It was the fourteenth day since the death of Gao Nian of the Golden Dragon Gang.
The first light of dawn was just beginning to break.
Inside the Inner City, at the new Shen family residence.
A series of hurried clucks echoed from the newly built chicken coop in the corner of the courtyard.
A plump old hen stood inside, her feathers puffed up defensively, her tiny, beady eyes filled with wariness.
Shen Xiuhan, munching on a scallion pancake freshly made by Madam Zheng, tore off a small piece of the crust and held it out.
“Do you want some pancake?”
“Cluck! Flap, flap!”
The old hen showed no appreciation whatsoever. She flapped her wings violently and let out a sharp, protective squawk, looking as though she was ready to fly up and peck his eyes out.
Shen Xiuhan had no choice but to pull his hand back.
They had already been living in the Inner City for several days.
Madam Zheng had thoroughly cleaned the small storefront. Three days ago, Shen Xiuhan had gone to a carpenter's shop to order five sturdy tables and sets of chairs, and had also visited the market to purchase brand-new pots, bowls, and ladles.
At this rate, with just two or three more days of preparation, the eatery would be ready to officially open its doors to customers.
Unfortunately, Shen Xiuhan would not be there to see it.
Yesterday, the Ji Mansion had sent a servant with a message, instructing him to head to the West Market Pier by the hour of Chen today. From there, he was to board a supply ship heading to Yunyi Island.
“It's about time...”
Shen Xiuhan swallowed the rest of his pancake in a few quick bites, stood up, and walked toward the eastern room.
Inside the room, Madam Zheng was placing a bulging, packed travel sack onto the table.
“Dalang, the wind and waves on the lake are harsh. I've packed two extra padded jackets for you, as well as some freshly made dry flatbreads to keep you full on the way.”
Madam Zheng twitched her fingers nervously against her apron, nagging him with motherly concern:
“Once you're on the island, don't try to be a hero. A job is just a job, but keeping yourself safe is the most important thing...”
“Don't worry, Mother. I understand,” Shen Xiuhan replied gently. He took the travel sack and slung it across his shoulder, then added, “Mother, once the Blue-Spire Chicken eggs hatch, remember to chop up the herbs I bought and mix them into their feed. Just follow the proportions I showed you for every meal.”
“I'll remember...”
“Big brother, when are you coming back? Momo doesn't want you to go...”
Shen Xiuhan suddenly felt a tug on his leg. Looking down, he saw the little girl looking up at him with red-rimmed eyes, wearing the red cloth tiger-head shoes on her feet.
Shen Xiuhan knelt down, rubbed her little head, and coaxed her gently,
“My job comes with monthly leave. Momo, stay at home and help Mother watch over the eatery. When I get back, I'll buy you the sweet osmanthus cakes from Zhang's in the South City, alright?”
“...Okay, pinky promise!”
The little girl held out her pinky finger.
“Pinky promise.”
After comforting his little sister, Shen Xiuhan stood back up and said, “Mother, if you run into any trouble, you can go to the Mei Courtyard and give them my name. My senior brothers at the martial arts hall will help you handle it.”
“Alright. You must be careful in everything you do...”
...
“Fresh live fish here!”
“Freshly caught big carp! Six copper coins each!”
“Last two spots for Changshui County! We're casting off as soon as we're full!”
At the West Market, the cries of vendors rose and fell, blending with the river breeze and the pungent smell of fish into a noisy din.
Shen Xiuhan had just arrived at the entrance of the pier.
Two men dressed in black short-sleeved shirts quickly surrounded him, sizing him up from head to toe.
“Hey, kid, do you know the rules here?”
Shen Xiuhan frowned slightly.
Were these... members of the Luanbo Gang?
Before he could speak, a burly man suddenly rushed out from the side. He shoved his two subordinates out of the way and cupped his fists toward Shen Xiuhan with a fawning smile.
“Ah, so it's Young Master Shen! These greenhorns of mine don't have any eyes. I hope you won't take offense... Please, make yourself at home, Young Master.”
Shen Xiuhan glanced at him. The man looked vaguely familiar.
When Tang Cheng had visited his home a few days ago, this man seemed to be one of his followers.
With a slight nod of acknowledgment, Shen Xiuhan walked straight into the pier.
“Leader Chen, who is that kid? Why is he so arrogant?”
Once Shen Xiuhan was out of earshot, one of the lackeys rubbed his sore shoulder, looking rather indignant.
Ever since they had wiped out the Golden Dragon Gang, the Luanbo Gang's influence had surged, making them the undisputed tyrants of the Outer City.
Lately, no one had dared to treat them with such cold indifference.
Leader Chen glared at him and warned,
“That man is an elite disciple of the Mei Courtyard, a genuine Mingjin Rank martial artist! You two just joined the gang recently. In the future, keep your eyes peeled and don't go provoking people you can't afford to offend!”
The Mei Courtyard!
A Mingjin Rank martial artist!
The two lackeys gasped, breaking out in a cold sweat as fear washed over them.
The Luanbo Gang might look formidable, but that was only when dealing with the powerless commoners of the Outer City. In front of the martial artist forces of the Inner City, they still had to keep their heads down.
...
Stepping onto the pier, Shen Xiuhan spotted a wide cargo ship docked at a berth, a large banner bearing the character 'Ji' fluttering in the wind on its mast.
He stepped forward and pulled out his waist token.
A manager walked down from the cargo ship. After verifying the token, a warm, welcoming smile spread across his face.
“Greetings, Patrol Envoy Shen!”
“I am Mao San. I'm delivering supplies to Yunyi Island on behalf of our master. Please board the ship, Patrol Envoy. We will be weighing anchor shortly.”
“Thank you for your trouble,” Shen Xiuhan replied politely, cupping his hands before stepping onto the wet, slippery gangplank to board the vessel.
A crewman attentively brought over a wooden stool and invited him to sit down and rest.
Once he was seated, several veteran sailors couldn't help but steal glances at him, whispering among themselves.
It was truly their first time seeing someone so young appointed as a dispatched Patrol Envoy.
Before long, Mao San bellowed,
“Weigh anchor! Set sail!”
“Heave-ho! Heave-ho!”
Seven or eight sturdy oarsmen chanted in unison, their muscles bulging as they pulled hard on the heavy oars.
The cargo ship sliced through the river, leaving the noisy West Market Pier behind.
Once they entered the main channel, the current carried them downstream, making the crew's job much easier. They only needed to occasionally steer with the scull to keep their direction.
Shen Xiuhan turned his head to look out.
Cloudwater Lake spanned vast, watery plains, its surface so immense that the far shore was nowhere in sight.
A thick mist hovered over the water, which was dotted with people who made their living from the great lake.
In the deep-water shipping lanes in the distance, several large merchant ships, heavily laden with cargo and with their sails fully billowed, rode the wind and cleaved through the waves.
In the shallower waters, small fishing boats, sampans, and bamboo rafts were scattered in twos and threes.
Bare-chested, dark-skinned fishermen stood at the bows of their vessels, casting their nets into the air. The nets unfurled like blooming flowers before sinking into the water with a splash.
The river breeze was slightly chilly. After traveling for over an hour, the silhouette of an isolated island finally appeared in the distance.
Yunyi Island was not particularly large—scarcely a mile from end to end. The terrain was mostly flat, with only a small hill rising in the center.
Near the shore stood rows of stilt houses, constructed entirely from bamboo and wood. Supported by thick wooden piles driven into the ground, these unique structures were designed to keep out both moisture and pests.
As the cargo ship docked, Shen Xiuhan followed Mao San's directions and walked toward the largest building on the island.
Although the bamboo pavilions on the island were built close together, there were very few people around.
Along the way, apart from a dozen or so laborers unloading cargo at the pier, Shen Xiuhan did not see a single soul.
Before long, he arrived in front of the tall pavilion.
Its double wooden doors were wide open. Even before he drew close, a pungent odor—a mixture of cheap liquor, stale sweat, and fishy river water—assailed his nose.
In the main hall, four burly men dressed in gray-blue patrol uniforms sat around a table.
Their collars were thrown open, and their faces were flushed red from drinking. Scattered across the table were fried fish and raw peanuts. They were shouting at the top of their lungs, playing drinking games.
The clamor inside came to an abrupt halt at the sound of footsteps at the entrance. Everyone turned their heads.
Four pairs of eyes locked onto him.
Seeing Shen Xiuhan's upright posture, clear eyes, and the unmistakable aura of a trained martial artist, the four men instantly understood who he was.
A friendly-looking man sitting on the outer edge pushed himself up from the table and grinned.
“You must be the new patrol guard sent by the master, right? Go up to the third floor, turn left, and head to the largest room to report to the Garrison Master.”
“Thank you for the directions,” Shen Xiuhan replied, cupping his hands before making his way up the creaking wooden stairs.
As the sound of his footsteps faded upward, the four men leaned closer to each other and began to gossip in hushed tones.
“Is this the new recruit to fill the vacancy in Lu the Reckless's squad?”
“Most likely.”
“Lu Ya is far too reckless. A few days ago, just to fight over a waterway, he insisted on going head-to-head with the tenth chief of Chenjian Dock and lost three of his best men. I heard the master's family spent the night searching for clean, respectable citizens to send to the island to fill the gap.”
The friendly-looking man from earlier tossed a peanut into his mouth, shaking his head with a sigh:
“That young fellow looks quite young. Being assigned under Lu Ya... what a pity.”
“Bah! Better him than us. Why worry about his troubles?”
“True. Come, come, let's drink!”
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