Two men on horseback were galloping into the only main gate of the ring-shaped perimeter wall. The speaker was about thirty-five, thirty-six years old, refined in manner, fair-skinned, with a smile hanging on his thin face. Although he was criticizing, he still spoke calmly, leisurely.

On the surface he appeared to be a weak scholar, but from the refined light flashing in his eyes, Kou Zhong could see that he was a top quality martial art master. Moreover, he had firm and persistent, unyielding personality; he could not possibly let others force him to easily sway his determination and conviction.

The other person was older by one to six years; his hair and eyebrows were as dense as iron wire, he wore a pair of short moustache that looked exactly like a brush. He had clear outline, the expression showing in his eyes was gloomy and cold, calm and collected, a middle-aged man with quite manly-man charisma. Most striking was that he was wearing a white scarf tied on his forehead with character ‘ji’ [sacrifice (to gods/ancestors)] on it, making Kou Zhong believe that he was the second-in-command within the Anle Bang, Shu Dingtai, showing off his position and determination to seek justice for Lu Ping.

Then the other man must be the Chief Constable Qiu Nanshan who was appointed by Gao Kaidao; before, Kou Zhong could not have imagined that he was such a top figure.

Sure enough, everybody present stood up one after the other, cupped their fist to salute and said, “Qiu Zongxun, Shu Er Dangjia.”

Qiu Nanshan was, after all, the representative of the local government of this area, no matter how disconcerting, the gangs and societies of various regions must still give him enough face.

Qiu Nanshan’s eyes fell on Ren Jun first, before shooting toward Kou Zhong, who was standing on top of the steps. Still sitting high on the horseback, he spoke indifferently, “This gentleman’s honorable surname and great given name?”

Luo Daoren laughed aloud and said, “Lao Zongye [old chief], how are you? These two gentlemen, one is Fu Xiong, the other is Ren Jun; there is also another gentleman by the name of Fu Jie, a party of three, passing by this place on their way to Shanhai Pass. Because they are unwilling to sell their horses to these Bei Ma Bang boys, they offended and angered the crowd, provoking the Dong Bei Bang’s big brothers to teach them a lesson on their behalf. Lao Zongye arrived just in time to judge between right and wrong.”

Dong Bei Bang and Bei Ma Bang, two groups of people immediately showed angry look, but momentarily they were helpless to deal with Luo Daoren.

Shiye Hua spoke grimly, “Luo Daoren dare to guarantee that they are without any problem? I pretended to buy their horses just to sound out their identity.”

Su Qing laughed tenderly and said, “Xiang Shiye’s ability is getting more and more profound! If you did not explain it personally, nujia would not have known that your buying the horses is fake, while the sounding out is real.”

Shiye Hua was immediately at a loss; he had never thought that Su Qing would openly help ‘outsider’.

Qiu Nanshan understood, but he still did not want to let Kou Zhong and Ren Jun off; he spoke slowly, “Gentlemen going to Shanhai Pass, what noble errand brings you here?”

Kou Zhong laughed calmly and said, “Zongye, please understand, the three of us going to Shanhai Pass is to negotiate a business deal. Due to the confidential nature of the business, if Zongye wants to understand the details, would it be possible to step aside to talk? Ol’ Fu will surely explain the details truthfully, I won’t dare to conceal anything.”

It could be said that by saying that, he was giving Qiu Nanshan enough face, plus it was neither haughty nor humble.

As expected, Qiu Nanshan’s countenance relaxed; with a slight nod, he said, “I will discuss the details with Fu Xiong later.”

Behind him, slightly to the left, the Anle Bang’s Second Chief Shu Dingtai spoke in his deep and low voice, “Ren Xiong’s martial art skill is superior, I wonder a brilliant disciple of which family, which sect are you?”

Ren Jun acknowledged frankly, “My humble master is ‘Yulin Da Dao’ [lit. broadsword of Yulin] Guan Changjiu.”

Apparently Shu Dingtai has never heard this name Guan Changjiu; it was difficult for him to either speak or ask question. Without any better option, he said, “Indeed a famous teacher trains a fine student [idiom].”

Qiu Nanshan finally dismounted from his horse, Shu Dingtai followed, a relay station worker immediately came over to take care of the horses.

Qiu Nanshan said, “At the last moment Xu Bangzhu had an urgent matter to attend to, he won’t be here until tomorrow morning.”

The crowd broke into commotion; they all were disgruntled. Only Shiye Hua, two men’s underlings dared to make noise.

Lu Shiqing looked up at the sky, dark clouds were scampering across the dusk sky; he asked, “What is the reason Xu Bangzhu delaying the meeting?”

Shu Dingtai replied, “Xu Dangjia sent someone to notify us that he found something related to the case, he will certainly come tomorrow morning.”

The crowd was abuzz again.

‘Boom!’ a thunder broke through the clouds. The clap of thunder was right overhead, followed by bean-sized raindrops, sparse at first, but quickly getting denser, pouring down from the sky. The heavy rain, which had been brewing for a long time, finally came down to the earth.

Immediately the situation turned chaotic; everybody was either scurrying into the main building to avoid the rain, or rushed their horses under the roof-tile-topped winding corridor. Those planning on leaving had no choice but to dispel that idea.

By the time Luo Daoren settled his beloved mule by the Thousand-li Dream and the other horses’ side, the downpour started in the earnest, the sky turned hazy, the earth turned dark, the night came early.

When everybody had taken shelter into the dining hall, like a butterfly weaving through the flowers Sao Niangzi attentively showed hospitality to Qiu Nanshan and Shu Dingtai.

Avoiding the others, Xu Ziling and the others took a table on the corner, away from the crowd – in a laidback manner. Half of their body drenched, Kou Zhong and Ren Jun sat down on his left and right. The former asked, “What about that strange man?”

Xu Ziling said, “There is a stone pavilion outside, he must be taking shelter from the rain over there. This man’s character is reclusive and cynical, but it does not look like he is evil. For some reason he suspects Xu Kaishan; perhaps he is coming here, his target is Xu Kaishan.”

Kou Zhong turned his head around to cast a glance toward the crowd, the gangs and sects people took two tables on the other corner. Wai Lian Bang and Dong Bei Bang men took one table. Xian Xia Dong’s Li Shiqing, Lang Tingting, Bei Ma Bang’s Shiye Hua, Dong Bei Bang’s young gang leader Bei Chenfen, Wai Lian Bang’s Phoenix Hall’s Hall Master Su Qing, Luo Daoren, Chief Constable Qiu Nanshan, Anle Bang’s Second Chief Shu Dingtai, and so on sat around another table, in closed discussion.

Two of Shiye Hua’s men crowded in among the Dong Bei Bang’s men, it is thus clear than Bei Ma Bang and Dong Bei Bang were breathing through the same nostril.

Outside the heavy rain was falling down nonstop, standing by the main entrance, Sao Niangzi conducted her men to brave the rain to put away the fodder and other things, and closed the window; they were busy endlessly.

After narrating his dialogue with Yin Xianhe, Xu Ziling said, “This mountain stronghold with stone steps is located high on a hillside, whether it is the public square or the main building, there is only one entrance, and the windows are narrow. Although it has defensive advantages, but if someone sealed off the entrance, nobody would be able to escape. Xu Kaishan chose this place to hold a meeting, I wonder if he has another goal, he is harboring bad intention?”

Lowering his voice, Kou Zhong said, “If they coordinate outside and inside offensives, Dong Bei Bang plus Shiye Hua, two groups will be able to accomplish. But then afterwards, how are they going to explain the reason why Xu Kaishan was delayed until tomorrow morning was because he might have found a clue about Cui Wang?”

This moment, the ‘Die Gongzi’ Yin Xianhe appeared from the back door like a specter, the bamboo rain hat on his head was still dripping wet, his wooden face was without any emotion, he coldly swept his gaze over everyone, before going to a corner to sit down silently.

Suddenly seeing him, Qiu Nanshan and the others stopped talking. The atmosphere was quickly turning heavy, brimming with hostility and suspicion.

Finished working outside, Sao Niangzi and her workers returned to close the main door to the dining hall. They also lit the more than a dozen spring-wind lanterns hanging on the four walls. The noise of the