At this moment, only five steps separated him from the renowned detective before him. Suddenly exerting force, he took advantage of the detective's unpreparedness and struck him unconscious with brute strength. Wuxin was not skilled at piercing through disguises, and amidst the chaos, he took the provincial official hostage and fled, compelling the hundreds of crossbowmen to back down.
Once his mind was made up, there was no longer any hesitation or fear of loss.
Wang Anfeng had already realized a principle in the midst of killing and warfare, no matter what shocking path one chooses, once it's chosen, there must be no hesitation or regret. With a heart as resolute as iron, he lifted his eyes to the detective before him, saluted with hands clasped, and gave his final explanation,
"I assumed a disguise out of necessity, and the reason I did not carry the scent of the streets is actually because my elder was anxious about this banquet. Therefore, I was sent to take a hidden path using Qinggong from high above, which is why I did not come in contact with the fragrances."
"This offense has violated the night curfew rules, and I naturally will pay the fine afterward."
Tie Lin narrowed his eyes, sheathed his sword, and let go of the slight regret in his heart. If he did not make a move now, it truly seemed there were no issues, but rules are rules. His thoughts fluctuated for an instant and then dissipated, calmly saying,
"Such an explanation can indeed make sense."
"However, I must still ask the two of you to come inside and wait for a while. I do not suspect you, but this is a matter of great importance, and there can be no ambiguity. This is also the rule for us public office holders when investigating cases. For any rudeness, I ask for your understanding."
"Come, take the two away."
With a sigh in his heart, Wang Anfeng no longer hesitated, his right hand tightened.
Buddha's Strength Mountain Moving Sutra.
Ten Powers of Tathagata.
If a fight was inevitable, he would resolve the problem within ten breaths.
The Western Region Sword of Tie Lin had been specially crafted using nine-times-refined iron from the Taoist Sect. What seemed fragile was just a deliberate ruse to lure the enemy into trying to break his weapon with brute force, only to lead them to greater despair.
But in the eyes of Wang Anfeng, it was indeed very fragile.
Shattered with one blow.
Even Tie Ning would not have the chance to draw his sword before fainting.
The atmosphere grew tense.
Just then, behind him, Liu Ling shook the wine jug in his hand and spoke in a leisurely manner,
"Hold on a moment..."
His words drew everyone's attention.
"Indeed, a good night of bright lights, but I wonder how it compares to the Heavenly Capital City?"
Li Qidao stood in the pavilion atop the guesthouse, looking out at the lights with his hands behind his back when suddenly, a clear voice rang by his ear. Steps, deliberately loud, approached slowly from behind.
Perhaps due to the strong literary atmosphere in Jiangnan Road, the architecture in the south differed from the north, which did not bother with tall structures, focusing on breadth and expansiveness instead. In contrast, inns in the south seemed to favor a small pavilion on the top floor, with flying eaves supported by four pillars painted red, designed for enjoying the view.
As the pavilion stood higher than the surrounding buildings, the view was quite expansive, especially in the summer nights when cool breezes passed through, offering the utmost comfort. In winter, curtains were dropped to keep out the cold wind and a pot of red clay was placed in the middle to warm up a jar of yellow rice wine. Drinking while facing the falling snow granted one the full elegance of a scholarly life.
Xue Qinshuang was dressed as a man, with a jade pendant at her waist and her black hair carelessly tied into a Taoist bun with a satin ribbon, exuding a lazy charm. Holding a jar of wine in her right hand, she slowly ascended the winding staircase to the pavilion.
When she dressed as a woman, her valiant look made her stand out among her peers, but in men's attire, that valiance became a tranquil grace, indistinguishable as a woman in disguise.
The older man did not turn around but continued to gaze at the lights below, murmuring to himself,
"Liangzhou is but a small city, how could it compare to the Heavenly Capital City?"
"Even if the entire city were lit up, it could not match a single district market in the Capital City. Yet, our Great Qin's Heavenly Capital City boasts exactly three hundred and sixty-five district markets, correlating with the celestial numbers of Zhou Tian. Arranged to shine upon the constellations, the mere thought makes it clear – illuminating through the ages, its aura swallowing the universe, only the Heavenly Capital City has stood unmatched for so long..."
His voice trailed off into nostalgia.
All of a sudden, Li Qidao shook his head and laughed in self-mockery, not willing to go on with this topic. He snatched the wine jar from Xue Qinshuang's hand, took a swig, and glanced at her with a teasing smirk,
"What a handsome young man you make."
"If you went out with Anfeng, you'd probably be more favored by the girls than he is. I wonder how many Noble Clan misses would pine for you, utterly infatuated. Why on earth would you be so blind as to fancy the one feeding the pigs at my house?"
Xue Qinshuang replied,
"Let them fancy whom they like, but I happen to fancy the one they don't."
Her forthright confession, with not the slightest attempt at concealment, nearly made Li Qidao choke on his wine. Even for a Grandmaster like him, suddenly coughing so vigorously seemed out of character. Although not their first encounter and well aware of Xue Qinshuang's straightforward nature, he had not anticipated it to this extent.
In his lifetime, he had traveled far and wide and had seen countless beautiful women from Noble Clan families, yet few possessed such a bold spirit, countable on one hand.
The majority of women in this era dared only to dress as men in secret, traveling around nearby cities, then conforming to their parents' wishes and the matchmaker's words, marrying into a suitable family to raise children.
And among those who could be called extraordinary women, there were very few.
The Empress, who at sixteen left her home alone, traveled six thousand li, defying the wishes of the Capital City's noble clans to seek out the Second Prince in distress, pledging herself in marriage with a vow before the mountains and rivers, was one of them.