The Fu Mansion. The study.

Fu Guosheng sat behind a large desk, the bowl of his pipe glowing and fading in his hand as he quietly listened to a middle-aged man in a long gown report in a low voice beside him.

"...These days, more and more people are coming to exchange their deposit slips for silver coins—at least ten times more than usual. But we’re barely seeing anyone making deposits.

I made a point of counting in the main hall today. A lot of the people withdrawing money were clerks from Master Huang’s and Boss Liu’s households..."

"If this keeps up, the bank really won’t be able to hold on. The cash in the vault is about to hit bottom..."

Fu Guosheng took a slow puff from his pipe. "Go get some cash from our other businesses to cover it. Hold out for two more days."

"Yes, sir."

The two spoke for a little while longer before the middle-aged man bowed and exited the study.

Only after the study door had closed softly did a trace of unconcealable exhaustion surface on Fu Guosheng’s brow.

The series of crises over the past half-month had nearly drained him of all his energy. The great Fu Family was already weathering a storm, yet he had to force himself to remain composed in front of outsiders.

Since ancient times, the common folk don’t fight the government. This is doubly true for merchants.

Fu Guosheng understood this principle better than anyone.

But now, the situation was one of the government driving its people to their deaths.

Even if he were willing to hand over his life’s work, the other side might not leave the Fu Family a path to survival.

"Second Brother..."

Fu Guosheng lightly tapped his pipe on the desk. His eyes flickered. Just as he was about to get up, a knock suddenly came from the door.

"Come in."

The study door opened in response. The butler, Chen Zhongping, stood at the entrance, reporting with his hands clasped, "Master, Grandma Su from the Lin Family is here."

Su Hui from the Lin Family?!

Fu Guosheng froze for a moment, then immediately stood up. "Quickly, show her in."

"Yes, sir."

Fu Guosheng set down his pipe, straightened his lapels, and walked toward the door with a calm expression.

The Lin Family was not considered a major household in Luan River, but that Grandma Su of theirs held a special status.

Those in the know were all aware that behind her stood the Su Family of the former dynasty—the Su Erjia Luo Clan. They were a truly noble and powerful house, one that all the major families of Luan River combined could not hope to match.

Although they were now far away in Shenghai, they were not someone an ordinary country squire could afford to provoke.

Fu Guosheng would have to treat such a person with great ceremony even on an ordinary visit, let alone at a time like this, when everyone was avoiding the Fu Family like the plague.

Fu Guosheng hurried to the front hall and saw a figure seated there from a distance. Her posture and bearing alone exuded an innate, refined nobility.

Standing beside her was another person, dressed as a maid from a great house of the former dynasty, though she was no longer young.

"Miss Su."

Fu Guosheng hastened forward. When he was still ten paces away, he adopted a humble posture and bowed formally. "My deepest apologies for not being here to greet you."

The maid beside her shot him a glance, a flicker of what seemed to be disdain in her eyes. Su Hui, however, rose with a smile and curtsied in return.

"I hope Boss Fu won’t blame me for this presumptuous visit."

"Not at all, not at all."

Fu Guosheng shook his head. "So many people wish for a visit from Miss Su but can never receive the honor..."

The two sat and exchanged a few pleasantries, but Fu Guosheng ultimately couldn’t hold back. He asked tentatively, "If I may ask, Miss Su, what brings you here today?"

"I am somewhat aware of the Fu Family’s current predicament..."

Su Hui gently set down her porcelain cup. In a soft, slow voice, she said, "Boss Fu’s son saved me once. I thought that I should, by all rights, repay the Fu Family in turn..."

Fu Guosheng froze at her words.

A moment later, he rose abruptly and said respectfully with cupped hands, "Miss Su, please follow me to the study so we may speak in detail."

Su Hui nodded with a smile.

......

Fu Juemin sat in the car on the way back. The county road was rough, and the vehicle lurched and swayed, but his body remained as steady as if he were sitting on flat ground, completely unmoved.

He was still thinking about the news he had just received from his second uncle, Fu Guoping.

In half a month to a month, the Ming Character Banner of the Fire Cloud Army would invade Luan River.

At that time, the flames of war wouldn’t just ignite in Luan River, but would burn across all of Yangping, and even spread to the other southern provinces....

If this news was true, then his second uncle was right. In half a month, it would indeed be the perfect time to kill Song Lin and his cohorts.

Gunfire is indiscriminate. Even for the esteemed son of the Governor of Yangping Province, dying amidst a chaotic army of rebels would be a perfectly plausible occurrence.

’In that case, I can put the plan to use the water monkey to kill for me on the back burner...’

The Luan River Water Demon was too unpredictable a factor. Once it was lured out of the water, Fu Juemin had no idea what the final consequences would be.

Compared to the risks of that plan, assassinating Song Lin during the chaos of the army’s attack was a much safer bet.

’Now, then, the only remaining problem is how to get rid of those two Tongxuan Guards by Song Lin’s side.’

Li Tong could deal with at least one of them.

And that was a conservative estimate on Fu Juemin’s part. After all, Uncle Tong had originally planned to handle the whole thing by himself.

’I wonder if half a month is enough time for me to reach the Entry Level of my Five Aggregates Profound Slaughter Technique...’

Fu Juemin took a shallow breath, looking at his right hand—which had become fairer and more slender after his bones and tendons were reforged—and thought to himself.

Before long, the car arrived at the Fu Mansion.

Just as Fu Juemin got out of the car, the butler, Uncle Chen, came up and reported in a low voice.

"Su Hui has been here?"

After hearing Uncle Chen’s report, Fu Juemin was taken aback. He blinked, then immediately headed straight for Fu Guosheng’s study.

This time, he didn’t even remember to knock, pushing the door open and walking straight in.

Upon entering, he saw Fu Guosheng standing in front of several rows of antique shelves, his face beaming. Seeing his son barge in without knocking, he wasn’t angry at all. Instead, he smiled and beckoned him over.

"You’re just in time. Dad has something to tell you."

Five minutes later, Fu Juemin sat before the coffee table with a strange expression on his face, watching the tea leaves bobbing in the cup before him.

"Dad, are you saying that Su Hui is willing to use her connections, pull some strings for us, and send our entire family to Shenghai?"

"That’s right."

Fu Guosheng nodded. "With the Su Family’s power, they can certainly manage to sneak a few people out of Yangping right under Song Zhenyuan’s nose.

We definitely won’t be able to take the family’s assets with us, but that’s still better than staying here and having everything swallowed up by Song Zhenyuan and his son..."

Fu Juemin nodded slowly, then said softly, "Perfect. I have something to tell you too, Dad."

Fu Juemin recounted his visit to his second uncle, Fu Guoping, and the news he’d learned that the Southwest Fire Cloud Army would soon attack Luan River.

When he finished, the father and son looked at each other, both seeing a myriad of complex and strange emotions on the other’s face.

"Heaven has not forsaken the Fu Family."

Fu Guosheng stood up, seemingly returning to the calm and steady demeanor of Luan River’s wealthiest magnate.

"Half a month is a bit tight, but it’s enough time for us to sell off most of our assets and take the money with us..."

Fu Guosheng thought for a moment, then said quickly, "There’s no time to lose. I’ll go make the arrangements now."

But just as Fu Guosheng was about to summon someone, Fu Juemin raised a hand to stop him.

"Dad, there’s no rush." 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Fu Juemin shook his head. "Right now, it would be best for you to go to Song Lin and ask for something. It will guarantee the Fu Family’s peace for this next half-month."

"What is it?"

Fu Guosheng looked at him, frowning in confusion.

A light glinted in Fu Juemin’s eyes as he said calmly, "Go and ask him for the Fu Family’s... Donation Decree."

....