Once again, remember [End of Book God Station] Mobile users, please enter the address:

The conflict between the Badao Camp and Bao Dao-yi lasted for the better part of the evening within the city. The Badao Camp burned down the White Deer Temple, rescuing over a hundred women. Although they didn't display them for long, it was a solid slap in the face to Bao Dao-yi. Search:\(¨End¨of¨Book¨God¨Station¨) for free access to quality literature.

That night, after the Badao Camp retreated to Willow Street, Bao Dao-yi commanded over five thousand men to surround it completely. However, the Badao Camp was also prepared, with barricades, chevaux-de-frise, swordsmen, and archers, ready for a showdown. The eight hundred elites, along with the families within the Badao Camp, made Bao Dao-yi hesitant to attack.

The advantage of women, or rather, unreasonable women, was fully utilized here. It is said in the Jianghu that those with bare feet fear not those with shoes. Bao Dao-yi used to be barefoot, but he had recently come ashore. Even when he was barefoot, women like Liu Xigua were the most troublesome opponents. She wasn't without attachments; the high-ranking members of Fang La's army knew she cared deeply for her Badao Camp subordinates. Because of this, she was willing to go all out when provoked. Perhaps it was due to Liu Dabiao's teachings that retreat brought no happiness. In the Jianghu, one could only fight desperately at all times. Liu Xigua was usually clever, but stubborn in this regard, remembering everything her father said.

In the past, the Badao Camp was content with its lot, having had minor conflicts with those around them. Even in incidents like the one with Qi Yuankang, everyone knew what she wanted. Only this time did Bao Dao-yi feel like he had suffered a great misfortune. Such things as murder, arson, and forced prostitution had happened more than once on this journey, so why did she suddenly intervene this time?

Several thousand people surrounded Willow Street with much fanfare and little action for over an hour. The few times blades were drawn were merely feigned attacks. Bao Dao-yi ultimately retained his rationality. His subordinates were indeed of mixed quality, but there were still elites among them. With such a large base, the Badao Camp would not have a chance of winning on the battlefield, but fighting to this point would throw Hangzhou into chaos. However, having been slapped in the face to this extent, Bao Dao-yi couldn't swallow his anger. Within half an hour of the street being surrounded, Bao Dao-yi's most elite troops had infiltrated Willow Street, resulting in several short but intense skirmishes.

The Badao Camp's reputation was originally made in the Green Forest, and it was close to a state of universal conscription. Those who managed to infiltrate were already established experts in the Jianghu. Their target was key figures in the Badao Camp, such as Liu Tiannan, for a joint assassination, hitting and running.

Perhaps because the Badao Camp, which they were to deal with, was too famous in the martial world, this group of martial artists under Bao Dao-yi had put away their arrogance. More than ten people acted and attacked together, retreating immediately if they failed to strike. The Badao Camp's manpower was temporarily stuck on the periphery, unable to concentrate. For nearly an hour afterward, they made a great commotion in Willow Street. Liu Tiannan and Du Sha joined forces to pursue them, but their encounters were only mutually advantageous, and two fires broke out on Willow Street.

"It was like this when we left, and it's like this when we come back... It's quite similar to when we were in Taiping Lane."

The voices were clamorous and bustling. The area of Willow Street – at least the area occupied by the Badao Camp – was much larger than Taiping Lane. The atmosphere of being surrounded by thousands of people wafted from afar, and the torches illuminated the distant sky above the street, with shouts, curses, and agitation. People ran past the courtyard from time to time, calling out to each other. Three months ago, the rebel army surrounded Hangzhou City, but now the enemy surrounded an entire street. Even though the enemy's presence was clearly visible, the tension it brought was not as unsettling as it had been three months earlier. Perhaps this was because they now understood the strength of the Badao Camp. The flickering of the flames only made the courtyard seem quieter. The light shone on the surrounding courtyard walls and the sycamore trees that had lost their leaves. The moon in the night sky was bright.

Ning Yi and Su Tan'er had been back in the small courtyard for a while. The plans they had previously made had been completely overturned. What would happen next? Both husband and wife had unspoken emotions in their hearts. Thinking back to their life in Jiangning, Su Tan'er, now four months pregnant, had been drawn into such an event again. She would probably be trapped in this rebel group for a long time, unable to escape, but… at least they were together.

Compared to the panic and anxiety when Hangzhou was besieged earlier, the people of Willow Street now held goodwill. After seeing the first round of conflict between the Badao Camp and Bao Dao-yi, they returned to Willow Street in a state of readiness. Liu Xigua had said something about "hosting a welcome feast for Sister-in-Law", but she was naturally too busy. However, many people still came to the door, mostly those who usually came to visit and thresh grain, like aunts and grandaunts. Hearing that Ning Yi's wife had arrived, they were curious and came to see her.

They first came as casual visitors, but as the situation in Willow Street gradually became tense, these women all carried swords and spears on their backs. Fang Shuchang, Ji Qian'er, and others also came to check several times. Ning Yi knew that they were worried about their side being affected by the fighting, or that Su Tan'er would be frightened, so they came to take care of them.

Even though they had come all the way from a dangerous situation, these people still had the same goodwill and simplicity towards their own. Since they came, Ning Yi didn't stand on ceremony. He asked some people to help move things and rearranged the rooms in the small courtyard. The courtyard itself was not large. The few family guards who came with Su Tan'er had to live in the neighboring academy. Besides his wife and the maid Juan'er, only Lu Hongti could be arranged to stay here. While things were tense outside, the small courtyard was bustling with activity, giving people a rather interesting feeling.

It didn't take long to tidy up a few rooms. Ning Yi asked Xiaochan and Juan'er to prepare food as a treat. Occasionally, someone would come over to talk about the situation outside, or mention that Liu Tiannan had killed two assassins with his palms, or that someone had been seriously injured, and then someone would hurry away. Although the courtyard was lively, not many people could truly relax. It was just that when things came to a head, even if they were anxious, it wouldn't help. Most of the people who came here were women, and there were also a few children. On the one hand, they were naturally worried about Ning Yi's safety, and on the other hand, this place was close to the Badao Camp's main residence, where the most people gathered. Everyone gathering together was a force.

After more than an hour of confrontation outside, Fang La, who had been driven out of the palace, finally came out to mediate. The group of experts sent by Bao Dao-yi had already fought their way out of Willow Street. Just based on this exchange, no one had gained much advantage. The outcome of the negotiations there was unknown, but as things calmed down, the streets and alleys were filled with the sounds of the aftermath. The small courtyard quieted down, and torches flashed from time to time outside, accompanied by the voices of people talking. Footsteps moved around, and the couple finally had some time to themselves.

"It's better than Taiping Lane. The people are quite easy to get along with. We'll really have to settle down for a while..."

Standing under the eaves and feeling the movements outside, Ning Yi held his wife's hand, feeling a little emotional. Su Tan'er was only four months pregnant, and although her belly was slightly protruding, it wasn't too noticeable under her black winter dress. She held Ning Yi's hand and smiled.

"During that time in Huzhou, I was always wondering how my husband was doing. Looking back, we aren't important figures. When we were in Jiangning, my husband was a teacher, telling stories and playing chess. I was thinking about small things in the family business, and we lived day by day. But after coming to Hangzhou, why did we get involved in these things? Thinking about it, it feels like a dream, but when I woke up, I was alone in Huzhou..."

She swayed Ning Yi's hand, feeling somewhat accepting of the things before her, but some of her feelings were too private. As she spoke, her cheeks became slightly flushed. "My husband may not know how I felt at that time, but when I decided to come, although it was a bit impulsive, I had thought it over carefully before coming. I had thought about some things, but I still wanted to come... Now, it's a very good outcome."

After saying this, she looked at Ning Yi. After a moment, she took a deep breath, raised her head slightly, and regained her usual cold and elegant expression as a leader. The arm that was close to Ning Yi flipped over, revealing something in her palm. Ning Yi looked and saw a silver-sheathed dagger.

The two were standing under the eaves, and there were still people who could see them. Su Tan'er looked at Ning Yi without saying anything. Ning Yi took the dagger, and after a moment, smiled slightly, feeling a mixture of emotions in his heart. Su Tan'er's personality was somewhat similar to his, but no matter how rational or calm she usually was, this woman who had become his wife was still just a nineteen-year-old girl, and her loves and hates were equally strong.

After a long silence, Ning Yi said, "Don't worry." He said nothing more. In the house not far away, Lu Hongti was studying trebuchets and windmills. Xiaochan and Juan'er were whispering in the kitchen, probably catching up. Juan'er would occasionally peek her head out to look this way, and then nervously say something to Xiaochan, who would frown and shake her head. After a while, Liu Tiannan knocked on the courtyard door to check on Ning Yi's situation. A little later, Chen Fan also came to take a look. He had accompanied Liu Xigua to see Fang La. The confrontation outside should have dissipated. When he talked about meeting Fang La, he shrugged his shoulders.

"The boss stepped in, so what else could happen? Today, everyone can only go back to their own homes and find their own mothers. But as for mediation, it's useless. Bao Dao-yi is also crazy, and that little woman named Dabiao has also lost her mind. One threatened to poison the water in the Badao Camp and kill everyone, and the other drew her knife and slashed wildly. I don't know if she was pretending or not. The Holy Duke took her knife, but she kept rushing up. If Commander Li wasn't there, we would have seen her Little Vajra Linked Fists again tonight..."

"How did it become like this?" Ning Yi laughed, "Pretending, right?"

Chen Fan chuckled, "She got mad after being called Big Watermelon a hundred times. Who knows if it's real, but it doesn't matter anyway... Oh, it's getting late. You and Sister-in-Law should rest early. The welcome feast will have to wait until tomorrow."

It was indeed getting late, but it was naturally impossible to rest right away. Ning Yi chatted with Lu Hongti about the situation in the Badao Camp for a while, while Su Tan'er chatted with Xiaochan, whom she had not seen for a long time. When the night was deeper, when the now small family reunited in the room, Xiaochan poured tea for Su Tan'er in front of the specially lit red candles. Ning Yi didn't like the custom of kneeling and bowing in the family, but Xiaochan seemed to like it. She and Su Tan'er were originally as close as sisters. It was late, and everyone participating in this simple ceremony spoke softly. Xiaochan originally called her "Sister," then "Sister Tan'er," feeling that it was a little more natural. After getting up, she changed back to "Miss," awkwardly changing back and forth. Juan'er was the only witness to this ceremony.

After the concubine-taking ceremony, Xiaochan finally became... a couple... with her long-admired Miss…

That night, Xiaochan slept with Su Tan'er, while Ning Yi spent the night alone, finding the irony of the situation amusing.

When he woke up in the middle of the night, there were still torches patrolling the alleys of Willow Street. The moonlight shone down, as if to illuminate everything into daylight. The light shone in through the window, and the objects in the room were clearly visible. As he picked up the teacup to drink water, he remembered that the teacup had been sent by Lou Shuwan not long ago. This brief realization brought him a moment of absent-mindedness, but soon, he put it out of his mind...

Many things had happened, from the earthquake three months ago to the subsequent siege of the city by the rebel army, all the way to escaping, fighting for a chance of survival, to being captured and developing what had come. Now, the imperial army was about to press down, the atmosphere of the impending storm and the tension of drawn swords. Inside and outside Hangzhou, the torrent formed by these many people would probably become a part of history. Tan'er had returned here and could not leave, but the problem should not be too big. The movable pieces had already been placed. Afterward, it was just a time of waiting for the results. Besides getting by within the Badao Camp, there shouldn't be much for him to participate in.

That was what he thought during that brief moment of reflection by the window that night...

*************

I watched a movie a few days ago, and then I couldn't write the plot. The movie is called "Cloud Atlas," with several interlocking stories spanning thousands of years of history, perfectly expressing a theme. It's really amazing, breathtaking... After watching it, I immediately wanted to write something. There haven't been many movies in recent years that have inspired creativity, like "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," like "Seediq Bale," but after watching them, I always feel that what I'm writing now is too bad. I discovered some problems, so I reworked the ending line of the third volume... In short, I recommend this movie. (To be continued.) Vote for recommendations and monthly passes. Your support is my greatest motivation.)

Support (End of Book God Station) Share this site with those who need it! Leave a message if you can't find a book!