"Where are you going..."

The gentle voice of Shi Weiyang echoed above the teahouse in deep autumn. Several men armed with knives and guns came up from below, seemingly casually approaching some of the remaining tea drinkers. They patted them on the shoulder, politely left some silver, and gestured for them to leave with open hands and smiles. Some customers looked around in confusion before gradually getting up and heading downstairs. A few glanced at Yan Yunzhi before leaving, but ultimately, no one said a word.

Large and small-scale Jianghu vendettas were not uncommon in Jiangning City at this time. The hall downstairs remained noisy, and the streets bustled as usual. Chrysanthemums bloomed in golden hues in the late autumn. Yan Yunzhi watched the people leaving and also looked at the situation on the street below. In her view, a figure picked up a fishing net and threw it at someone across the street, who caught it with a hand. More people had already formed a circle.

She slowly inhaled, trying to calm herself.

"To...get to this point," Shi Weiyang slowly began, "...do you know how many people the Shi family... mobilized, how many things they did, how much silver they spent, just to...make up for my momentary recklessness?"

Yan Yunzhi frowned slightly. She saw Shi Weiyang tap the table with his fingers, then press his hands on the surface and stand up.

"Miss Yan, do you know that my Shi family was never a prominent household? Before Jingping, my father was just a small镖头 (Biao Tou, escort) running business in the Northern green forest. Ten years after the Wu Dynasty moved south, my family seized the opportunity and accumulated some small capital. It was also because my father built up some connections during those ten years that the rise of the Fair Trade Party (公平党) in the last two years became possible..."

Yan Yunzhi stood by the railing of the teahouse window. Shi Weiyang spoke slowly, also moving towards the window. His fingers trembled slightly as he tapped on the railing.

"I know that the Yan family is in a similar situation. Your Uncle Taiwei and the Yan family's old heroes once traveled in Bianliang and received guidance from Old Hero Zhou. But ultimately, you were just outer disciples of the Royal Boxing Gym. If the Jurchens hadn't invaded south, turning the world upside down, your family would have continued practicing martial arts, and mine would have continued running镖 (Biao, escort business), and neither of us would have achieved what we have today."

Shi Weiyang looked at Yan Yunzhi, seeming to want to move closer. Yan Yunzhi raised the short sword in her hand: "What do you want to say?"

Shi Weiyang smiled, raising both hands and taking a step back: "I, Weiyang, want to say that before this, you and I may not have seen much of the world. Although I have the support of my elders and have been able to show my face in front of everyone for a while, I am, after all, just a纨绔子弟 (wan ku zi di, a spoiled son of a rich family). These past few days, I have been awakened by Brother Wu Chennan, and I am shocked. Therefore, I have carefully reflected on some of my previous actions. Miss Yan, I was reckless and dissolute in my drunkenness that day, and I did...extremely shallow things that made you angry. I am here to formally apologize to you."

After formally saying this, he clasped his hands and bowed deeply to Yan Yunzhi. Yan Yunzhi's gaze was slightly confused. She almost didn't know what to say to Shi Weiyang's behavior. She took a breath and hesitated for a long time before looking around at the arrangements on the street.

"You...apologize to me, is this...your attitude of apologizing?"

"What?" Shi Weiyang straightened up, saw Yan Yunzhi's gaze, then turned to look at the street. His gaze was calm. "These people are naturally to prevent Miss Yan from running away again."

"So, when you apologize to someone...you never allow them to refuse?"

Yan Yunzhi raised her short sword and smiled coldly. Shi Weiyang looked at her seriously, then turned his body towards the street, pressing his hands on the railing.

"Miss Yan," he said, "I, Weiyang, am apologizing to you because in the past few days, I have reflected on my actions, which were truly not right. But I also said just now that the situation of the Yan family is similar to that of my Shi family. I, Shi Weiyang, was reckless and shallow before, but Miss Yan, have you ever thought about what kind of person you are? What are you here to do in Jiangning?"

He tapped his fingers on the railing, looking forward: "...You are the daughter of the Yan family, coming from afar to marry into my Shi family. This so-called marriage is a joint effort between the Shi and Yan families. Not to mention the millions of people in the Shi family in Jiangnan, this matter is related to hundreds and thousands of people in your Yan Family Fortress alone. Miss Yan, is this matter only related to you and me?"

His slightly reddened eyes looked at Yan Yunzhi: "I said just now, do you know how much risk we took, how many things we did, how many people we mobilized, and how much silver we spent to push things to this point? Today I apologize to you, and you turn around and leave. Do you know how many things will be delayed, how many people will be affected because of this?"

In the deep autumn sunlight, Shi Weiyang's words were calm, but they rang with determination. Yan Yunzhi didn't speak. Shi Weiyang paused.

"...I know that you secretly ran away that day, and then the Shi family still gave your Yan family preferential treatment. In your opinion, this may be a sigh of relief, or perhaps you have taken advantage of the situation. You don't have to get married, and the business that my Shi family promised to give you will still be done. But...do you think such business can last?"

"...Miss Yan, have you ever thought that the Shi family, who has suffered a loss in silence, may find a way to get back at you sooner or later?"

"...Miss Yan, have you ever thought that on the day when the Yan and Shi families have another friction, you and I will not be in the middle, but there will be today's discord in Jiangning. Who will suffer then?"

"...Miss Yan, have you ever thought that one day, because of your momentary impulse, how much suffering will the people of your Yan family endure! How much will they lose!?"

His palm slammed on the railing with a bang.

The autumn sunlight was solemn. Passersby on the road looked up at this side in confusion. By the railing, Yan Yunzhi didn't speak. Shi Weiyang also remained silent for a moment, feeling the atmosphere of this moment.

After a while, he said softly: "Miss Yan, you killed the Jin dogs at the age of fifteen. I respect you as a heroine. I called them over, first for my own sake, and second for your sake. This matter concerns the future of our two families. We cannot be willful. Even if you only consider the affairs of your Yan family, you should be responsible. Look, you have nothing to say, because you know that I am right..."

He pointed at himself and was about to move closer to Yan Yunzhi. When Yan Yunzhi raised her short sword again, he shook his head with a sigh. Yan Yunzhi stared at him and then said: "My...my cousin? Why is he helping you?"

"...I almost forgot about this." When Yan Yunzhi mentioned this, Shi Weiyang smiled slightly and then waved his hand, "Bring him out."

A side door on the teahouse opened, and after a moment, someone was dragged out of it. It was a figure covered in blood. A piece of his scalp had been shaved off, and his body was covered in traces of torture. When she saw the man's right arm, Yan Yunzhi suddenly covered her mouth, her stomach churning. At this moment, she was not intimidated by the bloody smell, but because the man on the ground was a relative and friend she had known since childhood. His right hand was bandaged, but it was clearly shorter by a section - his right hand had been chopped off.

"Don't misunderstand. Cousin is a very tough person. He really endured for a long time before betraying you..."

...

The autumn wind was bleak, and the sunlight poured down.

Up and down the teahouse, the tea drinkers seemed to have slowly left. She could vaguely hear the sound of someone closing the door panels. In the bloody smell, Yan Yunzhi saw the man on the ground twitching slightly. Shi Weiyang's calm voice sounded in her ear, comforting her softly.

"Don't misunderstand. Cousin is a very tough person. He really endured for a long time before betraying you..." Shi Weiyang babbled in front of her, "Because time is tight, the torture was a little rushed...Miss Yan, you know? Second Uncle Yan is truly an old Jianghu figure. He discovered my plan after he woke up and then asked Cousin Yan Rong to come out and leave a mark, fearing that you would be caught. So we caught Cousin..."

"We caught him in the morning, when it was almost dawn. Everyone thought about it. This plan had to be done before the afternoon, so we hoped Cousin Yan Rong would cooperate with us. Cousin is truly tough. I admire him. He was beaten very badly, but he didn't say a word. Later, even his fingernails were picked off. There was no other way. Later...the group of guys who tortured him were truly vicious. They threatened to chop off Cousin's most important thing. I said don't chop it off at the beginning, in case Cousin regrets it later. So...I helped plead for him. Those guys said, let's try chopping off one hand first. So...only one hand was chopped off."

Shi Weiyang gave a thumbs up: "Miss Yan, Cousin could hold on until here. He is truly a hero. I admire his loyalty. I must compensate him well in the future..."

Yan Yunzhi's eyes were red, and she suddenly stared at him: "You did such a thing! And you still expect someone to marry you!?"

Yan Yunzhi's voice was fierce, but the next moment, an even fiercer voice suddenly came from Shi Weiyang's mouth.

"Why! Can't! You! Just! Understand!?"

He stomped one foot on the floorboard and pointed at Yan Yunzhi, shouting decisively: "Is this a matter between you and me!? Is this just a matter for Cousin's family!? Think about how many people are in your Yan Family Fortress! Think about how many people are in the Shi family! If you can't figure it out, look at how many people are here today! Just because of my recklessness and your momentary willfulness, how many people are you going to harm!? Being able to bring you back, Cousin will be happy!"

In this roaring voice, Shi Weiyang's left hand stretched towards the bloody figure on the ground. Then he took a step over and suddenly grabbed the other person's hair, shouting: "Cousin! You are happy! Aren't you?"

The bloody man named Yan Rong twitched on the ground. Shi Weiyang released him and turned to Yan Yunzhi: "Look! Come and listen! He says he is happy! Do you know why he is happy..."

The sword light in Yan Yunzhi's hand flashed towards Shi Weiyang. She unleashed this sword in anger, and the pace under her feet suddenly rushed forward three steps. The precision and speed were controlled like a phantom. However, Shi Weiyang hardly made any movements. A long sword swept past his side and blocked the short sword. A lightning-like sword light swept towards Yan Yunzhi.

Yan Yunzhi's pace suddenly stopped and retreated three steps. Her back leaned directly against the railing by the corner window. The sword light in front did not stop and instantly pointed towards the pulse gate of her wrist. Yan Yunzhi's wrist turned, and the sword tip suddenly pressed against her throat. The sword light also retreated in an instant.

Shi Weiyang's roar continued.

"...Because he knows that his family will have a good life! Because Cousin is a person who understands the big picture!"

The exchange of three steps just now was like an illusion, but a figure with long hair was already standing between Yan Yunzhi and Shi Weiyang. The long sword in this person's hand was like a pool of clear water, and his eyes were cold. One look and you could tell he was an expert. If Yan Yunzhi hadn't suddenly held the sword tip against her throat, she would probably have been subdued by the other person just now.

Shi Weiyang took a breath and then reached out and patted the shoulder of the sword-wielding man: "This is the famous 'One-Word Lightning Sword' Jiang Bing..."

Then he patted a burly man beside him: "This is 'Dragon Sabre' Xiang Dasong..."

"This is 'White Mountain Palm' Qian Zhuoying, the leader of the Qian Zhuoying School..."

"...The one in front is 'Bull Demon' Xu Batian..."

"...'Soul-Stunning Hand' Fan Hen..."

"...'White Shura' He Qin Zhao..."

"...'Fifteen Strings' Yu Ci, Old Master Yu..."

"...And the ones downstairs..."

The people on the teahouse holding different weapons were separated in various places. Some were sitting and drinking tea, and some were standing with their hands behind their backs. Shi Weiyang introduced their nicknames and names one by one. Yan Yunzhi's eyes were red, but she could only hold the short sword against her throat.

"...So you still don't understand that this is not just a matter for the two of us? This involves the Yan family's affairs, the Shi family's affairs, and the matters related to the face of my Shi family! Miss Yan, you rushed to Jiangning and slapped my Shi family in the face. Did you think this matter could be easily settled like this? In the end, it's like this! As long as you come back, you will be fine, I will be fine, everyone will be fine. In the future, our two families can cooperate for a long time, and Cousin's efforts will be worth it!"

He walked two steps towards Yan Yunzhi, and Jiang Bing, the "One-Word Lightning Sword," also slowly moved forward. Yan Yunzhi said: "Don't come over!"

Shi Weiyang spread his hands: "What can you do? Will you kill yourself? Have you ever thought about what will happen if you kill yourself? Second Master Yan already knows about my plan. Cousin has been made into this state. If you go back with me today, the Shi and Yan families will join forces in the future. Today's matter can be glossed over. I will compensate Cousin, compensate you. Everything can be treated as if it never happened. But if you die here, the faces of the Shi and Yan families will not be able to be salvaged. No one can turn a blind eye. My Shi family will get a bad reputation, but none of the people from your Yan family will be able to leave Jiangning. They will all die here. Have you ever thought about it!?"

"...Look, you have nothing to say. Why? Because you know that I have a point!"

Shi Weiyang stomped his feet. Yan Yunzhi's eyes were red. At this moment, she did find that she had lost all her trump cards.

"...You're not afraid...that I'll kill you in the future."

"Haha, you are a woman, unwilling to live your own life. What do I have to be afraid of?" Shi Weiyang laughed, "Miss Yan, I said, you are a heroine. I respect you and love you. I will be good to you after we get married. But if you want to do it, then do it. I will tie you up with chains! Tie you to the bed every day! If you want to do it again, I will break your legs! But don't be afraid, the Yan family and the Shi family are going to form an alliance. The people of your Yan Family Fortress will have a good life. Do you know why? Because I have reformed and am now a person who understands the big picture--"

As he said these words, the air seemed to exude an intoxicating aura. On the ground beside him, the man named Yan Rong, who had been beaten into a bloody mess, suddenly let out a cry of "Ah--!" and actually fluttered slightly, lunging towards Shi Weiyang. Xiang Dasong, the saber wielder, pushed him away, causing him to roll on the ground. Shi Weiyang glanced at the side. Wu Chennan also frowned and kicked Yan Rong, then beckoned to the people around him to drag the prisoner up, making a gesture to continue torturing him.

"Stop--" Yan Yunzhi shouted.

"So today's matter, Miss Yan, this is how people who have reached this point do things. I have had Brother Wu's help these past few days, and I have understood it clearly. What can ordinary people do--"

Shi Weiyang spoke loudly, reaching out and patting Wu Chennan's shoulder, wanting to introduce his best friend to the woman. Wu Chennan was gesturing to the side, telling people to set up Yan Rong in an even more cruel manner. He faced Yan Yunzhi, revealing a refined smile: "Miss Yan, there's no way out today..."

His voice came to an abrupt halt here.

Something, at this moment, cut through the sky above the street. It came whistling from the restaurant across the road, shooting into the space of this teahouse. This thing flew past the front of Shi Weiyang's face, then brought up countless flesh and blood, violently flying. The strategist Wu Chennan's body fell out towards the other side of the teahouse, seemingly pulling his hand and flinging it to one side.

Shi Weiyang had just finished saying, "What can ordinary people do--," which made him have a movement of closing his eyes and sinking his body. After his hand甩 (shuai, fling) to the side, he suddenly looked to the side. It was a scene that he couldn't react to for a while, and it was strangely presented in front of him.

He was stunned for a while.

What flew over from across the street was a long bamboo pole with a sharp front end. It whistled through Wu Chennan's neck. Since the bamboo pole was very thick, this made his neck burst open like an explosion. Wu Chennan fell to the ground. The bamboo pole, carrying blood and minced meat, also pierced into the stomach of a guard, overturning several chairs and temporarily pinning the guard to the ground. Many parts of the bamboo pole had also burst open, turning into piercing bamboo pieces.

Red blood flew out a long path above the teahouse.

Shi Weiyang's fingers trembled. He couldn't understand.

It was as if Wu Chennan, who had been strategizing the moment before, could stand up again the next moment.

No matter what, he should stand up again...

He didn't know why, but his neck was gone...

...

There was hesitation and panic on the teahouse for a moment. In the sky above the street, a figure cut through the deep autumn sunlight, coming like a cannonball. Jiang Bing, the "One-Word Lightning Sword," held a long sword and greeted him--