The night was deep, yet the Liu family courtyard was brightly lit. No one, including Liu Shoucheng, had slept. All of them were gathered in the main hall, awaiting news about the Zheng family.
"Dad, I just received word that the Guishan police station mobilized earlier and sealed off the entire Zheng family manor, strictly prohibiting outsiders from entering. We can't get any details about what happened."
Su Shiyun's maternal uncle, Su Liwei, came into the hall and reported to Liu Shoucheng.
"What's there to inquire about? That reckless fellow must have gone to the Zheng family and got himself killed. Because he was a martial artist, they're sealing off the news to the public."
Su Shiyun's eldest maternal uncle, Liu Liyun, made a speculative guess and then urged Liu Shoucheng, "Dad, we should go to the Liu family immediately to apologize. If we delay any longer, it might be too late!"
"What's the rush?"
Liu Shoucheng reprimanded him, then took out his phone and dialed the person in charge of the Guishan police station.
"Hello, Director Wang. I just heard that your people have sealed off the Zheng family manor. Did something happen?"
Once the call was connected, Liu Shoucheng got straight to the point and asked.
"Mr. Liu, you don't know about this?"
On the other end of the line, the head of the Guishan police station sounded somewhat suspicious.
He had heard about what happened at the Liu family tonight and knew someone from the Liu family had gone to the Zhengs. He assumed that the incident at the Zheng family tonight was the Liu family's doing.
"Director Wang, if I knew, I wouldn't be calling you," Liu Shoucheng replied.
"Mr. Liu, it's like this. The Zheng family harbored a fugitive wanted by the Martial Department and committed many illegal acts. Our police station is cooperating with the Martial Department to handle the case, and we've just taken away all members of the Zheng family, sending them to the Martial Department's Sujiang office."
The head of the Guishan police station paused for a moment and then relayed the information he had received to Liu Shoucheng.
"Uh..."
Liu Shoucheng was stunned.
"Mr. Liu, the Zheng family has gotten into serious trouble this time. Guishan's future development will rely on your Liu family."
Seeing Liu Shoucheng fall silent, the head of the Guishan police station proactively extended an olive branch.
With the Zheng family in trouble, the Liu family would, as before, become the foremost family in Guishan.
"Thank you, Mr. Wang. I'll host a banquet at my home to invite you another day." Liu Shoucheng jolted awake and said with a smile.
"I look forward to raising a glass with you, Mr. Liu."
The head of the Guishan police station responded happily, exchanged a few more pleasantries with Liu Shoucheng, and then ended the call.
"Dad, what's the situation?"
As Liu Shoucheng hung up the phone, Liu Liyun couldn't help but ask.
The other members of the Liu family also looked at Liu Shoucheng with curiosity and anticipation.
Earlier, they had all seen the radiant smile on Liu Shoucheng's face while he was on the phone.
This made them realize that something had happened to the Zheng family and made them curious about what exactly had transpired.
"The Zheng family harbored a fugitive wanted by the Martial Department and also committed many illegal acts. They were investigated and dealt with by the Martial Department and the police!"
Liu Shoucheng said excitedly, his smile growing even brighter, as if he had instantly become ten years younger.
"Ah?"
"That's great!"
"Guishan will be our Liu family's territory again!"
As Liu Shoucheng finished speaking, exclamations and cheers erupted in the hall.
"Dad, where is that nameless kid? Was he also taken away by the Martial Department?"
After the initial joy, Liu Liyun remembered Jiang Wuming and couldn't help but ask.
The next moment.
Before Liu Shoucheng could speak, Xing Tian's sturdy figure appeared at the entrance of the hall.
Instantly, the hall fell silent. Everyone in the Liu family, including Liu Shoucheng, turned their gaze towards Xing Tian.
"My boss asked me to tell you that he has repaid the Liu family's kindness from years ago and has severed all ties with your Liu family from now on. Do not disturb their family tonight, or you will face the consequences!"
Xing Tian looked at the jubilant Liu family members, cursing them as idiots under his breath, and then conveyed Jiang Wuming's message.
After speaking, Xing Tian turned and left.
He really didn't want to see this group of ungrateful and short-sighted Liu family members anymore; it would only dirty his eyes.
"Dad, what does he mean? Could it be that what happened to the Zheng family tonight was because of Wuming?"
Watching Xing Tian leave, Su Shiyun's maternal aunt realized something and couldn't help but ask Liu Shoucheng.
"Impossible! Dad already said that the Martial Department investigated the Zheng family. How could it have anything to do with that kid?" Liu Liyun pouted.
"Shut up!"
Liu Shoucheng snapped, the excitement on his face completely gone, replaced by deep regret.
From Xing Tian's words, he was certain that the incident with the Zheng family was definitely because of Jiang Wuming!
Although he didn't know how Jiang Wuming managed it, his reason told him that Jiang Wuming, who could so easily make the Zheng family disappear from Guishan, possessed unimaginable power.
In such a situation, if Jiang Wuming were willing to help the Liu family, their family could not only secure their position as the leading family in Guishan but even become a rising power in Sujiang City and Jiangnan Province!
However—
There are no 'ifs' in this world.
One mistake leads to eternal regret.
His and the Liu family's agreement, and even coercion, for Su Shiyun to marry Zheng Fei had doomed the Liu family to forever lose this opportunity!
As Jiang Wuming had said, he had no further ties with the Liu family!
...
At the same time, in a room on the west side of the Liu family courtyard.
Liu Guifang was pacing back and forth in the room like an ant on a hot pan, extremely anxious.
Su Shiyun sat by the window, resting her chin on one hand, gazing out at the corridor, her brows furrowed with worry.
Both mother and daughter were concerned about Jiang Wuming's safety and were waiting for his return.
"Wuming!"
Suddenly, Su Shiyun saw Jiang Wuming's figure appear in the courtyard. She immediately stood up excitedly, and then, along with her mother Liu Guifang, rushed out of the room. To their surprise, Jiang Wuming was already standing outside the door.
"Mom, Sis, I'm back," Jiang Wuming said with a smile.
"Are you alright?"
Liu Guifang and Su Shiyun asked in unison.
"I'm fine," Jiang Wuming replied, shaking his head with a smile.
"Really fine?"
Liu Guifang stepped forward, a little uneasy, and looked Jiang Wuming all over. Finding no injuries on him, she finally relaxed.
"What about the Zheng family?" Su Shiyun asked hesitantly.
"It's all resolved."
Jiang Wuming replied, but did not elaborate on the specifics.
"Hoo... That's good." Su Shiyun breathed a sigh of relief.
"Let's go inside and talk. I'll boil some water to make tea for Wuming," Liu Guifang suggested.
"Mom, I'll do it. You're injured and it's not convenient," Su Shiyun said.
"Mom, take this pill, and the pain will go away. After you sleep, all your injuries will be healed."
Hearing Su Shiyun's words, Jiang Wuming felt remorseful. He then took out a medicine bottle, poured out a pill, and handed it to Liu Guifang.
That medicine was a special healing medicine for martial artists, capable of quickly restoring injuries, and it was very expensive.
For Liu Guifang's minor injuries, the martial artist's healing medicine was akin to using a bazooka to kill a mosquito—a gross overkill. However, Jiang Wuming didn't care at all. He just wished for Liu Guifang to be free from pain as soon as possible.
"Okay."
Liu Guifang nodded, took the pill without asking any questions, and went inside to take it. Within a few minutes, she began to feel drowsy.
Seeing this, Jiang Wuming helped Liu Guifang back to her room with Su Shiyun.
"Shall we go chat on the rooftop?"
After Liu Guifang had fallen asleep, Su Shiyun blinked her eyes and suggested.
Years ago, when she and Jiang Wuming were very young, they had climbed onto the rooftop to watch the stars together.
"Sure, anyway, Mom is asleep, so she won't spank us."
Hearing this, Jiang Wuming's heart warmed, and he grinned foolishly.
Back then, when he had suggested taking Su Shiyun to the rooftop to watch the stars, Su Shiyun had refused, saying their mother would spank them, but ultimately, she had agreed to his proposal.
As the words fell, Jiang Wuming grabbed Su Shiyun's fair, delicate hand and then leaped.
"Ah—"
Su Shiyun exclaimed in surprise, then realized she was flying with Jiang Wuming. In an instant, they were standing on the rooftop.
"Are martial artists really this powerful? It's so magical."
Su Shiyun stood on the rooftop, holding Jiang Wuming's hand, and exclaimed with a look of wonder.
"To ordinary people, martial artists are indeed very magical beings," Jiang Wuming smiled and then pulled Su Shiyun down to sit.
"Wuming, why did you leave without a word all those years ago? What have you experienced these past years? How did you suddenly become a martial artist?"