Yao Family Fleet

"Half of Wei Luo and Luo Sanhu's men died outright. Do you think the depths of the Hun River are really that cursed?

"The Sun Family will be sending out ships in half a month. This money's too hot to hold."

The next day, Wei Luo and Liu Changle arrived at Yao Family Wharf together. The Yao Family had a shipment to transport that day—the very job Zhao Xiu had found for them some time ago.

Along the way, Liu Changle could not stop asking questions.

The Hun River ran across the Great Yin Dynasty, winding onward for who knew how many miles.

Even though generations of the Liu family had been fishermen, they had never ventured into those perilous tributary waters. They had always kept them at arm's length.

"Relax. The Sun Family's main business is catching treasure fish, and they have treasure ships. They're not comparable to half-baked amateurs like Zhang Chi and his lot. At the very least... they won't die without ever knowing why."

Annoyed by the questions, Wei Luo answered casually.

In truth, he had already run the calculations. The odds of the Sun Family's treasure ship meeting with disaster were extremely low—less than ten percent.

Yet Liu Changle seemed to take Wei Luo's words seriously and immediately said uneasily, "Wei Luo, how about we find a way to run? You know, things like gods and ghosts aren't something human strength can resist."

The two chatted idly at the wharf for a while before someone came looking for them.

"This must be little brother Wei, yes?"

The speaker was named Yao Song, the Yao Family's third son, a man in his forties.

Shanyang County had suffered a flood last month. Seeing an opportunity, the Yao Family had begun transporting grain there in hopes of turning a profit.

"We'll have to rely on you two along the way to Shanyang."

The Yao Family was not one of the great clans of the inner city. They had only risen to prominence in this generation.

Thus, they treated martial artists at the first level like Wei Luo and Liu Changle with considerable respect.

Liu Changle had been of lowly status since childhood. When had he ever truly received respect from others? He immediately beamed with delight.

Yao Song had treated Liu Changle to a meal a few days earlier, though Wei Luo had been busy with something else that night.

After the brief introductions, Yao Song pointed to the burly middle-aged man beside him. "This is Feng Sihai, Instructor Feng. He'll be traveling with us as well."

The middle-aged man's palms were far thicker than an ordinary person's at a glance. He was clearly a practitioner of palm techniques.

The wharf was crowded with all sorts of people. Apart from several Yao Family guards, there were more than a dozen men with long sabers at their waists. They had also been hired by the Yao Family to escort the goods, though they clearly were not martial artists—merely men here to risk their lives for pay.

After the simple introductions, Yao Song called for his men to prepare for departure.

"Instructor Feng, please look after us on the road."

They were earning someone else's money, after all. The round trip would take two or three days, so they naturally had to maintain good relations. Wei Luo did not neglect proper courtesy.

But Feng Sihai seemed to find the two of them displeasing. He did not even return the greeting, merely glanced at them before turning away.

"So arrogant?"

Wei Luo and Liu Changle were both puzzled, unable to think of how they had offended Feng Sihai.

Still, neither paid it much mind. Once the Yao Family's goods had been loaded, everyone boarded the ships.

The Yao Family's grain filled three large ships to the brim. Yao Song treated Wei Luo and Liu Changle well; despite the cramped quarters aboard, he arranged a room just for them.

"Raise the sails!"

With a resounding shout, the three ships headed downstream.

It was the first time Wei Luo and Liu Changle had taken on this sort of escort job, and Liu Changle was excited the entire way.

Although Yao Song had said he would send someone to notify them if anything happened, Liu Changle still dragged Wei Luo around the bow all day, patrolling everywhere.

The fellow kept muttering, "It'd be great if we ran into a few petty bandits. Then we could finally see some blood."

His mindset carried a touch of "blade in hand, killing intent rises of its own accord." If anyone blocked their way, it would be his moment to show off his might.

But after a full day of travel, nothing happened beyond a few minor scrapes when the heavily laden ships passed through narrow waterways.

By the time night fell, the fleet stopped in a sheltered bend.

Sailing after dark easily led to accidents, so Yao Song announced that they would rest there for the night.

Merchant ships often traveled this waterway, so simple thatched huts had been built in the inlet.

After swaying aboard ship all day, everyone began stretching their limbs the moment they disembarked.

Once darkness had fully settled, wisps of cooking smoke rose into the air.

But before long, something unexpected happened.

It was not wolves or tigers that came, but several dozen refugees.

The refugees were clearly half-mad with hunger. Seeing them cooking, they rushed over, and Liu Changle immediately knocked several of them down with his fists.

But after they had been subdued, Yao Song instructed the cook to make them some fish porridge.

Wei Luo had seen quite a few refugees from aboard the ship that day, but he had not expected their numbers to grow the closer they got to Shanyang County.

It seemed Shanyang County had been hit badly by the disaster. More than a month had passed, yet things still had not settled down.

After the brief disturbance with the refugees, they soon had hot food to eat.

"You two, this is your meal. Third Master Yao instructed that if it isn't enough, you can have the cook make more separately."

Wei Luo and Liu Changle were chatting with others beside the fire when a Yao Family boatman brought over two plates of food.

Bright-red braised meat, savory saber fish in sauce, and a small bottle of wine.

The sounds of people swallowing immediately rose from all around them.

"You two brothers really are proper martial artists. You're nothing like us."

Sitting beside Liu Changle was a burly one-eared man named Yan Dashun. He was the leader of the dozen or so saber men recruited by the Yao Family.

They had nothing beyond half a bowl of vegetables and a bowl of rice.

That was the difference between ordinary people and martial artists. Different strength meant different treatment.

"I've trained my fists and suffered all that hardship. If I still ate the same as you, wouldn't that mean I trained for nothing?"

Liu Changle had always spoken his mind. Yet Yan Dashun did not get angry; instead, he grinned and bantered with him, and the atmosphere remained quite pleasant.

They were all on the same ship. As soon as they had boarded, Yan Dashun had deliberately sought the two out for conversation.

Neither Wei Luo nor Liu Changle put on airs, and they chatted happily with Yan Dashun instead.

There was not much wine. After taking a sip each, the two passed it around to drink with everyone else.

"Brother Liu, that fist technique of yours just now was truly impressive. Could you give my brothers a few pointers?"

After chatting for a while, Yan Dashun made the suggestion.

Liu Changle had only used half his strength against those refugees earlier. He had been stopped before he could even properly loosen up, so he readily agreed.

Before long, a pair of young, sturdy brothers rose beside the fire.

These saber men made their living by risking their lives year-round, so they did know a few unrefined fighting moves.

They could handle ordinary people well enough, but the gap between them and Liu Changle was far too great. After only a few exchanges, Liu Changle threw both men to the ground.

The saber men around them immediately erupted in cheers. Liu Changle basked in the feeling, then accepted several more challenges. Afterward, he even taught them a few practical ways to fight.

Just as Liu Changle was "showing off his skills," Feng Sihai happened to pass by.

Seeing Feng Sihai, Yan Dashun smiled and called out, "Instructor Feng, want to join in the fun? Let us have a look at your palm technique too."

Feng Sihai glanced over, a trace of disdain appearing on his face.

"You lot aren't even worth the mention. You think you deserve it?"

His gaze then swept over Wei Luo and Liu Changle, becoming even more contemptuous.

"You two can actually mingle with people like them? You really haven't seen much of the world."

With just two sentences, Feng Sihai had looked down on every one of them.

At an age when hot blood ran high, how could Liu Changle endure that? His brows immediately drew together.

"What the fuck are you putting on airs for? We're all out here working for pay. What makes you better than everyone else?"

"I've been sick of your face for a long time. If you've got a problem, come trade a few moves with me."

Wei Luo looked at Liu Changle, who was charging forward like a honey badger, but it was already too late to stop him.

A vicious aura burst from Feng Sihai as well.

"You've got guts, kid. Then let's see whether you really have any skill!"