Inside the private cabin of the pleasure boat, the sharp stench of blood had yet to fade. Feng Liu's corpse still lay on the floor like a heap of mud, giving off a chill.
Qin Geng sat in the seat of honor, his expression unreadable.
The men of the river, young and old, knelt below him. None dared draw a deep breath.
Even Ma San, tough as he was, kept his head bowed and looked ready to obey any command.
Abacus Song's shifty eyes darted around. Seeing that the moment was right, he stepped forward and cleared his throat.
"Gentlemen."
Abacus Song held his little abacus in one hand. His voice was quiet, but it carried the steady authority of a man who knew how to command a room. "Fifth Master showed his divine power today and brought everyone to heel. That's a great blessing for those of us who make our living on Tianjin's waters."
"Now that Fifth Master is the new Dragon Head, this can't stay between the few of us. Everyone for miles around who earns a living from these waters needs to know where things stand."
He paused, sweeping his gaze over Tie Dashan, Ma San, and the others. "Working the river means carrying your head on your belt. You live at the mercy of the weather and your luck. Now that Fifth Master is here to watch over us, we're blessed. We need to establish the rules, but we also need to keep the incense burning between us."
"I checked the almanac last night. The Third Month, Twelfth Day is an auspicious day after Dragon Raises Its Head, fit for sacrifices, prayers, and breaking ground."
Abacus Song turned and bowed to Qin Geng. "Fifth Master, I was thinking we should put on a grand event