Betrothal Gifts

Could Zhang Chi get his hands on treasure fish?

Liu Changle was immediately tempted.

To martial artists, treasure fish were no less valuable than miraculous pills. He was about to agree on the spot.

"I heard fishing in the depths of the Hun River isn't that simple. We only want to practice our fists in peace."

Practice their fists in peace? What could they ever achieve by just practicing their fists?

Seeing how shortsighted Wei Luo was, Bighead frowned.

Out of consideration for their recent friendship, Wei Luo gave him one last warning.

"Bighead, Zhang Chi's money might not be so easy to earn. Be careful not to lose your life over it."

But Bighead could no longer hear a word Wei Luo said. He merely waved a hand and turned to leave.

"Wei Luo, I've seen Bighead drinking Bone-Strengthening Soup quite often lately. Looks like he earned the money through this route. A few taels of silver each trip is no small sum—why didn't you agree?"

Once Bighead had left, Liu Changle immediately asked.

Wei Luo said nothing more, only shaking his head lightly.

"If money were that easy to earn, would it still be our turn?"

"You mean Bighead was lying?"

Liu Changle looked baffled, but Wei Luo did not explain further.

He had already used the Great Thousand Revelation to run a deduction.

The Great Thousand Revelation seemed to take different amounts of time to deduce other people, depending on their cultivation level.

Deducing Zhang Chi took a full month, but deducing Bighead was much faster.

[Deduction: following Bighead into the depths of the Hun River to fish]

[Time required: three breaths]

[The Hun River's dangerous waters hold both opportunities and accidents. There is a thirty percent chance of dying suddenly.]

The moment he saw that thirty percent chance of dying suddenly, Wei Luo knew this was no simple matter.

Though Zhao Xiu's side did not earn much, it was still better than dying in the river.

Meanwhile, Zhang Chi and the others were waiting for Bighead.

"Well? Are they coming or not?" Zhang Chi asked.

Bighead shook his head. "None of them are coming. They even said Brother Chi's money isn't easy to earn."

"They probably heard we were going into dangerous waters and got scared stiff right away. Not a scrap of courage in them," Luo Sanhu said.

Several men who had just become crew members stood beside him.

Shen Wu had the Sun Family's Bone-Strengthening Soup to support him, but these people had nothing at all.

Bighead had also been drinking Bone-Strengthening Soup frequently lately. They had seen it with their own eyes and had long decided this path was viable.

So when Zhang Chi approached them, they had agreed with barely any hesitation.

"They can't even seize an opportunity like this to make money. Looks like they'll be mediocre nobodies for the rest of their lives."

Only after adding that did Luo Sanhu turn to Zhang Chi.

"Brother Chi, when are we leaving? The sooner, the better."

Zhang Chi smiled. "Don't worry. Everything is ready this time. We can set off within the next couple of days."

As the sun set, Yellow Mud Alley.

It was just time to get off work, and the neighbors were chatting outside their doors.

"Little Luo is back! Tsk, tsk, it's only been a few days, and you've grown so tall and sturdy."

"Looks like the Sun Family's food is really good. Little Luo has made something of himself."

"Little Luo, do you want a wife? If you do, just say the word. My girl just turned sixteen, and she'd be a perfect match for you..."

Before he had even reached Yellow Mud Alley, neighbors were already greeting Wei Luo warmly.

The news that he had become a crew member for the Sun Family had long spread throughout the area around Yellow Mud Alley.

With a monthly wage of half a tael of silver, Wei Luo had already begun to look like one of the dragons and phoenixes among men in the neighbors' eyes.

Then someone else said, "What do you all know? What does half a tael of silver amount to? The most important thing about joining the Sun Family is learning martial arts. Who knows, maybe Wei Luo will become a martial master someday!"

At those words, the neighbors regarded Wei Luo even more highly. Those with daughters were already planning to find matchmakers.

Wei Luo did not put on airs and greeted the neighbors one by one.

But when he reached the entrance to Yellow Mud Alley, a hoarse cry of grief drifted over.

"Yuanyuan... where are you... Grandpa didn't keep watch over you... when will you come home..."

Wei Luo looked up. Uncle Cao, who was always squatting at the entrance of the alley, was now disheveled and half-reclining against the corner of a wall.

Confused, Wei Luo pulled aside a neighbor to ask.

"Ah... it happened a few days ago. Uncle Cao's granddaughter was playing at the entrance of the alley. It was perfectly ordinary, but in the blink of an eye, she was gone. Uncle Cao has been like this ever since."

Before the neighbor even spoke, he sighed. Uncle Cao's son had been conscripted for hard labor two years ago and had yet to return, while his daughter-in-law had died of illness.

Uncle Cao had only his granddaughter left to pin his hopes on. Now that she was gone, he had begun to lose his mind.

In times like these, going missing was no different from dying.

The neighbor looked around, then lowered his voice.

"I heard someone saw the Fish-Dragon Gang do it. It wasn't just Old Cao's family—several families in the neighboring ward have lost children too."

After saying that, the neighbor added, "Don't go spreading this around. Be careful the Fish-Dragon Gang comes knocking. Last time someone said a few extra words, the Fish-Dragon Gang beat him half to death."

Wei Luo's brows had already drawn together. This was actually connected to the Fish-Dragon Gang. He had no idea why they were abducting so many children.

[Deduction: missing children]

[Time required: one month]

One month?

Wei Luo's gaze sharpened. When he had deduced others before, even someone stronger than himself like Zhao Xiu had only taken a few days.

Why would deducing a group of ordinary children take so long?

Something was wrong!

Just as Wei Luo was thinking this, a burst of festive music drew nearer and nearer.

Suonas led the way, while flutes, brass gongs, and drums rang out.

Vermilion chests covered with red cloth were carried along, and a matchmaker dressed in red walked at the very front.

Before long, word spread that someone was delivering betrothal gifts.

The street immediately became lively. No one knew which wealthy family was preparing to marry.

The few streets around Yellow Mud Alley were home to poor folk. When they married, they merely asked elders from both families to bear witness.

Seeing such a proper delivery of betrothal gifts, the neighbors were all curious. Which family's daughter was so lucky?

Wei Luo also stopped to take a look.

The matchmaker led the musicians into Yellow Mud Alley. Just as everyone was guessing whose home she was headed for, she stopped at Wei Luo's door.

Then, right before Wei Luo's eyes, the matchmaker knocked on his courtyard gate.

"Sister Zhao, someone has taken a fancy to you. Boundless wealth awaits you from now on!"

Watching this theatrical scene unfold before him, Wei Luo's brows nearly twisted into question marks.

He immediately hurried home. When he stepped through the gate, he saw his mother standing there with a bewildered expression.

Seeing Wei Luo return, Zhao Clan even asked him what was going on.

The matchmaker, meanwhile, went right on directing people to carry the betrothal chests into the courtyard, then began chanting the list of gifts.

"Six taels and six mace of silver, two bolts of silk, a set of jade bracelets and jade hairpins..."

"Did you come to the wrong place?"

Wei Luo grabbed the matchmaker and questioned her directly. She froze for a moment before saying, "No, I didn't. Widow Zhao of Yellow Mud Alley—I asked around. Is there another widow surnamed Zhao in Yellow Mud Alley?"

After speaking, the matchmaker gave Zhao Clan another careful look, and a trace of envy flashed through her eyes.

Though Wei Luo's mother was thirty-four and usually wore filthy hemp clothes, her face was almost free of wrinkles. Her features were well-proportioned, and her entire bearing was delicate.

"Tsk, that face, that figure—no wonder even Hall Master Li of the Fish-Dragon Gang has been thinking about you. What fisher girl along the river could compare?"

Hearing Li Dadao's name, Zhao Clan was greatly alarmed and shook her head again and again.

"No, no. I've never had any intention of remarrying, and I certainly won't marry a man like him."

Wei Luo's brows also knit tightly together. Only now did he understand why Li Dadao had been so polite when they first met.

But what kind of person was Li Dadao? His hands were stained with countless bloody deeds. And recently, the Fish-Dragon Gang had been abducting children. He was an outlaw through and through.

Wei Luo immediately closed his eyes and began a deduction.

[Deduction: Mother's fate if she accepts the betrothal gifts]