Year 2 of Wu Zhenxing, September 21st, the day that would decide the future of Jiangnan.

After He Wen, Zhou Shang, and others left, there were many more arguments.

But none of them mattered anymore.

As the Shen hour drew to a close, approaching evening, the semi-finals of the city's martial arts tournament had already ceased. According to the planned schedule, the top four were decided. In the meeting place of the Fairness Party congress, some people overturned tables and chairs in the midst of arguments, while others threw papers into the fire to burn them, adding another pillar of smoke to the greyish-white city.

In the courtyard where they had been waiting to convene the meeting, Meng Zhu Tao entered the hall and saw Chen Jue Fang, Gao Hui Yun, Tan Zheng, Xu Long Biao, and others already seated there.

"The Fairness King is mad."

Chen Jue Fang spread out his hands and stated this conclusion.

Meng Zhu Tao pulled out a seat and sat down. Some people in the courtyard were speaking loudly, while more remained silent.

Someone said, "He refuses to negotiate and is preparing for war."

Few had expected that the Fairness King would actually refuse to negotiate.

The so-called Five-Party Alliance, no matter what charter it ultimately agreed upon, the important thing was that everyone would agree before taking action. As long as they were willing to talk, there was hope for the alliance.

He Wen had put forward a whole set of reform proposals, putting forward countless chapters that looked harsh but could be negotiated in terms of implementation. But before negotiating, he demanded that the other four parties immediately cease their actions regarding the Reading Society.

Only on this matter did he want to directly promote it in the form of an order.

The other four families are now cracking down on the Reading Society. At this critical juncture, if the Fairness King's words were to count, it would simultaneously slap the faces of the other four families. While establishing a huge authority for his Fairness King, the Reading Society's momentum of seizing power by relying on the influence of the Southwest would also be supported and indulged.

More importantly, if everyone compromised once, what if he was strong every time in the future? Could everyone still compromise?

Zhou Shang overturned the table.

……

"...You're completely mad."

In the study behind the side of the venue, near a pond, the atmosphere gradually quieted down. After the noise of the main venue, He Wen, Gao Chang, Xu Zhao Nan, Shi Bao Feng, Zhou Shang, and others had all come to this place again by tacit agreement.

This was more like a private, final meeting... or a final effort.

"It's this world that's mad."

Amid Zhou Shang's accusations, He Wen, standing by the window, tapped on the window lattice, looking at the scenery outside and speaking softly.

"Was this the plan from the beginning?"

"What?"

"This congress from the beginning, was this the plan? You want to be the only one calling the shots?"

"...Everyone knows the problems of the Fairness Party. If they can't be solved, they're doomed anyway. Either we all die together, or... you die. What's so hard to choose?" He Wen's gaze was cold.

"I don't see that there's much of a problem."

"Others are more powerful than you. Your weakness is the problem."

"...Who's weak?"

"We're weak." He Wen spread out his hands. "Throughout Jiangnan, tens of millions of people all have the banner of Fairness above their heads, but in reality, they're just a bunch of hoodlums. If you let them burn, kill, and loot, they shout fairness and swarm forward. If you let them farm, will they go? If you tell them not to kill indiscriminately, will they listen? Orders are not carried out, and prohibitions are not stopped. You're only imposing in front of Wu Qi Mei, Liu Guang Shi, and those kinds of people. If the Jurchens come again, they'll still dig up your ancestral graves and kill your entire family."

Xu Zhao Nan's eyes twitched slightly: "Even knowing these things... can't we negotiate?"

"How many times have we negotiated? Do you listen?" He Wen smiled. "According to the current way of negotiating, everyone sends dozens of people to form some kind of congress, and the five of us form a presidium, slowly fighting, interfering with each other, and tripping each other up. If I want to handle something, you plead for mercy. If you want to handle someone, I'll stop you... What kind of dogshit can we unite? Orders must be carried out and prohibitions must be stopped. This is the only requirement. Can we do it if we can? Can you make sure you don't kill indiscriminately? Didn't you turn against me then?"

"That sounds very nice." Shi Bao Feng poured tea on the side. "Then Fairness King, you should tell me, why should everyone listen to you? Why can't they listen to me, Shi Bao Feng? If all four of you listen to me, wouldn't that also be able to ensure that orders are carried out and prohibitions are stopped."

Zhou Shang pointed at Shi Bao Feng.

He Wen shook his head: "It's not about listening to anyone, it's about listening to what's right. Whoever can solve the problem, listen to them. The Southwest has a solution to these problems of the Fairness Party, why not listen? What you care about is the power in your hands, you care about who you're listening to. Even if it can solve the problem, as long as you're not the one being listened to, you won't agree. Which of you isn't like this?" He sat down in his seat: "Alright, I don't need you, I'll do it myself."

"I'm not like that." Zhou Shang confessed, "My path is the right one. Forgive me for speaking frankly, but you're all idiots."

He Wen was too lazy to pay attention to him, and the others didn't respond. Shi Bao Feng made the tea and smiled as he looked at the teacup.

"No matter what, we're all heroes and chivalrous men, gathering together. He Gong, if we can't reach an agreement today, we'll start fighting as soon as we go out. The whole world will laugh at us. To be honest, I'm very sad."

"What kind of heroes are we?" He Wen laughed. "Ning Yi like that is a hero, Qin Si Yuan, Li Gang, Zong Ze like that are heroes, Wanyan Aguda, Wanyan Zong Han are heroes, we're just a bunch of hoodlums, bandits, rising with the times, unable to establish our own roots, scattering sooner or later."

"...That's how it's been throughout the dynasties."

"Ning Yi has taken a new path."

"Can he make it? Even he doesn't have the guts to say so."

"Taking the old path isn't about swarming forward like this."

"The old path involves negotiation... He Wen, you're becoming estranged from everyone."

"...You see, who can convince whom?"

The aroma of tea filled the room. The people in front of the table looked at each other, their words gradually showing signs of fatigue, but they all laughed. He Wen held the small cup of hot tea in his hands.

"I'm serious, can't you let go a little?" he said, "The Southwest has already promised that it will support me in reforming the Fairness Party. Ning Yi is a madman, he's keen to see us make such reforms. His attitude towards Old Niu Tou, towards Jin Di, towards the Southeast, and even towards Dai Meng Wei, you can all see it... Put down the power in your hands, don't run the kind of loose sand thing in your hands anymore. We've harmed Jiangnan badly enough, can't we do some real work?"

He paused: "If you nod, I'll bring the people from the Hua Xia Army to see you."

Gao Chang tilted his head: "So sincere, why not bring people to see us first."

He Wen said: "To do difficult things, you must have the determination to take risks."

Xu Zhao Nan said: "We give up our power and go under you, and then we'll be at your mercy. If you were me, what would you do?"

He Wen looked at him: "That's why I don't want to keep negotiating... But, Xu Gong, let's make an agreement about the future. If one day you suddenly want to do some good, consider it?"

"Can't I do it myself?" Xu Zhao Nan smiled.

Shi Bao Feng drank the tea in his hand in one gulp: "My son lost an arm, He Wen, I originally thought... forcing you to express your position on the Reading Society was a good thing for the Fairness Party... my son, he lost an arm."

"Your son is a waste." He Wen looked at him. "Shi Bao Feng, you look at my mouth and listen carefully, your son is a waste. You want to fight, you can fight however you want, but your son is a waste, he doesn't concern me."

The teacup in Shi Bao Feng's hand suddenly flew over. He Wen waved his hand, and the teacup flew to the side of the room, smashing into pieces.

Zhou Shang pinched the teacup with two fingers, looked at it for a moment, then raised his head and looked at Shi Bao Feng.

"Your son is a waste." He said, word by word, then turned his head and opened his mouth, but for a moment there was no sound. After a while, everyone heard him say:

"...This world is rotten."

He stood up, turned and went out. The other four sat there without moving. On the round table, except for Shi Bao Feng who poured himself a cup of tea and drank it, the remaining four cups of tea were also untouched. The hot air from the teacups rose slightly, mixing with the pale light that came in when Zhou Shang opened the door.

The buzzing sound in the distance came like a tide, and footsteps went out.

...War has begun.

……

Late autumn, evening, the pale daylight was gradually fading away, leaving the rule of this world to the encroaching darkness.

Near the meeting place, by the side of the street, Ning Ji was listening to gossip from the martial arts tournament among the crowd, when he suddenly sensed an unusual atmosphere around him.

The meeting had ended, and some carriages left the long street one after another, and leaving with them were a large number of guards or sentries from various forces. For some reason, the atmosphere of this adjournment seemed particularly unusual.

In the teahouses and taverns by the street, some people were related to the attendees and immediately went to inquire about the news. Then, the atmosphere of agitation surged in the pale daylight.

"Something's happened..."

"He Wen and..."

"They've broken face..."

"This matter is going to blow up..."

Waves of whispering and secret conversations. Large numbers of pedestrians began to leave hurriedly in different directions, like the first wave of retreating tide. Ning Ji listened to a few sentences and then tried to go to a high place to check the direction that Shi Bao Feng's convoy chose.

There were several streets leaving from this meeting place, and each king would try to choose a different road each time.

However, it was also troublesome to go to a high place. At this time, the sentries and guards from all sides had arranged manpower to patrol on the roofs. Some of the sharpshooters, even if they couldn't beat him, still had an advantage in terms of eyesight. He lingered around for a while, considering countermeasures.

After a while, the sound of fighting rang out in the night in the distance. Ning Ji listened for a while, then saw the rising fireworks, and someone was also warning in the distance.

"The King of Equality has been assassinated—"

There are comrades?

Ning Ji was slightly stunned, then went towards the direction of the commotion. If the assassination was only half done and these assassins had failed, he didn't mind joining in halfway and doing something big.

However, the fierce assassination only lasted for a moment. Ning Ji ran halfway and realized that the momentum belonging to the King of Equality was becoming more and more stable. Then, the guards and experts belonging to the King of Equality began to appear up and down the nearby streets and everywhere. Their expressions were no longer anxious, and they probably had a grasp of the situation.

Ning Ji couldn't go to a high place, and walked against the chaotic crowd along the hidden corner of the street for a distance. When he reached the corner of the street in front, the chaotic sound had come to an end. Through the gap between the soldiers guarding the street, he saw blood all over the long street in the distance. Five or six figures were being controlled and knelt on the street. Shi Bao Feng's figure walked in front of these people, waving his knife and beheading them on the ground.

"Kill me—"

"With you, you also want to kill me—"

"He Wen! Why don't you come yourself—"

With his inner strength forced out, Shi Bao Feng roared in the last ray of autumn sunshine, and darkness swept across the long street, engulfing him. Only then did Ning Ji realize that Shi Bao Feng's martial arts were actually not bad.

He grinded his teeth and turned to leave.

The other party was prepared, so there was no chance of assassination at this time.

But what exactly happened at today's congress?

After walking far away, he had time to recall what had happened earlier. About the rift between the five fools of the Fairness Party, rumors were spreading in the city every day. A few days ago, it was also said that they had broken up, what happened today? Did they break up again?

Night had fallen, and there were all kinds of pedestrians on the street. Some were running in a hurry, some were sneaking around, piles of garbage emitted a stench by the side of the street, and the surrounding dark alleys had the stench of corpses after someone died. The city seemed to be in its death throes and was about to be beyond saving.

Having lost the opportunity to assassinate, Ning Ji also felt somewhat at a loss as to what to do next. What should he do next? Go find some medicine? The surrounding clinics had already run out... He passed through half the city in a faint din. Surprisingly, no one came to make trouble for him, so he couldn't possibly take the opportunity to beat someone up. Thus, he returned to the road near the Wu Hu Inn and walked towards the familiar low bridge.

Under the bridge hole, there was a faint, orange flame. The little monk was not staying by the fire, but standing on the river beach outside the bridge hole, looking strangely into the bridge hole, and also paying attention to the situation on the bridge. Ning Ji's eyes met his, and the little monk's eyes were slightly compassionate, without saying anything.

Ning Ji walked across the low bridge and looked into the distance from above the low bridge. In the darkness, the outline of the ancient city seemed to have become a little better-looking, and those flames that had been lit looked like orange lanterns above the outline. He went down from the riverbank. In the bridge hole, Xue Jin was holding the woman's body, making slight cries, so Ning Ji went over and squatted down, reaching out to touch the side of the woman's neck.

Only a little residual warmth remained on the corpse.

"Ah ah ah ah ah..."

Xue Jin opened his mouth with only a few missing teeth, crying weakly and sadly.

Ning Ji looked at him.

"She's dead..."

He wanted to say this sentence as calmly as possible.

But for some reason, he couldn't do it.

……

In the dark night, fireworks rose up...

Those were the fireworks arrow tokens used by various forces as warnings, which had been rising frequently recently.

For some reason, Ning Ji remembered the scene when he first saw this couple.

It was the night of the fifteenth of August. Xue Jin brought back the food he had begged for, and they leaned weakly together on the riverbank, facing the dark night, waiting for the fireworks to rise again.

"They...will still release them..."

At that moment, they were facing a pitch-black night, looking forward to it so yearningly...