Before a valley about twenty *li* away from the city of Suzhou, a nondescript manor awaited the coming of twilight in silence.

As dusk deepened, night descended. Four hundred black-clad riders, bits in their horses' mouths and hooves wrapped in cloth, silently surrounded the manor like death gods of the night.

Then came a bloody slaughter. The black riders outside shot rockets into the compound, while those inside set fires themselves.

Smoke billowed, lives vanished, and the manor was destroyed beyond repair.

...

...

The Black Riders were the Fifth Division of the Overwatch Council, the most formidable military arm. Yet they had no official headquarters, always waiting outside the capital for Chen Pingping's orders. Later, when the Overwatch Council gained a young Supervisor, the Black Riders were divided in two, half of their thousand following Fan Xian. This incident alone showed how highly Chen Pingping valued Fan Xian.

Last year, when Fan Xian went on a diplomatic mission to Northern Qi, the Black Riders escorted him to the border and, outside Mist Crossing River, successfully annihilated the army that Shang Shanhu had sent to rescue Xiao En. Their military strength was evident.

Having been waiting in Jiangbei for orders, the Black Riders finally had a purpose today. However, the Black Riders' deputy commander, who stood on horseback at the foot of the mountain, displayed no excitement.

For them, this was merely a simple task.

The current commander of these four hundred Black Riders was the Fifth Division's deputy commander, named Jing, no given name.

Jing sat steadily on his horse, watching the raging fire in the compound. His right hand slowly reached up to his face, removing the black mask that concealed his features, revealing a pale complexion and a pair of cold, emotionless eyes.

The task assigned by Supervisor Fan Xian was complete. He hadn't expected that such a powerful force existed within this inconspicuous manor, inflicting some damage on the Black Riders. Most frighteningly, everyone in the manor seemed to know they were doomed, fighting to the death, with not a single person surrendering.

Jing didn't know who was in the manor, only executing the Supervisor's orders. Moreover, the people in the manor had set the fire themselves, likely destroying any incriminating evidence.

He tugged at the reins, and the horse's hooves clicked softly as it slowly approached the burning manor. His subordinates were treating the wounded and clearing the area. His eyes, filled with fierce intent, watched everything. Suddenly, his eyelids twitched slightly.

Five riders burst out of the flames, engulfed in black fire, like undead riders from the underworld.

Upon the five riders, besides the knights in full black armor, were a few figures bound like dumplings.

Jing's right hand returned to his face, and he put on the black mask before the five riders arrived. His thin lips parted slightly, and his cold voice rang out, with some surprise and astonishment, "Survivors?"

The five riders approached his side and reported, "These five were hiding in a well and surrendered."

Even though Jing was normally emotionless, he felt a pleasant surprise. The corners of his lips twitched, revealing a faint smile, "Supervisor Fan Xian should be pleased."

Given the manor's desperate resistance and the planned self-destruction, capturing survivors was indeed a difficult feat. Jing looked at the five prisoners tied up on horseback, feeling somewhat strange.

"Return to Suzhou."

The golden flames reflected off the black mask, creating a colorful display with a chilling aura.

Beneath the mask, Jing issued the cold command. Horses neighed outside the manor, shattering the tranquility of the mountain valley night. The hooves stirred briefly before reforming into neat ranks, transforming into three black torrents, circling the burning manor, sweeping past the road at the foot of the mountain, and disappearing into the darkness.

Not long after the Black Riders vanished into the mountains and plains like ghosts, they encountered Deng Ziyue and his party, who had been sent to deliver Supervisor Fan Xian's latest orders.

Jing paused briefly, then arranged for a squad of riders to escort the prisoners to the capital. The remaining hundreds of night assassins did not enter the city but quietly crossed the river, returning to their camp in Jiangbei.

——————————————————————

After Deng Ziyue reported back to the Hua Manor, Fan Xian simply nodded to acknowledge the information. He wrote a secret memorial to His Majesty the Emperor in his study, entrusted it to a subordinate to send back to the capital on horseback, and then went alone to the main hall of the Hua Manor.

Bright lamps hung high in the main hall, illuminating everything clearly.

Especially the chest of snow-white silver, which lay quietly, reflecting an alluring light.

Fan Xian glanced at the chest of silver, shook his head, and sighed. He sat down on a chair beside the chest, thinking that silver was indeed very useful.

One hundred thirty-eight thousand eight hundred and eighty taels of silver were neatly stacked in the chest.

Fan Xian couldn't help but glance at it again, and sigh again, finally giving up the idea in his heart.

Today, facing Ye Liuyun, that feeling of helplessness, of weakness, actually irritated Fan Xian. Of course, he didn't feel any self-pity or humiliation. It was only natural that he couldn't defeat a Grandmaster. But…

He knew that no matter how his life unfolded in the future, he would one day face a Grandmaster. If not Ye Liuyun, then Sigu Jian, or that one in the palace. He would have to face them head-on.

But today, Ye Liuyun's sword slicing through half the building, and the overwhelming aura that filled the space, made Fan Xian realize clearly that he currently had no way to deal with Grandmasters.

It was the same reason the Ming family couldn't do anything to him.

Grandmasters were too strong, so strong that they could ignore ordinary military encirclements. No wonder the Emperor had always been lukewarm towards the Ye family, no wonder Ku He could support those orphans and widows back then, no wonder a simpleton like Sigu Jian could guard Dongyi City.

Fan Xian thought in his heart, sighed, and began to miss his dear Uncle Wu Zhu.

But immediately, he overturned his idea. One couldn't always rely on his uncle to solve his problems. Moreover, Wu Zhu wouldn't necessarily have an advantage against these Grandmasters. Fan Xian was deeply unwilling to let Wu Zhu risk danger for him.

...

...

So, how could one kill a Grandmaster?

Surrounded by a chest of silver and a hall full of light, Fan Xian fell into deep thought. In an instant, he had simulated many scenarios and themes in his mind. What kind of inescapable trap, what kind of surefire opportunity, could be created to kill a Grandmaster on the spot?

His hand subconsciously patted the chest. Suddenly, he stood up tall and shouted, "Meeting! Meeting!"

As he shouted, he walked towards the back hall.

When Supervisor Fan Xian called a meeting, naturally no one dared to neglect it. The Overwatch Council's upper-level officials stationed at the Hua Manor, all members of the Qi Nian Team, and the seven Tiger Guards gathered in the council chamber.

As soon as Fan Xian sat down, he couldn't help but laugh and scold, "Help Young Master Lin back to play."

He glared at the Third Prince, who had come to join the fun, and Da Bao, who had also run in at some point, and had the maids help these two ancestors back.

He glanced at the number of people present, shook his head, and said, "Please invite Shi Chanli and Miss Sang Wen over as well."

His subordinates obeyed and left. Soon, Shi Chanli and Sang Wen arrived in the hall. Shi Chanli often handled some affairs for his teacher, so he wasn't unfamiliar with this kind of meeting situation. On the other hand, Sang Wen had a look of hesitation and surprise on her gentle face, wondering if the Imperial Envoy was discussing important matters of state, so what was a singer like her doing here?

"The theme of today's meeting is very simple. Everyone can think freely. Say any strange or weird ideas you have, and don't be afraid."

Fan Xian rubbed his temples, saying with a headache, "I really can't think of anything on my own."

Tiger Guard Gao Da glanced at him, seeing the Supervisor's worries, but not knowing what he was worried about, he said in a deep voice, "Please instruct us, sir."

"Brainstorm, brainstorm." Fan Xian said with a wry smile, "Everyone, please help me come up with ideas."

The crowd looked at him curiously, wondering what ideas they were supposed to come up with.

Fan Xian said very seriously, "What do you think… how can one kill a Grandmaster?"

...

...

The council chamber immediately fell silent. The subordinates looked at each other. Miss Sang Wen even pursed her somewhat wide lips into a cherry-like pout in shock. Shi Chanli had a strong impulse to turn around and leave.

What kind of matter was this to discuss?

How could one kill a Grandmaster?

If someone could really think of a way, the first thing that both Southern Qing and Northern Qi would do would be to send someone to kill Sigu Jian according to the method, and then the two countries would divide the wealth of Dongyi City and those noblewomen of the vassal states!

Of everyone in the hall, Deng Ziyue had the highest rank and was closest to Fan Xian. Looking at the Supervisor's face, and the strange expressions of his colleagues, he said cautiously, "Sir… were you injured by the sword aura?"

Fan Xian was stunned, then immediately roared in anger, "I didn't hurt my brain!"

Ignoring how shocked his subordinates were, he forced everyone to come up with ideas. For a time, the people in the council chamber had no choice but to come up with some absurd ideas. While coming up with ideas, everyone felt a little uneasy. Grandmasters were revered by the people and were like immortal figures. Now they had to think about how to harm him according to Supervisor Fan Xian's orders…

But the Overwatch Council was ultimately a dark and wicked agency. After saying a few words, everyone loosened up and felt a strange sense of excitement. Holding a meeting to discuss how to kill a Grandmaster… even if they couldn't kill him, just thinking about it was exciting enough.

Someone started by saying that Grandmasters were definitely unbeatable, so to deal with them, they had to weaken their strength first and increase their own strength. They suggested using poison.

Immediately someone retorted that Grandmasters' skills had reached a state of perfection. Any poison entering their body would immediately be neutralized like melting snow, so it was useless.

Then someone suggested that they should choose a drug that could stimulate the body's own characteristics. It wouldn't be an external poison, but it could mobilize the body's emotions or energy in a short period of time, which would naturally lead to weakness afterwards.

Fan Xian interrupted coldly, "That's an aphrodisiac."

Someone else said that to take someone's life, one must first disturb their mind. To make someone perish, one must first make them go mad. They should construct certain special scenarios to intensify the Grandmaster's emotions and make their mind fall into confusion.

Fan Xian nodded, very appreciative, but cursing in his heart that Ouyang Feng became even more powerful when he went crazy.

Deng Ziyue thought for a long time, then suddenly slapped the table and said, "Actually, it's not difficult. As long as we can find a way to set up a trap to prevent the other person from escaping easily, we can surround him with the Sixth Division's crossbow camp, and fire in rows, non-stop and without rest, exhausting his true energy. Even if we use ten thousand crossbow bolts, we must make the other person weak… then we can use the Fifth Division's Black Riders to charge. Grandmasters are not gods after all. They can fight a thousand, but they can't fight a thousand riders… they will eventually die."

Fan Xian looked at him and asked, "How many people do you estimate will die in this plan?"

Deng Ziyue calculated for a moment and reported, "The Sixth Division's crossbow camp would probably be completely wiped out, and the Black Riders should have about 10% survivors."

Fan Xian shook his head and said, "I want to kill someone, not send my own people to their deaths."

Deng Ziyue said excitedly, "If we can really succeed, it doesn't matter how many people die."

Fan Xian raised an eyebrow and sneered, "Then how can you make the other person not move or escape? Just stand there and let you shoot and charge? He's not a scarecrow…"

Deng Ziyue was silent.

The brainstorming continued, and the ideas people came up with became more and more absurd. Some suggested being kidnappers, some suggested playing with avalanches, and some suggested tampering with the latrine.

Then the rebuttals followed. First of all, Sigu Jian had no relatives; all his relatives were killed by himself. Also, Dongyi City rarely sees snow throughout the year. As for the last suggestion, everyone scoffed and didn't bother to pay attention to it.

Fan Xian watched this scene coldly, feeling slightly relieved. Today's seemingly absurd meeting was actually for the purpose of diluting the shock in his subordinates' hearts about the Baoyue Tower incident today. Ye Liuyun's sudden appearance undoubtedly created a strong shadow in these people's hearts. Even Gao Da's face rarely showed the original firmness.

When working with such a group of subordinates, he couldn't let them indulge in this inappropriate emotion.

That's why Fan Xian openly asked everyone to discuss how to kill a Grandmaster. After several rounds of discussion, it could be clearly seen that the fear suppressed in everyone's hearts had faded a lot. In addition to the excitement, it also cleared away the shock they had suffered during the day. The effect was very good.

Of course, the people in the hall did mention some very effective methods. Who knew if Fan Xian would use them in the future. As for the subordinates who all naturally took Sigu Jian as the imaginary enemy, it was somewhat beyond Fan Xian's expectations.

The citizens of Qing would naturally never think of dealing with Ye Liuyun.

Because of the honeymoon period with Northern Qi, because of Fan Xian's relationship with Haitang, and because the Fan family's young lady was now a closed-door disciple of Grandmaster Ku He, the subordinates would naturally not be so blind as to discuss how to kill Ku He in front of Supervisor Fan Xian.

It was Sigu Jian who was the poor wretch again.

...

...

The meeting lasted until the candles were almost burnt out. After everyone dispersed, they were still whispering to each other in the corridors and gardens, excited and unable to contain themselves because of Supervisor Fan Xian's bold move.

Fan Xian shook his head and summoned Sang Wen, saying, "Half of Baoyue Tower is destroyed. It will take at least half a month to repair it. What are the arrangements for the girls in the tower?"

When he initially went to evacuate the neighborhood, the guests in Baoyue Tower had all left, and the girls had also been evacuated to a safe area. Only now did Fan Xian have the leisure to worry about his brothel business.

Sang Wen replied respectfully, "The girls are temporarily housed in other brothels. Those owners are very accommodating and have taken them in. But staying in other brothels for a long time is not a good solution."

Fan Xian nodded. In the entire city of Suzhou, no one dared to disregard his feelings at this time. Those brothel owners were probably overjoyed to help accommodate his girls.

"Alright, let Shi Chanli take the lead in the reconstruction. You can take a break these days." Fan Xian suddenly thought of something, raised his eyebrows, and a fierce look appeared on his handsome face. "Collect all the detailed accounts and ledgers. When we return to the capital next year, I will find someone to collect debts."

Sang Wen responded.

Fan Xian asked, "Don't stay outside. Hua Manor is large. You can accompany Si Si these days and help take care of my brother-in-law."

Sang Wen smiled honestly and covered her mouth without saying anything.

"What's wrong?"

"That's what Miss Haitang said as well." Sang Wen said with a soft smile, "Also, those two girls have also been brought into the manor."

Fan Xian was stunned. Only then did he realize that she was talking about the two top courtesans of Baoyue Tower, Liang Diandian and Ma Suosuo. He was a little surprised at Haitang's thoughtfulness. Liang Diandian hadn't officially debuted yet, so it was indeed a bit inappropriate to stay in another brothel. As for Ma Suosuo…

She was the Second Mistress of the Eldest Prince. She had to be taken care of properly.