heavy, oppressive gloom.
The man behind him was the polar opposite.
A young man in plain robes walked with his head bowed, yet even the sliver of his visible profile revealed an ethereal beauty, his every movement exuding an otherworldly grace.
Had he not been staring at his own feet as if ashamed to meet anyone’s gaze, the contrast between him and the man ahead would have been even more striking.
"Lei—"
"Chief Lei Sun!"
Someone in the crowd finally forced the name past their throat.
Like a stone cast into still water, the ripple of recognition spread.
They weren’t mistaken.
Lei Sun.
The Chief of the Six and a Half Hall had arrived!
The moment his identity was confirmed, the frozen crowd sprang back to life.
In an instant, those who had been rooted in place scrambled backward, clearing a path.
At one end stood Lei Sun and his right-hand man, Di Feijing.
At the other stood Guan Qi and Shi Qingruo, side by side.
But when the crowd turned to look, silence descended once more.
The moment Lei Sun’s name was called, Shi Qingruo lifted her veil, openly studying the uninvited guests with unflinching poise.
So when the crowd turned, the first thing they saw was her face—radiant as peach blossoms.
Even Sikong Zhaixing, who had seen her multiple times, struggled to maintain his composure before such beauty, let alone those seeing her for the first time.
And despite the earlier turmoil, now facing one of Bianjing’s most formidable figures, her beauty hadn’t dimmed in the slightest. If anything, standing beside Guan Qi as the hostess only magnified her regal confidence.
Guan Qi’s instinctive tension at the arrival of a powerful opponent melted away the moment she reached out and clasped his wrist.
With a raised brow and a smile, she asked, "To what do we owe the pleasure of Chief Lei’s personal visit?"
The words flowed smoothly from Shi Qingruo’s lips, but inwardly, a chill ran down her spine.
Lei Sun might not have known that she had seized the opportunity during the earlier confrontation to exchange a brief yet crucial conversation with Su Mengzhen, thereby building a unique bridge between the Mystic Sky Alliance and the Golden Wind and Fine Rain Tower.
His arrival here was most likely due to that failed assassination attempt.
He couldn’t have been unaware that some of the overly blatant actions during that assassination would inevitably invite scrutiny and judgment from all sides once he appeared here.
Yet he chose to come in person anyway, bringing along his most capable subordinates—the implications were clear.
This was a cunning and adaptable warlord, unafraid to swiftly change tactics!
As long as he commanded a formidable force, he would remain a terrifying adversary—not one to be easily defeated by a mere failure or two.
And his arrival now brought with it immense uncertainty.
...
Lei Sun met Shi Qingruo’s assessing gaze and took two more steps forward.
Perhaps because it clashed so starkly with his attire, Shi Qingruo immediately noticed the strikingly vivid emerald-green jade ring adorning his fingers as he idly toyed with them.
The jewelry was eye-catching, so she naturally also saw that the hand wearing the ring had only two withered fingers remaining—the other three had been cleanly severed at the root, leaving no trace behind.
According to rumors in the martial world, when Lei Sun revealed this incomplete hand, it was never a gesture of goodwill.
It was his personal "kill order."
Yet when he spoke, his tone was that of a kindly elder: "Hardly a refined interest. Brother Guan was both my benefactor and my brother-in-law. Now that he’s remarrying after years of widowhood, it’s only right that I send a congratulatory gift."
As soon as he finished speaking, his attendants carried several chests into the courtyard and set them down.
Shi Qingruo glanced over them—fine silks, brocades, gold, silver, and jade artifacts.
At first glance, it indeed seemed like a lavish gift for newlyweds.
But Lei Sun’s words were far from what a sincere well-wisher would say!
Everyone in Bianjing knew—even Shi Qingruo had been informed by Ren Guishen—that one consequence of Guan Qi’s injuries from a duel was Lei Zhenyu’s death, removing a rival for the position of Six-and-a-Half Hall’s chief. Calling this a "benefaction" was not entirely wrong, but the phrasing dripped with mockery.
Lei Sun referring to Guan Qi as his "brother-in-law" was even more laughable.
Eldest Sister Guan had been missing for years, never formally becoming the chief’s wife—likely already murdered by Lei Sun. This so-called marital tie was nothing but a hollow title!
As for the remark about "remarrying after years of widowhood," it sounded like a deliberate provocation.
Given Guan Qi’s current state of mind, he might not fully grasp the insult, but Shi Qingruo could still clearly feel the momentary tension in the wrist beneath her palm—Guan Qi’s instincts reacting to Lei Sun’s words.
He was angry.
Shi Qingruo swiftly cut in: "Chief Lei repays kindness with gratitude, knowing the Mystic Sky Alliance’s wedding lacks festivity. You’ve sent gifts twice now. When the Six-and-a-Half Hall holds its own celebration, Seventh Brother and I will surely attend to offer our congratulations. I hope you won’t turn us away then."
"However—today’s ceremony is rushed, so we won’t have time to reminisce further with Chief Lei."
Lei Sun’s sharp expression froze for an instant.
Lu Xiaofeng, not a party to this exchange and unburdened by diplomatic concerns, nearly laughed aloud.
Shi Qingruo’s retort about "repaying kindness" confirmed the old grudge between them.
But this matter wasn’t just a humiliation for the Mystic Sky Alliance—for those who had once followed Lei Zhenyu, it was an unbearable tragedy.
Who knew how they’d react when word of this exchange spread?
Moreover, by framing the earlier assassination attempt on the streets as "adding festivity," Shi Qingruo had twisted the knife in Lei Sun’s wound.
And as for the Six-and-a-Half Hall’s future celebration...
Was she genuinely wishing Chief Lei happiness in finding a new partner, or subtly mocking the doomed alliance between the Six-and-a-Half Hall and the Golden Wind and Fine Rain Tower?
From Shi Qingruo’s composed demeanor, not a hint of her intentions could be discerned.
She gestured, and a nearby attendant stepped forward.
"Have seats prepared for Chief Lei and Chief Di. We wouldn’t want rumors of poor hospitality. And ensure they’re escorted out courteously later."
The attendant promptly complied, bringing two large chairs.
Lei Sun arched an eyebrow.
The attendants’ obedience was startling—just how much authority had this sudden "Sacred Mistress" gained within the Mystic Sky Alliance?
But if one considered it carefully...
Shi Qingruo lowered her veil again, masking a cold smile.
These obedient attendants had only recognized her as their superior for half an hour, thanks to Su Mengzhen keeping his word and transferring the Golden Wind and Fine Rain Tower’s spies within the Mystic Sky Alliance to her control.
Yet she knew well that if she failed to deliver satisfactory results, these same people could swiftly become her enemies.
For now, however, their presence held far greater significance for her than Su Mengzhen could have anticipated!
She steadied her thoughts just as the master of ceremonies’ voice rang out—
"Bow to heaven, earth, and ancestors—"
Drawing a deep breath, she and Guan Qi knelt together in reverence.
...
"What kind of person do you think she is?" Lei Sun asked quietly, turning to the man beside him.
It had been years since he last saw Guan Qi, and the man before him now felt utterly unfamiliar.
Perhaps it was this strangeness that made Guan Qi’s lack of hostility—his emotions restrained by another—seem less surprising than it should have been.
But after a moment of understanding, a sudden, unprecedented sense of crisis gripped him.
He knew exactly what kind of man Guan Qi had been in the past.
If this unknown woman could tame Guan Qi, who knew how far she might go next?
This wasn’t just a matter of staying vigilant—he needed his most perceptive subordinate to assess her thoroughly.
His expression showed no trace of their earlier clash, but Di Feijing could hear the gravity in Lei Sun’s next words, matching the severity of orders issued during conflicts with the Golden Wind and Fine Rain Tower.
"You needn’t answer me today, but I want you to scrutinize her with your own eyes. No matter what, we cannot afford a second failure at her hands."
Di Feijing remained bowed, but slowly lifted his clear, piercing gaze, reflecting the crimson hues of the wedding decor.
"Understood."
He would see her clearly.
For instance, he could see clearly at this moment—amidst the sea of crimson, that bewitching, radiant blossom was stirring more than just Guan Qi's emotions.
He could also see that the schemes Six and a Half Hall had previously laid within the Mischief Alliance would now have to be completely redrawn because of this unforeseen variable.
Yet, strangely enough, though the world had bestowed upon him the flattering epithet, "Di Feijing, the peerless one who turns heads yet remains without a confidant," he couldn't discern Shi Qingruo's true motives for wading into these troubled waters.
Nor could he see—
When the guests had mostly dispersed, Shi Qingruo stood beneath the corridor of the Mischief Alliance's rear courtyard, still clad in her unworn wedding robes, gazing absently at the stars scattered across the night sky.
Only at the sound of the night watchman's drum did she suddenly raise her hand, flicking a gentle palm-strike toward a nearby lantern.
A soft gust of wind snuffed out the candle within the lantern in an instant.
Shi Qingruo looked toward Guan Qi at the end of the corridor, her lips curling into a childlike smile. "Seventh Brother, look—the wind has risen."
