Pursuit

On the top deck, the boatmen were in complete disarray.

More and more torches appeared on the cliffs along both banks. A group of people could vaguely be seen standing at the edge, holding bows. Their arrowheads were wrapped in oilcloth and already lit.

"Hold steady! Everyone, hold steady!"

Tang Jiu stood at the bow and shouted at the top of his lungs, though his voice trembled slightly.

He could not understand why the ship had come under attack. Were these river bandits not afraid of retaliation from the Boatmen Gang?

Although the Boatmen Gang's boatmen had seen their fair share of the world, this was clearly their first time facing such a situation. Every one of them had panicked.

Lu Li emerged from the cabin, his steps unhurried and his expression calm.

He glanced at the torches on both banks, then at the flustered boatmen, and smiled.

"Why panic? They're just a bunch of river bandits. It's not like they can eat the ship."

Hearing him, Tang Jiu turned around and immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

"Young master, it's good that you're here. If those river bandits really rush aboard, us boatmen won't be able to stop them!"

His face turned grave and puzzled as he continued, "This route was clearly arranged in advance. How dare they go back on their word? Do they not want to make a living in the Jing Dynasty anymore?"

The Boatmen Gang escorted ships throughout the land and was an enormous force. Moreover, it had the backing of important figures at court, so almost no one dared provoke it lightly.

"If you can't stop them, let them come aboard. I was just looking to stretch my limbs."

Lu Li walked to the bow and swept his gaze across the cliffs on both