Putting on an act

After Chu Xisheng returned to the large floating timber with Chu Yunyun in his arms, he surveyed the surrounding river, troubled.

Of the hundred-odd passengers aboard the sand ship, only the first few who had fallen overboard were still missing. The rest had all been rescued.

Some lay on planks, some had been tied beside floating timber, and others clung to pieces of broken wood as they drifted. For now, none of their lives were in danger.

The problem was that they were in the middle of the river, at least four li from either bank.

Fortunately, the current nearby was relatively slow, so they were in no immediate danger of being swept downstream.

Just as Chu Xisheng was pondering how to get ashore, he heard a cheer behind him.

"Look! That's an Iron Banner Gang ship!"

"It's coming! The Iron Banner Gang ship is heading our way!"

"Heaven bless us! We'll live! The Iron Banner Gang really are good men. They wouldn't stand by and do nothing."

Chu Xisheng immediately turned to look at the river behind him. Sure enough, a large sand ship was sailing toward them. Three enormous black flags hung from its mast, each bearing a bold, powerful character for "iron" at its center.

The sand ship came downstream. Once it drew close, it spread its sails to slow down and lowered four rope ladders.

More than a dozen sailors also jumped off the ship to help the passengers in the water aboard.

Chu Xisheng grabbed a rope ladder too, carrying the "weak"-looking Chu Yunyun aboard with him.

Unfortunately, once his bargain little sister reached the deck, she refused to let him hold her any longer.

Worried that Chu Yunyun might snap his neck if she grew nervous, Chu Xisheng took the opportunity to let go and settled her in a corner by the rail.

Just then, a drenched man approached and bowed to Chu Xisheng, weeping with gratitude. "You must be Young Master Chu Xisheng, who slew that Heluo Fish? I have no way to repay you for saving my life, Young Master Chu. I can only wish you a hundred years of life and endless blessings and prosperity."

At his example, everyone on deck came to their senses and bowed toward Chu Xisheng.

"Young Master Chu! All four members of my family, young and old, thank you for saving our lives."

"Benefactor, please accept our bow!"

"I had the good fortune to hear your name half a month ago, Benefactor Chu. They said you were the Number One Inner Disciple of Zhengyang Martial Academy. I never expected you would lend a hand today and save my entire family, young and old."

Chu Xisheng immediately glanced sideways toward Lu Luanli.

Lu Luanli, however, widened her eyes and glared fiercely back, a warning in her gaze.

Just let him try saying one word out of line!

Chu Xisheng had no intention of exposing Lu Luanli.

After shouldering the blame often enough, he had grown used to it. Besides, there were benefits.

A small firework burst in his field of vision. His Martial Dao Points had already risen to 33.

It was not much, but even the tiniest mosquito had meat on it.

Chu Xisheng silently clicked his tongue and withdrew his gaze from Lu Luanli.

He helped the people around him up one by one, his voice gentle. "Please rise, everyone. I don't deserve this. It was actually Junior Sister Lu over there and I who joined forces to slay that Heluo Fish. Besides, we killed the monster to save ourselves as well. There's no call for such a grand show of thanks."

His skin was still too thin for him to accept the credit outright, so he chose a vague way of putting it.

Chu Xisheng thought that he had indeed contributed some effort. He had saved twenty-odd people today and shouldered the blame as well.

Just then, a red-faced, burly man in a short blue-cloth jacket approached with the strides of a dragon and a tiger. He looked steadily at Chu Xisheng, then cupped his fist, his face stirring with emotion. "Are you our benefactor, Young Master Chu Xisheng of Zhengyang Martial Academy?"

Without waiting for Chu Xisheng to speak, he cupped his fist and dropped to one knee. "I am Li Dehou, an incense master of the Iron Banner Gang. My thanks, Young Master Chu! None of us in the Iron Banner Gang will forget, even when our teeth have fallen out, how you risked your life to save our deputy banner chief!"

At his words, the surrounding Iron Banner Gang members were all visibly moved. They followed Li Dehou in cupping their fists and dropping to one knee.

A buzz also ran through the rescued crowd around them.

Some among them had heard Chu Xisheng's name, but few knew that he had actually saved the Iron Banner Gang's deputy banner chief.

This, however, confirmed that it had undoubtedly been Chu Xisheng who had slain that Heluo Fish!

Even Xie Zhenqing, standing in the crowd, let go of her doubts.

She had noticed that Chu Xisheng's clothes were perfectly dry, making it clear he had not entered the water, and so had doubted the truth of Lu Luanli's claim.

Now, however, it seemed there must have been another reason why Chu Xisheng's clothes were dry.

Xie Zhenqing guessed it might have been due to a water-repelling spell or talisman.

The crucial point was that no one else aboard besides Chu Xisheng could have slain that Heluo Fish.

Meanwhile, another tiny firework appeared in Chu Xisheng's field of vision.

His Martial Dao Points rose to 34.

Iron Banner Gang Incense Master Li Dehou was exceedingly warm toward Chu Xisheng. Not only did he set out a table of food and wine aboard the ship to entertain Chu Xisheng and his two companions, he also invited him to visit the Iron Banner Gang Main Headquarters, saying that their deputy banner chief had long been thinking of the man who had saved his life.

Chu Xisheng politely declined. He truly did have important business today and could not make the visit.

With immense regret, Li Dehou could only drop them off at the ferry landing of Ancient Market Town on the East Bank, then sail away.

His sand ship had originally been transporting cargo to Linhai Commandery, downstream along the Divine Splendor River. He had only come to their rescue after spotting the people in the water midway through the journey.

Before leaving, Li Dehou also made a point of telling Chu Xisheng that Tie Xiaosheng had already made his name known throughout the entire Iron Banner Gang.

From now on, he needed only to give his name at any ferry landing in Xiushui Commandery to travel by boat free of charge.

There was also an Iron Banner Gang Hall in Ancient Market Town. If Chu Xisheng encountered anything there that he could not resolve, he could seek help at the Iron Banner Gang's Hall.

After stepping ashore, Chu Xisheng asked Lu Luanli with a smile, "Junior Sister Lu, have you come to Ancient Market Town on important business?"

What he meant was that if she had business, she should hurry off and stop following them.

Lu Luanli glanced at the long, hard bundle on Chu Xisheng's back. With a turn of her thoughts, she guessed that he had come to sell the sabers and swords from Firebone Cavern.

The corners of her lips lifted slightly as she took a dagger from her sleeve. "I came here to sell this. Farewell!"

With that, Lu Luanli walked ahead without the slightest reluctance.

Then, after only a few steps, Lu Luanli turned and looked at Chu Xisheng in utter surprise. "Huh? Senior Brother Chu, Junior Sister Yunyun, why are you following me?"

Chu Xisheng had nothing to say. Black Market Town's largest Weapon Market was just south of Ancient Market Town. He could only follow behind Lu Luanli.

Behind him, Chu Yunyun could not help laughing when she heard this.

With Lu Luanli around, however, she could only keep pretending to be weak.

After all, she had fallen into the water and remained immersed for quite a long time.

Even a normal spellcaster could not have endured that, let alone a frail, sickly girl like her.