The sky gradually darkened.
On Guest-Welcoming Island inside Forgetful River Mouth.
Several passenger boats were moored along the island's shore, while Black Dragon Island disciples patrolled the area bearing weapons.
A manor had been built in the center of the island, normally used for diplomacy and gatherings. It was brightly lit now, with the faint sounds of singing and dancing drifting from within.
Li Yi stood guard outside the main hall in martial attire. From time to time, he looked out at the lake beyond the island, then pulled a jade token from his sleeve to check it. A trace of anxiety showed between his brows.
As an incense master under Black Dragon Island, Li Yi had initially been in charge of managing a money house. Later, the Return to Origin Cult had taken notice of him because of the convenience his position offered and recruited him as one of the Twenty-Eight Stars.
At the start of the year, Gold-Chasing Gentleman had resurfaced in the martial world, hoping to climb the rankings and keep his divine weapon. But a divine weapon alone wasn't enough to climb the rankings; he also needed a great many resources, including pills and cultivation techniques.
Gold-Chasing Gentleman couldn't possibly steal everything he needed. Hunted throughout the martial world, he didn't dare deal with black-market merchants either. Then inspiration struck, and he came to their "Red-Eye Disease Cult."
It wasn't the first time the two sides had worked together. Gold-Chasing Gentleman had come to them to fence stolen goods long ago, and the reason was simple:
Any underworld faction in the martial world might sell out Gold-Chasing Gentleman's whereabouts and join forces to capture him, but the Return to Origin Cult wouldn't.
They would only hog the spoils!
They were also extremely proactive: if they could handle something themselves, they would never notify their fellow cult members for help!
As long as the Return to Origin Cult didn't catch him, Gold-Chasing Gentleman was absolutely safe.
When Li Yi had suddenly received a message and stolen goods a few months ago, he had been somewhat shocked.
After all, Gold-Chasing Gentleman had formerly been nothing more than a thief. He had been valuable, but not worth the Return to Origin Cult committing much manpower to.
But Gold-Chasing Gentleman was different after returning from years of absence. He had more than one divine weapon on him, along with several famous weapons of great practical use. Their value ranked near the top of the entire Gold List, yet he was a thief whose martial skills weren't particularly high.
Seeing him walk right into the net, Li Yi knew he couldn't handle him alone and hurriedly notified his superiors to come rob him. All of the Seven Mansions of the Azure Dragon mobilized!
But he soon discovered that there was a reason Gold-Chasing Gentleman had spent twenty years as a thief without being caught.
The silver was left at five locations. Horn Wood Flood Dragon, Neck Metal Dragon and the others personally led teams, each staking out one location. Yet in the time it took them to turn their heads, the goods were gone.
Afterward, the Return to Origin Cult gained an "unofficial Star."
Every few days, Gold-Chasing Gentleman would leave a note and stolen goods. Li Yi would prepare the requested resources and notify his superiors to lie in wait for him, and the cycle repeated itself.
The higher-ups all had public identities. Vanishing every few days and traveling back and forth was simply more than they could bear.
So in the end, one superior came each time. Catching him would be a pleasant surprise; if they didn't, they treated it as a trip to collect resources.
The cult even left notes in an attempt to recruit Gold-Chasing Gentleman.
But Gold-Chasing Gentleman understood the "Red-Eye Disease Cult's" corporate culture well: when your equipment was worth more than you were, you ceased to have any value at all!
Seeing that Gold-Chasing Gentleman wouldn't take the bait, the cult had no choice but to keep staking him out.
A few days ago, something had gone missing from the Shangshui Sword Cottage. After receiving the stolen goods, Li Yi naturally began preparing the required supplies and drawing on manpower. This time, two of his superiors had come.
The reason was that trouble had broken out in Yongzhou. Mantanghong, the second-generation leader of the Mountains and Rivers Association, had gone mad for some reason and strutted around near the capital, leaving both herself and the Flower Judge badly injured in a fight!
As their sworn enemy, the River-Spanning Pavilion naturally had to seize the opening to snatch the leading position. Black Dragon Island and the River-Spanning Pavilion wore the same pair of trousers, so they had begun hosting banquets to win over figures from the Eight Great Sects of the Cang River.
His superiors, "Heart Moon Fox" and "Room Sun Rabbit," were also on the guest list, so they had come to stake Gold-Chasing Gentleman out along the way.
As an incense master of Black Dragon Island, Li Yi had spent the past few days worrying about the Return to Origin Cult's affairs while also handling the sect's miscellaneous business. He was nearly run off his feet.
Then last night, his subordinate "Leopard" had added to the trouble, saying he was coming to hand over a famous weapon.
What Li Yi had his eye on was the divine weapon, the Fate-Robbing Saber. How could he have time to bother with some lousy bracer? He had intended to put it off for a few days.
But the other man said he also had news of the Filth-Severing Whip, and Winnowing Basket Water Leopard had some ability, so Li Yi could bring him along to help with the stakeout.
In the end, Li Yi agreed. Seeing that the appointed time was approaching and the banquet still hadn't ended, he secretly gritted his teeth, turned back into the banquet hall, and went to a private room guarded by a hall master himself. He respectfully reported:
"Hall master, I just remembered that a shipment arrived from the north today. Those people like to haggle over every little thing, and I'm afraid the people below can't handle them..."
There was clearly an honored guest in the private room. The hall master guarding the door was rather displeased, but still waved him off:
"Come back as soon as you're done. If we want these sect leaders and wealthy merchants to switch sides and do business with us in the future, we have to keep up appearances. One person leaves to the east, another to the west-what kind of behavior is that?"
"Yes. It won't happen again."
As if granted a pardon, Li Yi hurriedly took his leave.
Meanwhile, inside the private room.
Jiang Jinjiang, the master of Black Dragon Island, sat in a chair wearing a brocade robe. Only after the incense master Li Yi had left did he speak apologetically:
"My subordinate doesn't know the rules. Sorry you had to see that, Brother Huang."
Across the tea table sat an ordinary-looking middle-aged man who looked rather like a steward. His expression was genial.
"Master Jiang, the scale of your business truly is the envy of outsiders. But when you make your way in the martial world, even at the very limit, you're only a wealthy and powerful local magnate. In this world, those who wear official hats have the final say."
Jiang Jinjiang picked up his teacup and took a sip, his words carrying a teasing note.
"I don't know who's behind you, Brother Huang, but someone who could get the Eight Pillars Hall's help and hire the likes of Yang Tuyan to attack the emperor, only to have the whole affair ruined by a greenhorn 'surnamed Ye' from Qingxi, can't be all that capable. If not for this token, I wouldn't even have received you."
On the table between them lay a palace access token. Its holder could enter and leave the palace gates freely, and it was difficult for outsiders to counterfeit. Being able to produce it was proof enough of one's power.
Jiang Jinjiang knew only that this man was named "Huang Guan" and was an adviser to some important figure in the capital. The man had never disclosed his background.
Huang Guan gave no clear answer now either, saying only:
"My master's identity cannot be disclosed, but tomorrow morning someone from Jingzhou City will come with a document informing you, Master Jiang, that you will henceforth be in charge of building the new ferry port at Cang River Bay."
"Oh?"
Jiang Jinjiang was genuinely surprised to hear this.
The new ferry port at Cang River Bay was intended to facilitate trade between north and south after Great Yan's unification. It would serve as a transfer point on the new shipping route and was a major project specially approved by the emperor. The great wealthy merchants and factions of Jingzhou were all competing to be the "principal contractor."
Whoever secured it would not only earn the imperial court's silver; the ferry port would also become their territory in the future. Black Dragon Island had pulled many strings over the matter, but its influence was weaker than the River-Spanning Pavilion's, and Jiang Jinjiang had thought he stood no chance.
If Huang Guan could assign the task directly to him, then his backing was indeed extraordinary. Half-convinced and half-doubtful, Jiang Jinjiang said:
"Mr. Huang, with such ability, why did you hire Yang Tuyan to attack the emperor?"
Huang Guan shook his head.
"The attack on the emperor isn't important. What matters is the affair itself. At first, those above intended to use a 'divide-and-conquer scheme' to drive a wedge between someone and His Majesty, but unfortunately, word leaked from the Eight Pillars Hall.
"Master Jiang, you are an outstanding talent of our age. How could you remain beneath the River-Spanning Pavilion forever? If you're interested, you can find a deathsworn. Once you've found someone, my master will naturally disclose his identity and join you in planning a great undertaking."
Jiang Jinjiang knew he was being asked to offer a "pledge of allegiance" first. After thinking for a moment, he said:
"This is no small matter. If the document really arrives from Jingzhou City tomorrow, I'll give you my answer then."
Forgetful River Mouth.
Night had fallen, and the lakeshore was pitch-black. Only scattered boat lights could be seen on the lake.
With the Divine Arm Crossbow on his back, Ye Xingge arrived at a lakeside inlet no more than five li from town. Numerous abandoned boats were piled up inside, along with buildings used for dismantling them, but no one remained after dark.
Hongyu walked beside him in a long dress. After glancing around the abandoned boatyard, she pointed to the second floor of a battered old pleasure boat.
"I'll lie in wait there. You hide behind the buildings. As soon as they arrive, we'll ambush them from both sides. We have to be quick and avoid alerting Black Dragon Island's people."
Ye Xingge looked around and felt that this was indeed a good place to kill people and steal their goods. He handed the Divine Arm Crossbow and its bolt magazine to Great Beauty, then prepared to find a hiding place.
But he soon saw Great Beauty, brimming with the bearing of an expert, walk beneath the pleasure boat with the crossbow and tap her toes lightly against the ground.
Thump, thump, thump~
Her bulging bodice bounced a few times, and faint ripples ran through her full buttocks and thighs, but she herself only jumped two feet high.
Then Great Beauty froze on the spot.
"Huh?!"
Ye Xingge stared, then hurried over, his eyes full of mockery.
"What's wrong, eighth in the Second Rank? Too high for you to get up? Want your big brother to give you a hand?"
Seeing that this little brat still dared to gloat, Hongyu's gaze turned cold. She pointed the uncocked Divine Arm Crossbow at Ye Xingge, her look presumably saying:
I can't jump onto the boat, but you think I can't deal with you?
Ye Xingge felt she couldn't, but to spare Great Beauty's pride, he still went beneath the pleasure boat, clasped his hands together, and half-squatted.
"All right, all right. Come on, I'll give you a lift."
"Hmph..."
Hongyu said no more and sprang up in two quick steps.
Facing her, Ye Xingge felt her trembling bodice come straight at him, but before they made contact, he thrust his hands upward. The magnificently proportioned beauty in red immediately flew up, her skirt sweeping across his cheek with the momentum.
Whoosh~
Then he found that, as her skirt slid across his cheek, two great white pythons appeared before his eyes, long and rounded. Unfortunately, it was too dark to make out the details farther in...
?
Ye Xingge froze, then turned back and asked in surprise:
"You're not wearing pants?"
Hongyu wasn't quite that uninhibited; she was wearing little panties with a bow. Hearing him, she turned the Divine Arm Crossbow back toward him.
Seeing this, Ye Xingge spread his hands slightly and asked no more. He went behind the buildings and hid where Great Beauty could see him, then raised his wrist to his mouth.
"I'm in position. Are you there yet?"
Hongyu crossed the messy hall and climbed to the pleasure boat's second floor. She stopped in an empty private room, pushed a window open a crack, and set the Divine Arm Crossbow on the tea table. After making sure she had a clear view, she replied:
"I'm here."
Ye Xingge looked carefully and confirmed that the window was pitch-black and Great Beauty couldn't be seen. Then he took out his token and tapped out:
"Forgetful River Mouth, abandoned boatyard, arrived"
With that, he held the token and waited. A moment later, the squares on the little token changed:
"Wait a moment"
Ye Xingge breathed a sigh of relief, but didn't let down his guard. After waiting a while without seeing any movement, he asked:
"You're not nervous, are you?"
Holding the Divine Arm Crossbow ready, Hongyu was speechless when she heard this.
"I've noticed you bully the weak and fear the strong. Why are you so polite to Luo Xuanqing, but all slick talk around me?"
Half-squatting with his back against an earthen wall, Ye Xingge spoke earnestly:
"She's different."
"Huh?"
Hearing that so suddenly, Hongyu's expression changed. She took a deep breath and blurted out:
"What's so different about her? I gave you a divine weapon, helped you plan, paved the way for you, and got you so much credit. What has she given you? An outer-sect cultivation technique?"
Ye Xingge shook his head. "It's not about what anyone gave me. Even if Great Beauty Luo had less than a tenth of her strength left, she'd still be far stronger than me. I don't need to worry about her. But you've lost all your strength. How could I not worry about something happening to you? And if I'm worried, of course I have to ask..."
Hongyu understood what he meant.
"Oh, so you mean she can beat you up, but I can't?"
Wasn't that exactly it...
If Great Beauty could still fight, how would Ye Xingge dare tease her in all sorts of ways? But he couldn't very well say that outright, so he merely replied:
"I'm just concerned, that's all. All right, focus on the ambush... Huh? Looks like they're here."
Hongyu had been secretly gritting her teeth, but when she heard this, she instantly regained her composure and looked ahead. A ferry with no lights or fire aboard was approaching the abandoned boatyard.
Then five figures in black robes jumped off the boat and walked this way.
Tap, tap, tap...
Seeing so few people coming, Ye Xingge was a little unaccustomed to it.
But if all of the Seven Mansions of the Azure Dragon had shown up, he wouldn't have had a chance to get used to it.
"How strong are these people?"
From her elevated position, Hongyu used the scope to study the five figures and their bearing.
"The masked one in front is Tail Fire Tiger. The other four have some martial foundation, more solid than that bunch of ants yesterday, but they aren't all that strong either. Finish them quickly."
Ye Xingge observed them carefully and saw no danger either. As the footsteps drew near, he gripped his saber hilt and readied himself to strike.
But soon, voices also carried over from the distance, growing closer:
"How many times has it been now? There's really no catching Gold-Chasing Gentleman..."
"?"
Ye Xingge froze, suppressed the Qi he had raised, and turned his ear to listen...