Do I look like Benbo'erba to you?

After several days of unbroken rain, the sky suddenly cleared for half a day. Fish and shrimp rose to the surface to breathe, only to be swept up in waiting nets. Fishing boats large and small returned laden with their catch and moored in rows at the wharf on Maple Bridge's western bank, where basket after basket was loaded onto ox carts and delivered to restaurants and inns.

"The waters rise and the fish grow fat. Three jin and two liang, and it fetched a mere eight copper coins."

"This fish has tender flesh. Best cut it into chunks, braise it with scallions and ginger, pour yellow wine over it, and serve it straight from a hot flame."

"I disagree. Scallions and ginger mask its fresh flavor. Better to add pickled greens and mature bamboo shoots, then simmer it into soup."

Dusk fell.

Two white-haired old men in fine clothes strolled slowly along the bank, arguing about ways to cook fish.

"Let me buy a jar of good wine, and I'll come visit you later..."

A young man in a brand-new white satin robe stood west of Maple Bridge, long hair hanging beside his temples and a folding fan in his hand, gazing into the distance. At the words "good wine," he turned and happened to see a catfish with a straw cord threaded through its mouth, swinging as it was carried toward the smoke of household hearths.

The people and customs of Jiangnan are vastly different from those North of the Passes. It wouldn't be bad to establish myself here and escape the First Rank Hall's shackles. But I can't rush things just yet...

Carriages and horses streamed out of the city.

Social customs in Jiangnan were gradually loosening, though propriety still carried great weight in public. To avoid attracting attention, young ladies from wealthy gentry households often chose dusk for their outings, so the bustle and brilliant lights at night rivaled those of daytime.

Night had yet to fall, but watchmen were already hanging lanterns along the streets.

A beauty seen by lamplight grew more breathtaking with every glance.

He had only stood there a little while before drawing repeated looks from many women on outings. Some sent maids and older serving women over with scented sachets and handkerchiefs, but once they climbed the stone bridge and reached the spot, there was only dim yellow lamplight, with no trace of him.

"A fox spirit? A ghostly scholar?"

More than three hundred paces downstream from the stone bridge, a fishing boat lay in a bend of the river. A banner hung from it, bearing the image of a strange bird with both wings folded before its chest, as though pressing its palms together in worship of the Buddha. A mere tilt of the head afforded a view of the walls and lights of Cold Mountain Temple nearby.

An outsider would have assumed the boat's owner was a lay Buddhist.

Folding fan in hand, Li Yu walked slowly out of the maple grove to the water's edge. Only a single candle burned inside the dim cabin, and he could not tell whether anyone was there. He coughed twice.

"Ahem, ahem."

After a while, a voice came from inside.

"Who is it?"

Facing the lamplight reflected on the water, Li Yu lowered his voice. "I've come from the northwest."

Another brief silence followed. The voice from the cabin sounded a little more relaxed, but still cautiously gave the password. "The moon sets, crows cry, frost fills the sky."

Li Yu looked around and answered in a low voice, "A thousand li to Jiangling, returned in a single day."

"Please come aboard."

Li Yu folded his fan, secretly felt for the dagger concealed in his sleeve, and leaped onto the bow, his gaze fixed on the candlelight inside the cabin.

"Two months. You've finally arrived."

The candle flame trembled as a man emerged from the cabin, bending at the waist. He wore short work clothes and had dark skin, bulging arm muscles, deep-set eyes, and a somewhat aged face. A fishy smell clung to him.

"Gao Jingzong, deputy commander of the First Rank Hall."

Li Yu was inwardly surprised. Neither the original owner's memories nor anything he had learned since included a commander surnamed Gao.

"Third-class secret agent, Li Yu."

"Do you know whose orders brought you here?"

"Two months ago, I received this token and the password at the Yuelai Inn in Lingzhou."

Li Yu himself was somewhat puzzled by the matter. He took a bronze token from inside his robe. On its face were eight Western Xia characters reading "Heaven-bestowed rites and laws, extended blessings, Yuanhao." A five-clawed dragon was engraved on the back in a rough, bold style, its edges worn shiny with age.

"The messenger said someone here would explain the specific assignment."

The First Rank Hall was a secret organization that had always used identifying objects as credentials, and its internal discipline was exceedingly strict. With his current strength, he had no room to maneuver at all. After receiving the order, he dared not delay and set off immediately.

"Sit down and we'll talk."

At the sight of the token, Gao Jingzong's gaze suddenly softened considerably, as though he had fully confirmed Li Yu's identity. He relaxed his tense posture and sat on the boat's decking.

"When the First Rank Hall was founded, there were only two Heavenly Mandate Tokens."

"One was bestowed on Helian Tieshu by the grand consort."

Helian Tieshu was a powerful figure riding high in the Western Xia court. Granted the title of Grand General Who Conquers the East, he commanded the First Rank Hall. As a mere third-class secret agent, Li Yu did not even qualify to meet him at close quarters.

"The one in your hand is naturally not Helian Tieshu's."

Before Li Yu could ask, Gao Jingzong studied his appearance again and uttered two words.

"The sovereign."

Just as I thought!

The grand consort had wielded overwhelming power at court for decades. Living deep within the palace, she had countless followers and was also the current sovereign's grandmother in name.

Gao Jingzong looked up at the moon and stars strewn across the sky. "Whoever holds a Heavenly Mandate Token is entitled to command the First Rank Hall. With two tokens... you can at least control half of it and stand on equal footing with Helian Tieshu!"

Li Yu slowly sat down, sneering inwardly.

Stand on equal footing with Helian Tieshu? This is plainly the sovereign trying to arm-wrestle his own grandmother.

"Why did the sovereign bestow the token on me?"

"The sovereign has few people he can trust. As for why he chose you... I don't know either. Apart from a copy of your service record, the message delivered by eagle only explained your assignment to me."

Every secret agent's service record was kept at the First Rank Hall's headquarters. Unless the agent died, it would never be taken out.

Since Li Yu's service record had been removed, no such person remained on the headquarters' books.

Still, whether it was in Helian Tieshu's hands or the sovereign's made no difference.

If one day he could bring his divine arts to great completion... it would make even less difference.

"What exactly is the assignment?"

"Raze Mantuo Manor and capture Madam Wang alive."

Looking at Gao Jingzong, Li Yu suddenly asked, "Do I look like Benbo'erba to you?"

"What Ben... bo'erba?"

"A catfish."

Gao Jingzong shook his head. "Don't talk about yourself like that. Of course you don't look like a catfish. On the contrary, your service record speaks very highly of you. A northerner with southern looks, peerlessly handsome, capable of breaking a chaste woman's resolve or awakening a young maiden's first stirrings of love... Still, if you really can be a catfish and churn up wind and rain across Lake Tai, that would be an accomplishment too."

There was no wall under heaven that did not let the wind through.

Madam Wang was the grand consort's daughter. She had grown up in the Western Xia palace before eventually marrying into a family in Jiangnan.

The sovereign has worked out a fine scheme, using Madam Wang to keep Li Qiushui in check...

Li Yu felt a headache coming on.

Mantuo Manor's wealth dominated the region, and it was itself one of Gusu's three great martial powers, with marriage ties to the Murong Clan. On territory they had spent years cultivating, what the hell was he supposed to use to capture Madam Wang?

Seeing his reluctance, Gao Jingzong smiled. "Since the sovereign sent you here, he's planning for the long term, not for a single day or night. In short, make good use of your advantages. There may yet be an opportunity."

"I..."

"No need to say any more. From today onward, matters here are in your hands."

Gao Jingzong could hardly wait to row away.

Three years, then another three-after nine years stationed here as an agent, he could finally return to Western Xia to report.

According to him, he had accomplished quite a bit over the years and amassed a substantial foundation for his successor.

"A substantial foundation?"

Standing on the bank, Li Yu looked at the gang leader's token now in his hand, a faint sense of anticipation stirring within him.

"The Fish-Dragon Gang. Quite an imposing name..."