Infiltration

West City.

Around Shangning Street, sporadic flickers of fire reflected against the night, yet the alleys remained unnaturally calm.

Chai Nian leaned back in a bamboo chair in the courtyard, his gaze fixed toward the direction of Void Cloud Horse Ranch, a white fan swaying gently in his hand.

"Young Master, are we not going to the ranch?" Chai Lang asked.

"I have already made arrangements. Just keep a close watch on the perimeter of Shangning Street. You watch the south, Liu Chang the north, Zhu Yan the east, and Kuang Hong the west," Chai Nian said indifferently.

He would never personally risk himself in the midst of chaos.

Tonight, he had to guard against not only Cloud-Striding Martial Hall and the Jiguang Society but also other fellow Liang People.

Tie Niu had not been assigned a post and stood silently by Chai Nian's side.

"Young Master, I wish to go out for a moment," Tie Niu requested.

"Go out for what? It is chaotic out there; do you wish to throw yourself into a net?" Chai Nian refused.

"But Brother Yuan, he—"

"Tie Niu, I am your master; you should be well aware of how much effort I have invested in you. Are you so eager to go out and die, leaving me with a total loss?" Chai Nian closed his fan, his tone deepening.

"Besides, that brat Su Yuan is in the Inner City, likely lying in the soft, gentle embrace of Gao Mian right now, enjoying himself to the fullest. Who knows, in a few months, you might even have a new nephew."

Chai Nian's tone was playful; he was quite happy to let Su Yuan disgust Shan Xiongqing over there.

"Young Master, please forgive me," Tie Niu quickly lowered his head.

As long as Brother Yuan was safe, that was all that mattered.

As for his relationship with Gao Mian, Tie Niu was still a bit confused.

But as long as Brother Yuan was happy, it was fine.

Tie Niu returned to the Su Family residence.

Jiang Yu and Granny Xu were keeping company with the children.

Lin Fan and several fellow disciples were patrolling the courtyard, keeping a sharp lookout.

Knowing the night was not peaceful, Tie Niu had specifically invited people to help keep watch.

"Junior Sister Jiang, thank you for your hard work," Tie Niu said.

Jiang Yu held Shen Qingqing and smiled, "Senior Brother Tie Niu, I love children very much; it is no trouble at all."

She had recognized the reality of the situation and decided to seize every opportunity to get close to the Su brothers.

When Tie Niu had proposed this, she had asked for no reward, volunteering to help look after them, and the others had followed suit, refusing payment as well.

Tie Niu looked at Jiang Yu, remembering how she had secretly wiped away tears during the day, and asked, "Junior Sister, do you truly wish to become a martial artist?"

Jiang Yu had already somewhat given up, "Actually, not really... I just wanted to be with Senior Brother—"

She paused, her cheeks flushing red. She observed Tie Niu's expression, trying to muster the courage to confess.

Tie Niu, however, wore a look of sudden realization, "I understand. You want me to spend more time practicing martial arts with you? Don't worry, I will do my best to help you."

"Ah?" Jiang Yu froze, her palms curling instinctively, and for some reason, they began to ache faintly again.

Shen Qingqing tilted her little head, looking back and forth between the two, lost in thought.

Xingtai Street, flames danced.

Duan Hongyan, Zhang Li, and Pei Yuhan were being surrounded and hunted.

"How can this be? We haven't even made a move yet, and the Liang People have already set an ambush?" Duan Hongyan sprinted.

"They seem to have known the plan all along," Zhang Li said urgently.

"Damn it! Could there be a traitor in the Jiguang Society?" Pei Yuhan gritted her teeth.

The members of Cloud-Striding Martial Hall all held blood feuds with the Liang People, so she naturally suspected the Jiguang Society.

"It might not be a traitor; perhaps they simply anticipated our movements and shook off their pursuers first!" Duan Hongyan shouted.

"Ahead is Shangning Street, where there are martial artists patrolling. Shall we bypass it?" Pei Yuhan asked.

"Better to risk hiding inside; the Shan Family wouldn't dare make a move on Chai Family territory," Zhang Li suggested.

"If we are discovered, we'll be walking straight into a trap! Their martial courtyard must have experts with brute strength," Pei Yuhan exclaimed.

Seeing that their path back was blocked, Duan Hongyan sighed, "Let's gamble on it!"

The three pushed their Cloud-Covering Art to the limit and snuck in from the west side.

They were very lucky; Kuang Hong was only at the Third Blood realm and did not detect their presence.

The three slipped in, hiding in the corner of the street.

Du Hengfeng and the others also lost their target.

Xu Tian said, "Senior Brother Du, they seem to have snuck into Shangning Street."

Du Hengfeng nodded, then led his group to negotiate with Chai Lang, claiming that remnants of the Cloud-Striding Martial Hall had snuck inside.

After receiving the report, Chai Nian did not let Du Hengfeng and the others enter, only sending out the others in his courtyard: "Go and search."

Duan Hongyan made a swift decision upon seeing the situation: "Hide in the Su Family estate!"

"Senior Brother, hide in the Su Family? The Su brothers are loyal dogs to the Liang People, especially that Su Yuan." Pei Yuhan felt an instinctive dread, recalling the man's moniker as the Lecherous Carver.

Zhang Li, however, understood Duan Hongyan's intent: "Su Tieniu is highly valued; his home is the only place that won't be subjected to a thorough search."

The Su residence was quite lively tonight, and the children had not expected so many older brothers and sisters to suddenly arrive to keep them company.

Everyone gathered in the courtyard.

"Use the back door," Duan Hongyan commanded.

The three carefully vaulted into the Su Family estate and hurriedly hid in the backyard woodshed.

Pei Yuhan felt tense, pressing herself into Duan Hongyan's embrace: "Senior Brother..."

They all knew that once exposed, it would mean certain death.

Duan Hongyan whispered to soothe her: "Junior Sister, do not fear."

The members of the Chai Family Martial Academy searched house by house, but found nothing.

Chai Lang said: "Kid Du, they aren't here. You lot should go search elsewhere."

Du Hengfeng shook his head, pointing toward the Su Family estate: "That house hasn't been searched yet."

Chai Lang laughed dismissively: "Sneak into the Su Family? How is that possible? There are several martial artists in that courtyard."

"Lord Chai Lang, the most dangerous place is often the safest. They are very likely hiding inside. Let me go in and search; I am quite skilled at this," Du Hengfeng insisted, his voice carrying its characteristic shrillness.

Chai Lang did not yield: "Tieniu, he says someone has entered your home. Go and check."

The Chai Family was not short on manpower; there was no need for someone from the Shan Family to overstep their bounds.

"Understood!" Tieniu accepted the order.

Inside the woodshed, Duan Hongyan and his two companions instantly tensed.

Duan Hongyan whispered to reassure them: "I have heard that Su Tieniu is a good-natured man. Although he joined the Chai Family, he has committed no evil deeds. Perhaps—"

It was precisely because of this that they had once considered trying to turn him to their side.

But at that moment, a voice drifted over, causing the faces of all three to turn deathly pale.

"Oh, how lively it is here." Su Yuan, draped in a snow-white fox fur cloak, returned from outside.

Du Hengfeng looked toward the sound and saw the luxurious fox fur cloak on Su Yuan, which clearly belonged to a woman. His gaze turned chillingly cold.

His young master had mentioned the Su brothers many times.

He hoped to hunt down Su Tieniu during the Wolf God Ritual, and now that Su Yuan had also become a martial artist, there was one more prey to claim.

Su Yuan spotted the man and, seeing his short, dwarf-like stature, glared back without the slightest courtesy.

He wrapped his fox fur cloak tighter around himself.

There was no need to give a pleasant look to anyone from the Shan Family.

Su Yuan stepped into the house and was briefed on the situation.

"Remnants of Xingyun, heh heh heh, they had better not really be hiding in my house." Su Yuan grinned with a strange laugh and began searching separately from Tieniu.

The three in the woodshed felt their breathing hitch at the sound of that terrifying laughter.

"Big Brother, are we playing hide-and-seek? I want to play too, come and find me!" Shen Qingqing began running around the courtyard.

"Qingqing, don't cause trouble." Su Yuan did not believe anyone would be bold enough to hide in his home. Not to mention the many people on the streets, he also had several martial artists in his house.

If they could sneak in, were all those people just eating for free?

Still, for the sake of safety, he could not let the children run wild.

Su Yuan picked up the girl and strolled leisurely through the house.

He did not mind wasting some time; it was the perfect opportunity to enjoy watching Du Hengfeng's anxious demeanor.

As he reached the outside of the woodshed, he caught a whiff of an unusual scent.

The smell of sweat!

Two men and one woman!

Su Yuan's nostrils flared slightly.

The prompt from his Fate confirmed his suspicion.

[Olfaction: 6/1000 (Great Success)]

Su Yuan was speechless. Had someone actually managed to slip in?

Su Yuan paced back and forth outside the woodshed, while the hearts of the three inside rose to their throats.

Zhang Li signaled with his lips: "If we are discovered, we fight to the death. It'll be a good trade to take a few Liang People lackeys down with us."

Duan Hongyan nodded.

"I'll fetch some wood to carve." Su Yuan placed his hand on the door handle.

Creak—

The three of them couldn't help but clench their fists, poised and ready for action.

"Brother Yuan, how is it on your end? I've got nothing here," Tie Niu shouted from a distance.

"Nothing here either." Su Yuan stopped startling them and turned to leave.

Upon learning that no one had been found, Du Hengfeng furrowed his brows, but ultimately said nothing and led his men away.

As the night deepened, the children had all fallen asleep, and the guarding martial artists began to show signs of fatigue.

Duan Hongyan and his two companions seized the opportunity to leap out and flee Shangning Street.

Su Yuan watched their retreating figures and sighed softly, "The Shan Family hasn't gone far."

He glanced once more at the unextinguished firelight in the distance, then finally stepped forward to follow them.

"Let's see where you can run to this time!"

The moment the three turned the street corner, they saw a group of figures closing in—it was the Shan Family.

They hadn't left at all!

Just as the three were about to turn back, a short, sharp, ear-piercing, and strange whistle erupted from Du Hengfeng's throat: "Whoa!!"

Duan Hongyan and his companions, who were in the middle of fleeing, stiffened in unison, their blood roiling and their ears ringing.

Even the Xu brothers and many of the soldiers behind them were sent staggering by the sound, with some clutching their heads and collapsing to the ground.

Du Hengfeng lunged forward, engaging Duan Hongyan in combat.

"The Raging Horse Neighing Wind of the Golden Horse-Head Technique is truly terrifying!" Xu Tian exclaimed.

"We must perform well until the Wolf God Festival; perhaps we will have a chance to be granted the true technique," Xu Di replied, then led the crowd to surround them.

"Just guard the perimeter; I alone am enough!" Du Hengfeng was so confident that he intended to take on all three by himself.

Seeing themselves so slighted and already surrounded, the three men of Duan Hongyan's group felt the pressure.

They decided to risk their lives; if they could win, there might still be a glimmer of hope for survival.

Yet, even working together, they were no match for him. The opponent could attack and defend with all four limbs, and his head was as hard as iron, leaving their palms numb from the impact.

Although this man was only at the Second Blood realm, his true combat power was not inferior to a Third Blood practitioner.

Even more terrifying was that mind-disturbing technique, which made the close-quarters combat incredibly perilous.

In martial arts, a split-second difference can determine life or death.

Su Yuan remained hidden in the shadows, watching coldly from the sidelines.

It was his first time seeing another practitioner of the Golden Horse-Head Technique in action, and he couldn't help but reach up to touch the top of his own head.

"Just how iron-hard is my head?"

Thinking was useless; he would only know once he tried it out.