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Old Bastard Dog got in touch with Guan Shanhai, and the villain Baldy got the wound medicine. Originally, it was thought that heinous deeds were about to be committed, but these people seemed to have contracted some kind of "gradual approach" disease, and the progress of the evil deeds seemed to be stuck in a stalemate afterward.

Old Bastard Dog attended banquets every day, enjoying himself, while Little Bastard Dog was locked in the courtyard, daydreaming all day long; the two villains surnamed Huang wholeheartedly participated in the martial arts competition, occasionally calling friends and inviting companions, and from a distance, it seemed that they wanted to participate in such and such "heroic gatherings" as written in the book—the book was written by my father, so what happened to your promise to do bad things?

Time flew by, and June passed in a blink of an eye. Ning Ji even clarified the residences of Huang Shan, Huang Jianfei, and others through stalking in his boredom, but the two groups of enemies were slacking off and had made no achievements in sabotage. Such efficiency left Ning Ji speechless, and the poker face he maintained at the martial arts arena every day almost became real.

As time went by, things in the world were of course progressing as well. By July, more and more foreign merchants, Confucian scholars, and martial artists had arrived, and the atmosphere in the city was bustling and lively. There were more and more people clamoring to show the Huaxia Army what's what, and several work teams of the surrounding Huaxia Army were also successively entering Chengdu.

On the second day of July, a conflict occurred at the southern end of the city. A fire broke out in the deep night, its cause unknown, and the raging flames reflected on the sky. It was a certain group of bandits who had launched an incident in the city. Ning Ji rushed over to help all the way, but when he arrived at the scene of the fire, all the bandits had either been killed or captured. The Huaxia Army patrol team responded extremely quickly. Two "martial arts heroes" were killed by the patrolling soldiers while stubbornly resisting.

This incident happened suddenly and was quelled quickly, but the waves it caused afterward were not small. On the evening of the third day, Ning Ji eavesdropped at Old Bastard Dog's place. Wen Shoushan was drinking and chatting with two trusted companions, lamenting the heroic feat of more than a dozen brave righteous men who fought to the death after being besieged by the Huaxia Army yesterday, while praising their actions for "figuring out the Huaxia Army's deployment and weaknesses in Chengdu." As long as these situations were clarified, more righteous men would take action next.

In the past twenty-odd days, Ning Ji had heard these kinds of words countless times, and finally he was able to suppress his anger and sneer. What a dozen brave righteous men being besieged and fighting to the death, a bunch of outlaws gathered to cause trouble, set fire to escape after being discovered, and then surrendered. Two masters met two patrol soldiers. In a two-on-two situation, life and death were decided in two face-to-face encounters. The patrol soldiers came from the battlefield. The opponents thought highly of themselves, and their martial arts were indeed good, so they couldn't hold back at all. They killed two of the opponents, and they themselves were slightly injured.

If it were a one-on-one situation, the outcome would be uncertain. A two-on-two situation became like this. If five people on each side rushed up, the Huaxia Army probably wouldn't have been injured. Ning Ji ran fast, and after arriving at the scene, he had a slight understanding. He didn't expect that in just one day, it had turned into such a rumor…

"...I heard that this incident has caused a great shock within the Huaxia Army. The fire burned, and the whole city was alarmed. Although they said they had caught a few people to the outside world, and the Huaxia Army suffered no losses, they actually had five dead and sixteen injured. The newspapers certainly didn't dare to say it, so they had to gloss over the truth..."

"...In any case, these righteous men are truly heroic. The traditions of our Wu Dynasty will not be destroyed, and there will naturally be heroes who will follow in their footsteps... Come, drink, cheers..."

"...Hey, I think that nowadays, we don't need to be limited to the traditions of this Wu Dynasty. Forgive me for speaking frankly, the reign of Jianshuo has only itself to blame..."

"...I can't bear to hear these words. How can we scholars forget the great principle of ruler and subject? Are you not a traitor from Wu Qimei's side..."

"...Who is the traitor, who is the traitor? The former Crown Prince, Jun Wu Jiangning, ascended the throne, and then abandoned the people of the entire city to escape. What's the difference between him and his father? The sages said, 'Let the prince be a prince, the minister a minister, the father a father, and the son a son.' Now that the prince is not like a prince, the minister is naturally not like a minister. These fathers and sons are quite similar. You talk about traditions, and I will argue with you. Are you talking about the traditions of one family and one surname, or the traditions that follow the teachings of the sages? What is the Great Way..."

"...You are talking nonsense and heresy, unworthy of being called someone who has read the sages' writings..."

"...I have a clear conscience—"

"...Hey, hey, hey, don't quarrel, don't quarrel... Don't fight..."

The light and shadow and farce in the room converged into a peculiar silhouette on the late summer night, and the young man sighed and went to the backyard to monitor the girl named Qu Longjun.

Time flowed, and the world changed. Many years later, this kind of atmosphere would become an image of his youth. The late summer sunlight filtered through the treetops, the warm wind stirred up the cicada's chirping, or the afternoon or evening when thunderstorms came, Chengdu City was noisy, and for him, who had just come from the mountains and forests and the battlefield, it had a special charm.

People were fighting on the arena, and scholars were pointing fingers at the Jiangshan, the atmosphere of iron and blood was hidden in the seemingly restrained opposition, and as time went by, the sense of tension waiting for something to happen was still getting higher. The newcomers entering Chengdu City, whether scholars or knights, spoke with greater and greater arrogance. Occasionally, some masters would appear on the arena. Rumors were circulating in the market about the demeanor of a certain great hero or elder at a certain heroic gathering. The storytellers at Zhuji were also praising, exaggerating Huangni Shou, Eagle Claw, and Old Man Liutong to be more powerful than the best in the world…

Among them, the girl who often wore a white dress, sat in the room or in the pavilion, would also become a part of this memory. Because the progress on Guan Shanhai's side was slow, and they were not sure about the whereabouts of "Young Master Ning," Qu Longjun could only stay in the courtyard all day long. The only thing she could do was to look at the small courtyard by the river.

The girl was silent and always looked melancholy between her eyebrows when Wen Shoushan was not around. She liked to be alone and didn't like the servants and maids to disturb her frequently. When she was quiet, she would often maintain a certain posture and sit for half an hour or an hour. Only once did Ning Ji happen to see her waking up from a dream. He didn't know what she had dreamed of, but her eyes were terrified, she was covered in sweat, she stepped barefoot off the bed, and walked back and forth as if she had lost her soul…

Ning Ji didn't like these melancholy and depressing things, but he monitored her every day to see when their conspiracy would be launched. In those days, it seemed to have become a habit. But after a long time, strange things occasionally happened. One night, there was no one else in the building, and Ning Ji was sitting on the roof watching the lightning and thunder in the distance. Qu Longjun in the room suddenly seemed to be startled by something, looking around and even gently asking, "Who?"

Ning Ji frowned, thinking that his skills were not good enough, and he had made a noise that she had noticed? But he was just sitting quietly on the roof and hadn't moved. What could she have noticed?

The girl walked around the room in confusion, and finally gave up to no avail. She picked up the pipa and played it in front of the window, facing the distant thunderclouds. Not long after, Wen Shoushan returned drunk, went upstairs and praised Qu Longjun's musical skills, and said:

"Young Master Ning's whereabouts are erratic, and it is difficult to know his itinerary in advance. I have discussed privately with Shan Gong and others, and the situation in Chengdu has been tense recently, and there will be a great disaster. Therefore, the Huaxia Army is also very nervous. It is easy to cause alertness even if you approach him right now... Daughter, you have to make a long-term plan here. If this Chengdu gathering fails and the Black Flag gets through this, it will not be difficult for you to find an opportunity to approach the high-level officials of the Huaxia Army..."

"Daughter will do as Father says," Qu Longjun said.

"This is also for your safety," Wen Shoushan said. "Daughter, look at the lightning and thunder in the distance. It's like the situation in Chengdu today. It won't be long before it comes over... The Black Flag Army is up to no good. I don't know how many righteous people will die in this great chaos... A heroic feat, Longjun, you will see it next. This is a heroic act that will not be inferior to the one of the past, the one of..." He hesitated for a moment, and was a little hard to find an example, and finally said: "It will not be inferior to... Zhou Tong assassinating Wanyan Zonghan!"

Idiot!

The thunderstorm was indeed coming, Ning Ji sighed and went downstairs to go home.

The restlessness caused by the fire on the second day of July was still brewing. When the number of righteous men and the number of Huaxia Army casualties circulating privately had tripled or quintupled, on the sixth day of July, the Huaxia Army announced in the newspapers a series of specific measures that would be taken next. These measures included several core points.

First, on the first day of August, the Fifth Army and Seventh Army of the Huaxia Army and the Twenty-ninth Army stationed in Tanzhou will hold a grand joint military parade in Chengdu City. At the same time, there will be a ceremony to present captives, and some generals of the Jurchen army and some of the main culprits captured during the Southwest War will be publicly sentenced and dealt with.

After the military parade, the first People's Congress of the Huaxia Army will begin on August 3 to discuss all major routes and directions of the Huaxia Army in the future.

From mid-August, the Huaxia Army will simultaneously conduct talent selection in both literary and martial arts to the outside world. In terms of soldier and general selection, the performance in the world's No. 1 martial arts competition will be considered a bonus—and may even become a channel for special recruitment. In terms of literary talent selection, the Huaxia Army announced for the first time the assessment standards for arithmetic, object study thinking, and object study common sense that will be conducted in the examination. Of course, it will also appropriately assess officials' views and understanding of the general trend of the world.

The announcement of these specific items in the newspapers soon caused an uproar. The military parade and the presentation of captives were the projects that ordinary people loved to watch the most, and they also aroused deep vigilance from all parties. The selection of literary and martial arts talents was a real move to undermine the foundation of the opposition. As soon as the news of this external selection came out, the "morale of the army" of all parties who came to Chengdu would be unstable.

Some literati and scholars called on others in the newspapers not to participate in these selections, and some analyzed the heresy of this selection from various aspects. For example, what the newspapers emphasized most was the so-called "arithmetic" and "object study thinking," which were their own assessment criteria. The Huaxia Army was to select clerks, not officials. This was to destroy the lifelong learning of the world's scholars. It was a truly sinister and despicable method of fighting against the Confucian Great Way.

Some people also began to discuss how to select the virtues and integrity of true officials, citing classics to discuss the advantages and disadvantages and rationality of many selection methods in history. Of course, even if it caused an uproar on the surface, many scholars who entered the city still bought several books compiled and published by the Huaxia Army, such as "Arithmetic" and "Object Study," and studied them overnight. Confucian scholars did not fail to read arithmetic, but in the past they spent too little time using and studying it. But compared with ordinary people, they still had advantages in this regard.

It was also for this reason that the most vehement protests against the selection in Chengdu came from great Confucian scholars and celebrities with great reputations who were hoping to be ennobled and appointed as ministers. But if they were scholars with less reputation, or even scholars who had repeatedly failed the examinations and loved unorthodox subjects, they would only resist in words and rejoice secretly. Even some merchants who came to Chengdu, accountants and secretaries who followed the merchants, were eager to try: If it comes to arithmetic, those great Confucian scholars are not as good as me. I come here to sell things. Could I become an official?

People were vigilant about these measures, discussing them noisily. Most of them showed an indifferent attitude towards the news of the big meeting. People who did not understand the industry thought that it had nothing to do with them anyway, and great Confucian scholars who knew a little sneered at it, thinking that it was just a show: The affairs of the Huaxia Army are decided by you, Demon Ning, with one word. Why bother covering it up and holding some kind of meeting to fool people...

The atmosphere in the city was chaotic and tense. Ning Ji went to Old Bastard Dog's place, and a group of people were also scolding Ning Yi for his sinister intentions and his move to undermine the foundation of the opposition. Some people also reminded that once these troops entered the city, it would mean that they had completely completed the aftermath of the previous war, and the incorporation of the puppet army and the resettlement of the Jurchen prisoners had come to an end. If they wanted to take action, they could only do it before this military parade.

The most vocal about "taking action" in the city were these Confucian scholars. Wen Shoushan spoke about it quite naturally, because he had already planned to wait here with his "daughter" until things were over before considering certain things. His mood was relieved, and his words and deeds all day long were heroic and generous.

Having seen it too much, Ning Ji no longer even sneered.

He lived alone in that small courtyard, hiding his identity, but occasionally someone would naturally come over. On the afternoon of July 6, Sister Chuyi came over from Zhang Village and came to ask him to go to his father's gathering. When he arrived at the location, many people had already arrived. This was a welcome banquet, and the participants included his father and brothers, Aunt Gua, several uncles of Badao, and the objects of their welcome were Chen Fan and Ji Qian'er, who had already arrived in Chengdu.

The Ning family children all liked this heroic, sunny, and handsome Uncle Chen very much, especially Ning Ji, who had been taught the most boxing techniques by him and was considered one of his direct disciples. Now that they suddenly met, everyone was extremely excited, chattering and asking Chen Fan about his process of beating Yin Shuke to death. Ning Ji also told him about what he had seen and heard on the battlefield in the past year or so. Chen Fan was also happy. When they talked to their heart's content, he took off his clothes and compared the scars on his body with Ning Ji. This childish and boring behavior was stopped by a group of people with punches and kicks.

Since they couldn't compare scars, they tested their martial arts. Chen Fan then had Ning Xi, Chuyi, and Ning Ji form a team, and he challenged them one against three. This proposal was enthusiastically approved by everyone.

"You have been pampered these years. Don't get beaten to death," Fang Shuchang laughed.

"I bet Chen Fan won't last thirty moves," Du Sha laughed.

"That kid Ning Ji is ruthless. You have to be careful," Zheng Qiming said.

Ji Qian'er smiled and said, "Chuyi, he has an injury in his left leg. Stab him on the left."

Chen Fan cast a helpless look from over there, but saw Xigua carrying Badao's box over: "Take it easy. Don't get injured too badly. After you're done fighting, I'll teach you a lesson."

Chen Fan did not show weakness: "Do you two want to come together? I'll let you two."

Ning Yi put his hands behind his back and smiled calmly: "Get past my son and daughter-in-law first. Kill him!" He thought of Ji Qian'er's words, "Stab his left foot!"

"I think it's the left leg."

"It's all the same. It means the same thing."

"Don't break anything."

A group of grandmaster-level experts and the Heart Demon mixed in with the experts laughed and joked. Over there, Ning Xi was holding a stick, Chuyi was holding a sword, and Ning Ji was dragging over an entire weapons rack. He chose a pair of gloves, preparing to use the Vajra Fist to fight the enemy first. While putting on the gloves, he casually asked, "Uncle Chen, how did you sneak into the city? The army hasn't arrived yet, right?"

"Of course, your father is planning to plot against people. Even if Lin Zongwu comes this time, he won't be able to get out of Chengdu," Chen Fan did not take any weapons, but wrapped cloth strips around his fists. Under the sunlight, his fists collided heavily.

"Are you ready?" He smiled, "Come on!"

"Uncle Chen, wait for me, I'm still..."

Before he could finish speaking, the three people on the opposite side charged up at the same time! Ning Ji's fist carried a whistling sound, like a fierce tiger pouncing on—

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