Splash.
A basin of cold water was thrown over Zhang Dabao's face, jolting him awake.
"Who...?"
The moment the word left his mouth, Zhang Dabao saw Liu Zhaoxue and her guards around him and instantly recalled what had happened earlier.
—His master One Finger's people had knocked him unconscious and brought him here.
Did that mean Master was connected to the people behind Li Sanyuan?
As Zhang Dabao thought about it, panic immediately seized his heart.
He wiped the water from his face and eyed Liu Zhaoxue, who stood at the front. "Who are you?"
He then looked at the ropes binding him and snorted. "Do you know who I am?"
It was Li Sanyuan's voice, calm and steady in tone.
Liu Zhaoxue had already put on her gauze hat. Her eyes gazed at him calmly through the thin veil, though suspicion stirred within her.
That earlier "Who?" had sounded a little higher and sharper, unlike the deep, rich voice he had now.
But after considering it carefully, she merely took it as fear from Li Sanyuan being suddenly brought here.
"Li Sanyuan, Patrolling Wind Envoy of the Jizhou Trading Company in Shuzhou."
Zhang Dabao's expression did not change. Raising his head, he said, "Since you know who I am, untie me at once."
Liu Zhaoxue said coldly that there was no hurry, then added, "Once we leave the Prefectural City, we will have plenty of time to chat."
Only then did Zhang Dabao realize that he was inside the cabin of a painted boat. His body rose and fell with the waves, and faint laughter and teasing could be heard outside.
He was not worried about his own safety.
Last night, Chen Yi had already told him not to panic no matter what happened. Shui Hetong would protect him.