Mistakenly Connected to the Jade Flower Branch

Yaochi's expression was serious, her eyes piercing, her tone firm and her voice commanding. The bewildered and at a loss fell silent instantly.

Xu Sheng seemed somewhat surprised, looking her up and down: "Little wife, I didn't realize you had such an air of authority. But this is a personal matter between Luo An and me, it has nothing to do with you."

Yaochi said, "Since it's a personal feud between you and Luo An, why did you hang Nanfei up? Are you picking on the weak? Are you even a man?"

Xu Sheng, feeling a bit teasing, twirled the whip in his hand and then released it: "Whether he's a man or not, little wife, you can check for yourself and you'll know."

Yaochi didn't even blush; her expression was sincere: "This concerns a man's dignity, and I should prove Young Master Xu's innocence. How about we verify his identity on the spot? Will Young Master Xu undress himself, or should I help him?"

The brothers in the gang were used to fighting alongside Yaochi and didn't see anything wrong with it. Xu Sheng was dumbfounded, looked down at himself, and then at Nianyao.

Nianyao took a step forward: "It seems that I'm needed to help."

Xu Sheng asked, "Aren't you a woman?"

Nianyao said, "It's not up to me to decide; it's up to everyone else."

Nianyao turned around, winked at Liu Lin, and shouted, "Brothers, tell him, is this gang leader a woman or not?"

"Yes."

"No."

The two voices echoed in mid-air, neither giving an inch, and then the brothers burst into laughter.

In the midst of their banter, Liu Lin's throwing knife flew towards the rope, while Luo An snatched the sword from Nian Yao's hand and flew it towards Xu Sheng.

Xu Sheng appeared to be smiling, but he was actually prepared. The jade flute in his hand flew up and blocked the flying knife, shattering it into pieces, while the soft whip in his hand wrapped around Luo An's hand.

The small sword fell out of the jade flute, and Nanfei watched in horror as it was about to hit his face, letting out a series of cries.

In the blink of an eye, many brothers still had smiles on their faces and their mouths hadn't even closed when the scene had already changed.

In the instant Xu Sheng spun around, he grabbed the small sword and held it against Nan Fei's neck, shouting, "Everyone back off! Luo An, retreat one zhang; the rest of you, retreat three zhang, or I'll kill him!"

Nanfei suddenly realized that his deal with Xu Sheng was both reckless and blind. He didn't understand Xu Sheng at all, and didn't know that Xu Sheng was a psychologically twisted, perverted bastard. Otherwise, why would he let a man wear bright red women's clothing?

Nanfei felt like he was possessed again. How could he have allowed Xu Sheng to dress in women's clothing and cooperate with him in tying himself up and hanging him from a tree? As soon as he was hung up, he was whipped twice, and the pain almost made him faint.

Xu Sheng said, "You're not backing down, are you?"

With a flick of Xu Sheng's wrist, Nan Fei felt the skin on his neck being cut open. A true man fears neither death nor dishonor, but rather dies a worthy death. What is this? Seeking his own death? Willingly committing suicide?

Nanfei closed his eyes in despair, realizing for the first time how incredibly stupid he had been. He and Yuan Feng hadn't even consummated their marriage, they weren't officially together, yet Yuan Feng was already destined to be a widow.

Luo An took a step back and glanced at Nian Yao.

Nianyao said, "Everyone, step back, back three zhang (approximately 10 meters)."

Everyone started to back away, while Liu Linxu stood three zhang away, watching them.

Xu Sheng said, "Chief Xue, you should also step back three zhang. This is a private matter between me and Luo An, no need for you to worry about it."

Nianyao said seriously, "Young Master Xu, what you said is inappropriate. He and I are husband and wife who have gone through the wedding ceremony. Even if it is a private matter, it is a private matter between you and us, not just between you and him."

Xu Sheng said to Luo An, "I didn't expect her to be all show and no substance. You've made a good wife; you can accept her."

Nianyao walked towards Luo An, took the sword from his hand and sheathed it, and said with a smile, "Thank you for the compliment, Young Master Xu. Now you can tell me about the personal grudges between you and us."

Xu Sheng said, "Chief Xue, Luo An and I are not blood brothers, as you've probably already figured out. This story goes back twenty years..."

Nianyao interrupted him: "Young Master Xu, make your story short. If Nanfei is hanged, you won't survive either. If a young master of the Nan family and a prince of Nanyue die on Chongming Island, the entire Dahe Gang will be unable to clear their names even if they jump into the Jingjiang River. If you're really interested in chatting, I'll send a boat to take you off the island. As long as you don't die here, everything will be fine."

Xu Sheng suddenly realized: "So you were thinking of the Dahe Gang. I thought you had some feelings for Luo An."

Nianyao gazes at the sky.

Xu Sheng added, "I think Luo An is much better than your childhood sweetheart. Don't mistake a stone for jade and ruin your own life."

Nianyao could no longer contain herself: "Your grudges."

Xu Sheng said, "My background. I was brought to the mansion by his father. So where did I come from, and who are my biological parents?"

Luo An shook his head.

Nianyao said, "He doesn't know."

Xu Sheng said, "I don't believe it."

Nianyao asked, "What will it take for you to believe me?"

Xu Sheng said, "I will believe him if he tells me himself."

Nianyao frowned: "Aren't you asking me to do something I can't accept?"

Xu Sheng said, "Do you know why I don't believe you?"

Nianyao: "Speak."

Xu Sheng said, "He can speak but has pretended to be mute for twenty years. Such a person has no credibility with me."

Nianyao said, "He knew he would definitely say something; he couldn't just watch Nanfei suffer without doing anything."

Xu Sheng said, "Chief Xue, if you are objective and neutral, stand here; if you are biased, step back. Since you are husband and wife, Nanfei's life is in your hands."

Nianyao thought for a moment, then stepped back to the side of the willow grove.

Xu Sheng said, "After I completed my apprenticeship, I stayed in Nanyue for a few months before going to Dongyang to inquire about Uncle Ming and your father. By the time I learned that your father was the owner of the Heaven and Earth Mansion, he was already dead. I've been looking for you for years, and now you're telling me you don't know? How can I believe you?"

Nanfei's eyelids trembled incessantly.

Xu Sheng said, "If you don't tell me, I'll whip him to death right in front of you. Anyway, I don't want to live, so you don't need to worry about Nan Yue avenging me. My mother couldn't have any more children after her difficult childbirth, and you're not by her side, so she can only rely on me. She gave me an identity but not feelings. Now I just want to know where I came from? Who are my biological parents? How are they now? Did your father kill them?"

Luo An shook his head.

Xu Sheng snorted coldly, and with a flick of his wrist, his long whip struck Nan Fei. The soft whip tore through Nan Fei's red clothes like a sharp sword, revealing flesh and blood that was unbearable to look at.

Nan Fei let out a half-scream, then gritted his teeth and stopped himself in time. He had been screaming terribly in cooperation with Xu Sheng before, half-jokingly, but now that the fake scream was real, he had to show some backbone and not let Luo An worry or feel guilty for him.

Nan Fei came to his senses and spat, "You have the guts to kill me! A scoundrel like you must have been abandoned by the roadside at birth. It was only out of the old manor's compassion that he picked you up."

Xu Sheng shouted sternly, "You're courting death."

Another lash landed on his body, but Nanfei gritted his teeth and didn't utter a sound.

Xu Sheng said, "Aren't you going to tell me?"

Xu Sheng raised his hand and lashed out with the whip again. The whip's end grazed Nan Fei's fair face, and beads of blood immediately welled up and rolled down his face.

Nanfei suddenly struggled: "You bitch, how dare you slap me in the face!"