Chapter 4, Qingjiang

Fortunately, heaven is not entirely blind. One day, they were chased in a panic by a group of villagers wielding mud-studded sticks, and they fled to Yingxiu Town; then, as if heaven suddenly opened its eyes, they inexplicably found themselves crawling through a dog hole in a house; and remarkably, heaven arranged for them to encounter an extraordinary individual in that house

Before long, the two found themselves in front of a congee shop, searching for the blue-haired captain mentioned earlier by the boatman. Although it was easy to find, they did not ask everyone they encountered. The man on the boat, though not having a full head of blue hair, wore a short blue cloth jacket stained with dirt, adorned with an exceptionally delicate feather on his chest. The feather shimmered in a deep, dark blue, and was indeed a rather precious tail feather from the celestial vein. A boatman wearing such a valuable ornament while dressed in such tattered clothing was exceedingly conspicuous, making it immediately clear that this person was the blue-haired captain spoken of by others.

Jiang Yicao did not wish to do anything, nor did he want to change anything, until one day, in a fit of anger, he violated the law near the southern region of Gaotang County. Several years later, the repercussions of that incident finally reached the capital.

"The swift sword of the three flags on the river, could it be that Lord Ning is feigning ignorance?" At this moment, several officials from the inspection department had already boarded the ship. An older man, resembling a leader, said: "My colleague has just been somewhat offensive; I kindly ask you to forgive him for the sake of Lady Ji Xiaoye."

Jiang Yicao is an orphan, having been unaware of his parents' whereabouts since childhood. Even his name was chosen arbitrarily ten years ago. As an orphan in this murky world, especially as a young child, it seems he is destined for a fate of being sold from place to place. He can no longer recall when he first began to understand the world, but from that day onward, he resolved not to be sold again

Old Master Ning also smiled and said, "Who is the fastest sword in the world?"

However, the encounters of these minor characters in the peaceful world merely signify that everyone has collectively embarked on days of petty theft and mischief

From the moment he entered the door to the time he walked out of the cabin, everyone remained silent, their gazes following his movements. Once his figure disappeared from view, the crowd exchanged glances, wondering what kind of person had boarded the ship in such a manner. At that moment, his faint words seemed to still echo within the cabin, reminding everyone that such a person had indeed been there.

In contemplating how to deal with the inconspicuous self, even the scheming Lord Mo must put in some thought, which leaves one secretly astonished at the depth of this person's mind. Furthermore, thinking of that storyteller in the capital adds to the vexation in my heart. At this moment, upon catching the whiff of blood on A Chou's hands, I said in a low voice, "Have they all been killed?" There was even a hint of displeasure in my words.

A Chou slowly raised his head and said coldly: "Rest assured, none of them died; they only have broken arms and have fainted. They will not be able to return before tomorrow."

A Chou rarely engages in lengthy discussions, and after this long monologue, it has become somewhat tiring. Hearing this, Wen Yan nodded seriously and said: "The spring breeze is afraid that the two of us will mess up the package, making it inconvenient to find things"

Jiang Yicao was staring at the fish and meat dripping oil over the flames, drooling. At that moment, hearing her recite something strange, he turned his head and asked: "What is it?"

Jiang Yicao was deeply moved by the little girl's heartfelt efforts. He then heard A Chou beside him, somewhat lost in thought, asking: "Did the spring breeze cry when you left?" He knew that the two girls had spent a long time together and had developed a strong bond, making separation difficult. He replied: "Of course it cried! The little girl cried like a little monkey with tears."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yicao felt a slight stir in his heart. He then heard A Chou continue in a faint voice: "The two of them were sitting by the creek, eating frog meat and gazing at the stars in the sky, as if all enmity and all disputes had left them, leaving only the two of them in this vast world..."

He has always been afraid of death, but that does not mean he would be at a loss when faced with the threat of death. He is well aware that he has caused quite a bit of trouble for that noble friend, who is actually hard to confide in, and naturally does not wish to inform him of this matter. After all, escaping lightly in the face of death has always been the forte of him and his sister, as well as the person named A Chou who is currently sitting behind him on horseback.

The supervisory court held significant power over the court and the officials responsible for apprehending criminals in various regions were highly skilled in martial arts and held esteemed positions. When they entered local areas, the local government offices would welcome them with great ceremony, never having experienced such disdain before, and how could they tolerate the insolence of a mere boatman? Indeed, a young official sneered a few times, remaining silent, then turned and slapped a sailor standing on the gangplank. He then stepped onto the boat as if nothing had happened and said forcefully, "If not, then please come aboard..." The last word "aboard" was particularly emphasized, "but rather, please allow the master to board."

To the northeast of the capital, no more than a hundred miles away, there lies a great river. This river originates from the wilderness, gently flowing across the northern edge of Wangjiang County, making a turn outside Ankang City, and then slanting southward, carrying with it the ancient red mud accumulated from Hongshi County. Although the water is clear, it always carries one or two clumps of reddish fluff after passing through Hongshi County. During the early establishment of the Central Earth Dynasty, the northern borders were unstable, and the riverside mountains and fields were often sites of slaughter, with frequent occurrences of bloodshed. Thus, the people living on both banks of the great river, filled with despair, referred to it as the Blood River. It was not until the Central Earth was stabilized that a great Confucian from hundreds of years ago renamed it as the Clear River, signifying the clarity of the world.

Jiang Yicao furrowed his brows as he looked at that figure and said to A Chou, "That person is quite strange, boarding the ship as if preparing for a bloody battle in formation."

Jiang Yicao, seeing her embarrassment and anger, found it increasingly difficult to maintain his composure. He could not help but silently call for divine intervention, as this repeatedly effective tactic had indeed worked.

Although the people on the ship were indignant at the overwhelming arrogance of the local official, each of them felt apprehensive and dared not speak. Then they heard Ning Laoda let out a cold laugh as he walked over, extending his index finger and firmly pointing it at the young official's nose: "Then please, my lord, step down..." The tone carried a sense of coldness, and the word 'down' was drawn out for quite a while.

Upon hearing the term "young master," Jiang Yicao felt even more self-reproach and quickly changed the subject, saying: "I wonder what Mo Ji is doing at this moment"

A Chou smiled faintly upon hearing this, and suddenly noticed Jiang Yicao's nose twitching, his gaze fixated on the bloodied short sword in A Chou's hand. It then occurred to A Chou that this person had such peculiar habits. He plucked a handful of wild grass from the ground and wiped it haphazardly a few times, his gaze shifting, and softly said: "What do you want to ask?" It is indeed strange that although these two were master and servant, their tone of conversation was quite casual.

Jiang Yicao was taken aback when he saw her face, and after a moment of hesitation, he said: "It has been over a year since I returned to the capital. During the day, you always cover your face, and at night, I often indulge in my outings. By the time I return, you have long been asleep with the spring breeze in the side room. It is rare to see you without your hat; upon this sudden encounter, it feels somewhat unfamiliar..."

Before the words were finished, Ah Chou, who seemed unperturbed even as the heavens and earth crumbled before her, flushed red in the face and retorted, "Why are you like this again..."

Jiang Yicao quietly listened as A Chou recounted the story told by the storyteller from Ming Alley, becoming engrossed in it as well. Later, upon hearing that the young hero in the tale hastily tore off and ate the charred parts of the frog, leaving the unburnt frog meat for the young lady, he couldn't help but feel a stir in his heart. He glanced at the black stick in his hand, carefully pried it open, and was dismayed to discover that the fish seemed deliberately to deny him any opportunity; inside and out, it was a mass of black, with not a single part that looked pleasing to the eye.

Before she could finish speaking, Jiang Yicao was already laughing so hard that he almost lost his breath, and when he finally caught his breath, he straightened up and smiled at the puzzled A Chou, saying: "Do you really listen to her?" He tapped her nose and then his own, adding: "Although she often says that we are indeed idiots in this regard, is it really necessary to take it this far?"

Jiang Yicao, however, did not perceive any other undertones in these words and continued to speak to himself: "Although Mo Ji is a person of gentle disposition and values loyalty, he is overly fixated on certain matters, and I fear that when we meet again in the future..."

Encountering A Chou is, in itself, an exceedingly strange occurrence. It is hard to believe that the old man on the small Eastern Mountain near the snowy borders of the Western Mountain Kingdom is so stubborn and possesses such extraordinary abilities, that he could find a young assistant of his, who is thousands of miles away, on the outskirts of the Inspection Department. Moreover, just like forty years ago, he sent his youngest disciple to serve him... However, I am no longer the ambitious and world-conquering Imperial Master of forty years ago, and naturally, A Chou, who follows me now, cannot replicate the appearance of the old man from the mountains back then.

Kong Youran slowly walked to the back of the boat, not even glancing at the two people sitting cross-legged on the deck, lost in thought as he gazed at the few light clouds in the sky behind the boat and the flowing water before him. Since the battle of Yingxiu ten years ago, as the youngest of the three high priests of the temple at that time, he had lived in solitude for a decade in a thatched cottage on the solitary mountain of Xiling, yet unexpectedly, he had finally come down from the mountain.

The captain of the boat, with a blue cloth wrapped around his head and dressed in a white short shirt, was barefoot even in the early spring weather, seemingly unafraid of the cold. It was evident at a glance that he was a rather formidable character, yet his temperament exhibited a certain chivalrous spirit. Upon seeing Jiang Yicao's attire, which was rather well put together, but noticing his peculiar complexion, it was clear that the master and servant had encountered some inconvenience. He kindly said, "Although my boat charges a bit more, it travels quickly and does not stop at other docks along the way, going straight to the destination. If you two are facing any inconvenience, it would be better to walk a few steps ahead to the Blue Hair boat. That boat may be slower, but it only costs eighty copper coins."

Thus, he lived a proper life, and whenever the quiet of the night brought forth a flicker of vengeful flames, he would extinguish it fiercely. Living in such a mundane manner, nothing significant had occurred over the years, except for the addition of a younger sister and the encounter with A Chou a few years ago

Jiang Yicao finally realized that the Supervisory Court indeed had other arrangements—on the surface, presenting a clumsy and inadequate plan to make Mo Ji believe that the matter was already concluded, while secretly taking ruthless action, allowing them to completely distance themselves from the aftermath when facing the young master.

However, Ke Chunfeng remarked that the lectures given by this gentleman were extremely interesting. I have listened to them several times and feel the same way. Naturally, the stories also contain those tiresome elements of fighting and killing, but there is one particular tale that tells of a down-and-out, severely injured knight and a beautiful yet troubled young woman who are roasting frog meat by a stream. The frog meat was charred just like it is today

You wouldn't tell me that all these red cloths, the lumps, were things you were forced to remember by her last night, would you? So troublesome

The middle-aged constable, known as Old Shi, quickly took him aside and said seriously: "Ning Laoda, this is not a joke. These gentlemen are from the Inspection Court, here to pursue the criminals on the ship ahead. It is well known that your sailing skills are unparalleled on the Qing River, so please let us board the ship quickly. We cannot afford to delay the matter at hand"

Before long, Jiang Yicao had placed the fat fish on the firewood and was slowly roasting it. A Chou took down the backpack prepared by Chunfeng from the horse's back, carefully opened it, and recited as if reading a book: "Inside the two small red cloth bags are tied three lumps..."

When Mo Ji obtained the maritime capture document from the Ministry of Justice in his father's name at noon the day before, and quietly destroyed the announcement issued by a small county in the south at the Inspection Institute, Jiang Yicao had already clearly sensed that something was happening against him. Therefore, he sought the help of Fu Yan, the leader of Xicheng whom he had befriended over the years, to connect with a specific assistant officer handling this matter, promising a substantial sum, feigning a desire to curry favor with the Inspection Institute, and offering a person to assist in the task. Thus, A Chou entered the Inspection Institute with Fu Yan and became the 'wooden' person responsible for ending the lives of targets when the Inspection Institute found it inconvenient to act.

The captain who had just directed them to the blue-haired ship was now in their line of sight, commanding his subordinates to load and unload goods and arranging accommodations for the guests. Jiang Yicao felt a certain fondness for this person and couldn't help but glance at him a few more times. However, among the guests on the ship, two figures stood out as particularly special. To be precise, it was the silhouette of one of them that appeared especially unique. This person was dressed in black, tall in stature, and seemed somewhat ethereal, yet for some reason, he exuded an imposing presence that overshadowed everything around him. He walked up the gangplank, and as the river flowed beneath his feet, it seemed to quiet down in awe.

Then, Boss Ning squinted his eyes and glanced at those few people wearing silver-threaded belts, coldly saying: "Then come up." He showed not the slightest fear.

Jiang Yicao asked: "Do you know this person?"

Turning his head, he saw that the woman still wore a face of indifference, realizing that her lingering anger had not yet dissipated. He quickly summoned the last remnants of his skills and, with a playful grin, said: "Sister A Chou, with your icy skin and jade bones, how can you spend your days mingling with these spineless fish? Let me show you a trick today." He hurriedly snatched the fish, tossing it aside next to the woodpile, clumsily grasping A Chou's right hand, and pretended to be enchanted, saying: "Look at this little hand, it is truly like a jade lotus..."

Jiang Yicao noticed that she was completely different from her usual self, which made him feel somewhat unusual. However, it was rare to see this girl speak, so he shifted a little and lay down beside her, listening to her talk

Elder Ning clearly did not anticipate that the official would endure this much. After a moment of pause, he shouted: "You all, rescue the person, weigh anchor, set sail, lower the oars, and bring in the water..." The final word "water" was drawn out for an exceptionally long time, carrying a considerable sense of momentum

Turning her head, she saw A Chou imitating his earlier posture, dipping her delicate feet into the water, half-reclining by the stream, tearing fish meat with her fingers, feeding herself while gazing dreamily at the stars above. Hearing Jiang Yicao call her, she came back to her senses and smiled, saying: "During this past year, while you have been working in the City Patrol, the spring breeze often took me to tea houses to listen to storytellers. In the Ming Alley of the West City, there is a storyteller who speaks in a stuttering manner..."

A figure cloaked in an extremely wide black robe quietly walked in, and then, under the astonished gazes of the crowd, pulled a handful of coins from the sleeve and placed them on the table beside Old Master Ning, gently saying: "I apologize for the trouble, this is the fare for the boat". The crowd listened to the soft and delicate voice, which also carried a sense of tranquility, instilling a feeling of peace in their hearts

At this moment, the captain, who had a tail feather of a bluebird pinned to his chest, approached and asked a constable, "Old Shi, what’s the matter? I am about to set sail, and there is no room on the ship; I cannot take on more passengers." He seemed to be familiar with these constables and spoke without any courtesy. In fact, there were still vacant spots on the ship at this time, especially since the seats were occupied by short-distance travelers; it would not be a problem to squeeze in a few more people. However, it was evident that this captain was quite bold, daring to disregard the authority of the government.

Jiang Yicao watched as the sailboats on the river were connected end to end, and occasionally one would slowly glide out. He thought that when he finally sailed to the farthest reaches of the river, it would likely become the place where he would spend the rest of his life. He imagined that from then on, he would no longer have to worry about being caught up in inexplicable matters, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of exhilaration in his heart, wanting to raise his voice in the gentle breeze and vent the pent-up frustration he had endured for ten years.

The two were singing in harmony there, causing the expressions of the officials in the supervisory office to be rather unpleasant. The leader cleared his throat and said, "Ning Laoda, we are under a life-threatening obligation and cannot afford to delay; this ship cannot stop and go at will"

Then that person slowly walked out.

This group of officials was originally on their way to Xiling County to escort a major criminal, but unexpectedly, they were intercepted by a formidable character midway. Naturally, the group was unwilling to let the matter rest, yet they found themselves unable to contend with that person, so they could only follow along and inform Lady Ji Xiaoye, the chief clerk who was on official business in Qingchuan County. The group agreed to meet at a certain location upstream on the Qingjiang River

Jiang Yicao looked at the dark, mushy fish meat in his hand and sighed, "Oh fish, oh fish, although you resent becoming food to fill our stomachs, there is no need to torment me like this..." Seeing that this black, stick-like substance was indeed difficult to swallow, he turned his head and said, "Chou, shall we just eat dry rations instead?"

A Chou noticed that the firewood was burning a bit too fiercely, so he hurriedly pulled out the largest branch that was burning the most vigorously, while explaining: "This is the bundle that Chunfeng and I collected last night when you and Fu Yan were discussing matters. The bottle contains seasoning powder; Chunfeng was afraid I would forget, so he tied three knots on the outside. He was also worried that I wouldn't know how to use salt and pepper, so he mixed several spices in a bottle according to proportion. The two bundles wrapped in blue cloth contain dry rations, which we will eat with the sauce in the black bottle later. The bottle contains seasoning powder; Chunfeng was afraid I would forget, so he tied three knots on the outside. He was also worried that I wouldn't know how to use salt and pepper, so he mixed several spices in a bottle according to proportion. The two bundles wrapped in blue cloth contain dry rations, which we will eat with the sauce in the black bottle later. Your clothing is in one bundle of blue cloth, and mine is ... " He suddenly stopped speaking, then continued: "The five bundles of white cloth contain silver coins, the two bundles of white cloth contain maps, and the white cloth tied in a bow contains some items that are difficult to categorize."

They have been following that extremely formidable figure all the way. That person seems somewhat fearless, completely disregarding them. They are utterly powerless to fight back or to leave, feeling extremely helpless. Sometimes, when they think of that person's methods, they become even more anxious and uneasy, being exceedingly cautious along the way, fearing that the person following them might become enraged and turn back to eliminate them all.

Upon hearing a loud thud on the deck, it seemed that someone had boarded the ship. The officials from the inspection bureau were filled with great fear, thinking that at this moment the ship was in the middle of the river, already several dozen zhang away from the shore. They truly could not fathom who, apart from that person, would be so audacious in this vicinity of Qingchuan County, who would possess such skill to leap onto a vessel in the river in such a shocking and extraordinary manner. With this thought, they could not help but grip their weapons tightly, anxiously staring at the cabin door leading to the deck.

Upon hearing the name of Ji Xiaoye, Ning Laoda rolled his eyes but did not respond. Instead, he extended his index finger, rudely pointing at the young official's nose, incessantly gesturing, and coldly said: "Are you really not going to draw your sword?"

The situation is actually quite simple, Jiang Yicao thought with a furrowed brow, and one could even say it is somewhat amusing that the assassin was actually sent by the very person who was to be assassinated. However, he felt that the matter was not as straightforward as it seemed; how could Lord Mo be so easily deceived? In the morning, he had allowed Mo Jili to leave Tianxiang Tower to give the assassin time, which was something he had anticipated. Yet, the reasoning put forth by that old steward seemed overly contrived, and any discerning person would notice the issues with it, leading to Mo Jili returning before noon, which meant that the other traps he had set had no opportunity to be utilized. In the morning, he had allowed Mo Jili to leave Tianxiang Tower to give the assassin time, which was something he had anticipated. Yet, the reasoning put forth by that old steward seemed overly contrived, and any discerning person would notice the issues with it, leading to Mo Jili returning before noon, which meant that the other traps he had set had no opportunity to be utilized.

Seeing her finger movements and the expression on her face, Jiang Yicao felt a pang in his heart and whispered, "Is it that damn temple?"

Both individuals had left home at a young age. Although they were not well-versed in economic matters, they did not exhibit the hesitance typical of first-time travelers. After paying the fare, they boarded the ship and found a good spot at the stern that sheltered them from the wind and rain while allowing a distant view of the water scenery. They spread out the thin wool blanket provided by the ship and curled up in that place, gazing foolishly at the various boats transporting passengers up and down the river.

The official seemed to find it extremely amusing that this wretched person dared to confront him, and he couldn't help but laugh in anger, mocking, "What are you? How dare you compare yourself to me?" He then pressed on the hilt of his black gold sword at his waist and said proudly, "I am known as one of the three blades in the mansion; I fear you won't live to see it." He continued to ridicule, "Who do you think you are? The fastest sword in the world?"

Ah Chou, however, was unwilling to let go, and said softly: "Young master is afraid of the smell of blood, so let me handle it."

After the two had walked far away, A Chou asked, "How much is left?" Jiang Yi Cao chuckled, as if performing a magic trick, and pulled out a silver ingot from his bosom. Although A Chou was usually calm in the face of events, at this moment, he couldn't help but feel a bit pleasantly surprised and sighed, "Where did you get so much silver? By the way, since you have plenty on you, why didn't you take that large boat just now?"

Since the retreat of the Imperial Master Zhuo Siming from the Northern Dan and the rejection of the Western Mountains, approximately thirty years have passed without any major military conflicts. The world has enjoyed a period of peace and prosperity, leading to the well-being of the populace, a rich life, and an increasing number of merchants traveling from the south to the north. Those who have spent their lives wandering are also lingering among the famous mountains and rivers, reluctant to return. The Wangjiang Prefecture, located in the western region, has inconvenient transportation. To travel from the land, one must turn south and head north from Gaotang to reach the capital, making the journey long and rather inconvenient. Therefore, this clear river has become the most convenient passage in and out of Wangjiang Prefecture. In recent years, the prince of Wangjiang has managed the region with care, implementing light taxation and minimal burdens, which has encouraged many merchants to travel great distances to trade. Consequently, the nearby Qingchuan Prefecture has become a gathering place for merchants, with various types of carriages and boats establishing branches here. Every morning, the atmosphere at the dock becomes lively, with steam rising from various restaurants and porridge shops, while wooden boats on the river gently sway at the stern, preparing for departure.

All those figures were dressed in brownish-yellow garments, with matching silver belts around their waists. Jiang Yicao glanced over and was taken aback, turning his face towards A Chou's side, pretending to fall asleep, yet listening intently to the sounds on the boat.

Jiang Yicao turned back in confusion, only to see that the fresh fish, which had just been dripping with fat on the pile of firewood, had now turned into a thick black stick in the blazing flames, completely charred

A Chou also opened his eyes, looking at Jiang Yicao with a hint of disbelief. He slowly extended his hand, displaying a look of disdain, and gently raised his little finger

***

Old Master Ning blew away the steam from the tea bowl, took a sip with great satisfaction, and cursed, "Damn it, I finally bought a new pair of shoes, and I don't even know where they got kicked off to." The sailor who had just received a slap on the face on the gangplank chuckled beside him, trying to ingratiate himself, "Boss, there are no boat captains wearing shoes on this river; you are the first one. But if they are lost, they are lost. When we reach the new market ahead, I will go down and buy another pair."

Jiang Yicao awkwardly scratched his head, suddenly straightened his expression, and asked: "How many people?"

Jiang Yicao increasingly felt that something was amiss, pondering whether the two high-ranking officials in the Inspection Court were not as he had assumed, and had not been frightened away from this game by that black stone ring. While he was lost in thought, he suddenly caught a faint whiff of blood, a scent that, though not strong, made him feel almost nauseous. Since the incident ten years ago, he had not been accustomed to the smell of blood.

Draw your sword

A Chou secretly glanced at his dejected expression, unable to help but smile slightly at the corners of his mouth. He handed over the piece of fish in his hand and softly said, "It's not completely burnt yet." At that moment, their eyes met, and after a brief pause, they both couldn't help but chuckle. It was still early spring, and the weather was quite cold; once night fell, the chill in the wilderness became even more biting. However, the two by the campfire by the stream felt incredibly warm.

The young official, already displeased by the leader's words of weakness, was even more enraged upon witnessing such rudeness from this person, who waved a finger covered in black mud in front of him, and he sternly exclaimed: "What if I do not draw my sword..."

Who in the world does not know this gentleman? It is merely that they have not seen his true face. Eight years ago, he once visited the mountain; at that time, I was still a young girl and served him tea. I wonder if he still remembers me, " A Chou said with a faint smile

To their surprise, the person who gently pushed the cabin door and entered was not who they had anticipated

Jiang Yicao opened his mouth wide, listening to the fresh and charming lady before him. This usually taciturn swordsman was chattering non-stop about these trivial matters, leaving him somewhat dumbfounded. He thought to himself: "Only now do I realize that this woman, whether she appears cold as ice or warm as jade on the surface, is likely..."

Jiang Yicao bowed deeply and sincerely expressed his gratitude, saying: "Thank you very much for your guidance, elder brother"

Yet sometimes I feel that fate is truly unkind, as it insists on taking away the happiness that perhaps was never meant to be mine, in a terrifying manner, after I have enjoyed a few good years.

Jiang Yicao furrowed his brows and said: "I believe this money was secretly slipped into my arms by Chunfeng. Since it is her extra contribution, I cannot use it carelessly; I should save some on the way." It turned out that this piece of silver was the hefty sum that Chunfeng, the young maid, had extorted from Master Liu Ming, the chief clerk of the Inspection Court, in the capital. The young maid knew that her brother and A Chou were not the type to manage their finances well, so she secretly tucked it into Jiang Yicao's embrace, not realizing that it would come in handy at this moment.

Before he could finish speaking, Ning Laoda unexpectedly struck him in the chest with a punch, the speed of the blow was astonishing. The young official, caught off guard by the sudden attack, instinctively thought of drawing his sword, but then recalled the words he had just spoken, causing him to momentarily freeze. In that brief moment of hesitation, a fist the size of a bowl was already upon his chest

A Chou said lightly from the side: "Young Master Mo holds a noble status, so naturally he is in the mansion at this time, surrounded by servants and maids attending to him, each one sharp-tongued and skillful, unlike me who is so clumsy and awkward"

A Chou, however, ignored him and carefully untied the three knots on a small red envelope. Then, as if she had accomplished an extremely difficult task, she joyfully exclaimed, "Indeed, it is inside here." She then handed over a small bottle.

Every time Jiang Yicao reminisces about his youth, he often cannot help but laugh out loud, feeling that heaven has truly been kind to him

A Chou paused for a moment before slowly saying: "Seven. They are all in the dense forest near the East City Gate, skilled in their craft, and each carries a waist token, indicating they are experts from the capital's military."

The officials from the inspection office who were watching could not help but be startled, and they rushed forward. They saw the older leader wave his hand, step forward, and with a bitter smile said: "Let’s call it even. I would trouble Brother Ning to retrieve my people; we must set sail immediately. This official matter is urgent and cannot be delayed"

Before long, the boat had reached the center of the river, and the young official who had been kicked into the water had already been rescued. He had taken off his wet outer garment and was glaring fiercely at Ning, the elder, who was not at the helm in the front cabin but was instead drinking tea in the middle cabin

Jiang Yicao sniffed, suddenly sighed, and called the servant over, "A Chou, don't rush to do that, come here, I have a question for you"

At this moment, the master and his servant had already turned north from the east, having run about ten miles, and stopped by a stream, preparing to set off again the next morning. While he was soaking his feet by the stream and lost in thought, he noticed a black stone ring on his hand, which startled the official Tang, who was about to retire, as he saw the servant had killed a few fish in the water. At that time, the servant was gutting the fish and gathering dry branches to prepare dinner. The smell of blood was likely left from the fish he had killed.

If others were to hear that this person did not even utter a single greeting, and instead showed concern for the enemy's life and death with such indifference, regardless of whether they were master and servant, it would be feared that resentment could not be concealed in their hearts. Yet she merely turned away lightly, picked up the fresh fish from the ground, and prepared to walk towards the woodpile.

Just as I was laughing, I suddenly noticed A Chou looking very serious behind me, slowly saying: "I just realized that Chunfeng was right; we are indeed a bit foolish in this regard."

His ability to extricate himself from this official dispute was indeed greatly aided by Mo Ji, but he was also well aware that due to Mo Ji's esteemed status, the elderly officials in the Supervisory Court would certainly not allow such a matter, which could tarnish his career, to occur. The day he received Mo Ji's assistance might very well be the day when the feared Supervisory Court would come to take his life.

Jiang Yicao, who was leaning against the wooden board in the aft cabin and pretending to doze off, had already opened his eyes wide the moment that person boarded the ship. One of the two streams of true energy within him seemed to be drawn by something, flowing slowly through his meridians with immense joy. He closed his eyes, savoring the sensation reminiscent of his first encounter with A Chou many years ago, yet he could not understand why this person would disperse their true energy so far, as if greeting him.

If it were a meeting of heroes, it is likely that in the storyteller's mouth it would be recounted as "As dawn breaks and the rooster crows, who knows that several young men have formed an unbreakable bond by the waterside..."

In a state of panic, he extended his left palm to push away, preparing to strike down with his right hand, only to realize that his right hand was resting on the hilt of the knife. However, due to his heavy sense of identity, he found himself unable to draw it, feeling quite awkward. As his mind wandered, he failed to notice that Ning Laoda had silently kicked towards him. In his flustered state, the official had no time to evade and ended up taking the kick, his body clumsily falling into the water, splashing up a wave.

The youths, being young and frail, although they are fierce and reckless when it comes to fighting, have nonetheless endured many hardships on the path of thievery. They have escaped from the jaws of dogs more than once, sought a way out from high walls, and have often shared the experience of being educated with sticks. Whenever they hide from the world in a dilapidated temple or some other place, lighting a fire and showing off the wounds on their legs, they secretly feel that this kind of life seems to have no end, unless they grow a bit older, transitioning from petty thieves to major bandits. Then they would enjoy rich food and spicy drinks, only to be eventually captured by the authorities, forced to drink a bowl of soul-numbing liquor, and shout about how it would be eighteen years later.

Jiang Yicao had spent a long time with her and naturally understood her thoughts. Feeling regret for having spoken too harshly, he quickly took a step forward, wanting to take the fish from her hand

Jiang Yicao was taken aback, then awkwardly smiled again, only to remember that a large sum of silver had already been spent in Beijing to bribe the deputy commissioner of the inspection department through Tofu Yan, and the remaining amount was all kept on his person. He hurriedly reached into his bosom, but after a long while, he could not retrieve it, his expression still carrying a hint of peculiarity

At this moment, it is early spring, the water in the river flows gently, and the river is even clearer, with some areas in the distance revealing the bottom. If one looks closely, it seems that some fish can be seen wagging their tails at the riverbed. Upon witnessing this scenery, the two travelers could not help but feel delighted. However, upon seeing the dock at Honghua Ferry, where the shadow of a sail obscures the sun, some laborers were obliviously dumping a foul-smelling garbage into the river, which made A Chou furrow his brow.

Jiang Yicao reached out to take it, sniffed it, and praised, "It smells wonderful, what is this?"

Jiang Yicao turned his head to glance at A Chou, yet he was not quite clear in his heart as to why, since that night, during these past few days of travel, the woman had returned to that indifferent demeanor. It truly made one somewhat nostalgic for those fish cooked on the firewood by the stream.

One could see A Chou struggling to negotiate the fare with the boatman, and it was quite disheartening. I stepped forward and said, "No matter how much the fare is, just give it to him. Once we arrive in Ankang, we can naturally settle the accounts in the camp." To my surprise, A Chou shrugged his shoulders and helplessly replied, "I searched all morning but couldn't find those five small bundles of white cloth."

On a winter night, he escaped from the hands of his unknown number of "foster fathers" in the mountains, and then encountered a few slightly older little beggars roasting sweet potatoes stolen from the ground in a dilapidated temple covered in white snow

Jiang Yixiao chuckled silently, "You can actually remember this person's appearance for so long, which shows that he must possess extraordinary qualities." He saw that the man had boarded another boat, thinking it had nothing to do with him, and did not bother to ask A Chou for the man's name, seemingly afraid of getting entangled in any connection. He placed his bundle between the back of his head and the boat's board, lazily leaned back, and appeared to be preparing to fall asleep.

In the ten years since escaping Yingxiu Town, he has firmly remembered the lesson taught to him by his teacher: "Life should originally be a simple and joyful matter"

A Chou slowly walked over upon hearing the words, perhaps due to the abundance of gravel on the shore, making his steps somewhat laborious. The slender youth had already removed the hat from his head, revealing his true appearance. One could see... One could see that his features were picturesque, fresh and charming. How could this be the same black-clad swordsman from the inspection office's side hall, who had remained silent and exuded a chilling aura? In fact, he was a girl whose youthful innocence had not yet fully faded.

Upon hearing this, Boss Ning felt displeased and was about to retort, but then he heard a gentle thud from the deck outside the cabin

A Chou observed his persistent laziness, which inevitably cast a slight shadow of worry across her brow. She let out a soft sigh, but was overheard by Jiang Yicao. With his eyes half-closed, he teasingly said, "Chou, the space on the boat is limited; you can lean on my shoulder to rest." Upon hearing this, A Chou lightly scoffed, and beneath her hat and veil, a faint blush tinged her cheeks.

A Chou shook his head and said: "There is no way. This person's innate aura cannot be restrained, it is not merely the release of internal energy, but rather the inherent dominance of a hero or a great figure."

Before long, the large ship they had been staring at slowly departed from the riverbank and, after a short while, made its way to the center of the river, gradually heading upstream. Seeing that there was no excitement to watch, Jiang Yicao leaned closer to her ear, intending to whisper a few playful remarks. Just at that moment, however, they heard a commotion on the shore, as several local officials led some peculiar individuals onto the ship.