Qingyuan.

Ma Ziwu looked at Little Wu and asked, “How are our guests faring?”

Little Wu answered promptly, “After the guests moved in, they dispatched people to go out. Acting on the Old Patriarch’s instructions, I went to ask the guests if they needed any assistance. They declined…”

He looked at Ma Ziwu: “Old Patriarch, given those guests’ backgrounds, we shouldn’t provoke them — they’re a root of trouble. There are far too many people outside who want them dead. I suspect it’s not only people within Liaovang City — there are even more people outside the city hoping for their deaths as well. So Little Wu cannot understand: why does the Old Patriarch treat them as honored guests?”

Ma Ziwu smiled: “You don’t understand.”

Little Wu said earnestly: “It is precisely because I don’t understand that I wish to ask the Old Patriarch to instruct me.”

Ma Ziwu looked at Little Wu for a long while, then finally let out a few words.

“Things are no longer as they once were.”

Little Wu did not know that in Jingtan Teahouse, Jingtan’s owner Li Sanzhou had said this very same thing to Cao Lie — and that Cao Lie had very quickly returned those words to Li Sanzhou.

Ma Ziwu asked, “The guests said they would think of a way themselves?”

Little Wu made a sound of assent: “The guests said: since Liaovang City is a dragon’s den and tiger’s lair, that suits them just fine.”

Having heard this, Ma Ziwu sighed and murmured to himself, “If you pushed back ten years — no, even just five — how could I possibly have thought anything of them?”

Little Wu said, “Old Patriarch — are we… to leave Liaovang City?”

Ma Ziwu’s expression shifted sharply at these words; even his gaze went cold. Little Wu saw his reaction and dropped to his knees with a thud.

“Old Patriarch, I should not have spoken so recklessly, should not have guessed so carelessly.”

A moment later, Ma Ziwu sighed again: “Had this been five years ago, by my nature, you too would already be dead… but now my murderous intent is not so heavy. Since you wish to know, I will tell you: we should indeed be going. In this world, wherever you go, you cannot do without money — and we are not short of money, only eager to earn as much as we can. The price this particular set of guests has offered cannot be refused, so you must handle matters well and treat the guests well.”

Little Wu kowtowed and said, “Little Wu understands. Little Wu will never speak recklessly again.”

Ma Ziwu nodded. “Go.”

Jingtan Teahouse.

Li Chunfeng suddenly thought of an approach.

He looked at Cao Lie and said, “Young master, if the person we are looking for is in Qingyuan, and Jingtan’s current strength is clearly insufficient to directly tear open the situation there — I am thinking: an enemy’s enemy may become an ally. Let me try making contact with Dao Chai.”

Cao Lie said, “I am not familiar with Liaovang City’s affairs. If you feel it is feasible, you may try.”

Li Sanzhou said, “That Dao Chai has long wished to kill Ma Ziwu — that is common knowledge. It is indeed worth attempting to join hands with Dao Chai and act together.”

Cao Lie said, “In all things, be cautious. The hearts of men in this city are unpredictable — even if Dao Chai agrees, he may not be sincere.”

Li Sanzhou said, “Then… give him a condition he cannot refuse.”

The following day. Yanzi Tower.

This was one of Dao Chai’s enterprises — Yanzi Tower’s front building was a tavern, and the back courtyard was a gambling den.

When the carriage carrying Jingtan’s proprietor Li Chunfeng drew up outside Yanzi Tower, everyone who saw it was taken aback.

Jingtan’s people had always thought highly of themselves. They did not consider themselves to be low-grade underground figures, and so they looked down on most of Liaovang City’s underground forces. If not for a major matter, how could Jingtan’s people possibly come to Yanzi Tower on their own initiative?

In Jingtan’s people’s view, anyone who took the initiative to deal with them was reaching above their station. For Jingtan to take the initiative to deal with anyone else… they had never done so before. This was a first.

What was even more astonishing was that after Li Chunfeng stepped down from the carriage, it was not long before Wu Sanjue — the second most important figure under Dao Chai in the Swift Blade Sect — personally came out to receive him at the door.

Nothing like this had occurred in Liaovang City over the past ten years.

The news spread throughout all of Liaovang City very quickly; every underground faction was compelled to urgently send people to observe.

The news also reached Qingyuan very quickly. Little Wu ran to the flower house and reported the matter in full to Ma Ziwu.

Ma Ziwu listened in silence, then smiled: “Striking the mountain to startle the tiger?”

Little Wu said, “There is no reason for Jingtan to ally with the Swift Blade Sect people unless it is against us.”

Ma Ziwu made a sound of agreement: “Which shows precisely that Jingtan is no longer what it was.”

Little Wu started — thinking it through carefully, that was indeed the logic of it.

In the past, even if it meant going to open battle head-on against Qingyuan, Jingtan would have thought itself too good to ally with the Swift Blade Sect.

Think about it: ten years ago, when Li Sanzhou had first come to Liaovang City, he had dared to nearly wipe out the leading figures of the underground in a single night. What boldness and imposing presence that had been.

Little Wu asked, “Old Patriarch — does this have something to do with our guests?”

Ma Ziwu said, “Nine parts out of ten it does… but they are probably all going to be disappointed.”

Little Wu asked again, “Old Patriarch, how should we respond?”

Ma Ziwu smiled: “Jingtan’s people just went to meet with the Swift Blade Sect, didn’t they? Take my calling card and go to Jingtan — say that I wish to arrange a meeting with Li Sanzhou.”

This time Little Wu did not understand again.

Ma Ziwu said with a smile, “In martial arts, I am no match for Dao Chai. In backing, I am no match for Li Sanzhou. In the art of winning over hearts… the two of them together are no match for me.”

Little Wu asked again, “Then regarding our guests?”

Ma Ziwu considered, then rose: “I’ll go speak to them myself.”

Little Wu didn’t understand why the Old Patriarch seemed to care far too much about those guests.

Another day passed.

Cao Lie was pondering how to find a way into Qingyuan to investigate, when Li Chunfeng came striding in from outside — one look at his expression showed his mood was good.

“Young master, the Swift Blade Sect has agreed.”

Cao Lie heard this and felt some puzzlement. He asked, “Ma Ziwu came in person to visit us yesterday — and today the Swift Blade Sect people have already agreed?”

Li Chunfeng said, “The Swift Blade Sect people are probably afraid that we might join forces with Qingyuan.”

Cao Lie frowned, murmuring to himself, “But why did Ma Ziwu come?”

Li Chunfeng said, “He likely wanted to personally show his face here at our Jingtan — he has not set foot outside Qingyuan in nearly five years. Coming here himself was a way of applying pressure on the Swift Blade Sect.”

Cao Lie still felt something was not right.

It was Jingtan’s side that had taken the initiative to approach the Swift Blade Sect. If Ma Ziwu had sensed danger, he too should have gone to the Swift Blade Sect.

Yet Ma Ziwu had chosen to come to Jingtan Teahouse instead, and when he met with Li Sanzhou, he had not said anything specific — only that if Li Sanzhou truly needed help, he would be a more suitable partner than Dao Chai.

Li Sanzhou had reported all of this truthfully to Cao Lie, and Cao Lie had found it strange at the time.

“What did the Swift Blade Sect people say?” Cao Lie asked.

Li Chunfeng said, “The condition the owner offered was one that Dao Chai could not refuse… He said that after considering it overnight, he has agreed to our request. The three parties will meet at Hongbin Tower. If Ma Ziwu refuses to hand over the person, Dao Chai will join hands with us and act at Hongbin Tower.”

Cao Lie asked, “Whose territory is Hongbin Tower?”

Li Chunfeng said, “Hongbin Tower belongs to neither us nor either of the other two. Hongbin Tower’s owner, Ma Qingzhi, has a position in Liaovang City that can just barely rank fourth.”

Cao Lie pondered for a moment, then rose: “Come with me to see Li Sanzhou.”

Shortly after, Li Sanzhou set his teacup down before Cao Lie, his expression somewhat grave: “The condition I gave Dao Chai was this: help Jingtan eliminate Ma Ziwu this time, and Jingtan will also withdraw from Liaovang City. Henceforth in Liaovang City, Dao Chai alone will reign supreme.”

This was the requirement Cao Lie had already put forward. The silver earned in a place like Liaovang City — he wanted not a single copper coin.

He had not known in the past. But now that he knew, he could not continue.

If the Cao family’s remaining enterprises were to be preserved in any measure, the only choice going forward was to operate within Prince Ning Li Chi’s rules.

When Cao Lie had headed south, he had already thought all of this through. On this return to Yuzhou, such was precisely his intention.

He had not previously known that Jingtan was a Cao family enterprise. Now that he knew, he would have to find a way to salvage it.

Since withdrawal from Liaovang City was inevitable sooner or later, it was better to seize this present opportunity.

Li Sanzhou said, “And our plan will not go wrong.”

He looked at Cao Lie and asked, “There is only one thing your subordinate wishes to ask the young master — is it that by helping the Tingwei Army this time, more of our people can be preserved? And the young master’s future will not require hiding and fleeing?”

Cao Lie nodded: “Everything I am doing is so that everyone may have a good path forward.”

Li Sanzhou said, “Then all is well… Please, young master, as agreed — the day after tomorrow, at Hongbin Tower. I will go to meet Dao Chai and Ma Ziwu. The young master will lead our people to strike Qingyuan.”

Cao Lie said, “If they set a trap, you will be in danger.”

Li Sanzhou smiled: “There are not many in Liaovang City who could actually keep me there.”

Yanzi Tower.

Dao Chai was no longer young. At his temples, traces of white were beginning to show.

He carried an aura of authority without anger. No matter what the outside jianghu was like, within Liaovang City’s jianghu, he was unrivaled.

He had been unrivaled not for just a year or two — because of his singular supremacy in martial arts, the Swift Blade Sect could hold its own against the other two and divide Liaovang City three ways.

Yet if you met Dao Chai for the first time, you would likely be slightly disappointed. He was, truly, not a man of impressive appearance — mainly because he was short.

If you had only heard Dao Chai’s story, you would surely have imagined him as a tall, imposing, powerfully built man.

In reality, he was shorter than the vast majority of men. Even standing beside the already aged and stooped Ma Ziwu, he was still more than half a head shorter — and bear in mind that Ma Ziwu could no longer straighten his back.

If people who didn’t know he was Swift Blade met him on the street, they might actually try to bully him.

“From my youth I resolved to become Liaovang City’s foremost man,” Dao Chai said.

He sat in a chair, both feet unable to rest flat on the floor — only the tips of his toes touching the ground. On a grown man this would look slightly comical, yet sitting here and speaking, not a soul dared make a sound.

He swept his gaze across his subordinates, his eyes carrying a domineering disdain that inspired fear.

“At that time I thought — with my abilities, becoming Liaovang City’s foremost man would be neither difficult nor long in coming. But I was wrong…”

Swift Blade slid down from the chair — which first required inching his backside forward before both feet could steadily meet the floor.

He began pacing as he spoke: “The day after tomorrow at Hongbin Tower is my best opportunity to become Liaovang City’s foremost man. So if anyone ruins this matter, I will certainly make that person die very badly.”

His subordinates immediately bowed: “We take heed!”

Dao Chai walked to the doorway and stood there looking out.

“No one in Liaovang City has ever achieved sole dominance. If I can achieve it, I will be that singular exception… Pass the order down: all Swift Blade Sect disciples are to return to Yanzi Tower by noon tomorrow without fail.”

“Yes!”

His subordinates responded once more.

At the same moment, Qingyuan.

Ma Ziwu thought of how many times in his life he had faced crises of life and death, and how it had always been through viciousness and decisiveness — those four words — that he had come to hold his current position in the jianghu.

But this time, his decisiveness — he did not know if it would still bring a good result.

“Liaovang City is very small — truly very small. The world is very large — truly very large.”

Ma Ziwu looked at Little Wu, and as he spoke there was a faint note of sorrow.

“The standing I have amounts to nothing in all of the world… All these years, I have been able to withstand open attack and covert arrow. I have been able to reverse defeats. But there is one thing I cannot withstand and cannot reverse.”

Little Wu asked: “Old Patriarch — what is that?”

Ma Ziwu answered: “What is it… the day after tomorrow, at Hongbin Tower, you will see.”

—