"Full of vigor, eh..."

Fan Xian had one foot on the railing of the Suzhou branch of Baoyue Brothel's top floor, and a fan in his other hand, creating a breeze. The continuous spring drizzle of the past few days had stopped, and the summer heat returned, instantly raising the temperature in the air.

He squinted his eyes, watching the funeral procession passing by on the street, listening to the mournful tunes, and couldn't help but smile. Ming Qingda certainly had a way about him. His outward appearance of grief and indignation, his vows of irreconcilable hatred, were all performed to perfection. He even had Old Madam Ming's burial procession parade through the city. This was quite the spectacle, with citizens along the way setting up small tables, offering vegetarian fruits as sacrifices, and even some beggars who had benefited in the past kowtowing to the massive coffin slowly moving along the street.

The mournful tunes, in fact, were sometimes quite pleasant, at least to Fan Xian's ears at this moment.

He waved his fan and couldn't help but sigh again, "Full of vigor, eh..."

The wind came from the fan. He didn't bother with Ming Yuan's so-called show of vigor. Using a dead person to offend his eyes didn't strike him as particularly stimulating. If they wanted a parade, let them parade; it wouldn't cause him any real harm.

After eliminating Ming Lao Liu and the old madam's trusted confidants, Ming Qingda had gradually consolidated his control over Ming Yuan. It was under his strong suppression that the Ming family, numbering tens of thousands, didn't erupt in a final, suicidal roar due to the unnatural death of Old Madam Ming.

The scholars who had clamored in Suzhou city a few days ago were divided and conquered by Fan Xian, then educated with clubs. Receiving no further support from the Ming family, their momentum quickly waned. As Fan Xian had predicted, so-called righteous indignation ultimately couldn't last.

Of course, Fan Xian was also aware that suppressing the voices of revenge within the Ming family must have been difficult for the old master, Ming Qingda. But this whole affair had been orchestrated by Ming Qingda in the first place. If he didn't want Fan Xian to… explode, these hardships, these difficulties, these angers had to be swallowed.

What truly pleased Fan Xian was that the crows scattered among the crowd a few days ago had returned with news. Perhaps it was the Ming family's sudden silence that caught the Junshan Association off guard. At least in the Jiangnan area, some of the Junshan Association's stewards had made some rather foolish responses, such as inciting citizens to gather and cause trouble.

Based on the surveillance of the Overwatch Council in this matter, and on the few individuals Ming Qingda had secretly sold to the Hua Garden, the Overwatch Council had pinpointed an estate somewhere downriver, a stronghold of the Junshan Association in Jiangnan.

It might just be an insignificant estate, not particularly important to the Junshan Association, but Fan Xian needed to eradicate it to show his stance.

While he was in Jiangnan, the Junshan Association had better be quiet for the time being.

If they weren't quiet, he'd shut them up.

……

……

The Black Knights couldn't enter Ming Yuan, because His Majesty didn't like to see the Overwatch Council's military force interfering too much in local government. But towards an organization as mysterious as the Junshan Association, one that even seemed to be defying imperial authority, the Emperor of Qing shouldn't care what means Fan Xian used.

Xue Qing, the Governor-General of Jiangnan Road, also didn't object to Fan Xian's plan. After all, requesting instructions from the capital would take too long.

Today, the day of Old Madam Ming's funeral, was also the day five hundred Black Knights would secretly cross the Great River to carry out a bloodbath at that particular location.

The funeral procession had already passed through the long street below Baoyue Brothel. Fan Xian noticed that some influential figures had cautiously withdrawn from the procession. These Jiangnan people didn't want to offend the Ming family, but they also didn't dare to blatantly disregard the Imperial Envoy's authority, so they escorted the procession to the city gate and then turned back.

"Full of vigor, eh..."

With power in hand, what was there to fear from the people's hearts? Fan Xian wasn't feeling giddy, but deep down, he began to sense that power was like a drug, no wonder the Western philosopher, relayed by Shao Long, often seen on forums, said that absolute power brings absolute corruption.

But Fan Xian knew that he didn't need to be corrupt. He thought shamelessly that his spiritual state was relatively high, so he couldn't help but sigh for the third time.

In storybooks, someone would chime in at this moment and ask, "Sir, why..."

Unfortunately, Wang Qinian wouldn't be returning to Qing Yu Nian for another half-year. Deng Ziyue, standing beside him, considered his words for a long time before finally squeezing out, "Sir… seems to be in good spirits."

……

……

Fan Xian chuckled and scolded, "Of course I'm in good spirits. This old woman died cleanly and neatly. Watching others enter their graves from a high楼, how can one not be happy?"

Deng Ziyue thought there was nothing to be happy about and couldn't help but advise, "The people of Jiangnan..."

He only said three words before Fan Xian interrupted him, coldly saying, "Don't repeat those arguments. What people's hearts, what people's will, in a few months, these commoners will forget everything. What benevolence, what favors, they can only remember for a few days, ultimately less important than having no oil for cooking or rice for meals. The common people… the common people are the most forgetful kind."

His words were pointed, naturally referring to Fan Xian's own background, to the Ye family that had long been weathered and turned into the Imperial Treasury.

Back then, the Ye family was ten times more glorious and powerful than the current Ming family, and their favors to the people were ten times greater. Yet, when fate changed, the family was destroyed. Wasn't everyone in the world silent? Who dared to seek justice for the Ye family?

Deng Ziyue was shocked and silent, knowing that he had touched the Director's long-standing pain. He didn't dare to speak further and finally understood why the Director would coldly laugh at the mention of people's will, completely indifferent to it.

"We officials are only His Majesty's officials, not these people's officials," Fan Xian said, uttering a phrase completely opposite to serving the people.

With things as they were, what was there for Fan Xian to be dissatisfied with? The Ming family was like a monkey in his palm. Jiangnan was certain, Xia Qifei had already sent word from Jiangbei that he had made contact with his second brother. The turmoil in the Ministry of Revenue in the capital had subsided, the urgent need for medicinal herbs in Hangzhou, the three major workshops of the Imperial Treasury were buzzing with activity, all under the watchful eye of the Qing Yu Nian shopkeeper, serious, conscientious, and lively…

As for the officialdom, Fan Xian's relationship with Xue Qing was growing closer, and the Emperor's trust in him hadn't diminished, especially after the Ming family affair. Fan Xian's self-inflicted damage to his reputation undoubtedly added to the Emperor's affection for this illegitimate son who was willing to remain isolated and upright.

Looking left and right, it was all a major victory for him. As for the Junshan Association… a cold smile flashed across Fan Xian's lips. He didn't know what the old cripple in Chen Garden outside the capital was thinking, but Fan Xian wasn't planning to delve too deeply into this matter. So-called raising a tiger was like this.

Completely annihilating the Junshan Association was difficult to begin with. Even if Fan Xian was suddenly struck with madness and risked losing most of his strength, he wouldn't necessarily be able to accomplish it. Just seeing that the immensely powerful Second High Priest of Qing Temple, Grandmaster Sanshi, was merely a pawn thrown out by the Junshan Association, one could imagine how much terrifying power this nominally loose organization concealed.

Even if, with the help of his father and the old cripple, the family risked their lives and truly succeeded in overthrowing the Junshan Association, Jiangnan would be settled, the Emperor's power would be secured, but the Emperor wouldn't allow Fan Xian to lead troops into battle. What else could Fan Xian do? Spend his young life in the dark room of the Overwatch Council, living in retirement?

Fan Xian didn't want to become a second Chen Pingping, so he wouldn't rush to resolve or extinguish certain conflicts. Instead, he hoped that these conflicts would slowly bloom in a situation he could control, like a poisonous flower.

Of course, he didn't realize that his thoughts on Baoyue Brothel today were so consistent with those of the old cripple. Both the old and the young were secretly working towards a goal that couldn't be spoken aloud. The only regret was that these two people didn't seem willing to communicate with each other, perhaps… because they didn't want to involve each other?

Not delving deeply into the Junshan Association didn't mean not dealing with the Junshan Association. The Junshan Association had plotted against Fan Xian several times in Jiangnan, and he had to settle the score. That was why the Black Knights were silently advancing on that mountain path.

The only small loophole in months of planning was the Junshan Association's accountant, Mr. Zhou. He hadn't been silenced and, despite being monitored by both Ming Qingda and himself, had actually managed to escape silently. This indicated that he was an important figure in the Junshan Association, possibly possessing the real inside story of the Junshan Association.

And Haitang… hadn't returned. A faint worry appeared between Fan Xian's brows. Mr. Zhou must be under the protection of a very powerful person.

He left the railing, sat back at the table, and instructed Deng Ziyue, "Contact the Governor-General's office, issue a wanted notice..."

His voice was very low, "The portrait of Steward Zhou has been sent by the Ming family. Give it to the Governor-General's office, and let's investigate together."

Deng Ziyue shuddered, knowing that the Director didn't have any good methods and could only resort to using the government's power to try to force the situation from the surface. As for the portrait, he also knew that it was drawn by Old Madam Ming's personal maid.

Fan Xian sighed and said, "If we could capture that Mr. Zhou alive… wouldn't that be too wonderful?"

……

……

"Indeed, that's a wonderful thought."

The top floor of Baoyue Brothel was empty, with only Fan Xian's table occupied. Yet, at this moment, two more people suddenly appeared at the table by the railing, and they answered Fan Xian's words with an utterly cold sentence!

Countless sounds of metal being drawn from scabbards rang out on the top floor, full of fierce intent.

Gao Da and the seven Tiger Guards, holding strange long sabers in both hands, formed a mountain-shaped formation, protecting Fan Xian tightly behind them!

At the same time, more than a dozen swordsmen from the Overwatch Council's Sixth Bureau poured out from the side of the楼. Their long swords remained sheathed, but they held crossbows painted black, not very reflective, appearing sinister, aimed at the two people at that table.

The楼 was originally empty, yet two more people had appeared silently. Their arrival had not only deceived the swordsmen of the Overwatch Council's Sixth Bureau and the Tiger Guards, but also Fan Xian, whose internal injuries had long healed. What kind of realm was this!

However, Fan Xian's defense force reacted extremely quickly, instantly isolating the two people.

More than ten crossbows, plus the seven Tiger Guards who could withstand Haitang Duoduo, plus Fan Xian, who had already reached the Ninth Rank, everyone was confident that they could easily capture the newcomers, even if they were Yun Zhilan from Dongyi City or Lord Lang Tao from Northern Qi.

However, the two people showed no unusual expression in the face of this array. One of them even had a forced smile on his face, while the other, wearing a bamboo hat, exuded only coldness, a coldness that regarded everyone as nothing.

The person wearing the bamboo hat slowly raised his head, revealing his ancient and strange face. His face was expressionless, but his eyes looked at everyone in the楼 as if they were looking at a group of dead people.

"You want Mr. Zhou? This is Mr. Zhou."

The person was as free as a spring breeze amidst the surrounding crossbows, and a natural domineering aura arose out of thin air. He looked coldly at Fan Xian across the crowd.

"But, I won't give him to you."

Fan Xian looked at the person through the Tiger Guards' clothes, his heart slightly moved. He said calmly, "So it was you protecting Mr. Zhou. No wonder Haitang hasn't succeeded… Since you're not willing to give me the person, why did you come to see me? I don't have the habit of chatting with unwelcome guests."

The person said coldly, "A deal. Withdraw the Black Knights, and I'll spare your life."

Spare his life? In this situation, he actually said he would spare Fan Xian's life?

Unless he was an idiot, he would have such confidence. But Fan Xian knew very well that the other party was definitely not an idiot, so the other party must have the ability to kill him in this situation.

So Fan Xian laughed instead and asked, "Is Haitang well?"

The person suddenly rolled his eyes strangely, "I rarely kill women."

Fan Xian smiled and said, "That's good… Release."

……

……

Very abruptly, without any warning, he said "Release"!

The swordsmen of the Overwatch Council's Sixth Bureau loosened the triggers on their crossbows, and more than thirty crossbow bolts poisoned with deadly venom were fired in three waves, like a dense, deadly rain, towards the table!

What Mr. Zhou, what Junshan Association, he didn't have time to care about any of that. As long as he could kill the person in front of him, Fan Xian felt it would be worth it, no matter what… Full of vigor? A bitter smile appeared on the corner of his lips.