Seven Families and One Gang, Old An-Shi Affairs

With flushed faces and ears, goblets and plates clinked together.

Shen He and the others frequently raised their cups, the alcohol taking hold as they chatted about everything and anything, discussing the world.

Li Cunxiao didn't say much, only offering a few perfunctory remarks. He focused on his food and drink, yet he still managed to glean a good deal of intelligence about the various powers within Chuqiu City.

In the inner city, Murong, who controlled the County Yamen, held the highest status. Following closely were the Ye Family and the Xiao Family, these three forming a tripartite power structure within the inner city.

Below these three great families were the Jiang, Shen, Han, and Yang families, where Shen He and Jiang Qi belonged. They implicitly followed the lead of the three great families, hence their playful nickname, the "Seven Families Alliance."

As for the outer city, it could be considered the domain of the Flying Tiger Escort Agency. Even the Chai Gang's influence was overshadowed by the former.

The Seven Families Alliance in the inner city, the Flying Tiger Escort Agency in the outer city, and the Chai Gang outside the city – these three formed the tripartite structure of Chuqiu.

In theory, the Seven Families Alliance was the most powerful, but in reality, their unity was superficial.

As major clans, who would willingly submit to another's authority?

The fact that Shen He and Jiang Qi came to the Flying Tiger Escort Agency to learn martial arts was clearly a manifestation of their families' strategic alliances.

If any one of the Jiang, Shen, Han, and Yang families could forge an alliance with the Flying Tiger Escort Agency, the dominant position of the three great families would change in an instant.

It was just a pity that Zhang Lishi held these scions of noble families in such low regard. Now that Li Cunxiao had appeared, the chances for Shen He and Jiang Qi to receive true transmission of his skills became increasingly slim.

If they couldn't obtain the martial arts, wouldn't securing Zhang Shi's direct disciples be just as good?

Perhaps with this thought in mind, during the banquet, Shen He and Jiang Qi hinted more than once that their families had sisters of marriageable age, beautiful as flowers, who had always admired outstanding individuals, their intentions to recruit him openly displayed.

Li Cunxiao naturally offered polite refusals. For him, the escort agency was his foundation. Becoming Zhang Lishi's disciple and then immediately engaging in flirtatious exchanges with the noble youths would clearly be a poor strategy.

While Shen He and Jiang Qi sought to recruit him, Xiao Mei's attitude was ambiguous.

Although she hadn't extended any direct invitations, during the banquet, she repeatedly used the opportunity of toasting to intentionally or unintentionally close the physical distance between them.

Li Cunxiao, remembering Shi Tie's reminder, felt a surge of alarm. He became even more politely distant, much to Xiao Mei's frustration.

"This Li Cunxiao is so stubborn and unyielding, like a rock in a latrine!"

After the banquet dispersed, as soon as Xiao Mei entered the carriage, her face darkened immediately. The maidservant beside her immediately became highly alert, fearing she might displease her mistress and be whipped in anger.

The coachman flicked the reins, and the carriage slowly began to move. Inside the carriage, Xiao Mei grew increasingly angry the more she thought about it. Finally, she knitted her brows and ordered, "We're not going home yet. Take me to Ye Chengxiao's place."

She simply couldn't swallow her pride!

Since childhood, relying on her beauty, countless young masters from noble families had been infatuated with her.

After she began cultivating the Jade Chamber Art, a family heirloom, Xiao Mei had gained an even more captivating allure that could bewitch all beings. Even Shen He hadn't been immune to her charms in the past; it was just that after too many encounters, he had become desensitized.

Although she had become Zhang Lishi's disciple, it was more to fulfill a family mission, acting as a liaison between the escort agency and the Xiao Family.

She hadn't put much effort into the Tiger Demon Fist, only managing to reach the Muscle and Tendon Realm through family resources.

By nature, she was not bound by worldly conventions. She disliked fighting and killing, preferring instead to stir up trouble with her feminine wiles, finding enjoyment in it.

Thus, the Jade Chamber Art, passed down through her clan, suited Xiao Mei's disposition better, and she had been diligently cultivating it ever since.

Yet, her beauty and charm, which had always worked to her advantage, had no effect on Li Cunxiao.

The way he avoided her gaze was not like facing a peerless beauty, but like trying to dodge something foul and dirty, like night soil.

Her pride had been severely wounded!

The carriage arrived in front of Ye Chengxiao's residence. Xiao Mei alighted from the carriage. Disregarding her usual ladylike demeanor, her willful nature compelled her to barge straight in.

The guards and servants intended to stop her, but upon seeing that it was their master's senior sister disciple, they hesitated. In an instant, a gust of fragrant breeze had already swept inside.

"Junior Disciple Ye..."

On this deep autumn night, the frost was heavy and the dew was thick, yet Ye Chengxiao was only wearing a middle garment, practicing his punches vigorously in the courtyard.

Sweat vaporized in the heat, occasionally mixed with the scent of alcohol, clearly indicating that the person's mood was not entirely pleasant.

Once a renowned genius, he had been supplanted by an even greater genius. The former Ye Chengxiao had abstained from alcohol and women, but now, burdened by his troubles, he finally understood what it meant to drown one's sorrows in wine, only to find them amplified.

Hearing the familiar voice, Ye Chengxiao was initially pleased, but a sense of resentment and grievance immediately welled up in his heart.

He knew about the gathering tonight and should have attended, but he simply couldn't bear to see Li Cunxiao's face.

As his emotions surged, he became impolite even towards the senior sister disciple he had admired in the past:

"Senior Sister, why aren't you going to try and please that exceptionally talented Li Sanlang? What are you doing here in my neglected little courtyard? Are you here to laugh at me? Ugh..."

Before he could finish speaking, Ye Chengxiao's vision went black as his head and face were buried in a soft, expansive bosom.

As a martial artist at Blood Qi Perfection, he could more profoundly appreciate the fragrant smoothness of a beautiful woman's skin.

Ye Chengxiao, being a novice, could hardly withstand such stimulation. His tone immediately softened.

"Senior Sister..."

Xiao Mei was an experienced fisherwoman, adept at navigating the waves. Seeing her tactic succeed, she immediately pulled away.

Ye Chengxiao savored the wonderful sensation, his heart suddenly ablaze. He thought the other party was about to confess her feelings, but was merely shy for the moment.

He took the initiative, intending to embrace the beautiful woman.

But Xiao Mei didn't even lift her head. She simply shifted her body to the side, and Ye Chengxiao couldn't even touch the hem of her clothes. Back and forth, this left Ye Chengxiao in an awkward position, like a dog held back when it desperately needed to relieve itself.

Xiao Mei's pent-up frustration instantly dissipated.

If she couldn't handle Li Cunxiao, could she not handle Ye Chengxiao, who was only at the Blood Qi Realm?

Seeing the duck about to fly from his mouth, Ye Chengxiao's temper flared. Just as he was about to erupt, Xiao Mei didn't dodge this time. She covered her face with her hands and sobbed softly.

He froze, then lowered his raised hand. Despite his impatience, he asked as gently as possible:

"Senior Sister, what's wrong?"

"At the fellow disciple gathering tonight, Li Cunxiao... he..."

"What did he do to you?!"

Upon hearing that name, Ye Chengxiao's mind flooded with all sorts of terrible associations. He instantly felt like a firecracker that had been lit, unable to think calmly any longer.

A smug smile touched Xiao Mei's lips, her tone still filled with grievance:

"He didn't do anything improper to me, it's just..."

"...his demeanor and actions carried a great deal of disdain?"

Shen He looked at the indignant Ye Chengxiao before him, utterly speechless. He thought to himself that his junior disciple had truly fallen for a woman, losing all clarity of thought.

Clamping his legs around the horse's belly, he looked back. From Chuqiu City all the way to Pingqiu Mountain in the distance, the procession of carriages and horses stretched as far as the eye could see, kicking up dust along the way.

At the rear of the procession, in addition to the carriages, there were also ox carts. These carried the female family members attending the Autumn Hunt, such as Xiao Mei, Jiang Qi, and Zhang Yuelu.

After all, besides showcasing martial prowess, the Autumn Hunt was also an excellent venue for family alliances.

At the front of the procession, Ye Family's Eldest Young Master Ye Rongzu, Xiao Family's Eldest Son Xiao Ji, and Chai Gang's Young Master Song Qingshan, along with several second-generation heirs from various families, rode their horses, whips in hand, exuding confidence.

Li Cunxiao, meanwhile, was the center of attention, positioned in the middle.

Five days had passed since the banquet at Zui Chun Lou, and the Autumn Hunt had arrived as scheduled.

Li Cunxiao had spent these days diligently studying and practicing martial arts. Both his martial arts knowledge and his practice of Divine Movement Steps and Basic Saber Technique had progressed steadily, making each day incredibly fulfilling.

Zhang Lishi was a responsible master. He had gifted Li Cunxiao a good bow and arranged for him to learn archery from Ge Yingyang.

Although he couldn't learn Ge Yingyang's ultimate skills and wouldn't become a master archer capable of Hundred Paces Through Willow in a short time, Li Cunxiao could now hit the bullseye from sixty paces away. That was enough to make a decent showing at the Autumn Hunt.

He had no intention of stealing the spotlight during this Autumn Hunt.

Or rather, for a martial artist who had broken through to the Muscle and Tendon Realm in less than two months, simply appearing here was already enough to draw attention.

One only needed to look at the enthusiastically chatting second-generation heirs from the city to realize that even if Li Cunxiao didn't hunt a single rabbit, they wouldn't look down on him. Instead, they would likely breathe a sigh of relief.

"...If Brother Li's archery were also perfect, then we would have no reason to be here and could only head home! Hahahaha!"

Seeing Li Cunxiao miss his shot, Xiao Ji seemed to have witnessed something incredibly amusing. He laughed quite unrestrainedly, but it didn't come across as offensive.

Ye Rongzu and Song Qingshan, standing beside him, nodded in agreement.

"Indeed. When I first heard of Brother Li's achievements a few days ago, I was so shocked I dropped my chopsticks. A Muscle Realm martial artist not yet eighteen years old... Chief Escort Zhang truly has a discerning eye, to discover a talent like Brother Li from the common folk."

"Brother Li's achievements at such a young age are truly a source of shame for us. However, I hear your younger brother is still quite young, and the continuation of your family line is also important. My Song Family has many unmarried sisters; if any are suitable..."

"Song Qingshan, there will be ladies from various families at the skirt-tent banquet later. Why are you worrying about that now?"

"Brother Song, you're being rather petty. Your Chai Gang possesses the wealth of the mountains and forests, yet you speak of chivalry and heroism instead of the affairs of the inner chambers. It's quite boring. However, speaking of which, my Ye Family's Thirteenth Lady is known for her virtuous nature..."

Li Cunxiao watched the three second-generation heirs before him engage in thinly veiled taunts and sarcasm, momentarily lost for words.

He knew he was a hot commodity, but he hadn't expected the heirs of the Ye Family, Xiao Family, and Chai Gang to directly propose marriage.

As for the Jiang, Shen, Han, and Yang families, as well as other martial arts schools and major merchant guilds in the city, they also wanted to build good relationships with the Flying Tiger Escort Agency.

However, the guards of the former families blocked their way, domineeringly denying them even a chance to meet. The latter could only watch enviously.

The status of the Three Great Families and the Chai Gang was evident.

As Li Cunxiao considered this, his gaze unconsciously drifted towards the middle of the convoy, where Zhang Lishi, several family heads, and numerous martial arts masters were located. Shi Tie was also there.

One at the front, the other at the back; their strength and status were clearly delineated.

'It's good this way. With such a large difference in status, it will prevent troublemakers from sowing discord and reduce unnecessary suspicion.'

As he was thinking, the three second-generation heirs beside him finally reached a conclusion in their argument.

The Ye Family and the Xiao Family were both among the Three Great Families of the Inner City. Facing the Chai Gang, they presented a united front. Song Qingshan, unable to win the verbal sparring, finally stopped bringing up marriage alliances and instead said:

"Brother Li, do you know that although Pingqiu Mountain is not a famous mountain, it does have a history..."

"If you're referring to the history of the Song Family's rise through banditry and highway robbery, I believe it's best not to mention it, lest our ears be defiled."

Xiao Ji spoke with undisguised disdain for the Chai Gang.

"I've also seen this matter in the County Records – Brother Song is referring to the False Yan rebels who fled into Pingqiu Mountain back then, right?"

Ye Rongzu, though also looking down on the Chai Gang, stepped in to continue the conversation when he saw Song Qingshan's ashen face.

Upon hearing this, Li Cunxiao's interest was immediately piqued.

"False Yan rebels? Brother Ye and Brother Song are referring to the An-Shi Rebel Army that was once so ferocious?"

"Brother Li is truly learned and knowledgeable. You must visit my Ye Family Library another day for tea and conversation."

Ye Rongzu offered a flattering compliment, then, under the displeased gazes of the other two, returned to the main topic.

"Back then, Emperor Ming wrongly trusted treacherous officials, leading the military governors of Pinglu, Fanyang, and Hedong, An Huxuan, to brazenly raise an army. For a time, their forces were unstoppable, conquering two-fifths of the empire, with the momentum of a prairie fire."

"Nowadays, we naturally know these bandits are no match for us, but back then, even members of the Boling Cui Clan defected to False Yan, seeking merit for following the dragon."

"Fortunately, Duke Guo's martial prowess was peerless. He first recaptured the Imperial Capital, then defeated the rebel An. That traitor Shi was cunning; he surrendered only to rebel again, actually re-establishing False Yan."

"It's just that the An-Shi rebel army suffered a crushing defeat at that time, severely weakening their strength. Shi, in order to resist Duke Guo, was driven to desperate measures."

"Not only did they attack county government offices everywhere, collecting Demon Meat Seeds, but they even established Grave Robber Captains to steal from tombs, plundering burial gold, silver, and weapons to supply their army."

"At that time, a unit of 'Yeluoge' under Shi was stationed in Chuqiu. Later, my Ye Family's ancestor was the first to rebel, leading the militia to fight back."

"With the combined efforts of the families in the Inner City, the Yeluoge commander fled to Pingqiu Mountain, where he was eventually killed."

Yeluoge is a Hu term, meaning so-called strong warriors or brave men. Initially, they were a crack force under An Huxuan. After his death, they were incorporated into Shi Junshan's command. Li Cunxiao had heard about these matters in unofficial histories and miscellaneous records.

"Eldest Young Master Ye, stop flattering yourself. If that commander was truly killed by the Ye Family, why do the Xiao and Ye families still follow Murong's lead in the Inner City?"

"After painstakingly fighting the rebels, you exhausted your family's resources, and yet you gained no rewards? That Yeluoge commander carried a fortune plundered from all over."

Song Qingshan's words were laced with sarcasm, causing Ye Rongzu's expression to stiffen. It was clear he had hit a sore spot, but Xiao Ji, standing beside him, refused to back down:

"Your Chai Gang has always stayed on the mountains, coexisting with beasts, while we three families enjoy the city's prosperity. This is the reward for exchanging our family's foundation!"

"Xiao Ji, I'll enter your..."

Li Cunxiao heard these early secret tales, especially those involving Demon Meat Seeds and tomb raiding for weapons. He was about to inquire further. But seeing the three of them at each other's throats, he had no choice but to step in and mediate.

"All three of you are Chuqiu's talented youths. Why do you always get so serious in your arguments? I, your junior, am of humble virtue and little ability, and I was hoping to witness your prowess later."

His words drifted away on the wind, unheard clearly by Ye Chengxiao in the distance.

Looking from afar, he only saw Li Cunxiao and his nemesis, Ye Rongzu, laughing heartily. Thinking of Senior Sister Xiao's grievances from a few days prior, he clenched his fists.

Shen He had also suffered at Xiao Mei's hands before. Seeing Ye Chengxiao's demeanor, he knew there was no way to persuade him.

"But even so, Junior Disciple Li is, after all, in the Muscle Realm."

You, who are at Blood Qi Perfection, what can you do even if you're unhappy?

Ye Chengxiao understood the implied meaning but didn't get angry. Instead, he revealed a confident smile.

"Senior Brother, do you think I'm the kind of idiot who would throw an egg against a rock?"

Shen He's heart skipped a beat as he saw the other man's eyes suddenly turn into Tiger Eyes Golden Pupils and his entire body's muscles bulge, straining his clothes—

He broke through?!

Seeing the surprise in the other man's eyes, Ye Chengxiao felt a sense of hard-won accomplishment wash over him.

He had obtained the Demon Seduction Method before Li Cunxiao. Although he was overtaken midway, after reflecting on his mistakes, he managed to live up to his reputation as a genius and break through to the Muscle Realm before the Autumn Hunt, with the encouragement of Xiao Mei and the slight assistance of the precious medicines bought by his parents.

This Autumn Hunt, he would not let Li Sanlang steal all the glory!