Return Journey

Three days later, the Sun Family's Treasure Ship sailed out of Falling Geese Gorge.

After leaving those perilous waters, the wind and waves gradually subsided, and quite a few crewmen came up on deck for some fresh air.

Mist rose over the river, veiling the shores on either side until they flickered in and out of view.

Sun Chai gave him a token punishment and forbade him from catching Treasure Fish again, so Luo Du could only practice boxing in the cabin these past few days.

At that moment, he stood at the bow, taking in the river scenery, and said with a smile.

"These past two days have really been boring."

Zhao Xiu, beside him, couldn't help looking both amused and exasperated.

"You think everyone's as lucky as you? Catching two Treasure Fish on your first day, and even eating a Dragon-Whisker Carp?"

"You didn't see how vicious the Fierce Fish were in the water yesterday. They were practically coming ashore to eat people!"

"Some people fought tooth and nail just to earn one Treasure Fish. Some only got half of one."

Liu Changle, standing nearby, nodded again and again in agreement.

While Wei Luo had been steadily practicing boxing aboard the ship, the other crewmen hadn't been nearly so fortunate.

There had been even more Treasure Fish during the latter two days, but the Fierce Fish were not only more numerous—they were also fiercer than before. Them coming ashore to eat people hadn't been an exaggeration.

To fulfill the Sun Family's quota of two Treasure Fish, a crewman had even died the day before yesterday.

At first, Second Refinement crewmen like Zhao Xiu could still barely contend with the Fierce Fish.

But after the Fierce Fish multiplied, even Second Refinement crewmen trembled with fear every time they entered the water. Even Zhao Xiu had suffered a minor injury.

One glance at the crewmen on deck was enough to show it—many of them were wrapped in bandages.

Still, such a great risk was worth taking.

For ordinary crewmen like them, who had little money to begin with, Treasure Fish were top-tier resources.

"Changle, would you sell me one of your two Treasure Fish? How about thirty taels each?"

Zhao Xiu said with a smile.

Liu Changle had two Treasure Fish. One had been snatched from Zhang Chi, while the other had been caught at great risk.

For Liu Changle, one Treasure Fish was enough to give him a helping hand when he broke through to Second Refinement. Trading the extra one for money could also improve his family's circumstances.

Before he started practicing martial arts, Liu Changle would've agreed to that price without the slightest hesitation.

But now that he understood the true value of Treasure Fish, he immediately shook his head.

"Thirty taels is too little. Fifty."

The Zhao Family ran a pharmacy, and for the sake of his family's business, Zhao Xiu had done quite a few private deals over the past two days.

The Sun Family had its own pharmacists, and their Treasure Fish didn't leave the family, so he could only buy from the crewmen.

Still, fifty taels was truly a little too expensive. After some haggling, they settled on thirty-five taels.

However, Liu Changle made one condition: after the Treasure Fish was refined into pills, Zhao Xiu had to give him a share.

After receiving the Treasure Fish, Zhao Xiu was in high spirits. He said that once they returned, he would treat the two of them to a meal.

At some point, the Treasure Ship entered another bank of dense fog.

Just as the crewmen were chatting, some strange sound seemed to drift over from ahead.

After reaching Second Refinement, Wei Luo's five senses had become far sharper than before. He immediately cocked his ear and listened.

As the Treasure Ship advanced, the sound grew closer and closer.

The others on deck heard it as well and all gathered at the bow.

"What's going on? What is that sound?"

"Why does it sound like someone's crying?"

"No... that's a child's crying!"

The sound came closer, growing clearer and clearer.

It wasn't just one child crying. There were at least dozens, perhaps hundreds! Their sobs were mixed with agonized screams!

How could the cries of children suddenly appear on the Hun River?

A flicker of terror passed through everyone's eyes.

"The trip here was fine. How did this happen..."

"I've heard there are plenty of wronged souls and water ghosts in the Hun River. We haven't run into them, have we?"

At the word "ghost," the terror in everyone's eyes deepened, and their expressions stiffened.

"What wronged souls and water ghosts? Nothing but baseless nonsense. I've spent over half my life on this river—aside from Fierce Fish and monsters, when have I ever seen anything else?"

At a booming shout, everyone turned to look. Sun Chai had arrived after hearing the news.

"I'd like to see what kind of thing is playing god and pretending to be a ghost."

The steadiness in Sun Chai's voice immediately eased the tension on everyone's faces.

He ordered the Treasure Ship to speed toward the source of the crying, then had someone tie the old Daoist to the bow, where he stood with a blade in hand.

Clearly, if anything went wrong, the old Daoist would be the first person he cut down.

Listening to the crying on the river and looking at the gleaming blade in Sun Chai's hand, the old Daoist was so frightened he wet himself.

"Second Master, the fog is too thick. If we hit a reef, we'll be in trouble."

Before long, a shipworker came over to report, asking to slow down a little.

But Sun Chai replied directly.

"What are you afraid of? The river's so wide—it's not like we can collide with another ship, right?"

Before his words had even faded, a dark shadow emerged from the thick fog ahead, bearing down on them.

"What is that?!"

"Fuck, where did that ship come from?"

Cries immediately rose from the bow, and Wei Luo quickly looked into the distance as well.

A pitch-black Treasure Ship burst through the fog and charged toward them.

The other side apparently hadn't expected a ship to be here either, and a commotion broke out aboard it as well.

At that point, less than a hundred meters remained between the two ships. Sun Chai hurriedly shouted.

"Slow down! Dodge!"

Though the ships did their best to avoid each other, they still crashed together as they drew near.

They didn't collide head-on, but their sides slammed together and scraped violently against one another.

Creeeak—

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The entire hull let out a heavy groan. Aside from those who had practiced martial arts, everyone else was jolted off balance.

Fortunately, Treasure Ships were built from premium hardwood. In the end, neither ship shattered completely.

"Hm? The Fish-Dragon Gang!"

With the two ships pressed together, Wei Luo finally saw the flag on the other vessel.

He couldn't help being taken aback. It was the Fish-Dragon Gang's emblem, and the people aboard all wore the Fish-Dragon Gang's clothes.

At last, the ships came to a stop. Both sides stared at each other, wide-eyed and stunned.

Wei Luo couldn't help feeling puzzled. The Fish-Dragon Gang was a mere criminal gang—did they actually have the wealth to build a Treasure Ship?

That collision nearly broke Sun Chai's heart. Once a Treasure Ship was damaged, who knew how much time and money the repairs and inspections would cost afterward.

He snapped angrily.

"A stinking gang like you dared damage my Sun Family's Treasure Ship? I think you're tired of living!"

There was no reasoning to be done. The Sun Family was one of the three great families of the inner city, and they looked down on gangs like the Fish-Dragon Gang from the bottom of their hearts.

Enraged, Sun Chai vaulted over the rail and landed on the Fish-Dragon Gang's ship. He grabbed one of their thugs and demanded.

"Tell me, who was steering the ship? Who the hell was so blind?"

The Fish-Dragon Gang thug looked terrified and didn't know what to say.

Slap.

Sun Chai had no patience. He hurled the man to the ground, headfirst. The man's head struck the deck, and he died on the spot.

He seized another man. This time, he didn't even bother asking. He simply struck out with his palm, sending the man flying several meters away, blood spraying from his mouth.

"Sun Chai, stop!"

Just as Sun Chai vented his rage, an angry roar rang out from the cabin entrance.

A strange figure appeared. His entire body was covered in fish-scale-like skin that gleamed with a sinister black sheen, and his features were somewhat bizarre. He was Wang Dali, the Fish-Dragon Gang's leader.

Beside him stood two people in white robes embroidered with incense burners.

The instant Sun Chai saw Wang Dali, a look of contempt appeared on his face.

"Finally, someone in charge has come out. Tell me, you crashed into my Sun Family's Treasure Ship. How are you going to compensate us?"