Chen Jianghe tucked the contract, still fragrant with fresh ink, into his clothes and headed back to Xingyi Martial Arts Hall with a spring in his step.
Ten taels in monthly wages, twenty jin of meat, four packets of Blood Qi Powder, and a cut of the escort fees from future jobs.
With all that, his mother wouldn't have to stay in the woodshed much longer. At last, he could make good on his plan to rent a little place near the martial arts hall.
The sun had dipped toward the west, casting the peeling wooden gate of the hall's long shadow.
He pushed open the gate and entered the courtyard, his gaze instinctively turning first toward the kitchen. At this hour, his mother, Lin, was usually busy preparing supper by the stove.
But today, the kitchen doorway stood empty, without even a wisp of smoke.
Chen Jianghe's heart sank. He hurried toward the woodshed in the back courtyard.
The door was ajar, and the inside was dim.
"Mother!"
There was no answer.
Chen Jianghe's heart tightened. He turned and hurried back to the front courtyard.
Several fellow disciples were resting beneath the veranda. Seeing him rush in, one looked up and greeted him. "Jianghe, you're back?"
"Senior Brother Zhao, have you seen my mother?" Chen Jianghe stopped.
Senior Brother Zhao scratched his head. "Aunt Lin? I saw her hanging laundry at noon, but I haven't noticed her since."
Chen Jianghe nodded, then turned to He Shouzhuo, who was in the corner by the stone locks, head down as he polished a pair of boxing gloves. "Senior Brother He, have you seen my mother?"
He Shouzhuo looked up. Seeing him back, he stopped what he was doing. "Aunt Lin? She left about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea ago."
"She left?" Chen Jianghe's heart skipped. "Where did she go?"
"A woman came looking for her. She said she was from Loach Bay, and lived next door to your family." He Shouzhuo recalled, "Her surname was Wang. She was in her forties, dark and thin, and spoke in a frantic rush. She said there'd been trouble with your family's boat and water was leaking in badly, so she'd come to hurry your mother home to deal with it. Aunt Lin panicked as soon as she heard and followed the woman without even taking off her apron."
Chen Jianghe furrowed his brow.
Aunt Wang? There was indeed someone by that name living next door, but the two families rarely interacted. They were barely more than nodding acquaintances.
The rickety boats of Loach Bay were all patched up time and again. If one really sprang a leak, it was common for the neighbors to lend a hand. Why go all the way to the martial arts hall to fetch someone?
It didn't make sense.
"Thank you for telling me, Senior Brother." Chen Jianghe clasped his hands in a salute, then hurried toward the gate.
"Jianghe," He Shouzhuo called after him, rising to his feet. "That woman's eyes kept darting about, and she didn't seem to dare look at me while she spoke. Something felt off. I wanted to stop her, but Aunt Lin was in such a hurry that I couldn't bring myself to hold her back."
Chen Jianghe halted and looked back at He Shouzhuo. "I understand, Senior Brother. If my mother comes back first, please keep an eye on her for a while."
"Go on."
The streets of the Outer City gradually fell quiet in the evening gloom. Vendors began packing up their stalls, and here and there, a few lights flickered to life.
Chen Jianghe ran like the wind, turning things over rapidly in his mind.
There were two ways from the martial arts hall to Loach Bay:
One was the main road along the river. It was flatter, but a longer route. The other was a shortcut through the alleys. Narrow and winding, it was much quicker.
If Aunt Wang had really been in a hurry to take his mother home to deal with a "leaky boat," she should have taken the main road. It was smoother, and she could even have hired a donkey cart. But if she had another motive...
He pivoted and darted into the familiar narrow alley.
He had barely passed through two alleys when voices came from the fork ahead.
Chen Jianghe stopped short, slipped behind a pile of broken bamboo baskets in the corner, and held his breath to listen.
"...Sister Lin, don't fret. A leaky boat is no big deal. It can be patched up." It was Aunt Wang's voice, soothing her with practiced warmth. "It's just that the materials and labor have to be paid for up front. I happen to know an old craftsman who's good at his trade and fair with his prices. Why don't we go sit at my place first? When the craftsman arrives, we can go back together."
Lin's voice was full of worry. "Aunt Wang, how can I trouble you again? I still have some copper coins on me. If it isn't enough, I can borrow the rest for now. I'll pay the craftsman's wages later, I promise..."
"Oh, we're neighbors. What's there to fuss over?" Aunt Wang laughed. "I just feel sorry for you, raising your child alone. Besides, what a coincidence—today I happened to meet this kind soul from the Sun Moon Cult..."
Another voice cut in. It belonged to a man, warm in tone yet somehow cloying. "Madam, a pleasure to meet you. My Sun Moon Cult has made it our mission to aid the world and save lives. Seeing people suffer fills us with sorrow. I heard your family was struggling, with a leaky boat and a dilapidated home. This is the perfect time to pray for the Holy Lord's blessing and protection from calamity. Why not come with me to the altar and offer a little sincerity? The Holy Lord will surely grant you his grace and keep your family safe and prosperous. From then on, you'll be free of illness and disaster."
Chen Jianghe's heart tightened as he listened from behind the wall.
He cautiously leaned forward and peered through a gap between the bamboo baskets—
Three people were standing at the alley entrance, talking.
His mother, Lin, stood with her head bowed, nervously rubbing the hem of her clothes between her hands. Her face was stricken with unease.
Aunt Wang stood beside her, one hand hovering at Lin's arm as if to support her. A smile was plastered across her face, but she kept glancing at the man next to her.
He wore a grayish-white robe embroidered at the hem with sun and moon motifs. He looked to be around thirty, with a pale, clean-cut face. He rolled prayer beads in his hand, a faint smile playing at the corners of his mouth.
"I... I don't understand any of this." Lin shrank back a little. "Jianghe will be back soon. He's still waiting for me at the martial arts hall..."
"Oh, Sister Lin, this is a rare opportunity!" Aunt Wang quickly chimed in, lowering her voice. "You don't know how many people in the Outer City are trying to join the Sun Moon Cult and can't find a way in! Master Zhang is a member of the cult. He happened to be giving alms in Loach Bay today, and when he heard about your troubles, he came along with me to see you. This is the Holy Lord showing you mercy!"
Master Zhang rolled his prayer beads, his smile deepening. "Indeed. From your face, I can tell you're burdened by worry. Do you have a child who practices martial arts?"
Lin abruptly looked up, panic flashing in her eyes.
Master Zhang nodded knowingly and sighed. "The martial path is perilous, and it can injure both others and oneself. Are you often worried that your child will fight outside and lose his life? The holy teachings of my cult can ward off calamities and protect your loved ones. Offer a little in worship and bow with a sincere heart, and the Holy Lord will grant you his protection. Even martial artists can have their qi and blood flow freely and make rapid progress with the Holy Lord's blessing."
Aunt Wang chimed in from the side. "That's right, Sister Lin! I hear it costs a fortune for Jianghe to practice at the martial arts hall. And you must be worried sick every day! Wouldn't life be much more peaceful if you joined the holy cult and had someone to rely on? You'd have so much less to worry about, wouldn't you?"
Just then, Chen Jianghe stepped out from behind the wall.
"Mother."
His voice wasn't loud, but it startled all three of them.
Lin looked up and saw her son. Some of the panic left her eyes, but it was replaced by even greater unease. "Jianghe? W-what are you doing here?"
Chen Jianghe went to his mother's side and discreetly drew her out from under Aunt Wang's arm, shielding her behind him. Only then did he turn toward the other two.
Aunt Wang plastered on a smile. "Oh, Jianghe, you're here! Just in time. There's trouble with your family's boat, and your mother and I were just discussing it!"
Master Zhang smiled faintly and saluted Chen Jianghe with clasped hands. "Young brother, are you a prized disciple of Xingyi Martial Arts Hall? My name is Zhang Mingyuan, and I'm a member of the Sun Moon Cult. I happened to come across your mother in need today, so I came to help."
He turned toward Lin, softening his voice. "Mother, the boat's fine. I just came from Loach Bay and saw it with my own eyes. It's in good shape. Someone must have mistaken it for another boat, or... deliberately passed along false information."
He spoke the last few words slowly, his gaze sweeping over Aunt Wang.
Aunt Wang's expression changed, and she gave a dry laugh. "W-what? How could I have mistaken it? I clearly saw..."
"Aunt Wang." Chen Jianghe fixed her with a sharp gaze. "If my family's boat were really leaking, you should have gone to a boatwright or asked the neighbors to help. Why come all the way to the martial arts hall to get my mother? What sense is there in passing right by the nearest people?"
Aunt Wang was left speechless. She opened her mouth, but no words came out.
Zhang Mingyuan, however, still wore a smile. He stepped forward half a pace. "Young brother, don't misunderstand. Aunt Wang meant well. She was afraid your mother would worry, so she came to find her herself. As for the leak, perhaps she really did mistake the boat. But every meeting is fate. I can see your qi and blood are vigorous. You must be a martial artist. Have you found your cultivation progressing slowly? My cult has a secret Qi Nourishing Method that can help martial artists clear their meridians and accelerate the circulation of qi and blood..."
Chen Jianghe cut him off. "No need."
He turned to Lin, his voice softening. "Mother, let's go back to the martial arts hall. The boat's fine."
Zhang Mingyuan's smile stiffened, then soon returned to normal. He took a wooden token from inside his robe and offered it to Lin. "Madam, this is a token of my cult. It seems the time isn't right today, so I won't press you. If you ever need anything, you can bring this token to the Sun Moon Altar in the south of the city and ask for me. The Holy Lord is merciful and welcomes all who seek help."
Chen Jianghe raised a hand to block the token and looked Zhang Mingyuan straight in the eye. "I appreciate your kindness, Master Zhang. We can handle our own affairs. There's no need for outsiders to worry about them."
With that, he took Lin's hand and turned to leave.
Aunt Wang called after them anxiously. "Hey! Sister Lin, you..."
Chen Jianghe glanced back at her.
His fierce stare lodged the rest of her words in her throat, where they stayed.
Mother and son left the alley and turned onto the main street. The lights were brightening, and the bustle of voices grew louder.
"Jianghe..." Lin clutched her son's sleeve, her voice trembling. "Those people... Could it be..."
"Mother, it's all right now." Chen Jianghe turned to her, his voice soft. "Go back to the martial arts hall first. Senior Brother He is there. Those gangs and cults around the hall won't dare cause trouble."
Lin's eyes reddened. "It's all my fault. I shouldn't have believed Aunt Wang..."
"You did nothing wrong." Chen Jianghe held his mother's hand. "There are too many tricks in this world, and they're impossible to guard against. I'm the one who hasn't been capable enough, leaving you to worry about things like this."
He paused, then spoke with conviction. "But it won't be much longer. I've taken a job with an escort agency, and the monthly pay is generous. I'll save up enough money soon, and we'll rent a place near the martial arts hall. Then we'll have a home of our own on shore. We won't have to go back to the boat again."
Lin's tears fell, and she nodded emphatically. "I believe you... I'll go back now and won't wander off again."
"Mm." Chen Jianghe let go of her hand. "Take the main road. Don't use the shortcut. Third Senior Brother helped me find this job, and he's expecting me for dinner tonight. I'm nearly late, so I'll go ahead."
With that, he turned and headed in the opposite direction.