Three days later.
Luoshui City's underworld gathered at Huike House.
The invitations had come from none other than Liang Chenggang, leader of the Flying Eagle Gang, whose star had been rising lately.
Hundreds of underworld henchmen gathered around Huike House.
To keep the Flying Eagle Gang from pulling any tricks, every gang had brought as many men as possible.
Inside, Huike House was packed with underworld bosses who had come to join the alliance.
Before long, Liang Chenggang, leader of the Flying Eagle Gang, appeared.
He wore a blue-green robe with a longsword at his waist, cutting a graceful figure.
"Bosses, thank you all for doing me the honor of coming."
"Get to the point. What exactly did you call us here for?"
Old Huo from Willow City spoke with undisguised hostility.
Because of the Flying Eagle Gang, Old Huo had lost a great deal of territory.
"I know everyone here has plenty of grievances against me, and I have offended you on many occasions.
But I was acting on someone else's behalf. I hope you won't hold it against me."
Liang Chenggang was unusually courteous that day.
This put everyone on edge. What medicine was this fellow hiding in his gourd?
"Gang Leader Liang, we're all straightforward people. Just say what you have to say."
Liang Chenggang smiled. "To be frank, I want to offer you all a chance to rise in rank and make your fortunes."
Luoshui City, the Brocade-Clad Guards Office.
Deputy Thousand-Household Commander Lu Cheng took a deep breath as he read the letter, his hands trembling despite himself.
The Brocade-Clad Guards were an arm of the imperial court, the emperor's eyes and ears.
They were responsible not only for investigations in Capital City, but also for keeping watch over local officials.
Even princes and high ministers regarded them with wariness.
Lu Cheng had made one winning gamble in his life, back in the early years when two imperial contenders had fought for the throne.
He had firmly sided with the current emperor, leaping from a nameless foot soldier to Deputy Thousand-Household Commander.
And now, the situation facing Lu Cheng could not merely be called similar to the one decades earlier.
It was identical.
The struggle between the Princess and the Second Prince had already become a fight to the death.
He had thought the Princess Treasure Ship's explosion had settled the struggle for succession.
Who could have known that the Princess would escape the disaster by sheer luck?
Or that she was now hiding in Luoshui City?
Lu Cheng set the letter alight, burning it to ashes.
Unease showed in his eyes, yet greed lurked there too.
One general's triumph left ten thousand bones to wither!
Life was a gamble. Those who could not afford to lose were doomed to lose for their entire lives.
Rather than die in obscurity, he might as well throw caution to the wind and make one great wager.
[Ding! The Moon's Reflection on the Second Spring lv2 (9500/10000)]
Looks like I can advance past level 2 this year.
Li Ping'an finished chopping his wood for the day.
Then he prepared to head to the pawnshop. His landlord, Chang Si, had given Li Ping'an quite a few things earlier,
and Li Ping'an planned to pawn some of them for spending money.
He would also buy Liu Yun a New Year's gift while he was out.
But the moment he stepped outside, Li Ping'an sensed that something was wrong.
Several more spies were lurking in the shadows. Could they be from the Flying Eagle Gang?
Their auras, however, were clearly stronger.
"What's wrong?"
Liu Yun happened to be coming out with a basin to wash clothes.
Seeing Li Ping'an circle back, she asked him.
"Did you forget something?"
"It's nothing."
Li Ping'an gave a faint smile.
"I'm not going out today."
"Why?" Liu Yun asked, puzzled.
"I want to take a day off."
Liu Yun blinked her bright eyes, then reached out to feel Li Ping'an's forehead.
"Are you ill?"
Her hand was cool and carried a faint fragrance.
"I'm really fine. It's cold, and I don't feel like going out. I'll play a little chess with you later."
"Wonderful. I've been studying all sorts of moves lately. You definitely won't be able to beat me." Liu Yun's red lips curled slightly.
Li Ping'an went to the back courtyard, where Old Ox was sprawled lazily on the ground, basking in the sun.
"Moo!"
Old Ox let out a call.
Li Ping'an frowned slightly. "Old Ox, have you foreseen something again?"
Old Ox mooed several more times.
"A great battle? Does it involve me, or Liu Yun?"
"Moo~"
"Liu Yun?"
Li Ping'an had long suspected this day would come.
The Princess Treasure Ship had exploded, and Li Ping'an had encountered Liu Yun soon afterward.
Old Ox had then insisted that Li Ping'an save Liu Yun.
Whatever Old Ox urged him to do was always beneficial to him, without exception.
Liu Yun's speech and every gesture proved that she was no girl from an ordinary family.
Her identity went without saying, but Liu Yun had never mentioned it.
And Li Ping'an had never taken it upon himself to expose her.
In truth, given his temperament, if Old Ox had not insisted that he save her back then,
Li Ping'an would never have rescued that stranger.
Yet after more than half a year together, he seemed to have grown accustomed to having a woman at home.
Now, however, it seemed that everything was about to end.
Li Ping'an stroked Old Ox's head.
Wind and rain were approaching, and the whole building rustled with the gathering gale.
The Peace Escort Agency.
"Weapons? Could you be more specific, Mr. Li? What sort of weapon do you want?"
Chen Shun asked.
Killing required weapons.
As the saying went, "A craftsman who wishes to do good work must first sharpen his tools."
Li Ping'an's weapon had always been his walking stick.
It was enough for minor trouble, but if skilled fighters surrounded him with the intent to kill,
he would need a weapon worthy of the fight.
And so Li Ping'an had thought of Chen Shun, the young master of the Peace Escort Agency.
Li Ping'an had saved Chen Shun during an escort job half a year earlier.
That was how the two had become acquainted.
"I'm used to using a saber," Li Ping'an said.
"A saber? We have those, we certainly do!"
Chen Shun nodded eagerly.
Li Ping'an had finally come to him for a favor, and Chen Shun was thrilled.
Ever since returning from that escort job, he had wanted to become Li Ping'an's disciple.
But Li Ping'an had never agreed.
This was undoubtedly his best opportunity.
Chen Shun led Li Ping'an to the agency's armory.
As the armory doors opened, the smell of iron wafted toward them.
"This is our agency's armory."
Chen Shun introduced it to Li Ping'an proudly.
The room covered more than eighty square meters, with two rows of racks hung with weapons of every kind.
Chen Shun picked up a large saber three feet long. "How about this one?"
Li Ping'an reached out and flicked it, but was not particularly satisfied.
Chen Shun picked up another, neither too long nor too short.
Its blade was broad, thin, and exceptionally sharp.
Li Ping'an gave it a few practice swings. It did not sit quite right in his hand.
Chen Shun then showed Li Ping'an dozens more fine sabers, but none suited his tastes.
Chen Shun thought, An expert truly is an expert. Ordinary weapons don't even catch his eye!
He gritted his teeth. Without risking the child, he would never snare the wolf.
Perhaps this is a test Mr. Li has set for me.
"Mr. Li, these mundane things aren't worthy of your attention. Let me show you something else."
"You have something else?"
"Of course."
"Then thank you."
Chen Shun said, "No need to stand on ceremony, sir. This way, please."
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