In the depths of winter, frost lay heavy. The withered grass fallen along the riverbank was covered in a sheet of ice crystals.

Although the river water wasn’t frozen, in weather like this it was permeated with bone-piercing cold.

On the riverbank sat a basket of freshly washed bedding and covers. The originally calm river surface suddenly rippled with waves. Xiao Li emerged from the water carrying two fish strung on water grass, the splash momentarily drowning out the struggling sounds of the fish slapping their tails in his hand.

In such frosty, cold, windy weather, he was actually bare-chested. At this moment, his hair and his entire muscular chest were dripping with water.

Without clothing to conceal them, the sinewy muscles of his shoulders and back had smooth and beautiful lines, swelling slightly with his movements as if filled with power. However, there was a scar on his shoulder blade, seemingly caused by a burn.

He shook his head carelessly, water droplets scattering from his raven-black hair. Looking at the two fish in his hand, he laughed heartily. “Consider yourselves lucky—tonight you’ll be sacrificed to Master Xiao’s family’s bellies!”

The two fish slapped their tails once more, splashing fishy water back onto his face.

Xiao Li spat, raised his hand and flung the fish onto the shore, cupped some water to wash his face, and in the same motion swept back his soaked hair from his forehead, before lifting his foot to walk toward the shore.

Water still dripped from his hair roots. As he drew closer to shore and the water grew shallower, one could clearly see that the muscles of his waist and abdomen were also distinctly defined.

The sun revealed half its face. A water droplet hung from a strand of hair by his ear, about to fall but not quite. When the sunlight hit it, it looked like he was wearing an earring like men from foreign tribes, inexplicably adding several measures of wicked allure.

At this hour, no one had yet come to the riverbank to wash clothes.

Xiao Li came ashore and sat on the riverbank to wring out the water from his long pants, then casually wrung his dripping hair and tied it back with a hair band.

After completing a set of boxing moves on the riverbank, his soaked pants were steamed half-dry by the heat from his body.

This set of boxing techniques had been taught to him by a crazy old man when he was in prison.

That crazy old man either beat or cursed him, and also forced him to learn many strange things. Xiao Li was only eight or nine years old at the time. Realizing that practicing this boxing technique could strengthen his body and allow him to earn his meals with his fists in prison, although he completely didn’t understand what those other things the crazy old man taught him were, he still studied seriously.

But right up until he was released from prison, he never figured out what those diagrams and texts the crazy old man made him memorize by rote were for.

Later, by chance, he heard storytelling. When that storyteller Old Man Ge spoke of a great general from the previous dynasty who defeated enemies using the Balanced Yoke Formation, he suddenly had an epiphany.

Among the things the crazy old man had taught him to memorize was the Balanced Yoke Formation.

He didn’t recognize a single character and originally didn’t know what that thing was. It was only because he was intimidated by how fiercely the crazy old man beat him, and stayed in prison for seven years, that through pure rote memorization, he managed to know it by heart.

After learning from Old Man Ge that the Balanced Yoke Formation was a military formation for deploying troops, he often went to hear storytelling. Whenever Old Man Ge told stories of military generals throughout history, several more terms would pop up that he had heard from the crazy old man.

Through this method, he groped his way forward, matching what he had memorized by rote with actual examples of famous generals from various dynasties, slowly pondering the strategic calculations in each battle.

Although it seemed like he had too much idle time, every time he pondered these things, his entire mind would become especially calm.

Xiao An thought he enjoyed listening to stories about kings, nobles, generals, and ministers from various dynasties. He often went to Old Man Ge’s place to hear storytelling and then came back to tell him. Xiao Li had no way to explain, so he never elaborated much.

When the heat from his body had mostly dissipated, Xiao Li put on the brown clothes he’d removed to the side, picked up the fish and lifted the basket of clothes to head back.

But on the road, he encountered several women walking together to the river to wash clothes.

Looking at one of the women, he furrowed his brow. “Auntie Fang? Didn’t you say you were sick and wouldn’t be taking laundry work until the end of the year?”

The woman Xiao Li called out to seemed somewhat afraid of him. Holding her wooden basin, her eyes flickered evasively, hesitating and not daring to respond.

It was a woman beside her who spoke up. “Young Brother Xiao, this… the matters of your family have already spread throughout all of South Third Lane. Sister Fang doesn’t only take work from your family. Other households say… mixing their clothes with your family’s to wash, they’re afraid it won’t be clean. Sister Fang also has to rely on washing clothes for people to make a living. She can’t lose other business just for your family…”

Xiao Li heard something was wrong and asked, “What matters of my family?”

Several women exchanged glances. Seeing he seemed truly unaware, the woman who had spoken earlier said, “Several scoundrels have occupied Old Man Ge’s storytelling stall. For these past two days, they’ve been going around saying everywhere… saying that your mother was once the top courtesan at Zuihong House…”

Those few words seemed like some kind of trigger, causing Xiao Li’s expression to instantly darken.

Wen Yu wasn’t familiar with the roads in this area. Relying entirely on Xiao An’s directions, she supported him as they went toward the medical clinic.

But Xiao An had been kicked many times. She didn’t know if his internal organs were injured. Now, even with her supporting him, walking was very difficult.

Wen Yu said somewhat worriedly, “You won’t let me tell your Second Brother, but with all these injuries, it will probably take ten days to half a month to heal. How can you hide it?”

Xiao An covered his mouth and coughed quietly, saying, “Just hide it for now…”

He raised one of his swollen eyes to look at the road and saw the person standing at the intersection ahead. The expression on his face changed for several moments before he could only mumble, “Second Brother…”

Suddenly seeing Xiao Li, Wen Yu was also somewhat at a loss for a moment, standing in place while supporting Xiao An.

When Xiao Li walked over, Xiao An still wanted to squeeze out a smile. But his face was now covered in black and purple bruises. Making even a slight expression hurt terribly. In the end, he could only show an awkward smile, saying, “Second Brother, I… I accidentally fell…”

Xiao Li said nothing. He took the person from Wen Yu’s hands, hoisted him onto his back, and walked toward the medical clinic carrying Xiao An without a word.

Wen Yu looked at his back, her brows furrowing slightly. She just felt that from his demeanor, he probably already knew something.

Lying on Xiao Li’s back, seeing him not speaking, Xiao An’s heart began to panic. Several times he wanted to speak, but because the pressure around him right now was frighteningly low, he didn’t dare open his mouth.

He also knew his made-up lie was rather poor, but in the moment of urgency, he really hadn’t thought of a better excuse.

Arriving at the medical clinic, Xiao Li didn’t ask Xiao An much. He just called the physician over to examine his injuries.

The physician untied Xiao An’s upper garment. Seeing his thin chest and waist and abdomen covered in purple-black kick marks, he sighed repeatedly. “Just a child this small, how was he beaten into such a state…”

Because of Xiao An’s earlier plea, Wen Yu couldn’t speak up. She just silently assisted the physician, helping by passing him a hot cloth to let the physician wipe the blood from Xiao An’s face.

Xiao Li seemed extremely experienced with this kind of injury from falls and blows. He had already poured medicinal oil into his palm, rubbed it to warm it, then began applying it to his body.

Xiao An glanced at Xiao Li’s expression. The unease in his heart grew stronger. He forced the corners of his mouth to smile at him, saying, “Second Brother, it really doesn’t hurt at all…”

The force Xiao Li used to apply the medicinal oil increased. Xiao An couldn’t help but suck in a sharp breath, his hand with protruding veins gripping tight to the edge of the bed beside him.

Seeing this, the physician only said, “Bear with it. The bruising on your body is severe. It has to be rubbed like this for the medicinal oil to work quickly.”

Xiao An was in such pain his teeth ground together, cold sweat seeping from his forehead. He sensed Xiao Li’s abnormal silence and only felt uneasy. Several times he wanted to speak, but unfortunately, all his strength was being used to clench his teeth, and he couldn’t open his mouth again.

Seeing him endure the pain like this, Wen Yu felt it was somewhat unbearable to watch and lowered her eyes.

After finishing applying the medicinal oil, the roots of Xiao An’s hair were already soaked with sweat. He lay on his back gasping for air.

The physician still needed to prescribe internal medicine. Wen Yu saw that Xiao Li had washed his hands and sat to the side. From beginning to end, he hadn’t spoken once. Sensing that the two brothers perhaps had private matters to discuss, she followed to the outer room to get the prescription.

Only at this moment did Xiao Li finally speak. “Xiao An, do you think Second Brother is particularly incompetent?”

Xiao An panicked somewhat and hurriedly said, “No, I’ve never thought that, Second Brother…”

“Then why, when those bastards beat you, did you still want to hide it from me?” Xiao Li suddenly raised his eyes. Too many complex emotions intertwined in his eyes, mixed with violent energy forming a murderous intent.

Xiao An was speechless. He hid it from Xiao Li because he didn’t want him to know that Xiao Huiniang was being slandered and humiliated in this way by that group of scoundrels.

But Xiao Li stared at him, his dark eyes filled with deadly severity. “The bastards who beat you and slandered my mother—who were they?”

Xiao An’s lips moved. Seeing that he indeed already knew about this matter, he no longer concealed it and said honestly, “They were Chen Si, Wang Wu, and Feng Laoqi from under Wang Qing’s command.”

Xiao Li stood up and walked outside.

Seeing this, Xiao An hurried to stop him. Unfortunately, his injuries were too severe and he couldn’t get out of bed. He could only shout loudly, “Second Brother! Don’t go alone! Third Brother and the brothers below were punished yesterday and are still lying in bed unable to get up. Wait until all our brothers’ injuries have healed, then we’ll go vent this anger!”

Wen Yu, at the counter, heard the shouting from the inner room. Turning her head, she saw Xiao Li emerge through the curtain with a dark expression.

Seeing her, Xiao An hurriedly called to her, “Sister A’Yu, help me stop Second Brother! Stop him! Don’t let him go!”

Wen Yu saw that Xiao Li’s entire being radiated threatening violent energy. He must be going to find those scoundrels and the mastermind behind them for revenge. When their gazes collided, she said, “A gentleman’s revenge can wait ten years. Don’t act on momentary anger…”

Xiao Li brushed past her, leaving only one sentence: “Help me watch over Xiao An.”

Wen Yu furrowed her brow, about to advise him again, but he had already stridden into the wind and snow with large steps.

In the inner room, only Xiao An remained sobbing, “Second Brother, you can’t go…”

Wen Yu didn’t know if today’s events were related to Chen Laizi using her to pay his debt to the Xiao family. But since Xiao Huiniang had already been affected, she absolutely couldn’t just sit by and watch. She lifted the curtain to the inner room and said to Xiao An, who was crying with snot and tears, “Do you know what this is really all about? Tell me about the grievances between those people and your Second Brother.”

Outside, the weather was freezing cold, but inside Qiankun Gambling House, the air was oppressively warm.

Under each gambling table was placed a charcoal brazier. Those placing bets crowded together. The sounds of people shouting to buy big or buy small could overturn the roof. The heat made those gamblers wearing thick padded jackets all red-faced and sweating.

Wang Qing had won several rounds in a row at the gambling table. His spirits were quite high now. He pushed all the silver in front of him forward and shouted, “The next round, I’m buying big!”

Several scoundrels who often followed him exchanged glances and immediately also took out silver, placing it on that side. “We’ll follow Brother Qing!”

Those gamblers who didn’t understand the situation, seeing he had won so many rounds, all took him to have excellent luck today and also followed suit in placing bets.

The gambling house workers disguised as gamblers took out an ingot of silver and placed it on the buy-small side, shouting, “I just don’t believe in this evil. I’m buying small!”

The gamblers all laughed at his stubbornness. Only the group of people working together in this scheme had knowing smiles on their faces.

The worker shaking the dice lifted the dice cup and shook it with a clattering sound. The gamblers’ eyeballs followed his hand’s movement like shadows, almost ready to shake their eyeballs out of their sockets.

After the dice cup finished shaking and was placed on the table, the gamblers were all extremely excited, shouting in rhythmic unison, “Open it! Open it!”

Just as the worker was about to open the cup, suddenly a loud crash came from outside the door.

Everyone turned to look and saw two figures kicked flying inside, smashing the carved wooden door to splinters. They crashed onto the gambling table, shaking the utensils on the table until they flew and scattered, rolling all over the floor.

Where had these gamblers ever seen such a spectacle? They hurriedly screamed and ducked away.

Only Wang Qing sat steadily at the center of the gambling table, slowly raising his eyes to look at the young man walking into the gambling house with an air of cold severity.

Xiao Li entered the inner hall barehanded and empty-fisted. When the crowd of thugs under Wang Qing’s command saw him, they quickly stepped forward in a fan shape to surround him. But they all knew his prowess and were intimidated by his current imposing manner. Not one person dared to truly move forward to get beaten.

Xiao Li regarded these people as if they didn’t exist. He lifted his foot and walked straight toward Wang Qing, the joints of his hands cracking loudly.

Wang Qing’s eyelids lifted. He made a gesture to stand, his mouth mocking, “Yo, isn’t this our…”

Before he could finish his sentence, Xiao Li had already kicked over that gambling table with one foot.

Wang Qing hurriedly turned sideways, using his elbow and back to block. The heavy gambling table crashed thunderously to the ground. He was then grabbed by the collar and dragged across, immediately taking a punch full of brute force to his jaw.

Wang Qing flew backward, involuntarily spitting out a mouthful of rice fragments. He felt like he heard the sound of bones shattering. Then his entire jaw along with his head lost all sensation, falling and smashing a pile of tables and chairs behind him.

All of this happened in but an instant.

The scoundrels below were like they’d been hit with a paralysis spell, frozen in place.

Xiao Li stared at Wang Qing on the ground struggling like a dead dog, trying to crawl up. He walked over and stepped one foot on his back, pressing the man until blood came from his nose and mouth, his face pressed tight against the filthy ground, before opening his mouth coldly: “The accounts between you and me—it’s time to settle them.”