The boat traveled for another twenty minutes or so before the pier came into view.
Calling it a pier was generous. It was really just a few crooked concrete piles driven into the water, with several wooden planks laid across them. The gaps between the planks were wide enough to fit a fist through.
A muddy road stretched out from the pier, leading toward several drab gray-tiled houses on shore.
One of them had a wooden sign hanging above its entrance. Black characters on a white background, with most of the paint already peeled away; one could just barely make out the words: "Old Zhou Incense and Candles."
Master Long personally took the helm and steadily brought the River Dragon alongside those crooked concrete piles.
A sailor jumped down and tied the boat to the sturdiest-looking pile with a mooring rope. He gave it two hard tugs. The pile swayed, but did not topple.
"We'll stop here."
Master Long shut off the engine and stepped out of the wheelhouse. "Master Chen, come with me."
Li Jinrong still did not look well, but the moment he heard they were going ashore, he insisted on coming along.
He had been cooped up on the boat all day, and his bones were practically falling apart. Being able to set foot on solid ground now was exactly what he wanted.
Shen Yunjin supported him as they emerged from the cabin.
The five of them jumped onto the pier.
Master Long led the way, with Tie Kun following behind him, his left hand unconsciously resting on the holster at his waist.
Li Jinrong walked in the middle, Shen Yunjin linked through his arm.
Chen Mo brought up the rear, his horizontal saber tucked at his waist, his steps unhurried.
The muddy road was narrow, barely