```

Dead silence.

The six visitors seemed like an illusion, especially An Changsheng.

An Changsheng's eyes widened, and he suddenly jumped up, pointing at Mr. Wang and exclaimed, "I knew it, you did it on purpose! You did it on purpose! Now I'll give you another chance."

With that, he said viciously, "You better fight properly! Does it mean if he doesn't draw his sword, you won't draw yours?"

Mr. Wang showed a bitter smile.

As a martial artist and an old hand in the martial arts world, he could tell if he was capable of fighting or not, especially after the exchange they just had.

"What do you mean 'weapons should not be drawn lightly'? It was just a ladder handed to me by the other party. If it were really a matter of life and death, the other party could kill me in one move. Never mind anything else, just the speed and power of that blade were already overwhelming for me."

Moreover, he saw traces of familiarity in that single stroke of the blade.

"Willow Brushing Force," "Extreme Force"... both were hidden within it.

He couldn't believe it.

Just then, the Wang brothers had already stepped forward. Seeing the situation, they hurried over and shouted, "Father, why are you with Mr. Song..."

"Mr... Song..." Mr. Wang said with a bitter voice.

His sons have never called anyone else "Mr.," unless that person had already surpassed their father in their hearts...

An Changsheng was not stupid. Seeing this, he suddenly realized that the blind man was indeed very strong. Then he rolled his eyes and said, "How come my sister hasn't returned yet? I am here on the old master's orders to take her back! Is she not even listening to the old master's words?"

Having said that, he pulled out a letter from his bosom and said, "Look, everyone, take a good look."

The air went still.

An Changsheng saw that he had successfully brought the room under control and secretly let out a sigh of relief, feeling quite proud of himself.

Even if An Chenyu has found a wild man who can fight, so what?

He was not here to fight; he was here to claim what was his.

He just needs to follow protocol.

At this moment...

Song Cheng broke the silence, saying, "Let's start with a meal to wash the dust from your journey."

He waved his hand, instructing several servants and maids to prepare the feast.

Aside from Mr. Wang, the four guards that came with An Changsheng had also learned of Song Cheng's strength from others present and were now showing bitter smiles, thinking to themselves, "This job is probably not going to be easy." Meanwhile, two of An Changsheng's trusted guards were rolling their eyes, already cooking up crooked schemes.

The whole Commerce Chamber mansion was bustling with activity.

An Changsheng, accompanied by two trusted guards, began searching for treasures, acting like robbers, grabbing anything valuable they saw. In his view, the whole Commerce Chamber was his An family's property; what was wrong with taking a few things from his own home? Wasn't that perfectly justified?

Just as he was about to barge into the young mistress's courtyard, Ling abruptly jumped out and shouted, "You're not allowed in!"

An Changsheng stared at Ling, his eyes roving over her voluptuous figure, as if they had already penetrated the layers of her clothing and reached what was within.

He smiled and said, "I hadn't noticed before, but when did Ling grow up like this? Your young mistress is no good now, you might as well follow me, Young Master. That's where your future lies."

Ling was so scared she immediately closed the door.

Tea drinkers are afraid of the impatient.

An Changsheng signaled with his eyes, and two guards stopped the door from being shut.

With a smile and lecherous eyes fixed on Ling, An Changsheng said, "My little concubine, I'm taking you as my concubine. You must be satisfied with that, right?"

Ling was so anxious she was almost in tears.

Just then, a soft cough suddenly came from the alley.

An Changsheng looked and saw it was the blind man.

Song Cheng said indifferently, "The banquet is ready."

An Changsheng did not dare to defy him, snorted coldly, and then said, "Coming, coming."

Afterward, he threw a flirtatious glance at Ling before departing with his two trusted guards, whispering and chuckling along the way at some private joke.

Song Cheng approached Ling, smiled at her gently, and said in a soft voice, "It's all right."

Ling, still fuming but anxious, said, "Sir, he just said the young mistress is no good now, this..."

Before she could finish, Song Cheng raised his hand and gently touched her hair, saying, "It's all right."

Ling was momentarily stunned.

Song Cheng then turned and walked away. Around the corner, Zhao Hua and Liu Jun joined him.

The incident had occurred, and Great Master Xiong and Master Xu had left angrily, but these two were still here.

Song Cheng glanced briefly at Zhao Hua then, all of a sudden, the Fine Blade slipped from his hand, falling into a muddy puddle, soiling the handle.

He bent down, attempting to pick up the blade.

Zhao Hua narrowed his eyes and briskly stepped forward to pick up the knife for him, saying, "Let me do it, so you don't dirty your hands, Sir."

After speaking, he wiped the mud off the knife handle with his clothes and said, "How about... I clean it up for you, Sir, make it spotless?"

Song Cheng replied, "That would be good."

Zhao Hua then carefully wiped the knife handle and handed it back to Song Cheng with both hands.

Song Cheng, feeling the handle, smiled and said, "You cleaned it very well, thank you."

Zhao Hua gave a formal bow and said, "Sir, I shall take my leave now."

Song Cheng said, "Take care, come for tea again next time."

Zhao Hua nodded emphatically, then turned and left with Liu Jun.

...

```

...

South City.

In a messy alley...

Because this area fell under the jurisdiction of the martial arts hall, it was known for its fierce local customs and was even a place the government officials dared not investigate lightly. The local security situation was directly reported by the martial arts hall.

At this moment, Zhao Hua was leading two martial arts hall brethren into the maze-like alley, twisting and turning until they stopped in front of a large courtyard.

One martial artist stepped forward to knock on the door, a voice from inside responded, and after a brief exchange, the door opened.

Out came a one-eyed, fierce-looking man who respectfully said, "Young Master Zhao, what brings you here?"

This man was a bandit from the surrounding areas of Shanghe County; his surname was Wang, named Han, the second-in-command among the bandits. His likeness and a reward for his capture were still recorded in the Government Office's wanted list.

Zhao Hua strolled in, then said indifferently, "Han, last winter you led many men in escaping from Tang River Village, pursued by the county soldiers with nowhere to go. Who took you in?"

The one-eyed man named Wang Han was taken aback, then promptly said, "If Young Master Zhao needs something, just give the order."

Zhao Hua said, "Some may die, but I will still give you a chance to control your own fate."

Wang Han's body trembled, his scalp tingling.

But he had no choice.

Although a bandit, he was only someone who took advantage of the terrain to rob ordinary people; how could he compare to the youths at the top of the martial arts world in the county town?

He nodded vigorously, "Good! My life and my brothers' lives were given by Young Master Zhao. Moreover, you're giving us a chance, and we are willing to do anything."

Zhao Hua said, "Not everyone is needed, just you and two more brothers will suffice. Who goes, you can draw straws, doesn't matter. But, you must be included."

Wang Han said, "Understood, please speak, Young Master Zhao."

Zhao Hua raised his head, his lips curving into a smile, "Ever heard of An Changsheng?"

Wang Han paused, then skeptically responded, "The eldest son of the Ruyi Commerce Chamber... I know the name, but I've not met him."

Zhao Hua clapped his hands, and someone brought over a portrait.

The portrait unfolded, revealing the image of a finely-dressed young master.

Wang Han was still confused.

Zhao Hua wasn't discouraged; another martial artist behind him continued to display portraits. This time, it was a painting of a guard.

Wang Han leaned over to look and then suddenly realized, "I know this one, for certain. He provided us with a grain convoy's route, saying that the Ruyi Commerce Chamber's young lady would personally transport the grain and that the convoy had no strong protection.

I asked him how did he know, and he said he had arranged for the strong hands to be dispatched elsewhere. Turns out, this guy is An Changsheng's man."

...

...

That evening, An Changsheng took two close guards, heading straight for Biliu Courtyard in the south of the city. Along the way, they had already heard that "these past few days, Biliu Courtyard has several pretty young girls who have just come of age, fresh as can be," and An Changsheng couldn't resist the temptation, so he hurried over for pleasure.

Once at Biliu Courtyard, he threw down a big ingot and shouted, "Bring out the girls!"

The madam, holding the ingot and chuckling, began to call the girls to welcome the guest.

In the midst of the bustling toasts and laughter, a guard suddenly nudged An Changsheng's arm.

"What?"

"Master, look over there."

"What is it?"

An Changsheng followed the direction the guard pointed and saw a one-eyed man eating and drinking.

The guard whispered, "It's that mountain's bandit, seems like the one who sits in the second-in-command position."

An Changsheng stroked his chin; he was vexed over how to take Chenyu away today.

After all, when he/she appeared, Chenyu disappeared, excusing himself/herself as being busy all day outside, and hasn't returned to this moment, with no clue where he/she went.

And now, that bandit had turned up.

Perhaps it was fate.

Last time, Chenyu was lucky, but this time there was no escape.

So, he leaned in and whispered to the guard, "Go ask him, if there's work to be done, is he interested? Don't reveal my identity."

The guard instantly approached, and after some talking, came back and quietly said, "Done, but we need to discuss the details, right now."

An Changsheng's eyes flicked towards the second-floor private room and said, "Invite him up."

...

...

A moment later.

An Changsheng, the two guards, Wang Han, and two other bandits sat in a private room at Biliu Courtyard, quietly discussing the matter at hand.

They recalled their previous friendly collaboration, chatting cheerfully about previous raids and how they robbed the commerce chamber and repelled the encircling county soldiers, before starting to outline their operation to kidnap Chenyu this time...

While the discussion was in full swing, suddenly rapid footsteps "thumped" up the stairs.

Before long, the door of the private room was "bang" kicked open fiercely.

County Magistrate Ouyang Fei, full of ferocity, looked over and bellowed, "Conspiring with bandits, attacking county soldiers, arrest them all!"

Wang Han and the two bandits turned and leapt out the window, then began to run for their lives.

In the room, An Changsheng was completely stunned. Conspiring with bandits was a crime punishable by death, so he hastily stammered and feigned ignorance, "Bandits? What bandits? Who are the bandits? Sir, I... I don't know anything!"

Ouyang Fei sneered, "Do you take me for a fool? I've been listening outside your door for quite some time."

With that, he waved his hand and commanded, "Seize them!"

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