Xuanwu City Erupts! Tian Shisan Trembles

At the Earl's command, the Earl's Manor dispatched dozens of groups to loudly announce Jin MuLan's wedding across the city. They also sent out invitations far and wide, inviting Xuanwu City's notables to attend that evening's wedding.

At once, the whole of Xuanwu City erupted. Countless young talents beat their chests and stamped their feet, feeling as though life was no longer worth living.

She was the Earl's Manor's precious daughter—noble in status, formidable in Martial Arts, breathtakingly beautiful, with a devilish figure.

She was a true Goddess-level beauty, even the foremost Goddess in all Nujiang Prefecture, secretly adored by countless people.

Xu Qianqian, born into wealth, needed to build her reputation everywhere and market herself as a celebrated lady of Nujiang Prefecture.

But Jin MuLan rarely showed herself in public. To Xu Qianqian, the title of celebrated lady was praise; to Jin MuLan, it was outright humiliation.

She was the daughter of a great aristocratic house with a century of heritage. What celebrated lady? You're the celebrated lady—your whole family is made up of celebrated ladies.

Xu Qianqian had many suitors. Jin MuLan was even more beautiful, with a more explosive figure, yet not a single young man in Xuanwu City dared pursue her.

They debased themselves and felt ashamed of their commonness! Everyone believed that a peerless beauty of Jin MuLan's standing should at least marry into a Marquis's household.

Every man in Xuanwu City could only gaze at her from afar, beyond all hope of reaching her, and fantasize about her in his heart.

Who would have thought that Xuanwu City's Princess was actually getting married? It was truly terrible news.

A Goddess like her was beyond our reach, but she couldn't go and marry someone either. Best if she remained unmarried for life.

That day, countless young men in Xuanwu City drank themselves senseless and slashed wildly with their swords.

"Who is it? Which man is marrying my princess? I'll kill him! Kill him!"

"Goddess, how could you do this? How could you get married? You betrayed us!"

Yet those in Xuanwu City with even a little status and power caught the scent of something strange.

Just whom was the Earl's Manor's daughter, Jin MuLan, marrying? The invitations did not name the groom, and no one had ever heard so much as a whisper beforehand.

Even stranger, the wedding was to be held that very night. It was far too rushed.

The weddings of century-old aristocratic families were always grand and cumbersome. First, an important figure would lead a delegation to propose marriage; only after both sides agreed would an engagement take place.

After the engagement, the two families would exchange gifts several times, hold several grand banquets, and go on several hunts. That was how everyone in aristocratic circles learned that the two families were to be joined by marriage.

Then both sides would wait for the Monarch's blessing.

Under normal circumstances, the Monarch was happy to add flowers to brocade. Not only would he send his blessings, he would also bestow gifts upon both parties.

After receiving the Monarch's blessing, they would invite sorcerers and astronomers to calculate an auspicious date suitable for both families, and only then hold the wedding ceremony.

After all that fuss, the grand wedding would not take place until at least half a year or a year later.

How could they announce it one day and marry on the same day? It was far too improper.

At that moment, the entire Earl's Manor, from top to bottom, was also preparing for that evening's wedding.

Countless foods, fruits, and fine wines were brought in. The entire estate and castle were festooned with lanterns and decorations. Every servant received a reward and a new set of clothes; even all the horses and hunting dogs got extra food.

Though it was rushed, and though they were taking in a Live-in Son-in-Law, the wedding had to be grand, because it was a performance for the Zhu Family to see.

Although Shen Lang was the male lead of this wedding, it was as if none of it had anything to do with him. In his guest room, he simply ate, slept, then slept and ate.

Because the invitations did not name the groom, this wedding had nothing to do with Tian Heng either.

Though he was an underworld boss who ran rampant in his territory, the Xuanwu Earl's Manor was beyond his reach. He had virtually no chance of attending the wedding.

Of course, as the Militia Leader of Xuanwu City, he would certainly send a congratulatory gift. Whether the Earl's Manor would accept it, however, was another matter.

Tian Heng did not care much about that, because the person behind him and the Xuanwu Earl were not in the same camp.

He was actually quite grateful to Shen Lang. Originally, the Xu Family had only been willing to give him one hundred gold coins, but after Shen Lang came up with that new Golden Yellow Dye formula, everything changed. He received over a thousand gold coins.

Not only did the Xu Family give him gold coins, Brocade Pavilion's Lin Family also gave him five hundred gold coins in thanks.

That was because the Lin Family and the Xu Family had entered into cooperation. Whether it was Lin Mo's son's Martial Examination or his appointment after the examination, he would receive enormous benefits.

Thus, the Lin Family also had to be grateful to Tian Heng.

Shen Lang had produced a new Golden Yellow Dye formula. It was an enormous profit, and the three factions had joined forces to kill Shen Lang and gorge themselves on the gains.

The dirty work that followed fell to Tian Heng!

After sending Tian Shisan to wipe out Shen Lang's entire family, Tian Heng never gave it another thought.

Shen Lang was nothing more than an ant. He was not worth Tian Heng's concern.

To demonstrate his stance, Tian Shisan, an assassin of the Black Clothes Gang, brought more than a dozen men to Maple Leaf Village. They surrounded Shen Lang's dilapidated house from front and back.

Gazing at the ruined mud walls, Tian Shisan sighed inwardly. "Weakness is the original sin!"

Then he lightly waved his hand. "By order of the City Lord's Manor, Shen Wan's family concealed farmland and evaded taxes. Arrest them immediately. Any who resist will be killed without mercy!"

"Move!"

At Tian Shisan's command, the Black Clothes Gang warriors, dressed in Xuanwu City Militia uniforms, drew their blades and charged into Shen Lang's home.

Though they were a gang, they were quite particular about how they did things. They would not simply rush into a house and begin a massacre. Instead, they would use the government's name to arrest your entire family. By then, Shen Lang would have no choice but to hand over the formulas for the purple and Rainbow Color Dyes.

Of course, even if Shen Lang were willing to hand them over, his family would still be unable to escape disaster.

This underworld boss truly possessed an official identity. Every warrior under him held a Xuanwu City Militia identity, and Tian Shisan really did have an arrest warrant in his hands. Everything was perfectly legal.

Bang, bang...

Shen Lang's flimsy front door flew straight off.

Yet after rushing through the door, the sight before them left Tian Shisan somewhat stunned.

There was no panic, no screaming.

Shen Lang's father lay in bed, coughing as he held a woodcutter's axe.

Shen Lang's mother stood before the bed with a kitchen knife in hand, while Shen Lang's Younger Brother abruptly sat up, gripping a freshly made crutch.

None of the three begged for mercy. They merely stared coldly at the Black Clothes Gang warriors.

Shen Lang was not home, so their weak point was gone. Instead, they seemed utterly fearless.

At the sight, Tian Shisan was slightly taken aback and smiled. "Old sir, what are you doing?"

As he spoke, he drew an iron ruler and walked toward Shen Lang's father, the smile on his face still so cordial.

Shen Lang was not home, but Tian Shisan did not care. As long as he captured this family, Shen Lang would certainly show himself. Even if he grew wings, he would not be able to fly away.

Shen Lang's father said, "We're useless people anyway. It doesn't matter."

Tian Shisan said, "You're resisting arrest with a blade, aren't you? That is no different from rebellion. Then forgive me, old sir, but this nephew can only take action."

With that, his iron ruler lightly swept toward Shen Lang's father's arm.

If it landed, Shen Lang's father's arm would undoubtedly shatter and break.

At the same time, his warriors pounced toward Shen Lang's mother and Younger Brother.

Just then, Tian Shisan suddenly felt every hair on his back stand on end. He whirled around, only to discover a figure standing outside Shen Lang's door.

An utterly ordinary middle-aged man, not even holding a knife, yet the aura around him made Tian Shisan feel as if thorns were pricking his back.

This was an expert.

"By order of the City Lord's Manor, we are arresting those who concealed farmland and evaded taxes. All unrelated persons, leave at once!" Tian Shisan shouted.

The man standing outside Shen Lang's home was Jin Zhong, a servant of the Earl's Manor. He had actually arrived long ago, but had deliberately waited until Tian Shisan broke through the door before appearing. Such was the seasoned shrewdness of his methods.

After hearing Tian Shisan's words, Jin Zhong said, "Oh, ordinarily we should not interfere with the City Lord's Manor carrying out its duties. But my master has invited Mr. Shen's family to attend a wedding. If I do not bring them back, I will be unable to answer to my master. Could I ask you to accommodate us?"

The moment Tian Shisan heard this, he sensed that something was wrong. The other man was courteous and calm.

He had met too many people and killed too many people. He knew deeply that the more powerful a person's background, the calmer they were. Those without backing, on the other hand, loved to make fierce threats and put on a show.

Tian Shisan said, "May I ask who you are, sir?"

If the other party truly had a powerful background, he would have to make long-term plans. But if the man had no real standing, then Tian Shisan could not be blamed for being ruthless. After all, he was acting in the government's name.

"Jin Zhong," the middle-aged man said.

The moment those words left his mouth, Tian Shisan's expression changed.

He had heard that name! Jin Zhong was not a major figure, nor was he especially capable within the Xuanwu Earl's Manor. But in Tian Heng's dictionary, he was someone who absolutely could not be provoked, because he was the Earl's trusted personal servant.

What was even more terrifying was the master behind him: Jin Zhuo, the Xuanwu Earl.

Tian Shisan felt his breathing grow much heavier. Cold sweat broke out across his back in waves, and even his hairs stood up one by one.

He forced himself to calm down and asked, "Your master invited Shen Lang's parents to attend the wedding?"

"Yes," Jin Zhong said flatly.

Tian Shisan immediately recalled Shen Lang's handsome face. After they had parted at dawn yesterday, Shen Lang had vanished.

He had never expected Shen Lang to have latched onto the Earl's Manor. Things were greatly amiss.

Having spent years licking blood from the edge of a blade, Tian Shisan instantly sensed danger. It was still uncertain just how close Shen Lang's relationship with the Earl's Manor was.

Let it not be too close. Otherwise, I will be in tremendous trouble.

Note: Brothers, please, I beg for recommendation votes! I'll work hard at writing.