Night had fallen. Beneath the moonlight's gauzy veil, the harbor in Yingtian Prefecture seemed especially tranquil. Only the occasional sounds of some fisherman washing clothes in the distance, or laughing and cursing over drinks, broke the silence.
"..."
At that moment, Mount Hua's leader, the "Gentleman Sword" Yue Buqun, stood proudly at the bow. His blue robe fluttered lightly in the night breeze. There was less scheming in his expression than usual, and more composure and calm.
He was the only one aboard the ship. He had already told all the Mount Hua disciples to disembark and help the boatmen purchase supplies.
After all, it was nighttime. Many shops were closed, and the porters and laborers who worked at the docks were nowhere to be seen. So even if the captain had a way to procure supplies, he still needed people to carry them.
Of course, whether there was some other real reason he had insisted on sending everyone away was something only Yue Buqun himself knew.
No one knew how much time passed...
"!!"
Just then, before Yue Buqun could continue admiring the night scenery, he suddenly sensed something.
When he slowly turned around, he saw an unexpected visitor approaching across the river beneath Yingtian Prefecture's night sky, standing aboard a small skiff.
And that visitor was none other than the West Depot's governor, Yu Huatian!
Yue Buqun knew of him because he had received a letter requesting a meeting before arriving in Yingtian Prefecture. That was why he had just deliberately sent everyone away and arranged this encounter.
"..."
Yu Huatian wasn't wearing a luxurious python robe. He wore only a somewhat expensive silk gown, along with a three-peaked hat and black boots.
With his hands clasped behind his back and his expression cold, betraying neither joy nor