Chapter 47: Ma Shichang

Nie Huaishang kicked Ma Yunfei away and strode off, but Ma Qitong grabbed him, weeping as she asked:

“Huaishang, where are you going?”

Nie Huaishang turned and pushed her away, speaking earnestly: “I’m sorry, Tontong. I love you too—but we’re not meant to walk the same path.”

Hearing this, Ma Qitong burst into tears and demanded of Nie Huaishang:

“Why? If we love each other, why can’t we be together?”

Hearing her question, Nie Huaishang said nothing, turned his head, and walked away.

Seeing this, Ma Qitong clung to him, weeping and pleading: “Don’t go. Don’t leave me. If you must leave, take me with you.”

Nie Huaishang sighed and urged her: “Why must you do this, Tontong? You’ll find many worthy men who’ll love you. You don’t have to die on this one tree.”

Ma Qitong shook her head after hearing him:

“No. I don’t want any worthy men. I want only you. I’ve chosen you as my one and only man—I won’t let you drive me away.”

Nie Huaishang gave a bitter laugh:

“Tontong, listen to me. Don’t follow me. You won’t be happy with me. I’m a lone assassin, burdened with murders and countless enemies.”

“With me, you’ll suffer hardship, endure endless hardship.”

As Nie Huaishang finished, tears filled his eyes. He stepped around Ma Qitong to leave, but she blocked him and shouted:

“How can you assume I won’t be happy with you? You are my happiness.”

“Whether we wander in misery or eat bran and vegetable scraps—I want only you.”

Ma Qitong threw her arms around Nie Huaishang, sobbing uncontrollably: “Don’t even think of making me leave. Even if you beat me, I won’t go.”

“Wherever you go, I go. When you’re hungry, I’ll cook for you. When you’re wounded, I’ll heal you. If one day you’re executed, I’ll bury you.”

Watching the suffering couple, Ma Yunfei felt like he was breaking up a pair of lovebirds.

Ma Yunfei, impatient, interrupted them:

“Stop this nonsense. Kid, since my sister loves you so much, I’ll take you to meet my father. Whether you succeed depends on whether you satisfy him.”

“So you’re agreeing to let us be together?”

Ma Qitong exclaimed in delight.

Ma Yunfei sighed helplessly:

“Who else would I do this for? My little sister loves this kid so much she’d run away from home.”

After sighing, Ma Yunfei glared at Nie Huaishang with mockery:

“Kid, you hit hard. Those punches almost knocked me out. You say you love Tontong, yet you lay into her brother like that?”

Nie Huaishang said nothing. He slapped a nearby tree. With a crack, the tree fell. Ma Yunfei and Ma Qitong stared, stunned.

Nie Huaishang spoke calmly: “If it weren’t for Tontong, those slaps would’ve crushed your skull.”

Ma Yunfei stumbled backward several steps, hastily replying: “Understood. Understood.”

I’d better play it safe now—he could kill me right now. A wise man doesn’t fight when outmatched.

“Oh come on, we’re family now. Promise me you’ll get along from now on.”

Ma Qitong coaxed the two of them.

Hearing her plead, the two who had just been at each other’s throats now spoke warmly.

“Third brother, I apologize for earlier. When we meet Father tomorrow, I hope you’ll help me.”

“Brother-in-law, we’re family now. No need for formalities.”

The three arrived at Yuanshan Town in harmonious silence. Along the way, Ma Yunfei kept asking Nie Huaishang about his past:

“Brother-in-law, your skills are impressive. You were in the military, right? Why become an assassin?”

Nie Huaishang scratched his head, embarrassed: “Don’t bring it up. I lost my temper in the army and hit my instructor. After I left, I became an assassin. My codename is Xianmen Baijia.”

After hearing Nie Huaishang, Ma Yunfei frowned inwardly: “Xianmen Baijia? I’ve never heard that codename.”

Seeing Ma Yunfei frown, Nie Huaishang smiled and asked:

“What’s wrong, Third Brother? Feeling unwell?”

Ma Yunfei waved it off and countered: “Brother-in-law, you’re so skilled—why haven’t I heard of Xianmen Baijia?”

Nie Huaishang instantly understood:

“Ah, I operated mostly in the northeast until a year ago, when I came to the southwest.”

As they chatted half-heartedly in the car, upon reaching Yuanshan Town, Ma Yunfei warmly told Nie Huaishang: “Brother-in-law, stay here tonight. It’s not late. Tomorrow I’ll take you to meet Father.”

“Alright, I’ll follow your lead, Third Brother.”

After politely saying this, Nie Huaishang walked into the place Ma Yunfei had arranged.

Watching Nie Huaishang enter, Ma Yunfei turned grave and ordered his subordinate:

“Send someone to dig up everything on this guy. As detailed as possible.”

He didn’t know that before his men could investigate, the police had already forged Nie Huaishang’s records.

The Ma family’s intelligence network moved fast. Soon, Nie Huaishang’s dossier lay before Ma Yunfei.

After reading it, Ma Yunfei rubbed his bald head, troubled:

“It matches exactly. How do I test if he’s police? Maybe tomorrow, let Father check his background.”

Ma Shichang nearly fainted when he learned his daughter had brought home a stranger to be her husband.

But he had always doted on her, never letting her touch the drug trade, only hoping she’d live safely.

For his daughter’s sake, he agreed to meet this unknown young man.

Under the guidance of Ma Yunfei and Ma Qitong, Nie Huaishang met the drug lord Ma Shichang, whose every gesture exuded the aura of a formidable warlord.

Compared to his father, Ma Yunfei was still green. Ma Shichang exuded overwhelming pressure.

But Nie Huaishang had seen great men—his brother Nie Mingjue, commander of Langya Battalion, Blue Army commander—all held higher rank and greater presence than Ma Shichang.

Compared to them, Ma Shichang was merely a bandit.

Ma Shichang’s aura, though fierce, failed to stir even a ripple in Nie Huaishang.

Yet Ma Shichang saw the young man beside Ma Qitong remain calm and composed under his pressure.

Their conversation left everyone feeling as if bathed in spring breeze.

After their exchange, Ma Shichang remarked:

“Kid, you’re the finest young man I’ve ever met.”

Hearing this, Ma Qitong beamed:

“So, Father—you approve?”