Chen Mo drained the bowl of ginger soup in one gulp, handed the empty bowl back to the sailor from the kitchen, and only then returned to his room.
After spending all day yesterday looking at the river scenery, he was already sick of it. He had more important matters to attend to now.
The River Dragon's passenger cabin was small, with only six rooms in total, arranged along both sides of the deck.
Chen Mo had been assigned the room furthest to the right. Its window faced east, so he could see the sunrise in the morning, but at the moment, all that lay outside was the gray, murky river and the unbroken shadows of mountains lining both banks.
The room was roughly four or five square meters. It contained a single bed, a folding table fixed to the bulkhead, an iron cabinet, and a copper basin for washing one's face in the corner.
Chen Mo shut the door and slid the bolt into place from the inside.
He did not sit down immediately. Instead, he closed his eyes and sensed his surroundings.
In the pilothouse upstairs, Master Long and Tie Kun were speaking in low voices. The room next door was empty, while two rooms farther down were occupied by Shen Yunjin and Li Jinrong. There was no movement from them at the moment.
Everything was normal.
Chen Mo opened his eyes, flipped his right hand over, and linked it with his mind.
Eight Shadow Puppets silently emerged from his shadow.
Their black forms resembled clumps of solidified smoke—without substance, yet undeniably real.
Eight hollow eye sockets turned toward Chen Mo, as though awaiting orders.
"Go down." He spoke two quiet words and pointed at the floor.
The eight Shadow Puppets sank into the floor at the same