Chapter 64
Chapter 64
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 64
Chapter Title: Espionage Squad (10)
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He skipped the children's greetings and only briefly visited the inner residence. The wives, accustomed to his busyness, remained blissfully ignorant.
He announced that he would take dinner separately.
That way, his second daughter would sneak out of the house.
Sure enough.
Using some lightweight kung fu she'd picked up somewhere, his second daughter vaulted over the wall and slipped into the night streets.
Watching the scene secretly from the pavilion in the rear garden, the Yangwon Gang Leader was stunned once more in the next instant. Black-clad figures—ten of them—emerged from spots around the inner residence and rear garden, giving chase to his second daughter.
He hadn't noticed them at all.
A chill ran down his spine.
He feared the aftermath. Just knowing of their existence could mean the annihilation of the entire Yangwon Gang.
That was when it happened.
"A gang of this scale has plenty of uses in all sorts of ways."
A remarkably calm voice came from behind him.
Having dabbled in ink, he now knew the scent of scholarship. The voice sounded like that of a scholar. The accent was distinctly southern, making him wonder if this was how the elite from the capital spoke—something a Shanxi bumpkin like him had only heard rumors about.
"I've already investigated everything. Neither you nor your daughter knows a thing. Once the job's done, we can do business from time to time."
"Understood."
The voice from behind gave no reply and vanished.
Even after confirming it was gone, the gang leader had to stand rigidly in place for a long while.
He'd heard such tales before.
Once you'd built an organization to a certain size, the real players would come knocking.
It could be a righteous faction leader, a prestigious orthodox sect, or even the imperial court.
Become a slave, die a sudden death, or bask in glory.
It all depended on who came calling.
The gang leader couldn't even guess whose visit this was.
Only terror overwhelmed him.
* * *
The Yangwon Gang Leader's second daughter headed straight for the Golden Flower Garden.
The errand boy who'd visited earlier had said nothing else—just to come to the Golden Flower Garden at the hour of the Dog.
It had to be him. No one else.
She went up to the room where they always shared their love.
No one was there, only a letter on the bed.
Red Flower Ship at Zhu Dan Dock.
No one can follow.
I'll wait.
Don't panic, come carefully.
I know the place.
It was the grand flower ship on the Fen River bank where they'd held hands and gone boating together. Lanterns strung along it glowed brilliantly, the deck housed a lively tavern, and the multi-storied rooms with windows held unforgettable memories.
She bolted out of the Golden Flower Garden at once.
She kept glancing back, scanning her surroundings, but these weren't tails she could spot no matter how careful she was. She knew that too. Familiar with the likes of martial artists, she soon stopped worrying about pursuit and chose to run faster.
She raced through the brightly lit streets to the Red Flower Ship.
The sun had set, but the docks for the flower ships remained dazzling and lively.
Among the docks, one had its wooden planks painted red. That was Zhu Dan. The finest flower ships gathered there. The Red Flower Ship was the largest among them. More like a floating tavern building than a boat, it simply floated on the water.
She boarded the Red Flower Ship without hesitation.
The deck was a riot of noise.
In the center, braziers grilled all sorts of meats—beef, chicken, horse, and more—the aromas of sizzling flesh and strong liquor assaulting her nose.
Merry music played, but it didn't reach her ears. The crowd buzzed about a jade flute master and the musician Choi Heon performing.
She paid no attention and headed straight for the cabin deck.
The cabins faced the river, adding to their charm. Some were open for drinkers, others private for lovers. She searched for the one where they'd stayed together. Not fully private, but red curtains draped it, obscuring the view from the hallway.
He was inside.
"Darling! Your arm... your arm...!"
The moment she saw him, she burst into tears.
"It's fine."
"How can it be? Doesn't it hurt? What happened?"
"I told you, I'm staking my life on it."
She'd thought it mere male bravado.
With others, it was obviously fake, but with him, it felt real. That's what made him dashing—and she hoped it was just empty talk.
"And now? Are you safe now?"
"Probably not."
He smirked as he spoke.
Tears streamed down her face. Even Cheonwi had a conscience; seeing jewel-like tears on her beautiful face stirred guilt in him.
"Go to Peach Blossom Haven and show them this token."
Cheonwi pulled a small gold plaque from his bosom. It doubled as a seal coated in cinnabar for stamping.
"This is..."
"Don't go alone—bring some Yangwon Gang brothers. Five or more. If they offer silver taels, you'll need porters, so take a money draft and exchange it at the Yangwon Gang's trading house. Remember: it could be dangerous, so definitely bring escorts."
"Darling, what are you saying?"
"Take it. It's not money I can use anyway."
"I don't need money. I don't need that stuff."
"I know. Your family's loaded. Still, think of it as a gift."
Cheonwi forced the gold plaque into her hand.
River breeze flowed in through the open window.
Oil lanterns on the pillars cast a soft glow, red curtains fluttering beautifully.
"What's with that look? Darling, don't look at me like you're already dead."
She was quick on the uptake.
Cheonwi said,
"Sorry. I don't think I can keep my promise not to die."
"Darling..."
Cheonwi pulled her close, pressing her against the wall, and yanked a curtain to block her view.
She looked at him with her round, pretty eyes.
"It was a dream. Forget it quick."
Cheonwi took her in one last time, as if it were the end.
The curtain fluttered, and he moved.
"She's not involved."
Slaaash!
As if his words were the signal, blades tore through the curtains.
Swords flashed wildly.
"Eek!"
"Ugh!"
It didn't take long for the Red Flower Ship to turn into a bloodbath.
Black-clad swordsmen in black uniforms raced across the deck, swinging their blades. Cheonwi charged left and right, turning the cabin deck into chaos.
Clang! Crash!
Blades shattered gold fittings and splintered wooden walls.
Tourists enjoying the riverside breeze with their drinks were struck by lightning from the blue.
Pffft!
Five foes swarmed Cheonwi alone. Inevitably, one sword plunged into his back.
"Gah!"
Spitting empty air, he twisted and smashed his left fist into the attacker's elbow. The foe dropped his sword hilt. Another blade stabbed into his back as he leaped away. Sharp pain raced down his spine. Even if it was for show, getting stabbed like this every time was no way to live.
Smash!
He stomped up the stairs like he was breaking them and burst onto the deck where the revelry was in full swing.
"Huh!"
"What the—!"
Drinkers' tables flipped, servers carrying liquor tumbled.
Murmurs and screams filled the air.
"Run!"
"Fight!"
Fleeing crowds tangled with gawkers, creating pandemonium. The music stopped. Musicians grabbed their instruments and scattered like moths. But Choi Heon, the jade flute player in the center, didn't seem particularly panicked. He looked like a martial artist.
Clang! Crack! Crunch!
Tables split and chairs shattered in Cheonwi's wake.
He'd sensed it before, but these black-clad foes weren't indiscriminate killers. They focused on their target and spared the tourists. Still, exceptions were possible, so he leaped away from crowded areas as swords and sabers sliced the air where he'd been.
Thud!
Cheonwi kicked off the railing and dashed to the center of the deck where people had scattered.
The black-clad attackers had grown to eight.
Five swords, two sabers, one staff—all radiating fierce auras, their skills no joke. This number wasn't for simple execution; it was for capture. Yet they used lethal strikes without hesitation. Take alive if possible, but kill without forcing it. That must be their orders.
Good.
To die naturally, he just needed to set the stage right.
One swung his sword and charged.
Cheonwi had seen their swordsmanship too many times. Their forms were clear as day.
He stepped forward hard, throwing his body inside the blade's arc. His body moved faster than expected, forcing him to brake. The difference between day and night was stark.
Scree!
The missed sword traced a circle. The whoosh was fierce.
Swish!
Adjusting speed, he twisted his torso low. Too fast wouldn't do, too slow neither. Adapting to his night-attuned body wasn't easy. The blade missed again.
'Advance here.'
Rising, he rammed his shoulder into the foe's chest.
Crack!
The force was overwhelming.
He felt the sternum and ribs cave in.
"Guh!"
A fatal blow. The foe spewed blood from his mouth and pitched forward.
Whoosh! Slash!
Flank, right, diagonal, rear.
Cheonwi, senses sharper than ever, grabbed the falling foe's nape with his left hand and spun him right.
Thump!
The body jerked.
Arrows. Two shafts pierced the dying man's back and protruded from his chest.
Internal energy archery. One—no, two. Perched high on the mast top.
Cheonwi knew their positions without looking. Blood, life—whatever it was, their killing intent and vitality pulsed vividly.
'A dangerous one approaches.'
Cheonwi sensed a new threat.
Not yet in the fray.
Coming from afar.
Leisurely. Unhurried.
Killing intent absent, demeanor composed. Not even at the docks yet, but he already knew.
'The enemy's core!'
Smart opponent. High intellect reachable even here.
Likely the key figure plotting chaos in this Shanxi land.
Sensing not just presence, but intellect? Impossible. This went beyond ordinary martial sense. Cheonwi realized his abilities had entered abnormal territory.
No need to panic.
He'd always been different, now more so.
Cheonwi naturally accepted all these new facts.
Whoosh! Crunch!
Dodging a curved blade, he quickly sorted his thoughts.
The approaching one was strong.
His body told him so. Spine tingling. Run, it urged.
Faster body and stronger power wouldn't suffice. A true master. Black first-grade or higher. Even without silver rank now, he'd soon surpass it. Peak potential too. Such a foe was coming here.
Why?
His target.
Coming to see him.
The force trailing from Yangwon Gang was ample to kill him. It would have been yesterday.
Yet he came personally.
Curious.
The highly intelligent always predict and verify.
To check if his calculations held. If not, where they erred. Needed to see with his own eyes.
'He knows about the Peng Clan.'
Such types can't resist the unknown; they spare no effort for knowledge, but prioritize efficiency otherwise. If he'd pegged him as a mere Dark Alley Tiger or backstreet fixer, visiting would be a waste. Yet he came to confirm. He'd sniffed out a higher power behind the Dark Alley Tiger. Even if not directly linking to Espionage Squad, Heaven-Destroying and Lake Patrol Squads weren't as discreet. High chance he'd uncovered Peng Clan ties.