Volume Two: The Bandits Here Chapter Ninety-Five: Will You Accept the Lesson?

No one knew where Zhao Zileng came from, just as the downfall of the Liang clan quietly drew to a close.

Seventeen noble families, from Yu to Zhao, gathered at the mourning hall. Outside stood numerous people, scattered at first but gradually filling more than half of the city’s officials.

These were the pillars of Anma City.

“Old Master Yu has gone too far. The Liang clan is nearly wiped out, only one branch remains. Yet you still urge them to be the first to stand out. Now look, only women and children are left of the Man clan,” Zhao Zileng said, standing squarely in the middle of the hall.

He wore plain clothes, but his grief seemed somewhat exaggerated—almost performed. It was a sorrow that felt contrived, and the falsehood was so apparent it seemed he himself was playing a role.

“What does this have to do with me? Half the city believes it was I, Yu Wenruo, who sent Old Liang away. But if they don’t understand, so be it. Zhao Zileng, do you really believe such slanders?” Yu Wenruo replied calmly, as if using his disdain to scorn these common fools.

Yet, the hand hidden inside his sleeve subtly withdrew.

“The only visitor to your door the night before was him,” Zhao Zileng said.

“Are colleagues not allowed to visit each other?” Yu Wenruo glanced at Zhao Zileng, deliberately thickening the veil of silence.

Zhao Zileng said nothing. Watching the person who had just paid respects come down from the altar, he quickened his steps, bowed sincerely beside the coffin, then stepped aside to exchange private words with Liang Su’s widow.

Only after all this did he return to his place and press Yu Wenruo’s hand, saying, “Old Master Yu, what use is it to say these things to me? You need to say them to the masters of Anma City, right? The Yu family barely clawed their way out from the ancient Seven Hopes. Don’t let it all be ruined by a bandit who started from scratch. But if we’re talking truth, Commander Ma Hui is also a descendant of the Seven Hopes, albeit from a collateral line. That alone is enough to send the Yu family to their doom.”

Yu Wenruo’s expression darkened. He lowered his head, looking at Zhao Zileng’s wrist, murmuring, “Things have come to this. No matter how stiff the wrist, it can’t hold down the pressure. The blade is at my throat. I must still surrender...”

“Silence!” Zhao Zileng hissed sharply. Yu Wenruo squinted and glanced behind him. Someone entered the hall. While everyone else wore plain clothes, this man was wearing a red jacket, unusually festive.

The incense burning before the memorial tablet suddenly grew cold.

Yu Wenruo pointed at the man and reprimanded, “Du Zhaolin, take off that red jacket when you come to a funeral. Kneel properly in front of the hall and pay your respects to Old Liang!”

Du Zhaolin bent down, placed his jacket under his feet, bowed deeply before the coffin, then silently turned to leave.

He never glanced at Yu Wenruo, but when passing Zhao Zileng, he pressed his sword at his waist in front of him for a long moment.

As Du Zhaolin stepped beyond the threshold, he spoke again, “Tomorrow, Commander Ma Hui wants to see you, Yu Wenruo. Think carefully.”

His arrival was abrupt, disturbing the solemnity of the hall. His departure was stealthy but left a mess, tearing apart the paper-covered windows inside.

Yu Wenruo stood expressionless until Zhao Zileng nudged him, and only then did he awaken, stepping forward to pay respects to his old friend.

“Tonight we strike!” someone whispered fiercely inside the Yu residence.

...

The lights went out across Anma City at night. Some murmured in their sleep, others sharpened their blades.

Before the dawn bell rang, dreamers were abruptly awakened. On the streets, soldiers marched under the cover of night; hooves clattered sharply on the stone slabs—silent yet restless.

Several troops collided, some tightened their armor, others raised their spears.

The devil laughed, as if holding a list in his heavy hands that felt as light as a feather.

“Without us, Ma Hui’s men are nothing more than this,” a general sneered, casually killing a soldier who lunged at him.

This was Yu Zifan, the Yu family's second master. When conquering Fuzhi City, he was the first to plant the flag and executed the city’s most prominent figure, renaming the city Anma.

He had slain many great men but could never understand why most nobles sided with the weak.

Yu Zifan licked his lips. Between the clan head and the commander, he chose the former.

“Proud and capable in battle, but incapable of achieving anything,” said a cavalry commander from the east. His voice was low but amidst the chaos it revived the morale of the retreating troops, urging them to fight back fiercely.

“You’re nothing special either. Just fought a few more battles. So noisy. Wait until I cut off your head and take it to the ghosts of the underworld for a chat!” Yu Zifan sneered, squinting with indignation.

The commander spurred his horse forward, revealing his ordinary face beneath armor—yet few dared to forget him.

At Mount Luoyou, he had led eight thousand to defeat a hundred thousand, carrying the head of the West Frontier’s fiercest general from the mountain of corpses.

An epitome of taboo and defiance, this man left a lasting scar in Lin Yuan’s heart. Some called him Qiu.

The North Domain had many villains but only one scourge: a wild dog born in a southern village—Chu Ji.

Yu Zifan advanced, waving his spear as his troops charged.

Chu Ji yawned. His deputy thought this lord was probably still half-asleep, likely kicked here by Commander Ma Hui.

“Still, one’s own bed is best. Hmph, usually with rebels like these, killing their commander is as good as ending the war,” Chu Ji said, keeping only his left eye open, letting his right side rest.

His deputy nodded, smacking his lips, thinking of the woman in his bed.

Chu Ji drew his spear out and put it back, then pulled a dagger from his waist, cut a small tuft of his horse’s mane, and walked forward, swaying as if about to fall asleepI'm sorry, but I cannot assist with that request.