The third day of the seventh lunar month in the ninth year of Wu Jinghan, night, Hangzhou.

Clouds resembled white gauze, changing like greyhounds. Beneath the vast, glistening sea of stars, the vicinity of the city was filled with towering flames of war. Crowds clashed in waves, various banners engaged in chaotic battle, and flames ignited the earth, sending plumes of black smoke into the night sky. Red and black mingled with the scattered lights of the city.

In Taiping Lane, lights shone sparsely. It was late, and in a small shack, Su Tan'er, dressed in thin silk pajamas, sat at a table, waving a small fan while sorting through intelligence gathered over the past few days with her husband, Ning Yi. As Xiao Chan passed by the window with a basin of water, Ning Yi instructed her to tell everyone to go to bed early.

"Fang La arrived this evening as well. We couldn't capture all these people within the city beforehand. I feel like we missed a crucial step. Husband, although I haven't dealt with these matters before, at this critical juncture, the way they handle things is truly disappointing. They act without restraint, while we hesitate at every turn, which is disheartening…"

The table was covered with scraps of paper containing recorded information. The couple held some more, placing them on the table one by one, large and small. Ning Yi shook his head.

"The idea of using bait and feigning weakness always comes at a price. It's not that there are no capable people in Hangzhou, but there are too many clever ones. When they get entangled, they often prioritize avoiding mistakes over achieving success. Now, they're thinking of relatively safe methods to capture people while minimizing losses. Even so, Qian Hai Ping must be under immense pressure. If not for Qian Xiwen, he probably wouldn't be able to hold it down. The chaos at the pier that day alone was enough for him to handle."

Su Tan'er tilted her head, placing a slip of paper on the table, pausing slightly. "I don't particularly like this Qian Hai Ping. He went to trouble the Lou family today… it always makes me feel…"

"Malicious intent?" Ning Yi smiled, piecing together two slips of paper, pointing at them. "Qian Hai Ping's influence can't touch the Lou family, and the Lou family can't cause trouble for the Qian family. In the end, the matter will still fall on us. Qian Hai Ping might want to vent our anger, and after doing so, the pressure from the Lou family will fall on us. We can only lean more towards the protection of the Qian family, which is advantageous for him… There's no need to think too highly of people. He's just riding the wave."

"Husband is magnanimous, but I can't relax," Su Tan'er pouted. "But it's fine. After this battle in Hangzhou, we'll immediately return to Jiangning, then go to the capital. Anyway, we won't have any dealings with the Lou or Qian families… That Lou Shuheng is truly inexplicable."

"He probably likes you…"

"Husband, don't joke like that. It makes me uncomfortable…"

"Heh, he's truly pitiful."

While the couple conversed in their room, the Lou family's old residence, located in a street near the south of the city, was also experiencing some turmoil.

Although the past few days had been marked by earthquakes and war, the Lou family, as one of Hangzhou's prominent families, had not suffered significant damage. However, today brought some unexpected events. Several groups of Wude Camp soldiers, yamen runners, and various officials entered and exited the Lou family residence, creating a chaotic scene. Outsiders were unclear about the exact nature of the problem, but they could see that many of the Lou family's belongings had been smashed. Some people had come to cause trouble, while others had come to intercede. However, it seemed that those causing trouble were more assertive. Over several visits, either under the guise of capturing rebels or requisitioning items, they had wrecked the Lou family's entrance hall and outer hall.

This chaos had persisted for most of the day, coming and going in waves. It was unknown what the Lou family members were thinking at this point. As night deepened, another group of troublemakers left, and under a willow tree outside the alley, two figures appeared, looking towards the Lou family's gate. The leader was none other than Wang Yin, with his long hair.

The aftermath of the earthquake lingered. During the day, many residents had watched the Lou family's predicament with interest. Now, bonfires crackled on the streets, but the number of people had decreased. Those who hadn't slept yet were still excitedly discussing who had caused trouble for the Lou family. Wang Yin's companion, Xu Fang, watched for a while and whispered, "Brother Wang, why are we here? I originally wanted to see that scholar with Shi Bao and the others."

"What's so interesting about a scholar?" Wang Yin laughed, staring at the Lou family servants who were clearing the debris in front of the gate. "They all look the same."

"A live-in one is different, Brother Wang. Could we be mistaken?"

"Southeast is a land of beauty, the three Wu regions are metropolises, and Qiantang has been prosperous since ancient times. Willow-lined bridges, wind-swept curtains of green, tens of thousands of households in a patchwork… If not for this earthquake, that poem would have already become famous worldwide. There's no mistake. Anyone can go watch them, but we might as well do something more practical. He has been laying out plans against us, and we can use him to set up new plans against him. Coming to see this tonight is truly a blessing from heaven… Brother Xu, Lou Jinlin has been investigated before. Although he is good at hiding, his nature is not benevolent at all. Look at him, he hasn't expressed anything about today's events,

It only proves that he's bottling up his anger…"

Wang Yin smiled. "Now that we have such a good opportunity, it would be a waste if we didn't seize it. Brother Xu, let's take another look. If no one else comes, go over and tell them… Wang Yin, under Fang La, requests an audience…"

****************

With a 'poof,' the oil lamp flickered, and Ning Yi trimmed the wick. However, looking at the time, it was already time to go to bed.

Previously, dealing with intelligence within the city wasn't considered formal business for the couple. Now, Su Tan'er sat on the bed with an embroidery frame, clumsily stitching. For her, it was probably a way to alleviate her worries. Ning Yi took a small lantern and went out, preparing to patrol again. At this time, his wife wouldn't sleep; she usually waited for Ning Yi to return before going to bed together.

Upon leaving the room, the courtyard was relatively quiet. Patrols were still visible on the streets outside. Geng the Guard and others were responsible for the security inside the courtyard. Ning Yi walked around, and when he reached the side of the wall, he heard a sound.

The sound was sudden and unexpected.

In an instant, the sound of wind breaking resonated from the neighboring courtyard. It was as if countless things were being sliced. Someone cried out "Ah!" but the sound was abruptly cut off. It sounded as if a windmill was dancing rapidly. With a crash, the sound of solid wood being severed echoed. Then, with a crisp 'ping,' a scream tore through the night sky as a woman was blasted out of the courtyard gate. The light of clashing weapons illuminated the night. Then, with a rumble, half of a dilapidated building began to collapse…

Ning Yi's position was separated from the neighboring courtyard by a wall, but the wall was already damaged. The series of sudden sounds lasted only a few seconds. The collapse of the house signaled the end of the night's tranquility. People nearby were alarmed, and in his own courtyard, Geng the Guard and others were suddenly awakened. Ning Yi extinguished the small lantern and moved closer. The collapse of half the building stirred up dust, but it wasn't thick. Through the dust, Ning Yi saw a figure standing at the courtyard gate facing the street. The gate had been smashed open earlier.

On the street, a tall, strong woman lay coughing up blood, her sword broken in her hand. She was one of the leaders of the Liu Clan martial arts academy around the corner. Although her husband was the head of the academy, her martial arts skills were also good. Naturally, the people from the martial arts academy participated in the events in Taiping Lane this time. In the courtyard, five or six broken bodies lay scattered in pools of blood. Clearly, the series of sounds just now was caused by these people being killed.

In a short few seconds, she had killed five or six people in quick succession and sent the woman from Liu’s Martial Arts flying out of the courtyard. The person who had caused all this now stood quietly at the courtyard gate. A black gauze hat, a blue floral skirt – it was the girl in ethnic minority clothing that Ning Yi had seen once before. Her clothes were still spotless, not stained with any blood. The only difference from last time was that she held a shockingly fierce broadsword in her right hand, held in reverse. It looked to be four feet or more long. It felt distinctly unnatural when held by this girl, but somehow, there also seemed to be a special kind of tension contained within, as if the broadsword being dragged backwards on the ground might roar to life at any moment, and dance like a windmill, taking lives as it had just done.

"B-, the Badao..." The tall woman from Liu's Martial Arts academy clutched her chest, staring intently at the girl who had sent her flying with a single slash in the night, and said in a low voice, "You... Who are you?"

The words sounded quite intriguing. Ning Yi now remembered that Liu's Martial Arts Academy originally taught swordsmanship and claimed to be distant relatives of a certain famous swordsmanship family. Now it seemed that they were related to Badao Liu Dabiaozi, who had been troubling Ning Yi and the others recently.

Sounds of activity were closing in from all directions. The girl dragging the giant blade remained unmoved, just standing there. After a long moment, she finally opened her mouth, her voice cold in the night: "My father was killed by the government officials, Aunt Duanming, long time no see. I'm here for revenge. Don't stop me."

Aunt Duanming frowned, and finally remembered something: "Y-, you're... Xigua? How did you…"

The girl's name was Xigua, or maybe Liu Xigua. Ning Yi felt like laughing, and then quietly disappeared into the shadows. The sound of gongs and shouting grew more intense. His own people had already come out, and Geng the Guard and the others were protecting them. At one moment, they heard a loud "Dong—" coming from the night sky. On the road outside the courtyard, someone had boldly charged out, smashing the person ringing the gong, along with the gong, into the air with a hammer. Then they heard intense screams. One, two, three, four people appeared, brazenly attacking in the night. There weren’t many experts defending Taiping Lane at the moment. Some people climbed onto the walls and roofs. Ning Yi made a gesture to Geng the Guard and the others, who were protecting the family, telling them to escape according to the planned route. Then he heard a voice in the night air.

"Hahahaha, wake up! Don't sleep! I heard there's someone here called Ning Liheng, who is extremely capable despite being a live-in husband. Who is it? If you’re brave, stand up and let me see—"

The scene was chaotic, and Geng the Guard and the others were temporarily blocked. The killing attacks would pause when they shouted, and it wasn't impossible to rush past,

But it would probably be difficult. Ning Yi watched the situation for a while. Someone standing on the roof had also set his sights on him. He took a deep breath, looking at these people who were not far away and almost surrounded the street and courtyard, and frowned.

"I am the one. Can I ask a question, how did you find me?"

Since these people had come, the reason was naturally his planning for Qian Hai Ping. But some things just didn't make sense. He had always stayed out of the core of this matter, deliberately trying to downplay his involvement. Without any clues, these people had actually learned of his existence. It was truly too strange. He thought this, but the reply that followed was straightforward and simple. Someone on the street laughed loudly.

"We caught one of your spies, interrogated him, and naturally asked everything! That's why we came to find you tonight, hahaha! Do you have any last words?"

"Is it Shi Bao?" Ning Yi smiled, then lowered his head slightly, licking his lips with a complex mood. After a long moment, he sighed, "Damn it, I knew this thing wasn't reliable. I helped them set up the layout for four or five days, and I haven't even figured out your base yet. You caught one person and directly exposed me. The most terrible thing in this world is not a godlike opponent, but piglike teammates!"

He felt something and his tone sounded funny, but there was also some gnashing of teeth. At this time, everyone in Taiping Lane was uneasy, just listening to Ning Yi's calm response, not knowing the specific events that had taken place. Shi Bao raised a copper hammer and smashed open the courtyard wall. Not far away, Geng the Guard was protecting Su Tan'er and the others, trying to leave from the side. Xiao Chan and the others seemed a little hesitant, and Su Tan'er grabbed their collars and dragged them back. Soon after, this group was also discovered.

"Can you leave?"

The person standing on the building shouted out. Before he could finish the sentence, Ning Yi’s eyes looked over, his gaze cold and sharp: “The one who should be asking that question is you!”

His power was shocking when he spoke these words. With one sentence, almost the entire atmosphere between the courtyards froze. All eyes fell on Ning Yi. These people had originally come for Ning Yi. They had suddenly attacked a moment ago, being bold because of their skills, and they had felt they had the upper hand. But after Ning Yi said those words, for a moment, no one dared to be sure if it was fake, and they were all slightly stunned for a moment.

“You… what did you say!?” Shi Bao laughed fiercely.

************

Actually went to Hangzhou for six days, which was a bit different from the original plan. It’s not good to update at this time. I originally wanted to just keep my head down and update without saying a word, but I heard that it’s already a double-vote month. Since I asked for votes at the beginning of the month, I also have to ask for them at the end of the month. If you have monthly tickets, and feel that it is worth voting for, please vote for Banana. Next, I will be at home to continue to get the update back on track... Well, I won't say anything else, thank you everyone ^_^ (To be continued.) Please vote for recommendations and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)

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