Chapter 783: I Come from the Mountains, the Mountain Wind Flips My Book

Taoshu Town—a town whose very name suggested coolness—was currently simmering with tension.

In terms of appearance, Wang Yuanran's group, one of the two confronting parties, looked quite respectable. Only Yan Tongshu, the direct grandson of veteran general Yan Zhenchun, seemed like a villain. The tall young man who had severely injured the Brocade Rider Corporal was merely arrogant, not outwardly malicious. The four silent, elderly family retainers, revered like grandmasters, also exuded an aura of dignified presence. On the Beiliang side, over sixty patrolling Brocade Riders, lightly armored and carrying only their cool-steel sabers (not bows or crossbows), were visible on the town streets. The Brocade Rider Commandant, who oversaw affairs in Taoshu Town and two other towns at the foot of Wudang Mountain, was burly but had small eyes that almost disappeared when he squinted. He was supporting his subordinate, the Brocade Rider Corporal, whose chest was stained with blood. The corporal had been hit by a punch from the tall young man, sent flying several yards down the street, and evidently suffered severe internal injuries that would require at least two or three months of recovery before he could return to duty.

The reason the Brocade Rider Commandant didn't act rashly, ordering his sixty-odd brothers who had rushed to his side to draw their sabers and attack, was twofold. Firstly, several hidden masters were among the opponents, and even with the support of Fushui Mansion spies, his side might not gain the upper hand. Secondly, the young man who had struck the blow had already revealed his identity: he was the son of a Shengsheng Colonel from Liyang. The Shengsheng Colonel was one of the four powerful colonels in the capital region, holding a respectable but not exceedingly high rank (fourth-grade), yet he was a strong candidate for one of Liyang's twelve Grand Generals (Four Expeditions, Four Garrisons, Four Pacifications). The Brocade Rider Commandant, who had just reached his thirtieth year, was himself a scion of a Beiliang military family and intimately familiar with the sordid ways of the aristocratic clique. When trouble arose, the true instigators rarely showed their faces or made a scene, deeming it beneath them. Instead, they relied on their effective lackeys to step forward. The young man whose father was a Shengsheng Colonel fell into this category. The fact that a scion of such a prestigious military family from Tai'an City would act as a lackey suggested that the other young masters, who showed no fear or panic when facing over sixty Beiliang Brocade Riders, held positions of equal or even higher status.

This Brocade Rider Commandant's immediate superior was Luo Hongcai, the Jagged Eagle Colonel, who commanded the military affairs of three nearby prefectures. Colonel Luo had given strict orders early on: the Buddhist-Taoist debate at Lotus Peak was crucial for Beiliang's reputation. Those coming to Wudang Mountain for the spectacle were either officials or scholars, and the young ladies were all delicate, well-bred daughters from prominent families, timid and not to be ruffled. He instructed his men, "When you encounter these people, be gentle, give them a smile, speak kindly when guiding them, don't be impatient, and offer help when you can. In short, any bastard who dares to disgrace Beiliang in front of outsiders will be flayed by me, Luo Hongcai!"

The Brocade Rider Commandant was in a difficult position. Although a single word from him could ignite a full-blown fight in Taoshu Town, and even if his sixty Brocade Riders couldn't win, Colonel Luo had over two thousand elite soldiers at the foot of Wudang Mountain, as the commandant of two hundred Brocade Riders, he couldn't act on impulse. Beating up the son of a Shengsheng Colonel was one thing, but if he accidentally injured one or two sons of Imperial Grand Generals (with titles like "Expedition," "Garrison," or "Pacification"), or crippled the descendants of high-ranking officials from the Six Ministries, and the situation escalated, would the Prince really have to clean up their mess personally? But the Brocade Rider Commandant felt stifled and indignant. He thought, if these arrogant "turtle-sons" from Tai'an City weren't here, but instead Northern Barbarians, he wouldn't hesitate like this. Today's incident was clearly provoked by those capital aristocrats. Corporal Tao Niuche had already been patient enough; if it had been him seeing that scene, he would have drawn his saber and attacked without a second thought. How dare they bully a woman from Beiliang?

Wang Yuanran breathed a slight sigh of relief. Fortunately, the Commandant was a man of reason; otherwise, if both sides truly fought without regard for consequences, his secret plans would be ruined. Wang Yuanran subtly scanned his companions out of the corner of his eye, taking in their nuanced expressions.

Yan Tongshu's body trembled slightly, a mix of apprehension at facing the legendary Beiliang fierce soldiers and excitement. The entire city of Tai'an called him an irredeemable lecher, saying that his ineptness was retribution for Grand General Yan Zhenchun's excessive killings and heavy sins, leaving only such an untalented sole grandson to uphold the Yan family's facade. But if he, Yan Tongshu, could return to the capital safely this time, who would dare say he wasn't a hero who dared to challenge the Beiliang army? Who would dare call him a coward again?

Li Changliang, son of Li Shouguo, the Shengsheng Colonel stationed in the northern capital region, belonged to a family whose most prominent figure in the capital was not the high-ranking Colonel Li, but rather Li Chang'an, Li Changliang's elder brother. Though only in his early thirties, Li Chang'an already held the position of Mid-level General among Liyang's standing generals. More importantly, this fourth-grade general, Li Chang'an, was among the first group of capital-region military officers promoted by the Emperor after his ascension. Last year, Li Changliang himself had followed Yang Shenxing and Yang Huchen, father and son, and their Jizhou army south to suppress the rebellion. Unfortunately, the Yang family army suffered repeated defeats, becoming the laughingstock of the entire court. Apart from the peerless fierce general Yang Huchen, who lost an arm, no one in this rebel-suppression army was rewarded for their contributions, regardless of whether they had actually achieved any. Li Changliang, who had personally beheaded over ten Western Chu rebels on the battlefield, had consequently fallen into obscurity. Why would Li Changliang, who secretly looked down on Yan Tongshu, step in for him today? Out of friendship? That would be underestimating Li Changliang, whose father and brother were both heroes. Before leaving the capital, his family had secretly tried to help him join the Duoyan Elite Cavalry, a unit built by Tang Tieshuang, the Vice Minister of War, in Liaodong. However, Vice Minister Tang had always been evasive, claiming that since he no longer commanded troops, his words might not carry weight. Who would believe that? The Duoyan Elite Cavalry, which won several small victories on the border in Xiangfu Year Two, should really be called the Tang Family Elite Cavalry! It was only to avoid suspicion and prevent criticism against Tang Tieshuang in the Ministry of War that a border general not named Tang was appointed as the new commander of the sixteen thousand Duoyan Elite Cavalry. Yet, wasn't that man still someone Tang Tieshuang had personally promoted step by step from a corporal? As long as Li Changliang made a statement in Beiliang today, he wouldn't even need to boast about it back in Tai'an City. Tang Tieshuang, who, along with Cai Nan, served as Grand Pillar Gu Jiantang's right-hand man, would surely understand. Would not the coveted position of Duoyan Elite Cavalry Commandant be Li Changliang's for the taking?

Song Tianbao seemed to be foolishly staring at the tall Beiliang beauty. Wang Yuanran sneered internally. Was he trying to imitate Yan Tongshu's lecherous act? Yan Tongshu had brought three thousand taels of gold to the capital last year and squandered it all in just over half a year, even paying for the "first night" of several young courtesans in Tai'an City just for himself. This fat man wasn't even someone who would abandon friends for lust, so why pretend he would abandon his life for it? In Xiangfu Year Two, you claimed to have stolen five thousand taels of gold from your father. Given your father's shrewdness, capable of plucking feathers from a flying goose or meat from a mosquito's leg, it would be difficult for you to secretly steal five thousand taels of gold from Liaodong without his permission or tacit approval, let alone even a single copper coin. Fatty Song, since you came to the capital, in this past year, haven't you helped your father earn far more than eight thousand taels of gold, all thanks to the names of people like Wang Yuanran and Yan Tongshu?

Wang Wanyi, daughter of the former Vice Minister of Justice, Wang Zuo, was named so because the old minister, famous in the capital for his obsession with Go, had eight sons and finally had a daughter in his later years. Wang Wanyi's appearance was passable, but her figure was excellent. Unfortunately, her character was debatable. Over the years, how many impoverished scholars, hoping to climb the social ladder, had she seduced only to abandon them? Did she truly see herself as a fox spirit from a fantasy tale? Pity those poor scholars who could only lodge in temples on the outskirts of the capital. While burning the midnight oil, a veiled, graceful woman would suddenly "float" outside their window, captivating everyone. At this moment, Wang Wanyi was glaring at the tall woman from the North, who resembled a true fox spirit descended to the mortal realm, with the gaze of an enemy.

Seeing that the situation was under control, Wang Yuanran grew calmer. His gaze swept past the watchful Beiliang Brocade Riders, noticing that Yin Changgeng and his companions had all arrived beside Gao Shiqing, who had appeared on the street earliest. Wang Yuanran's emotions were naturally complex upon seeing these people. Last year, his father had been a minister potentially poised to take over the Gulu power from Grand Secretary Zhang. Yet, even if his father hadn't been demoted and reassigned to the war-torn Guangling Province, during the infamous capital incident, after Wang Yuanran provoked Zhao Chunyuan and beat Han Xingyan, his father still made him kneel outside the Zhao family residence for half a day. To this day, Wang Yuanran didn't believe he was wrong. It was Zhao Chunyuan, that faithless woman, who had first wronged his childhood sweetheart, his own elder brother. Yet, she ran off to marry that Yin fellow, claiming she and Yin Changgeng were deeply in love, and that she felt guilty towards Wang Yuanran's brother, who elders universally praised as gentle and honest. In reality, it was all because she saw the promising career prospects of the Yin family, especially with Yin Maochun set to succeed her father as the "Heavenly Official," Minister of Personnel. Zhao Youling, that old man, had held power in the Ministry of Personnel for over a decade, controlling the promotions of officials across the realm. Was there truly nothing dirty under his seat? Could he really wipe it clean before moving to the Central Secretariat? If Wang Yuanran could, he would rush up and slap Zhao Chunyuan, then expose Han Xingyan's true nature in front of the Gao siblings: *You* didn't dare speak up, so you meekly married that Zhao family princess according to matchmakers' arrangements. Wang Yuanran had always had a decent relationship with Han Xingyan. That punch he landed on Vice Minister Han's son's face last year was not only a lament for his misfortune but also a rage at his lack of fight. Wang Yuanran's gaze finally settled on Yin Changgeng, his eyes mirroring Wang Wanyi's gaze at the Beiliang woman.

Yin Changgeng, what a proud son of heaven, valued and favored by all! Benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, trustworthiness, gentleness, kindness, respectfulness, frugality, humility—all seemed to be embodied in one person. Could such a perfect young talent truly exist in the world? Wang Yuanran didn't believe it, but from Zhao Youling to Yuan Guo to Han Lin, and even Wang Yuanran's own father, Wang Xiong'gui—this large group of famous ministers from the Yonghui era who originated from Gulu—all spoke highly of Yin Changgeng. Wang Yuanran suddenly smiled. There was indeed one person who shared his view, a hero's insight! And it was someone Yin Changgeng would never guess: Huan Wen, the "Frank Old Man," a senior minister from three Liyang dynasties! Wang Yuanran feared many in his life, but he only truly respected the Frank Old Man. So, when the Frank Old Man told him to go to the Imperial Academy for self-reflection, Wang Yuanran directly refused his mother's pleas and honestly went to the Imperial Academy to settle his mind and cultivate his character. As Wang Yuanran was about to leave the Imperial Academy, rumors circulated that the Frank Old Man intended to retire and yield his position, and that Zhao Youling or Yin Maochun were very likely to take over the Ministry of the Household. Amidst these undercurrents, the old man, for the first time, personally visited Wang Yuanran at the Imperial Academy. Before leaving, the Frank Old Man spoke words Wang Yuanran swore he would never forget: "An old man like me, with one foot in the grave, even your father Wang Xiong'gui at his age, is already halfway buried. We've pretty much reached the end of the book, can't find new tricks. But young people like you are different. The old saying goes, 'Every family has its difficult scripture to recite,' but no matter how hard it is, you, young man, should be sensible, recite it well, and make sure it's good. The reason I'm rambling about this is that when I, Huan Wen, was young, I was as idle as you are. But the old saying 'a prodigal son's return is worth gold' is true, it doesn't lie."

Wang Yuanran was, of course, aware of the broader context, but focusing on Li Changliang, Song Tianbao, and others nearby, he knew none of them were fools. Their "reckless" actions were simply a matter of mutual gain. To reach their level, even the notoriously despicable Yan Tongshu wasn't truly stupid. Song Tianbao needed Yan Tongshu, as the direct grandson of Yan Zhenchun, to parade around under his banner. Besides enjoying free food, drink, and courtesans for an entire year, how much silver had Yan Tongshu secretly brought into the perennially cash-strapped Yan family? At least two hundred thousand taels! Otherwise, did they think the favorable posthumous title for old General Yan could have passed the Ministry of Rites' grand deliberation so smoothly after his death? The more Wang Yuanran re-examined those around him, the more he began to understand the difficulty of his father's official career. Therefore, while Wang Yuanran couldn't arrange for his father, the Strategist of Guangling Province, to return from his arduous post to serve as a central minister in the capital, he could at least earn some scholarly reputation for his father through his own actions.

Suddenly, an unexpected delight arrived.

Perhaps sensing the awkward predicament of the Beiliang Brocade Riders, the sword-wielding Beiliang woman, one of the parties involved, announced her identity. It turned out her father was Song Yan, the Prefectural Assistant of Lingzhou. As the second-in-command of Lingzhou's civil officials, he was considered a high-ranking regional official within Beiliang. Song Huangmei, Song Yan's daughter, pointed her sword tip at Li Changliang, son of the Shengsheng Colonel, and angrily retorted, "So we're comparing ranks, are we? Is your father's damn colonel rank so impressive?!" Wang Yuanran could barely suppress a smile. It was true that Beiliang had recently demoted many irregular generals and colonels; those without military command weren't even allowed to wear the Beiliang saber in public. However, Li Shouguo's colonel rank was genuinely impressive. He was a fourth-grade official, equivalent to Song Yan's Prefectural Assistant. And while this Shengsheng Colonel might not immediately become one of the Grand Generals of the Four Expeditions or Four Garrisons, with proper maneuvering and smooth sailing for four or five years, he would certainly secure a position as one of the slightly lower-ranked Four Pacification Generals. What's more, his brother was privately hailed as the "Law" of Liyang's military circles. In comparison, this Prefectural Assistant's daughter was still slightly outmatched by Li Changliang.

The lecherous Yan Tongshu first chuckled, then burst into an exaggerated laugh. It seemed this young rake had a peculiar talent, capable of trembling in a "flirty" manner for a man. He held a fan in one hand and clutched his chest with the other, exclaiming, "Oh, brother, I'm scared to death!" Yan Tongshu finally managed to stop laughing and sneered, "A mere Prefectural Assistant? Let's not even talk about that. A Prefect might be barely acceptable." At this point, the cold and elegant woman, who had remained indifferent to the farce, finally spoke. She turned to the Brocade Rider Commandant and softly said, "My father is Strategist Li." The Brocade Rider Commandant was stunned for a moment. The woman offered a sweet smile and gently added, "And yes, I have a younger brother named Li Hanlin, who is currently the You Nu Rider Commandant of Liangzhou."

In Beiliang's military, both among domestic garrisons and frontier troops beyond the passes, the name Li Hanlin was widely known, often carrying more weight than even Li Gongde, Beiliang's top civil official. The Brocade Rider Commandant first offered a knowing smile, but then became even more conflicted. This matter today wasn't truly about who held a higher rank. As a low-ranking Brocade Rider Commandant within Beiliang, his hesitation in ordering those scoundrels to be beaten into pulp wasn't due to a lack of personal connections. Rather, with the war between Liang and Mang raging fiercely, he, as the only son in his family, had already been prevented from going to the frontier to fight the barbarians by his parents and all his family elders. However, his father was a former regular Youzhou border colonel, a military officer who had always been keenly aware of the general political situation. As commandant, he knew much about the current relationship between Beiliang and the Liyang imperial court. The more he knew, the less he could afford to create new problems now, causing trouble for Colonel Luo, or even for the Prince, and further worsening Beiliang's precarious situation. He turned to look at Corporal Tao Niuche, his subordinate, who stubbornly refused to leave. Even this old comrade understood the gravity of the situation, choosing to remove his armor and Beiliang saber to confront Li Changliang as a Beiliang civilian. How could he act recklessly? Tao Niuche was once a You Nu Rider Corporal in Beiliang. Like Li Hanlin, he was an elite scout responsible for clearing the path for the Dragon Elephant Cavalry's northern advance. He sustained a severe injury to his left leg in battle and had to leave the You Nu Riders. According to Beiliang frontier army regulations, he could have served as a deputy officer in a local garrison, but Tao Niuche stubbornly refused, saying he was just an old cripple and would be content to return to his hometown as a corporal. That single utterance, "Beiliang barbarian," for an old frontier veteran who had perhaps spent half his life fighting Northern Barbarians to the death, was truly hurtful. Brocade Rider Commandant Fan Xiangda lowered his head and softly said to his old comrade, who had returned from the Liangzhou frontier, "I'm sorry."

Yan Tongshu snapped open his folding fan and smiled, "What's that saying again? 'Small temple, strong evil wind; shallow water, many turtles'? I never expected that just taking a casual stroll in this small town, I'd encounter both the Strategist General and the Prefectural Assistant's daughter! What, do you intend to abuse your power? To privately use military force to exterminate us good citizens?!" Wang Wanyi was instantly amused. Hearing the terms "abuse of power" and "good citizens" from the lecherous Yan Tongshu truly had a unique flavor. Wang Yuanran and Li Changliang remained composed. The more prominent the Beiliang individuals involved, the greater the acclaim they would receive in the capital later. However, their four high-ranking guards were much more tense. With their skill, dealing with two or three hundred cavalrymen was no problem. But if they genuinely confronted the daughter of Beiliang's Strategist General, it would be akin to provoking the Grand Secretary's daughter in Liyang's capital. Such an incident might alert large-scale regular troops in the area. Who initiated the bloody measure of "sending heads across the jianghu" in Liyang twenty years ago? Wasn't it Xu Rentu, the Old King of Liang, right here?! Moreover, they heard that Xu Fengnian, who had just fought Tuoba Pusa, was currently on Wudang Mountain! At that point, let alone protecting these young masters and ladies, they themselves might be like mud Buddha crossing a river—unable to save themselves.

Not far off, Gao Shiqing also smiled, "This lecherous Yan isn't completely stupid. This way, the Beiliang cavalry must either retreat ignominiously or confirm the accusation of abusing power by using soldiers to kill innocent citizens." Gao Shilian snorted coldly, "If I were that Brocade Rider Commandant, I wouldn't waste words. Even if I didn't kill him, I'd string Yan Tongshu up and beat him soundly." Yin Changgeng shook his head, "Beiliang is in a dilemma here. Without completely breaking ties and deploying an army larger than six hundred cavalry, and with those several martial arts masters protecting them, they won't be able to apprehend Yan Tongshu and the others." Gao Shilian grumbled, "To actually make Beiliang suffer a setback once—these guys will surely be hailed as battlefield heroes when they return to the capital." Yin Changgeng smiled, "Let's go. We've seen enough excitement. You all have really wasted that pot of Chunchenghu tea."

Just then, a thunderous rumble rolled through the town streets, so intense that even Zhao Chunyuan felt a suffocating pressure. As a black-armored cavalry unit charged into the town with overwhelming momentum, archers continuously dismounted, swiftly climbed onto rooftops, and occupied advantageous positions. In the small Taoshu Town, even with the cavalry on the streets and archers on the rooftops, totaling no more than four or five hundred men, they formed a formidable force like a black cloud poised to crush a city! The leading general, riding at full gallop, arrived beside Brocade Rider Commandant Fan Xiangda. Sitting high on his Liangzhou warhorse, he scowled and roared, "Fan! Are you old men here sunbathing?!" Fan Xiangda was flustered and about to speak when Jagged Eagle Colonel Luo Hongcai furiously cursed, "You bastard! What kind of Beiliang army doesn't draw their sabers when facing an enemy?! If the Prince hears that old Luo brought out such a pathetic bunch of soldiers, how can I still be a colonel?!" Luo Hongcai scanned his surroundings and declared in a deep voice, "All irrelevant personnel, clear the streets immediately! You will not be waited for; any remaining will be treated as hostile!" Colonel Luo was probably truly furious with Fan Xiangda, but since Fan was his trusted subordinate, he at least showed him some face. He slightly turned his head and spat, then abruptly raised his arm and announced loudly, "Patrolling Brocade Riders, retreat! Jagged Eagle Cavalry, form ranks! Draw sabers!" Luo Hongcai stared grimly at the group, habitually baring his teeth, which gleamed unnervingly white. "Anyone who flees without cause will be shot on sight by the archers." While not ideal for a full cavalry charge, it wasn't difficult for a single rider to charge through. And since they weren't crashing into well-formed infantry formations, they could simply do as they pleased.

Jagged Eagle Colonel Luo Hongcai commanded fewer than three thousand troops, with only these five hundred cavalry, whom he cherished like his own life. After much begging, pleading, and pulling strings with old superiors, Luo Hongcai still managed to procure over eight hundred "Class B-minus" warhorses from the Beiliang Horse Ranch. This was an astonishing feat in local military circles, excluding only the top-tier colonels guarding strategic passes. Typically, Youzhou and Lingzhou colonels, whose forces were mostly infantry, would be burning incense if they had two hundred Class B warhorses. Of course, Luo Hongcai's capability was also greatly linked to the King of Beiliang personally leading the Youzhou Ten Thousand Cavalry on a long-distance raid from Jibei to Hulukou. The Beiliang Horse Ranch, which had always paid little heed to garrisons outside the Liangzhou frontier army, had, thanks to the Prince, recently greatly changed its view of the Youzhou garrison. Within their purview, they would now relatively prioritize allocating warhorses to Youzhou, a region not known for its cavalry. As for the colonels in Lingzhou, they needn't even dream of it; cursing and stomping wouldn't help. Who could blame them? Youzhou had Yu Luandao, who fought alongside the Prince on a thousand-mile raid. Did Lingzhou have anyone like that?

Yan Tongshu was likely so terrified that his legs had turned to jelly; his face was pale, and his lips trembled. Even with the four renowned Liyang martial arts masters stepping forward in unison to shield them, the Yan family's eldest young master couldn't stop trembling. This time, it wasn't a "flirty" tremble. Liu Chengfeng, the son of the Hezhou Prefect, wore a tear-stained face, wishing he could die. "I was just thinking of marrying a Vice Minister's daughter to bring honor to my ancestors. How can you Beiliang people just kill on a whim?" Li Changliang, seasoned by battlefield experience, was probably the calmest among them, observing every detail of this regular Beiliang garrison. The two local Beiliang scions who had previously joined the group to act as lackeys for these capital aristocrats almost simultaneously turned and bolted, aiming to flee into the inn. But a middle-aged man nearby, who served as a guard and instructor for the Li family, instantly stretched out his hands, pulling the two back. Just then, two arrows whizzed through the air. Had it not been for that pull, dragging them back from the gates of hell, the two unfortunate souls would have been pinned through their backs by the arrows, lucky to survive, but gravely wounded. Wang Yuanran finally couldn't hold back and roared, "Do you Beiliang army really dare to kill people without cause on the street?!" Jagged Eagle Colonel Luo Hongcai didn't waste words on him; he simply waved his large hand. The cavalry began to charge.

An elderly master retainer, who served as the behind-the-scenes linchpin for the Yan family, made the first move. The old man was a genuine second-grade Lesser Grandmaster. Had he not suffered a nearly fatal injury on the battlefield in his middle age, causing him to cough incessantly in damp weather and making every breath excruciatingly painful, he might now be a peak master in the First Grade Vajra or even Zhi Xuan realm. The old man, saved by Yan Zhenchun on the battlefield, stayed with the Yan family out of gratitude. In the capital's martial arts circles, he was nicknamed "Half-Qi Across the River," referring to how, despite his difficult breathing during illness, his internal energy (gangqi) was incredibly robust when facing an enemy, complemented by his superb mastery of body-hardening martial arts. The old man confronted a charging Jagged Eagle cavalryman, just about to smash the warhorse's head with a palm, when suddenly, a strange figure darted out from an angle. With a gentle push to his chest, the figure instantly propelled him back to his original position. The old man had barely exhaled one breath before having to immediately take another, his slightly wrinkled clothes on his chest vibrating and then returning to normal. Not only him, but the other three masters from their side also moved to block the cavalryman, but without exception, they were intercepted by figures who emerged mid-way. Although the four clashes between the eight individuals happened in a flash, with varying degrees of advantage, this brief interval ultimately allowed the Jagged Eagle cavalryman to smoothly reach Yan Tongshu, who was standing on the outermost edge. As the rider and the man brushed past each other, the Beiliang saber, without any visible swing or chop, sliced a gaping, bleeding wound across the shoulder of the wide-eyed Yan family's eldest young master. This was fortunate, as Li Changliang had pulled Yan Tongshu back; otherwise, the gash would have been on Yan Tongshu's neck. After that one rider passed, hundreds more continued to thunder in.

Li Changliang, who originally hadn't wanted to get too deeply involved, had no choice but to enter the fray again. He stepped forward two paces, ducking his head to evade a saber slash from atop a horse, then slammed his shoulder violently into the warhorse's side, knocking both rider and horse flying. But before Li Changliang could catch his breath, a third rider brought his saber down. Li Changliang took a series of quick, small steps, spun around, and grabbed the cavalryman's sword-wielding arm. With an angry roar, Li Changliang forcefully dragged him off his horse and threw him towards a fourth rider. The latter, without even withdrawing his saber, leaned sharply to the right, dodging the thrown figure, and still managed to deliver a strike at Li Changliang.

Gao Shilian, who had followed the crowd back towards the inn, looked back and witnessed this scene. Though not directly involved, he felt a great tremor in his heart. He whispered to Yin Changgeng, "Are we really just leaving? By the looks of it, this Beiliang cavalry truly intends to kill." Yin Changgeng hesitated, then finally stopped, looking at Li Changliang and the others in the distance, who were now in grave danger. His expression was solemn. The group stopped under the eaves. Gao Shiqing angrily exclaimed, "These Beiliang people are going too far! Killing people in broad daylight on the street? Is there no law anymore?! Wang Yuanran is, after all, the son of a Strategist General, and he hasn't done anything utterly wicked. Are their Beiliang cavalry just going to kill him on a whim?!" Yin Changgeng remained silent. He knew that it was precisely because of the sensitive identities of Wang Yuanran and his group that Beiliang was willing to go to such great lengths. Within certain unspoken rules understood by both sides, the imperial court had consistently harassed Beiliang, and Beiliang had endured it for twenty years. But Beiliang could not be humiliated. Yin Changgeng's lips curved into a faint, almost imperceptible smile. He stepped out from under the eaves and softly spoke towards a second-story window of the inn, "Mr. Qi, please."

The next moment, in Taoshu Town, sword energy filled the streets. The chilling coldness of the sword energy instantly made the name Taoshu Town (Escape Heat Town) seem perfectly appropriate. But before Gao Shiqing, Zhao Wenwei, and the others could truly marvel at the depth of Mr. Qi Jiajie's swordsmanship and the intensity of his sword energy, they suddenly realized that the bone-chilling coolness had appeared as swiftly as it vanished! It was simply gone! Then, at some point, a young man appeared beside them, holding a book, as if he had just been reading at home and rushed out to join the commotion without even putting it down. There was only a light breeze on Taoshu Town's street, not enough to turn pages, but Zhao Chunyuan and Gao Shiqing, being more observant women, noticed that the book held open in the young man's hands had just turned a page.