The wine was Shaoxing yellow wine, heated hot. One mouthful down and all the meridians warmed.

This was also the first time Xie Zhifei and Xie Buhua sat at the same table drinking outside.

The feeling was… somewhat uncomfortable. Occasionally when their eyes met, both looked away.

But He Yun was comfortable! After a few cups of wine, his flirtatiousness came oozing out.

“Chengyu, I’ve recently become obsessed with a treasure. I think about it morning and night, like I’m possessed.”

Thinking about your mother!

Xie Zhifei said casually: “What treasure is worth your obsession?”

You!

Still playing dumb with me?

He Yun looked at Xie Zhifei and licked his lips. “It’s definitely valuable, but I don’t know how to bring that treasure into my room.”

There’s a method—go home, sleep, and have a spring dream.

Xie Zhifei deliberately looked puzzled. “Bring it into your room for what? To hide it?”

Hide it in the bed, acceptable?

He Yun couldn’t sit still anymore. He slowly moved his hand toward Xie Zhifei, wanting to hook his shoulder, but unexpectedly Xie Zhifei suddenly grabbed his wrist.

“Stop obsessing over this treasure or that treasure. Brothers drinking from big bowls together, eating large chunks of meat, making big piles of silver—that’s the true way.”

The subtext of these words was: Grandson, stay away from me. Third Master doesn’t have that taste. I’ll humor you as sworn brothers for now.

With beauty before him, how could He Yun discern the subtext? He said flirtatiously: “But I must obsess—it’s an unparalleled treasure, rarely seen.”

“Second Brother.”

Xie Zhifei’s gaze shifted as he smiled. “What unparalleled treasure? Have you seen it?”

Xie Buhua was enjoying the show when unexpectedly the fire spread to him. He smiled and said: “I’ve seen it, but don’t think it’s any treasure, much less unparalleled.”

These words carried some mockery.

“That’s what I thought…”

Xie Zhifei released his hand and said leisurely: “Second Brother has been in business all these years—his eye is the sharpest. Good or bad, one look and he knows. He Wenyu, learn from my second brother.”

He Yun was only focused on looking at the person and didn’t think before speaking: “What does he know!”

Xie Buhua’s hand holding the wine cup paused, his expression changing several times.

Just then, some attendant outside shouted at the top of his lungs:

“This is bad—Yusheng Tower is surrounded!”

Xie Zhifei and He Yun looked at each other, both showing curiosity.

Yusheng Tower’s backer was an old prince who preferred men. They said even His Majesty the Emperor had to show him some face.

His territory was surrounded?

Which fool had eaten leopard gall for courage?

The Five Cities Military Commission handled exactly this sort of thing. Xie Zhifei was just looking for an excuse to get away from that bastard He Yun.

“I need to take a look.”

“Wait, Chengyu, I’ll go with you.”

He Yun hurriedly chased after him, completely forgetting about Xie Buhua still at the table.

Xie Buhua sat with a dark expression, pouring himself a cup of wine and sipping it slowly.

…

Xie Zhifei walked out of the private room and leaned on the railing to look down. His heart immediately sank.

The ones surrounding Yusheng Tower weren’t fools at all, but soldiers in armor, murderous-looking—dozens of them.

“They don’t look like they’re from the Imperial City.”

He Yun clung to the railing. “Those Imperial City people don’t have such dark faces. These should be from outside the city. Not ordinary garrison troops either—probably specialized combat troops. They have a killing aura.”

Xie Zhifei turned to look deeply at He Yun: Not bad—some real ability.

He Yun was looked at until his other half also went numb.

Damn!

This kid was too seductive.

Little did Xie Zhifei know that in He Yun’s heart, he was as seductive as a woman. His mind was pondering something else:

Why were combat troops surrounding Yusheng Tower?

“Come on, let’s go downstairs and look.”

As Xie Zhifei said this, a man entered Yusheng Tower.

This man was around forty, with a full beard, wearing armor, emanating an aura of killing intent.

What made him most unforgettable were his eyes—pitch black and bottomless. When looking at people, his gaze was sharp as a blade.

An attendant scurried over. “Sir, are you here to enjoy our Yusheng Tower’s services, or…”

“Looking for someone.”

His voice was deep and low, carrying a fierce edge. The attendant looked up at this man who was two heads taller and couldn’t help trembling.

“Who, who are you looking for?”

“Xu Nian’an.”

“Please wait, I’ll help you find…”

“No need to trouble yourself.”

The man lifted his eyelids, and two sharp beams shot from his eyes. “Search for him.”

As soon as he spoke, one person emerged from the soldiers, extended his right hand, and rapidly made three hand signals.

Dozens of men immediately divided into three teams—one for the first floor, one for the second floor, and the last team headed straight for the third floor.

Xie Zhifei still had a few steps before reaching the first floor when soldiers with large swords on their backs made the originally spacious staircase suddenly crowded.

A hand reached from behind and pulled him to the side to avoid them.

“It’s the Bu Family Army. Don’t stick your neck out later—can’t afford to provoke them.”

Xie Zhifei turned back and deliberately looked at He Yun provocatively: “There’s actually someone you’re afraid of?”

“Not just me—even my father has to be wary of them.”

Different trades, different worlds.

Xie Zhifei knew the capital inside and out, but about outside the city, especially the military, he didn’t know much.

After the soldiers passed, He Yun hurried down to the courtyard, raising his chin toward the middle.

“See that one, built like a bear? That’s the leader of the Bu Family Army.”

Xie Zhifei followed and glanced. “What’s his name?”

He Yun: “Surname Bu, given name Liu, sixth in his family.”

Xie Zhifei frowned. “What’s his background to dare surround Yusheng Tower?”

Before he finished speaking, Yusheng Tower erupted in chaos.

“Who the hell are you to kick down this master’s door? Get out…”

“Who let you in? Someone, someone…”

“This is outrageous! This master paid good money… Is there no law?”

“Ah—”

“Bang—”

“Smack—”

He Yun’s scalp went numb. He quickly pulled Xie Zhifei into a corner. “This man originally had no background, but later gained significant backing.”

Xie Zhifei looked up at him.

“You outsiders don’t know—there’s a lot to this story.”

He Yun hummed: “He was originally just an ordinary soldier with no family background. Later he joined the Zheng Family Army and followed Old General Zheng in campaigns north and south.”

Xie Zhifei’s eyes suddenly reddened. “The Zheng Family Army?”

“Shh, keep it down.”

He Yun made a silencing gesture.

“After Old General Zheng died, the Zheng Family Army was taken over by other troops. This man was no exception—he went to the Divine Machine Battalion.

After making a name in the Divine Machine Battalion, he gathered all of Old General Zheng’s former subordinates one by one and formed this Bu Family Army.

Though it’s called the Bu Family Army, the roots are still the Zheng family’s. In battle, they fight like they don’t care if they live or die. They’ve never lost.”

Seeing no reaction from the person beside him, He Yun nudged him with his elbow.

“Are you listening or not?”