"Heading Home"

In an instant.

He An's heart stopped.

Seeing his reaction, Sun Wangxian became even more certain of his suspicions.

"Lü Jiang... you killed him, didn't you?"

Sun Wangxian spoke in a low voice, quiet enough for only the two of them to hear.

But to He An, those words sounded like a vengeful ghost coming to claim his life. They struck him where he stood.

Sun Wangxian didn't wait for him. He simply walked on ahead.

Watching his back, He An narrowed his eyes, his thoughts unreadable.

A moment later.

Once the others had gone dozens of meters ahead, he hurried after him.

"Brother Sun, what do you want?"

"I don't want anything. There's nothing you could give me anyway."

Sun Wangxian smiled.

Normally, when someone had something on you, it was easy enough if they were willing to say what they wanted.

As long as you gave them what they asked for, the matter might be over.

But if they wanted nothing at all...

Then you were in serious trouble.

In that situation, there was only one possibility: they were about to make an outrageous demand.

As He An thought this over, his gaze turned cold. He was still calculating what to do when—

"Don't worry. I won't tell anyone."

Another low whisper reached his ears.

This time, He An was completely bewildered.

He couldn't understand why Sun Wangxian was acting this way. Could it be that he really didn't want anything?

"Could it be because of the Wu Family?" He An wondered, utterly perplexed.

"Brother Sun, what is it you really want?"

He had no choice but to ask so humbly.

The Town Martial Division had strict rules.

Killing one of its own was a grave crime.

If discovered, the culprit would either have his meridians and bones crippled or be executed on the spot.

With his current strength, if it came to that...

Even as the victim, he would still be mired in a mountain of trouble.

And with Meng Cao watching him like a tiger eyeing its prey, he would surely fan the flames from the shadows.

In other words—

If word got out that he had killed Lü Hao, he was as good as dead!!

"I don't want anything," Sun Wangxian refused again.

He An's gaze instantly turned cold, and he fixed Sun Wangxian with a hard stare.

Just then,

Sun Wangxian suddenly asked, "Brother He, how strong are you now? I want the truth."

He An paused.

Then he understood.

The other man was trying to invest in him!

That meant the stronger he appeared, the more Sun Wangxian would believe in him.

He was just a little worried Sun Wangxian might not play by the rules.

After a few seconds of thought, He An quietly revealed his realm.

He still held something back, making sure not to seem too monstrous.

"Body Refining Realm!"

"As I thought!"

Sun Wangxian looked as if he had already guessed. He showed little surprise, but He An couldn't miss the excitement in his eyes.

"Had you studied martial arts before?"

He pressed on.

At last, He An was certain: Sun Wangxian intended to make a long-term investment, and He An was the one he was betting on.

"No!"

He An answered calmly.

Sun Wangxian could no longer hide his excitement.

"I knew it. I'd heard before that you'd never studied martial arts—you joined the Town Martial Division by paying your way in."

"I just didn't expect you to become a Martial Artist so quickly."

He took a deep breath. "Brother He, I can promise to help you keep this secret. And if you ever need my help in the future, just ask."

"But I want you to do one thing for me."

"What is it?"

He An asked.

"Help me become a Centurion in the Town Martial Division!"

He An: "???"

Sun Wangxian explained, "Don't worry. I don't mean now."

"With your current strength and standing, even if you wanted to help me become a Centurion in the Town Martial Division, there's no way you could."

"But I believe that with your talent, your future prospects are limitless."

"When that day comes, you can help me then."

"Until then, you don't need to worry about me letting the secret slip, or using it to threaten you."

"After all, exposing you wouldn't do me any good."

"Since that's the case, I might as well do you a favor."

He An didn't agree right away. Instead, he asked, "Brother Sun, do you trust me that much?"

"Aren't you afraid that once I'm strong enough, I'll kill you to silence you?"

"And what if I'm lying? What if my Martial Talent isn't as high as you think?"

Sun Wangxian gave him a mysterious smile.

"Kill me to silence me? If you were that kind of person, Fan wouldn't still be alive."

"Besides, even if you are lying, what would I lose?"

"I was already entrusted to look after you. Keeping this secret is just another small favor, so either way, I lose nothing."

"..."

"Deal."

He An pressed his lips together and said no more.

Sun Wangxian grinned and handed the dagger to He An.

"Get rid of this. After that, only you and I will know what happened. No, wait—that kid Fan Xingwei knows too."

He An took the dagger and chuckled. "Brother Sun, I never would've guessed you were so perceptive. You figured out my strength from just these few things."

"You even guessed that Fan Xingwei knew about it, and you were spot-on."

"He chose to keep quiet because I threatened him."

"As I thought!" Sun Wangxian sighed. "Brother He, you're still too kind."

"If I were you, Fan wouldn't be alive right now, no matter what promises he made."

"After all... only the dead can't talk, right?"

He An fell silent.

A moment later,

Sun Wangxian gave an awkward cough. "Um... Brother He, we're different."

"This is just a matter of favors between us, so you don't need to worry about me letting the secret slip."

"Of course, I believe you'll be able to do it."

On the way back, Sun Wangxian was clearly in much better spirits.

"This trip was worth it!"

Dusk was falling.

At last, the group returned to the city.

"Brothers, you can head back now. I'll take him back by myself, and I also need to report today's events to Captain."

At that, the others all dispersed.

He An was about to leave when Sun Wangxian grabbed him.

"Brother He, stay a moment."

"What is it?"

Sun Wangxian waved a hand. "Just a reminder: Clerk Meng may have some peculiar tastes, but don't underestimate his strength. He's also ruthless."

"Since he chose to make a move against you, he'll stop at nothing to get rid of you."

"So be careful from now on!"

Not wanting to worry his Eldest Brother, He An said nothing about what had happened that day when he got home. He only gave him a vague, simple answer.

Still, He Ping noticed something was off.

In the dead of night,

He An had just been about to practice the Gale Blade Technique.

He Ping walked over quietly.

"Eldest Brother, what's wrong?"

"Tell me. What happened today?"

He Ping asked gravely.

"Nothing!"

He An still tried to play dumb, but He Ping saw right through him.

"Nothing?"

"If there's anyone in this world who knows you best, it's me, your Eldest Brother."

"Everything you've done since coming home proves you're hiding something from me."

At that, He Ping grew angry. "I'm your Eldest Brother. Do you really think I'd hurt you?"

"Tell me, what happened? Why did you come back so late today? And why are you hiding it from me? What is it you don't want me to know?"

Seeing his Eldest Brother get angry, He An grew anxious.

"Eldest Brother, I wasn't trying to hide it from you. It's just that this matter is extraordinary. I don't want to drag you into it, and I don't want you to worry."

He Ping didn't reply.

After a long while,

he said slowly, "We're family!!"