"So Mr. Brando only wanted to borrow a route through Jiufeng to return to Vonder," Mr. Liu said in a daze. "In that case, there's actually no need to go to Jiufeng. Yugang Port also has merchant fleets traveling to Eluin, Rubik, and other places."
"Where exactly is Yugang Port?"
"In Jade Hill. Rosalin has ships heading there. The port lies at the northern end of Wagtail Strait, near the Sea of Dim Light. It's ruled by a group of Jiufeng people living abroad. Every year, in March and April, as well as September and October, large fleets bound for Rubik, Madara, and Eluin gather there with the ocean currents."
"Then is that also Ghost Chariot's territory?"
Mr. Liu paused slightly. He raised his head and looked at the young man before him with his only remaining eye, only to see the other man wearing a confident expression. As he pondered the meaning behind those words, he answered quietly, "Mr. Brando, Ghost Chariot's influence extends far beyond Jiufeng. They have forces in Jade Hill as well, though they can't completely dominate the place. It's complicated there—the headquarters of the Pious Heart and Stone Dragon schools. The Ruby Guards of the Scorching Sun Temple protect the port, so Ghost Chariot's people only dare operate in secret. Still, their informants should be spread throughout every walk of life in the city."
"Then, since Jade Hill is ruled by the Pious Heart and Stone Dragon schools, its ties with Jiufeng should be much closer than those of Swallow Plain, right?"
Mr. Liu nodded. "Jade Hill is actually Jiufeng's tacit sphere of influence in Wagtail Strait. It isn't connected to Jiufeng only by sea. In fact, there's also a land trade route through the Deepstone Mountains. In March, Second Miss and I reached Yugang