You promised steampunk martial arts, but you've got an internal combustion engine in your chest

The northern part of Shanghai.

Inside the deep courtyard, a deathly still atmosphere prevailed. The servants walked on tiptoe, not daring to make a sound.

Music was playing in the bedroom.

"Ding-dong... Ding-dong..."

It was a steam cat, its front paws waving back and forth as it wound up, grooming itself with an ivory comb while playing soft music.

In the deepest part of the room, the bed curtains completely covered the large bed, and from the gaps in the curtains, the occasional cough of an old woman could be heard.

Zhou Erquan, the second-in-command of the Grand Canal Gang, was sitting in a grand chair at this moment.

He flipped through an ancient book in his hand, turning a page every now and then without looking up, seemingly completely absorbed in reading it.

In front of the steps of the large bed, Ding Yan, the third leader of the Canal Gang, was kneeling quietly on the ground.

He kept his head down, his expression calm, and his voice completely devoid of emotion.

"Big sister, I really didn't do this."

There was a moment of silence inside the bed curtains, followed by a long, soft sigh from the old woman.

"Third brother... I only have a few trustworthy and reliable maids around me. Huanhuan is my favorite. You're quite capable, managing to make her abandon me. Tell me honestly, what kind of future did you promise that girl?"

Ding Yan's expression remained calm, but his tone was extremely serious:

"Elder sister, I only just found out about Huanhuan's affair with Sinan, but I swear to the ancestral tablets of all generations that I really didn't do it."

"Si Nan... what a pity, such a good and handsome child."

The old woman behind the bed curtains gently turned over:

"Third brother, you're still young. You can have a few more children later. But because of a moment of personal resentment, you've sold out the future of our canal gang... This is inappropriate, extremely inappropriate."

Ding Yan lowered his head even further, his forehead almost touching the floor tiles:

"If you don't believe me, elder sister, even if I had a hundred mouths, I really couldn't do anything. If all else fails... just beat me to death right here in this room, and I won't complain at all."

"Third brother, what are you saying?"

The old woman sighed and said, "I was just asking you a few casual questions, but before I even said anything, it's already clear that you did it."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Erquan slightly raised his eyelids, but his gaze only lingered on Ding Yan for a moment before he looked away and continued to bury himself in his book.

Ding Yan's face remained unchanged, showing not a trace of panic, and he continued:

"Big sister, I, Ding Yan, am not a good person, but I am definitely not a stupid person."

"Right now, our Shanghai Canal Gang is going through a turbulent time, and everyone is on edge. Even if I were crazy, I would never do such a despicable thing as betraying my family. Not to mention, those Wugendu people are all ambitious and ruthless. I, Ding Yan, would never do anything like that."

The old woman sighed again.

"Sigh... Second brother, you've been pretending to be deaf and dumb for ages. Tell me, do you believe him?"

Having been called out, Zhou Erquan slowly closed his book.

He glanced calmly at Ding Yan, a refined smile on his face, and spoke softly:

"My third brother has just lost his beloved son. It's only natural that a parent would be heartbroken and make some wrong decisions when such a tragedy befalls anyone."

Upon hearing Zhou Erquan's words, Ding Yan, who was kneeling on the ground, chuckled softly.

As he laughed, two tears suddenly streamed down his face. He raised his sleeve to wipe away the tears, and looked at Zhou Erquan with red eyes:

"Second Brother, your words are too hurtful. Si Nan is gone, and you're bullying me like this? But... did you do this yourself? You're using this as an excuse to try and destroy me. What exactly are you trying to do?"

Zhou Erquan gently shook his head:

"Third brother, you're wrong about that. Don't you know how much Baihuatang has bet on Baili Jing? Do you think I would risk Baihuatang's future and Hua Gongfeng's life just to harm you? Your second brother may not be a good person, but he's certainly not a fool either."

The old woman coughed heavily a few times, her voice sounding even more exhausted, interrupting the argument between the two heads of the household:

"Alright... stop arguing. Shanghai is such a small place. We see each other all the time. If brothers have some friction or clashes, like stepping on each other's feet or stealing meat, it's nothing serious."

"But we're brothers, and there's nothing we can't say behind closed doors. If we really do it, we'll admit it. The Grand Canal Gang won't collapse."

Ding Yan kowtowed again: "Elder sister, I really didn't do this."

Zhou Erquan placed his book on his lap and interjected quietly, "Elder sister, could it be that something's wrong with the Chaosheng Association?"

The old woman gasped for breath several times, and after a long while, her aged voice slowly drifted out:

"We are not qualified to interfere in the affairs of the Chaosheng Society, but Huanhuan is still a girl of our Cao Gang. Now that the Chaosheng Society has lost so many elite guards to protect our people, our Cao Gang has to give them an explanation."

"I'm really old; I don't even have the strength to say a few words anymore. As for how to get to the bottom of this matter, you two as the heads of the household should decide for yourselves..."

The sounds from behind the bed curtains gradually subsided.

"Let's go, all of you, I need to rest."

Complete silence fell behind the bed curtains, with only the steam-powered copper cat still making its usual "ding-dong" noise in the bedroom.

Zhou Erquan and Ding Yan waited for a moment, then stood up together, bowed slightly to the large bed, and then left the room side by side.

Outside the courtyard gate, the sunlight was so bright that it was hard to open one's eyes.

Ding Yan, whose face was covered in tears just a second ago, instantly regained his usual kind smile.

He straightened his cuffs and turned to look at Zhou Erquan:

"Second Brother, regarding the instructions Eldest Sister just mentioned... what do you think I should do to fulfill them?"

Zhou Erquan stood with his hands behind his back, his tone indifferent:

"Right now everyone is convinced that you leaked the information, so the explanation... naturally has to come from you, Third Master Ding."

Upon hearing this, Ding Yan laughed instead:

"Alright, with your words today, Second Brother, I feel more at ease."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Erquan nodded, ceasing the conversation, and instead took out a gold-embossed invitation from his sleeve and handed it over.

"Bai Lijing has officially stepped into the threshold of steam cultivation. Tonight, I, Bai Huatang, will host a dinner at Jiangshan Fengyulou. Firstly, to congratulate Bai Lijing; secondly, I also want to act as a peacemaker and thoroughly discuss the misunderstandings and conflicts between you and him."

Ding Yan took the invitation and looked it over in his hand:

"Second Brother, why the rush? Tonight... you want me to lay out my confession?"

Zhou Erquan nodded slightly:

"Bai Lijing has just entered the first stage of the Forging Furnace Realm, and this morning he brutally defeated Wu Yan'an of Wugen Ferry. You and I both know very well what kind of ability Wu Yan'an has. If you can't give me this explanation, then I really won't be able to protect you."

Ding Yan remained silent for a moment without saying anything.

But soon, he smiled again and cupped his hands in a respectful gesture towards Zhou Erquan:

"Hahaha! Excellent! With such a brilliant general joining us, it seems our Shanghai shipping gang is destined for great prosperity! Second Brother, rest assured, I will definitely be there on time for tonight's banquet!"