The entrance of the Hongqiao Dye Workshop was in an uproar.

Xiao Qiaoniang stood anxiously behind the dye workshop’s counter, unable to help.

She had wanted to go out with Mrs. Liu of the Chen Family and help de-escalate the situation, but Mrs. Liu had firmly stopped her, insisting she stay inside and mind the shop.

If anything happened to Xiao Qiaoniang in the chaos, Mrs. Liu of the Chen Family would have no way to answer to Bai Yuan.

The Zhu family had arrived with menacing intent. It was clear they wouldn’t let this go easily and might even resort to violence.

If Mrs. Liu of the Chen Family refused to pay compensation, given the Zhu Family’s influence in town, the Hongqiao Dye Workshop probably wouldn’t survive to see another day.

The law only mattered when both sides were on equal footing.

The gulf between them and the Zhu Family was simply too vast.

Despair, dejection... Xiao Qiaoniang and Mrs. Liu of the Chen Family had poured so much of their heart and soul into this dye workshop. They didn’t want it all to end in such a miserable fashion.

Just then, a young man emerged from the crowd. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

"Uncle?!"

The young dandy with the folding fan raised an eyebrow at the sight of Bai Yuan.

"So, this is Junior Brother Bai’s business."

Bai Yuan had already found the wealthy young man familiar, and after a moment’s thought, he remembered: this was one of the two youths who had been following Ji Hanming that day.

When Mrs. Liu of the Chen Family saw Bai Yuan, her heart leaped with relief.

She whispered in Bai Yuan’s ear, "That’s the Zhu Family’s eldest young master, Zhu Huan."

SNAP. Zhu Huan snapped his folding fan shut.

"Junior Brother Bai, it’s not that I’m deliberately making things difficult for you. The Hongqiao Dye Workshop broke the rules that all businesses in this city abide by, and for that, it must be punished."

He spoke with an air of righteous authority.

"However, for Brother Ji’s sake, I can drop the matter. What do you say, Junior Brother Bai?"

Bai Yuan’s eyes narrowed.

’So Zhu Huan is clearly Ji Hanming’s mouthpiece. Whether he’s acting on Ji Hanming’s orders, though, is another matter.’

Though Zhu Huan hadn’t stated it outright, his meaning was obvious: if Bai Yuan agreed to join Flying Eagle Castle, the debt of two thousand taels of silver would be wiped clean.

The method was a bit dirty, but they hadn’t completely thrown away all pretenses. They had given Bai Yuan a way to save face.

If Bai Yuan accepted Ji Hanming’s invitation, they would all be on the same side, and this minor conflict would be forgotten.

Zhu Huan watched Bai Yuan with a self-satisfied smile, awaiting his reply.

He had seen plenty of proud, arrogant paupers like Bai Yuan. In his opinion, Ji Hanming’s methods were far too gentle. All it really took was a little pressure, and the other party would be forced to submit.

By helping Ji Hanming, he was also helping Flying Eagle Castle.

While the Zhu Family was quite influential in Qinghe County, it was nothing compared to a behemoth like Flying Eagle Castle.

If Bai Yuan agreed, he wouldn’t just resolve the Hongqiao Dye Workshop’s crisis; he’d also secure a brilliant future for himself.

He simply couldn’t imagine any reason for the man to refuse.

But under Zhu Huan’s triumphant smile, Bai Yuan slowly uttered two words.

"I’ll pay."

Pay?!

Zhu Huan’s smile froze. The fan in his hand stopped moving. Things were spiraling out of his control.

If Bai Yuan refused, not only would he lose the credit he hoped to gain with Ji Hanming, but he would also have needlessly offended a Martial Artist with a promising future.

Mrs. Liu of the Chen Family, standing to the side, was also stunned. She hadn’t expected Bai Yuan to agree so decisively.

"Ah Yuan, this..."

Bai Yuan waved his hand. "The matter is settled. Sister Chen, there’s no need to say any more."

Seeing Bai Yuan’s unyielding attitude, Zhu Huan grew flustered and exasperated. "Junior Brother Bai, have you thought this through?"

"In seven days, I will present you with two thousand taels of silver."

"Three days."

"Fine. Three days it is."

Zhu Huan laughed out of sheer anger. "I’d like to see just how you plan to come up with two thousand taels of silver."

With that, he turned and stormed away with his men.

Seeing there was no more of a spectacle to watch, the crowd that had gathered around the Hongqiao Dye Workshop also began to disperse.

...

The doors of the Hongqiao Dye Workshop were shut tight.

"Oh, Ah Yuan! That’s two thousand taels of silver! How can we possibly afford that?"

Mrs. Liu of the Chen Family’s face was etched with anxiety.

Xiao Qiaoniang stood quietly to one side. Although she didn’t know why her uncle had done what he did, she believed he must have had a profound reason.

Bai Yuan smiled faintly. "Don’t worry, Sister Chen. I have a plan."

Seeing Bai Yuan’s confident expression, Mrs. Liu of the Chen Family could only let out a long sigh and say no more. She truly couldn’t see any way out of this predicament.

The "important people" she had befriended were all powerless before the Zhu Family.

After Mrs. Liu of the Chen Family left, Xiao Qiaoniang finally spoke up, her voice laced with worry. "Uncle, do you really have a plan?"

Bai Yuan nodded. "Sister-in-law, don’t you trust me, either?"

"Of course I trust you."

Xiao Qiaoniang’s words came from the heart. If not for her uncle, how could the Bai Family enjoy its current prosperity?

After the disturbance caused by Zhu Huan, it was impossible for the Hongqiao Dye Workshop to do any business, so they had closed up shop early.

Since it was still early, Bai Yuan decided to take Xiao Qiaoniang for a stroll through Qinghe County Town.

"Sister-in-law, what do you think of this hairpin?"

Bai Yuan had stopped at a small stall and picked up an exquisite red sandalwood hairpin, a smile on his face as he spoke.

Xiao Qiaoniang quickly waved her hands. "That’s something a young lady from a great family would use. I have no need for it."

"We’ll take this one, shopkeeper."

With a grand wave of his hand, Bai Yuan produced three hundred cents from his robes.

Xiao Qiaoniang stared blankly at the red sandalwood hairpin in her hand. ’Uncle is already two thousand taels in debt, and he’s still in the mood to spend money?’

"Uncle, do you really have a way to pay them back?"

"Who said anything about paying them back?"

"..."

...

Bai Yuan and Xiao Qiaoniang returned to Baisha Town.

After the day’s ordeal, Xiao Qiaoniang was physically and mentally exhausted and went to bed early.

Bai Yuan sat alone in the courtyard, sharpening his blade.

Objectively speaking, the position of Eagle Cavalry Commander in Flying Eagle Castle was an excellent opportunity for most Martial Artists. It just wasn’t suitable for him.

Because he possessed the Tiger-Crane Style.

From the recent actions of the three major powers, it wasn’t hard to deduce that Flying Eagle Castle, just like the Iron Saber Gang, was hunting for the Tiger-Crane Style.

If the experts at Flying Eagle Castle discovered that he was cultivating the Tiger-Crane Style, the consequences would be unimaginable.

As for the two thousand taels Zhu Huan had demanded, he had no intention of paying a single cent.

He had smelled a familiar scent on Zhu Huan—the scent of a Snake Demon. And as it happened, he was a Demon Hunter.

Bai Yuan sharpened his blade with intense focus. The Firewood Cutting Saber was already incredibly sharp, but his whetstone made it sharper still. In the moonlight, its gleaming edge gave off a chilling glint.

He walked to a corner of the courtyard and picked up a hardwood bow and a quiver full of arrows.

He rummaged through his wardrobe, found a black cloth, and tied it around the lower half of his face. With only his eyes showing, he looked strikingly like an Assassin from the Soul-Chasing Tower.

Once his preparations were complete, he glanced toward the west wing, where Xiao Qiaoniang slept.

His hearing was now incredibly sharp. Even from ten meters away, he could still hear Xiao Qiaoniang’s even breathing.

After confirming his sister-in-law was sound asleep, he turned and left.

Ever since he had mastered his tracking skill, his Body Technique had improved tremendously.

So as not to wake his sister-in-law, he simply leaped over the courtyard wall. A display of Body Technique far more advanced than that of most Martial Artists.

It was a dark and windy night—the perfect time for a killing.

...