That night, the thunderous clash of weapons echoed not only through the valley but also reverberated across Xianyang City a thousand miles away. A handsome man in purple-gold robes lounged across a daybed, two enchanting dancers nestled against him. Their eyes shimmered like water, their bodies supple as they peeled a crystal-clear grape with jade-white fingers and fed it to the man.
"Fourth Master!"
A guard dressed in black night-clothes entered, his face spattered with crimson. Though the dark fabric concealed most stains, he brought with him a nauseating wave of bloodshed. Kneeling on the ground, he reported in a resolute tone, "The matter is settled."
The renowned Fourth Master Feng of Xianyang City raised an eyebrow slightly and said indifferently, "Since it's done, everyone should return home to rest."
That night, a massive purge swept through all factions in Xianyang City. Countless streams of blood flowed into the canals of Chishui River, and screams kept every citizen awake through the dark hours. The city guards seemed to have turned deaf and mute, shutting their eyes to the blood-soaked survivors who fought their way out and knelt pleading before the military government gates.
As the disturbances grew increasingly violent, the authorities had no choice but to notify certain "local protective forces." Upon hearing that someone dared disturb the clear-minded City Governor's sleep, Fourth Master Feng immediately dispatched his subordinates to retrieve these troublemakers, intending to have a thorough "discussion" with them.
The next morning, dawn's light pierced through the long darkness. When Xianyang's residents emerged from their homes, they found everything unchanged: the markets remained bustling, their neighbor Zhang San continued collecting protection fees door-to-door, Li Si across the street still paraded with his seven or eight concubines, and Wu's Bun Shop remained crowded with customers lining up for steamed buns...
Nothing had changed after all. The common people cheerfully realized last night's events had nothing to do with them—life would continue day by day as usual.
Yet observant individuals quietly noticed minor anomalies.
The grain shops owned by Squire Liu had all changed managers, with even the accountants disappearing except for a few junior clerks.
Master Jia's salt warehouse appeared to have caught fire last night. Though the flames were extinguished quickly, the salt purchased today carried a distinct smoky flavor.
The Ouyang trading firm's bank opened an hour later than usual, with the head teller absent from his counter—rumored to have fallen suddenly ill overnight.
...
At noon, Fourth Master Feng received reports from his subordinates. After reading them, he stood by his desk pondering for a long while before writing a brief message.
Sealing the letter, he handed it to his most trusted aide. The young Fourth Master displayed unusual gravity as he instructed, "Deliver this to our master personally. There must be no mistakes."
The east wind carried willow catkins, flowers bloomed crimson amid emerald greenery—yet another beautiful season.
Meanwhile, in the deathly silent valley, wispy cooking fires began to rise. After the large-scale slaughter, the camp had visibly shrunk, leaving fewer than seven hundred survivors—the rest had lost their lives during the night's massacre.
Zhuge Yue brought a bowl of plain congee to Chu Qiao. Though his expression remained grim, he had calmed considerably. The tent was too small for him to stand upright, so he crouched down, helped Chu Qiao sit up, and said softly, "Eat something."Chu Qiao’s face was deathly pale, clearly growing weaker by the day, yet she still asked in a low voice, “What’s the situation outside?”
“What else could it be?” Zhuge Yue replied indifferently, a hint of disdain in his tone. “Those who deserved to die are dead, and those who didn’t have died alongside them. The Liu family effortlessly seized the wealth of these rich families. A rather clichéd plot.”
Chu Qiao frowned slightly and said slowly, “So, Liu Xi has taken over the assets of the other wealthy merchants? Isn’t he afraid of retaliation from their families?”
Zhuge Yue shook his head. “The families of these merchants might no longer be alive.”
“You mean…”
“Yes,” Zhuge Yue nodded gravely. “If it were me, I’d make sure to eliminate the problem once and for all. Although the wealth of the Ouyang, Jia, and Wang families doesn’t compare to the Liu family’s, if they were to unite, the Liu family alone would be no match for them. Since Liu Xi has decided to seize their assets and wipe out these families, last night in Xianyang City was certainly anything but peaceful.”
Chu Qiao frowned. “Would Liu Mingjun really agree to Liu Xi doing this? If so, their foundation in Xianyang City would be completely destroyed.”
“You still think this was orchestrated by Liu Mingjun?” Zhuge Yue chuckled lightly. “Xing’er, you’re sharp-witted, skilled, and quick to react, but you don’t understand human nature. Liu Xi has rebelled. If I’m not mistaken, the first person to meet his end last night was Liu Mingjun.”
“Liu Xi has rebelled?” Chu Qiao was momentarily stunned. She tried to recall the young man she had met in Xianyang City—the one with a bright smile and impeccable horsemanship. Back then, Liu Mingjun had introduced his nephew to her with a hearty laugh, proudly patting the young man’s shoulder and boasting that he was like a son to him…
“Why would Liu Xi rebel? Perhaps he wasn’t content with being a wealthy merchant and wanted to enter the political arena. But the Daxia regime is exclusionary, dominated by established families. With no connections in the court, it would take him decades, if ever, to rise through the ranks. So, he gambled everything, pooling the wealth of all the wealthy merchants in Xianyang as a stepping stone to enter the upper echelons of Biantang. With such a massive fortune at his disposal, no one would dare look down on Liu Xi during his visit to Biantang.”
Zhuge Yue murmured, analyzing the situation step by step. But to Chu Qiao, his words sounded increasingly jarring. Her thoughts were not as simple as his, for she knew the true identities of those who had died. What worried her most was whether Liu Xi was an agent of Daxia, sent to eradicate the Great Alliance Society’s foundation in Xianyang and seize the wealth they had accumulated over the years. As for why they were heading to Biantang, she couldn’t begin to guess.
Zhuge Yue was an exceptionally astute man, for at that very moment, based on intelligence swiftly relayed by Biantang’s spy network, the officials of Biantang had drawn almost identical conclusions.
Liu Xi had eliminated the other factions, consolidated their power, and was now coming to Biantang to pledge allegiance and seek an official position.
“Ce’er,” the Tang Emperor said, his expression slightly grave. He patted his son’s shoulder heavily and spoke in a low voice, “This Liu Xi is not someone easily controlled. One misstep, and he could turn on you. The Liu family of Xianyang—mere merchants—how could they produce such a talent?”Li Ce narrowed his eyes and smiled slightly, saying, "Father, I like spirited horses the most."
However, what they didn't know was that several days earlier, Liu Xi—the man deeply feared by everyone—had already been stuffed into a sack with stones tied to it and sunk deep into the Chishui River.
In this chaotic situation, some hurriedly retreated, some remained ignorant, some watched coldly from the sidelines, and some controlled everything.
The common people could only see the fierce fighting on the surface, naively believing it to be bandit raids or vendetta killings. Clever individuals like Zhuge Yue and Li Ce could unravel the threads and strive to discern the underlying reasons. Yet only those truly in control could sort through the intricate layers of relationships, uncover the final mystery, and wait for the day when the truth could be revealed to the world.
Inside the large tent in the valley, a man in white robes sat on a heated couch, with guards standing as straight as spears outside the door.
A young man in his twenties, clad in leather armor, entered and knelt on the ground, speaking in a firm tone, "Crown Prince."
Yan Xun was draped in a pure white fur cloak, sitting on a heated couch warmed by charcoal. Beads of sweat had already formed on his forehead, yet his face remained somewhat pale. He sat there without even opening his eyes upon hearing the newcomer, merely uttering a soft "Hmm" to indicate he was listening.
"The valuables have been tallied, and Zuo Ting is overseeing them with his men. The masters and servants from the other families have also been dealt with. I sent men to dig a pit in the back mountain, and they have already been buried."
Yan Xun remained silent, as if he had fallen asleep. The young man slightly licked his lips and continued, "It's just... just that the young master of the Ouyang family hasn't been found yet."
Yan Xun frowned slightly but still didn't open his eyes, only saying calmly, "Then go find him."
"Yes, yes!"
The young guard quickly replied, "That child is only four years old. With these towering mountains and dense forests outside, he couldn't have gone far."
"Cheng Yuan," a deep voice suddenly spoke. The young man was startled and hastily responded. Yan Xun finally opened his eyes—dark and wise—and said in a calm tone, "Do you know why Daxia has fallen to this state today?"
The man named Cheng Yuan was immediately stunned, opening his mouth twice but unable to say anything.
"It's because when they slaughtered my entire family back then, they weren't decisive enough to eliminate me as well. Do you understand?"
Thudding sounds immediately followed as the young man kowtowed to the ground, flustered, saying, "I understand, I understand."
"Alright, then go do your work."
Yan Xun gently waved his hand, and the man quickly stood up carefully, about to retreat when Yan Xun added indifferently:
"Remember to report for military punishment after you finish your task. It seems a deep impression is needed for you to remember my current status."
Cheng Yuan was instantly alarmed and hurriedly said, "Yes, I remember, Young Master."
The tent grew even quieter. The young Yan Xun leaned back into the soft couch, the thick fur nearly swallowing him whole. He slowly furrowed his brows and said with a hint of annoyance, "Damn southern barbarians…"
...The next day, the entire camp showed no intention of departing. Zhuge Yue stepped outside to survey the surroundings and noticed that aside from the Liu family's servants, most attendants from other households had already vanished. He felt somewhat anxious, but given Chu Qiao's current condition, he couldn't recklessly take her away at this moment.
After fetching some dry rations from the carriage, he spotted the little girl named Xingxing again on his way back. The child was hiding beside a small tent, timidly peeking out with her small head. Her face was smudged with dirt as she secretly observed him while glancing around, seemingly searching for the kind-hearted Chu Qiao.
When she noticed Zhuge Yue had seen her, the child ingratiatingly narrowed her eyes, revealing two missing front teeth as she grinned foolishly at him.
Zhuge Yue immediately darkened his expression, ignoring the child as he turned and strode toward the tent.
He had only taken a few steps when he heard faint rustling footsteps behind him. Turning back, he saw the child still cautiously trailing him with small, hesitant steps.
What now? Still wanting meat?
Frowning deeply, Zhuge Yue said in a stern voice, "Keep following me and I'll break your legs!"
"Waaah!"
An astonishing burst of crying suddenly erupted, startling Zhuge Yue instead. The child was now wailing with her mouth wide open, crying as she ran in the opposite direction while other servants in the camp stared at Zhuge Yue with strange looks. Their collective gaze seemed to say: Look at this well-dressed man, actually picking on a child.
Zhuge Yue immediately felt rather frustrated - he had only meant to scare her.
When he returned to the tent, Chu Qiao was still asleep. She seemed particularly prone to sleeping lately, often dozing off even while talking.
Zhuge Yue began to worry, but seeing that she could manage to walk when awake, he felt somewhat relieved.
At the very least, their shared hardship had made her trust him somewhat. Like now, with him sitting right beside her, she wouldn't suddenly jump up and press a dagger against his neck.
As dusk gradually fell, Zhuge Yue sighed, feeling deeply troubled.
A tiger fallen on hard times becomes the sport of dogs - at this moment, he couldn't even leave this wretched camp.
"Mmm..."
A lazy, soft moan drifted through the air as Chu Qiao slowly opened her eyes. Suddenly noticing Zhuge Yue sitting beside her, she couldn't help feeling awkward. Unconsciously smoothing her hair, her voice still thick with sleep, she asked somewhat unnaturally, "What time is it? Oh, I actually slept this long."
Zhuge Yue didn't respond, instead handing her a water pouch.
Chu Qiao took the pouch and had just taken a sip when she noticed Zhuge Yue still watching her. Startled, she accidentally choked.
"Cough! Cough! Cough!"
"So clumsy." Zhuge Yue rolled his eyes, but his hand gently patted her back.
After coughing for a while, she actually felt more alert. Chu Qiao glared fiercely at Zhuge Yue, then snatched the water pouch and took two large gulps before saying bluntly, "I'm hungry!"
Actually, Zhuge Yue had just gone out to get food, but seeing her attitude, he now didn't want to give it to her. He snorted coldly, "Am I your servant?"
"Servant?" Chu Qiao gave him a sidelong glance. "You? What can you even do? If you were sold at a slave market, you probably wouldn't even be worth one gold coin."Zhuge Yue shot her a sidelong glare and snorted lightly, "Are you worth anything?"
"Definitely more than you."
They were engaged in their daily ritual—bickering. Suddenly, hurried footsteps echoed from outside, heading straight toward their tent. Both froze for a moment, and Zhuge Yue immediately stood up, drawing a dagger and gripping it tightly.
Just as he was about to step outside, there was a loud thud. Two small figures burst in, nearly tearing the tent flap off its hinges!
Chu Qiao and Zhuge Yue were stunned. They exchanged a glance before Chu Qiao finally spoke up softly, "Little one, what do you want?"
Little Xingxing's face was smudged with dirt, her eyes red and swollen. She was holding the hand of an even smaller child. At the sound of Chu Qiao's voice, the little girl's lips trembled, and tears began to fall, one after another, growing heavier by the second.
Zhuge Yue's expression darkened as he glared impatiently at the two children, who looked as if they had just rolled in a coal pile. "Who told you to come in? Get out now," he said sternly.
"Waaah..."
The child, who appeared to be only four or five years old, suddenly lifted her head. Her face was grimy, but her eyes were large, round, and strikingly clear—bright and watery as she stared at Zhuge Yue. Her lips quivered, and her whimpering sounded like that of a small animal. Crawling on the ground with her chubby little hands, she inched toward him.
Zhuge Yue had faced battles, strategized on the battlefield, and never known fear in all these years. But at this moment, he suddenly felt flustered. Pointing a finger at the tiny figure, he raised his voice, "You—you stop right there! Don't come any closer! I order you to leave immediately!"
"WAAAH!" A cry that could shake heaven and earth erupted. The child lunged forward like a ravenous dog, wrapping her arms tightly around Zhuge Yue's leg. Tears and snot smeared all over his clothes as she wailed, "Daddy!"
Instantly, Zhuge Yue's handsome face flushed a fiery red. His expression could only be described as panicked. Exchanging a stunned look with Chu Qiao, who was equally dumbfounded, he quickly retorted, "Who's your daddy? Let go! Or I'll hit you!"
"Daddy!" The little one, who barely reached his thigh, clung to him with surprising strength, arms and legs wrapped around his leg like a koala. Between sobs, she kept crying, "Daddy, Daddy!"
A child this small could probably die from a single kick. Zhuge Yue didn't dare strike her, nor could he pry her off. In the end, he turned to Chu Qiao with a grievance-laden tone and said, "I'm really not her father."
He didn't know why he felt the need to explain himself to Chu Qiao, but seeing her slightly surprised and somewhat amused expression only fueled his irritation.
Chu Qiao might have found it funny, but she also sensed something odd about the situation. Realizing she wouldn't get any answers from the sobbing child, she turned to Xingxing and asked, "Xingxing, who is she? What's going on?"
Before Xingxing could reply, the tear-blurred child suddenly turned her head, as if only just noticing Chu Qiao's presence. This woman had a gentle smile and a kind face, radiating warmth.
The child's lips quivered again, and she stretched her arms out toward Chu Qiao, sniffling pitifully as she called out, "Mommy..."
BOOM!
The entire world descended into chaos.
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