"Knock, knock, knock..."
The wooden door of the cabin was gently knocked upon, and the boat’s captain’s soft voice arose outside the door, "Master Yanzu, we have arrived at Hangzhou."
Within the cabin, Yang Ge, who was meditating with the Cold Moon Treasure Saber across his knees, awoke from his trance. After regulating his breath for a moment, he slowly exhaled a refined turbid breath, which instantly turned the empty room white.
With a breath expelled, he got up, picked up his bundle and bamboo hat, and hung them on himself, then fished out two one-tael silver ingots from his purse to clasp in his palm before sliding the door open.
The boat’s captain, still waiting outside the cabin door, bowed politely with an air of admiration and familiarity, "I apologize for disturbing Master Yanzu, it’s my fault."
Yang Ge returned the salute with a fist in palm, "No need to be courteous. I’m deeply grateful for your care along the way... This is a small token of my appreciation, not much but please don’t decline it. Use it to enjoy a few cups of tea."
He stuffed the two silver ingots into the hands of the boat’s captain, who immediately, as if electrocuted, frantically tried to push the money back into Yang Ge’s embrace, not bothering to lower his voice as he hurriedly said, "Master, by accepting this you are slapping Old Chen’s face. Even though Old Chen is a nobody, I know the values of benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and trust. If I accept your money, wouldn’t everyone point fingers at Old Chen’s backbone later? Besides, it’s been made crystal clear by Boss Wu, if I take your money, he’ll flay me alive. No, no, absolutely not..."
"Listen to me."
Yang Ge smiled, one hand pushing the silver ingots back into the old man’s hand and the other gently patting his arm, "Don’t worry about what others have said, or who I am. You’ve ferried me this way and didn’t forget to provide good food and drink. I, as a junior, mustn’t shamelessly take it for granted. The money isn’t much, please don’t look down on it."
After a pause, he added, "If Boss Wu asks, just say that I insisted on treating you to tea. I guarantee he won’t blame you."
While talking, he quickly walked out, pulling up his face towel to cover up as he left: "Go on, you’re busy, I’ll be going first..."
It wasn’t until Yang Ge stepped out of the cabin that he realized the considerate old man had sent away the boatmen and porters before coming to call him off the ship.
When the boat’s captain chased out with the silver ingots in hand, Yang Ge had already walked down the gangplank to the dock.
Looking at the two silver ingots in his hand, he was about to say something but then unexpectedly laughed, waving his hands loudly towards the bustling crowd on the dock, "Master, have a safe journey!"
Yang Ge, within the crowd, waved back without turning his head.
He moved through the teeming throng, momentarily... not knowing where to go.
He thought of seeking out Gu Tong first, and then to dispatch someone to inquire about Yang Tiansheng’s whereabouts.
Before he could leave the dock, he saw in the crowd of people in plain and brown clothing, a handsome young man dressed in blue cloth, wearing simple cloth shoes, squatting idly in a corner by the street; propping his head with one hand, he swiveled his clear but foolishly large eyes all around...
When Yang Ge saw the handsome young man, the young man coincidentally saw him too.
Their eyes met, and they both broke into laughter.
Yang Ge turned his steps, walking towards the man.
The man also stood up and walked towards Yang Ge...
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"Yo, new outfit?"
"Yo, new title?"
"Heard you killed a Dongying ghost of the ’Returning to Truth’ level? Not bad!"
"That’s nothing compared to your grand ’Mr. Qian’ act, Ding Xiu. Wherever you go, it’s all action..."
"Flattery, flattery!"
"The same to you!"
"Hahaha..."
The two walked arm in arm towards the dock’s exit, a group of men in plain clothes following their steps, gathering from all directions and scattering far behind them.
Yang Ge turned his head to scan around and nodded, "Not bad!"
The landlord’s simpleton son twisted his mouth, boasting proudly, "These are my most reliable elites!"
Yang Ge asked, "Did you find out about the last incident, who set you up?"
The landlord’s simpleton son waved it off, "Don’t remind me, it was truly cursed luck!"
Surprised, Yang Ge sized him up, thinking this wasn’t like him, "What do you mean by that?"
Yang Tiansheng let out a frustrated whisper, "The one who set me up was the former Minister of Revenue, Geng Jingzhong. My father has given explicit orders, absolutely forbidding me from touching that old devil. That’s worse than having no lead at all!"
"Geng Jingzhong?"
Yang Ge halted his steps, his voice turning cold, "Where is that old scoundrel?"
Seeing his chilly expression, a sudden apprehension struck Yang Tiansheng, he blurted out, "Don’t do anything rash! Although that old devil is retired, he still holds rank, and currently, he remains the leader of the Chu faction—his former students and connections spread throughout the court. He is like a bomb that could explode at any touch, completely untouchable!"
"You just can’t touch him!"
Yang Ge sneered, "I couldn’t touch him while I was an official, and I still can’t touch him now that I’m not? Then I might as well have thrown my position away for nothing."
As soon as Yang Tiansheng heard his perplexing logic, he felt something was amiss, but couldn’t pinpoint what exactly. After racking his brain for a while, he gathered his thoughts, "No, how can you touch him?"
Disdainfully, Yang Ge said, "You, a rebellion leader, obviously can’t touch him. If you did, the imperial forces would be on you immediately, relentlessly pursuing the Ming Sect! But what about me, an inconsequential former soldier? I could cover my face and pretend to be a notorious bandit. What’s stopping me from dealing with him? If the court erupts in anger, if the Chu faction causes an uproar, let them issue an arrest warrant for me, Ding Xiu. If I, Ding Xiu, so much as frown at it, I will write my ’Yang’ character upside down..."