Robbery or Ravishment?

The river broadened gradually beneath the morning light, and the outline of a dock could faintly be seen in the distance.

After several days of sailing, the borders of Azure Province were already within sight.

Wang Tong slowed the boat as he worked the oars.

He glanced back at Lu Shaoyou, who was sitting cross-legged in meditation, and said, "Young brother, Dragon Snake Crossing lies ahead. This place is considered the outskirts of Azure Province, but it is already far from peaceful."

"The Giant Whale Gang controls these waters."

Lu Shaoyou opened his eyes, his breathing long and steady. "The Giant Whale Gang?"

Wang Tong nodded. "That's right. They have great numbers and throw their weight around. Every boat that reaches this place has to pay a toll, or else forget about getting ashore in peace."

"Young brother, you're new here. If they demand payment, bear with it for now. Don't rush into a conflict. Dragon Snake Crossing is a place where fish and dragons mingle; it is no good land."

After a pause, he added, "Especially the Blood Saber Sect. They act with even greater ruthlessness and cruelty. If you truly bear a grudge against them, you must be extremely careful. They are a pack of genuine desperadoes."

Lu Shaoyou gave a grunt. "I'll remember that."

The sailboat slowly approached the dock.

Dragon Snake Crossing's dock was no smaller in scale than the ferry crossing in Yun Yuan County, yet it was far more chaotic.

Quite a few boats lay moored crookedly along the shore. Shabbily dressed men carried cargo back and forth, while shouts rose and fell without end.

The moment they docked, before the gangplank had even been properly secured, seven or eight burly men armed with short cudgels and curved sabers at their waists surrounded them.

The leader was a man in his thirties with a vicious saber scar slashing across his face. His triangular eyes gleamed with ferocity as he looked Lu Shaoyou and Wang Tong up and down.

"A new boat? Do you know the rules?" The scar-faced man rapped his short cudgel against the hull, producing sharp banging sounds.

Wang Tong hurried forward, pulled several pieces of loose silver from his robes, and said with a smile, "Sirs, please make things convenient for us. We're merely passing through. This is just a small token of respect."

The scar-faced man took the silver and weighed it in his hand, then curled his lip. "That's all? Are you trying to fob off beggars? This boat, plus this kid—two people. At least this much!" He held out five fingers.

Wang Tong looked troubled. "Sir, we're just running a small business..."

Lu Shaoyou took out a small silver ingot from his robes, roughly five taels, and tossed it over. "Is that enough?"

The scar-faced man caught it in one hand, and only then did a sliver of satisfaction appear amid the folds of flesh on his face. "At least you know what's good for you! Get lost!" He waved his hand, signaling his subordinates to make way.

Wang Tong sighed and said to Lu Shaoyou, "Young brother, this is as far as I can take you. Take care of yourself. Azure Province is perilous at every step; think thrice before doing anything."

Lu Shaoyou nodded. "You take care as well."

After parting with Wang Tong, Lu Shaoyou set foot on the land of Dragon Snake Crossing.

The town was not large. Its streets were paved with bluestone slabs, though many were cracked and damaged. Shops stood sparse along both sides, and most pedestrians were either wary-looking martial world folk or ordinary citizens hurrying along with anxious expressions.

He found an inn.

The establishment was small, but quite a few people sat in its main hall, gathered in groups of three or five and talking loudly.

"Did you hear? The Black Water Hall and the Three Rivers Gang clashed again on West Street. Quite a few people died!"

"Hah, what's so new about that? In Azure Province, when does a day pass without someone dying? The day before yesterday, I saw people from the Blood Saber Sect hack some fool to death right in the street. The authorities didn't even dare let out a fart!"

"If you ask me, the Giant Whale Gang is still the most imposing. From top to bottom in Dragon Snake Crossing, who would dare deny them face?"

Lu Shaoyou chose a seat in the corner, ordered some wine and dishes, and listened in silence.

The conversations of these martial world travelers gave him an even deeper understanding of Azure Province's chaos.

He had barely taken a few bites when he sensed several hostile gazes settling on him.

Without changing expression, he swept the corner of his eye over them. They were the Giant Whale Gang men from the dock, including Scarface Zhang.

They were now seated in another corner of the hall, pointing at him and openly sizing him up.

"Big Brother, that kid's alone. He looks soft and tender, and he paid so readily at the dock. He's definitely still got plenty of fat on him!" A sharp-mouthed, monkey-faced man lowered his voice as he spoke to Scarface Zhang.

Scarface Zhang licked his lips, greed flashing through his triangular eyes. "Mm. Looking at those clothes of his, all bulging and stuffed, he's eight parts out of ten a fat sheep. Send two brothers to keep a close eye on him and see which room he stays in."

"Tonight, we'll loosen his bones for him."

"Hehehe, Big Brother is wise!" Several of his subordinates let out low snickers.

Lu Shaoyou took every word into his ears and sneered inwardly. He never went looking for trouble, but if someone came courting death at his doorstep, he did not mind sending them on their way.

After finishing his meal and wine, he asked the inn waiter for a guest room.

When Scarface Zhang saw him head upstairs, he immediately gave his men a meaningful look. Two burly men quietly followed, noted down the room number, then returned to report to Scarface Zhang.

"Second floor, Heavenly Class, Room B. Big Brother, that kid doesn't seem to be on guard at all."

Scarface Zhang gave a sinister chuckle. "On guard? What use is being on guard? Once you reach our Dragon Snake Crossing, even a dragon has to coil up! We'll make our move at the third watch, once everyone is sound asleep."

"Remember, be quick and clean. Don't make too much noise. Once we have the goods, dispose of him properly!"

"Yes, Big Brother!"

As night deepened, Dragon Snake Crossing gradually quieted down, with only the occasional dog bark tearing through the night sky.

Inside the inn room, Lu Shaoyou sat cross-legged on the bed with his eyes slightly closed, though in truth, his ears listened in all directions.

He had long since noticed the faint sounds of someone spying outside the door, and a cold curve lifted at the corner of his lips.

"Knock, knock." A very soft knock sounded.

No one answered.

A moment later, a faint click came from the door. The lock seemed to have been picked open by something.

Then the door was silently pushed open a crack.

Five dark figures filed inside one after another. Their movements were highly practiced; they were clearly habitual offenders.

Scarface Zhang was at the front, a gleaming short saber in his hand.

"That kid is sleeping pretty soundly." One lackey spoke in a low voice. By the faint moonlight filtering through the window, he could vaguely see the human-shaped bulge on the bed.

Scarface Zhang made a gesture, signaling everyone to spread out and surround the bed.

He himself crept step by step toward the bedside, raising the short saber in his hand as he prepared to give the person in bed a surprise.

Just as he was about to strike, the room suddenly lit up, and a calm voice rang out. "Several guests have paid me an uninvited visit in the dead of night. What business brings you here?"

Scarface Zhang and the others were shocked at the sound and whirled around.

There, beside the table in the room, Lu Shaoyou sat perfectly unharmed, holding a cup of tea that still retained some warmth. He looked at them with a faint, mocking smile.

"You... you weren't asleep?" Scarface Zhang's voice tightened slightly, and the hand gripping his saber clenched unconsciously.

Lu Shaoyou set down his teacup and slowly rose to his feet. "I've been waiting for you for a long time."

"Tell me, are you here to rob me of my wealth, or rob me of my virtue?"