Zhou Dabao

The next day.

Before dawn had fully broken, Fang Han rolled out of bed.

He felt for the cloth bundle beside the bed. It clinked with coins—the coffin money his grandmother had saved for most of her life.

Fang Han opened the bundle and counted carefully. The copper coins and broken silver added up to eight taels.

Fang Han stared at the money spread across the cloth bundle, his brow tightly furrowed.

The martial arts hall tuition was thirty taels. He was still short twenty-two.

That was a terrifyingly large gap!

As for the remaining twenty-two taels, he had no idea whether his grandfather could find a way to get them.

Just as he was thinking, he heard movement from the outer room.

After getting dressed and walking out, Fang Han saw his grandfather, Fang Yuanshan, wearing a jacket with only one patch on it, still looking fairly new. Without a word, he was heading out of the courtyard.

Fang Han knew his grandfather was going to the main branch of the Lineage in the city, to borrow money from those relatives.

But though they were called the main branch, they had rarely kept in touch for a long time. There was scarcely any blood kinship left to speak of.

His grandfather's trip would most likely be in vain.

Fang Han understood that clearly. He did not stop him, and he could not have stopped the stubborn old man anyway.

In the old kitchen.

His eldest brother, Fang Ding, wolfed down a coarse grain flatbread in a few bites, gulped down a bowl of cold water, wiped his mouth, and headed outside.

Fang Han watched his brother's broad back vanish into the morning mist. His footsteps were much quicker than usual.

Dock work carrying cargo was paid by the load. The earlier he arrived, the more bundles he could carry and the more copper coins he could earn.

Warmth rose in Fang Han's heart, followed by a sour ache.

After greeting his mother and little sister, Fang Han left as well.

As he passed the stove, he grabbed a coarse grain flatbread and tucked it into his clothes. It was his food for the day.

The thin mist had yet to disperse.

Fang Han poled his small, ancient fishing boat toward the Dragon King River.

The little fishing boat moved through the fog, its oar entering the water without a sound.

There were not many people on the river at this hour. Only a few waterbirds, startled by the oar, flapped into the river mist and swiftly disappeared.

In truth, there was a story behind the Dragon King River.

Rumor had it that a powerful Flood Serpent Monster lived in the river.

In earlier years, it often stirred up wind and waves, capsizing fishing boats and devouring fishermen, frightening the nearby people out of their wits.

Azure Cloud City was merely a remote little city. There were only a few martial artists in the yamen, and none of them were masters. They were no match for the Flood Serpent Monster at all.

Later, the Dragon King Gang somehow appeared in the Outer City. They went around preaching that as long as a pair of virgin boy and girl were offered to the Flood Serpent Monster in the river every year on the fifth day of the fifth month, the river would remain calm for an entire year.

Naturally, no one believed them at first.

But that year, the Flood Dragon Demon had been especially vicious. Several times more fishermen died than in previous years, and even passing merchant ships did not dare approach Azure Cloud City's docks.

The yamen had no solution and could only secretly acquiesce to the Dragon King Gang.

They let the Dragon King Gang draw lots and select two children to offer to the Flood Dragon Demon.

Strangely enough.

Over the following year, the river truly remained calm and peaceful, and no further incidents occurred.

From then on, it became a custom. This was now the seventh year.

Fang Han did not know whether there truly was a Flood Dragon Demon in the river.

But it was better to believe it existed than to risk believing it did not. Having lived two lives, he was even more cautious now. Naturally, he would not venture into the middle of the river, only casting his net along the banks.

Just as he was casting his net, a small fishing boat emerged from the fog.

Fang Han looked up and saw an acquaintance—Chen You's elder brother, Chen Xiao!

When Chen Xiao saw Fang Han, he first froze, then pulled his lips into a smile.

There was something indescribably strange about that smile. It was as though he were seeing Fang Han for the first time, looking him over from head to toe.

"Yo, little brother Fang Han," Chen Xiao said, poling his boat closer. "You're fine now? Still able to come out and fish?"

Fang Han did not respond.

Chen Xiao was not bothered. He went on by himself, "My little brother entered the martial arts hall yesterday. From now on, he's a disciple of the martial arts hall. In the future, he's going to become a martial artist."

Fang Han's heart sank at those words.

He knew Chen You's circumstances all too well. Like himself, Chen You was bottom-rung mud-legged poor from Mud Bay Alley, and his family was even poorer than Fang Han's.

With such a pauper's background, how could the Chen Household possibly produce thirty taels for tuition?

In an instant, Fang Han understood.

It was that Spirit Fish!

In a rare stroke of explosive luck, he had caught a Spirit Fish. That beast Chen You had secretly attacked him and stolen it, then sold it for exactly enough silver to enter the martial arts hall!

"Damn it, what a fucking beast!"

"From now on, stay far away whenever you see my brother." Chen Xiao poled his boat slowly past Fang Han, lowering his voice. "Some things should be forgotten when they ought to be forgotten. If you keep them buried in your heart for too long, trouble may easily come knocking. Who knows when disaster might spill from your mouth."

With that said.

Chen Xiao poled away, disappearing into the mist.

The veins on Fang Han's hand gripping the oar bulged.

His face remained expressionless as he poled his boat away, yet it felt as if a blazing fire were burning inside him.

Chen You!

Fang Han carved that name firmly into his heart.

That man had harmed his life and stolen his opportunity!

If he did not avenge this hatred, how could he ever dispel the resentment in his heart?

Fang Han took several deep breaths before he barely calmed down and continued casting his nets.

After working all morning, he had gained something at least.

It could not compare to a Spirit Fish worth thirty taels, but it could still fetch more than ten copper coins.

Fang Han packed away the fish, poled the boat back to shore, and sold them at the fish market for a dozen or so coins before tucking the money away and heading home.

The moment he entered the courtyard, Fang Han stopped short.

Four young men stood in the courtyard. The leader was bald, his face full of flesh and his eyes fierce.

Fang Han recognized the bald man. His name was Zhou Dabao, and he was a member of the Dragon King Gang.

He was in charge of this area of Mud Bay Alley and had six or seven lackeys under him. He usually ran wild through Mud Bay Alley, committing every evil imaginable. The residents here would detour around him whenever they saw him.

His grandmother, Madam Liu, was forcing a smile as she bent at the waist and spoke to Zhou Dabao.

When Zhou Dabao saw Fang Han return, his gloomy gaze swept over him. He grinned, exposing a mouthful of yellow teeth. "The Fang family's second boy is back? Perfect. Saves me another trip tomorrow."

At those words.

Fang Han's heart thudded, but he kept a smile on his face. "Lord Bao, what brings you here? If you have any orders, just send word."

"Orders?"

Zhou Dabao sneered. "Fine, then I'll give you an order. Ten days from now, on the fifth day of the fifth month, is the grand day of the River God Festival.

"By custom, every household had to pay three taels of silver as an offering in previous years. This year's situation is a little special, so it's gone up to five taels.

"Your family needs to provide five taels of silver as an offering to the River God."

Five taels?!

Fang Han's heart tightened.

The family had only just scraped together eight taels of coffin money, and they were still twenty-two taels short of martial arts hall tuition. Now another five taels of offering money had appeared out of nowhere!

"If you can't produce this offering for the River God..."

Before Fang Han could speak, Zhou Dabao dragged out his words. His cold, triangular eyes fell on Fang Rui, who stood behind Chen Cui, already pale with fright.

"Either you or your brother signs a three-year living indenture with our Dragon King Gang.

"Or you offer up this little girl from your family as this year's virgin girl for the River God Festival."

Fang Rui began trembling all over at those words, then burst into tears with a wail.

Chen Cui hurriedly pulled her into her arms in terror and softly comforted her, her own eyes reddening with fear.

Zhou Dabao stepped forward and heavily slapped Fang Han on the shoulder, making his body sway.

"Kid, look on the bright side. A girl is a money-losing burden even when she's raised up. Sooner or later, she'll belong to another family.

"Offer her up, and your family will save five taels of silver. You'll also get a year of calm waters and gentle winds, and catch a few more nets of fish in the future. You won't lose out."

Fang Han piled a smile onto his face, but fury was blazing in his heart. He wanted nothing more than to fight Zhou Dabao to the death on the spot.

But he held back.

He could not take him on yet.

Zhou Dabao belonged to the Dragon King Gang and had several lackeys under him. He himself had also learned martial arts.

With Fang Han's current meager strength, fighting Zhou Dabao would be nothing but courting death.

"Lord Bao, you jest," Fang Han said, still smiling. "Five taels of silver—I will definitely gather it within ten days. I absolutely won't put Lord Bao in a difficult position."

Zhou Dabao narrowed his triangular eyes and stared at him for a long while before nodding. "At least you know what's good for you. Ten days. I'll be waiting."

With that, Zhou Dabao waved his hand and swaggered away with his lackeys.

After Zhou Dabao and his group had gone far away, the smile on Fang Han's face faded bit by bit.

He turned around. His mother held his little sister in her arms, her face full of worry and her eyes helpless.

Madam Liu sighed repeatedly, muttering over and over, "What are we going to do? What are we going to do?"

Fang Han took a deep breath and stepped forward. "Mother, don't be afraid."

His voice was soft, yet steady. "We have ten days. I'll think of something."

Chen Cui raised her head and looked at Fang Han. Her lips moved as if she wanted to say something, but in the end, she only said, "You... be careful."

Fang Han nodded. He already had a plan in mind, so he said no more.