Taking the Job

"You're saying someone took the raft job?"

A burly man with a dark complexion sat in a grand armchair, dressed in a brocade robe, listening to his subordinate's report.

"Yes! They're packing the cargo over at Guangfalong."

"Which fool's courting death?"

"I don't know him. He seems to be from out of town."

"Good! Let's go take a look!"

By the Drum Tower lay a bustling commercial district.

The workers at Guangfalong were packing the cargo and loading it onto a large cart. On the cart were also the parts for a large raft made from thirty Hun-tuo hides. They planned to assemble it by the Yellow River. This was the cargo raft they'd prepared for Chen Wu.

Chen Wu found the situation rather amusing. Shopkeeper Qin had been desperate enough to try anything, but how would he react if he knew that this so-called raftman had barely ever rowed a boat?

Shopkeeper Qin had no idea what Chen Wu was thinking. He was simply holding someone's hand and thanking him profusely.

"Thank you, thank you so much. Without you, I wouldn't have been able to find this raft."

"There's no need to thank me." With his left hand held by Shopkeeper Qin, the man shook the account book in his right. "When we chased down your debt, we were trying to recoup our losses, not make your life difficult. We want you to sell your cargo and pay us back, too."

"But the Prefecture Governor's Son gave the order, so this is all we can do. As for finding a raftman, you'll have to handle that yourself."

Just then, a commotion erupted at the street corner. A group of men came charging toward Guangfalong, full of menace. Seeing them, the man with the account book hurriedly pulled his hand away from Shopkeeper Qin's.

"I'll be going!"

Most of the men surging over wore short jackets and carried clubs. They surrounded the cart, looking ready for a fight.

"Which fool's courting death? Step forward!"

Wow, did the Prefecture Governor's Son moonlight as a mob boss?

"Did the Prefecture Governor's Son send you?" Chen Wu asked at once.

"What nonsense!" the leader retorted. "We're all raftmen from Yinchuan Prefecture. You're an outsider who hasn't paid his respects to the local guild. How dare you come here and take a job?"

Damn, I'd run into a trade guild!

But Chen Wu knew they weren't there because he'd stolen their livelihood.

He'd still underestimated the Prefecture Governor's Son. The man even knew how to stir up others to do his dirty work.

"You lot were the ones who didn't dare take the job. How can you blame me? If I hadn't taken it, would you have?" Chen Wu shot back.

"Whoever among you dares to step forward and agree to make this trip, I'll withdraw on the spot! I'll apologize right now!"

At his words, the men who'd come in looking for a fight fell silent and exchanged glances.

Seeing things go awry, their leader roared, "You're an outsider! You think you can just do whatever you want?"

"Rules are rules. You didn't pay your respects to the local guild and took the job on your own. That makes you wrong! If everyone found excuses to ignore the rules, you take a bite, I take a bite, and in the end, none of us would have anything to eat."

The man spoke with such righteous indignation, his mouth full of rules and reason, that anyone who didn't know better might have thought him a gentleman.

Chen Wu laughed in anger. "Fine. Then let me teach you a thing or two about rules!"

When the man saw Chen Wu step forward, his eyes lit up. "Beat him!"

Across the street, someone in a teahouse shook his head as he watched.

Chen Wu charged into them like a tiger among sheep, knocking a man down with each casual blow. Even when a few clubs struck him, they seemed to have no effect.

After he'd taken down three men, the rest lost their nerve and scattered like birds and beasts.

"He can fight. No wonder he dared take the job." The man shaking his head was the dark-faced man in the brocade robe.

"Even a dragon has to coil up here in Yinchuan Prefecture, and even a tiger has to lie low," said another man with a sallow face. "Senior Brother, I'll go teach him a lesson later. He dared mess with a job I'd set my sights on. I'll make sure he learns what he's in for."

It turned out that this sallow-faced man was the Prefecture Governor's third son.

"Not so fast!" the dark-faced man said. "I got word yesterday that Yang Yuchun and Li Changgeng are dead. They were assassinated in broad daylight in Jincheng Prefecture."

"What?"

"First Qiao Weisheng, now Yang Yuchun and Li Changgeng. So many important figures have died. The people above are going to be thrown into an uproar."

"Don't cause trouble at a time like this."

"What's there to be afraid of?"

"Your senior brother is from the School of Heavenly Principle, too!" The dark-faced man couldn't help tapping the Prefecture Governor's Son on the head. "Your father's appointment as prefect was arranged behind the scenes by the School of Heavenly Principle, too."

"You can run wild because someone is shielding you from the storm. If you cause trouble now, they'll be eager for an excuse to attack. Once you're put on the scales, no one will be able to protect you."

"You're right, Senior Brother." The Prefecture Governor's Son, nicknamed Little Sha Star, covered his head and lowered his eyes meekly.

That light tap had left his head throbbing as if it were splitting open.

"I'm leaving Yinchuan Prefecture. Take care of yourself."

Chen Wu was puzzled. He'd thought that once he'd driven off those raftmen, the mastermind would show himself in person.

The Prefecture Governor's third son didn't sound like the sort to let things go. Chen Wu couldn't believe he would have the patience to hold back.

But even after all the cargo had been loaded onto the raft, Chen Wu still hadn't seen the man behind it all.

Strange indeed!

Though doubts filled his mind, the raft was about to set off, so Chen Wu had no choice but to keep his questions to himself.

Shopkeeper Qin was overjoyed. He'd prepared a pile of offerings and incense tables, and held a lively river-worship ceremony, praying for a safe journey.

"Cast off!"

Chen Wu pushed off from the bank with a wooden pole, and the raft entered the Yellow River, drifting downstream.

Besides the cargo, there were Chen Wu, Shopkeeper Qin, and two workers aboard the raft.

The two workers seemed never to have ridden a raft before. They were trembling with fear, worried it might suddenly capsize.

Seeing them, Chen Wu reassured them. "Don't be afraid. This raft is steady as can be."

Just then, a huge wave in the Yellow River made the raft pitch and roll. Chen Wu's words instantly lost their power to reassure.

Shopkeeper Qin had no time to pay attention to the two workers. He kept his eyes fixed on his cargo, his face tense.

Chen Wu found it dull, too, so he released his Concentrated Spirit Realm awareness to watch for hidden reefs while admiring the scenery on both banks.

Several hours later.

A trace of unease crept into Chen Wu's heart.

Something was wrong!

It wasn't Shopkeeper Qin or anyone else on the raft. It was someone on the bank.

On the road running along the Yellow River, a dark-faced rider followed the raft at an unhurried pace, mounted on a Dark Cloud Steed.

The Dark Cloud Steed was magnificent, its coat shining black. No matter how fast or slow the raft went, it followed at a distance without ever falling behind.

Clearly, the rider was following the raft.

But he merely followed, making no other move. Chen Wu couldn't tell what he intended.

As night fell, Chen Wu found a place to pull in to shore.

Shopkeeper Qin and the others unloaded the cargo, lit a campfire, and roasted some dry rations, planning to eat a little before resting.

"Brother, aren't you going to have a bite?" Shopkeeper Qin offered him some food.

With his back to the campfire, Chen Wu said nothing. He stared fixedly ahead. In the deep darkness, something seemed to have seized all his attention.