Just past the hour of the dragon, outside Reed-Blossom Marsh.
A dozen or so boats lay tucked among the reeds like a flock of egrets pressed low against the water.
A small pot had been set up on the lead boat. The river fish Zhao Hu had just caught simmered within, its broth rolling milky white.
Xu Jin sat on the deck boards, cradling a bowl of fish soup.
This place was a little uncanny. There was no need to rush in yet;
besides, the scouts had not returned. Rushing would accomplish nothing.
It happened to be mealtime.
Across both his past life and this one, Xu Jin understood one principle best: heaven was vast, earth was vast, but eating was the greatest thing of all. Anyone who was not enthusiastic about eating had something wrong with their head.
"Brother, do you think..." Wang Lei held his bowl as he stole a glance at the distant lanterns. "We're just going to wait here?"
"What's the rush?" Xu Jin picked the fish belly from his own bowl and placed it in Wang Lei's. "Eat more. There'll be work to do soon."
Wang Lei looked at the fish belly in his bowl, then at Xu Jin. His throat bobbed, and he drained the soup in one gulp.
Zhao Hu squatted at the bow, scraping fish scales as he explained.
"Reed-Blossom Marsh, Three-Fork Inlet, Nine-Bend Water. Dark Harbor is hidden in the innermost fork. There are two old stakes outside, with hidden barricades driven beneath the water. Any boat unfamiliar with these waterways enters and never gets back out."
"Brother Hu, did you run boats here back then?" Wang Lei asked.
"I did." Zhao Hu smiled.
"Back then, River-Crossing Flood Dragon planted his flag here and supplied goods to Profound Yin Hall. Boxes