Inside a tea house on the top deck of the treasure ship.
From a window-side seat, one could clearly see the scene on the distant viewing platform.
"Who is that Black-Clothed Woman?"
the lean man said softly.
As it was early morning, there were not many guests in the tea house.
Aside from the lean man, the middle-aged Tu Yong in battle robes, and the purple-clad youth Ye Boheng, there were only the tea house owner, a servant, and three scattered guests.
"That woman boarded yesterday. Her aura is obscure—she must have concealed it with some secret treasure. Four people came aboard with her, but since boarding the treasure ship, those four have remained in their rooms and have never shown themselves."
Tu Yong glanced at the others in the tea house and transmitted his voice to the lean man and Ye Boheng.
Ye Boheng's eyelids twitched, but he said nothing.
The lean man frowned. "That blue-robed youth boarded three days ago, just like us, while this Black-Clothed Woman boarded today. Yet they seem to have known each other for a long time."
Tu Yong nodded. "I now dare conclude that there is something suspicious about both that man and woman. They may even be in league with each other."
A strange look flickered across Ye Boheng's face. He seemed to want to say something, yet held back.
"Let's hope they aren't here for us,"
the lean man murmured.
At this point, Ye Boheng could no longer hold back. "Father, why... why must we take that treasure back to Heavenly Cliff City? Our branch is merely a branch of the Ghost Snake Race. We separated from the main branch long ago."
"Now that the main branch has suffered a great upheaval and finds itself in dire straits, the clansmen of