Ye Xiaoqian’s words made Luo Jiuhong look at this young man more than once.

Beneath that fine silk robe was not a naive heart, but a proud one.

And that pride came not only from the young man’s own confidence — it came far more from the bearing that the Ning King had given to all of his people.

Luo Jiuhong turned to look at the Second Head, Sun Jingyi, and his eyes narrowed. “Stand down.”

Sun Jingyi opened his mouth, but dared not question. Under the Chief’s authority, any challenge was meaningless.

He glanced at the Third Head. Liao Feijiang gave him a slight shake of his head — telling him not to anger their big brother further. The two picked up their weapons and stepped back several paces.

Luo Jiuhong turned to Cao Lie. “Just now, Young Master Cao said I may temporarily take over this county town, and that the investigation into my fourth brother’s death may be handed to me. Did you mean that?”

Cao Lie nodded. “I did.”

Luo Jiuhong said: “If it turns out to be one of the Ning King’s people who did this, how will Young Master Cao handle it?”

Cao Lie replied: “If it truly is someone under the Ning King’s banner, I have full authority to deal with it — that was the authority the Ning King gave me before I came. But Chief — what if the person who killed Sir You was indeed someone Sir You trusted?”

Luo Jiuhong said: “Whoever it is, I will kill them.”

Cao Lie stepped aside and gestured. “Please, Chief — the city is yours.”

At his signal, those on the city walls relayed the order inward, and the heavy gate was drawn open, creaking as it swung wide.

Luo Jiuhong walked forward a few steps, then suddenly stopped. He turned and looked at the men behind him, was silent for a moment, then gave his orders.

“Old Two and Old Three — each take five hundred men and follow me in. Everyone else, return to the stronghold. No one is to leave without my command.”

He then turned to the Tiger Gang’s Fifth Head, Qin Ke: “Old Five — you are responsible for guarding the stronghold. Without your permission, not a single person may leave — not until I have found out the truth of your Fourth Brother’s death.”

The Tiger Gang’s Fifth Head was a rather unusual figure. He was far too young — barely past twenty.

What’s more, his background was somewhat mysterious. Even across the tens of thousands of people in the entire Horse Gang, very few knew his history.

He had been abruptly promoted by Luo Jiuhong two years ago — elevated from a nobody directly to the position of Tiger Gang’s Fifth Head.

The man who had previously held the fifth position was bumped down to sixth, which naturally sat poorly with many of the older brothers.

But no matter how many of them went to Luo Jiuhong to complain, the Chief neither explained himself nor reversed the decision.

Later, no one quite knew when it started, but a rumor began to circulate — that Qin Ke was Luo Jiuhong’s illegitimate son.

The older brothers stopped making trouble after that. They didn’t feel comfortable pressing Luo Jiuhong directly on the matter, but toward this young man, they began to show a degree of extra consideration.

As time passed, those same elders gradually came to realize that Qin Ke was no decorative ornament.

Young as he was, both in mind and in martial ability, he more than deserved the title of Fifth Head — it suited him perfectly.

On several major occasions for the Horse Gang, Luo Jiuhong had entrusted matters to Qin Ke, and each time Qin Ke had handled them flawlessly.

The most remarkable of these was when, years ago, Shu Province’s Military Governor Pei Qi had attempted to bring Luo Jiuhong’s Horse Gang into his fold. It was Fourth Head You Yuren and Fifth Head Qin Ke together who had insisted on not submitting to Pei Qi.

At that time, Pei Qi had already become the undisputed power in Shu Province, with every major clan throwing its support behind him.

And the puppet Pei Qi controlled at the time — Yang Xuanji — had been the single most powerful contender for the realm. Although Yang Xuanji was soon crushed by the Ning King, who back then could have imagined he would fall so fast?

Over these two or three years, Qin Ke had proved through his own actions that he did not hold the position of Fifth Head through favoritism — and by now, even the older veterans of the Tiger Gang respected him deeply.

Even Sun Jingyi, the Second Head, and Liao Feijiang, the Third Head, who had once looked down on him, now held him in high regard.

At this moment, the Chief gave his command. Qin Ke cupped his hands and bowed. “Chief, don’t worry. I will keep the stronghold safe.”

Then he hesitated, thought it over, and finally could not stop himself from asking: “Chief — only the Second and Third Heads, with five hundred men each?”

What he meant was: with the county town currently seething with hidden dangers and no one knowing what lurked in the shadows, it was not entirely prudent for the Chief to enter without his own trusted men — relying only on the Second and Third Heads.

But he could not say this openly in front of Second and Third Brother, so he only voiced his concern in a quiet, understated question.

Luo Jiuhong replied: “With your Second and Third Brothers at my side, there’s nothing to worry about. You just keep the stronghold safe. And remember — you must watch yourself as well.”

From that last sentence, Qin Ke caught something sharp and subtle. He bowed again. “Chief, I understand.”

With his instructions given, Luo Jiuhong turned to Cao Lie. “Young Master Cao — after you.”

Cao Lie acknowledged and walked in side by side with Luo Jiuhong.

Second Head Sun Jingyi and Third Head Liao Feijiang each selected five hundred men, and the column marched into the county town.

Once inside, Cao Lie said to Luo Jiuhong: “I and my men will withdraw to the Wu family estate. We will not interfere further in Sir You’s case.”

But Luo Jiuhong shook his head. “It would be better if Young Master Cao stays with me. If we investigate my fourth brother’s death together, I will feel more at ease.”

He then reached out and grabbed Cao Lie by the wrist. “Come, come — from today onward, this old man and Young Master Cao shall not be parted.”

Cao Lie felt something stir in his heart, then nodded. “As the Chief wishes.”

Behind Cao Lie, Ye Xiaoqian followed close on his heels. Hearing Luo Jiuhong’s words, something shifted in Ye Xiaoqian’s heart as well.

Over the next three days, both sides worked relentlessly to track down the whereabouts of You Yuren’s two personal bodyguards.

Li Pofu and Li Chenzhou led Cao Lie’s men in their search. Ye Xiaoqian and Cao Lie were practically inseparable.

The Tiger Gang’s Second and Third Heads each led their own men to search every corner of the town. In three days, this county — no small place, with a sizeable population and a busy river port drawing merchants in constant flow — was turned completely inside out.

Yet even after three days, there was no trace of the two men.

By rights, even if they had already been killed to eliminate witnesses, there should have been bodies to find.

One night, Luo Jiuhong was in his room at the yamen — he had just finished dinner when someone knocked softly at the door.

“Come in.”

The door swung open. Third Head Liao Feijiang stepped inside, bowed first. “Big Brother.”

“Something to say?”

Luo Jiuhong gestured to a chair nearby.

Liao Feijiang turned and closed the study door, then walked to Luo Jiuhong’s side. “Big Brother, there’s something that’s been nagging at me — it doesn’t sit right. I’ve been holding it in for three days. I couldn’t keep it in any longer.”

Luo Jiuhong said: “We’re brothers — whatever you have to say, just say it. What could need three days of holding back before you come to me?”

Liao Feijiang instinctively glanced toward the door. It was closed — he couldn’t see outside.

“Big Brother… have you noticed anything off about Second Brother?”

The moment those words left his mouth, Luo Jiuhong’s expression changed.

“Old Three — how can you say something like that about your Second Brother?”

“Big Brother, hear me out. That day outside the city, when Second Brother suddenly made his move, I didn’t have time to think. I only feared Second Brother might be at a disadvantage, so I joined in.”

“But thinking it over afterward — Second Brother shouldn’t have acted so impulsively. He’s never been the rash type. And yet that day, he seemed almost *desperate* to kill Cao Lie.”

Luo Jiuhong’s expression had already grown dark.

“Old Three — how many years have I known your Second Brother? How many years have *you* known your Second Brother?”

He said, with weight beneath the displeasure: “He’s always looked after you. This time he wasn’t even comfortable letting you go out alone and went with you himself. How can you suspect him like this?”

Liao Feijiang thudded to his knees. “Big Brother, I know this is wrong of me. If I’m mistaken, I’ll kneel and kowtow to Second Brother in person — and if Second Brother won’t forgive me, I’ll give him my head to do with as he likes… But Big Brother — I couldn’t *not* say it. Precisely because you are my Big Brother, and he is my Second Brother.”

Luo Jiuhong’s gaze blurred for just a moment. He shook his head. “Consider these words unspoken. I won’t mention them to your Second Brother. And you are never to raise this again. Understood?”

“Understood… understood.”

“We’ve been brothers for so many years. We know each other well. Your Second Brother nearly died once to save me. He suffered grave wounds to save you.”

“I only need you to remember: whatever happens — he is your Second Brother.”

Luo Jiuhong said: “Go get some rest. This matter is never to be spoken of again. Not ever.”

“Yes.”

Liao Feijiang answered, then took his leave and departed.

Luo Jiuhong returned to his seat, turning Liao Feijiang’s words over in his mind, his thoughts deeply troubled.

At that moment, another knock came at the door outside.

“Big Brother — you asleep yet?”

It was Sun Jingyi’s voice.

Luo Jiuhong drew a long breath, then breathed deeply twice, steadying himself.

“Come in.”

Sun Jingyi entered. He set down the two jugs of wine he’d brought in, unwrapped an oiled paper parcel — inside was a roasted chicken.

Luo Jiuhong asked: “So late, and you’re still thinking about drinking?”

Sun Jingyi sighed. “Something’s weighing on me, and I can’t sleep. Thought I’d come find Big Brother for a couple of cups — a gentle haze might help.”

Luo Jiuhong nodded. “Then I’ll drink with you.”

The two sat across from each other. Sun Jingyi filled Luo Jiuhong’s cup, then poured his own. He didn’t drink — he sighed first.

He’d been in the door barely a moment, and had already sighed twice.

“What is it — out with it.”

Luo Jiuhong said: “You’re my brother, I’m your big brother. Whatever it is, you don’t need to feel awkward about it. Just say it directly to me. If it’s something I can help with, I’ll do everything I can.”

“Big Brother…”

Sun Jingyi hesitated for a long time, then lowered his voice. “Big Brother… have you noticed anything off about Old Three?”

Luo Jiuhong’s brow furrowed.

Sun Jingyi continued: “I’ve been sitting with this for three days. I kept telling myself I couldn’t just go to Big Brother with it… But that day outside the city, I made my move to test Cao Lie, and Old Three suddenly joined in — and he was clearly going for the kill…”

He looked at Luo Jiuhong. “Big Brother — Old Three isn’t the kind of man who acts that recklessly.”

Luo Jiuhong let out a long, heavy breath.

For a moment, he did not know what to say.

—