Year 30 of Xiangwu!
Three Waters Wharf.
In the early morning, a thin mist shrouded the lake.
The minor official in black responsible for collecting fees yawned as he began work at the wharf.
Staring out over the lake, he suddenly blinked.
From within the mist, a small wreck of a boat was slowly approaching.
It looked ancient and dilapidated... even after countless patches and repairs, it was still constantly taking on water.
Finally...
Several dozen meters from the wharf, it sank outright...
Yet the boatman did not panic in the slightest. With a thrust of his pole, he leaped into the air like a great bird, lightly tapping the water twice with his toes before landing on the wharf.
"Is that... a martial arts master?"
"He can walk on water, even if only for a few steps... Could he be... a legendary... Transformation Force Grandmaster?!"
His face wreathed in smiles, the minor official prepared to behold the great master's august visage.
The next moment, his smile froze on his face.
This "great master" wore tattered clothes no better than a beggar's. His hair was matted, his face covered in thick whiskers, yet his eyes gleamed with life.
"What year is it tonight?"
Aaron stood with his hands clasped behind his back and let out a sigh, fully playing the part of an otherworldly master.
In truth, he had packed a razor among the supplies he purchased.
He had deliberately kept the thick beard so that, after so much time had passed, no one at the wharf would recognize him.
"Reporting to you, sir, this is Year 30 of Xiangwu!"
The minor official had thought it through clearly. Whether this unkempt master was mad or something else, he could take the official's life with ease. Of course he had to