"Knock, knock, knock..."
A soft knock sounded at the cabin's wooden door, followed by the boatman's quiet voice. "Young Master Yanzu, we've reached Hangzhou."
Inside the cabin, Yang Ge, who had been meditating with the Cold Moon Saber across his knees, emerged from his trance. After regulating his breathing for a moment, he slowly exhaled a concentrated breath of stale air, and the empty cabin brightened in an instant.
Having expelled that breath, he rose, slung his bundle and bamboo hat over himself, then dug two one-tael pieces of silver out of his purse. Holding them in his palm, he opened the cabin door.
The boatman was still waiting outside. With admiration and warmth beneath his courtesy, he cupped his hands first. "Forgive this old man for disturbing you, Young Master Yanzu."
Yang Ge returned the salute. "Please, there's no need for that. You've taken good care of me all this way... This is just a small token of thanks. Buy yourself a few bowls of tea."
He pressed the two pieces of silver into the boatman's hand. The old man immediately shoved them back against Yang Ge's chest as though he had been shocked. Forgetting to keep his voice down, he said urgently, "Young master, you're slapping Old Chen in the face! I might be a lowly nobody who can't show his face in polite company, but I still know benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and trustworthiness. If I took even your money, wouldn't everyone be pointing at my spine and cursing me? Besides, Boss Wu gave clear instructions. If I took your money, he'd peel several layers of skin off me afterward! No, no, absolutely not..."
"Please, hear me out."
Yang Ge smiled, pressing the silver back into the old man's hand with one hand while gently patting his