Night.

Qin Yuesheng leaped across the rooftops, quickly arriving at the Cyan Yang Inn. Just as he was about to enter, an elderly voice suddenly called out from above, "Is that Young Master Qin?"

The speaker’s concealment skills weren’t bad. Qin Yuesheng looked up to see, on the top floor of the inn, an old beggar holding a wine jug and a chicken leg, gazing down at him.

Qin Yuesheng immediately cupped his hands and said, "I don’t know what business brought you to leave that letter for me, sir."

"No need to be so polite. I’m just an old beggar, not some revered elder. Young Master Qin, just call me Old Beggar." The man grinned. "Come on up and let’s talk."

Qin Yuesheng jumped easily to the top floor of the inn. Under the moonlight, their shadows stretched long across the tiles.

"Young Master Qin, your breath is stable and your Inner Strength is abundant. Truly the foundation of one who cultivates both inside and out—not at all like those so-called geniuses from the Central Plains, all cheap fakes." The old beggar’s eyes roamed Qin Yuesheng as he nodded in praise.

Qin Yuesheng was unclear about the man’s intent, and unwilling to exchange needless words, so he said bluntly, "Whatever business you have, just say it plainly. No need to beat around the bush."

"Has Young Master Qin ever heard of the Divine Calculation Pavilion in Celestial Secret City?" the man asked.

Qin Yuesheng replied, "Of course. The Celestial Secret’s Divine Calculation masters compile and publish the martial world rankings—sometimes monthly, sometimes after several months. Who in our world doesn’t know of them?"

"I am the ’Xuan’-class agent of the Divine Calculation Pavilion." The old beggar pulled a silver token from his chest. In the moonlight, the surface reflected the word ’Xuan’. "With your strength, Young Master Qin, that Jiangnan Hundred Soldiers List is no longer worthy of you. You need a ranking of far greater value. I sought you out to witness your true ability and to put your name on a higher ranking."

All under heaven seek fame and fortune. For years, the rankings published by Celestial Secret City have occupied an exalted place in the hearts of those in the martial world. From nameless upstarts to renowned martial lords, the hunger for rank is a desire others cannot fathom.

But Qin Yuesheng was the exception. He’d never cared about being on any such list; with his ability, he could have been first on the Jiangnan Hundred Soldiers List long ago if he’d wanted.

"Sorry, I’m not interested. You can leave. In the future, don’t come to my home and trouble my family." Qin Yuesheng shook his head.

"Young Master Qin, I mean no offense, but with such formidable skill—if it’s not known to the world, if your name isn’t recognized, wouldn’t that be too much of a waste?" The old beggar stood up as he spoke.

"I have no wish to compete over status and ranking with others, much less do I care whether people know my name or not."

The old beggar’s expression suddenly turned severe.

In truth, when the Celestial Secret Elder and Divine Calculation Elder compiled the martial world rankings, they were not without ulterior motives. Once the lists were established, people throughout the martial world would clash and compete for better rankings, further boosting Celestial Secret City’s position. As long as everyone believed the rankings truly held authority, the elders’ status spoke for itself.

To keep the lists relevant, the two elders sent out numerous agents, both to chronicle every battle that occurred—shifting names up or down the ranking—and to unearth all manner of masters, provoking others to challenge them and kindle further competition.

Thus in perpetual cycle, the rankings would never become obsolete.

Seeing Qin Yuesheng about to turn and leave, the old beggar—as an agent of Celestial Secret City, with no idea of Qin Yuesheng’s true strength—naturally could not allow him to depart so easily.

Suddenly, the man flattened himself to the ground, cheeks puffing and deflating, making a faint gurgling sound.

Bang!

With a spring of his legs, he lunged at Qin Yuesheng in a flash.

Feeling a gust of air behind him, Qin Yuesheng spun, striking back with his palm. The old beggar also struck out, the two colliding directly for a head-on exchange.

Buzz!

Their Inner Strength erupted, shattering the rooftop tiles and sending them crashing noisily to the ground below—the only sound in the silent night, piercing and shrill.

"Courting death." Qin Yuesheng snapped coldly.

He’d been talking civilly, but the man pressed him further. Since they didn’t know each other and owed no favors, Qin Yuesheng saw no need to hold back. He drew his Dragon-Slaying Sword and slashed out in one swift motion.

"Such powerful Inner Strength!" The moment their palms met, the old beggar’s heart gave a startled jolt.

He was Fifth Layer of the Internal Power Realm—in Jianghu, unless facing some ancient monster of renown, he’d rarely meet his match.

But now, Qin Yuesheng relied on Inner Strength alone to battle him evenly.

When the sword swept toward him, the old beggar slipped away at the blade’s edge like a loach, unharmed by the swing.

Judging the man’s identity as peculiar, Qin Yuesheng unleashed a sword technique covering a vast area. Flickering sword lights shot out, hemming in the old beggar from all sides. If he couldn’t fend them off, his body would be pierced with gaping wounds.

This time, Qin Yuesheng truly showed no mercy—intent on teaching the man a painful lesson.

"Excellent sword technique!" Far from alarmed, the old beggar was delighted, ducking into a low sweeping kick. The flying tiles battered the sword light, but were instantly smashed to pieces.

The old beggar tumbled back in several rolling leaps, dodging to the side. His hands shaped like snakes, he stabbed at Qin Yuesheng’s flank. Unexpectedly, Qin Yuesheng flicked several throwing knives at him. The beggar reached to snatch them all.

But he gravely underestimated Qin Yuesheng’s strength. Though both were at Fifth Layer, their raw force was worlds apart.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

The flying knives pierced straight through the old beggar’s palms; one even sliced his wrist, blood gushing forth unceasingly.

"Hss!" The old beggar’s face twisted in pain—he simply couldn’t withstand his opponent’s strength.

Hands crippled, he immediately tried to escape. Though he couldn’t fully gauge Qin Yuesheng’s power, he now had a fair idea where the man would rank in Jianghu.

Summoning Qin Yuesheng had been exactly for this purpose. Now that he had his answer, it would be foolish to risk his life.

Seeing the man attempting to flee, how could Qin Yuesheng let him off so easily? Since he dared challenge him, he’d have to pay a price.

Qin Yuesheng had intended to take an arm, but suddenly inspiration struck. He set aside his killing intent and instead condensed a Life-and-Death Cold Ice Talisman, casting it out.

The old beggar took it for a hidden weapon and tried to dodge, but Qin Yuesheng flung a handful of Cold Ice Talismans at once—impossible to evade completely. Four or five talismans pierced into the old beggar’s body.

He was still unaware of the seriousness, continuing to flee at full speed.

Qin Yuesheng projected his voice with Inner Strength: "Within five days, if you don’t want to die, come back to find me and I may spare your life."

The old beggar sneered, "Do you take me for a fool? Why would I come back just to die by your hand?"

In a few moments, he had vanished into the night.

The entire fight lasted just a few dozen breaths. The roof had become a sorry ruin, the clamor awakening the guests, shopkeeper, and servants of the Cyan Yang Inn. Qin Yuesheng casually tossed a silver tael on the ground and quickly left.

Since the old beggar was a Celestial Secret City agent, as long as he was within Qin Yuesheng’s control, valuable intelligence about Celestial Secret City could be extracted.

This famous but mysterious power in Jianghu—he might as well understand it better. As the saying goes: know yourself, know your enemy, and never fear in a hundred battles.

After returning to the Qin Mansion, the night passed in silence.

...

In the following days, the Tai Sui Alliance members Qin Yuesheng sent out to various regions began to return with the intelligence they’d gathered. Thanks to Qin Yuesheng’s financial backing, they easily established themselves in every county, each forming a small faction, covertly monitoring any and all disturbances.

The intelligence reported that Liu Xian had completely seized control of Yangzhou Prefecture. The city garrison, which should have belonged to the Great Tang, was now under his command, greatly boosting his military might. He now set his sights on the surrounding cities.

Just last night, seven county seats were assaulted by Liu Xian’s forces in a thunderous, overwhelming campaign and now fall under his banner. At this pace, within two days, Liu Xian’s army would reach the gates of Cyan Yang City. By then, war would erupt. If Xun Sheng refused to surrender, his only choice would be to face Liu Xian’s army at its peak strength. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Having handed out silver taels and eased the icy poison of the Life-and-Death Cold Ice Talisman within their bodies—to delay its onset—Qin Yuesheng promptly sent these men back.

Confident in his ability, Qin Yuesheng believed that, even amidst ten thousand troops, he could take the enemy general’s head and stand alone against an army, keeping Cyan Yang City from falling to Liu Xian.

Once those minor leaders of the Tai Sui Alliance departed, Cao Zhengchun suddenly rushed in through the gate and said, "Young Master, there’s a boy outside seeking you. He says he’s your disciple, and his name is Sanhuang."

"Oh? Sanhuang is here." Qin Yuesheng was surprised.

When he left the Twelve Linked Rings previously, he had told Sanhuang: should they run into troubles they couldn’t resolve, find Zhao Quan and Guo Jiuqu, take a boat, and come to the Qin Mansion in Cyan Yang City to seek him out.

Though he hadn’t known Sanhuang for long, Qin Yuesheng understood his temperament. If there wasn’t a grave trouble, Sanhuang would never have come to Cyan Yang City looking for him.

"Go bring him in to see me," Qin Yuesheng ordered.

"Yes, sir."