A storm was brewing

July 14.

"Go straight back to the Fragrance-Listening Waterside Pavilion. Don't keep Sister Azhu waiting."

"Aren't you coming back with me, miss?"

"I'll take the bamboo raft. I might even get there before you."

"Hahaha, I forgot. Getting old, getting old..."

Out on the lake, the medium-sized canal boat raised its sails and turned, heading north along the shore of Lake Tai. A black flag bearing the character for "swallow" fluttered from its mast. A middle-aged man in gray stood at the bow, with thirty sacks of black soil neatly stacked behind him.

"I hope Madam will be satisfied this time. Hopefully Sister Azhu won't get slapped because of this..."

Abi tucked in her neck, turned, and looked toward the large tree east of the wharf.

Old Yuan had put up a simple shelter in the tree's shade. He had replaced his bowls with a new set of thirty-two large white porcelain ones and added four more sets of tables and chairs. Business was thriving, and no one at the wharf dared cause him trouble.

Li Yu finished a bowl of wontons and looked up at the lake. "That aunt of your young master's is certainly eccentric."

"Isn't she just?"

Abi smiled softly, gathered up her skirts, and sat on a bench. "Who knows what it's about this time? All the camellias we sent were returned, and she insisted we send a hundred new pots over. Sister Azhu did as she asked. The camellias are still on the way, and she told me to get the soil ready first. Thank you, and sorry for troubling you again."

Li Yu smiled. "What's a little thing like this? Surely our friendship is worth more than a few bags of soil?"

Abi said, "You won't accept any silver, either. How am I supposed to thank you?"

Seeing how determined she was to repay him, Li Yu supposed the Gusu Murong Family had rules against lightly owing favors.

He thought for a moment, then raised a hand and summoned someone.

"My respects, Cult Leader!"

Guo Xie carried two short spears and wore a short jacket that exposed his dark, lean muscles. He glanced at the young girl. Knowing she was the cult leader's guest, he dared not slight her because of her age and greeted her just as respectfully.

Li Yu smiled. "He was the one who went to the trouble of leading the men to dig up the soil. Guo Xie is obsessed with martial arts, and I'm no good at teaching. Just teach him a move or two, and it'll benefit him endlessly."

Abi smiled. "If I'm to teach him, he'll have to formally offer tea and take me as his master."

Guo Xie immediately dropped to one knee and offered a cup of hot tea with both hands.

Though Abi had seen much, she was still young. She thought teaching others was a trade for old men with graying beards and had only spoken on a playful impulse. Seeing that he had taken her seriously, she felt rather embarrassed and shot Li Yu a reproachful look.

"Without the young master's permission, I absolutely cannot teach the Murong Family's martial arts to outsiders. I can only tell you about things of my own. If you feel you're getting a bad bargain, hurry and take this tea back."

Guo Xie had already received his instructions. He addressed her as Master, looking utterly unwavering in his devotion.

Abi hurriedly waved her hands. "Don't call me Master. I'll think of something to teach you... Grinding ink and painting, growing flowers and brewing tea-what I'm best at is music, playing wind and string instruments and singing... Hmm... What would you like to learn?"

As Guo Xie rose, he stole a glance at Li Yu and said, word by word, "I saw Miss Abi steering her boat over the lake, like an immortal maiden from a palace beneath the waters. It would be best if I could learn a skill like that."

"Hehehe..."

Abi laughed for a while, whether pleased at being likened to an immortal maiden from a palace beneath the waters or for some other reason. "So you want to learn to row. What's so hard about that? Why beat around the bush?"

Li Yu said from beside her, "Is that also one of the Murong Family's martial arts? If it puts you in a difficult position, forget it."

Abi said, "It's all derived from the Murong Family's martial arts, including the Zhou Family's Thirty-Two Routes of the North-Sweeping Spear Art from Cangzhou in Hebei, the Iron Cauldron Circular Joining Stance Art of Green Ram Palace in Sichuan, and the Wind-Catching Formula from Wind-Settling Island in the South Sea. But as for applying them to rowing... most of that is something I came up with myself. There's no harm in teaching him."

Li Yu laughed inwardly. She called them the Murong Family's martial arts, yet reeled off place names from every corner of the land. How had the Murong Family collected all these arts? Surely they hadn't obtained their owners' permission before taking them?

"Then thank you, Miss Abi."

The three went to the lakeside, where a green bamboo raft floated. Abi jumped aboard, took up the wooden pole, and demonstrated movements to either side. She explained the footwork, how to sink the body's weight, and how to borrow force... this way and that, thus and so.

An hour later.

Guo Xie swung the long pole from side to side, gradually getting the hang of it. Though he was not as swift as a flying arrow or galloping horse like Abi, he was far better than before. He came from a fishing family, whose livelihood had been passed down through the generations, and had also practiced spear techniques, which he could integrate with wielding the pole.

The two stood on the shore, watching the bamboo raft spin on the lake.

The girl in green looked at the man beside her and smiled slyly. "You taught him to say that, didn't you, Cult Leader Li?"

"Miss Abi saw right through my little scheme."

"I understand. Being a cult leader isn't easy for you, either. You need to cultivate one or two capable subordinates."

Abi smiled generously and looked out at the lake. Having just learned the method, Guo Xie was beside himself with joy and sought only speed. With a splash, the bamboo raft flipped, sending him into the water. Fortunately, he was an excellent swimmer and could hold his breath underwater for a quarter of an hour. He soon clambered back up.

"Just like my young master, for the sake of... his grand plans in the martial world."

She was lively, but no ignorant little girl. She handled intelligence affairs for the Murong Family at Swallow Bastion and naturally knew of the Divine Dragon Cult's growing influence of late. In a short time, this Cult Leader Li, who resembled a graceful young gentleman in a sullied world, had won himself a great reputation.

Li Yu smiled. "Young Master Murong's fame is illustrious. He's unwilling even to share equal renown with Northern Qiao Feng. If he knew Miss Abi was comparing my little games to his grand plans in the martial world, he naturally wouldn't blame you, but he would be annoyed with me."

Abi tilted her head and looked at him. "How strange. You've never met my young master, yet you seem to know his temperament so well."

Li Yu smiled. "It's all from what you've told me."

"Is it?"

Abi lowered her head in recollection. She did seem to have mentioned that the young master disliked sharing equal renown with the head of the Beggars' Sect.

"Once my young master returns, if you have time, Cult Leader Li, you can visit Swallow Bastion. He's a hero of the very highest caliber under heaven and loves making friends with outstanding talents in the martial world. I'll introduce you."

Li Yu smiled faintly. "Nothing could be better."

Ripples spread across the lake, white waves flew like arrows, and the green-clad figure receded into the distance.

Guo Xie cupped his hands. "Thank you, Cult Leader."

Gazing at the calm waters of Lake Tai, Li Yu smiled. "Practice hard. A storm is coming. If the ship that is the Divine Dragon Cult is to ride the waves and voyage far, it can't rely on me alone."

"This subordinate understands."

Guo Xie nodded firmly, took two baked flatbreads from the wharf, and set out on the bamboo raft again, wielding the pole like a spear.

Li Yu had just returned to Green Willow Manor when he saw Fu Rong approaching with an unfamiliar face.

"Word has come from Wolf Head Stronghold."

"Where's the letter?"

Fu Rong looked at the man behind her. Of medium build and unremarkable appearance, he wore coarse hemp clothing and a small cap. He was the sort who would vanish from sight in an instant if tossed into a crowd, well suited to delivering intelligence.

He had brought a verbal message.

"The West Canal Gate has paid a hefty bribe to Chen Youchun of the Beggars' Sect, intending to have him step forward and force Cult Leader Li into a public duel to the death with Ge Zhixiong. Our stronghold chief says Ge Zhixiong, nicknamed Flying Crane, has unpredictable lightness skills and powerful internal arts. Cult Leader Li had best prepare early."

Li Yu pondered for a long while.

He had noticed it during their brief clash in Linhu Town that day, after exchanging just one move.

Leaving aside the quantity, the depth and solidity of Ge Zhixiong's internal power far surpassed the likes of Zhang Hengye and Yang Le.

Even Old Woman Yan fell short of him.

He knew his own limits. Killing an exhausted Old Woman Yan through a sneak attack at Mantuo Manor did not mean he had the strength to face a second-rate expert head-on.

There's been too little time. Though Soul-Losing Finger is a superior martial art, and Wang Yuyan's notes helped me quickly grasp its rudiments, I still need an opportunity to master it. Knowing what to do and achieving results are two different things...

The man in plain cloth continued, "Our stronghold chief says the internal cultivation method Ge Zhixiong practices is called Yellow Crane in the Nine Heavens. The longer he fights, the more strength he has in reserve. Those who don't know can easily suffer for it."

Li Yu nodded. "Thank Stronghold Chief Zhou for me."

"When Cult Leader Li raided Linhu Town at night, you said you would 'take the West Canal Gate down a peg on behalf of the heroes of the South Canal martial world.' Our stronghold chief heard that and admired you greatly!"

Having delivered his message, the plain-clothed man took his leave, and Fu Rong led him out of Green Willow Manor through a side gate.

"Yellow Crane in the Nine Heavens?"

Li Yu stood beneath the corridor roof, his brows slightly furrowed. His swordsmanship and lightness skills had both advanced greatly. All he lacked was a superior internal art to match them. He lowered his head and took a rough bronze mirror from his sleeve.

These days, he never let it leave his person. He had racked his brains over it, yet could not unravel its secrets.

"Could I be overthinking it?"