Han Dongsheng asked, "...Teacher Meng-Meng?"

Yu Lanchuan was a half-assed alliance leader in the first place. Many of the fabled "Rules of the Martial Arts World" were things he had to pick up at the last minute from other people. Yu Yan followed in the footsteps of this half-assed alliance leader and was therefore even more ignorant. He very easily and naturally deemed Han Dongsheng and other similar people as coming from the "same nation" as Yu Lanchuan.

It was only when Han Dongsheng spoke that Yu Yan realised—Han Dongsheng seemed to not know that the mysterious hostage-taker was Gan Qing!

And he had even accidentally let it slip!

Under the glare of the red and blue police lights shining randomly in all directions, the three "chivalrous heroes" and one police officer collectively surrounded and looked down on the weakly breathing Liang-ge on the ground.

"This… Let's not bother with other things first." Han Dongsheng regained his wits and was the first to tactfully break the silence. He pointed at Liang-ge and said, "I think this person can't hold on anymore. Shouldn't we quickly send him to the hospital?"

"Right, right, right." Yu Yan felt so awkward he didn't know where to put his hands. Like he was waking up from a dream, he leaped up and called out to his colleagues. "Call an ambulance! There's a suspect here who's knocked out!"

Yu Lanchuan also came back to himself. "What about his injuries?"

"It's fine." Yu Yan quickly reconnected his neurons that had short circuited just now. "He brought his followers along to attack the police and we unintentionally injured him when resisting. We have five people and we also have a troublemaking suspect on our hands while the other side has nearly a hundred people. There was no way we could control the scene. It's considered reasonable for there to be some unintentional injuries. You don't have time, so just leave it to me to take care of it."

Yu Lanchuan lifted his head to look at the guest house CCTV.

"No need to bother with that." Yu Yan waved his hand. "This gang of hoodlums are veteran offenders. When they locked the door, they would definitely have turned off the CCTV."

Han Dongsheng said, "In that case, I will still have to trouble you for the matter regarding my father-in-law."

"Don't worry," Yu Yan said. "We'll head back first and go through the process. I'll treat everyone to a meal later."

When he came here, Yu Lanchuan had driven but when he left, he hitched a ride with the police. He looked up subconsciously and accidentally locked gazes with Han Dongsheng who was sitting in the front passenger seat. Suddenly, Yu Lanchuan noticed a problem—from the start, whenever Old Master Yang brought up the Five Supremes, he had always purposely avoided Wan Mu Chun, even if it made it seem as though he didn't know how to count.

When someone insisted on asking further, he would only explain briefly without going into any detail. It was only on New Year's Day that, as the conversation went on, Old Master Yang had revealed a little about Wan Mu Chun to them.

Even though what he said had been positive, when Yu Lanchuan thought about it closely, it didn't really make sense. This was because Old Master Yang was someone who might not necessarily take revenge where there was a grudge but would definitely repay kindness where there was a debt of gratitude. If they were really sure that the person who had helped Yu Lanchuan escape back then was someone from Wan Mu Chun's side, Granduncle and Old Master Yang would definitely harp about it every day to him just in case he forgot it.

How was it possible that in all these years, it was only when Yu Lanchuan asked repeatedly that he mentioned it briefly?

Just how much was Old Master Yang hiding about Wan Mu Chun?

And what did Han Dongsheng know?

Who was the "Wei Xiao" whose name he blurted out?

Gan Qing left Travellers' Sect territory without a sound. She didn't know Liang-ge. Catching him was because she could tell that he was the leader of this pack of Travellers' Sect followers. Her intention had been to help those neighbours of hers break out of the siege. She didn't think that Liang-ge would say the name "Wei Xiao" and even piss his pants in terror.

Wei Xiao was none other than her shifu.

Outsiders treated him as a taboo that could only be spoken of in hushed whispers, essentially painting him as a demon in their stories.

In actual fact, Gan Qing's impression of him was that of a taciturn and uncommunicative old man. He wore a modified Mao suit that had been washed until the colour faded and rode a second-hand bicycle to work. Both his hands were coarse yet clean, and he never let his fingernails grow long. He didn't eat dead children nor did he drink wine mixed with human blood; he was a very picky eater because he was a cook.

Since young, he didn't have a place to practice knife skills so he cut vegetables and carved fruits. When he was done cutting and carving, he naturally couldn't let the ingredients go to waste so he collected recipes from all over and cooked according to the instructions when he had nothing to do. When he grew up, he decided that he might as well make it his job. Such a pity for her grand master whose magnificence had been unparalleled all his life; in his old age, he lived with his disciple and ate so well that he nearly had a belly. Every three or five days, he would make a fuss about going on a diet, and nearly couldn't live the way he always had in his final years.

On the other hand, the disciple kept a very tight rein on himself… Of course, this could just be because he was picky. When he was nearly sixty years of age, from the back, he still looked like a youthful man.

Everyone said that he practised healthy living and that living to a hundred would not be a problem for him.

But he didn't even get his pension in the end.

Gan Qing returned to Mudpool Backlane and followed the little lanes in her memory to walk deep into its heart… but there was nothing left there now.

The "mud pool" was shrinking. In recent years, the buildings along this stretch of road had been demolished, supposedly to widen the road. She stood at the empty and wide street, watching the cars belch warm exhaust as they came and went, and looked around in confusion. She couldn't remember which patch of land was it that her home had once stood on.

"Gan'er."

Gan Qing had already heard the footsteps. She didn't turn around.

"That flower bed over there, that was the entrance to your home." Meng Tianyi walked over and sat on the road curb. His eyes swept across Gan Qing's hand that was bound in a cloth strip. "Uncle Meng remembers it for you."

Gan Qing finally moved. She looked in the direction where he was pointing. There was a little flower bed that was commonly seen on road sides. At this time, the might of the northwest wind was dominant and there were only dried branches in the flower bed covered by a trembling plastic tarp. It looked rather miserable.

"Uncle Meng." Her voice seemed to disappear amidst the sound of the passing cars. "Tell me again, how did Wei Xiao die?"

"He was still your shifu after all," Meng Tianyi said.

Gan Qing did not seem to hear him. She made no reply. Her entire body was on the bony side, with a thin layer of flesh. When she stood in the night wind, her back profile was like an icy stone statue, unable to bend.

"During that period of time, his complexion was very bad. Sometimes, he would even be in a daze. He was absent-minded and distracted, and when other people asked, he only said that it was a festive period so there were more customers at the restaurant and he always had to work overtime. Working as a cook is physical labour. We all advised him that he should stop working so hard at his age and should leave things to the younger people… In the end, one day, something really happened. It was very late when he left work to go home and he was hit by a car while riding his bicycle," Meng Tianyi said. "At that time, he was in a rather bad state but other than that, it didn't seem to be anything major so he let the offender go. However… maybe it was due to his age but after a few days, he suddenly couldn't use his leg. He was bedridden at home for a period of time and was even using crutches."

Gan Qing didn't interrupt him. She listened quietly.

"Later on, there was one day—I remember it was the ninth day of the ninth month, Double Ninth Festival—Wei-xiong suddenly came to look for me on his crutches. It was like he was making arrangements for matters after his death. He told me a lot of things and even gave me a box of letters. He told me to follow the dates on the envelopes and send them to you on those dates. He said that you won't reply anyway, so it won't be exposed."

Gan Qing's fingers tightened in a fierce grip.

"At that time, I already felt that things were bad. A few days later, he really… Ai. At that time, his neighbour saw that there were a few days' worth of newspapers accumulated on his front door and recalled that he hadn't been seen for a few days. They were a little worried so they knocked on his door to check… They said it was sudden death and that it was pretty common among middle-aged and old people. Heart failure, and there was no one with him, so he departed just like that." Meng Tianyi sighed. "Gan'er, don't think too much. Life and death depends on fate, happiness and wealth depends on Heaven. Even if you had been in Yanning at that time, there was no way you could have accompanied the old man day and night without leaving the house. You might not have made it for those few crucial minutes. Even if you did, he might not be saved… It has been so many years, don't keep thinking about it."

Gan Qing said slowly and clearly, "Wei Xiao didn't have heart problems."

"Many of those who died suddenly due to heart failure also typically-"

"Paoding Jieniu." Gan Qing suddenly turned around, cutting him off. "Would he not know whether or not his own nerves and bones were injured after the accident?"

Meng Tianyi stopped talking.

"What exactly happened?"

"Don't you already understand? Of course he knew but since he was unwilling to say, naturally there must be a reason why. After Wei-xiong grew old, whenever he was chatting casually, he always said he regretted showing off his skills when he was young. He had been too excessive in some matters. If these matters could all be concluded in his old age, he would have no complaints and no regrets. He didn't want you to know about it and hold a grudge in your heart."

Gan Qing ignored his persuasion and only said coldly, "So, Wei Xiao really did not die of illness back then, did he? Everyone around him knew that he was in an accident and his leg was wounded, so no one would think too much even if they saw injuries on his body. He died at home and everything looked calm and tranquil, like he died naturally of old age while sleeping. There were no family members demanding investigations so of course no one would conduct an autopsy. So they just deemed it a sudden death and dealt with it cleanly!"

"Don't think too much, don't listen to my second aunt talk rubbish-"

Gan Qing said, "Why would that random nobody from Travellers' Sect recognise me and immediately blurt out the name 'Wei Xiao'?"

"Gan Qing!" Meng Tianyi's face turned serious. "Even if Wei-xiong hadn't died peacefully of old age, even if there was injustice done to him that he still bore in his heart, with his skills, he would have left clues if he wanted to! Don't you understand? Before he passed away, he entrusted me with the things he left behind. Other than matters relating to you, he said not a single word about anything else, because the only person he worried about for his entire life was you! If you are sensible, you should live your life properly and don't let him be worried in the Nine Springs of the afterworld."

"What has that got to do with me? I severed ties with him long ago. What can that Wei fellow do to me?" Gan Qing let out a sharp laugh. "Furthermore, my life..."

As she spoke, she moved her legs and walked across the zebra crossing. Her steps were very light and from far, she looked like she was floating, like a gust of wind could blow her away. Other than eating and drinking and going to the toilet, she spent entire days spouting bullshit in a small rundown shop, tricking a bunch of kids into listening to her stories and then buying some ridiculous nonsense. Was this kind of meaningless life worth living?

But saying these words would make Boss Meng sad, so she only turned them over in her mouth and then swallowed them back in. She smiled and crossed the road in large strides.

When Yu Lanchuan was knocking on his neighbour's door for the third time after coming home that night, Gan Qing was still not back yet. He thought a while, then turned to go downstairs.

"Little Master Yu." Han Dongsheng opened the door for him. "I knew you would come. Come on in."

Yu Lanchuan asked, "Is your wife in?"

"She went back to my father-in-law's place to stay for a few days, just in case the old man thought of going back to his home." Han Dongsheng sighed. "I'm taking care of our child here. He's asleep, you don't have to mind him."

Han Dongsheng's home was in a miserable state. Without the mistress of the house, it was even worse, like frost on top of snow. After searching for a while, Han Dongsheng still couldn't find glasses suited for serving guests. In the end, he could only dig out a disposable cup and poured some water for Yu Lanchuan. "Please excuse the mess. We just moved in and hadn't had the time to buy a lot of things. Things keep happening to our family so we haven't had the time to take care of it."

Yu Lanchuan said without thinking, "It would be good if you hadn't sold your apartment back then. Staying in a rented place isn't as comfortable as staying in your own house."

Unexpectedly, Han Dongsheng didn't deprecate himself for being unlucky in his investments the way he had in the past. He was silent for a while. "Back then… I really had no choice. Selling the house to invest in stocks was a lie. Investing in stocks and whatnot, I don't understand those at all, how would I dare to do it?"

Yu Lanchuan was stunned.

Han Dongsheng smiled warmly. "My parents passed away early. Beibei's parents were very good to me and I have always treated them as my own parents. Back then, my mother-in-law was very ill and our family's savings were depleted. Dad was a normal office worker. Other than the house, they didn't have much assets. Beibei and I did not have siblings who could help with financial matters and we couldn't let the old people use the money they saved for their coffins, could we? So I asked a friend, used this apartment as a collateral and found a not really proper private agency and borrowed a sum of emergency money to use. But the source of the money wasn't easy to explain. I wanted to say that my parents left them to me but we both knew each other's family matters very well before our marriage. I couldn't keep it a secret. At that time, I saw everyone around me investing in stocks and earning money, so I lied to Beibei and said that my parents left me with a bit of money that I had used to buy stocks. I said that it was many years ago and that I had forgotten about it; I only remembered it because we needed money and I didn't think it would have earned that much."

Yu Lanchuan asked softly, "Why didn't you tell her the truth?"

"During that period of time, the pressure on her was too great. I thought that I would keep it from her first and wait for the matter to be over. I would slowly repay the loan and quietly release my collateral without anyone realising and that would be it." Han Dongsheng lowered his head in embarrassment. "Alas, I was young then and wasn't sensible. How would I know that 'Money is hard to earn, shit is difficult to eat.' I needed to use money urgently and didn't think carefully about the interest. The old madam couldn't be saved and the money couldn't be repaid. I didn't dare tell Beibei. I could only continue to lie to her. At first, I wanted to delay it for a period of time and wait until she was no longer grieving so deeply for her mother. In the end, the longer I put it off, the more I didn't dare tell her. But it was good too. All this while, she thought that our money was in the stock market and that it was just a loss on paper. Who knows, the price might go back up one day. Her heart always carried this hope… Let's not talk about my family's unpleasant issues anymore. Little Master Yu, you're here about the person who helped us, aren't you?"

Yu Lanchuan looked up.

"I heard Xiao-Yu say 'Teacher Meng-Meng,'" Han Dongsheng said. "My son added that lady neighbour from upstairs on WeChat, I've seen his note for her. It's her, isn't it? So it was a woman. No wonder she didn't speak at that time. Do Sect Leader Yang and the rest know about this?"

Yu Lanchuan thought for a while. The last time Old Yang told him about Wan Mu Chun, Gan Qing was cleaning the floor with the door opened. Sect Leader Yang hadn't shown any peculiarities so he probably wasn't aware.

"No wonder," Han Dongsheng muttered. "Even though the older generation's affairs weren't much related to her, she's quite brave to stay right here at No. 110."

Yu Lanchuan asked directly, "Who is Wei Xiao?"

"Wan Mu Chun's disciple, the disciple that Wan Mu Chun taught himself. When the old master was still alive, he had once acknowledged with his own words that this disciple of his had surpassed the master. I met him once when I was young. He was dressed exactly the same way as she was today and had a small knife spinning in his fingers. He didn't talk much and seemed very mysterious and wily. When his eyes looked at you, you would feel that all two hundred plus bones in your body were within his grasp and that he could pick out any bone he liked… At that time, he also had a little girl just a few years old with him—ah, was it her?" Han Dongsheng said. "Girls go through so many changes when they grow up, I couldn't recognise her."

Yu Lanchuan continued to ask, "Why did he stop coming here later on? Why do you say that Gan Qing must be very brave to stay here?"

Han Dongsheng hesitated for a few seconds. "This young lady is usually quite nice to my son. She bumps into the neighbours regularly and is very polite. She even helped us today. To be fair... It's not really right for me to speak of those baseless rumours behind her back."

"Please share. I'm the one who asked," Yu Lanchuan said.

"More than ten years ago, Wei Xiao was named in the 'Alliance Leader's Command,'" Han Dongsheng said.

The alliance leader himself was completely lost—no one had ever told him what the hell this "Alliance Leader's Command" was!

This alliance leader position was really like being a puppet controlled by the neighbourhood committee!

Then, without waiting for him to ask, he heard Han Dongsheng continue to speak. "I heard that it was because he was responsible for taking eighteen lives."