In the main hall of the Fang Residence, the air was heavy as lead.

On the seat of honor, Fang Tongli struggled to straighten his back, trying to maintain the dignity of the family head. But the cold sweat seeping from his temples and the uncontrollable trembling of his fingertips betrayed every bit of the fear in his heart.

In the foremost guest seat, the Black Tiger Gang's deputy chief, Qian Biao, lounged insolently, one mud-stained boot brazenly planted on the pristine surface of the chair, leaving a glaring filthy mark.

Behind him, four tough, aggressive gang members had gazes like knives, making all the household servants in the hall too terrified to even breathe.

"Lord Fang," Qian Biao grinned, his voice rough and grating, "us brothers are straight talkers, don't get all that roundabout nonsense. For years we've come through wind and rain, risking our lives to protect your Fang family's cargo ships. Over a dozen years, we've received this peace money every month without fail. So what now?"

He suddenly leaned forward, a brutal, savage force surging right into Fang Tongli's face. "Now that you've latched onto the big tree of the Qin family, you think your wings are stiff? You want to treat the rules our brothers have watered with blood and sweat like a fart to be let go?"

Fang Tongli's Adam's apple bobbed as he forced himself to look calm, taking a sip from his teacup with deliberately slow movements.

"Deputy Chief Qian, your words are unjust. The union of the Fang and Qin families is truly a match made by heaven. But this peace money has been creeping up month by month; over the years it has become a bottomless pit we can't fill... Our Fang family's strength is limited. I feel the price should be discussed again..."

"Discuss?!" Qian Biao slammed his palm on the table, causing the teacups to leap and clatter. "Discuss your mother's head!"

He shot to his feet, his massive body closing in like an iron tower. "I'll put my words right here! One copper coin short, and I'll make sure your Fang family's boats feed the turtles in the Qingyang River! I'd like to see then, with your family ruined, whether that flower-like daughter of yours can still dream of marrying into the Qin family in glory!"

"Y-you... You insolent—!"

Fang Tongli, struck at his deepest fear, shook like chaff, pointing at Qian Biao with a voice that had changed pitch. He had never expected Qian Biao to be so viciously aggressive that even the Qin family's fearsome name couldn't hold him back!

"Father!"

A stifled cry came from Fang Qingxue behind the screen.

Hearing that delicate cry, Qian Biao gave a strange laugh. "Heh heh, Miss Fang is here too? Perfect! Qin Wanlin is coming to fetch his bride in three days, isn't he? Tell me, if the Fang family were to sink a couple of medicine boats just before the big day... tsk tsk, that scene would really let the Qin family's face drop to the ground, wouldn't it? Would Qin Wanlin's wedding still feel so great?"

"The Qin family... would never stand idly by!" Fang Tongli shouted hoarsely.

"The Qin family? Hahaha!"

Qian Biao laughed as if he'd heard the funniest joke in the world, his laughter suddenly rising with piercing scorn.

"Lord Qin? Climbing Lion's Ridge at night? Sure! His name once shook the region! But what year's almanac are you reading from? Old Lord Qin is fifty-five now, isn't he? Can his body still fight and take hits like it did back then? Ha! I doubt it! The Qin family's tree is deep-rooted, true, but those roots don't reach into the filth of the docks! What works on the docks depends on this!"

He smacked the scabbard at his waist with a ringing clatter. "It's the ruthlessness to throw your life away!"

His fierce eyes fixed on Fang Tongli as though he were a chicken waiting to be slaughtered, every word a stab in the heart.

"Qin Wanlin? The future Qin family head? Hmph! He can manage romance and poetry, but can he manage how we survive? Even if Qin Wanlin were standing right here—"

Qian Biao swept his gaze around the hall and spat a thick wad of phlegm. "He'd still have to go by the Black Tiger Gang's rules! Even the King of Heaven himself wouldn't make a difference! Today, one coin short, and I'll make your Fang family see blood!"

Clang—!

The gleaming blades of the gang members behind him were drawn in unison, cold light flashing, murderous intent surging forward!

Fang Tongli, faced with this naked threat of blades, stumbled backward, his back crashing heavily against the chair's backrest, his face drained of all color.

This Black Tiger Gang... they really dared to do this! They truly didn't take the Qin family seriously!

Qian Biao smirked viciously, reaching out to grab Fang Tongli's collar and deliver the final blow—

"I take it Deputy Chief Qian has a rather deep understanding of my Qin family?"

A clear, calm voice, like the sudden chime of a jade stone, pierced the hall's murderous atmosphere, sounding clearly at the doorway.

Qian Biao's hand froze in midair; he whipped his head around.

Outside the hall, Qin Wanlin stood straight and elegant in a moon-white brocade robe. The sunlight outlined his tall, upright silhouette, his face unreadable, only a pair of deep, serene eyes resting on Qian Biao's face without a ripple.

He walked into the hall with unhurried steps, his gaze passing over Fang Tongli, who had collapsed in his chair, his expression turning from despair to wild joy, and gave a slight nod.

"Uncle, you were frightened."

His tone was gentle.

Then, turning to Qian Biao, whose eyes flickered with ferocity and suspicion, the corner of his mouth curved into a very faint arc.

"This must be Deputy Chief Qian? Outside just now, I seemed to hear the Deputy Chief expounding eloquently, discussing my father's age, instructing on dock rules, and even wanting... to see my father-in-law's family bloodshed?"

Pricked by that gaze, Qian Biao felt an inexplicable chill on the back of his neck. But when he saw Qin Wanlin's face, untouched by hardship, and those long, fair, elegant hands, a surge of shame and rage at being intimidated by a weak scholar shot straight to his head.

He forced his chest out and growled hoarsely:

"Young Master Qin! The docks have their own rules. This muddy water isn't something a scholar like you can wade into! Take my advice and go back to being your groom in peace. Reciting poetry and making couplets is your proper place! This bloody, filthy business—don't let it stain your hands, and especially don't... let it bruise your precious, noble self!"

Hearing this, Qin Wanlin gave a soft laugh.

"Rules? Muddy water?"

He stepped forward slowly, his gaze sweeping like icy lightning over every Black Tiger Gang member in the hall, finally fixing on Qian Biao's face, his voice suddenly dropping heavy, with a metallic ring.

"Deputy Chief Qian speaks well. Dirty money stained by muddy water is truly an eyesore. I, Qin, am merely a scholar, always keeping clean, disliking filth, and even more unwilling to be stained by blood."

At that moment, over a dozen fierce, agile figures appeared soundlessly like ghosts, instantly sealing off all doors and windows! Cold blade-light glinted chillingly through the cracks of the door and window lattices! They were the Qin family's elite guards!

Qin Wanlin looked straight into Qian Biao's suddenly constricted pupils and said calmly:

"However, with filth before me, disturbing the peace of my wife's family and alarming my inner household, as a scholar, though untrained in fists and feet, I still understand the principle of self-cultivation and family governance. If the household is not calm, how can one settle and pursue one's calling?"

He paused briefly, raised his hand, and pointed straight at Qian Biao. "Then I have no choice but to ask you all, with your rules, to immediately... get out of the Fang Residence! Otherwise, I won't mind letting these crude fellows help you wash off this dirt. It's just that when they do things, they never know moderation. If they accidentally wash off an arm or a leg... Deputy Chief Qian, your rules for making a living might truly come to an end."

Qian Biao's Adam's apple rolled with difficulty. He shot a venomous glare at Qin Wanlin, then looked hatefully at the still limp Fang Tongli, squeezing words through clenched teeth:

"Fine! Qin, you're ruthless! We'll see about that! Your Fang family's boats better keep their eyes wide open on the river from now on! I'll be damned if I don't see how long you can protect him!"

With that, he waved his hand fiercely, leading his men in a disgraced, panicked retreat under the icy stares of the Qin guards, like beaten dogs fleeing.

The hall fell deathly silent, leaving only Fang Tongli's rough, rapid gasps as if after a narrow escape.