The Zhang family’s carriage slowly made its way toward the inner city.

Inside the carriage, someone enthusiastically sang in chorus: “Swords like snow outside the capital, divine muskets tear the sky. Long live the fervent shouts, banners crushing thousands of foes. War drums shatter souls, the Five Armies light signal fires. We ask the bandit chief, can your head hang at Chongli Pass?”

“Red armor gleaming in cold light, victory reports spread across the nine borders. Fine wine warms within the camp, loyal heroes are honored outside. The living gather broken halberds, the dead entrust their fate to the cuckoo. May our bones serve as a foundation to protect the nation’s peace again!”

Eight people were packed into the carriage, and the strong smell of sweat filled the air.

Chen Ji leaned against the carriage and saw that even old Li Xuan was quietly singing along.

He asked curiously, “The lyrics are all about the Divine Mechanism Battalion, the Myriad Years Army, and the Five Army Camps. There’s no mention of the Imperial Guard. Why are you singing this?”

Qi Zhenzhuo said shyly, “This is our Great Ning’s triumphant ode, ‘General’s Command.’ Everyone sings it. But previously, only the Three Imperial Battalions were allowed to sing it; we wouldn’t dare. When they sang it, it sounded magnificent, and the common people would applaud. But if we sang it, we’d be laughed at… Since we just won a battle, we’re singing it too.”

Indeed, the spirit of an army is nurtured by victory.

Duo Bao leaned against the carriage wall, looking out through the swaying curtain with a tilted head: “Before going to Guyuan, I was ambitious, thinking I could finally achieve something great. But once I got to Guyuan, I realized the brutality of war. While killing the enemy, I wished the war would end quickly. Yet, back in the capital, I often dream of still being in Guyuan, a spear piercing a Jing Dynasty bandit’s chest, blood flowing down the spear shaft onto my hand. I feel both fear and nostalgia.”

Qi Zhenzhuo teased, “Then why didn’t you stay in Guyuan?”

Duo Bao shot him a sideways glance. “Why didn’t *you* stay in Guyuan? What nonsense are you spouting?”

Qi Zhenzhuo glared back angrily. “Before, I wasn’t capable, and you didn’t think much of me, the deputy commander, so I didn’t argue. But today, I saved you several times with my iron wolf-whisk, and you still talk to me like that?”

Duo Bao opened his mouth, then changed the subject. “Instructor, did you come up with this formation? If we had this combat tactic in Guyuan, perhaps half of my five hundred Imperial Guards could have survived.”

Chen Ji was silent for a moment. “It’s precisely because I often thought about the battles in Guyuan after I returned that I came up with this formation.”

Duo Bao realized, “So that’s how it is.”

Zhang Zheng, standing nearby, said sourly, “Tomorrow, I’ll go to Panjiayuan Ghost Market and buy an official’s pass to join the Imperial Guard and have some fun too.”

Qi Zhenzhuo sneered, “Didn’t you used to look down on our Imperial Guard?”

Zhang Zheng scoffed, “Just one victory, and you’re all puffed up?”

Chen Ji was too lazy to listen to their argument and interrupted, “Where’s Second Sister?”

Zhang Zheng explained, “She said she had an appointment with her girlfriends today to watch an opera at the Beijiaofang Division in the inner city, so she left early after seeing that you were all safe.”

Chen Ji asked, puzzled, “Watching an opera?”

Zhang Zheng nodded. “There’s a new opera called ‘Tale of Bianliang’ playing there; it’s been extremely popular in the capital these past few days.”

Chen Ji asked curiously, “Did Second Sister leave any messages, like what adjustments are still needed for the formation?”

“No,” Zhang Zheng shook her head. “She said you just need to work on your coordination and become more synchronized; it’s a gradual process that can’t be rushed. Oh, and she told you to be careful of that Master Qian, Qian Ping.”

“Oh?”

“She found out that he came from the Myriad Years Army, and he’s decisive and capable; not a simple man.”

Master Qian, dressed in a black long gown, walked through a small alley.

On either side were green bricks and grey tiles, and lanterns hung high above.

He had walked these alleys for twenty years; he could navigate them with his eyes closed.

Over these twenty years, he had seen the courtesans in Rouge Alley change from Little Phoenix Fairy to Sai Jinhua, and then from Sai Jinhua to Little Pear Blossom. The operas guests enjoyed listening to changed from “Conquering Xishan” to “Tale of White Boat,” and then from “Tale of White Boat” to the current “Four Dreams of Jinling.”

People came and went, but only these alleys remained the same as they were twenty years ago. And what he always loved was still “Conquering Xishan,” which he had listened to completely, leaning against a brick wall, when he first arrived in the capital.

Master Qian entered Baishun Alley, where the lewd and suggestive language disappeared, replaced by a sense of plainness.

He arrived at White Jade Garden and bowed to the man standing at the entrance, saying, “Please inform Qi Gong that Qian Ping of Heji is here to pay his respects.”

His left hand was a palm, five fingers together and straight, representing “Five Lakes”; his right hand was a fist, four fingers tightly clenched, representing “Four Seas.” Master Qian held his clasped hands above his forehead, a gesture of respect for an elder.

The man glanced at him and clasped his hands at his chest and abdomen, saying, “Please wait.”

With that, he turned and limped into White Jade Garden.

A moment later, the man reappeared and politely said, “Master Qian, Qi Gong invites you in.”

The man led Master Qian into White Jade Garden, following a secluded winding path through pavilions and towers. After crossing a white marble bridge, they saw Qi Gong sitting by a pond, feeding fish.

Hearing footsteps, Qi Gong did not get up. Without turning his head, he casually asked, “Has the Qian family boy encountered some trouble?”

Master Qian clasped his hands again in a bow. “May I ask, Qi Gong, are the people who have appeared in the capital these past few days from the Three Mountains Association?”

Qi Gong picked up a pinch of red worms and tossed them into the pond. Moonlight shone on the koi as they swam, sucking the worms into their mouths. He calmly said, “Why do you suspect the Three Mountains Association?”

Master Qian thought for a moment. “This group of people has seen blood; they must have killed. Although they aren’t perfectly coordinated in battle, they can follow orders strictly. Qi Gong is an expert; you naturally know that ordinary gang enforcers can never achieve this… but the Three Mountains Association can.”

Qi Gong smiled. “My Three Mountains Association is just a group of old, disabled soldiers; we don’t deserve such praise. Let me ask you, do those people have any physical disabilities?”

Master Qian stood behind Qi Gong and shook his head. “No.”

Qi Gong picked up more red worms and dropped them into the pond. “Do you know why my Three Mountains Association only recruits disabled soldiers? Because we are among the lowest classes of society. Once you join us, your descendants cannot take the imperial examinations. The Great Ning Code clearly states that if we beat an ordinary citizen, our crime is escalated; if an ordinary citizen beats us, their crime is mitigated. If a respectable woman marries someone like us, her clan can remove her from the family registry.”

At this point, Qi Gong looked up at Qian Ping. “So, as long as those disabled soldiers have any other way to make a living, my Three Mountains Association is unwilling to take them in. When you wanted to join my Three Mountains Association back then, I also refused you for this very reason, didn’t I?”

Qian Ping lowered his gaze. “In that case, those people are not from the Three Mountains Association. Could it be the River Transport Gang? I heard that Han Tong has secretly come to the capital and is hiding in Chongnan Ward. The River Transport Gang has also suddenly become very active. This person usually operates south of the Yellow River; if he’s suddenly come to the capital, could he be plotting something?”

Qi Gong thought for a moment. “While I don’t know why Han Tong came to the capital, he is like a frightened bird right now, and the River Transport Gang has never lacked money. They would definitely not cause trouble over finances. Rest assured, he must be here for something else.”

Qian Ping frowned. “Not the Three Mountains Association, not the River Transport Gang. Then who could it be?”

Qi Gong did not answer, but instead asked, “I hear that formation is difficult?”

Qian Ping hummed in affirmation. “It’s good for both offense and defense. Yesterday, when the opponents used bamboo, our enforcers could still cope. Today, they switched to iron weapons and beat Heji’s enforcers senseless. I observe that the formation is extremely suitable for alley combat. If not for the iron weapons being too heavy for ordinary people to wield, even cavalry would have a headache. It’s just that these people aren’t coordinated enough; otherwise, they could kill Jing Dynasty bandits without fail.”

“Oh?” Qi Gong finally looked up at Qian Ping. “Really? You retired from the Myriad Years Army; don’t joke about this.”

Qian Ping said earnestly, “Absolutely no exaggeration… Qi Gong, you’ve been out of the Myriad Years Army for forty years; why still dwell on military formations?”

Qi Gong smiled. “If it can save a few lives among my Myriad Years Army lads, then it’s a good formation.”

Qian Ping’s expression darkened. “But the high officials in the imperial court don’t care how many live or die after a battle.”

Qi Gong glanced at him. “They may not care, but others do… You didn’t come to me today just to inquire about that group’s origins, did you? What else do you want to do?”

Qian Ping clasped his hands and bowed. “I wish to yield Hanjiatan Alley and Lishamao Alley and join forces with Furui Xiang to face the enemy. I’d like to ask Qi Gong to act as a mediator.”

Qi Gong calmly said, “Qian Ping, a few days ago, Heji’s leader, Wang Huan, asked me to mediate the ownership of Lishamao Alley through a wrestling match. That alley already belongs to Furui Xiang, so how can you use the word ‘yield’? That breaks the rules.”

Qian Ping remained silent.

Qi Gong grabbed a handful of red worms from a jar and threw them into the deep pond. The koi in the pond instantly seemed to boil, scrambling for the worms. “Qian Ping, do you remember what you told me when you begged me to join the Three Mountains Association back then?”

Qian Ping was silent for a moment. “I don’t remember.”

Qi Gong paused, then sneered, “Alright, I won’t rehash old stories with you. You can still ask me to be a mediator, but this time, don’t break your word again.”

Qian Ping bowed and clasped his hands, saying, “Certainly.”

At this moment, a man from the Three Mountains Association reported, “Qi Gong, Wang Huan and Zhu Guan have arrived together.”

Qi Gong stood up, clapping the dirt from his hands. “Let them in.”

The man left and returned, leading a stout man and a thin man through the courtyard to stand before Qi Gong.

Zhu Guan and Wang Huan both politely said, “Qi Gong.”

Qi Gong observed the two. “I heard from Young Qian that Heji wants to form an alliance with Furui Xiang to repel an external enemy?”

Zhu Guan of Furui Xiang spoke first, “Qi Gong, I’m just here to watch the show; I have no intention of forming an alliance.”

The stout Wang Huan frowned. “What do you mean by that?”

Zhu Guan sneered, “What do I mean? Have you forgotten how you sent master swindlers to set up a scheme at my gambling house in Zhengbei Ward? And how you lost Lishamao Alley to me, but still refused to let go? What is there to say to someone like you? An alliance with you, bah! Now that some ‘river dragon’ has taken an interest in your business, you deserve whatever misfortune comes your way!”

Wang Huan’s eyes darted around. “When did I send master swindlers? I don’t recall. And I already instructed Qian Ping to give Lishamao Alley to you. Didn’t he give it to you?”

Zhu Guan and Qi Gong both looked at Qian Ping. Qian Ping was silent for a long time. “I acted on my own initiative.”

Wang Huan laughed heartily. “See? I, Wang Huan, am a man of my word. How could I act faithlessly? It’s just my subordinates being ignorant. Don’t be so calculating. Tomorrow, I’ll give you Hanjiatan Alley and Lishamao Alley together.”

Zhu Guan looked at Qian Ping, then at Wang Huan. “Do you think you two can just sing a duet and call it even? If you want to form an alliance to repel the enemy, previous matters must be accounted for. According to jianghu rules, a betrayer gets ‘three cuts and six holes.’ How about this: I won’t ask for ‘three cuts and six holes’; just cut off a finger.”

Wang Huan frowned. “Zhu Guan, don’t push your luck! That ‘pao ge’ was your subordinate. You wanted to trick him, but ended up tricking me. How do you account for that?”

Zhu Guan looked up at the night sky. “Then let him destroy your Heji, and then come settle accounts with me. I’ll be waiting.”

Wang Huan’s eyes widened. “You bastard!”

However, at this moment, Qian Ping suddenly announced loudly, “According to jianghu rules, I’ll do it.”

With that, Qian Ping drew a dagger from the waist of the Three Mountains Association man next to him and, with a flick of his wrist, severed his own pinky finger.

Everyone present was stunned.

Qian Ping raised his bloodied left hand and said without changing his expression, “Both leaders, I have confronted that group directly and naturally know their capabilities. If Heji and Furui Xiang don’t work together, we will truly be defeated one by one. Today, I invite both of you to swear a blood oath and together repel the external enemy.”

Zhu Guan stared at Qian Ping for a long time. “Since someone has followed the rules, then let all past grievances be wiped clean.”

Qi Gong said to the man, “Please bring the Ancestor’s portrait.”

The man entered a hall, retrieved a scroll, and unrolled it before everyone. On the painting was a man with a full beard, glaring fiercely.

Qi Gong clasped his hands behind his back. “Since both of you wish to swear a blood oath, let’s lay out the unpleasant truths first.”

The stout Wang Huan said fawningly, “Please speak.”

“Firstly, the ‘Private Combat Ban.’ From today onwards, Heji and Furui Xiang are forbidden from engaging in private fights. If anyone proactively instigates trouble, they will lose a finger and be expelled from the capital.”

“Secondly, ‘First Pacify, Then Divide.’ If there are any spoils, thirty percent will go to the families of fallen gang members, and the remaining seventy percent will be divided equally.”

Wang Huan said helplessly, “That group doesn’t have much worth seizing.”

Qi Gong glanced at him. “The rules are stated upfront, whether there is anything to seize or not is irrelevant to me. Thirdly, ‘Three True, One False.’ When you two parties exchange information, you may conceal one crucial piece of information, but the other three must be true.”

“Fourthly, ‘One-Year Pact.’ After the external enemy is eliminated, you must wait one year before seeking private revenge. Within that year, both parties must live in peace.”

After speaking, Qi Gong solemnly asked, “Can you do this?”

Zhu Guan and Wang Huan answered together, “Yes.”

Qi Gong waved his hand. “Additionally, each of your sides must send one hall master to the other as a hostage. If anyone breaks faith, the hostage will be executed first.”

Zhu Guan responded, “Wang Pizhi of my Furui Xiang can go to Heji as a hostage tomorrow.”

Wang Huan lowered his head in thought for a moment, then looked up at Qian Ping. “Qian Ping, you go to Furui Xiang as a hostage.”

Qian Ping was slightly startled but finally said, “Alright.”

Qi Gong was also somewhat surprised. Only when Wang Huan urged him did he wave his hand, somewhat dispiritedly, “Take the oath.”

Zhu Guan swore, “Our past enmity was as deep as the sea; today, blood is thicker than water. If I violate this oath, may I be pierced by ten thousand arrows, and may my ancestral temple collapse.”

Wang Huan said, “Together we face the trials of the jianghu; together we resolve right and wrong. If I betray this alliance, may you dig up my grave and mutilate my corpse, and may I fall into eternal hell.”

The man brought a bowl of wine before them. Both men gritted their teeth, cut their palms, dripped blood into the wine, and then divided and drank it.

Qi Gong glanced at them and sneered, “Both of you remember, do not break faith. If there is even a speck of selfishness in this blood wine, it will be the laughingstock of the capital’s jianghu for a hundred years… Now go.”

Zhu Guan and Wang Huan left, but Qian Ping was called back by Qi Gong.

When White Jade Garden quieted down, Qi Gong looked at Qian Ping and softly said, “Qian family boy, this jianghu isn’t worth it.”

Qian Ping tore off a piece of his robe hem and wrapped it around the wound on his left hand. “Qi Gong, what is ‘jianghu’?”

Qi Gong answered with a question of his own: “Twenty years ago, I asked you at the gate of White Jade Garden why you wanted to join the Three Mountains Association, and you said you wanted to be a towering man in my Three Mountains Association.”

Qian Ping sighed. “It’s hard for Qi Gong to remember.”

Qi Gong placed the fish food jar beside him. “You squatted outside my courtyard for fifteen days; how could I not remember? But after you joined Heji, you only helped Wang Huan do dirty and disgraceful things. In the jianghu, your name is synonymous with infamy; everyone says you are Wang Huan’s chief lackey. How can you sleep at night after hearing such things?”

Qian Ping looked at the fish pond and said softly, “Qi Gong, you speak too easily. After the battle at Chongli Pass that year, I returned home with seventy percent of my military pay withheld, only to find that all my family’s land had been seized by powerful landowners, leaving me with no fields to cultivate. I went to seek refuge with a childhood friend, but he coveted the little military pay I had, and on New Year’s Eve, he set up a gambling trap to harm me. I killed two people and fled in a panic, changing my name.”

“By the time I reached the capital, I was penniless. I could only work as a server at Desheng Tower. The boss promised six hundred *wen* per month, but withheld it for half a year. When I repeatedly urged him, he called the constables to arrest me.”

“That year, I squatted outside White Jade Garden for fifteen days, and you refused to take me in. It was Wang Huan who gave me a way to live, a mouthful of food. No matter what others say, my life has been sold to him. I served my country loyally at Chongli Pass, and now I serve Wang Huan dutifully. My conscience is clear. Qi Gong, this is my jianghu.”

This time, it was Qi Gong’s turn to be speechless. After a long while, he waved his hand weakly, “Get out.”

Qian Ping clasped his hands again. “Thank you, Qi Gong.”

As Qi Gong watched Qian Ping walk away, the man beside him whispered, “Qi Gong, you shouldn’t have been this mediator. Neither Wang Huan nor Zhu Guan are good people; they might cause trouble again, and then our Three Mountains Association’s reputation will also suffer.”

Qi Gong shook his head. “Never mind them. Tomorrow, clear out a room in Lishamao Alley. I want to personally observe that group’s formation and see if they can force out the backer behind Furui Xiang.”

The man acknowledged and limped out.

Halfway out, he suddenly seemed to remember something and turned back. “Oh, by the way, Qi Gong, Third Master is back. He sent word that he brought back a batch of ginseng and needs to find a way to transport it into the city.”

“Understood.”