Autumn wind stirs up the leaves, sending them swirling through the streets of Bianliang, some landing in the canals along the roadside, creating gentle ripples. Yu Hezhong, while chatting with Chen Sifeng in a restaurant, glanced down at a couple walking along the road below.

A young scholar in a green robe, and a graceful woman in white, walked side by side, conversing softly, appearing to be a loving young couple. However, Yu Hezhong recognized the scholar and knew that the woman beside him was, in fact, only a concubine.

Autumn's chill was beginning to settle, but the temperature hadn't yet turned cold, and there were many pedestrians on the streets of Bianliang. Catching a glimpse of this couple, Yu Hezhong's thoughts were difficult to articulate. He paused in his conversation with Chen Sifeng, the thought "He's back" flashing through his mind, but he quickly resumed the topic he was discussing with Chen Sifeng.

Chen Sifeng also recognized the scholar on the street, but for reasons unknown, Yu Hezhong didn't mention it to him. They were childhood friends, but after coming to Bianliang, their contact was mostly through Shishi. Now both were married with established careers, holding minor official positions in the capital. Their interactions were infrequent, today being a chance encounter. Their conversation revolved around domestic matters, until someone casually broached a particular subject.

"...She refused Zhou Bangyan this summer, which was a bit strange."

"...Shishi's thoughts are always difficult to fathom."

"...There have been many proposals for her recently, but she's rejected them all. Perhaps she intends to become a nun."

"...It's not entirely impossible."

They shook their heads and sighed, then steered the conversation in another direction for a while. Chen Sifeng said, "Her relationship with Liheng is quite different."

"Liheng is too capable. We can't participate in the things he does. It makes sense that Shishi would consult him when she has issues."

"Do you think Shishi wants to marry him?"

Chen Sifeng's question was casual, and Yu Hezhong replied with a casual smile, "Although Liheng is capable, it doesn't seem like there's anything between them."

"Yes, Liheng's wife is quite formidable," Chen Sifeng nodded.

"Oh?"

"It's that woman named Su Tan'er. Liheng is currently out of the capital, and she's helping to manage the Zhuji business. I heard she had a direct confrontation with Zuo Houwen, and someone intervened in the end, resulting in a draw. I don't know the specifics, but a lot of messy things have come to light."

Chen Sifeng's official rank in the capital was higher than Yu Hezhong's minor position in the Ministry of Revenue, so he knew more of the inside stories. He shook his head at this point. "I heard that when Liheng and his wife first came to the capital, Zuo Houwen suppressed her family's cloth business. Now, just a year later, they can directly confront each other, and Liheng isn't even in the capital. That woman, she doesn't look very old, and she's only the mother of a two-year-old child, but she's really not easy to mess with."

"In that case, if Shishi really marries into the Ning family, there will be quite a show to watch."

"As you said, it doesn't seem likely. I don't think Shishi would be so unwise."

They spoke about this matter calmly and casually, but only they knew how they truly felt. Soon, the two who had met by chance made plans to meet again in the future and then parted ways. Chen Sifeng left first. After he was gone, Yu Hezhong went downstairs.

He sighed, strolling along the way to Fan Lou. The roadside was filled with all sorts of pedestrians. Ning Yi and his concubine Yunzhu, whom he had seen earlier, were now gone, and Chen Sifeng was nowhere to be seen. Even he didn't know what he would do when he got to Fan Lou.

A few days ago, he had taken the opportunity to propose to Shishi. The initial impulse was based on a momentary heat of the head, and a long-held obsession, but after he spoke, he knew there was no chance of a positive answer. Shishi's rejection was very tactful and considerate of his feelings. It wasn't very embarrassing, but… everything was gone with the autumn…

Over the years, from his youthful vigor to his current state of being married with children, life wasn't particularly interesting, but fortunately, there was still Shishi. He, Chen Sifeng, and others accompanied her, grew up together, gathered together, and celebrated together. Even though they were married, as long as such things existed, life wasn't completely devoid of color. However, everything comes to an end.

He couldn't find the same feeling in Fan Lou as he did with his bland wife and children. Most importantly, he couldn't find the same feeling he had with Shishi. However, in the last two years, it became increasingly clear that Shishi would eventually have to marry. Once she left, everything would likely disappear like a reflection in the water or a flower in a mirror.

At that time, where would the things that proved he had once existed be found?

He stood outside Fan Lou for a while, and when he looked up slightly, cold raindrops fell on his face.

"Indeed, a cool autumn day…"

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

Autumn rain came suddenly, falling on the city of Bianliang,

Drizzling softly all night. The next morning, the rain clouds still obscured the sky, making the city's light dim. When Shishi arrived at the Ning residence, some of the rooms in the courtyard were still lit, the lights appearing moist and warm in the rain.

Su Tan'er received her. As the mistress of the house, she didn't give off much of a sense of oppression at first glance. In terms of build, she was slightly shorter than Yunzhu, with a simple bun for married women and an autumn-colored green dress adorned with flowers. Her hands were lightly clasped, placed on either side of her legs. Generally speaking, if the hands were placed together, it would give a feeling of keeping people at a distance, but placed separately, it seemed undefended, somewhat gentle, even a little naive.

But Shishi remembered that she wasn't like this the last few times she had seen her. She was able to go to Fan Lou and talk business with Mother Li when Ning Yi was away, without losing any ground in her composure. She was able to control the Zhuji's power and engage in a standoff with Zuo Houwen through her strategic planning. Shishi once saw her outside Daxing Temple while praying for blessings. The woman was squatting on the ground, holding out a hand to let a child named Ning Xi run over to her. Her figure wasn't plump, and in some places, she still seemed as thin as a girl. Her smile was warm and gentle, but Shishi knew that this woman possessed strength.

But at this moment, she had restrained everything. Perhaps Ning Yi had already returned home… Knowing what had happened...

"...Liheng went to the Prime Minister's residence early in the morning, but he shouldn't have too many things to do today and will be back soon. It's raining heavily now, so Miss Shishi should stay here and wait for him."

In the warm light and the all-encompassing autumn rain, Tan'er said this, and then had tea and snacks served...

In the Prime Minister's residence, in the study, Ning Yi met with Qin Si Yuan, Yao Zunian, Ji Kun and others, exchanging greetings.

"...That man named Luo Jinyan committed suicide in prison after confessing his crimes. Speaking of which, Liheng was truly prescient about Qin Hui…"

The topic started with casual conversation. After speaking, the mood of the crowd was not necessarily high. Each person showed a complex expression on their face, either in silence or with a slight sneer. After a while, Qin Siyuan laughed.

"No matter what, Liheng is finally back. Sit, sit, there are a lot of things that have accumulated. Let's discuss them all…"

The swirling rain clouds continued to stretch, crossing hundreds of miles of land, to the south of this land, near a small town called Qinkou, where rain was falling and yellow leaves were piled up on the ground.

Blood flowed in the water, quickly being diluted. In the morning, on the rainy long street, a figure with a bundle on his back stood there, facing a green sedan chair carried by four men at the end of the street.

The bundle slung over his back was long, with the glint of various weapons - swords, spears, halberds - peeking out. On the wall by the street not far away, a woman carrying Mandarin Duck dual blades walked slowly along the earthen wall.

This was a stronghold of the Great Brightness Sect.

"Chen Fan," the old woman's voice in the green sedan chair slowly uttered the name. "You truly have grown tired of living."

"Si Kongnan," In the rain, the man named Chen Fan faced the female grandmaster who had been famous in the Jianghu for decades, and smiled as he spoke. "You said it yourself: 'In the Jianghu, there is always a new generation burying the old'. You may have made a mistake. We weren't intercepted by you. This time we came specifically for you… to avenge my master."

"Fang Qifo…" Si Kongnan said the name. "Avenge him? Do you think your martial arts are enough?"

"I don't know," Chen Fan started walking forward with the bundle on his back. "But you are old, and I am young… I won't give you the chance to die of old age."

His footsteps walked through the flowing water, and a murderous atmosphere had already solidified around him. Chen Fan's clothes were already soaked by the rain, but the figure beneath them was well-proportioned and powerful. Each step he took seemed more stable and firm. After a moment, he tilted his head.

"Oh, right, there's something I think I should tell you. Master would sometimes mention taking over the affairs of the Mani Sect to me. He usually didn't talk about you, but if he had to mention you, I found his feelings for you to be very strange. I think he liked you. This is something from your older generation. Saint Gong has already passed away, Master has passed away, and you are about to pass away, but before you are buried, I still feel the need to tell you this."

The green sedan chair was silent for a moment.

"But now I think Master's taste really wasn't that good. Because the last time I saw you, I wanted to say… old hag, you are extremely ugly—"

A roar erupted. In the moment that the bundle was thrown forcefully forward, a figure leaped out of the green sedan chair: "Impudence—"

Cloth unfolded, and knives, spears, halberds, axes, hooks, forks, whips, maces… all sorts of weapons flew into the sky. Si Kongnan's figure cut through the rain, breaking through the weapons. In mid-air, like an ancient demon, an extremely fierce trace of a claw descended with a whoosh!

Chen Fan had also charged straight up, catching the first weapon rushing towards him. In the next moment, the offensive was like a raging tornado hurricane, colliding with Si Kongnan…