Rain fell on the dark Jiangning City, and at midnight, figures darted through the downpour.

In the city's south end, before dawn, two medical clinics that had already closed their doors were successively disturbed.

At this time, various shops able to establish themselves in Jiangning City either sought protection from one of the Fair Party's factions, buying their way to safety, or possessed exceptional skills and backgrounds that allowed them to defend themselves. Especially now, with heroes from all corners of the martial world gathering, brawls and fights were common, and the city's doctors and healers were well-regarded, living comfortably enough.

A young man wielding a blade forcibly knocked on the doors of two medical clinics, demanding medicine with a forceful and fierce demeanor. He even asked for valuable and rare medicinal herbs, so he was naturally stopped at first. Apprentices or guards in the clinics rushed out with swords, spears, and staves, only to be beaten to the ground. The doctors, realizing they were dealing with a powerful figure, spoke politely and welcomed him inside.

Such disturbances were not uncommon in Jiangnan at this time. The commotion appeared briefly and then subsided. Clumsy fellows with martial arts skills dared not offend the doctors in the clinics, but the doctors dared not offend chivalrous figures with great martial prowess. As long as the intruder showed some restraint, making peace was better than reporting to the authorities and seeking "justice."

After raiding two medical clinics in succession and gathering barely sufficient life-sustaining medicines, the ripples stirred up in the dark night seemed to be submerged by the heavy autumn rain, and the night quieted down once more in this atmosphere.

Under the damp bridge arch in front of the Five Lakes Inn, a little monk wearing a ridiculous wig lit a fire. After the elder brother, who went out to rob the medicine, returned, they set up a clay pot to cook the herbs. A cripple named Xue Jin kowtowed many times, wanting to help these two young chivalrous heroes who appeared in the dead of night to save his dying wife.

Outside the bridge arch, Jiangning City was submerged in darkness. People seemed isolated by the darkness, and the ripples stirred up by the young man's robbery of the pharmacy could hardly spread. People in the city didn't know how anxious the people under the little bridge arch in the darkness were. Looking out from the bridge arch, nothing clear could be seen. The people who had been beaten during the day, and the households around them, were all licking their wounds in their own bridge arches.

Of course, there were more things brewing in the darkness.

In the Zhong'an Ward in the southeast of the city, in a corner of the "Gathering of Talents Residence," the members of the "Five Lakes Inn" who had been arrested during the day were being severely tortured. Branding irons burned people's skin, bamboo skewers pried open fingernails, and the interrogators tortured them all night long, repeatedly forcing them to confess their crimes as members of the "Reading Club."

Shi Weiyang didn't fall asleep. He even came to the torture chamber with Wu Chennan to witness the bloody scene firsthand. Both of their first reactions were a bit nauseous, but a strange sense of excitement kept them from falling asleep.

After returning from the Five Lakes Inn, his father, Shi Baofeng, didn't comment much on the operation, but the approval in his expression told Shi Weiyang that he had done the right thing, washing away the shame of the previous month. Later, after the head manager, Jin Yongsheng, hinted at something, Shi Weiyang understood that his actions had touched the core of something bigger.

Most importantly, with the assistance of Wu Chennan, he had grasped the core of how the big shots operated.

Did the Five Lakes Inn have anything to do with the "Reading Club"? Did it matter?

Were the people arrested innocent? Did it matter?

Had he always treated Yan Yunzhi with courtesy? Did it matter?

Had he always wanted to treat people with gentlemanly conduct? Did it matter?

When you really reached the level of his father's generation, including elders like Jin Yongsheng, what mattered most was whether things looked good on the surface and whether they could get benefits in reality. In the matter of Yan Yunzhi, he hadn't done a good job. In the conflict at the Five Lakes Inn, he had thought he was just going to catch thieves, and that he had no malice towards them, so they would naturally cooperate – he had been too naive.

Baofeng Trading Company had risen rapidly by following the Fair Party. Shi Weiyang, as Shi Baofeng's second son, was young and handsome. He had always been praised for his intelligence and was regarded by most people as Shi Baofeng's most beloved son. This time, coming to Jiangning, he was following managers like Jin Yongsheng to receive guests at the Gathering of Talents Residence. He was graceful in his responses, but deep down, he always felt uneasy.

He was worried that the old-timers in the martial world would see him as a playboy, worried that he wasn't capable enough, and that they would be friendly on the surface but look down on him in their hearts. Especially after some mistakes, he felt even more anxious. However, after Wu Chennan pointed these things out to him, he finally grasped the core of how these big shots behaved.

It was a feeling of enlightenment, like "hearing the Dao in the morning, one can die in the evening."

He easily recovered the face lost at the Five Lakes Inn and handed the "Reading Club" knife to his father. Shi Weiyang was excited. That night, he and Wu Chennan talked half the night about Yan's family and Yan Yunzhi, seized the contradictions, and set a plan. By the time it was almost dawn, they had roughly finalized a plan. After they went through it once, they felt it was quite feasible. Shi Weiyang was almost ready to order people to prepare immediately, but Wu Chennan stopped him with a cup of tea.

"Second Young Master," Wu Chennan said, "One must have a calm mind when facing important events. You were just praised by Master Shi last night, and before dawn, we're already rushing to call people. Others might think you're too eager to show off. Moreover, you and I still have some theoretical knowledge of martial arts affairs. When targeting the Yan family, we might as well discuss this plan with Elder Jin and the others. First, we give the seniors enough face, and second, we let them know what's on your mind today..."

Hearing Wu Chennan's words, Shi Weiyang realized and grabbed his hand, saying, "Chennan is right to remind me. I was indeed too hasty. Alas, without Chennan for these things..."

The two men held hands in the room, encouraging each other. It wasn't until dawn that they fell into a deep sleep on the same bed.

……

The commotion under the bridge arch had stopped by the time the sky was about to dawn.

"...I've done my best."

That was what the young man who called himself Long Aotian said. After saying that, he led the little monk out of the rain, then turned back and left a word.

"Maybe she can survive..."

In his words, there was hesitation that he himself felt was superfluous.

The woman under the bridge arch didn't wake up. Her head was wrapped in bandages, and her body was limp. Her breathing was as thin as a thread. Xue Jin touched her, and the long-term residence under the bridge arch gave her a rotting smell, and she was as skinny as ever. Because the young man said that she might still be alive, Xue Jin didn't dare to hold her. He kowtowed towards the outside of the bridge arch, not understanding why these two little benefactors would come to show kindness, and didn't want to think about it anymore.

He sat in the rain in a daze, wanting to take care of his wife, but more often than not, he was just in a long period of stupor and blankness. As dawn approached, he knelt there in the misty rain for a while, and didn't know when he woke up in a daze again. His wife, Yue'niang, lay there, her hand on her nose as if she were dead, but after a long time, he could still feel a trace of breath.

I need to earn money, I need to beg for food...

He thought to himself. However, it was still raining, and he couldn't beg for any food during the day. However, there was a martial arts competition going on in the city, and there might be some leftover slop in the lively places, but he didn't know if his leg could reach it.

He struggled to get up. The ordeal from yesterday to this morning had almost exhausted his strength, making him crawl for a long time before he stood up shakily. The steps up the river embankment in the rain were another huge obstacle. He tried to get over, tumbled over, fell from above, and got up again, trembling.

A figure came through the rain, heading towards him. A figure helped him up and dragged him back into the bridge arch. It was the little benefactor from yesterday. He was saying something. Perhaps because water had gotten into his ears, Xue Jin couldn't hear anything clearly. He knelt on the ground and began to kowtow. After a while, another little benefactor came and placed a bowl of thin porridge in front of him.

Xue Jin trembled his lips and began to drink the porridge.

He saw the two little benefactors start a fire again and cook medicine. His wife, Yue'niang, couldn't eat the medicinal juice anymore. The juice was dripped little by little on her tongue after prying open her mouth.

……

Gathering of Talents Residence.

In the morning hall, a simple breakfast was prepared. Shi Baofeng sat at the head, having breakfast and chatting about trivial matters with Dan Lifu and other head managers who had come over.

Jin Yongsheng came in from outside, holding a dossier wrapped in a cloth bag, and handed it to the attendant beside Shi Baofeng.

"Elder Jin, you've worked hard. You're handling things so early in the morning... You didn't stay up all night, did you?" Dan Lifu greeted with a smile.

"Greetings to the owner, Manager Dan, good morning to all the managers..." Jin Yongsheng waved his hand with a smile: "I'm getting old, not as good as I used to be. How can I stay up all night every day? Lately, I'm sleepy before midnight, but I wake up earlier... Well, the group of people that the Second Young Master arrested has been interrogated."

As he spoke, he sat down in the seat next to Shi Baofeng. The servant poured him a bowl of hot minced meat porridge, and Shi Baofeng pushed the plate of pickled vegetables in front of him: "Here, Elder Jin, today's pickles are good."

"Then I won't be polite." Jin Yongsheng smiled and picked up a piece with his chopsticks.

"What were the results of the interrogation?" Shi Baofeng asked casually.

"They're all from the Reading Club. The Second Young Master was right to say that there was something fishy there. The confessions inside have all been signed and sealed."

"I heard that the inn is full of Nong Xian's people." Dan Lifu said, "Could the Reading Club be..."

"Everyone wants to take advantage of the Southwest's reputation. Which family doesn't have people from the Reading Club? Don't guess blindly." Shi Baofeng said.

"But the confessions say that they were ordered by the Fair King to establish the Reading Club." Jin Yongsheng took a sip of porridge, casually said.

The people in the hall were quiet for a moment. Shi Baofeng smiled: "They're just making wild accusations again."

Everyone followed suit and laughed: "That's right, that's right, Elder Jin, I think you should keep interrogating them."

Jin Yongsheng nodded: "I did let them continue interrogating."

"However, the Second Young Master raided the Five Lakes Inn yesterday. Fu Pingbo and the Fair King might not swallow their anger."

"Last night, someone said that Nong Xian might launch an attack..."

"Then these confessions can be used..."

Everyone discussed for a while.

Shi Baofeng put down the spoon in his hand and wiped his mouth.

"Yesterday's investigation of the Five Lakes Inn was because the Second Young Master had discovered problems there last time. Although yesterday's action was reckless, it seems like it didn't cause any trouble. Recently, on the surface, Zhou Shang and the Fair King have been arguing fiercely, but their disputes are on the table, they are gentlemanly disputes. The restless 'Reading Club' is what's really making everyone panic. These rumors are terrible. Some say that the Reading Club was done by Ning Liheng, that it was done by some big boss, some say that Xu Zhaonan, He Wen, Zhou Shang, or I did it. There are all kinds of crazy words. These ambitious people in the dark are everyone's real enemies."

He paused: "It's good to take advantage of this incident to bring the Reading Club to the table and have a frank discussion with everyone. Some say that the Reading Club was directed by Mr. He, so let Mr. He say that it wasn't. Some say that we directed it, so we can also say that it wasn't. Now is the time to talk about unity. Everyone should be open and honest... Well, it's a good thing..."

As Shi Baofeng said this, the managers all laughed.

"That's right, that's right. The 'Reading Club' has always been doing things in secret, hiding things, which will lead to big problems..."

"Bringing it to the table will make the rumors spread by the Reading Club useless..."

"The owner is indeed far-sighted..."

"The Second Young Master is also good. At the end of last month, he noticed the problem and secretly investigated it for so long before he wiped them all out in one fell swoop. He's patient..."

A group of people echoed. When they talked about Shi Weiyang, Shi Baofeng looked to the side: "Where's the Second Young Master? Why didn't he come out to eat?"

Everyone looked at each other. After a moment, an attendant came over and said: "The Second Young Master was discussing matters with someone until late last night, and it seems he just fell asleep not long ago."

Everyone was silent for a moment. Someone said: "The Second Young Master has become diligent..."

Shi Baofeng waved his hand: "Don't mind him... There will be no meeting today, but this afternoon I will meet with Mr. He, Gao, Xu, and Zhou. He will bring up the matter of Nong Xian, and I will also take the opportunity to ask him about it..."

He thought for a moment, and then said: "It concerns the future of the Fair Party... He will express his position."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

……

It was noon when Shi Weiyang and Wu Chennan woke up. By this time, Shi Baofeng had already left the Gathering of Talents Residence to handle other matters, including various arrangements for the small meeting with He Wen and others this afternoon, causing him to miss the opportunity to pay his respects to his father.

Remembering the plan that had been set last night to set a trap for Yan's family and Yan Yunzhi, Shi Weiyang put aside the idea of paying his respects for the time being. After washing up, he and Wu Chennan invited the head manager, Jin Yongsheng, to have lunch together. After listening to the two's plan, Jin Yongsheng looked at the two young men for a while, and admired their boldness and ambition.

"According to this idea, things... can be done." He thought about it carefully for a while. "However, there are many things that can be considered in terms of specific details... For example, the Second Young Master and Wu Young Master have considered Yan Yunzhi's mentality, but have they considered that Yan Tiehe is also an old man in the martial world..."

"I think there are a few points to consider regarding this matter..."

The old manager revised the plan for the two young men one by one.

After this matter was roughly discussed, Shi Weiyang suppressed the excitement in his heart and asked about what happened last night, and his father's attitude this morning. Jin Yongsheng talked more about the Reading Club issue. After Shi Baofeng was given this excuse, this afternoon, Shi Baofeng would take the opportunity to attack He Wen and others, and then it would be possible to bring the "Reading Club" conspiracy faction to the table and completely eliminate it.

This was a major event related to the future of the entire Fair Party, and now that it had been handed over to Shi Baofeng, Shi Weiyang had nothing to worry about. After lunch, he and Wu Chennan began to arrange the layout for Yan Yunzhi.

The rain stopped at some point. Many trajectories of planning were being extended in the city along with the operations of the big shots. Sooner or later, these trajectories would affect countless lives. At the same time, the ruins of the Five Lakes Inn, which had been destroyed by a fire, stood quietly on the side of the bridge, and the residents near the Five Lakes Inn, who had been affected yesterday, also had their own small trajectories. Some bandaged their wounds and started a new day of earning a living, while others were suffering from the gradual deterioration of their injuries due to lack of medical treatment.

The cripple under the bridge arch was guarding his wife, whose life was like a faint spark, in a daze. He had nothing he could really do, and couldn't sleep. It wasn't until he was knocked unconscious by the two little benefactors that he rested quietly for a while.

The two young men wearing tattered raincoats were inquiring about what happened yesterday nearby. Because the other party did things for the sake of face and fame, they soon heard the name of Shi Weiyang and information about the "Reading Club" from the people around them, as well as the whole story...

……

"Let's kill Shi Baobao first."

Long Aotian, the "Martial Arts Alliance Leader" who had set a plan several times after entering Jiangning City, changed his plan again. The "Shi Baobao" he mentioned didn't know whether he was referring to Shi Baofeng or Shi Weiyang, but it didn't seem important anymore.

His face had accumulated a strong anger.

The rain had stopped. At this moment, they were sitting on the damp and dilapidated river embankment. Under the bridge arch not far away, the cripple seemed to move slightly.

……

"To accomplish great things, one must be decisive."

In the center of the city, Shi Weiyang and Wu Chennan had brewed tea in the teahouse. They looked at the movement in the shop across the street and were chatting idly.

This side was already close to the venue of the martial arts competition, and the streets were crowded with people. The teahouses and restaurants on both sides were very lively. Shi Weiyang didn't care about the noise of the martial arts competition anymore. In the shop that he and Wu Chennan were observing, a small-scale "Hero Meeting" was taking place - Yan Tiehe, the Second Master of the Yan family, "Chasing Wind Sword", was participating in it, making friends with heroes from all walks of life.

Near the window, a tall and thin man holding a long sword with a scar on his face looked back and saw Shi Weiyang signaling to him across the street. What made him even more concerned was the code of Jin Yongsheng hanging on the window of a restaurant a little further to the side - he was an agent that Baofeng Trading Company had arranged long ago, acting as a double agent, and living a fairly comfortable life. With Jin Yongsheng's order, it meant that his good days were over.

Sighing, he picked up his sword, stood up, and walked forward.

"Second Master Yan, heroes, greetings." He greeted loudly. "...It's a great event for heroes to gather today. Xiao didn't want to spoil the fun, but I have something on my mind that I have to say... Second Master Yan, I heard that your Yan Family Fortress has done some things in this city that are really not very authentic..."

He held the sword and walked forward. With each step forward, the inner strength in his words increased.

Across the street, Shi Weiyang and Wu Chennan then heard the words and noises coming from that side.

"...It's started."

Wu Chennan smiled.

……

North of the city.

When Shi Baofeng walked into the spacious hall with a few of his men, Xu Zhaonan and Zhou Shang had already arrived. The two were sitting on adjacent chairs, not knowing what they were talking about. Seeing Shi Baofeng, they stopped talking and got up to greet him.

Xu Zhaonan was quite tall and full of smiles. Zhou Shang was a short man with no good complexion, only bowing his hands with a cold face, fulfilling his etiquette. The three took their seats, only to hear Xu Zhaonan laugh: "I heard that Mr. Shi had someone smash Nong Xian Zhao Jingci's place yesterday, showing no respect to Mr. He? As expected... well done."

"Mr. Xu, don't talk nonsense." Shi Baofeng laughed: "My son is unruly and acts rashly, which caused this disaster. I'm just a small businessman, how dare I touch the Fair King's whiskers. I will apologize to Mr. He later..."

He paused slightly: "But speaking of this matter, it was also a mistake. The few people who were caught have now been confirmed to be ambitious people from the 'Reading Club', vicious and hateful. After they confessed their origins, they still had delusions and made wild accusations, saying that the 'Reading Club' was directed by Mr. He, and that they were Mr. He's Imperial Guards... This is ugly speech that will disrupt the foundation of my Fair Party. Later, how to deal with these people will be decided by Mr. He."

Zhou Shang next to him laughed coldly: "Mr. Shi is not worried that what they said is true?"

"Mr. He is already the Fair King, why would he revolt against himself?" Shi Baofeng waved his hand and knocked on the coffee table. "I'm sure! Mr. He will give us all a clear explanation later!"

He tapped his fingers, word by word. The room became a little quieter in his words. Xu Zhaonan and Zhou Shang showed thoughtful looks. Shi Baofeng took a sip of tea and laughed again: "On the other hand, Mr. Zhou, are you looking forward to Mr. He doing this kind of thing? You act the most extreme. If Mr. He is also such a character, smashing the pot at every turn, maybe you and Mr. He would get along better in private."

Zhou Shang frowned.

Xu Zhaonan next to him waved his hand: "Okay, okay, let's not speculate. You see, we said we would meet and chat, but the three of us came first. General Gao and Mr. He have not arrived yet. Do you think the two of them are chatting and opening up to each other somewhere, like the three of us?"

Zhou Shang glanced at him: "Why did you say General Gao before Mr. He?"

Xu Zhaonan was stunned.

Shi Baofeng laughed: "Mr. Xu loves to talk nonsense. According to your statement, I came third just now. Weren't you and Mr. Zhou opening up to each other in private?"

"Mr. Xu and I are as close as brothers, and it's the same with Mr. Shi. We've always been open to each other."

"Hahahaha."

"Hahahaha..."

The two laughed for a while. Zhou Shang looked at them and said: "If Mr. He really comes over later and admits to the 'Reading Club' thing, what will you do?"

"……"

"……"

"Hahahaha."

"Hahahahaha..."

"Mr. Zhou is really joking..."

"That's right, that's right..."

"Hahahaha..."

"That will be... a fight!"

"Four! Against one!"

"Hahahahahahaha..."

In the light blue sky, Shi Baofeng and Xu Zhaonan laughed so hard that they were leaning forward and backward. After a moment, Zhou Shang looked at them and laughed...

……

"Brother."

On the river embankment, the two young men who had been busy all night were standing there. The little monk, after disguising himself, looked at the distant sky and opened his mouth to speak, "I have something I don't understand."

"Hmm?"

"I followed my master south this time and have seen many tragedies. There are tragedies in the north, and there are also tragedies in the south. There are tragedies in the city, and there are also tragedies outside the city... In recent years, there have been many people who have had their hands and feet broken when things suddenly happen, and even many people who have starved to death alive. The cripple uncle under the bridge is very miserable, but brother, look at the families in this city, how many people are not like this?"

They could see the miserable figure under the river embankment. In front of them, there were still layers of black tiles and gray walls in the dilapidated city, and figures were walking in them, living in a daze. The little monk asked.

"Brother, why is it that the cripple uncle's matter makes you so angry?"

Ning Ji stood on the river embankment in silence for a moment.

After a while, he whispered: "He used to have some friendship with my family."

The little monk thought for a while and understood a little. He put his hands together and said, "Amitabha."

Under the river embankment, the cripple had woken up rustlingly. He was dazed for a while, and then went to see the woman's condition.

"Brother, can his wife... survive?"

……

After the rain stopped, the thick clouds still had a light blue color. Those clouds were rolling and were torn open a few openings, and light fell from the gaps in the clouds. No one knows whether the clouds are rolling to cover the openings, or whether the sky light will tear the openings wider.

Below this light and clouds is the boundless earth. Above the earth is a gray-black city. In the city, there are houses and crisscrossing rivers. On the dilapidated river embankment beside an inconspicuous river, the insignificant Ning Ji stood expressionlessly.

He looked at the person under the bridge and whispered:

"Amitabha."

……

Soon after, the Fair King He Wen and the High King Gao Chang walked into that spacious hall. The five great kings of the Fair Party greeted each other, talked and laughed for a while. Then, Shi Baofeng threw out that key question to He Wen, and together with the other four, waited for a simple answer.

In the city, the direction of the wind and the color of the clouds are about to change...