Miao Poison Sect

The grain ship drifted downstream, heading south.

After they killed Crow, the Xue Household retainer, no more ships appeared on the river to follow them.

The Xue Household had suffered a loss, so they probably would not send anyone after them anytime soon.

Still, rumors gradually began spreading through the martial world.

"Have you heard? One-eyed Tiger of Riverheart Islet in Lanzhou had his entire den wiped out a few days ago!"

"It wasn't just One-eyed Tiger. Even a Xue Household retainer died there!"

"A Xue Household retainer? That man was a Second Layer of Qi Solidification expert. Who had the guts?"

"Who knows? Some say it was a young saber-wielding martial artist. Others say it was a female devil..."

Whenever they stopped at a dock for supplies, Tang Jiu heard bits of gossip and returned to tell Lu Li.

Lu Li merely smiled and offered no comment.

Rumors always grew more absurd with every retelling. By the time they reached the Xue Household estate, even his mother probably would not recognize him.

"Young master, aren't you afraid the news will spread and bring more trouble?"

Tang Jiu was somewhat worried.

"What's there to fear?"

Lu Li sat at the bow, turning the Merging Cavern's bronze contact cauldron over in his hand.

"The more fiercely the rumors spread, the less the Xue Household will dare act rashly."

"They don't know how many trump cards I still have. The more they guess, the more afraid they become. The more afraid they are, the less they dare come after me."

Tang Jiu was left completely bewildered.

"Wh-what kind of logic is that?"

"Make the empty seem real, and the real seem empty."

Lu Li smiled.

"It's all written in military strategy. You should read more."

"Young master, this lowly one can't recognize