Qiu Qianshui called out again, "For seven days of grand sacrifice, the Eighteen Docks upon the river shall bring thirty thousand catties of river bounty to feast the two Water Masters! Please deliver my invitations, gentlemen!"
The assembled heroes cupped their fists and answered as one, "Aye!"
Qiu Qianshui returned their salute. "Please pass the offerings along."
Xu San lowered his fists and took hold of the two oars. Through the thin mist, Pei Ye watched that imposing figure. Having finished calling out, he stood motionless in the morning wind, seemingly gazing at the stouthearted men under his command.
The so-called "offerings," the so-called "invitations," were sent down from the great ship and passed among the boats. As they drew closer, Pei Ye saw what they were-a large bundle of fish, seemingly mixed with some red meat, reeking of fresh blood and fish.
Each bundle weighed some fifty or sixty catties. A man skilled in lightness arts carried six or seven of them as he leaped between the little boats. Amid the rocking, one such bundle came flying toward them and landed squarely in the center of their boat.
The young men were all astonished by this display of skill. Pei Ye looked down and saw that theirs had been bundled up in the same way-a sturdy net bag and a length of cable that looked exceedingly tough.
"What... what's this for?" Ermao murmured.
Third Uncle said nothing, merely taking up the oars. "Weigh anchor."
Zhao Bao and Da Xi took hold of the cable together and hauled up the anchor. The little boats that had received their offerings departed one after another. From a distance, no sound of water could be heard; they only saw the boats vanish into the white mist, leaving fewer and fewer behind.
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