Chapter 033: The Rules Are Mine to Make

Li Zaixing was utterly bewildered. Since when were cats counted by their roots?

Wei Yingwu, drained of all hope, watched Yang Miaor throw herself into the contest with Zheng Juju today, heedless of anything else. She’d even answered such a vulgar question, utterly abandoning all the grace of a famed courtesan—what difference was there now between her and those coarse women from the northern quarters? Yet on second thought, he found himself sympathizing with her. Had Li Zaixing not asked such an indecent question, would she have been forced to answer at all?

Yang Laier rolled her eyes, seized her sister’s arm, and pulled her away. Only then did Yang Miaor come to her senses. Her face drained of all color, overwhelmed by shame and fury, she wished she could smash her head against the wall. She turned back, shooting a venomous glare at Li Zaixing, then at the triumphant Zheng Juju, wishing nothing more than to spit in the faces of these shameless conspirators. If not for their collusion, how could she have suffered such humiliation today?

With the Yang sisters defeated, Zheng Juju enjoyed a sudden reversal of fortune. Beaming like a flower in bloom, she slipped her arm through Li Zaixing’s, preparing to lead him away. But just then, an uncanny chill ran up her spine; the hair on her neck bristled, goosebumps rose along her arm, and a wave of cold shot up the back of her head.

Yang Miaor, already dragged several paces away, sensed the strange atmosphere too. For a moment, she forgot all about Zheng Juju and stared at Li Zaixing in astonishment, her lips forming a perfect “O.”

Wei Yingwu, standing off to the side, shivered involuntarily and turned his gaze toward Li Zaixing.

Li Zaixing said nothing. He gently disentangled himself from Zheng Juju’s grasp, turned his head eastward, and began to walk toward the eastern gate.

Zheng Juju stood frozen, hand raised to her mouth, eyes fixed vacantly on Li Zaixing’s retreating back.

The crowd before Li Zaixing parted instinctively, as if cleaved by an invisible blade. With every step he took, the narrow corridor stretched further ahead of him.

No one spoke. Even breathing seemed to halt unconsciously. All eyes followed Li Zaixing as his pace quickened, faster and faster, and in a flash, he broke through the crowd, sprinting toward the eastern gate. He rounded the northeast corner of Li Linfu’s residence and vanished down East Street.

Only then did a buzz of whispers erupt from the crowd, as if a swarm of flies had been set loose.

Zheng Juju’s legs gave way and she collapsed to the ground.

Seeing this, Yang Miaor felt a rush of relief. Her anger gave way to delight, and she was about to tease Zheng Juju when suddenly sweat poured from her, and her strength deserted her. The world spun, and she fainted into Yang Laier’s arms.

With both rivals fainting in succession, the onlookers could not help but cry out in alarm.

But Li Zaixing paid no attention. Rounding the corner, he took one step forward and then stopped.

At the eastern gate of Li Linfu’s residence, a solitary lantern swayed in the night breeze, casting a pool of warm light.

Li Zaixing slowly lifted his head, looking toward the wall opposite the eastern gate. There, a lone figure stood with hands clasped behind his back, proud and solitary as a pine on a cliff. He stood there motionless.

Li Zaixing did not move either. He fixed his gaze on the figure, slowed his breathing, and relaxed his body, slipping into a battle-ready state.

In the crowd, he had suddenly unleashed all his killing intent the moment he sensed this man’s murderous aura. That murderous intent, sharp as a lance, had pierced the throng and struck him directly, forcing his guard to its highest, his own killing aura surging like a tide, so much so that the bystanders themselves felt its pressure.

This was a formidable opponent. To project killing intent beyond ten paces—this was no ordinary man. Even with all his confidence in his martial skills, Li Zaixing dared not be careless.

“Xie Dalang?” At last, after calming himself, Li Zaixing stepped forward and spoke.

The man remained motionless. After a moment, he turned his head and glanced at Li Zaixing. Despite the ten paces between them, Li Zaixing felt the chill in his eyes.

“Catch me, and Pingkang Ward is yours,” the man said, then suddenly moved, vanishing into the night in an instant.

Li Zaixing had been ready. He dashed forward at an angle, took three steps, and, using his skills from a previous life, vaulted up the slightly slanted wall. The instant his toes touched the top, he glimpsed a shadow disappearing around the corner.

He gave chase. After two steps, he suddenly pushed off with his left foot, twisting his body to crash hard into the shadow beneath the wall.

A startled exclamation came from the darkness, a rush of wind, and a figure darted out, sidestepping Li Zaixing’s attack, then turned south and raced away.

Li Zaixing was not fazed by the miss and pursued relentlessly.

The two sped through Xuanyang Ward in a flash. As they crossed an intersection, the shadow paused, hiding in the gloom. Li Zaixing closed in, the sound of hurried footsteps and the clash of weapons ringing faintly in his ears, but he ignored it, charging straight at the shadow.

The shadow had not expected such audacity, and hesitated. In that instant, Li Zaixing closed the gap to five paces, and both burst around the corner.

Twenty patrolling guards were marching along the southern wall of the East Market. As the two shadows flashed by, the guards tensed.

“Who goes there?” one barked, drawing his saber. In a heartbeat, steel rasped from sheaths all around.

Li Zaixing and his quarry paid them no heed, thundering past, their pounding footsteps echoing through the quiet night.

The guards exchanged glances, then sheathed their weapons and resumed their patrol, their captain banging a gong and bellowing, “Fire and theft prevention! Beware open flames!”

Li Zaixing pressed on, undeterred by crossing street after street, passing at least five more patrols, never slowing for a moment. The figure ahead, hounded without respite, could do nothing but run.

They crossed five or six intersections in one breath before the man ahead veered east. Li Zaixing, anticipating this, did not follow the turn but sprinted forward, leaping onto the wall and racing along its narrow crest.

This ward was sparsely populated, barely a house in sight. Li Zaixing’s footsteps echoed along the wall, but no one came out to investigate.

He ran above as the man ran below. Hearing the footsteps overhead, the man glanced up and saw Li Zaixing closing in by two more steps—panic flashed across his face. He turned south, vaulted up onto the wall himself.

Li Zaixing grinned, raised his arm, and, just as he had practiced grenade-throwing in his previous life, hurled a clod of earth.

He’d grabbed the dirt as he scaled the wall earlier, knowing his foe would try to climb. In mid-leap, with nowhere to dodge, the man took the blow squarely—a dull thud, a stagger, then a crash as he slammed into the wall and tumbled down. Before he could rise, Li Zaixing was upon him, foot pressed to his chest.

“Pingkang Ward is mine now, isn’t it?”

The man panted but didn’t struggle. After a moment, he sat up, brushed Li Zaixing’s foot aside, and nodded. “Pingkang Ward is yours—on one condition.”

Li Zaixing smiled. “Let’s hear it. I may not agree.”

“There is honor among thieves. You may collect protection fees, but no extortion, and no taking of lives or breaking the code of the streets.”

Li Zaixing scoffed. “And who sets this code? You?”

“I do,” the man replied calmly. “I am Xie Dalang.”

“Xie Dalang?” Li Zaixing nodded. “Not bad—you’ve got some skill. No wonder you’re an underworld kingpin in the capital.” He gestured toward the wall ahead. “Were you planning to lure me to Qujiang, kill me, and bury me somewhere convenient?”

Xie Dalang hesitated, then nodded. “That was the idea. This is my territory, full of traps. Taking down Zhang Wan in a single round—I couldn’t do that, so I meant to draw you here. Pity I was still a step too slow.”

“Let’s see your lair,” Li Zaixing said, hands behind his back, strolling forward. “I’ll give you another chance. If you can kill me, bury me wherever you like. If not, from now on I make the rules.”

Xie Dalang hesitated, then caught up. “I’m not alone—there are at least seven or eight brothers here, all skilled.”

“No matter,” Li Zaixing replied innocently. “One kill breaks even, two and I’m ahead.” He glanced at the sky. “Dark night, high wind—a perfect night for murder.”

Xie Dalang frowned. He’d always considered himself a desperado, but compared to Li Zaixing, he felt like a child who’d never taken a life. He could tell—when Li Zaixing spoke of killing, he wasn’t bluffing. He meant it, life for life. He cared nothing for others’ lives, nor even his own.

Catching up, he walked side by side with Li Zaixing. “How many have you killed?”

Li Zaixing smiled slightly. “I’ve lost count. But just yesterday, outside the city, I killed three more. If your intelligence is up to date, you should have heard.”

Xie Dalang was stunned. “Was that you who killed in the south of the city yesterday? One versus thirteen, three dead, ten wounded?”

“So you’ve heard?” Li Zaixing laughed. “Then you really are Xie Dalang.”

Xie Dalang was silent for a while, then suddenly stopped and gestured invitingly. “Let me buy you a drink at Mingke Lane.”

Li Zaixing stopped as well, facing him. He glanced at the nearby wall. “We’re at your doorstep, aren’t you going to invite me in?”

Xie Dalang managed a bitter chuckle, rubbing the spot where Li Zaixing had struck him. “Since I can’t be sure of killing you, I’d rather make you a friend. I’ll buy you a drink, and as for the rules—we’ll set them together, how about it?”

Li Zaixing pondered a moment, then laughed heartily. “All right. To be honest, I’m not sure I’d make it out unscathed either. Let’s be friends for now—let’s have that drink.”

The third update is here—please recommend the story!