《Beauty Born with Pride》


 Chapter 1 - Emerging from the Wind and Snow

    As dusk approached, the snow swirled and danced, half resembling plum blossoms, half like drifting willow catkins.


    A few snowflakes fell onto the windowsill of a small tavern by the official road, the only place within ten miles to escape the wind and snow.


    At this moment, Wei Changle stood behind the tavern window, staring absentmindedly at the heavy snowfall outside through a small gap in the window.


    Last night, he had been a successful business mogul, building an empire from scratch and nearly causing a fitness influencer with a large chest and an alluring figure to faint from dehydration.


    But when he woke up, he found himself in this unfamiliar tavern, his soul having entered the body of a young man, and the memories of the original owner flooding in like a tidal wave.


    Wei Changle, second son of the General of the Eastern Cavalry of the Daliang Empire, had just turned sixteen a month ago. Due to some trouble he had caused, he was demoted and sent to the remote county of Shanyin in Shuozhou to fill the vacant position of county magistrate.


    He could only bring two attendants from Taiyuan Prefecture to travel to Shanyin County for his new post.


    Unexpectedly, a snowstorm struck on the way, forcing them to seek shelter in the tavern. In the span of a single dream, he had undergone this soul transmigration.


    He yawned, slowly turned around, and glanced around the tavern.


    The tavern was already packed with people. Tables and chairs had been moved to the sides and piled up, with a large fire burning in the center. A dozen or so people huddled around the fire, warming themselves, while others rested in various corners of the tavern, some even snoring.


    His gaze landed on a corner where there were two figures: an elderly man and a young boy.


    The elderly man, over fifty years old, was named Wei Gu, and the boy, no older than thirteen or fourteen, was called Zhin¨¹, a nickname meaning "pig servant." Both were attendants traveling with Wei Changle.


    Wei Gu was lying on the ground, using a long wooden box as a pillow, while Zhin¨¹ was half-asleep, leaning against the wall, tightly clutching a bundle in his arms.


    Laughter erupted from around the fire as the group seemed to be sharing something amusing.


    Wei Changle had no interest in their conversation.


    Suddenly finding himself in this world, he needed to adapt and think carefully about his next steps.


    He slowly walked to the corner of the room and sat down next to Wei Gu.


    "Second young master, rest well. We won¡¯t be able to leave tonight," Wei Gu sat up and murmured. "We''ll wait until morning, then it¡¯s just two more days of travel. We¡¯ll reach safely."


    Since he had arrived in this world, it had nearly been a full day. Wei Changle had already calmed down from his initial shock.


    The second son of the Wei family wasn¡¯t in a lowly position. Becoming a county magistrate, though a demotion, was hardly a miserable job, so he was able to accept it without much difficulty.


    "Old Wei, I didn¡¯t cause any trouble on the way here, did I?" Wei Changle leaned against the wall and smiled. "The master must have sent you to keep an eye on me, reporting everything I do in secret. So, when you write your letters, you should speak more favorably about me."


    The original host had been a troublemaker, and the Wei family was worried that Wei Changle would continue to stir up problems.


    Wei Gu chuckled. "Second young master is joking. Old servant is just here to look after you, not to spy."


    "If you''re really looking after me, you should¡¯ve sent a young and pretty lady to do it," Wei Changle rolled his eyes. "You can¡¯t even take care of yourself, how are you supposed to take care of me?"


    Wei Gu awkwardly smiled. "But there¡¯s Zhin¨¹, isn¡¯t there?"


    "Zhin¨¹ listens to the second young master. Whatever you say, he¡¯ll do," Zhin¨¹ chimed in obediently, his clear eyes shimmering with a faint, shy smile.


    "You¡¯re such a good kid," Wei Changle glanced at him but didn¡¯t seem pleased.


    "Second young master, would you like to have something to eat?" Zhin¨¹, noticing that Wei Changle seemed troubled, asked softly. "Should I go bake a pancake for you?" Before he could finish, he suddenly turned toward the window, his delicate face showing a wary expression.


    Wei Changle noticed and couldn¡¯t help but ask in a low voice, "What¡¯s wrong? Did you hear something?"


    "Hoofbeats!" Zhin¨¹¡¯s hearing seemed unusually sharp. "Second young master, there are hoofbeats coming this way."


    Wei Changle closed his eyes. Sure enough, the faint sound of hooves could be heard through the wind and snow.


    He was about to stand and move toward the window, but Wei Gu suddenly grabbed his arm and whispered, "Second young master, we were told before we left to act as if we saw and heard nothing, no matter what happens on the road. Don¡¯t get involved in anything that could cause trouble. Safety is the most important thing!"


    Wei Changle hesitated for a moment but decided not to move.


    Wei Changle sat still, his gaze lingering on the window as the sound of hoofbeats grew clearer. The wind howled, mixing with the steady rhythm of the horses¡¯ steps. The noise seemed to be coming closer, and the atmosphere in the tavern grew tense, even though no one else seemed to notice or care.


    Zhin¨¹ remained alert, his eyes darting around as if to confirm what he had heard. Wei Changle took a deep breath and leaned back against the wall, trying to shake off the unease that had settled in his chest.


    A moment later, the sound of the hooves stopped abruptly outside the tavern. Then there was a knock at the door.


    Wei Gu, still sitting cross-legged on the ground, looked up with a calm expression. "Second young master, don¡¯t worry. We¡¯ll be fine."If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    The door opened with a creak, and a tall figure stepped inside, dusted in snow. The man was dressed in a dark cloak, his face hidden beneath a hood, and his boots left traces of snow on the floor.


    The tavern patrons turned their heads, momentarily distracted from their chatter. Some of them tensed up, sensing that the newcomer¡¯s arrival might signal something significant.


    Wei Changle narrowed his eyes, trying to make sense of the situation. He had a feeling that the arrival of this person wasn¡¯t just a coincidence.


    The man stood at the threshold, scanning the room briefly before his gaze landed on Wei Changle. He hesitated for a moment, then took a step forward, his voice low and steady. "I¡¯ve been traveling for days and need to rest. Is there room to spare?"


    There was a brief silence, and then Wei Gu rose slowly, bowing slightly. "Of course, sir. Please come in. The snowstorm is fierce tonight. It¡¯s best to stay here until morning."


    The stranger nodded and stepped inside, his eyes scanning the tavern one last time before he made his way to a seat by the fire. The warmth seemed to relax his stiff posture, and he removed his hood, revealing a sharp, handsome face. His expression, however, remained serious and distant.


    Wei Changle observed him closely. He wasn¡¯t sure what to make of the man, but his presence definitely changed the dynamic in the room. There was something about him that didn¡¯t quite fit with the ordinary tavern patrons, something that felt out of place.


    As the stranger settled by the fire, Zhin¨¹ stood up quietly, his movements swift and fluid as he walked over to the newcomer.


    "Would you like something to eat, sir?" Zhin¨¹ asked politely, his tone soft and respectful.


    The man glanced at Zhin¨¹, his eyes narrowing slightly. "A bit of bread and some wine will do."


    Zhin¨¹ nodded and quickly moved to prepare the order, his movements quick and precise. The stranger¡¯s gaze remained fixed on Wei Changle for a moment longer before he turned his attention back to the fire.


    Wei Changle exchanged a glance with Wei Gu, who had returned to his seat, his expression unreadable. It seemed as though the two men were silently communicating, sharing an unspoken understanding.


    The tension in the tavern didn¡¯t completely dissipate, but it was clear that the arrival of the stranger had shifted the atmosphere. Everyone continued their own conversations, but the eyes of the tavern¡¯s occupants occasionally flicked toward the newcomer, wondering who he was and what brought him to this remote, snowbound place.


    Wei Changle couldn¡¯t help but feel that this stranger might be important¡ªimportant to his future, to his plans, and to the strange fate he had found himself in. But for now, all he could do was wait and observe.


    The tension in the tavern didn¡¯t completely dissipate, but it was clear that the arrival of the stranger had shifted the atmosphere. Everyone continued their own conversations, but the eyes of the tavern¡¯s occupants occasionally flicked toward the newcomer, wondering who he was and what brought him to this remote, snowbound place.


    Wei Changle couldn¡¯t help but feel that this stranger might be important¡ªimportant to his future, to his plans, and to the strange fate he had found himself in. But for now, all he could do was wait and observe.


    As the minutes stretched on, the sound of the wind outside howled louder, and the fire crackled in the hearth. Wei Changle felt the weight of the situation settling heavily upon him. Despite the warmth of the fire, the uncertainty gnawed at him. What was he supposed to do next? How would he navigate this strange new world?


    Zhin¨¹ returned with a small plate of bread and a cup of wine for the stranger, placing them gently on the table in front of him. The stranger nodded in silent gratitude but did not speak further.


    Wei Changle¡¯s mind was still spinning. He looked once more at the stranger, then at the fire, and finally back at Wei Gu. The elder seemed calm as always, but even he could not conceal the slight furrow in his brow¡ªa sign that things weren¡¯t as simple as they seemed.


    But there was nothing to be done tonight. They were stuck here in the tavern, waiting out the storm. Tomorrow would bring another day, and with it, new opportunities¡ªor new challenges.


    For now, all they could do was wait.


    A traveler, who had been near the door, clearly also heard the commotion. He stood up, moved toward the window, and peered outside through a crack. He suddenly staggered backward in shock, his voice trembling with horror. "No... No, it''s bandits...!"


    As soon as these words were spoken, it was as if a stone had been thrown into a calm lake¡ªthe tavern erupted into chaos. Many people¡¯s faces showed alarm and fear.


    "Everyone, don''t panic! Don¡¯t panic!" A chubby old man in his fifties walked out from behind the counter in the corner, raising his hand to signal everyone to stay calm. "I¡¯ve been running this tavern for over ten years, and we¡¯ve never had a bandit raid. This must be some misunderstanding. Let me go check it out."


    The crowd watched nervously as the tavern keeper walked toward the window, holding their breath, hearts pounding in anticipation.


    Wei Changle, equally curious, stood up and joined the tavern keeper by the window, peering outside.


    In the snowstorm, a group of over twenty horsemen rode toward the tavern like a pack of wolves, their horses galloping fiercely through the snow, leaving trails of snow in their wake as they charged in the direction of the tavern.


    These horsemen were large and burly, dressed in sheepskin coats, wearing leather hats, and all carrying longbows with sabers strapped to their waists.


    When the riders got closer, they immediately split into two groups. More than twenty riders divided into two teams of about ten, spreading out like geese in flight. The two teams then circled the tavern at high speed, the sound of their galloping hooves pounding like knives against the hearts of everyone inside, striking fear into their very bones.


    Amid the thundering hooves, a voice from outside shouted sharply, "Fu Wenjun, we know you''re inside! Come out now!"


    "It''s the Night Crying Lord!" The tavern keeper¡¯s face turned ashen. He turned to the crowd and said in a low voice, "The Night Crying Lord is here."


    Upon hearing this, several people in the tavern visibly paled, and one person even collapsed to the ground, trembling. "D... disaster is upon us... we''re going to be in trouble...!"


    Wei Changle was puzzled. He glanced around but didn¡¯t know who Fu Wenjun was, or why such a large group was rushing through the snow to find him. But the others in the tavern didn¡¯t seem concerned with Fu Wenjun¡¯s identity. Instead, they were terrified of the "Night Crying Lord" and eagerly asked the tavern keeper, "Who is the Night Crying Lord?"


    "The land of a thousand bandits, where the Night Crying Lord claims lives," the tavern keeper said, his face full of bitterness. "You¡¯re not from Shan Yin, so you don¡¯t know, I suppose."


    "A pack of wolves that devours people without spitting out bones!" someone spat on the floor, muttering curses. "They wear the skins of officials but do things more depraved than real bandits¡­!"


    The man gritted his teeth, clearly harboring deep hatred for the Night Crying Lord.


    Beside him, another man clenched his fist, saying, "There¡¯s no one in Shan Yin who¡¯s not afraid of them, no one who doesn¡¯t hate them. How... how could they have come here to cause trouble?"


    Wei Changle, however, quickly realized that these "Night Crying Lords" were not bandits, but officials.


    The phrase "the land of a thousand bandits, where the Night Crying Lord claims lives" made sense now. It was clear that the Night Crying Lords hailed from Shan Yin, which was the very place Wei Changle was heading to. This suggested that the place he was about to go was not a peaceful one, but rather a place of great danger.


    "Which one of you is Fu Wenjun?" The tavern keeper bowed to the crowd and said, "The Night Crying Lords are looking for you. Please, step outside to meet them."


    A burly man, his face full of fear, scanned the room frantically and called out in a panic, "Who¡¯s Fu Wenjun? The Night Crying Lords are looking for you! Hurry up and go out before you drag everyone down with you."


    The moment he said this, others quickly chimed in, "That¡¯s right, which one of you is Fu Wenjun? Don¡¯t make us all suffer for your actions. The Night Crying Lords will do anything¡ªthey have no rules!"


    Just then, Wei Changle, standing beside the tavern keeper, suddenly lunged forward with a swift movement. He grabbed the tavern keeper and pulled him to safety, just as an arrow shot through the window with a whoosh, landing with a thud in the ground. If Wei Changle hadn¡¯t acted so quickly, the arrow would have struck the tavern keeper in the back.


    A gasp escaped from the crowd, and Wei Changle turned to look. The arrow was still burning, the tip of it was on fire, a fire-tipped arrow!


    The tavern keeper, taken by surprise, seemed dazed for a moment. When he saw the flaming arrow, he immediately realized how close he had come to death. He felt both fear and gratitude.


    Wei Changle¡¯s expression turned cold, his eyes filled with a cold, calculating light. He understood now¡ªthese Night Crying Lords were ruthless and cruel, without a shred of mercy.


    "They¡¯re going to burn the tavern down," someone cried out. "The Night Crying Lords are going to burn us all alive!"

 Chapter 2 – The Night Crying Man

    A wave of panic spread through the crowd, and the shopkeeper''s face turned ashen.


    This tavern was the foundation of his livelihood, and to him, it was even more important than his life.


    For a moment, the shopkeeper didn''t care about anything else. He rushed to the door, yanked it open, ran a few steps outside, and with a "thud," he dropped to his knees, kowtowing like mad and loudly pleading, "Gentlemen, show mercy, don¡¯t set the fire, please show mercy!"


    "Is Fu Wenjun inside?" a deep voice asked.


    The shopkeeper looked up and saw a burly man with thick brows riding a fine horse not far ahead. On each side of him, there was another rider, each holding a torch.


    The burly man wore leather arm guards on both arms, setting him apart from the others¡ªhe was clearly the leader of the Night Crying Rangers.


    The other Night Crying Rangers, meanwhile, continued to ride around the tavern, drawing their longbows. After nocking an arrow, they used the torches to ignite the arrowheads, then rode around the tavern shooting flaming arrows in all directions.


    "I don¡¯t know him... I don¡¯t know Fu Wenjun..." the shopkeeper continued kowtowing. "Gentlemen, show mercy, show mercy!"


    "Whoosh!"


    An arrow shot out with a sharp whistle, and with a "thud," it struck the shopkeeper''s shoulder. The shopkeeper let out a scream and fell backward onto the ground.


    "Since you don¡¯t know, that makes you a worthless commoner," the archer from the Night Crying Rangers cursed. "Useless dog, how dare you come out and make noise?"


    Several of the Night Crying Rangers laughed heartily. The burly leader praised, "Pang Lao Liu, your archery has improved again, looks like you¡¯ve been practicing a lot."


    Just as his words finished, another Night Crying Ranger drew his bow and released another arrow. It shot through the air like a meteor, and with a "thud," it struck the shopkeeper¡¯s left knee. Amid the shopkeeper''s agonized scream, the Night Crying Ranger laughed, "Captain, my archery hasn¡¯t been neglected either."


    "Ha ha ha, our brothers are truly full of hidden talents," the burly leader laughed loudly. "Keep your eyes wide open, don¡¯t let Fu Wenjun slip away."


    The tavern, built of wood, quickly caught fire as the flaming arrows hit the wooden walls. The fire spread rapidly from all sides, engulfing the tavern.


    The travelers hiding inside the tavern had by now already started running out, crying in panic, scattering in all directions to flee.


    "Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!"


    The Night Crying Rangers had switched from flaming arrows to regular arrows, shooting a few at the fleeing travelers. The ones running at the front on either side of the group let out shrill cries as they fell to the ground.


    "Don¡¯t let anyone run, kneel and raise your heads," more than ten Night Crying Rangers had formed a semi-circle outside the tavern¡¯s main door. One of them shouted harshly, "The arrows don¡¯t have eyes. Those who disobey are traitors and will be killed on the spot."


    No one dared to run anymore. They all knelt down instantly, resembling a herd of sheep cornered by wolves, their spirits crushed.


    Wei Changle, among the crowd, watched the travelers kneel like lambs, frowning as he shouted, "Don¡¯t kneel, stand up!"


    But the travelers were already paralyzed with fear, not daring to stand.


    Seeing the tavern keeper writhing in agony in the snow, Wei Changle didn¡¯t hesitate. He stepped forward to check the shopkeeper¡¯s injuries.


    In the bitter winter and flying snow, the tavern keeper had kindly let the travelers seek shelter from the wind and snow. He was a good person.


    But just as he took a step forward, he felt a tight grip on his wrist. Someone had caught hold of him. A voice said, "Don¡¯t be impulsive, mind your own business, safety is the most important!"A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.


    Wei Changle turned his head to look and saw Wei Gu, who was carrying the long wooden box that had once been used as a pillow, staring at him anxiously.


    "People¡¯s hearts are like blooming flowers, yet I arrive when spring is gone," Wei Changle shook his head, shrugged off Wei Gu¡¯s hand, and said indifferently, "If you don¡¯t act impulsively at a time like this, then are you still a young man?" He strode forward.


    "Second Young Master, you¡¯re being foolish!" Wei Gu stamped his feet.


    The burly leader kept scanning the crowd, clearly searching for Fu Wenjun, when unexpectedly, a young man walked out from the crowd, looking somewhat bewildered.


    The young man wore a grey-brown cotton coat, a coarse cotton hat on his head, a leather wine pouch hung from his waist. His delicate features stood out, especially his eyes, which resembled stars in the night sky. He looked refined and gentle, like a well-behaved young master from a nearby family.


    When the Night Crying Rangers saw Wei Changle walking towards them, the travelers, who had been kneeling like lambs, were stunned and could hardly believe their eyes.


    The Night Crying Rangers were notorious for their cruelty, and the people feared them more than anything. They couldn¡¯t fathom why the young man would dare approach them¡ªhad he lost his mind and was walking to his own death?


    The young man knelt beside the shopkeeper, whispered comforting words, and then removed the wine pouch from his waist to feed him two sips of wine.


    A nearby Night Wailer saw this and immediately drew his bow, ready to shoot at Wei Changle.


    ¡°Wait!¡± The thick-browed leader raised his hand to stop him, staring intently at Wei Changle.


    The Night Wailers had ambushed the tavern, leaving everyone paralyzed with fear, as if waiting to be slaughtered. Yet, this young man remained calm and composed, unlike the others, standing out conspicuously. This demeanor made the leader wary¡ªwhat kind of powerful background could give this boy such boldness?


    ¡°A group of people sitting around a fire dreaming, suddenly attacked by so-called officials who burn and kill without mercy. Where is the law? Is there no justice?¡± Wei Changle stood up slowly, letting out a sigh, then spat fiercely on the snowy ground.


    ¡°Say one more word.¡± The thick-browed man chuckled coldly. ¡°When your tongue is cut out, let¡¯s see if you can still speak.¡±


    ¡°You want to cut out my tongue?¡± Wei Changle¡¯s expression remained unchanged, a faint smile on his face. ¡°Which law have I broken?¡±


    The leader leaned forward slightly. ¡°I am the law. Offending me is breaking the law.¡±


    ¡°Arrogance indeed.¡± Wei Changle smirked, pulling a document from his pocket and holding it up. ¡°Before you cut my tongue, take a look at this. Oh, by the way, do you even know how to read?¡±


    The thick-browed man hesitated for a moment, then motioned for one of his subordinates to ride over. The Night Wailer grabbed the document from Wei Changle¡¯s hand and delivered it back to the leader.


    The leader took it, scanned it briefly, and laughed uproariously. ¡°I was wondering who had the guts of a bear and the heart of a leopard¡ªit turns out to be the great county magistrate!¡± Tossing the document to another subordinate, he added, ¡°Here, take a look. This is the magistrate¡¯s official assignment to take office in Shanyin. Hahaha!¡±


    Another subordinate, holding a blade, caught the document with its flat side, laughing as he said, ¡°Leader, I can¡¯t read. What¡¯s written here anyway? How important is this county magistrate position?¡± As he spoke, he flicked his wrist, throwing the document to the side.


    It wasn¡¯t caught; instead, another blade slapped it away, sending it flying back and forth amidst the laughter and flashing steel.


    The shivering travelers overheard the boy being addressed as the Shanyin County Magistrate. Though initially surprised and hopeful that the magistrate might resolve this disaster, their hopes quickly faded as the Night Wailers openly mocked and humiliated him.


    ¡°What rank is a county magistrate, anyway?¡± The thick-browed man feigned thoughtfulness before sneering. ¡°Oh, right, ninth rank¡ªa mere sesame seed-sized official! Hahaha, what a tiny rank!¡±


    The Night Wailers laughed even harder, one of them calling out, ¡°County magistrate, did you buy your title with silver? To dare take office in Shanyin, you must truly have guts of steel.¡±


    Wei Changle remained calm, even smiling as he stared at the leader. ¡°A place that produces men like you¡ªShanyin must be no ordinary town.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a land of fortune and treasure,¡± the leader replied with a grin. ¡°County magistrate, after we¡¯ve captured our target, you can ride with us to Shanyin. Pay each of us a little tea money, and we¡¯ll ensure you arrive safely at Shanyin City.¡±


    If they dared extort the magistrate himself, their treatment of ordinary citizens must be utterly ruthless.


    Wei Changle chuckled lightly. ¡°These are just common folk seeking shelter from the snow. Do me a favor¡ªrefrain from any further violence and leave early.¡±


    ¡°And who do you think you are?¡± someone shouted. ¡°Do you think we owe you anything? You have no standing with us!¡±


    ¡°Well, not entirely impossible.¡± The one who had shot the shopkeeper earlier, Pang Laoliu, raised his broadsword and pointed its edge at Wei Changle. ¡°There are twenty-three of us here. If you bow to each of us three times, I¡¯ll consider giving you face. Aside from our target, we¡¯ll let the others leave.¡±


    This proposal sent the Night Wailers into uproarious laughter.


    ¡°Come on, kneel and bow to us! Give us some respect, magistrate! Hahaha!¡±


    The trembling travelers kept their heads low, horrified by the thought of the county magistrate being forced to kneel.


    [--------------------------------------------]


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 Chapter 3 - The Wei Clan of Hedong

    Wei Changlue shook his head, smiling: "If you make me kowtow, it might be fine if others know, but if my elder brothers find out, things might get complicated."


    "Elder brothers?" The thick-browed man said carelessly, staring at the delicate young man with a teasing smile: "May I ask how many honorary brothers the county magistrate has, and who exactly are they?"


    Wei Changlue smiled brightly: "There''s one called Duan Yuanfeng, many people call him Duan the Madman. Have you heard of him?"


    "Duan the Madman?" The thick-browed man''s expression changed: "Which Duan the Madman are you talking about?"


    "The one you''re thinking of."


    "Two years ago, a powerful bandit group of nearly a thousand emerged around Mount Wutai in Dai Province, burning, killing, and pillaging, extremely cruel," the thick-browed man stared directly at Wei Changlue, speaking slowly. "The bandit leader was called Shang Mazi, but in one night, Shang Mazi''s entire clan was exterminated and disappeared without a trace."


    Wei Changlue smiled: "So how did Shang Mazi end up that way?"


    "That night, fifty riders charged directly into his military camp like tigers among sheep," the thick-browed man''s eye twitched. "Shang Mazi lost hundreds of men, his troops scattering instantly. His entire family of seventeen - men, women, elderly, and children - were captured. The cavalry leader ordered them to be skinned alive, then boiled in an iron pot for a day and night, finally thrown to wild dogs, leaving not even a bone fragment behind."


    Everyone present changed color, many clearly familiar with the story.


    "Duan Yuanfeng of the Crimson Bone Cavalry," the man next to the thick-browed man, Pang Laoliu, changed expression: "He''s the adopted son of the River East Horse Army Commander, and... also called Duan the Madman."


    Wei Changlue said: "That''s the Duan the Madman I''m talking about. By the way, I also have an honorary brother called Hu Yaoshi. Do you know him?"


    "Ghost Fox?" The thick-browed man''s pupils contracted. "The Ghost Fox Hu Yaoshi, once known as the world''s top scout?"


    Wei Changlue sighed: "It seems my honorary brother''s reputation is quite substantial, that even you know of his fame."


    The thick-browed man replied: "They say in front of Hu Yaoshi, no one has secrets. If he wants to know, he can discover exactly what anyone eats, does, or even who they sleep with each night."


    "That''s exaggerated," Wei Changlue said casually. "But indeed, no one dares to provoke him. So if I were to kowtow to you today, Hu Yaoshi would quickly find out. Humiliating the Wei family, they certainly couldn''t bear it. By then, Duan Yuanfeng would appear with his Crimson Bone Cavalry, or perhaps... the dwarf. Compared to the dwarf, Duan Yuanfeng seems more merciful."


    The narrative continues with escalating tension as Wei Changlue''s true identity and capabilities are revealed, challenging the initial perceptions of those around him.


    "The thick-browed man replied: ''They say in front of Hu Yaoshi, no one has secrets. If he wants to know, he can discover exactly what anyone eats, does, or even who they sleep with each night.''


    ''That''s exaggerated,'' Wei Changlue said casually. ''But indeed, no one dares to provoke him. So if I were to kowtow to you today, Hu Yaoshi would quickly find out. Humiliating the Wei family, they certainly couldn''t bear it. By then, Duan Yuanfeng would appear with his Crimson Bone Cavalry, or perhaps... the dwarf. Compared to the dwarf, Duan Yuanfeng seems more merciful.''


    The narrative continues with escalating tension as Wei Changlue''s true identity and capabilities are revealed, challenging the initial perceptions of those around him."


    Cong Kun suddenly burst into laughter and said: "You''re quite young, but you''re bold, daring to impersonate the second young master of the Wei family. Everyone knows that the Wei family''s second young master has been mixed in with the military since childhood, renowned for his bravery. They say he has the strength of a diamond god, capable of killing a wild bull with a single punch, earning the nickname ''Golden Vajra of Taiyuan'' - a name that makes people in Taiyuan city tremble. But you, with your delicate and tender face, can''t even kill a chicken, yet you dare to put on airs in front of me?"Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.


    "Squad leader, just tie him up and send him to Taiyuan to the Wei family, let the real Wei Changlue punch him to death," someone in the back shouted.


    "Wei Changlue has a fiery temper," Pang Laoliu laughed heartily, "If he hears someone is impersonating him, he definitely won''t let it slide. Handing him over to Wei Changlue, he''ll kill him with his own hands."


    Just as his words fell, Wei Changlue''s body suddenly lunged forward. Before anyone could react, his fist had already heavily struck the head of Cong Kun''s mount.


    A miserable neigh erupted as the horse''s entire body toppled sideways.


    Not only was the punch''s speed shocking, but the force was truly terrifying.


    This scene caused several people to cry out in surprise, while even more stood petrified, unable to believe what they were witnessing.


    Cong Kun on horseback also cried out instinctively, and before his horse toppled, he leaped with all his might.


    As he flew up and was about to land, he saw Wei Changlue already standing before him.


    Wei Changlue raised his foot and ruthlessly kicked directly at Cong Kun''s groin.


    As Cong Kun descended, unable to leverage himself to dodge, everyone watched Wei Changlue''s foot accurately strike Cong Kun''s groin, followed immediately by Cong Kun''s miserable, agonized wail.


    When he landed, his entire body was hunched like a drunken shrimp.


    The piercing pain spread through his body, almost causing him to lose consciousness in an instant. His hands reflexively covered his groin, curling into a ball.


    Both the Night Cry Gang and the civilians felt like they were in a dream.


    Who could have imagined that this elegant and handsome young man possessed such terrifying strength?


    And his courage seemed even more shocking than his strength, actually daring to strike the Night Cry Gang first.


    A heroic youth, wild and unbridled, breaking through the sky with wings!


    Wei Changlue didn''t hesitate, quickly reaching out to grab the hilt of Cong Kun''s waist knife. With a "clang", he drew the blade and placed it directly on Cong Kun''s neck.


    The horse, knocked down by a single punch, struggled and couldn''t get up.


    "Squad leader...!" Pang Laoliu was the first to regain his senses, shouting and drawing his bow, ready to shoot at Wei Changlue. The other Night Cry Gang members also aimed their arrows.


    "Who dares!"


    Wei Changlue roared: "Whoever shoots an arrow, I guarantee my knife will cut his throat first. If any arrow lands on me, even grazing a single hair, the Wei family will not only wipe out your entire clan but also dig up your ancestors'' graves for eight generations. Feel free to try!"


    The Night Cry Gang members who had drawn their bows changed color, none daring to release an arrow.


    Wei Changlue crouched down, holding the knife in his right hand and using his left hand to remove Cong Kun''s hat. He grabbed his hair, pulling his head up and laughed: "Cong Kun, right? Come, look carefully. Where exactly am I impersonating?"


    "You... what do you want?" Cong Kun asked weakly, enduring the intense pain in his groin.


    Wei Changlue released his hair and immediately slapped him hard across the face, cursing: "Damn it, when I ask you a question, you answer immediately. How dare you ask me back?"


    The slap was extremely heavy, instantly leaving a red handprint on Cong Kun''s right cheek.


    "No... not impersonating, I... I was blind," Cong Kun could barely speak coherently.


    "Bringing over twenty people here to hurt people and set fires, are you trying to become bandits?" Wei Changlue said. "And you wanted me to kneel and kowtow. You need to give me an explanation for this."


    "What... what kind of explanation?"


    Wei Changlue raised his hand and slapped him again, this time even harder. With a "puff" sound, he knocked out two of Cong Kun''s teeth, blood flowing from his mouth, and cursed again: "Didn''t learn your lesson?"


    "I... I was wrong..., Second Young Master, I was wrong... isn''t that enough?" Cong Kun''s mouth continued to bleed.


    "No." Wei Changlue said coldly: "We''ll settle all accounts. Weren''t you just asking me to kowtow three times to each of you? Fine. Make your subordinates kneel and kowtow three times to me."


    Dealing with evil people requires being even more vicious than them. To be a great evil, one must also do great good!


    The Night Cry Gang members saw Cong Kun''s life hanging by a thread under Wei Changlue''s knife and looked at each other.


    Pang Laoliu took a deep breath, slowly lowering his bow, and said loudly: "Master Wei... Second Young Master, you''re heading to Mountain Yin to take office. We''ll see each other often in the future. I think we shouldn''t take things too far."


    "I don''t care what you think, I only care what I think," Wei Changlue sneered. "I think even if I go too far, what can you do? Cong Kun led a group of wild dogs to hurt people and set fires. Killing him with one knife now is completely reasonable and legal."


    Pang Laoliu''s expression changed dramatically, saying gravely: "We are here to capture fugitives."


    "I don''t see any fugitives," Wei Changlue said casually. "I''ll ask you again, are you going to kowtow or not?"


    "Wei... Wei Changlue, don''t go too far!" Pang Laoliu gritted his teeth.


    [--------------------------------------------]


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 Chapter 4 - The Cloak

    Wei Changlue tightened his grip; the knife''s edge was sharp, already cutting a blood line on Cong Kun''s neck. Though not deep, Cong Kun was already terrified.


    "Squad Leader Cong, if they each kowtow three times, you can keep your life," Wei Changlue sighed. "But it seems your men aren''t very loyal. Does that hurt your heart?"


    Cong Kun now understood Wei Changlue''s background, and knew the River East Wei family was notorious for killing without mercy, with many ruthless characters.


    "A newborn calf fears not the tiger" - this young Second Master, born into the Wei family, would show no hesitation if he truly decided to be cruel, and might actually dare to slit his throat.


    The Night Cry Gang often treated others'' lives like grass, but people like them were often the most afraid of dying.


    "Pang Laoliu, quickly... pay respects to the Second Master!" Cong Kun, disregarding his groin pain, shouted with all his strength. "Everyone, follow the Second Master''s orders!"


    With Cong Kun''s command, the Night Cry Gang members reluctantly dismounted, kneeling before Wei Changlue and kowtowing three times each.


    The common people watched in disbelief as the usually arrogant Night Cry Gang members obediently knelt and kowtowed, feeling like they were in a dream.


    Old Wei Gu watched and shook his head, sighing, "The Second Master is being foolish...!"


    "The wise adapt to circumstances," Wei Changlue laughed. "Everyone is excused." He turned and saw the wine shop already consumed by raging fire, his face turning cold. "A perfectly good wine shop destroyed. Compensation is definitely required. Squad Leader Cong, I''ll speak for the people and won''t ask for too much - just have your brothers pool together two or three hundred taels of silver as compensation and medical fees."


    "We can''t carry that much money when going out on official business," Cong Kun, pale from pain, said weakly. "We don''t have that many silver taels."


    "Fifty taels per finger," Wei Changlue said casually. "Three hundred taels, non-negotiable. Less than fifty taels means cutting off a finger, and if you can''t even gather a hundred taels, I''ll chop off an entire arm." His voice suddenly rose, "Zhi Nu, get over here!"


    Zhi Nu ran over, respectfully responding, "Second Master, I''m here."


    "I remember you carry a knife that can cut through iron," Wei Changlue said. "It''s time to put it to use."


    Zhi Nu was clever and had heard everything clearly, understanding the Second Master''s intention.


    He put down his bag and bent down, pulling a knife from his boot. The knife was entirely black, with an extremely thin blade.


    He worked efficiently, gripping the knife in his right hand and using his left to pin down one of Cong Kun''s hands, spreading the fingers, ready to cut at any moment.


    Cong Kun felt like he had met a ghost today - these two were young, but each more vicious than the last.


    "Gather the silver...!" Cong Kun shouted. "Hurry and gather the silver!"


    The Night Cry Gang members knew that if they rushed forward, they could easily turn Wei Changlue into minced meat.


    But now, no matter how many they were, it was useless. With Cong Kun as a hostage, they were hesitant to act, filled with anger but helpless.


    Pang Laoliu called everyone together to pool their money. These men who were used to only taking, not giving, were now forced to empty their pockets, seething with rage.


    "Second Master Wei, we''ve gathered a total of one hundred and seventy taels of silver," Pang Laoliu said, holding a silver bag and several silver notes. "We''re out on official business and really didn''t bring much money. Please be lenient and release the squad leader."The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.


    The Night Cry Gang rarely spent their own money when traveling, so gathering nearly two hundred taels was already quite difficult.


    "Zhi Nu, two fingers!" Wei Changlue said decisively.


    As Zhi Nu was about to act, Cong Kun was terrified. "Wait, wait!"


    Pang Laoliu''s expression changed, knowing that if Cong Kun lost two fingers due to insufficient funds, he would later seek revenge on Pang Laoliu.


    Knowing Cong Kun''s vicious nature, he also shouted, "Show mercy!"


    "Second Master," Cong Kun said weakly, "Although the silver is not enough, we can substitute with horses. These are top-quality stallions from the North, worth fifty to sixty taels each. Can we replace the missing silver with two horses?"


    Wei Changlue thought for a moment. "Leave five horses."


    "That won''t do," Pang Laoliu said urgently. "Five horses would be worth three hundred taels."


    Wei Changlue sighed, "How tiresome. Don''t you understand? Only I can set the price of the horses. When did it become your turn to set prices? Zhi Nu, cut off the fingers."


    "Five horses!" Pang Laoliu didn''t dare argue further, shouting loudly, "Bring out five horses!"


    The Night Cry Gang could only produce five horses, leading them forward. Pang Laoliu placed the money bag and silver notes on the ground, even having someone pick up the official assignment document and place it beside the bag, then stepped back and cupped his hands: "Second Master, as you ordered, the silver and horses are ready. Can we now release the squad leader?"


    "Are you stupid or am I an idiot?" Wei Changlue shook his head and laughed. "If I release him now, you''ll have no scruples. Who knows what you might do? I''m heading to Mountain Shade to take office, and Squad Leader Cong can guide us with his local knowledge. You return to Mountain Shade first, and the squad leader will accompany us and arrive later."


    "Second Master, you...!"


    "Scram!" Wei Changlue''s face darkened, then coldly laughed, "Tell them, the Mountain Shade County Magistrate will arrive soon. Everyone better wait obediently!"


    Cong Kun, afraid of angering Wei Changlue, hurriedly said, "You... you go back first. I''ll accompany the Second Master to take office. Have them prepare a welcome banquet!"


    The Night Cry Gang members exchanged glances. Pang Laoliu clenched his fist but ultimately ordered, "Retreat!"


    After a noisy commotion, Pang Laoliu led the Night Cry Gang away on horseback, disappearing in moments.


    Seeing the Night Cry Gang leave, the townspeople began picking up their belongings. Some knew the Night Cry Gang would seek revenge and might return, so this was a dangerous place. They immediately grabbed their bags and scattered, leaving only a few people by the burnt-down wine shop.


    Wei Changlue didn''t stop them, sheathing his horse knife. Just as Cong Kun breathed a sigh of relief, Zhi Nu swung a punch, hitting Cong Kun''s back of the head. Cong Kun''s vision went dark as he passed out again.


    "Young man, you''ve got potential!" Wei Changlue laughed.


    Zhi Nu blushed shyly, putting away his knife and picking up the silver and documents, bringing them to Wei Changlue. Wei Changlue only tucked the document into his chest. Turning around, he noticed two people had appeared beside the wine shop''s owner.


    One was the shop assistant seen earlier, still pale-faced, kneeling beside the owner and crying.


    The other was wearing a gray-brown coarse hemp cloak, with a gauze hat covering their face. They were removing an arrow from the owner.


    Wei Changlue knew that removing an arrow embedded in flesh was not a simple task and required skill. Since this cloaked person dared to remove the arrow, they must have the ability.


    He walked over slowly and squatted beside the shop owner, looking at the person in the gauze hat.


    Although the world was dark, the wine shop''s fire had not yet died out. By its light, and through the gauze, he could barely make out the person''s facial features - and it was a woman.


    Beneath the hat was a full face, fair-skinned, with a delicate nose and vermilion lips. She appeared to be at an age where her body was fully developed.


    The cloaked woman worked skillfully, first removing the arrow from the owner''s knee. Despite the owner''s painful cry, she quickly washed the wound with water from her bag, then carefully sprinkled powder from a porcelain bottle onto the injury.


    "This is medicine. After applying it, your leg won''t be crippled," the woman said softly but decisively. "The medicine will cause pain. Endure it for a moment."


    The owner, pale-faced and sweating, gratefully said, "Th-thank you!"


    Wei Changlue habitually glanced at the woman''s chest. The gray cotton jacket was tightly wrapped around her full, heavy bosom.


    "Thick clothing can''t hide your broad-mindedness," he thought.


    Turning his gaze back to her face, he asked, "Are you Fu Wenjun?"


    The cloaked woman continued treating the owner''s wound, not looking at Wei Changlue, and said coldly, "The Night Cry Gang are local tyrants in Mountain Shade, doing all kinds of evil. You''ve made such an enemy today. Are you still going to Mountain Shade to take office?"


    Her voice was like cold frost, yet also reminiscent of rice wine on a cold morning - cold with a hint of softness.


    "Are you saying I''m going to Mountain Shade out of fear, or are they afraid of me?" Wei Changlue stared at the woman''s profile. The more he looked, the clearer she became - pearl-like, jade-like, mature and composed.


    [--------------------------------------------]


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 Chapter 5 - The Realm of a Thousand Bandits

    The cloaked woman did not respond, simply skillfully treating the shopkeeper''s wounds.


    "Shopkeeper, what will you do now that your wine shop has been burned down?" Wei Changle saw the shop assistant weeping beside them, understanding this sudden disaster was undoubtedly a devastating blow.


    The shopkeeper''s face was filled with grief, merely shaking his head, unable to speak.


    "This happened because of me," the cloaked woman finished applying medicine to the shopkeeper''s shoulder and spoke: "I will compensate for your losses. However, I don''t have much silver on me, and you can''t follow me to Shan Yin to get silver. How about this - go stay at the Yongle Inn in Anping County for a few days. Someone will send you silver there."


    With these words, she essentially admitted she was Fu Wenjun, also from Shan Yin.


    Night Crying Man had injured and set fire today specifically targeting Fu Wenjun, and the wine shop was collateral damage.


    The shopkeeper wasn''t foolish. Understanding the situation, he shook his head: "Night Crying Man has always been a scoundrel. This is my fate, something I can''t escape."


    "Zhi Nu, come here!" Wei Changle called out.


    Zhi Nu quickly ran over.


    "Here are over 170 taels of silver," Wei Changle told the shopkeeper. "Give 30 taels to each of the two injured civilians. Keep the rest as compensation from Night Crying Man."


    The shopkeeper hurriedly said, "No, this... this won''t do."


    "We can''t stay here," Wei Changle said decisively. "Over 170 taels isn''t much, but it''s enough to open a new wine shop in the city. I''ll also give you a horse. Take your assistant and head south, go as far as possible, and start a new life."


    Zhi Nu, quick-witted, immediately handed the silver to the shopkeeper and distributed the remaining silver to the two injured civilians, offering some comfort. Both were extremely grateful.


    Fu Wenjun finished treating the shopkeeper''s wounds and went to treat the arrow wounds of the other two injured people.


    She wore a cotton coat with a thick cloak, yet her figure remained graceful and elegant, moving with a charming and beautiful demeanor.


    Wei Changle brought a horse and asked the assistant, "Can you ride?"


    "Northerners ride horses, Southerners take boats," the assistant quickly responded. "I''m from the North and know how to ride."


    "Take your shopkeeper and leave quickly," Wei Changle helped support the shopkeeper, helping him mount the horse with the assistant.


    The shopkeeper gratefully said, "Second Master, your great kindness... I don''t know how to repay you. You''ve made an enemy of Night Crying Man, so you can''t go to Shan Yin anymore. I''ve heard that in the past year, the first two county magistrates of Shan Yin met with major incidents. One died, one went missing. You... you would be the third..."


    Wei Changle was stunned, frowning. "Such a thing happened?"


    "Indeed," the shopkeeper said. "But I don''t know the specific details."


    Wei Changle smiled. "Thanks for the warning. Safe travels."


    The assistant mounted the horse. Knowing they shouldn''t linger, they thanked Wei Changle again before riding away.


    Wei Changle watched them leave, his expression turning cold.


    This wasn''t even Shan Yin County, yet Night Crying Man dared to run rampant here. How much more would the people of Shan Yin suffer?


    "Second Master, after such a big incident, are we still going to Shan Yin?" came the worried voice of Old Wei from behind.


    Wei Changle turned around, seemingly unconcerned. "Are you afraid?"This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.


    "This servant isn''t afraid, just worried for the second master."


    "Those Night Crying bandits are terrified of the Wei family," Wei Changle glanced at Fu Wenjun nearby. "Would they dare to touch me?"


    Old Wei always looked worried, sighing, "Open attacks are easy to dodge, but hidden arrows are hard to guard against."


    "So you mean we should return to Taiyuan and not go to Shan Yin?" Wei Changle felt his hands getting cold, breathing warm air onto them. "The wine shop is burned, we have no shelter. Should we continue north or turn back to Taiyuan?"


    "Naturally, it''s up to the second master," Old Wei finally showed a slight smile. "Going to Shan Yin will definitely cause some trouble. If the second master doesn''t want to go, returning to Taiyuan isn''t a bad option."


    Zhi Nu, listening nearby, couldn''t help but interject, "Uncle Wei, the posting to Shan Yin was an official order from the Jiedushi''s office and can''t be disobeyed. Moreover, the old master said if the second master doesn''t report to Shan Yin, he''ll be imprisoned for two years. The old master has always been true to his word."


    "You old fool, trying to trick me back to Taiyuan to prison? I''m not returning to Taiyuan because I''m afraid of imprisonment, but to benefit the people of Shan Yin. Are you trying to stop me from serving the people?" Wei Changle roared.


    Old Wei looked aggrieved, "This servant is letting the second master decide. I didn''t say to return to Taiyuan."


    "Still arguing? Believe me, I''ll punish you!" Wei Changle glared, then his expression turned serious. In a low voice, he asked, "But the shopkeeper just said the previous two county magistrates of Shan Yin met with incidents. One died, one went missing. What''s going on?"


    Old Wei, seeing Wei Changle staring at him, hurriedly shook his head, "Second master, this servant doesn''t know."


    "I don''t understand why the House would send you with me to Shan Yin," Wei Changle sighed. "You can''t fight, can''t take care of people, don''t know anything. What use are you, you old fool?"


    "Second master, there are eighteen states in Hedong Road, with fifty to sixty counties large and small. How could this servant know everything?" Old Wei looked more aggrieved. "Shuozhou is at the northernmost part of Hedong, and Shan Yin is at the northernmost part of Shuozhou, far from Taiyuan House. I''m just a servant and can''t even understand the affairs of Taiyuan House, let alone Shan Yin."


    Zhi Nu obediently pointed at the still-unconscious Song Kun, "Second master, he''s a Shan Yin battalion leader. He definitely knows about those two county magistrates. Should we wake him with water?"


    "We have time on the road, no need to rush," Wei Changle looked up at the sky. Snow was falling, everything was pitch black, and the burning wine shop was gradually dying out. He ordered, "Those two injured men can''t walk and will freeze to death if left here. Zhi Nu, give each of them a horse and have them head south."


    Zhi Nu agreed and immediately went to fetch the horses.


    Fu Wenjun, after applying medicine to the two men, approached and hesitated before speaking, "Wei Changle, I have something to discuss with you."


    Discussion? Clearly, she wants to ask for something.


    Asking without even being polite, calling him directly by name. But considering her... well-endowed figure, he won''t quibble.


    "I don''t know your depth. Don''t make too excessive a request," Wei Changle wasn''t someone who would agree to everything, and maintained his principles.


    Fu Wenjun stood elegantly and pointed at the unconscious Song Kun, "Can you hand him over to me?"


    Wei Changle was stunned, then laughed, "You have a grudge against him and want to kill him?"


    "Can you agree?"


    "Okay," Wei Changle said, "But can you answer three of my questions?"


    Fu Wenjun understood this was an exchange and readily agreed, "You can ask, but I might not answer."


    "What exactly are these Night Crying Men?" Wei Changle stared at her. The night was too dark, with no firelight, and her face was covered, making her features indiscernible. "Are they officials? Whose subordinates?"


    The journey to Shan Yin was inevitable, and he knew nothing about the place. This was a chance to learn from Fu Wenjun.


    "After Cloud State was ceded to the Tatar people, Shuozhou became the northernmost frontier," Fu Wenjun answered straightforwardly. "Although border military fortresses exist, each county in Shuozhou increased its city guards. The Night Crying Men are the city guards of Shan Yin."


    Wei Changle asked curiously, "If that''s the case, why are they called Night Crying Men?"


    Fu Wenjun''s voice was cold: "Although they are city guards, they no longer treat guarding the city as their duty. They''ve become Shan Yin''s tax collectors. Two years ago, tax collection was transferred to the Household Treasury. These city guards now belong to the Household Treasury, collecting and demanding all large and small taxes. The people of Shan Yin are struggling. The Household Treasury officials create cunning pretexts to oppress the people, making their lives even more difficult. Many cannot pay the heavy taxes. Once they fall behind, these city guards appear in villages at night like bandits, robbing, killing, bullying and assaulting women. The people cry to heaven, but no one answers, hence these city guards got the name ''Night Crying Men''."


    "Is this related to Shan Yin being called the ''Realm of a Thousand Bandits''?" Wei Changle realized something.


    He understood the principle of forcing people into prostitution or banditry.


    Fu Wenjun replied, "You''re about to become Shan Yin''s local official. You''ll soon know how the people under your jurisdiction live."


    A cryptic response.


    Wei Changle smiled slightly and asked his second question: "I heard the previous two county magistrates of Shan Yin met with incidents. Lady Fu, do you know the details?"


    [--------------------------------------------]


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 Chapter 6 - A Beautiful Woman in Pursuit

    Wei Changle immediately became interested. "How extraordinary?"


    Fu Wenjun thought for a moment before slowly saying, "He Gui died from a horse fall. Many people, like you, found it suspicious. Less than a month after his death, the new county magistrate Su Changqing took office. He was reportedly appointed directly by the Jiedushi and arrived extremely quickly."


    "Could the Jiedushi have found He Gui''s death suspicious and sent Su Changqing to investigate?"


    "I''m not sure," Fu Wenjun shook her head. "However, after arriving in Shan Yin, this Su magistrate rarely appeared, and no one knows what he was doing. He took office in June and reportedly hadn''t even met all the local gentry. By early October, he suddenly disappeared."


    Wei Changle was astonished. "The county magistrate suddenly disappeared?"


    "The government office mobilized many people to search, even using the city foxes and rats from the Western City''s underworld, but found no clues whatsoever," Fu Wenjun spoke slowly and softly. "Not just Su Changqing himself, but his wife and two personal attendants also vanished simultaneously without a trace." She added, "You are the third county magistrate in Shan Yin within a year."


    Wei Changle was inwardly shocked, secretly thinking that within less than a year, two county magistrates - one dead and one missing - was definitely unusual.


    If his sworn brother, the ghost fox Hu Yaoshi, were to investigate, he might find some clues. But given Hu Yaoshi''s status, he certainly wouldn''t travel to Shan Yin for just two county magistrates.


    "What''s your last question?" Fu Wenjun asked, as Wei Changle was pondering the magistrates'' fate.


    After thinking, Wei Changle stared at Fu Wenjun and asked, "Why did over twenty Night Crying Men leave Shan Yin to capture you in Anping County? Who are you?"


    Fu Wenjun remained composed, speaking casually, "I killed some of their people. They see me as a thorn in their side."


    Wei Changle was surprised, examining Fu Wenjun carefully. "You killed Night Crying Men? They might be scoundrels, but they''re still official runners. You dared to kill official personnel? Who exactly are you?"


    "That''s a fourth question," Fu Wenjun said lightly.


    "Chest big, but brain smart!" Wei Changle chuckled, glancing at the unconscious Song Kun. "He''s yours now."


    "I owe you a favor today, I''ll repay it later!" Fu Wenjun was also someone who clearly distinguished between gratitude and grudges.


    Wei Changle understood that the favor she mentioned wasn''t about handing over Song Kun, but his intervention today that saved her from a major disaster.


    If not for Wei Changle, Fu Wenjun would have faced certain death against the twenty well-equipped Night Crying Men.


    "Repay later, repay later!" Wei Changle nodded repeatedly.


    At this moment, Zhi Nu had already led a horse over, telling Wei Changle, "Second Master, all the horses ran away. Only your gray Shadow hasn''t gone far."


    It was an ordinary-looking horse, not particularly strong. But for those who understood horses, this was definitely a rare, excellent steed.


    The Night Crying Men had set fire to the wine shop. There was a horse shed on the side for travelers to rest their horses.


    The big fire burned, destroying the horses'' reins. Naturally, all horses were spooked and ran away.


    Their original party of three had each had a horse, but two had run off, leaving only Wei Changle''s fine horse.


    "Your horse has probably run away too," Wei Changle glanced at the horse shed, now a mess with no horses in sight. "Zhi Nu, give a horse to Lady Fu."


    Besides Wei Changle''s gray Shadow, only two horses from the Night Crying Men remained. Zhi Nu looked troubled, "Second Master, only three horses are left."The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    "You and the old fool can ride together. That way, you''ll be warmer," Wei Changle didn''t waste words, mounting his horse and then telling Fu Wenjun, "Tonight''s wind and snow are strong. It''s freezing. Good luck."


    Fu Wenjun just nodded slightly, saying nothing more.


    The master and two servants didn''t delay, riding north through the wind and snow.


    The north was already extremely cold. At night, the wind was even more biting.


    Fortunately, the snowfall had lessened, and all three were wearing thick cotton clothes, barely able to withstand the cold.


    They all carried wine pouches. When feeling too cold, a swig would warm their bodies somewhat.


    The road was deeply covered in snow. The horses couldn''t run fast. Even if they tried to gallop, such terrain would exhaust the horses quickly.


    So they moved slowly.


    "Second Master, what does ''old fool'' mean?" Zhi Nu was young and eager to learn, humbly seeking guidance.


    "Means useless," Wei Changle said directly.


    Old Wei didn''t feel ashamed, chuckling, "Second Master is right. This servant is indeed useless."


    "Old fool, you''ve been carrying that wooden box. What''s inside?" Wei Changle, seeing Old Wei treasuring the long wooden box, couldn''t help but ask. "It''s not a weapon, is it?"


    "Second Master, it''s not a weapon," Old Wei replied.


    "What is it if not a weapon?" Wei Changle smiled slyly. "The mansion sent you with me. You can''t really be completely useless, right? Old fool, if you''re actually skilled, tell me, and I''ll treat you respectfully in the future."


    "It''s a painting," Old Wei helplessly said. "When I was young, I loved a girl. This painting is her portrait. I''ve carried it with me all these years."


    Wei Changle asked, "Why didn''t you marry her? Why are you still alone?"


    Old Wei just sighed, not answering.


    "Second Master, that Fu surname is following behind," Zhi Nu looked back and saw a figure riding behind them, recognizing it as Fu Wenjun.


    Wei Changle also looked back. In the night, the view was blurry, but the silhouette was indeed Fu Wenjun.


    "She''s also going to Shan Yin," Wei Changle said. "This is the only road to Shan Yin. Nothing strange about following."


    Zhi Nu said, "Is she following because she saw how brave and kind you are? Those people are chasing her, and she might feel safer with you around."


    "You speak so nicely," Wei Changle thought this kid had potential. "Even if she were a female ghost, and a beautiful one at that, following would be fine."


    "How do you know she''s beautiful when she''s wearing a veil?"


    Old Wei chuckled, "Trust the second master''s eye for women. It''s never wrong. Her figure is definitely top-notch, you couldn''t find another like her in a thousand."


    "You old lecher, quite experienced!" Wei Changle rolled his eyes.


    Zhi Nu laughed, "The Night Crying Men are after her, yet she still dares to return to Shan Yin. What courage!"


    "The second master offended the Night Crying Men and still dares to go to Shan Yin. His courage is even greater," Old Wei muttered, seemingly unwilling about this trip.


    Wei Changle ignored him, slightly shaking the reins to make the horse move faster.


    After about half an hour, in the pitch-black landscape, Zhi Nu suddenly said, "Second Master, horse hooves!"


    "Horse hooves again?"


    Zhi Nu had already looked back, his delicate face showing wariness: "Coming from behind, several fast horses!"


    Wei Changle also looked back but couldn''t see Fu Wenjun, knowing she might have fallen behind.


    He thought for a moment, then turned his horse to go back.


    "Second Master, what are you doing? Why are you looking for trouble again?" Old Wei helplessly advised. "Peace is a blessing. Let''s not meddle."


    "Fu Wenjun owes me a favor. If she dies here, she can''t repay her debt," Wei Changle shook the reins and rode off.


    Old Wei shook his head, bitterly smiling, "The second master is truly foolish! Zhi Nu, follow."


    Zhi Nu immediately turned his horse to follow.


    Wei Changle rode swiftly, quickly spotting Fu Wenjun''s figure, with the horse hooves Zhi Nu mentioned becoming increasingly clear, seemingly just ahead.


    "Why did you come back?" Fu Wenjun was somewhat surprised.


    Wei Changle looked towards the dark front, glancing at Fu Wenjun and saying, "I''m not sure if the Night Crying Men have returned. I told them to go back to Shan Yin. If they don''t listen and come looking for trouble, that means they''re disregarding my words. I''ll cut off Song Kun''s arm right in front of them."


    Song Kun was currently tightly bound and laid across the horse''s back like a sack, showing no signs of consciousness, seemingly still unconscious.


    In the night, the horse hooves grew closer, and several shadows indeed appeared.


    The other party clearly saw their situation and quickly spread out in a half-arc formation.


    Wei Changle looked carefully. There were four riders, not many, but their attire was quite strange.


    All four were wearing black robes, and in the dim light, they could be seen wearing grotesque masks.


    The four riders slowed their horses, stopping a few steps away. The central rider, wearing a fanged mask, raised his hand and threw two objects in front of Wei Changle''s horse.


    Heads!


    They had actually thrown two blood-covered heads.


    Wei Changle stared at the heads on the snow, suddenly feeling breathless.


    Despite the bloody, mangled faces, he recognized them.


    The wine shop''s shopkeeper and assistant!


    He had given them silver and horses, hoping they would ride south and escape the trouble.


    But they ultimately couldn''t escape this calamity.


    Wei Changle had lived two lives and seen much, but had never seen severed heads so realistically.


    However, looking at these bloody heads, he felt no fear, only anger.


    His fists clenched, his gaze as sharp as a knife, fixed on those people.


    Whoever kills must die!


    [--------------------------------------------]


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 Chapter 7 - Exterminate Completely

    Wei Changle stared at the two severed heads in the snow, and for a moment, he felt as though he couldn¡¯t breathe.


    Although the heads were bloodied and mangled, he still recognized them.


    The innkeeper and the worker from the tavern!


    He had given them silver and a horse, instructing the worker to take the innkeeper and flee south, far away from trouble.


    But they couldn¡¯t escape their fate in the end.


    Having lived two lifetimes, Wei Changle had seen much of the world in his past life, yet he had never encountered human heads in such a visceral and real way before.


    However, upon seeing these two blood-soaked heads, he felt no fear¡ªonly anger.


    The innkeeper had run the tavern in such a remote area, far from any signs of humanity, all to earn a little extra silver so his family could live a better life. And now, he had met such a tragic end.


    Wei Changle could only imagine the hardship that the innkeeper¡¯s family would now endure.


    The young worker, only just starting his life, had his entire future ahead of him. But now, it had all been cut short.


    And these people¡­ these people treated human lives like grass, snuffing them out so easily and without remorse.


    "Hiding fugitives and thinking you could run off with silver," the man in the fanged mask rasped, his voice hoarse. He held up a pouch of silver in his hand, weighing it mockingly. "Did you think it would be so easy to take silver from the authorities? Fu Wenjun, you should know¡ªyou¡¯re the real cause of their deaths."


    Fu Wenjun swept her gaze over him coldly, her expression like ice.


    Wei Changle¡¯s voice, however, was eerily calm. "Are you in league with the group called Night Crying Wolves?"


    "Night Crying Wolves?" The fanged-masked man sneered. "They¡¯re nothing more than a pack of stray dogs, not even worthy of mention alongside us. Over twenty of them failed to kill a single woman¡ªutterly useless."


    "So, you don¡¯t care about Song Kun¡¯s life?" Wei Changle smirked. "The commander of Shanyin, Song Kun, is in our hands."


    The man on the far right of the group burst into laughter. "The commander? The lives of the Night Crying Wolves aren¡¯t worth a thing. If one commander dies, two more can be promoted. Do you honestly think a mere Song Kun, who¡¯s not even worth as much as a dog, can be used to threaten us, Wei Changle?"


    He wore a white ghost mask, making his appearance even more menacing.


    Wei Changle nodded slightly. "So, you¡¯re two separate groups, but you share the same goal¡ªyou¡¯re all here for Lady Fu."


    "Wei Changle, we have no personal grudge against you and no reason to kill you," the man in the white ghost mask said impatiently. "Get lost."


    It was clear that these people already knew who Wei Changle was.


    "And what if I refuse to leave?"


    The white ghost laughed heartily. "Young man, don¡¯t be reckless. The iron cavalry of the Wei family isn¡¯t here to back you up."


    At this moment, Old Wei Gu had already arrived by Wei Changle¡¯s side. When he saw the two heads in the snow, he shook his head and sighed. "What a tragedy."


    "Old Wei, he¡¯s asking us to leave. What do you think¡ªshould we go?" Wei Changle¡¯s sharp gaze swept over the four riders on the other side as he asked lightly.


    Old Wei Gu sighed. "Second Young Master, at this point, even if I dragged you away, you wouldn¡¯t go. Fine, let¡¯s deal with this once and for all."


    "Oh?" Wei Changle glanced at Old Wei Gu. "And how should we deal with it?"


    "I know you¡¯re angry, Second Young Master." Wei Gu¡¯s tone was as calm as ever. "The Wei family has always had a simple way of handling matters: when faced with enemies, draw your blade and exterminate them completely."


    Wei Changle raised an eyebrow in surprise. "You¡¯ve had a change of heart?"This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.


    "Second Young Master," Wei Gu said seriously, "the Wei family never starts trouble lightly. But when trouble finds us, we never back down. These bastards have committed atrocities and killed innocent people¡ªthey deserve to die. There¡¯s nothing more to it."


    For a moment, Wei Changle felt as though Old Wei Gu was radiating a divine aura.


    "I always knew you were a master in disguise," Wei Changle said with satisfaction, clenching a fist. He spoke coldly, "Uncle Gu, don¡¯t go easy on these animals. Kill them all."


    Old Wei Gu hesitated for a moment, then awkwardly admitted, "Second Young Master¡­ I¡­ I can¡¯t beat them."


    What the¡ª!


    The riders on the other side could hear everything clearly. Upon hearing this, they all burst out laughing, their mockery brimming with disdain.


    "Exterminate completely?" The rider on the left of the fanged-masked man sneered coldly. "You¡¯re right. Exterminate completely. Wei Changle, if you want to die, then go ahead and join her in the grave. You¡¯ll die here, silently, with no one the wiser."


    This rider wore a black ghost mask. From beneath the mask, his snake-like eyes gleamed with a chilling malice.


    The fanged-masked man turned his head toward the black ghost-masked man. "What did you just say?"


    "If we let him leave today, he¡¯ll bring trouble later," the black ghost said coldly. "Destroy the bodies and erase all traces. Only then can we ensure no consequences for ourselves."


    The White Ghost nodded in agreement. "Third Brother is right. We''ve carried out dozens of jobs without a single mistake. If we let Wei Changle go today, there¡¯s no guarantee that the Wei family won¡¯t track us down later. Making them disappear without a trace is the only way to ensure no future trouble."


    Finally, Fu Wenjun, who had remained silent until now, spoke: "The Three Spirits of L¨¹liang, deadly as graves. Whoever hired you must have paid a hefty sum."


    "Lady Fu is indeed perceptive, even knowing about our brothers'' origins," the White Ghost said, shaking the reins lightly as his horse stepped forward. "Lady Fu, as long as you surrender and come with us, there¡¯s still room to negotiate. But if you insist on¡ª" Before he could finish his sentence, he abruptly waved his left hand, and in the dark of the night, several cold stars shot out like meteors, heading straight for Fu Wenjun.


    He was only three or four steps away from her and had deliberately spoken to distract her attention before launching the concealed weapons. Clearly, he intended to catch her off guard.


    A sharp whinny sounded from the horse as one of the projectiles struck Fu Wenjun''s mount.


    Using the momentum, Fu Wenjun pushed off with her feet, leaping gracefully into the air like a butterfly.


    As she ascended, her right hand tore off the gray cloak she was wearing. With a twist of her arm, she spun the cloak to intercept the flying projectiles. In just an instant, the concealed weapons were all wrapped within the folds of the cloak.


    This all occurred in the blink of an eye.


    Not giving her opponent any chance to react, Fu Wenjun whipped her right arm, flinging the bundled cloak and its contents back with even greater speed.


    The White Ghost hadn¡¯t anticipated this move. With a startled cry, he tried to leap from his horse, but his speed was no match for Fu Wenjun¡¯s. Just as his body left the saddle, the concealed weapons struck him with a series of sharp "thuds."


    His body, propelled by the force of his jump, rose briefly before plummeting to the snow-covered ground with a heavy thud, twitching violently.


    "Help me¡­!" the White Ghost screamed in a shrill voice. "Poison¡­ it¡¯s poisoned¡­!"


    By now, Fu Wenjun had landed steadily on her feet, though her horse lay on the ground convulsing, and Song Kun had been thrown to the side.


    Wei Changle¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief at Fu Wenjun¡¯s remarkable skill.


    On reflection, it made sense. For her to travel alone, Fu Wenjun couldn¡¯t possibly be an ordinary person.


    With a delayed realization, Wei Changle mentally reprimanded himself for underestimating her.


    The White Ghost twitched a few more times before falling still.


    Wei Changle noticed the venom-coated concealed weapons and realized that the White Ghost had been resolute in his intent to kill Fu Wenjun. However, he and his group had clearly underestimated her capabilities and ended up paying the price.


    Before Wei Changle could process his thoughts further, the sound of another horse charging rang out. The Fanged Masked Man spurred his mount toward Fu Wenjun, while the Black Ghost quickly followed suit. Only the man furthest to the left remained frozen in place, seemingly too stunned to react.


    Seeing this, Wei Changle didn¡¯t hesitate. Clamping his legs against his horse''s flanks, he charged forward and positioned himself in front of the Black Ghost to block his path.


    The Black Ghost was momentarily startled before shouting, "Move aside!"


    "Kill me!" Wei Changle¡¯s eyes glinted like blades as he retorted coldly, "If you can¡¯t kill me, I¡¯ll be the one to kill you!"


    He knew Fu Wenjun was more than capable of handling herself in a one-on-one fight.


    Of the four assassins, one¡ªWhite Ghost¡ªhad already poisoned himself to death, and another remained immobilized. Only two were actively attacking Fu Wenjun. If Wei Changle could hold off the Black Ghost, even without defeating him, it would buy enough time for Fu Wenjun to deal with the Fanged Masked Man.


    At that moment, the Fanged Masked Man reached out with his right hand, revealing a bizarre weapon.


    It was a long iron chain with a spiked iron ball at the end. The spiked ball shot forward like a venomous snake, flying straight at Fu Wenjun.


    Fu Wenjun twisted her waist elegantly, spinning like a whirlwind. Though her figure was curvaceous, her movements were light and agile, allowing her to dodge the attack effortlessly.


    As she evaded, a silk rope appeared in her right hand. With a graceful flick of her arm, the rope darted out like a serpent, coiling around the iron chain in an instant. Before the Fanged Masked Man could react, Fu Wenjun pushed off with her feet, her body gliding backward. The rope tightened with a sharp snap, pulling the iron chain taut and yanking it straight out of the Fanged Masked Man¡¯s grip.


    [--------------------------------------------]


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 Chapter 8 - Lion Gang

    The Black Ghost, now blocked by Wei Changle, revealed a cold and murderous gleam in his eyes.


    Without hesitation, he barked, "Then I¡¯ll kill you!"


    With a sharp shout, Black Ghost leapt from his horse like a hawk, diving directly at Wei Changle. His right hand clenched into a fist, and he swung it toward Wei Changle¡¯s face with the force of a crashing boulder, the punch carrying an explosive wind.


    "Second Young Master, be careful!" Zhu Nu couldn¡¯t help but call out in alarm.


    Wei Changle remained unflinching. Seeing Black Ghost¡¯s airborne punch coming straight at him, he didn¡¯t even hesitate¡ªhe clenched his right fist, channeling all his strength into it, and threw a punch directly at Black Ghost¡¯s incoming fist.


    Fist against fist.


    "Crack!"


    The sound of bones fracturing resounded as their fists collided with brutal force.


    Wei Changle sat firmly on his horse, steady as a rock, while Black Ghost was sent flying backward. Upon landing, he stumbled several steps before managing to stabilize himself.


    Black Ghost slowly raised his right hand, his entire arm trembling violently. His right hand¡¯s bones had been shattered, the searing pain unbearable, as cold sweat poured from his face.


    Wei Changle felt a surge of confidence. Steady on his feet now, he dismounted from his horse and began walking toward Black Ghost with deliberate steps, a mocking smile curling on his lips. "So it was you saying earlier about ¡®destroying the evidence¡¯? Damn, I thought you¡¯d be stronger. You think wearing a mask makes you a master? Pathetic¡ªI¡¯m here to beat so-called ¡®masters¡¯ like you."


    Beneath the Black Ghost¡¯s mask, his venomous eyes now flickered with fear. He instinctively took a step back, muttering under his breath, "Sh... Shi Gang? No¡­ impossible¡­!"


    But Wei Changle gave him no chance to recover. Like a leopard, he pounced toward Black Ghost.


    Even with his right arm crippled, Black Ghost didn¡¯t back down. Letting out a low growl, he charged forward to meet Wei Changle head-on.


    Wei Changle''s right fist swung with the force of a gale.


    Black Ghost suddenly ducked low, his left fist shooting upward toward Wei Changle''s abdomen.


    He knew his strength couldn¡¯t match Wei Changle¡¯s head-on, so he resorted to a cunning maneuver. He crouched to avoid Wei Changle¡¯s punch and seized the opening to deliver a powerful strike aimed at Wei Changle''s midsection.


    If this punch landed, Wei Changle wouldn¡¯t die immediately, but his internal organs would be severely damaged, leaving him incapacitated.


    Wei Changle''s punch missed, and Black Ghost''s fist was mere inches away from his abdomen.


    Just as it seemed Black Ghost¡¯s attack would land, Wei Changle reacted in an instant. With a swift inward sweep of his left leg, it was as though a thousand-pound rod had swung across. Black Ghost realized too late how sharp Wei Changle¡¯s reflexes were. Without enough time to dodge, there was a resounding "bang" as Wei Changle¡¯s leg struck Black Ghost squarely in the waist.


    Wei Changle had anticipated that Black Ghost would dodge his punch, and he had already prepared for this, using the missed punch to set up his sweeping kick.


    Black Ghost let out a muffled grunt as he was sent flying, landing heavily in the snow.


    As he hit the ground, a sharp pain radiated from his waist¡ªhe suspected his waist had been broken. The agony was indescribable.


    Before he could even attempt to rise, Wei Changle was already upon him, pinning him down with one knee against his chest.


    "Bang!"


    Without a word, Wei Changle raised his fist and slammed it into Black Ghost¡¯s face, shattering his mask into pieces.


    "This punch is for the old innkeeper."


    "Bang!"


    "This punch is for the young worker."


    "Bang!"


    "And this punch is for myself!"


    Wei Changle vented all his anger, delivering punch after punch. Black Ghost¡¯s face became a shattered mess, blood spurting everywhere, leaving him unrecognizable. By the end, Black Ghost was barely hanging onto life, his breath shallow.If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    Suddenly, the sound of hooves pierced the night. Wei Changle looked up to see the one assassin who had yet to act turning his horse around and fleeing, abandoning his comrades without hesitation.


    Wei Changle was momentarily stunned.


    These four had donned masks and cloaks, appearing formidable, and he had assumed they were all highly skilled. Yet one had died from his own poison, another couldn¡¯t take a hit, and now this one was running away at the first sign of trouble. How disappointing.


    Without waiting for orders, Zhu Nu let out a shout, spurred his horse, and gave chase.


    "You little brat! Why are you acting all brave?" Old Wei Gu, seated behind Zhu Nu, scolded loudly. "Second Young Master hasn¡¯t said to chase¡ª"


    But Zhu Nu ignored him completely, galloping into the night at full speed and quickly disappearing from view.


    Wei Changle turned his attention back to the barely alive Black Ghost, sneering, "A fancy decoration¡ªlooks impressive but completely useless. You¡¯re nothing but trash."


    Black Ghost, his consciousness fading from the beating, coughed up blood and muttered weakly, "Shi¡­ Shi Gang¡­ Shi¡­ Gang¡­!"


    "What did you say?" Wei Changle snapped, landing another punch and growling, "Can¡¯t even speak properly? Speak clearly!"


    The group had murdered the innkeeper and his assistant, leaving Wei Changle seething with rage. His punches showed no mercy.


    With that final punch, the Black Ghost, who was still muttering incoherently, suddenly fell silent.


    Wei Changle paused, reaching out to feel the man¡¯s breath. He was stunned to find that the Black Ghost was no longer breathing.


    "Damn, my punches are that strong? How did I beat him to death in just a few hits?" Wei Changle muttered, spitting on the ground. "Didn¡¯t you say you¡¯d kill me? Well, I said if you couldn¡¯t kill me, I¡¯d kill you. A man¡¯s got to keep his word."


    Having killed someone, Wei Changle didn¡¯t feel panic or anxiety¡ªinstead, he felt a cathartic sense of relief from venting his anger.


    Suddenly, a soft and calm voice came from behind him. "He was saying ¡®Lion Gang.¡¯"


    Wei Changle turned around to find Fu Wenjun standing behind him, though he hadn¡¯t noticed when she arrived.


    Without her cloak, Fu Wenjun¡¯s figure was fully revealed: a delicate waist and a full chest, graceful and curvaceous. Her enchanting appearance carried a sensual charm that didn¡¯t quite match her usual reserved demeanor, like a ripe fruit ready to be picked.


    "You killed the Fanged Masked Man?" Wei Changle looked toward the distance and faintly made out a figure lying in the snow.


    Fu Wenjun simply replied with a soft "Mm," her voice calm and indifferent, as though she hadn¡¯t just taken a life. "You came back to help me, so I owe you another favor."


    Wei Changle gave her a thumbs-up and grinned. "Impressive. But don¡¯t worry about it; I came to avenge the innkeeper. Your business doesn¡¯t concern me¡ªI won¡¯t hold you to this favor." While saying this, he couldn¡¯t help but admire Fu Wenjun¡¯s skill. She had already dealt with the Fanged Masked Man while he was busy with the Black Ghost. Truly, this woman was formidable.


    "Regardless, you turned back to help. I¡¯ll remember this favor," Fu Wenjun said.


    She wasn¡¯t just skilled¡ªshe was honorable and fair. The more Wei Changle interacted with her, the more he found her admirable.


    "By the way, what did you just say? Lion¡­ something?" he asked.


    "Lion Gang," Fu Wenjun replied softly. Her tone was calm as she explained, "The Three Ghosts of L¨¹liang aren¡¯t particularly strong, but they¡¯re notorious for their evil deeds. They¡¯ve been lying low for the past two years, and yet they suddenly appear now." She glanced at the snow-covered corpse of the Black Ghost and added, "The one you killed had been practicing the Great Stone-Splitting Fist for over 20 years. Plenty of people have died at his hands."


    "Great Stone-Splitting Fist?"


    "It¡¯s not an exceptional martial art, but it¡¯s not easy to deal with for someone with ordinary strength," Fu Wenjun said. "I was surprised you managed to defeat him. I see now¡ªit¡¯s because you¡¯ve cultivated the Lion Gang Qi."


    Wei Changle raised his hand to stop her. "Wait. Lady Fu, you¡¯re saying I¡¯ve cultivated Lion Gang Qi? I don¡¯t know anything about that. Are you sure you¡¯re not mistaken?"


    In his memories, while his body¡¯s host had grown up in the military and practiced some basic swordsmanship and martial arts, there was no recollection of anything related to Lion Gang Qi.


    "It doesn¡¯t matter if you deny it. Whether you¡¯ve cultivated it or not has nothing to do with me," Fu Wenjun said dismissively. She turned around, picked up her cloak from the ground, and draped it back over her shoulders.


    As she moved, her elegant and curvaceous figure caught Wei Changle¡¯s eye. He couldn¡¯t help but ask again, "Lady Fu, what exactly is Lion Gang Qi?"


    "You truly don¡¯t know?" Fu Wenjun turned back, looking at him with suspicion. "The Lion, Tiger, and Elephant Gangs are three types of supreme martial Qi. Mastering even one of them can solidify one¡¯s path in life. However, they¡¯ve been lost to the martial world for many years. For the Wei family to have access to Lion Gang Qi¡ªimpressive indeed."


    Wei Changle grew increasingly confused. Judging by Fu Wenjun¡¯s tone, this Lion Gang Qi was no ordinary skill.


    But he genuinely had no memory of anything related to Lion Gang Qi.


    "They say the second son of the Wei family was born with immense strength. Now I see¡ªit¡¯s not innate strength but the result of cultivating Lion Gang Qi," Fu Wenjun remarked. She walked over to the Black Ghost¡¯s horse, grabbed the unconscious Song Kun, and effortlessly tossed him onto the horse¡¯s back. She continued, "Lion, Tiger, and Elephant Gangs represent pure, unyielding strength. However, if one¡¯s body isn¡¯t suited for it, practicing it can cause severe harm. For you to have reached this level means your body must be naturally extraordinary."


    "You¡¯re so knowledgeable¡ªamazing!" Wei Changle exclaimed. Then, his eyes darted around as he hesitated before carefully saying, "Lady Fu, do you remember the favor you owe me?"


    His face turned slightly red. Though it was true she owed him a favor, saying it out loud still felt a bit awkward.


    Fu Wenjun nodded. "I¡¯ll remember it and repay it in the future."


    "We¡¯ll deal with the future when it comes," Wei Changle said, straightening his clothes. With a serious expression, he continued, "But I have something I¡¯d like to ask of you now¡ªplease don¡¯t refuse."


    "What is it?" Fu Wenjun asked directly. "As long as it¡¯s within my ability, I¡¯ll do my best."


    "You¡¯re knowledgeable and skilled," Wei Changle began, hesitating for a moment before finally blurting out, "I want to become your disciple. Will you accept me as your student?"


    [--------------------------------------------]


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 Chapter 9: Archrival

    The journey to Shanyin was inevitable, but after the incident with the "Weeping Ghost," Wei Changle knew that his tenure as the county magistrate of Shanyin might not be smooth.


    Although the Wei clan held significant power in Hedong, this time, he was accompanied only by an old servant and a young retainer on his journey to Shanyin. His resources were extremely limited.


    He already had a sense that the challenges awaiting him in Shanyin would not be trivial. If he could muster additional support, it would certainly bolster his confidence.


    While he didn¡¯t fully understand Fu Wenjun¡¯s background, her exceptional martial skills, her willingness to stand against the Weeping Ghost, and her daring decision to return to Shanyin all indicated that she was someone with significant backing. Her confidence suggested that her influence in Shanyin was not to be underestimated.


    The enemy of my enemy is my friend.


    Since he had already made enemies of the faction behind the Weeping Ghost, and Fu Wenjun was clearly at odds with them, it stood to reason that she could be a valuable ally to recruit and leverage.


    If difficulties arose in Shanyin, with the Wei clan far away in Taiyuan and unable to lend immediate aid, Fu Wenjun¡¯s resources and strength could prove indispensable.


    "Apprentice myself to you?" Fu Wenjun was clearly surprised by Wei Changle¡¯s proposal. She blinked in astonishment. "You¡­ want to take me as your master?"


    Wei Changle nodded sincerely, his expression earnest. "Master, you are well-versed in matters of the martial world, and your skills are exceptional. You disposed of two assassins with ease¡ªI deeply admire you for that. If I could receive your guidance, it would truly be a blessing."


    "I never agreed to take on any disciples," Fu Wenjun replied calmly. "There¡¯s no need to call me ''Master'' so quickly. The Wei clan in Hedong commands three elite cavalry camps and counts numerous martial experts among its ranks. If you, Young Master Wei, wish to learn martial arts, you have plenty of capable instructors at your disposal. Why would you need to learn from me?"


    "Master, you are a heroine, and your keen insight surpasses that of others. Learning under you would be far more efficient," Wei Changle said without hesitation. He then knelt on one knee before Fu Wenjun, clasped his hands, and declared, "Master, please accept me as your disciple."


    Fu Wenjun lowered her gaze thoughtfully, remaining silent for a moment. Finally, she replied, "It¡¯s not impossible for me to teach you some martial arts, but there¡¯s no need for formal apprenticeship."


    "Without formal recognition, it¡¯s not proper," Wei Changle insisted stubbornly. "I¡¯ve made up my mind to call you ''Master,'' and if you refuse, I¡¯ll keep asking until you agree."


    Before Fu Wenjun could respond, the sound of hoofbeats interrupted them. Wei Changle turned to look and saw that it was Zhinu returning.


    "Stand up for now," Fu Wenjun said immediately. "We can discuss the apprenticeship later."


    Wei Changle quickly rose to his feet.


    With Zhinu and the elder Wei Gu returning, remaining kneeling in front of Fu Wenjun would indeed look somewhat undignified. Appearances matter.


    When they got closer, Wei Changle saw Zhinu leading the way on horseback, with Wei Gu riding behind and leading another horse by the reins. Draped across the back of the second horse was a figure¡ªit was the masked man who had escaped earlier.


    "Well done," Wei Changle said with a grin. "Zhinu, you didn¡¯t let me down. Not like¡­ some others." He shook his head in feigned disappointment.


    Zhinu dismounted, walked over to the horse, and dragged the figure off. The body hit the ground with a heavy thud, motionless.


    "Second Young Master, this guy wasn¡¯t skilled at all. When he realized he couldn¡¯t escape, he poisoned himself," Zhinu reported dejectedly. "I failed to bring him back alive. Please punish me, Second Young Master."


    Wei Changle waved his hand dismissively. "If he poisoned himself, that¡¯s not your fault. It has nothing to do with you." Stepping closer, he noticed that the man¡¯s felt hat had fallen off, revealing a bald head. Wei Changle frowned in surprise. "Bald? Is he¡­ a monk?"


    "You¡¯re right, Second Young Master," Zhinu confirmed. "He has incense scars on his head¡ªhe¡¯s a monk from some temple."


    Wei Changle crouched beside the corpse to take a closer look. Sure enough, the man¡¯s shaved head bore several clear incense scars, confirming his identity as a monk.A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    "Master, do you recognize him?" Wei Changle turned to Fu Wenjun. "What grudge do you have with a monk?"


    Zhinu and Wei Gu exchanged glances, visibly puzzled. They were naturally curious why Wei Changle was addressing Fu Wenjun as "Master."


    Fu Wenjun approached, cast a glance at the corpse, but said nothing. Her expression, however, suggested she was deep in thought.


    Wei Changle took the opportunity to announce, "Let me make something clear: I¡¯ve officially apprenticed myself to Lady Fu. From now on, I am her disciple. You two must treat my master with respect and not be rude."


    Before Fu Wenjun could interject, he continued, "Master, I don¡¯t have the proper gifts to formally honor you as my teacher right now, but once we reach Shanyin, I¡¯ll prepare them properly."


    Zhinu¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. He couldn¡¯t help but blurt out, "Second Young Master, the family has arranged for many skilled instructors to train you, and you¡¯ve ignored all of them. Why now¡­?"


    Before Zhinu could finish speaking, the old servant Wei Gu stepped forward and bowed respectfully to Fu Wenjun. "Second Master, we¡¯ll rely on you to take care of us from now on."


    At this point, Fu Wenjun could no longer refuse, so she simply acknowledged with a soft hum.


    Wei Changle felt a sense of relief. Suddenly, he tore off the monk¡¯s robe from the fallen body, walked over to the heads of the shopkeeper and the assistant, and carefully wrapped them in the robe. His face turned somber as he pondered for a moment before instructing Zhinu: "They are gone now, and we can¡¯t send their remains back to their hometowns. Zhinu, find a nearby spot to bury these and let them rest in peace."


    Zhinu accepted the bundle carefully, then set off with Wei Gu to bury the remains nearby.


    "Master," Wei Changle began, turning his attention to Fu Wenjun, who was still examining the monk¡¯s body. "Earlier, you said that the Three Ghosts of L¨¹liang are notorious. Since they¡¯re called the ''Three Ghosts,'' it indicates they typically act as a group of three. But today, there¡¯s an additional monk. From what I observed, this monk didn¡¯t make a move and fled at the first sign of trouble. It seems he isn¡¯t entirely aligned with the Three Ghosts. What role could he have been playing?"


    Fu Wenjun nodded slightly. "The Three Ghosts work for money. If I¡¯m not mistaken, the monk was likely there to oversee or verify their success in completing the task."


    "You have a grudge against the Weeping Ghost, and they wanted revenge on you," Wei Changle said, his tone puzzled. "But what about this monk? What connection does he have to you, and why would he bring people here to kill you? Master, how did you become enemies with a monk?"


    Fu Wenjun merely shook her head slightly, clearly not understanding the full story herself.


    It was becoming increasingly evident to Wei Changle that his master had many enemies. In just one night, two separate groups had sought to take her life. This only deepened his curiosity about Fu Wenjun¡¯s background.


    "Master," he continued, "you mentioned earlier that someone must have paid a hefty sum to hire them. Do you have any idea who might be behind it?"


    Fu Wenjun¡¯s voice was calm but firm. "This has nothing to do with you, so there¡¯s no need for you to ask further."


    "That may have been true earlier," Wei Changle replied earnestly. "But now that I am your disciple, your enemies are my enemies."


    Fu Wenjun remained composed as she said, "I know why you want me as your master. You¡¯re heading to Shanyin with limited manpower and have already made enemies of the Weeping Ghost faction. You¡¯re worried about the difficulties you might face there and are hoping that I can lend you a hand when the time comes."


    Wei Changle flushed slightly at having his intentions laid bare, but he still pressed on, saying, "Master, you underestimate me by thinking that way. While I may not have many people around me right now, the Wei clan is strong and well-armed. The Weeping Ghost is hardly a threat to me."


    "There¡¯s some truth to that," Fu Wenjun acknowledged. "If you go to Shanyin and avoid interfering in their affairs, they may indeed leave you alone." She paused, then added, "But based on your personality, I doubt you¡¯ll be able to stay out of trouble once you¡¯re there."


    Wei Changle laughed. "Master, you¡¯ve already figured me out so quickly. Truly, no one knows their disciple better than their master."


    "I find it curious," Fu Wenjun said softly but with authority. "If Wei Rusong sent you to Shanyin, does he not care about your safety at all? You are a member of the Wei clan, yet Shanyin is nothing short of a wolf¡¯s den for your family."


    She referred to the Wei clan¡¯s cavalry commander by name, but Wei Changle didn¡¯t seem to mind. Instead, he asked curiously, "Master, what do you mean by that? Why is Shanyin considered a wolf¡¯s den?"


    "You truly have no idea?" Fu Wenjun replied, her tone calm. "The officials and gentry in Shanyin are all aligned with the Ma clan of Hedong. The Ma clan has deep roots in Shanyin, while your Wei clan has no influence there and has never managed to gain a foothold. It¡¯s common knowledge that the Hedong infantry commander, Ma Cunkuo, has long been at odds with your father. The rivalry between the two factions has grown increasingly tense over the years. Since Shanyin falls under the Ma clan¡¯s sphere of influence, isn¡¯t it clear why it would be a wolf¡¯s den for you?"


    Wei Changle thought back to what he knew of the Ma clan in Hedong.


    Indeed, as Fu Wenjun had said, the military forces in Hedong were divided into two major factions: the Wei clan commanded the cavalry, while the Ma clan led the infantry. Their rivalry was no secret, and tensions between the two had been escalating for years.


    However, he had not realized that Shanyin was under the Ma clan¡¯s control.


    Previously, he hadn¡¯t been overly concerned about his conflict with the Weeping Ghost. But now, knowing that he was heading straight into Ma clan territory, he realized the challenges ahead would be far greater than he had anticipated.


    A sudden thought struck him, and he turned to Fu Wenjun, his gaze sharp. "Master, do you think the mastermind behind the attempts on your life could be the Ma clan?"


    [--------------------------------------------]


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 Chapter 10: In the North, There Is a Beauty

    The Hedong Ma clan wielded substantial power, so much so that even the Wei clan held them in considerable regard. If Fu Wenjun dared to oppose the Ma clan, her background must be far from ordinary.


    "Do you know Ma Jingliang?" Fu Wenjun suddenly asked.


    Hearing the name, Wei Changle felt a vague sense of familiarity, but no matter how hard he tried to recall, the details eluded him.


    "I feel like I¡¯ve heard the name," Wei Changle admitted honestly after some thought, "but it still seems very unfamiliar."


    "You¡¯ll get to know him very soon when you arrive in Shanyin," Fu Wenjun said.


    "And who is he?" Wei Changle asked curiously.


    "Ma Jingliang holds the position of Sanxiaolang (a minor officer) in Shanyin. The Weeping Ghost operates under his command," Fu Wenjun explained. "He also happens to be the nephew of Ma Cunkuo, the Infantry Commander of the Hedong region." After a brief pause, she continued, "His situation is somewhat similar to yours. He got into trouble in Taiyuan three years ago and was exiled to Shanyin to serve as Sanxiaolang."


    Wei Changle immediately understood, letting out a cold laugh. "No wonder the Weeping Ghost miscreants are so brazen. It turns out they have the backing of the Hedong Ma clan."


    "So," Fu Wenjun said with a faint smile under her veil, "are you still planning to go to Shanyin?"


    "Now that I know the Ma clan has people there, I¡¯m even more determined to go," Wei Changle replied with a grin. "Master, what kind of character is Ma Jingliang, exactly?"


    "Seeing is believing," Fu Wenjun said calmly. "If you want to know what kind of person he is, don¡¯t rely on hearsay."


    Wei Changle gave her a thumbs-up. "Master, you¡¯re truly wise. That¡¯s deep." After a pause, he added, "But there¡¯s something that strikes me as rather odd."


    "What is it?" Fu Wenjun asked.


    "Master, before you left Shanyin for this trip, how many people were aware of it?" Wei Changle¡¯s tone grew serious. "I assume you wouldn¡¯t have allowed your enemies to know your whereabouts, correct?"


    Fu Wenjun nodded slightly. "Half a month ago, when I left Shanyin, only a few trusted confidants were informed. I even had a rumor spread within my estate that I was ill and needed time to recuperate. No one would have suspected that I had already left Shanyin."


    "Confidants? An estate?" Wei Changle quickly picked up on these clues, confirming his suspicion that Fu Wenjun had her own network of influence.


    "If even your estate residents didn¡¯t know, how did these people find out?" Wei Changle wondered aloud. "Both the Weeping Ghost faction and the Three Ghosts of L¨¹liang ambushed you on the road¡ªone overtly, the other covertly. How could they have been so well-prepared unless they had precise knowledge of your movements?"


    Fu Wenjun remained silent, her head slightly bowed.


    "I¡¯m not accusing your people of betrayal," Wei Changle clarified. "But this situation is certainly strange. Master, these two groups were exceptionally prepared. Although they underestimated your skills, they knew your exact whereabouts. Surely they couldn¡¯t have foreseen your movements by chance."


    Before Fu Wenjun could respond, the sound of footsteps crunching through snow interrupted them. Zhinu and the old servant Wei Gu had returned after burying the severed heads.


    "Zhinu, keep an eye on Song Kun," Wei Changle instructed, gesturing toward the horse where the unconscious man lay. "Uncle Gu, ride your own horse. As for the remaining three horses, one will go to my master, and you¡¯ll take care of the other two."


    Fu Wenjun¡¯s mount had been poisoned by Bai Gui, but with the eradication of their attackers, they now had four extra horses. This left everyone with a mount and a couple of spares.


    Since horses were valuable, Wei Changle had no intention of leaving them behind.


    Without further delay, everyone mounted their horses. This time, Wei Changle rode alongside Fu Wenjun at the front, while Zhinu and Wei Gu followed behind.


    Throughout the journey, Fu Wenjun remained silent, rarely speaking unless prompted. Even when Wei Changle tried to start a conversation, her responses were limited to a few indifferent words, making for a rather dull ride.


    However, Wei Changle still showed great respect and care for his new master. At mealtimes, he made sure to offer her food first, demonstrating his reverence.


    The group traveled almost nonstop, and by noon on the third day, the heavy snowfall had ceased. The world around them was blanketed in white, and in the distance, a walled city suddenly appeared on the horizon.


    The city resembled an ancient beast crouching on the desolate earth, its appearance weathered and decrepit.


    "I¡¯ve heard that this city was once bustling with activity," remarked the old servant Wei Gu as he gazed at Shanyin City. "Over a century ago, it was a vital supply hub along the trade routes. Merchants and caravans traveled its roads in an endless stream. But now, it¡¯s cold and desolate, a shadow of its former glory. This is all the doing of the Tatars."


    "Oh?" Wei Changle glanced back at him. "Didn¡¯t you say you knew nothing about Shanyin?"This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.


    Wei Changle¡¯s memory of the empire¡¯s northern history was reasonably clear.


    About thirty years ago, the Tatar Khan had sought to cement peace by marrying into the Great Liang Empire. A princess had been wed to him, creating a bond of kinship between the two nations that fostered frequent exchanges and prosperous trade.


    However, eight years ago, the old Tatar Khan passed away, returning to the embrace of the Eternal Sky. His sons turned on each other in bloody conflict to claim the throne. After much carnage, one of them, Loli, emerged victorious and declared himself the new Tatar Khan.


    Unlike his predecessor, who had prided himself on being a son-in-law of the Great Liang Empire, Loli was ambitious and aggressive. He abandoned his father¡¯s policies of harmony and demanded that the empire address him as an equal brother. He even had the audacity to request the hand of Princess Gaocheng in marriage.


    The Liang Emperor, enraged by Loli¡¯s arrogance, refused the demand outright and reprimanded the Tatar delegation harshly.


    Harboring a grudge, Loli Khan began to stir up trouble along the border. Tatar cavalry frequently raided and harassed border towns, bringing great suffering to the frontier population.


    The Tatar invasion of seven years ago had already been humiliating enough for the Empire, but it was worse than Wei Changle initially wanted to admit.


    Seven years ago, the upheaval in the capital of the Liang Empire caused chaos in the imperial court, leaving it unable to focus on the northern border.


    Taking advantage of the situation, Loli Khan personally led the Tatar cavalry in a southern campaign, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake. They besieged Yunzhong City in Yunzhou for over a month.


    Despite their valiant efforts, the outnumbered Yunzhou army received no reinforcements, and the city eventually fell.


    In response, the court sent envoys to negotiate peace, resulting in the cession of Yunzhou and Weizhou to the Tatars, along with an enormous amount of gold, silver, and textiles. Only then did the Tatars agree to withdraw.


    From that point on, Yunzhou and Weizhou became Tatar territory.


    Shanyin, located in Shuozhou, had once relied on Yunzhou as a northern shield. With Yunzhou ceded, Shuozhou became the Empire¡¯s northernmost frontline.


    Although the two nations had reached a ceasefire, trade between them was no longer as prosperous as it had once been. Shanyin, at the Empire¡¯s northern edge, had lost the bustling traffic it once enjoyed.


    As these memories played through Wei Changle¡¯s mind, he felt a wave of shame wash over him.


    "Second Master, there¡¯s someone ahead!" Zhinu called, raising his hand to point toward the path ahead.


    Wei Changle looked up and saw a group of riders galloping toward them from the direction of the ancient city.


    The riders approached quickly but slowed as they drew near.


    There were three of them, dressed in coarse cotton garments and wearing fur hats.


    All three dismounted almost simultaneously. The leader, a man of about forty with dark, weathered skin, a thick, bristle-like beard, and a broad, muscular build, stepped forward. He approached Fu Wenjun¡¯s horse, bowed, and clasped his hands in greeting.


    "Master, you¡¯ve returned? We¡¯ve been waiting for two days. Was the journey safe?" As he spoke, his eyes flicked toward Wei Changle, a hint of suspicion crossing his face.


    The two men behind him also bowed respectfully.


    Wei Changle exhaled in relief, realizing that these three were Fu Wenjun¡¯s subordinates.


    His suspicions were confirmed¡ªFu Wenjun¡¯s background was indeed not simple.


    "Wei Changle, this is where we part ways," Fu Wenjun said, turning to him with an unusually gentle tone. She raised her hand to point westward and continued, "If you want to learn more about Shanyin City¡¯s situation, you can enter through the west gate."


    "Master, where are you going?" Wei Changle asked in surprise.


    The three men seemed even more astonished upon hearing Wei Changle address Fu Wenjun as "Master."


    "I live at Guiyun Manor, twenty li (about 10 kilometers) east of the city," Fu Wenjun explained. "If you have free time in the future, you can come to Guiyun Manor to find me."


    Only then did Wei Changle realize that Fu Wenjun didn¡¯t reside within Shanyin City itself.


    A twinge of disappointment crept into his heart.


    He had hoped that if he encountered any emergencies in the city, he could immediately seek Fu Wenjun¡¯s help. But now he learned that she was stationed miles away. If trouble arose, he would have to leave the city to seek her assistance.


    "Master, I was planning to treat you to a meal at the best restaurant in the city after we arrived¡ªand perhaps buy you some gifts," Wei Changle said with a sigh. "But it seems that will have to wait for now." Turning back, he called, "Uncle Gu, give those two horses to Master as a gift."


    Wei Gu approached with the two horses and handed the reins to the burly man.


    Fu Wenjun accepted the gesture without politeness, nodding slightly at Wei Changle in acknowledgment.


    Zhinu then nudged his horse forward and tossed Song Kun from his mount.


    "Meng Bo, take him back," Fu Wenjun ordered calmly.


    Song Kun had had a miserable two days. Although he¡¯d been given a few sips of water to keep him alive, he had been knocked unconscious repeatedly and had gone without food. By this point, he was utterly weak and helpless.


    "That¡¯s Song Kun?" Meng Bo, the burly man, shot a glance at the figure on the ground and spat angrily. "This scum deserves to be cut down with a single stroke!" Yet he couldn¡¯t hide his curiosity as he asked, "Master, what happened with him¡­?"


    "He led the ambush on the road," Fu Wenjun said succinctly. "Take him back to Guiyun Manor and let¡¯s see if Ma Jingliang cares to intervene."


    Meng Bo was visibly shocked. "How did they know your movements, Master?"


    "We¡¯ll discuss it back at the manor," Fu Wenjun replied tersely, unwilling to waste words.


    Meng Bo spat on Song Kun and added a vicious kick before hefting him onto a horse.


    As the group prepared to separate, Fu Wenjun glanced at Wei Changle. She hesitated briefly before saying, "Take care." With a flick of her reins, she turned her horse toward the east.


    "Master, wait!" Wei Changle called after her.


    "What is it?" Fu Wenjun asked, stopping her horse.


    "Now that I¡¯m officially your disciple, I can¡¯t very well not know what my master looks like," Wei Changle said with an innocent smile.


    Fu Wenjun understood his implication immediately. After a brief moment of hesitation, she raised her hand and lifted her veil.


    Beneath the veil was a face of breathtaking beauty.


    Her almond-shaped eyes, delicate nose, and fair, full cheeks were stunning, but what truly caught the eye was the small crimson mole near the corner of her lush, red lips. It added a unique charm to her already enchanting features.


    She appeared no older than twenty-five or twenty-six, her elegant demeanor accentuating the faint grace in her expression. Most captivating of all were her eyes, which shimmered as though veiled by a thin mist¡ªa gaze that was both alluring and moving.


    Even though Wei Changle had expected Fu Wenjun to be attractive, he was momentarily stunned by her unparalleled beauty.


    Without a word, Fu Wenjun lowered her veil, flicked her reins, and rode off. Her three subordinates followed closely behind, taking Song Kun and the two gifted horses with them.


    Wei Changle watched her retreating figure, murmuring almost unconsciously:


    "In the north, there is a beauty, unmatched in all the land.


    One glance topples a city, another glance topples a nation."


    [--------------------------------------------]


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