"...Did I go back on my word? What do you mean I went back on my word?"

Inside the room, a voice roared with anger, the sound of a wooden stool being swung through the air echoed.

"I should have known, running away from home, you learn all the bad things and none of the good, completely lawless!"

"Haha, Four-Eyes, the only reason I didn't hit you before was out of respect for your age, fighting me? You must have a death wish! I'm a scout, I..."

"Respect for your age? You wouldn't have attacked Tie Tianying if that was the case! What did you promise me? Think of the bigger picture..."

With a crash, Zuo Wenxuan smashed the stool, using the two legs as weapons to swing at Ning Ji. Although he was from the staff headquarters, he had been training for a long time and had seen many elite soldiers in the Southwest. His attack had an imposing aura. Ning Ji laughed angrily, grabbing a broom from the room to fight back.

"Bah, Tie Tianying is the enemy—"

"The bigger picture, the bigger picture... I knew I couldn't rely on you, you panic the moment something happens..."

"It's all your fault! All of you! You bastards actually taught the Badao (霸刀) to that dog. He used the Badao in front of me, didn't he deserve to die? You all deserve to die—"

"Now things are a mess, covered in shit inside and out, and I have to clean up your mess—"

"Damn, you're trying to screw me over—"

"...What... huh?"

The curses and fighting continued, sweeping the tables and chairs in the room into disarray. At the height of the chaos, Ning Ji swung the broom and hit Zuo Wenxuan's head and face several times. The air filled with dust. Zuo Wenxuan swung the stool legs wildly in retaliation. One of the legs hit the wall and flew off. Ning Ji felt a little bad, but in the dust, Zuo Wenxuan suddenly threw a punch, hitting Ning Ji's swollen face and sending him staggering backwards several steps, baring his teeth in pain.

Ning Ji rubbed his face in pain: "Tch, who knew a weakling like you had some strength..."

Zuo Wenxuan shook his head, waving his sleeves to clear the dust and wipe his face, spitting twice on the ground, before looking around with a gloomy expression, raising his hand: "I exercise every day, I would have killed you with one punch if I hadn't held back."

He had always presented himself as a refined strategist since returning to the Southeast, but under his sleeves now were bulging muscles.

"Yeah, yeah, held back..." Ning Ji gritted his teeth, then pointed to one side of the room, "Over there."

Zuo Wenxuan groped around for his glasses, and Ning Ji pointed several times: "Left, left... a little further..."

After finding his glasses, he wiped them clean and squatted on the ground. Then, Zuo Wenxuan stood up with the stick in his hand, swung it to the side, kicked over a table panel, and pointed at Ning Ji: "You... you almost killed Tie Tianying..."

"He didn't die... so it's nothing."

"He almost died! Can't you think of the bigger picture?"

"Don't I think of the bigger picture enough? Tie Tianying used the Badao in front of me, which one of you bastards taught it to him? You treacherous lot, I'm going back to the Southwest to report you, and you'll be sentenced to death! Immediate execution! Repeated execution!"

"How would I know who taught him? Mister Ning teaches indiscriminately, teaching everyone the secrets of the Badao. Tie Tianying is also an expert, so wouldn't he learn it just by studying it a little? There are so many people, go investigate who taught him. Do you want me to gather everyone together and tell them the Five-Foot Pervert Ning Xiaoer has come to Fuzhou to investigate, so you can chat with them one by one—"

"—Mention that nickname again and I'll kill you."

"There are plenty of people all over the world who know that nickname..." Zuo Wenxuan sneered, then spread his hands, "The problem now is that Tie Tianying is seriously injured. He's very curious about you, and the Ministry of Justice will start looking for you too—that assassin! Now things are getting bigger and bigger, all eyes are on us, who can stop it? Your matter will come to light sooner or later..."

"That's how it is when you're out in the Jianghu (江湖, martial arts world)." Ning Ji relaxed, tidied his hair, and looked indifferent. "You intellectuals worry about this and worry about that, you just think too much and are too timid. Isn't it great now? We killed five people from Monk Tunyun's side in one go, rounding it up to ten..."

"What's there to say about killing a few lackeys? Tie Tianying is seriously injured, why didn't you kill Tunyun and Fan Zhong too?" Zuo Wenxuan cursed, then paused, "Besides, is this about being brave or timid? Your identity is what it is, is it the same level of issue as what's happening now?"

"One thing at a time. I'm walking the Jianghu, but I'm not using the reputation of the Southwest. Besides, my father is selfless. Even if I die in Fuzhou, it won't implicate you."

"You little brat, you make it sound so easy..." Zuo Wenxuan sneered, "Mister Ning is selfless, bottling things up, but what about the others? Ning Ji, I won't even mention those scheming people in the middle. If something happens to you, will Madam Liu of the Badao let it go? And I'm not even talking about Madam Liu of the Badao, if the First Madam makes a fuss, can Mister Ning suppress her?"

"Uh..."

Ning Ji tilted his head and thought for a while, then scratched his head and chuckled, "Hehehe..."

He was a little speechless.

If something really happened to him, Aunt Gua and the First Madam would most likely investigate. Actually, Aunt Gua's side would be easier to deal with. Since it involved military power, his father would suppress it publicly. The First Madam rarely got angry, but once she did, the influence behind her was multifaceted, and his father might not be able to suppress her. Truly a happy problem.

"You're a disaster!" Zuo Wenxuan said.

"Uh, hehe... it's just a small matter, don't get angry." Ning Ji shrugged and smiled apologetically, "Besides, I'm not ignorant of the bigger picture either. You see, when I came, I was thinking, if I really killed Tie Tianying, it would be difficult for you to explain. I listened to you and immediately ran far away out of the city, never to return..."

Zuo Wenxuan's eyes lit up: "Then run now, I'll see you off... Get lost immediately."

"He's not dead now, what's the rush!" Ning Ji's face darkened, "Besides, look, I'm about to infiltrate the enemy. Although there was a bit of a conflict, it's clear that the bad guys on Chen Shuangran's side admire me..."

"It's no wonder they admire you..."

"Right... Don't worry, there's also Pu Xingui on the other side, who also admires me now. They recognize talent and want to cooperate with me. What's going on? Four-Eyes, do you see? You a bunch of blockheads can't do anything right. I'm the protagonist, I can save you. Heh, I already have a plan, let me tell you, I'll wipe them all out in one fell swoop. Then I'll be happy, you'll have completed the task, what's not to like? As the saying goes, fortune favors the bold. You want me to leave now, you're a coward!"

Zuo Wenxuan adjusted his glasses, sighed, and thought for a while before finally picking up a stool.

"Actually... leaving now is the best time." He said slowly, "Other things, including Zuo Xingzhou, aren't as big of a problem as what you'll cause here. I accepted it when you were setting up a stall, but if you go further and cause trouble, I won't be able to control it."

"I'm not leaving." Ning Ji shook his head and sat down. He was silent for a moment, then slowly opened his mouth, "Zuo Wenxuan, I'm a son of the Ning family, but I've also been trying to break away from these things since I was a kid. I can go to the battlefield, so what's a mere Fuzhou? Besides... my father supports me doing this. Four-Eyes, he'll be sad if I die, but he'll be happy if I can get out of this, I know... he'll be happy in his heart."

His eyes stared at Zuo Wenxuan in front of him.

The young man grew up on the battlefield, and since he was a child, he had been lively and boisterous. He rarely talked about his father with people, but at this moment, his eyes contained an extremely serious light.

He yearned for freedom, but most importantly, his loved ones were also passing this freedom on to him. His father would tell him about the beauty of the world and his yearning for the Jianghu. His mother told him about the past in Jiangning. They loved him, but when they spoke of this love, they also carried a faint regret. As a child of the Ning family, he was not free... And because of these revelations, he entered the army at a very young age, and they gradually accepted him going to the battlefield.

His father, mother, siblings, and other relatives had probably gone through this kind of psychological preparation. So he came out of the Southwest, embracing this heavy, dark freedom. Even though he was young, he understood very well in his heart that some things could only be broken by moving forward. There was no way to retreat.

Zuo Wenxuan looked at him for a long time, finally reaching out to pinch his forehead.

"Really not leaving?"

"Not leaving."

"Then... let's talk about the connections you've made, and your stupid plan..."

Zuo Wenxuan gave in. Ning Ji chuckled and went over to tell him about his interactions with Pu and the subsequent fight with Tunyun and others. After hearing this, Zuo Wenxuan said he understood and told him about the issues with the Ministry of Justice and Tie Tianying, telling him to be careful.

Ning Ji didn't care:

"You're all on the same side, can't you reveal a little more to make them stop investigating me? There's no need to tell the truth to Tie Tianying. Just say that I went too far to infiltrate, and ask him to bear with it, and I'll apologize to him later... Heh, by then, the matter will be over, I'll cleanly kill him with one knife, and then leave..."

"What do you mean, the same side?" Zuo Wenxuan glared at him helplessly.

"You guys, Wen Renbuer, Cheng Zhouhai, Li Pin, Tie Tianying, the Zuo family... aren't you all wholehearted lackeys? We're on the same side, you guarantee me, it's not a big deal..."

"..." Zuo Wenxuan rubbed his forehead, "You little brat, what do you know about politics... You can't even fully trust your own brothers, let alone officials in the same court. People already suspect that the Zuo family only recognizes the Southwest and not the imperial court, now they suspect even more... Get out! I don't want to see you."

"Hehe, I'm leaving immediately."

After understanding the situation and communicating with Zuo Wenxuan, Ning Ji was satisfied, gave in, and left.

Just as he reached the door, he heard Zuo Wenxuan speak again.

"Hey."

"Hmm?" Ning Ji turned around.

Zuo Wenxuan raised his finger and pointed at him: "You're the one who doesn't want to leave. I don't know what trouble will arise if things get any bigger... Don't blame me then."

Ning Ji thought for a moment, shrugged, and disappeared through the doorway. He was still very happy.

The afternoon sun shone in through the doorway, with floating dust particles in the air. After Ning Ji left, Zuo Wenxuan sat in place for a long time, thinking worriedly. Ning Ji's identity could not be quantified by its seriousness. Once quantified, everything else would have to take a backseat, and any decisions to the contrary would be considered softhearted and irrational.

He thought about it carefully for a long time, and only sighed.

After figuring out the general situation, he had to go back and clean up the mess, find out some of the actions of the Ministry of Justice and Tie Tianying, and see if he could do anything to prevent them in advance. As he was halfway back from here, a carriage quietly pulled over.

Reaching out and lifting the curtain, Zuo Wenxuan saw the smiling face that was revealed.

"What a coincidence, Wenxuan." Cheng Zhouhai greeted him, then pointed, "Should I come over, or will you come over?"

"I'll come over, I'll come over." Zuo Wenxuan smiled and got up, then got into the carriage on the other side.

"You did a beautiful job today." After sitting down, Cheng Zhouhai praised with a smile, "Where did you go just now?"

"To... deal with some loose ends..." Zuo Wenxuan deliberated, speaking slowly.

"I just came from Tie-daren's side..."

"Tie-daren's injuries are truly..."

"...When did Ning Ji come?"

Cheng Zhouhai's words were casual. When he asked this question, he even lifted the curtain and looked outside.

In the carriage, Zuo Wenxuan's mouth gradually widened. Cheng Zhouhai turned back and saw his expression, and casually continued.

"Oh, I went to Chengdu a few years ago and saw that young kid. He looks too much like Ning Yi's concubine, Xiao Chan. After so many years, I recognized him at first sight in Silver Bridge Ward. Fuzhou is too small. If it were in Bianliang or Lin'an, I wouldn't personally go to see even if something small happened in the city... Wenxuan... Wenxuan?"

Cheng Zhouhai sat there, smiling at him, and then asked.

"...Wenxuan, why didn't you report such a big thing?"

"..."

Zuo Wenxuan sat there blankly. After a moment, he sighed and leaned back against the carriage...

Cheng Zhouhai savored his expression with interest.

"Don't panic... tell me slowly."

"No need to panic, everything's fine now."

Zuo Wenxuan's carriage traveled south, while Ning Ji and Qu Longjun's figures passed through the streets to the east, preparing to return home along the scattered shade of the alleys.

"The old thing is lucky, he didn't die. Zuo Wenxuan spouted a bunch of nonsense... and dared to threaten me, but I convinced him. As long as things don't escalate, he can help me for a while... Hmm, so you still have to do things systematically. Old dogs have to be killed last..."

"You killed Chen Shuangran's people this morning. Now that the news has spread, Pu Xingui should believe you more."

"That's right, that's the ingenuity of my strategy! When Little Dog Pu sees that I've killed Chen Shuangran's people, he'll definitely trust me even more. As for Demoness Chen, she's involved in the underworld, so it doesn't count as burning bridges. If she needs something done, she should try her best to win me over next time... This time, I'll eat both the plaintiff and the defendant. Heh, I must show those little dogs of the Zuo family some color. Let them look down on me..."

"I feel like we're going to offend everyone in the city."

"What does it matter?" Ning Ji raised his chin, then turned to look at Qu Longjun, his smug face calming down, "Actually... don't worry, it'll be fine, actually..."

The sunlight fell from between the trees. He hesitated for a moment.

It had been two years since he first met Qu Longjun in Chengdu. They had experienced strange partings and reunions. The girl who had been confused under her cold shell had become resilient and clear. They had also learned much about each other. Now, only some of the original things remained unsaid.

"...Wait... in a few days, I have some family matters... I want to tell you about..."

"...Okay."

The alley was deserted. They held hands and walked forward.

On the other side of the city, the carriage drove slowly, Cheng Zhouhai listening quietly to the person opposite him.

…

After buying some food in the market to fill their stomachs, they returned to the small courtyard in Huaiyun Ward. Qu Longjun brought clear water and asked Ning Ji to take off his shirt to treat the injuries on his body and face.

As a military doctor, Ning Ji had already dealt with some of the larger wounds. Qu Longjun was learning about this, and almost shed tears when she saw several knife wounds on his back. Ning Ji didn't care and pulled her into his arms to comfort her for a while. Then, the two of them hugged on the bed and talked for a while.

On a summer afternoon, a rare cool breeze blew in through the window. Qu Longjun told him about her heartache and worry. Although she had seen many things and was mentally prepared, she still felt heartache when she saw him injured. He also said some stupid things to her, saying that even though he had experienced many similar things, it still hurt a lot to be beaten into a pig's head. The words of young men and women in love were always foolish but also clear. They were not very nutritious, but only they would remember them for the rest of their lives.

They calmed down while nestled together.

During a kiss, some things almost happened, but Ning Ji held back and said, "In a few days... I have something to tell you..." Qu Longjun also bit her lip and nodded: "...Okay."

When he left the room, although his heart was calm and peaceful, his heart was beating incredibly fast. Ning Ji took several deep breaths in a row. When he went back to look, he saw the girl on the bed was also pursing her lips, looking at him with clear eyes.

"I'll be back soon..." he whispered.

There were still some things to do in the afternoon.

After the fight involving Tunyun, Fan Zhong, and Tie Tianying, the events that happened at Heyun Pond in the morning had begun to ferment. Pu Xingui should have gradually received specific news, so as an "ally," Ning Ji could meet him again to discuss the next steps, and even about Zuo Xingzhou. If the conversation went smoothly, Ning Ji could also indirectly inquire about him.

He left Huaiyun Ward and went to the agreed-upon teahouse, leaving a message.

As the time approached You-shi (5-7 PM), a cool breeze blew through the seaside city, and a magnificent sunset was spreading from afar. Ning Ji sat in the teahouse, thinking about his relationship with Qu Longjun.

As a military doctor and someone with experience, he naturally knew what would happen next, and he had already made a decision: he wanted to marry her. As an honest young man, he didn't want this to happen rashly again—his relationship with Yu Xiaoer still lingered in his heart like a shadow. This time, he had to do it seriously.

He also had to tell her clearly about his parents and family background. He had known for a long time about her purpose in going to the Southwest, but at that time she had been forced by Wen Shoubin. He would tell her that these things didn't matter anymore, that he had no grudges, and that his parents and brothers were all good people and easy to talk to. All problems could be explained clearly in the future.

He had to buy some food to bring back.

He had already left a message, but Pu Xingui's people had not yet arrived. Perhaps he could meet them in Silver Bridge Ward tonight... Ning Ji thought about these things and stood up from the teahouse. From afar, he heard a loud "Boom—" from within the city.

Gunfire?

How rare...

Ning Ji looked out towards the distance from the teahouse. After a while, he pinpointed the location where the smoke was rising and frowned.

Boom, Boom—

There were two more startling gunshots—

Ning Ji's figure moved suddenly. He rushed out of the teahouse window, leaping onto the roof like an ape, and ran a few steps across the roof.

A blood-red sunset spread across the sky. The city's densely packed roofs stretched out into the distance, all the way to the distant Huaiyun Ward.

Sounds of fighting came from there, followed by another explosion...

What was happening...

Ning Ji's head shook, feeling dizzy.