At eight the next morning, before the sky had fully brightened, gray mist shrouded the entire dock district.
By the time Yue Shan knocked on the door, Chen Mo had already packed and was ready to go.
His luggage was simple. Aside from a change of clothes, he had only a few Red Sun Blood Crystals and the roll of Ghost Skin wrapped in oilcloth.
He had handed over his weapons and pistol the night before. As for his uniform and token, Yue Shan had told him to keep them; he would need them to report in at Jin City.
"Let's go."
Yue Shan was concise. He gave Chen Mo a once-over, then handed him an envelope. "Go with Squad Leader Wang and his men. Take this morning's nine o'clock Pingjin Ferry back to Jin City. Your father had someone deliver this letter to you. Take care on the way."
"Understood, Captain Yue," Chen Mo replied.
At the dock, a sizable steam paddle-wheel ferry belched gray-white coal smoke and let out a deep, muffled whistle.
Three mottled white characters, Pingjin Ferry, were painted on its hull.
Several men in khaki uniforms were keeping order. Their leader was about forty, with a dark complexion and a Mauser pistol at his waist. He was Squad Leader Wang.
Yue Shan brought Chen Mo over and gave Squad Leader Wang a few brief instructions. Then he patted Chen Mo on the shoulder and turned to leave, striding off in a hurry. He clearly had other matters to handle.
"You're Chen Mo, right? Stick with us. Once we're on board, stay in second class and don't go wandering." Squad Leader Wang's tone was flat. He waved for Chen Mo to follow, all business.
After waiting aboard for half an hour, the ferry slowly pulled away