Rain fell in the darkness of Jiangning City. At midnight, there were running figures shuttling through the rain.
In the early hours of the morning at the southern end of the city, there were disturbances coming from two closed medical shops.
At this time, the various shops that could establish themselves in Jiangning City were either under the protection of one of the factions of the Fairness Party, buying a flag to protect themselves, or they themselves had extraordinary skills and backgrounds that were enough to protect themselves. Especially at this time when the rich and powerful gathered from all directions, there were many cases of fighting. The doctors and doctors in the city were also given preferential treatment. Their living conditions were not as good as those above, but they were more than enough to compete with those below.
The knife-wielding youth forcefully knocked on the doors of the two medical shops to ask for medicine. His attitude was valiant and fierce, and he even asked for expensive medicinal ingredients that were priceless. Naturally, he was stopped at the first moment. The apprentices and guards of the medical shops rushed out with knives, spears, and rods in their hands, and were then knocked to the ground. The doctor in charge knew that he had encountered a powerful person, and after saying a few words, he respectfully welcomed the other person inside.
This kind of disturbance was not unusual in Jiangnan at this time. The disturbance only appeared for a short while before it subsided. A boorish man with a status in martial arts could not afford to offend the doctors in the medical shops, and the doctors of the chivalrous doctors with a high level of martial arts could not afford to offend them. As long as the other party had a sense of propriety, rather than reporting to the authorities and seeking "justice", it was better to form a good relationship.
One after another, they knocked on the two medical shops and gathered the barely usable life-prolonging medicine. The waves that were stirred up in the night seemed to be drowned by the endless autumn rain, and the night became quiet again in this kind of atmosphere.
Under the damp bridge in front of the Five Lakes Inn, a little monk wearing a funny wig started a fire. After the big brother who had gone out to steal medicine returned, they set up a pot and began to boil the medicine. The lame man called Xue Jin kowtowed many times, wanting to help these two little chivalrous heroes who had appeared in the middle of the night to save his dying wife.
Outside the bridge, Jiangning City was submerged in darkness. The people seemed to be isolated by this darkness, just like the ripples caused by the youth's stealing of the medicine shop could not spread. The people in the city did not know how anxious they were under the small bridge in the darkness. Looking out from the bridge, they could not see anything clearly. The people who had been beaten during the day and the surrounding families were all licking their wounds under their own bridge.
Of course, there were more things brewing in the darkness.
In the Zhongan Lane in the southeast of the city, in a corner of the Juxian Residence, the members of the Five Lakes Inn who had been arrested during the day were being tortured. Their skin was burned with a soldering iron, and their fingernails were turned open with bamboo sticks. The interrogators who tortured them overnight made them admit their crimes as members of the Reading Club over and over again.
Shi Weiyang didn't fall asleep. He even came to the torture chamber with Wu Chennan to see the bloody scene with his own eyes. Their first reaction was to feel nauseous, but a special kind of excitement made them unable to sleep.
After returning from the Five Lakes Inn, his father Shi Baofeng didn't comment much on the operation, but his expression of approval made Shi Weiyang know that he had done the right thing and washed away the shame from a month ago. Then, with Jin Yongsheng's vague hints, Shi Weiyang understood that his actions had touched upon the core of something on an even greater level.
Most importantly, with Wu Chennan's assistance, he had already grasped the core of the big shots' actions.
Was it important whether or not the Five Lakes Inn had anything to do with the reading club?
Was it important whether or not the people who were arrested were innocent?
He had always treated Yan Yunzhi with courtesy, but was it important?
He had always wanted to treat people with the way of a gentleman, but was it important?
When it came to the level of his father, including elders like Jin Yongsheng, it was more about whether or not things could be measured in terms of face and whether or not they could be treated well. In the matter of Yan Yunzhi, he didn't do a good job. In the conflict at the Five Lakes Inn, he thought that he was there to catch a thief and had no malice towards the other party. The other party would certainly open the door to him — it was really too naive.
Baofeng Co. had rapidly developed with the support of the Party of Fairness. As the second son of Shi Baofeng, Shi Weiyang was young and handsome. He had always been praised for his intelligence and was regarded as Shi Baofeng's favorite son by most people. When he came to Jiangning this time, he followed Jin Yongsheng and other shopkeepers to the Juxian Residence to receive people from all walks of life. It seemed that he had dealt with the guests naturally, but deep in his heart, he always felt a little uneasy.
He was worried that he would be seen as a playboy by those experienced people. He was worried that he wasn't capable enough and that they would look down on him even though they appeared to be happy and harmonious on the surface. Especially after some mistakes, he was even more anxious. However, when Wu Chennan pointed out these things to him, he finally grasped the core of how these big shots conducted themselves.
It was really a feeling of suddenly seeing the light, as if "if one hears the truth in the morning, one can die in the evening".
The reputation of the Five Lakes Inn was easily restored and the knife of the "reading club" was handed over to his father. Shi Weiyang was overwhelmed with emotions. That night, he chatted with Wu Chennan about the Yan family and Yan Yunzhi for half the night. They grasped the contradictions and made a plan. By the early hours of the morning, they had roughly finalized a prototype of a plan. The two of them ran through it and felt that it was quite feasible. Shi Weiyang almost immediately wanted to ask people to make preparations, but Wu Chennan stopped him with a cup of tea.
"Second Young Master." Wu Chennan said, "Every time something big happens, you must be calm. You just received the praise of the Lord of Time last night. If we were to call for people so urgently before daybreak, others might think that you're eager to show off. Moreover, in the matters of the Jianghu, you and I are only armchair strategists. We might as well discuss this with Elder Jin and the others to deal with the Yan family. On one hand, we can show our seniors enough respect. On the other hand, we can let them know your thoughts today, Second Young Master … "
After listening to Wu Chennan's words, Shi Weiyang reacted. He held the other's hand and said, "Chennan is right to remind me. I was indeed too rash. Sigh, if it wasn't for Chennan …"
The two of them held each other's hands in the room and encouraged each other. They only fell asleep on the same bed when the sky was about to brighten.
…
The movements under the bridge had already stopped when the sun was about to rise.
"… I've tried my best."
This was what the young man named Long Aotian said. After he finished speaking, he walked out of the curtain of rain with the little monk. He then turned around and said something.
"Maybe we can survive …"
There was a hint of hesitation in his words that even he felt was unnecessary.
The woman under the bridge had not woken up. Her head was wrapped in bandages and her body was limp. Her breath was like gossamer. Xue Jin touched her. Living under the bridge for a long time had caused her body to carry a rotten smell. She was also as skinny as before. Since the young man said that she might still be alive, Xue Jin couldn't hug her. He kowtowed toward the outside of the bridge. He didn't understand why these two little benefactors would come over to show their kindness, but he couldn't think of anything else.
He sat in the rain in a daze. He wanted to take care of his wife, but most of the time, he was in a daze and blank for a long time. When the sun was about to rise, he knelt there and slept for a while in the misty rain. He didn't know when he woke up in a daze. Yue Niang lay there with her hand in front of her nose as if she was dead. However, after a long time, he could still feel her breath.
I need to earn money, I need to beg for food …
He thought to himself. However, the rain was still falling. He couldn't beg for food during the day. However, there was a martial arts competition going on in the city. There might be some leftover hogwash in a lively place, but he didn't know if his legs could reach there.
He struggled to get up. The torment from yesterday until this morning had almost exhausted his strength. He had to crawl for a while before he could stand up shakily. The steps to the river embankment in the rain were another huge obstacle. He tried to climb over, but he flipped over and fell from the top. Then, he climbed up shakily.
A figure passed through the curtain of rain and came over. A figure helped him up and dragged him back into the bridge. It was the little benefactor from yesterday. He was saying something. Perhaps it was because the rain had entered his ears, but Xue Jin couldn't hear anything clearly. He knelt on the ground and began to kowtow. After a while, another little benefactor came over and placed a bowl of thin porridge in front of him.
Xue Jin's lips trembled as he began to eat the porridge.
He saw the two little benefactors start a fire again and boil the medicine in the pot. His wife, Yue Niang, could no longer eat the medicine. The medicine was slowly soaked into her tongue after she had opened her mouth.
…
Virtuous Gathering Residence.
In the hall in the early morning, a few simple porridge dishes were prepared. Shi Baofeng sat at the head of the table and ate breakfast with Dan Lifu and a few other big shopkeepers. They chatted about trivial matters.
Jin Yongsheng came in from outside with a cloth bag in his hand. He handed it to Shi Baofeng's personal attendant.
"Old Jin, you've worked hard. You've been working so early in the morning … Don't tell me you didn't sleep last night?" Dan Lifu smiled and greeted him.
"Greetings, Boss. Greetings, Shopkeeper Dan. Greetings, Shopkeepers …" Jin Yongsheng smiled and waved his hand. "I'm old and not as good as I used to be. How can I still stay up late every day? Recently, I've been dozing off before midnight. It's just that I wake up earlier … Mm, the group of people Second Young Master brought back has been interrogated. "
As he spoke, he sat down on the seat next to Shi Baofeng. A servant served him a bowl of steaming hot minced meat porridge. Shi Baofeng pushed a plate of pickled vegetables in front of him to him. "Come, Old Jin. Today's pickled vegetables are pretty good."
"Then I won't stand on ceremony." Jin Yongsheng smiled as he picked up a piece with his chopsticks.
"What's the result of the interrogation?" Shi Baofeng asked casually.
"They're all from the Study Club. Second Young Master said that there was something fishy over there. He wasn't wrong. The confessions inside have all been signed and stamped."
"I heard that the people in that inn are all Nong Xian's people," Dan Lifu said. "Could the Study Club be …"
"With the reputation of the southwest, everyone wants to take advantage of them. Which family doesn't have people from the Study Club? Don't make wild guesses," Shi Baofeng said.
"But the confessions said that they obeyed the Prince of Justice's orders and established the Study Club," Jin Yongsheng said casually as he drank a mouthful of porridge.
Everyone in the hall quieted down. Shi Baofeng smiled and said, "Nonsense again."
Everyone laughed along. "That's right, that's right. Old Jin, I think we should continue the interrogation."
Jin Yongsheng nodded. "Indeed, let them continue the interrogation."
"However, Second Young Master wrecked the Five Lakes Inn yesterday. Fu Pingbo and the Prince of Justice might not swallow their anger today."
"Last night, someone said that Nong Xian might rise in revolt …"
"Then we can use these confessions …"
Everyone discussed.
Shi Baofeng put down the spoon in his hand and wiped his mouth.
"Yesterday, we investigated the Five Lakes Inn because Second Young Master discovered a problem there last time. Although he acted rashly yesterday, it doesn't seem like he caused any trouble. Recently, on the surface, Zhou Shang and the Prince of Fairness are quarreling fiercely, but on the surface, their quarrel is a dispute between gentlemen. In private, the restless' Reading Club 'is the real cause of everyone's anxiety. This rumor is very serious. They say that this Reading Club is the work of Ning Liheng, that it's the work of some Supreme Chief, or that it's Xu Zhaonan, He Wen, Zhou Shang, or even me. There are all kinds of nonsense being said. This kind of secretly ambitious schemer is everyone's real enemy. "
He paused. "That's fine. Let's take advantage of this incident and bring the Study Club to the table. Everyone can talk about it in detail. Some people say that Mr. He instigated the Study Club, so Mr. He can say that it wasn't. Some people say that we instigated it, so we can say that it wasn't. Now is the time to talk about an alliance. Everyone is open and honest … mm, that's a good thing … "
Hearing Shi Baofeng's words, the shopkeepers all laughed.
"That's right, that's right. The 'Study Club' has always been stirring up trouble in the dark. Hiding it will cause a big problem …"
"When put on the table, the rumors spread by the Study Club are useless …"
"Boss is really far-sighted …"
"Second Young Master is also not bad. He noticed the problem at the end of last month and secretly investigated for a long time before he caught them all in one fell swoop. He can keep his composure … "
A group of people echoed. When it came to Shi Weiyang, Shi Baofeng looked to the side. "Where's Second Young Master? Why hasn't he come out to eat?"
Everyone looked at each other. After a while, a personal attendant came over and said, "Second Young Master was discussing matters late last night. He seems to have just fallen asleep."
The crowd was silent for a moment. Someone said, "Second Young Master has become diligent …"
Shi Baofeng waved his hand. "Ignore him … I won't have a meeting today, but I will meet with He, Gao, Xu, and Zhou in the afternoon. He will bring up the matter of Nong Xian. I can also ask him about it …"
He thought for a moment and said, "This concerns the future of the Fairness Party … He will express his opinion."
Everyone nodded in agreement.
…
Shi Weiyang and Wu Chennan only woke up at noon. Shi Baofeng had already left the Virtuous Gathering Residence to deal with other matters, including the arrangements for the small meeting with He Wen and the others in the afternoon. He had lost the chance to pay his respects to his father.
Shi Weiyang recalled the plan he had made last night to deal with the Yan Clan, Yan Yunzhi, and the others. He temporarily pushed aside the thought of paying his respects. After washing up, he and Wu Chennan invited the head shopkeeper, Jin Yongsheng, to have lunch together. After listening to the two's plan, Jin Yongsheng repeatedly sized up the two young men for a while. He was somewhat impressed by their courage and initiative.
"According to this train of thought, things … can be done." He thought carefully for a while. "However, there are many details that can be considered … For example, Second Young Master and Young Wu have considered Yan Yunzhi's temperament, but have they considered that Yan Tiehe is also a veteran of the martial world …"
"In my opinion, there are a few points that can be considered regarding this matter …"
The old shopkeeper corrected the two young men's plans one by one.
When they were more or less done discussing this matter, Shi Weiyang suppressed the excitement in his heart and asked about what happened last night, as well as his father's attitude this morning. Jin Yongsheng then discussed more about the Reading Club. After giving this excuse to Shi Baofeng, Shi Baofeng would take the opportunity to make things difficult for He Wen and the others in the afternoon. After that, it was possible that the "Reading Club", a conspiratorial faction, would be brought to the surface and completely eliminated.
This was an important matter that concerned the entire Fairness Party's future. Now that it had been handed over to Shi Baofeng, Weiyang had nothing to worry about. After lunch, he and Wu Chennan began to make arrangements to deal with Yan Yunzhi.
At some point, the rain had stopped. Following the operations of many important figures, many lines of operations extended within the city. These lines would sooner or later affect the lives of countless people. At the same time, the ruins of the Five Lakes Inn that had been destroyed by the fire stood quietly by the roadside of the bridge. Near the Five Lakes Inn, the residents who had been affected by the fire yesterday also had their own small lines of operations. Some of them had bandaged their wounds and started a new day of struggle, while others had their injuries gradually worsened due to lack of medicine.
Under the bridge, Cripple was muddleheadedly guarding his wife who was barely alive. There was nothing he could really do, and he couldn't sleep. It was only after he was knocked unconscious by the two little benefactors that he was able to rest in peace for a period of time.
The two youths in tattered straw raincoats nearby asked about yesterday's events. Because they did things for the sake of face and fame, it wasn't long before they heard Shi Weiyang's name and information about the "Reading Club" from the surrounding people, as well as the ins and outs of everything …
…
"Let's kill the sh * t baby first."
After entering Jiangning City, the "Wulin Alliance" Long Aotian, who had made plans several times and then changed them several times, changed his plans again. The "sh * t baby" he mentioned was not known whether he was referring to Shi Baofeng or Shi Weiyang, but it didn't seem important anymore.
His face was already filled with intense anger.
The rain had stopped. At this moment, they were sitting by the damp and dilapidated embankment of the river. Under the bridge not far away, Cripple seemed to move slightly.
…
"If you want to achieve great things, you need to be swift and decisive."
In the center of the city, Shi Weiyang and Wu Chennan were making tea in a teahouse. They were chatting while watching the movements in the shops on the other side of the street.
They were already close to the venue of the Martial Arts Tournament. The streets were crowded, and the restaurants and teahouses on both sides of the street were quite lively. Shi Weiyang no longer cared about the hustle and bustle of the Martial Arts Tournament. In the shop where he and Wu Chennan were observing, a small "Hero Meeting" was going on. The second master of the Yan family, "Wind-chasing Sword" Yan Tiehe, was participating in it and making friends with heroes from all over the world.
Near the window, a tall and skinny man with a scar on his face and a longsword in his hand looked back. He could see Shi Weiyang's signal to him from across the street. What caught his attention even more was Jin Yongsheng's secret signal that was hung on the window of a restaurant a little further away. He was a spy that had been arranged by the Baofeng long ago. He was a double agent, and his days were pretty good. With this order from Jin Yongsheng, it meant that his good days were over.
He sighed, picked up his sword, stood up, and walked forward.
"Second Master Yan, greetings to all the heroes." He greeted them in a loud voice. "… It's a grand occasion for heroes to gather here today. I didn't want to spoil the mood when I saw everyone chatting so happily, but I can't help but feel a lump in my throat … Second Master Yan, I heard that some of the things that the Yan Clan did when they entered the city this time were not very proper …"
He walked forward with his sword in hand. With every step he took, the inner strength in his words increased by a fraction.
On the opposite side of the street, Shi Weiyang and Wu Chennan also heard the voices and sounds coming from there.
"… It's starting."
Wu Chennan smiled.
…
North of the city.
When Shi Baofeng walked into the spacious hall with a few of his subordinates, Xu Zhaonan and Zhou Shang were already there. The two of them sat on chairs next to each other and seemed to be chatting about something. When they saw Shi Baofeng, they stopped talking and stood up to welcome him.
Xu Zhaonan was quite tall and had a smile on his face. Zhou Shang was short and didn't look happy. He only cupped his hands with a cold expression and performed the etiquette. As the three of them sat down, Xu Zhaonan said with a smile, "I heard that Boss Shi had people smash up Nong Xian and Zhao Jingci's place yesterday. You didn't give Mr. He any face? You're indeed … good. "
"Master Xu, don't talk nonsense." Shi Baofeng smiled. "My son is insolent and impulsive. That's why he caused such a disaster. I'm just a small businessman. How would I dare to touch the tiger's whiskers of fairness? I'll be asking for Mr. He's forgiveness later …"
He paused slightly. "But speaking of this matter, there's a fault to be had. The people we captured are now confirmed to be ambitious schemers from the 'Reading Club'. They're vicious and despicable. After they confessed where they came from, they still had delusions of making wild accusations. They said that the 'Reading Club' was under Mr. He's orders and that they were Mr. He's imperial guards … These are ugly words that want to disrupt the foundation of the Party of Justice. In a moment, we'll leave it to Mr. He to decide how to deal with these people."
Zhou Shang, who was beside him, laughed coldly. "Boss Shi, aren't you worried that they're telling the truth?"
"Mr. He is already the King of Justice. Why do you want to rebel?" Shi Baofeng waved his hand and knocked on the coffee table. "I'm sure! In a moment, Mr. He will give us all a clear explanation! "
He tapped his fingers on the table, enunciating each word. The room quieted down a little as he spoke. Xu Zhaonan and Zhou Shang looked pensive. Shi Baofeng took a sip of tea and said with a smile, "But Master Zhou, I'm afraid you're hoping that Mr. He will do something like this. You're the most extreme in the way you do things. If Mr. He is also like that, messing things up at the slightest provocation, perhaps you and Mr. He will get along better in private."
Zhou Shang frowned.
Xu Zhaonan, who was beside him, waved his hand. "Alright, alright. Let's not speculate blindly. Look, we said we were going to meet up and have a chat. The three of us came first, but General Gao and Mr. He haven't arrived yet. Do you think the two of them are like the three of us, having a heart-to-heart chat somewhere? "
Zhou Shang glanced at him. "Why did you say that General Gao came before Mr. He?"
Xu Zhaonan was stunned.
Shi Baofeng laughed. "Master Xu likes to talk nonsense. According to what you said, I was the third to come. Didn't you and Master Zhou also have a heart-to-heart chat in private?"
"Master Zhou and I are like brothers. It's the same with Boss Shi. We've always been heart-to-heart."
"Hahahaha."
"Hahahaha …"
The two of them laughed. Zhou Shang looked at them and said, "If Mr. He comes later and really admits to the 'reading club', what will you do?"
"…"
"…"
"Hahahaha."
"Hahahahaha …"
"Master Zhou really knows how to joke …"
"That's right, that's right …"
"Hahahaha …"
"That'll … end up in a fight!"
"Four! Fight one! "
"Hahahahaha …"
In the light blue sky, Shi Baofeng and Xu Zhaonan were rocking back and forth with laughter. After a while, Zhou Shang also looked at them and laughed …
…
"Big Brother."
On the embankment, the two teenagers who had been busy all night stood there. The disguised little monk looked at the distant sky and said, "There's something I don't understand."
"Hmm?"
"I've been following Master to the south this time, and I've seen many tragedies. There are tragedies in the north, and there are tragedies in the south as well. There are tragedies in the city, and there are also tragedies outside the city … All these years, I've seen many people with broken arms and legs, and even people who starved to death. Uncle Lame under the bridge is very miserable, but Big Brother, look at all the families in the city. How many people are not like that?"
They could see the miserable figures under the embankment. In front of them, there were still layers of black tiles and gray walls in the dilapidated city. Figures walked among them, living in a muddle-headed way. The little monk asked.
"Big Brother, why do you get so angry about this Uncle Lame?"
Ning Ji stood on the embankment and was silent for a while.
After a while, he said in a low voice, "He used to be friends with my family."
The little monk thought for a while and understood a little. He put his palms together and said, "Amitabha."
Under the embankment, Lame had woken up. He was at a loss for a while and then went to check on the woman.
"Big Brother, will his wife … survive?"
…
After the rain stopped, the thick clouds were still glowing with a light blue color. The clouds rolled and a few holes were torn open, and light fell through the gaps. No one knew if the clouds were rolling to cover those holes, or if the light from the sky would tear those holes even wider.
There was a boundless land below the light and clouds. On the land, there was a grayish-black city. In the city, there were rows of houses and crisscrossing rivers. On the broken embankment of an inconspicuous river, Ning Ji, who was insignificant, stood expressionlessly.
He looked at the people under the bridge and said in a low voice,
"Amitabha."
…
Soon after, the King of Justice, He Wen, and the King of Justice, Gao Chang, walked into the spacious hall. The five kings of the Justice Party exchanged greetings and laughed for a while. Then, Shi Baofeng threw the key question to He Wen and waited for a simple answer with the other four.
In the city, the direction of the wind and the color of the clouds were about to change …
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