Brocade Workshop, in a private room in the back.

Yang Chongren’s hands trembled slightly as he respectfully slid a Purple Sandalwood Box across the table toward the old man opposite him.

"Elder Jia, my Yang Family has been sourcing goods from the workshop for over a decade. We have never been short a single silver coin, nor have we ever broken the rules."

Yang Chongren’s voice was hoarse and his eyes were bloodshot. He humbled himself completely. "But now the workshop is planning to transfer our entire supply share to the Qian Family... You’ve watched the Yang Family get to where we are today. This is tantamount to cutting off our entire family’s livelihood!"

But Jia Cheng kept his eyes closed, showing no reaction.

Yang Chongren grit his teeth, having made a decision in his heart. With a THUD, he knelt on the floor and wailed, "Elder Jia! Chongren knows you’re in a difficult position, but right now, you are the only one who can save the Yang Family!"

He looked up, his eyes filled with determination. "As long as you’re willing to mediate and help the Yang Family secure a chance to compete in a duel according to the rules... Besides the tribute in this box, from now on... Chongren is willing to offer another ten percent of the Yang Family’s annual net profit from the silk business as your ’tea money.’ It will be presented every year, without fail!"

"Aiya! Chongren, what are you doing! Get up, quickly!" A smile instantly bloomed on Jia Cheng’s wrinkled old face. He hastily put down his teacup, rose, and went to help Yang Chongren up with both hands, his actions as affectionate as if he were helping his own nephew.

"We’ve known each other for decades! A kneel like that from you will shorten my life! Although I’m no longer in charge of affairs, I absolutely cannot stand by and watch an old friend be harmed by villains!"

He patted Yang Chongren’s arm. "For the sake of your sincerity, I’ll risk my old face and pay Manager Xu a visit!"

...

「Jin Yu Street.」 In front of the Yang Family’s main shop, everything was in disarray.

The once-bustling street was now filled with the sounds of battle cries and agonized screams. Most of the Yang Family’s guards had fallen, their blood staining the stone slabs red. Only three or five men were left, struggling to hold on.

"Get out of the way!"

Yang Ai shouted, her long, slender leg whipping out like a lash. Imbued with the Power of the second gate-opening, she sent a Qian Family guard who was attempting a sneak attack flying several meters, knocking over a roadside stall.

Her hair was in disarray and her chest heaved violently. A murderous aura emanated from her, but it couldn’t hide the anxiety in her eyes.

"Tsk tsk, what a beauty!"

Opposite her, the Qian Family’s young master, Qian Hao, was fanning himself, his gaze roaming shamelessly over the curves of Yang Ai’s body, which rose and fell from the strenuous movement. The lecherousness in his eyes was practically overflowing.

He turned his head and said in a low voice to the middle-aged man behind him, "Father, this Yang Ai is a real beauty. I like her. Once we’ve swallowed the Yang Family, you have to leave this pair of twin sisters for me. It’ll be perfect, a pair of ’twin lotuses on a single stalk’ for me to enjoy."

The Qian Family Patriarch, Qian Mushi, had a sinister expression. He gave a subtle nod. "Business first. As long as we destroy the foundation of the Yang Family’s business, that old dog Yang Chongren will obediently send his daughters to your bed for the sake of his family. When that time comes, you can play with them however you like."

"Hahahaha! Father is truly wise!" Qian Hao roared with laughter.

Yang Ai watched her younger brother being beaten on the ground, her heart filled with anxiety.

"Little brother!" She was about to charge forward recklessly and fight to the death.

"Second Miss! You mustn’t!"

The steward, Yang Quan, desperately grabbed her arm, tears streaming down his old face. "If you fall into their hands, the Young Master’s sacrifice to protect you will have been in vain! You absolutely cannot let anything happen to you!"

Yang Ai bit her lip so hard it bled. She looked at her brother moaning in pain on the ground and the sneering faces of the Qian Family members surrounding them. An unprecedented wave of despair and helplessness washed over her.

Tears couldn’t help but stream down her pretty face.

’Is this what they mean by a world where people devour each other?’

With her father to shelter her from the storm, she had only ever seen Black Stone City as prosperous and peaceful. Now that disaster had struck, she finally understood her parents were right. This world truly was a place where people devoured each other!

’Who can save us!’

"Where is the Black Stone Army... Why isn’t anyone doing anything?" she roared in a trembling voice. As her gaze swept over the indifferent eyes of the distant onlookers, she felt a bone-deep chill.

Across from them, Qian Mushi heard her question and a mocking sneer played on his lips.

’Naive.’

With the Black Lotus Sect causing trouble in the north, the City Lord’s Mansion had dispatched all its elite forces. The remaining troops were holed up in the Inner City, leaving very few of the Black Stone Army in the Outer City.

A small bribe was all it took for them to turn a blind eye and not interfere.

Many people had yet to realize that as long as there were no mass casualties, the Outer City had already become a jungle where strength was the only law!

’That old fox Yang Chongren is probably begging the Brocade Workshop to mediate right now, hoping for a duel according to the rules, isn’t he?’

Qian Mushi’s gaze passed over the crowd to a nondescript black carriage parked at the street corner. Inside sat the three Tributors he had hired at great expense.

Instantly, he was filled with confidence.

’Yang Chongren’s trump card must be that Tributor, Su Yu! Top five in the Martial Examination, a First Acupoint Martial Artist. He’s indeed enough to handle my family’s original two Tributors!’

’But how could I not know that?’

Qian Mushi sneered inwardly. ’Once we’re in the ring, I’ll make you watch with your own eyes as Su Yu is defeated by that lord! Yang Chongren’s devastated expression will surely be a sight to behold...’

At this point, besides Yang Ai and Steward Yang Quan, no one from the Yang Family was left standing.

Qian Hao sneered. "Men! Go in and take all the cloth and clothes from this shop! The Yang Family sold us fake goods; this will all serve as compensation!"

"Stop!"

A furious shout rang out.

The crowd automatically parted to form a path. Yang Chongren, his face ashen, was striding over. Behind him followed a towering, brawny man built like a pagoda, carrying an exaggeratedly large, thick-backed, nine-ringed broadsword. His presence was astonishing.

"Qian Mushi, tell your men to stop! I am here!"

Yang Chongren immediately saw his son on the ground and his tear-streaked daughter. This Patriarch, who had always valued harmony in business, now had bloodshot eyes, looking as if he wanted to devour Qian Mushi alive.

"Yo, Brother Yang finally deigns to show his face?"

With his hands behind his back, Qian Mushi took a step forward, a cold smile on his lips. "Your Yang Family passed off inferior goods as quality ones, using cheap linen to pose as Cloud Brocade and swindling the neighborhood. I am merely enforcing justice today by smashing this crooked shop of yours. What, are you trying to protect them?"

"Bullshit!"

Yang Chongren was so furious he cursed out loud. He shoved aside the servants blocking his way and tremblingly helped Yang Gang up from the ground.

He snapped his head up, his gaze like a knife. "All of the Yang Family’s silks come from the Brocade Workshop! The accounts can be checked, the records are all there! Which of our neighbors doesn’t know of my Yang Family’s reputation? It’s your Qian Family that’s playing the thief crying ’thief’! Your methods are despicable and nauseating!"

His words were forceful and resonant. Although the surrounding merchants and common folk didn’t dare to agree out loud, it was clear they all knew about the business conflict between the Qian and Yang families.

But everyone was discerning enough to know that this so-called "justice" was just a matter of which family was more powerful. In the end, it was all a fight for the silk business in the eastern part of the city.

Qian Mushi ignored this completely, merely sneering in silence.

Yang Chongren also knew what was crucial here. He turned and said in a low voice to Wang Nianshen, "Tributor Wang, these scoundrels have gone too far. I must ask you to act according to our agreement and give them a show of force!"

"Hmph. Just a bunch of useless rabble," Wang Nianshen said, nodding arrogantly.

He strode forward, his pagoda-like body shielding the Yang family members. As his Qi and Blood surged, his sturdy clothes began to flutter without any wind.

"I am Wang Nianshen of the Iron Armor Martial Arts Hall!"

He performed the Qi Sinking into the Dantian technique, and his voice boomed like a great bell, causing the eardrums of the nearest Qian Family guards to ache and sending them stumbling back several steps in fright.

"What! A Martial Artist from the Iron Armor Martial Arts Hall!"

"Look at that broadsword! It’s incredible! This must be an expert!"

Gasps of shock erupted from the crowd, and their gazes turned to ones of awe.

Looking at the menacing, god-like warrior before him, Qian Hao swallowed hard and instinctively shrank behind his father.

Qian Mushi, however, narrowed his eyes slightly. He shot an imperceptible glance at the black carriage in the distance and sneered inwardly. ’You’ll get what’s coming to you soon enough.’

But on the surface, he immediately smiled and clasped his fists in a salute. "So, it is Lord Wang in person. Since a Martial Artist of your stature has stepped forward, I must naturally show some respect. However..."

His tone shifted as he continued sinisterly, "The rules of business cannot be broken. It is a fact that the Yang Family cheated and swindled. If we don’t get a proper explanation today, I’m afraid this won’t be resolved!"

"Don’t give me that roundabout nonsense!"

Wang Nianshen’s eyes widened. Since he had taken the money, he naturally had to put on a convincing show of power.

"I’ve said it, this matter ends here! If anyone dares to make another move, they’ll have to ask the blade in my hand for permission first!"

Before his words had even faded, he reached back and gripped the hilt of the broadsword on his back.

"Up!"

With a furious roar, he swung the thick-backed, nine-ringed broadsword—as wide as a door panel—in a single-handed arc. It stirred up a vicious wind before smashing into the ground like a falling meteor.

"BOOM!"

Along with the massive sound, the hard bluestone pavement instantly shattered. Debris flew and dust billowed. A terrifying, half-foot-deep gash appeared on the ground, with spiderweb-like cracks spreading out in all directions.

"HISS..."

The onlookers all gasped in unison, scrambling backward in panic, afraid of being caught in the terrifying force.

"S-so much power!"

"If that strike landed on a person, they’d be turned into meat paste!"

"So this is a Martial Artist? Too powerful! If the Qian Family doesn’t have a Martial Artist of their own, they’re in for a serious loss."