In the darkness, it seemed as if wind and rain were raging. Past midnight, some of the neighborhoods in Jiangning City were still bustling with noise.

"...Hurry, hurry! Close the gate and let's go..."

"...Don't take anything too heavy..."

"...Just lock the doors and windows..."

"...Gouzi, you bastard! What are you dawdling for? We're all waiting on you!"

Lu Xian walked among the crowd, saw Li Duanwu at the front of the line, and waved his hand. "Let's go, let's go..." he said.

Li Duanwu waved his large hand to move the column forward, then approached. "At a time like this, can we even get out?"

"Let's give it a try," Lu Xian said in a low voice. "He Fu is asking for twelve hundred taels... We might not make it, but we have to try."

"...Does he still have the mind to rake in money at a time like this?"

"They say the job of guarding the city gate cost over ten thousand taels. If he doesn't make money now, when will he?"

Lu Xian smiled.

On the afternoon of the twenty-first of September, He Wen declared his stance at the Fair Party conference, marking the split of the five factions.

As night fell, the five main branches and high-ranking members of the Fair Party were already meeting in their respective residences to discuss countermeasures. After the major strategies were arranged, the branches of each system gathered separately to assign tasks.

As a mid-level thug in the "Heavenly Kill" force under "King Yama," Lu Xian had sensed quite a few clues the moment he was summoned. He immediately arranged for Li Duanwu to gather manpower. As midnight approached, his meeting ended, he accepted the task, and immediately returned to the neighborhood where his relatives and friends gathered, telling everyone to pack their things and prepare to leave the city.

Lu Xian was considered quick in his reaction and decision-making. He had also managed to get in touch with He Fu during the meeting and immediately decided to spend money to avoid disaster.

Many people in the city had not yet been able to make such a decision. Lu Xian included, originally led the young and strong from Li Family Village into Jiangning City, aiming for a great future with the Fair Party. Most of the gold and silver savings scraped together from risking their lives were invested here, hoping that everyone would become city dwellers after the world was pacified. However, as the main force in the front lines of the constant fighting, Lu Xian, in addition to being surprised and puzzled by today's events, had also sensed the terrifying atmosphere before the approaching tsunami.

He inherited Li Duanwu's mantle, although he wasn't originally a resident of Li Family Village. His ability to make a decision in such a short period, coupled with the rapid response and cooperation of Li Duanwu and others who packed simple but valuable belongings and set off at night, was enough to prove his prestige among them.

However, some major movements happening in the darkness were already beginning to emerge at this moment.

Starting with the assassination attempt on Fair King He Wen north of the city near midnight, warning fireworks occasionally rose in the city, symbolizing that fighting had broken out somewhere again.

The first wave of commotion mainly occurred between Fair King He Wen and Equality King Shi Baofeng. This was because Shi Baofeng had been assassinated by members of the Reading Society after the afternoon conference. The Equality King's faction attributed this assassination to He Wen's instigation. The assassination attempt on He Wen before midnight seemed to be naturally attributed to Shi Baofeng. Military Worthy Lin Jiao Jiu, under the guise of arresting the assassins, led his men through two streets belonging to Shi Baofeng, causing chaos in the north of the city.

As the young and strong men of Li Family Village braced themselves, each holding their weapons, escorting the team through the city towards the south, Lu Xian and Li Duanwu occasionally saw small groups of people who had also packed their belongings and were preparing to hurriedly move out of the city. Some of them were even acquaintances, and they exchanged greetings and information. When it came to the route out of the city, they didn't agree, because "the Great Kings are very likely to leave Jiangning at dawn."

This was highly likely news. Although the top five had not publicly declared a split, the will to fight each other in private had basically been solidified. Before the major showdown tomorrow, the mere city of Jiangning was already too small for the five rulers who controlled the entire Jiangnan.

If the five Great Kings were also leaving the city, it would be unwise for others to compete with them for passage. But at this moment, the team that had already set off couldn't possibly turn back.

Past the halfway point of Chou hour (1-3 AM), the night seemed particularly deep. The evacuating team approached Boxin Gate on the south side of the city. Two long streets away from the city gate, the street entrance was already blocked by guarding troops. Various torches gathered in the darkness, with a dense crowd of people. Lu Xian went to inquire and learned that while He Fu guarded the city gate, the entrance to the street leading to the city gate was currently controlled by Yao Bingzhi, nicknamed "Loyal Heart General."

This Yao Bingzhi was a subordinate of "Revolving King." In short, they had occupied this street in the fire fights of recent days.

Both sides were mid-level figures from different factions, and they hadn't formed any personal grudges in the past. Now, there wasn't much disagreement. Moreover, rumors in the neighborhoods were that the four kings, "High Heaven," "Revolving," "Equality," and "Yama," were jointly fighting Fair King. They might even be comrades-in-arms in the future... Lu Xian went over, reported his name, and the bearded Yao Bingzhi came out, his words unusually straightforward: He wanted money.

"...You have almost two hundred people, old and young combined. Ten taels of silver for one life, isn't that too much?"

"...He Fu is only asking for three taels. You're squeezing in here, asking for ten taels each, and I have to pay another round of money. Tell me, isn't that too much? Be straightforward, I'll give you six hundred, and we'll consider it a good deed."

"...Six hundred won't do. That breaks the rules. How about this, you go back and think about it... Make a decision early. There are a lot of people here. Who knows if you can get out later."

"...You know there are a lot of people here. I have almost two hundred people. How about this, I'll just stop here and block the road for you. If we don't leave, no one leaves."

"...You dare? Don't you know where you are?!"

"...The men who are eating with me, risking their lives, are all here. I work for Heavenly Kill. Go ask around and see if I dare... It's my turn to pass. A good deed or a grudge, Brother Yao, you decide."

Both sides were villains who had licked blood from the edges of blades. A round of verbal sparring carried an intimidating bloody aura. After a brief standoff, Yao Bingzhi laughed. "Alright, you're someone. Lu Xian, right? Six hundred taels. Lu, I'll make you a brother. In the future, if there's a chance, we'll get rich together!"

He controlled the important passage and business was important at this time. He didn't have time to argue with Lu Xian. After settling the deal, he turned to the next round. Lu Xian said from behind, "Can you let my people pass first?"

The other party waved his hand. "Look at how crowded this street is. Even if I let you pass, you can't. Line up. It'll be faster."

"Then let me go see He Fu first."

"Go yourself," the other party said generously.

After receiving Yao Bingzhi's permission, Lu Xian flew over the walls, passing through the long street. In his sight, the teams moving near the city gate were not slow. After seeing He Fu, he wanted to bargain, but this round, the price couldn't be lowered no matter what.

"Don't come if you think it's expensive. If that Yao hadn't interfered, I would have raised the price already. It's just this one deal. Hurry up and bring your people over."

These were trivial matters in the darkness.

After negotiating with both barriers, Lu Xian finally returned and led the team through the first barrier. After passing this barrier, everyone moved forward along the crowded long street. It was now the transition between Chou and Yin hours (3-5 AM), the deepest part of the night. Commotions from the distance could still be heard. Lu Xian walked on the road fortified by the houses on both sides, feeling uneasy. He was the one carrying out the task, and he thought that if someone caused trouble in this environment, it would be a big problem.

Halfway down the long street, someone suddenly squeezed through the crowd, led by He Fu's deputy. The figure behind him was tall, but his face was sinister. This was He Shuangying, a guard who followed Wei Xuwen of "Heavenly Kill." He was skilled in martial arts and had a cruel temperament. Lu Xian frowned, his heart sinking.

As expected, He Fu's deputy walked over and cupped his fist at Lu Xian. "General He said that, uh, Lieutenant Lu... there's no way you can pass. I'm really sorry."

Lu Xian pointed behind him. "My people... are all here. How can we go back?"

"This... General He doesn't want this either, but..." The deputy gestured towards He Shuangying behind him.

He Shuangying came over with a smile. "Old Lu, you still have things to do tomorrow. What is all of this about?"

"I'm the one doing things tomorrow. I'm sending these relatives and friends out of the city. I will stay."

He Shuangying looked towards the back. "Old Lu, you've been effective on this trip. It's not just you, but also your brothers. Heavenly Kill Wei said to stay here and handle things well. In the future, your neighborhood, along with the one next to it, will be yours."

"..." Lu Xian hesitated for a moment. He said in a hoarse voice, "We've come all the way here... How can we go back?"

"Just don't go out," He Shuangying said with a smile, his sleeves folded. "I'm just delivering a message."

As they spoke, the team was blocked here, and there were already faint signs of unrest from the rear. Li Duanwu, along with several young and strong men from Li Family Village, was nearby. At this time, he waved his hand, trying to lead the crowd to make noise.

"How can we go back if you're telling us to turn back here? How do you think we can go back?"

"They won't even let us leave the city... Go ahead and kill us if you have the guts..."

"Let's see who dares to block the way..."

"I'm sitting down and not leaving! Let's see who can leave the city--"

Someone shouted from the street behind, "Hurry up and move, Grandpa's telling you to move!"

He Shuangying still smiled, leaning his body to the side of the road, making it clear that "as long as you can't get out, I don't care if you die here." This was originally the style of those working under "Heavenly Kill." Lu Xian's eyes were bloodshot, and for a moment, he really wanted to kill a lot of people here, but after a moment, he finally waved his hand and ordered, "Move to the side of the road, let others pass--"

More than a hundred people cursed and squeezed to the side of the road. Although Lu Xian and Li Duanwu were resentful, they had to try to find someone to negotiate with to see if they could turn back. At this time, the howling night wind in the city carried various commotions. At the third quarter of Yin hour, a huge chaos erupted nearby.

Light points fell from somewhere into the crowd near the city gate, then exploded.

And with the explosions here, rounds of fighting suddenly rose in the streets far and near, accompanied by rumbling cannons, tearing through the night.

The people blocked on the streets were like being impacted by a sea tide, panicking for a moment. Li Duanwu shouted loudly in his own team, "Form ranks! Form ranks! Don't run around--" He had the young men of Li Family Village temporarily form a strong perimeter, followed by various screams.

"Run--"

"It's started--"

"The Reading Society is rebelling--"

"Someone's assassinating--"

"The city gate is closed--"

Waves of messages, both true and false, surged in like a tide. In the light of the torches, people were fighting in the distance, and someone was throwing fire bombs into the crowd. A large number of people surged in both directions, and Lu Xian and others also ordered the young people to draw their knives and rush towards the direction of the onslaught, fighting their way out.

People were fighting on the streets far and near, and people were fighting on the roofs and houses everywhere. Flames were burning in the chaos.

Lu Xian, Li Duanwu, and He Shuangying, who had been following, climbed onto the roof to check the situation. In the distance, they could see that a large-scale battle had broken out on the opposite streets.

On the early morning of September 22nd, the largest assassination attempt aimed at "Revolving King" Xu Zhaonan was unfolding.

Soon after, in the night, the cannons began to bombard in volleys...

At the same time, at the docks north of the city, the ships in the darkness had awakened, and some of the people belonging to the "Fair King" faction were boarding ships to evacuate.

He Wen, with bandages on his body and faint traces of blood, received an unexpected message from a young messenger as he prepared to board the ship...

...

Xu Zhaonan's departure time was uncertain, so there was no overly detailed plan to make. Since it was necessary to improvise, the only manpower that could be mobilized was some confidants who had been following him for a long time. Upon closer inspection, most of them were old-timers who had followed him since the Yu Family Village period.

There were three large clans in Yu Family Village, one was Yu, one was Ling, and the other was the Han family of his fourth disciple, whom his junior sister married. During the search of the mountain, his master, Ling Shengwei, was killed. Now that they had come to Jiangning, Yu Bin was also killed. He wasn't sure if everyone had any opinions in private, even though they didn't say it out loud.

But he still made a plan.

For a long time, in order to survive in the cracks, his plans had mostly been based on prudence. But this time was different. The risk was extremely high, and to put it carefully, it was more like being possessed by a ghost. Perhaps it was due to his usual prestige, the people around him did not offer too many opinions. Only after the arrangements were completed, his elder brother, Han Tao, sat with him on the roof in the night for a while.

"...Little Chu and the others, have they been sent out yet?"

"...They've already set off."

"...You've given Old Ling some kind of explanation."

"...He's already dead, and I'm still alive. What kind of explanation is that?"

In the dim night, there were only these few idle words, and then they dissipated in the wind.

Xu Zhaonan's departure time was chosen at the third quarter of Chou hour in the early morning. This was not a predetermined time point, but he simply ordered the departure after arranging everything. Due to the suddenness of the action, there was not much time to react after knowing this. However, after understanding the general direction of the team's progress, everyone quickly formulated a plan.

The subordinates were divided into three teams. One team stirred up an assassination, one team created chaos near Boxin Gate, driving those leaving the city to rush towards Xu Zhaonan's direction. Han Tao led six artillery carts to occupy the high ground next to the necessary road and used two to three rounds of artillery fire to send Xu Zhaonan and his surrounding experts away.

Simple, direct, and usually effective.

Soon after, the sound of cannons roared--

...

Lu Xian, Li Duanwu, and He Shuangying were running on the dim roof. On the distant roads, pedestrians were running, and clusters of torches were like light flowing in the river.

"It really is Revolving King's team..."

In the distance, they could see the vehicles belonging to Revolving King heading in this direction, surrounded by soldiers and experts spreading out on both sides of the road.

"Among the five Great Kings, Revolving King has the most experts..." He Shuangying was well-connected. "Don't get close, lest you get affected."

As soon as his words fell, a loud noise suddenly erupted in the night. They saw that above a pavilion in a courtyard not far away, the light of artillery fire broke through the night, and countless objects whistled through the night, falling towards the distant road.

Shrapnel fell like raindrops, and then a terrible explosion lifted a wave of air and smoke. The flags and carriages belonging to Revolving King were covered in smoke.

The few people widened their eyes.

As a rebel organization that had stirred up great momentum by relying on fighting local tyrants and distributing land, the expansion of the Fair Party in Jiangnan was often a crushing, one-sided situation. Although artillery fire was used in some battlefields, people probably believed more in the strength of personal martial arts, or even invulnerability after eating talisman water. This was the first time they had seen artillery fire used on such a scale for assassination.

He Shuangying was almost stunned on the roof.

The rolling smoke in front had not yet dissipated, and the members of Revolving King's team on the road were in a mess. On the road on the side of Lu Xian and the others, several figures rushed over here because they had noticed the artillery fire. The leader was incredibly skilled in lightness techniques, throwing off the few subordinates behind him by several feet. When he arrived near here, he suddenly hesitated, but he saw He Shuangying standing on the roof.

He Shuangying was slightly stunned, then jumped down to the street. "Old Xu, I'm He Shuangying, I happened to be here. The assassin is in front."

This person who had rushed over at the first moment was Xu Longbiao, the "Tuo River Immortal," under the command of Revolving King. This person was the oldest protector by Xu Zhaonan's side, not only knowledgeable and experienced in the ways of the world, but also possessing extraordinary leg skills that could shatter trees and collapse stones.

He Shuangying was a guard and confidant by Wei Xuwen's side in "Heavenly Kill," and he usually loved to interact with many experts in the city and make friends, and he also loved to brag to people in private. Seeing Xu Longbiao at this time, he maintained a distance, walking side by side with the other party, saying, "Old Xu, Revolving King is under attack, I'm here to help you." He exerted force on his feet, his speed not inferior to Xu Longbiao's, and he arrived at the street entrance in the blink of an eye.

Lu Xian and Li Duanwu, hidden on the roof in the darkness, did not show themselves. They knew that He Shuangying was usually high-profile, and at this time, his habit of joining in the fun had returned. If he followed along to relieve Revolving King's siege, how amazing it would be to brag about it in the future, and he could also form a good relationship with Xu Zhaonan. And if Xu Zhaonan died, it would have nothing to do with He Shuangying. When bragging, he could also say that I was there when Xu Zhaonan died.

Xu Longbiao and He Shuangying ran from here to the street entrance in an instant. In the dim light, another figure rushed over at high speed from another street, and the two sides met face to face at this street entrance.

"Old Xu, the assassin is on the building in front..."

"Brother Meng, the assassin is firing artillery in front..."

"Who is this person?"

"This..."

The person who appeared from that road was vaguely Meng Zhuotao, the head of the "Grievance Assembly." This person was tall. Even though it was a bit far away, Lu Xian and Li Duanwu on the roof could still recognize the other party's identity in a moment. And in this short moment, Meng Zhuotao had approached Xu Longbiao, and the few followers behind him intersected with the few subordinates of Xu Longbiao who had fallen behind.

Xu Longbiao sensed something was wrong at the first moment. His figure shot out like lightning, a stride causing the dust on the ground to surge, and then the direction of his entire body turned a right angle, turning to He Shuangying, who had been walking side by side with him.

He Shuangying practiced the Tiger-Crane Double Form. As the crane shape was running, the tiger shape suddenly pounced.

Xu Longbiao brushed past He Shuangying's side, stepped on the wall on the side of the street, and turned back sharply. The fierce leg strength, combined with He Shuangying's tiger fist, met the figure that had already pounced close.

Xu Longbiao was a veteran of established fame, and He Shuangying was an outstanding talent who had made a name for himself in "Heavenly Kill." Both of them were first-class experts in the current martial world. The joint attack in the blink of an eye was like a tiger roaring and a dragon singing in the dimness. Meng Zhuotao had already forced himself close, and his steel whip was swung out.

All that could be heard was a series of loud bangs and explosions on the corner of the street. The three figures crashed into the wall on the side of the road in a fierce impact. Xu Longbiao's leg was broken, and his body seemed to have been smashed open. It was unknown whether it was internal organs or wall bricks flying in the night. He Shuangying retreated repeatedly, like a fierce tiger grabbed by a large hand. The three of them were pushed into the courtyard like runaway chariots. Lu Xian on the roof widened his eyes and saw Meng Zhuotao smashing open Xu Longbiao's stomach with a steel whip in a high-speed charge, and then pressing He Shuangying's face, lifting him up, and smashing him hard on the stone mill in the courtyard. He smashed him several times in a row. Before the smoke dissipated, the two experts were no longer human.

The subordinates of both sides had just begun to fight each other on the street. Meng Zhuotao rushed out of the broken wall, waving a measuring rod, killing all of Xu Longbiao's subordinates in the blink of an eye.

Lu Xian and Li Duanwu hid on the roof, not daring to breathe loudly. They certainly knew that Meng Zhuotao of the "Grievance Assembly" was a notorious figure in the martial world, but they had never expected that the other party's martial arts would be so high. Xu Longbiao, He Shuangying, and others were killed by him like chickens and ducks in a face-to-face encounter.

Meng Zhuotao only stayed at the bloody street entrance for a moment. His gaze looked towards the pavilion where the cannons had been fired earlier.

The sound of cannons did not sound a second time.

There was a faint, strange sound brewing in the darkness over there.

The next moment, he waved his hand, leading the people around him, rushing at high speed to the street where Xu Zhaonan was attacked.

What kind of accident Han Tao, who was responsible for firing the cannons, encountered was unknown.

The first round of artillery fire covered the target, but it could not be determined whether Xu Zhaonan was dead.

But in any case, their side was fighting quickly, and there was still a chance.

The blood was running in the body, warming up in a round, and the blood was at its most peak state. Meng Zhuotao's figure was like a demon god, rushing towards his prey.

...

The smoke after the artillery fire was dissipating.

In an atmosphere of blood, Xu Zhaonan stumbled out of the damaged carriage, escorted by several guards who were also covered in blood, heading forward.

Fireworks were rising in the darkness, and it seemed that the guards had arrived nearby and were fighting with the enemy.

Among the five kings of the Fair Party, his side had the most experts, and he thought that he didn't need to fear any assassinations, but he still didn't expect that the artillery fire that landed on him would be so fierce. For a moment, he even thought that the people from the Southwest directed this assassination.

If it was really them, then the next round, the third round... he was afraid he would not be able to hide.

Such fear rose in his heart. At the same time, he saw someone rushing at high speed, shouting something.

That was Meng Zhuotao...

Originally, he could have trusted him, but the other party came too quickly...

...

In the distant streets, fireworks for rescue had already risen from the "Grievance Assembly." Meng Zhuotao rushed towards the scattering smoke, and the first moment he saw Xu Zhaonan, he had already shouted.

"Don't go there... Go to the east -- How is Lord Xu?"

He approached at high speed in a guiding manner, and even helped a wounded soldier on the ground, waving his hand, and saying, "Go--"

The chaos caused by the artillery fire had temporarily scattered the guard system around Xu Zhaonan. This strong help, in theory, could bluff people for a moment. The distance between the two sides entered a range of one zhang, and Meng Zhuotao pushed the injured person in his hand forward.

Opposite, Xu Zhaonan had already pulled out the golden ring sword behind him. "Block him--" Due to the roar of the artillery fire, he did not hear Meng Zhuotao's words. Therefore, he was able to clearly see the fact that the other party was constantly approaching.

In the dimness, the smoke was flying, and the demon god with the steel whip exhaled a breath, and the long whip was raised.

Opposite, several experts with bloodstains on their bodies rushed up.

The waving whip shadow roared up, like a fierce roaring dragon group, smashing open people's skin, flesh, and flying bones and blood in the blink of an eye. Meng Zhuotao's tall figure crushed the crowd. Xu Zhaonan was also brave, waving his golden ring sword and slashing. The two sides collided with the first blow, and in the second blow, his household exploded, and the long sword flew out of his hand into the air. Meng Zhuotao swung his whip and smashed it down, falling on Xu Zhaonan's body with the most violent posture!

A look of despair flashed in Xu Zhaonan's eyes.

The next moment, right in front of Meng Zhuotao, Xu Zhaonan's body seemed to be pulled backwards by a huge vortex. The steel whip smashed into the air. His body moved forward again, and in the smoke in front, a huge figure came to meet him, followed by half of a carriage frame that had fallen to the ground, being dragged by the other party and whistling.

Meng Zhuotao went up to meet it.

In the chaotic streets, the witnessing crowd saw an amazing scene. At the moment when "Revolving King" Xu Zhaonan rolled backwards, two figures fiercely fought in the smoke, smashing half of the carriage frame that was caught in it into pieces in the blink of an eye with the most violent posture. Wood chips and steel flew to countless places in the darkness.

"A-mi-to-fo."

A deep Buddhist chant slowly covered this street.

The smoke dissipated.

Two tall figures, inhuman strongmen, faced off on the chaotic long street.

--- Off-topic ---

This chapter number... I wish all single dogs a happy [Singles' Day]...