Beneath the city wall.

Provincial Administrator Zhang, wore a kindly expression. When he looked at the gathered common folk, his eyes revealed just the right amount of sorrow and grief.

It was as if he could deeply empathize with the suffering these people endured, and at the same time, he was filled with profound guilt.

The people around him, seeing the expression in Administrator Zhang’s eyes, one by one covered their faces and wept aloud.

Some even fell to their knees, bowing their heads gratefully.

To them, what was being handed out wasn’t just porridge—it was life itself!

Among the crowd, Sun Sheng and Qiong Aohai saw the expression Administrator Zhang wore and felt a chill run down their spines.

All of this—the suffering—was very much their doing.

Yet he could put on such a mask of sympathy and regret. It was utterly disgusting.

Over a dozen young men set up large pots.

Several sturdy young fellows carried wooden buckets to the pots.

The buckets held clean well water.

Together, they lifted the buckets and poured the water into the big pots.

Then, they tore open bags of rice, dumping the grains into the water.

The white rice swirled in the water, turning it milky.

A few attendants crouched by the pots, kindling fires and fanning the flames, eager to get the porridge boiling faster.

The disaster victims stood quietly, obeying the soldiers’ orders, lining up in neat rows.

“Gurgle…”

The crowd stared fixedly at the porridge boiling in the pots, swallowing their saliva.

They hadn’t eaten for quite some time.

They had gnawed on the roadside trees, trying to stave off hunger.

Sun Sheng and Qiong Aohai had originally planned to strike right now.

But when they thought about it—if they killed Administrator Zhang, these victims might never get a single bowl of porridge.

They reconsidered.

If they were to act, it should be after the porridge was ready.

So Sun Sheng and Qiong Aohai held back for the moment.

In their eyes, Zhang Maoxiang, the commissioner of Huguang, was already half a corpse.

While the two pondered, Qiong Aohai’s face suddenly changed. He lowered his head, hiding behind his bamboo hat.

He tugged on Sun Sheng’s sleeve quietly: “Murong Longyuan!”

The name startled Sun Sheng.

He quickly lowered his gaze and scanned the east side of the city.

Clad in black brocade and holding a smoking pipe in his right hand, Murong Longyuan suddenly stepped out from the city gate.

His expression calm, he puffed on the pipe as he strode straight toward Administrator Zhang.

Seeing Murong Longyuan, Sun Sheng muttered lowly: “Why the hell is that old bastard here?”

“Why would he show up now?”

Qiong Aohai thought for a moment and whispered, “He’s been chasing me.”

“Maybe he arrived in Wuchang Prefecture just before or after us.”

Qiong Aohai frowned deeply.

With a top-rank expert like Murong Longyuan here, how could the two of them, rank two warriors, possibly kill that corrupt official?

This was troublesome.

Sun Sheng also frowned.

“If only that Hua Xiyue were here...” he muttered.

He held a strong impression of Hua Xiyue—the woman looked young but clearly had first-rank martial skills.

To be first rank at such an age was extraordinary!

More importantly, she refused to swear brotherhood with the two of them.

Sun Sheng wasn’t the type to be liked by just anyone.

While Sun Sheng and Qiong Aohai warily watched Murong Longyuan, the latter had already reached Zhang Maoxiang’s side.

He whispered something to Zhang.

Due to the distance, Sun Sheng and Qiong Aohai couldn’t catch their words.

“Boom!”

Suddenly, the dull gray sky rumbled with thunder.

The disaster victims lifted their heads to look at the sky.

A streak of blue lightning tore across the long sky.

The wind howled.

Rain began to fall.

Fine raindrops descended softly, the patter blending with the rustle of leaves.

The team boiling porridge on the east side had long been prepared.

Several strong men moved swiftly, erecting a canopy over the pots to shield them from the rain.

Murong Longyuan and Zhang Maoxiang were also sheltered beneath a small rain tent.

The two exchanged a few words, but Murong Longyuan ceased his questioning and resumed puffing on his pipe.

His deep gaze swept across the crowd of disaster victims, as if searching for something.

Sun Sheng and Qiong Aohai quickly lowered their heads, pretending to shield themselves from the rain with their hats.

“Second brother, what do we do now?” Sun Sheng asked quietly.

With Murong Longyuan—a first-rank master—here, killing Zhang Maoxiang was out of the question.

Besides, who knew if there were any Six Doors agents nearby?

What had been a simple assassination suddenly became much harder with Murong Longyuan’s arrival.

If they acted now, they probably wouldn’t escape.

Qiong Aohai pondered and came to a decision.

“Little Shun, I’ll draw Murong Longyuan’s attention later.

When you’re receiving the porridge, sneak close to his left side.”

“One palm strike, kill him, and the job’s done.”

“Murong Longyuan won’t expect you to assassinate Zhang Maoxiang.”

Sun Sheng nodded: “A feint to the east while striking west.”

A simple tactic.

“Then what about you, second brother?” Sun Sheng asked.

If Qiong Aohai played the bait, and Murong Longyuan dealt a fatal blow, Qiong Aohai’s fate would be grim.

“I’m fine. At worst, I’ll go back with him to the Six Doors prison.”

Qiong Aohai shook his head, already prepared for death.

His gaze was firm, his heart set solely on the common folk.

In that moment, he seemed transported back two years.

Back then, he was vigorous and proud, his Thunder Palm technique perfected—a true rank two warrior.

He stood in the main hall of the Haijing Gang headquarters, his left foot just stepping beyond the threshold, ready to roam the Jianghu and gain experience.

Qiong Longshan, seated on a chair, called out to him: “Hai’er, remember this.”

“The great hero fights for country and people.”

Qiong Longshan’s deep and solemn voice echoed in Qiong Aohai’s ears.

He came back to himself and took a deep breath.

The great hero fights for country and people.

This was Qiong Longshan’s creed.

It was also the motto of the Haijing Gang.

Back then, the Haijing Gang rose above many coastal small factions in just two years—not only due to Qiong Longshan’s strength, but also because of the gang’s creed.

Thoughts spinning, Qiong Aohai made up his mind.

He looked at Sun Sheng and said calmly, “Xiao Shun, as you said, killing that dog official is the fastest way now.”

“With Murong Longyuan here, killing Zhang Maoxiang will shake the court even more.”

“The floods are severe—we cannot waste time.”

Qiong Aohai gave Sun Sheng a deep, serious look.

Sun Sheng clenched his fists, strangely moved.

“All right!”

His heart surged with determination. Later, he would kill that dog official for sure!

The two hid quietly in the crowd.

Time ticked by.

Soon, steam rose from the porridge pots, releasing a rich aroma.

The disaster victims, catching the scent, swallowed hard.

For a moment, the sound of swallowing outpaced the rain’s pattering.

The men cooking the porridge stirred it twice with long wooden spoons, then hurriedly reported the porridge was ready.

Zhang Maoxiang wore a gentle expression as he looked at the long line of victims.

He personally walked to a pot, took the long spoon, and called out sincerely to the people:

“Citizens! Line up properly, come one by one!”

“Everyone will get their share of porridge!”