The Great Tang's Second-Ranked Young Prodigy!

Thanks to a certain Wang of Danyang.

Jiang Yuechu's name had spread throughout Suzhou and the surrounding area.

By now, everyone in the East Riverlands Regional Office had heard of this young inspector.

A stir broke out among the guards at the camp gate.

"Quick! Open the gate!"

Though the camp had been built in haste, it was laid out with care.

Barricades stood in rows, and armored soldiers patrolled with solemn faces.

Their weapons were drawn. They had clearly entered a state of battle readiness.

A captain had already hurried over with several squad leaders.

"Your humble subordinate, Chen Gong, captain of the East Riverlands Regional Office, greets you, my lords!"

The man's face was weather-beaten, his eyes bloodshot. Clearly, he had not slept for days.

Xie Tinglan stepped forward and made a gesture to help him up.

"Thank you for your efforts, Captain Chen. No need for ceremony. Tell us how things stand at Cross-Mountain Ferry."

Chen Gong wasted no words. He rose, cupped his fists, and turned to lead the way.

"My lords, please follow me up to the watchtower."

They climbed the wooden tower at the camp's highest point.

Chen Gong pointed toward the narrowing stretch of water ahead, his expression grave.

"My lords, look."

"This is Cross-Mountain Ferry, the throat through which Taihu Lake empties into the river."

Jiang Yuechu followed the direction of his finger.

The mountains on either bank closed like pincers, squeezing the vast lake into a narrow channel.

The current surged faster as it reached this point.

Chen Gong continued:

"The River-Turning Demon King is an Exotic Crocodile Dragon. Though it has become a demon, it cannot escape its nature as a creature of the water."

"Once the three Gold Robes launch their attack from the center of Taihu Lake with