Shi Ting poured himself a cup of wine. Rather than answering Qiao Yishan’s question directly, he said: “If Brother Qiao trusts me, I can offer you a plan — one that fulfills Brother Qiao’s wish of ‘robbing the rich to give to the poor,’ while also persuading the government to withdraw its troops and no longer make an enemy of Dagu Mountain.”

“Truly?” Qiao Yishan stood up in excitement. The government had dispatched a military commander to suppress the bandits. Though the Gu’an Gang had won a few times, the other side kept pressing on with a war of attrition, and they could not hold out much longer.

Even if they barely managed to hold on, the losses would be incalculable. It was precisely because this matter had been weighing so heavily on him that he had been distracted, giving Wang Hailin an opening to exploit.

Shi Ting gestured for him to sit back down.

“Does Brother Shi truly have a plan?” There was a note of urgency and hope in Qiao Yishan’s voice.

“That depends on whether Brother Qiao is willing to trust me.”

Qiao Yishan said: “Please tell me your true name.”

Shi Ting knew Qiao Yishan was an intelligent man. In his conversation with Qiao Yishan, he had seen a thread of opportunity. If Qiao Yishan could be put to good use, he would work half the effort for twice the result — but he was a bandit after all. Whether he would keep his word, and whether he was truly as principled as he claimed, Shi Ting could not guarantee.

This trip to Dagu Mountain was extraordinarily dangerous to begin with. He could not face the other side head-on — he could only play a bold gambit. Whether this move would serve him well or not, in his mind it was fifty-fifty.

But if he wanted to quell the bandit threat and win over Liu Qingnian through his efforts alone, it was simply impossible without taking a bold and unexpected risk. Since the opportunity was before him, regardless of the outcome, he had to seize it.

Yan Qing was not present at this moment — she was sitting by the fish pond watching the fish. Seeing Shi Ting and Qiao Yishan talking, and the two of them suddenly standing up, her heart leapt into her throat.

Qiao Yishan was the breakthrough Shi Ting had identified. To make use of Qiao Yishan, he had to go all in.

Shi Ting clasped his hands in greeting: “Surnamed Shi, courtesy name Xingzhi. My father is Shi Kai.”

Shi Xingzhi… Shi Kai?

Qiao Yishan’s pupils contracted sharply — he actually took a step back.

Though he commanded Dagu Mountain, he was not cut off from outside news. Especially since his bandits had been locked in opposition with the government military for so long — the more detailed their knowledge of military matters, the better.

This Shi Xingzhi was the Director of the Military Police Bureau. The son of the Grand Marshal.

Qiao Yishan had sensed from the first meeting that this person was no ordinary man. Now, hearing him announce his identity, he found the reality surpassed even his imagination.

“Son of the Grand Marshal.” Qiao Yishan fixed his eyes on Shi Ting: “Right now the government’s troops are at war with us. Isn’t Director Shi afraid I’ll tie you up and use you as a hostage?”

“If Brother Qiao wishes to do so, I am willing to submit without resistance.” Shi Ting looked at Qiao Yishan, his gaze clear and untroubled.

Qiao Yishan also looked steadily at him, their gazes locked — each probing and measuring the other.

After a good while, Qiao Yishan stepped forward and suddenly clapped Shi Ting on the shoulder: “Brother Shi’s courage — Qiao here admires it. Come, come — let us continue drinking.”

He pulled Shi Ting down to sit, pouring a cup for each of them. “Brother Shi didn’t come here alone, did he?”

Shi Ting glanced over in that direction. Qiao Yishan followed his gaze, then looked back. “That’s basically the same as coming alone, isn’t it?”

“To be frank,” Shi Ting said straightforwardly, “Brother Qiao guessed correctly.”

Qiao Yishan was taken aback — he hadn’t expected Shi Ting to confirm it outright. That so-called little brother of his aside, the man had truly come alone.

“Brother Shi came alone wanting to resolve this conflict?”

“My own strength alone is naturally not enough. Fortunately, I’ve met Brother Qiao.”

Qiao Yishan drank from his cup. “Then please tell me your plan, Brother Shi.”

Shi Ting said: “First — this Wang Hailin absolutely must not die at Brother Qiao’s hand. At the very least, not openly. Your gang has rules: those who kill among their own are condemned to death. This applies to members and even more so between chiefs.”

“If I don’t kill him now, am I supposed to let that dog live?” Qiao Yishan’s fists clenched, his teeth grinding audibly. The massacre of his entire family was not a debt that could go unpaid.

“If you want to kill him, why does Brother Qiao need to do it himself?” Shi Ting said this, then leaned close and murmured a few words.

The more Qiao Yishan listened, the more his heart stirred. His brow gradually relaxed, and he gave Shi Ting a deep, appraising look. They say there are no worthless sons in a family of generals — this Shi Xingzhi lived up to being the Grand Marshal’s son.

“Second — regarding this matter of robbing from the rich to give to the poor.” Shi Ting drank his wine, eyes cast slightly downward. “Does Brother Qiao truly believe that wealthy people are guilty? That their wealth deserves to be divided up — and even if it is, they deserve it?”

On this matter, Qiao Yishan was not in wholehearted agreement deep down. He had seen wealthy families who were not only well-off but also kind-hearted — distributing porridge and grain in times of disaster, and when times were good, if a beggar or refugee came to their gate, they would spare a few steamed buns. Wealthy people were not necessarily bad people. Moreover, their wealth was earned through their own abilities — what right was there to call them heartless just because they were rich?

Seeing Qiao Yishan’s conflicted expression, Shi Ting knew he was an upright and honest man at heart.

Shi Ting continued: “Robbing the wealthy is not the right course. There are good people among the wealthy too. You claim to uphold justice on behalf of heaven — how can you rob good people?”

“Brother Shi is right, but we are bandits — if we don’t rob the wealthy, who do we rob?”

Shi Ting smiled slightly: “Di Guo people.”

“Di Guo people?” Qiao Yishan raised an eyebrow.

“The coal mines of Qian Pass — those are all Xin Guo’s resources. Di Guo people quietly seized the operating rights and have been shipping our country’s mineral wealth steadily back to their country. That is no different from outright robbery.”

Qiao Yishan was struck by the realization and slapped the table hard: “Brother Shi is right! The Di Guo people are our true enemies. We should not be pointing our weapons at our own countrymen.”

Shi Ting nodded. “Di Guo people rely on their technological superiority and have plundered who knows how much of our country’s resources — without spending a single copper coin. They are the ones who are truly reaping what they have not sown.”

“I understand, Brother Shi.” Qiao Yishan clasped his hands respectfully. “Thank you for the guidance. But regarding the government’s military…”

“Brother Qiao can rest easy. As long as Brother Qiao is willing to perform a scene with me, I will ensure they withdraw their troops. I came out on this journey under the Grand Marshal’s orders, and all decisions can be acted upon first and reported after. What I promise Brother Qiao, I will never go back on.”

“With those words from Brother Shi, I am at ease.” Qiao Yishan raised his cup. “May the two of us achieve what we set out to accomplish.”

“Good.” Shi Ting also raised his cup, and both men clinked cups and drained them.

After the drinking was over, Shi Ting returned to the room they were temporarily using. Yan Qing had already removed her hat, her black hair draped loosely over her shoulders. In the warm lamplight, she was holding a jade-necked vase and examining it.

Though it was only a small detached garden house, it had been decorated with exceptional taste, its furnishings arranged with particular care.

“What are you looking at?” Shi Ting was in good spirits. He came up from behind and swept both her and the vase into his arms.

Yan Qing quickly set the vase back down — this was someone else’s house. Breaking anything would be awkward.

“Did your talk go well?” She settled obediently into his embrace.

“It’s done.” Shi Ting took a strand of her hair and toyed with it.

“Are you confident?”

Shi Ting said: “Half and half.”

He wound the strand of hair around his slender fingers, coiled it a few times then let it go, then kept winding it again. “If Qiao Yishan changes his mind, this place will probably become our burial ground.”

Working with a bandit was like seeking a pact with a tiger — it required nerve and boldness.

“I can see that Qiao Yishan is a smart man, and not a brutal thug. What’s more, we saved his only son. He wouldn’t slaughter the very people who saved him, would he?”

“He is a bandit after all — a man who kills without blinking.” Shi Ting kissed her on the cheek. “Are you afraid?”

“What is there to be afraid of?” Yan Qing smiled. “When I came out on this journey with you, I was already prepared to live and die by your side. Even if we die, we die together.”

Shi Ting felt a warmth in his heart. In truth, that earlier comment was nothing more than a passing remark. Having dared to reveal his identity before Qiao Yishan, he had done so with a confidence that was nine parts certainty. When it came to reading people’s hearts, he had never been wrong.

“I won’t let anything happen to you.” Shi Ting’s arm around her tightened.

“I know.” Yan Qing smiled softly. “You’re tired too. Wash your face and rest quickly.”

There were no servants here to attend to them, and everything had to be done themselves. Fortunately, neither of them was the sort who would fall apart without a servant.

A quick wash later, Shi Ting extinguished the lamp.

After all the rushing about, finally lying down on a soft bed, Yan Qing felt an unexpected sense of everything settling into place.

She opened her eyes and saw that Shi Ting was also looking at her, a warm smile at the corners of his mouth, bright and vivid.

She leaned forward of her own accord — before she could say a word, her lips were suddenly pressed by his as he lowered his head. With a roll, she was already beneath him.

Qiao Yishan had already settled down to sleep when something suddenly came to mind. He hurried up and went to find Shi Ting.

Just as he reached the door of Shi Ting’s room, he heard sounds coming from inside — sounds that made one’s face flush and heart race. He knew what those sounds meant, and immediately stood there in awkward paralysis.

He remembered the young boy Shi Ting had kept by his side all along — pale and fair, with delicate features. When Shi Ting had said it was his younger brother, he had already found it strange: why would he bring a little brother along for no reason?

Now, hearing the sounds from inside, what wasn’t there left to understand? This Director Shi had a fondness for men.

Qiao Yishan was a broad-minded man. He reasoned that there was nothing wrong with a person liking other men, and it was not his place to interfere.

Whatever it was he had come to discuss with Shi Ting suddenly escaped his memory.

Never mind — he’d bring it up in the morning.

Early the next morning, Shi Ting had just pushed open his door when he found Qiao Yishan pacing back and forth at his entrance.

Seeing him, Qiao Yishan immediately came forward. “Brother Shi, you’re finally awake — I’ve been waiting for you for half the day.”

He unconsciously swept a glance into the room. The bedding was in complete disarray, and the young lad was curled up in the covers with not even his head visible — he had probably been thoroughly worn out the night before.

Shi Ting noticed the peculiar expression on Qiao Yishan’s face, though he didn’t examine it further, and instead asked courteously: “Brother Qiao, what brings you to find me?”