Chapter 68 - It Turned out to be Him!
Zuo Shaoqing, who had rushed to the capital for an exam, couldn't afford to act oddly. Since he had boarded the Cao Sect's boat, he mostly stayed in his cabin, engrossed in his studies with a book in hand.
His knowledge wasn't at the pinnacle; it mostly stemmed from leveraging his prior life's experiences and having foreknowledge of exam questions.
However, these days, many things had changed. He was unsure if the information he possessed had undergone unpredictable alterations.
The situation became even more evident when they encountered two passenger ships under attack by river bandits in Three Gorges Bay. Zuo Shaoqing grew increasingly convinced that his life had taken a truly different turn!
Three Gorges Bay was renowned for its nine twists and eighteen turns, where the river meandered through shallow and deep sections. Towering mountains on either side cast a shadow over the lush forest that bordered the river.
Rumor had it that these surrounding mountains were rife with outlaws, but due to the complex terrain, the authorities had failed to locate their hideouts despite multiple military expeditions. Consequently, many traveling vessels fell prey to piracy here each year.
Beyond the merchant ships, Cao Sect vessels typically patrolled the area, but maintaining a constant presence was impractical, offering opportunities for the adversaries.
When the Cao Sect members realized that a conflict was occurring within their sphere of influence, they immediately armed themselves and plunged into the water without a word.
Watching the men gleefully swim in the cold water made Zuo Shaoqing shiver involuntarily. Although it wasn't winter, the river water remained chilling.
“Master Lu, is this how they usually behave?” Zuo Shaoqing asked, puzzled.
Yang Yi, standing beside them, rolled his eyes and replied, “It's a minor incident. Is there a need to consult the Sect Master about it?”
Compared to regular armies, Cao Sect members were informal and unrestrained. When confronted with river bandits, they didn't hesitate to brandish their weapons.
Yang Yi handed the clairvoyant device to Lu Zheng, an item they had recently obtained from the Eastern faction. They had only acquired two of these in total.
Lu Zheng examined it briefly and discerned its purpose. After using it, he decided to distribute them even among the water experts.
The water experts in Great Yang were relatively weak and scattered along the coast. The disparity in equipment left Lu Zheng furrowing his brow.
If Zhan Yuanfeng had aspirations to expand his business overseas, he knew he had to establish himself as a formidable maritime expert. It wasn't just about dealing with sea pirates; foreign nations posed a significant threat as well.
Lu Zheng observed the situation for a moment before passing the binoculars to Zuo Shaoqing. The opposing side had a limited crew, and upon spotting the approach of Cao Sect's fleet, some of the more cowardly individuals had already leaped overboard and fled, leaving little to be concerned about.
Zuo Shaoqing mimicked Lu Zheng's action of holding the binoculars up to his eyes and couldn't help but inhale sharply. This device could clearly capture events happening a mile away; it was no wonder it was called “clairvoyant.”
He silently chastised his lack of worldly experience, feeling like he had wasted his past twenty years. In this lifetime, he vowed to keep his eyes wide open and explore this vast world thoroughly.
“Hmm…” Zuo Shaoqing adjusted the focus and gazed at a particular spot before muttering, “It's actually him!”
An hour later, Cao Sect's fleet had completely encircled the opposing party. Zuo Shaoqing noticed that many of the enemy vessels had crew members bound and captive.
“Shao Qing?” A male voice called out from nearby, and Zuo Shaoqing could clearly hear it. He wondered if he was mistaken, but Lu Zheng had already turned to him and inquired, “Do you know him?”
Zuo Shaoqing offered a smile, saying, “It's Brother Qu. He's also from Youuxi Town and a disciple of Scholar Yin.”
Being accepted as a disciple of the Yin Gate was a source of great pride for many students. Rumor had it that one of the scholar's disciples, raised from childhood, was a leading contender for this year's top scholar position.
That exceptional individual was Jiung Hengzhou!
This fact was among the reasons why Zuo Shaoqing had been reluctant to associate with Qu Changqing, even though it left him feeling bitter.
Zuo Shaoqing waved at Qu Changqing from a distance and inquired, “Is Brother Qu safe?”
As the two ships drew closer, Qu Changqing couldn't wait and stepped onto the planks connecting the two vessels, tightly gripping Zuo Shaoqing's hand with worry evident in his eyes. “Why is Shao Qing on a Cao Sect ship?” he asked. “Did I run into danger along the way?”
Zuo Shaoqing made an effort to retract his hand and responded with an ambiguous smile, “I was fortunate.” Whether that luck meant encountering Cao Sect before danger struck or being rescued afterward remained unsaid.
At that moment, a burly man leaped over from the opposite boat and respectfully inquired of Lu Zheng, “Boss, how would you like us to handle these pirate captives?”
Only then did Qu Changqing notice the man who had stood beside Zuo Shaoqing. He observed him with surprise, never expecting that the leader of the Cao Sect would be such an imposing young man.
This man could be considered their rescuer. Qu Changqing expressed his gratitude to Lu Zheng without any pretense, bowing to him, saying, “Thank you for saving me, warrior!”
Lu Zheng gave him an indifferent glance. Still displeased with Zuo Shaoqing holding his hand earlier, he wordlessly turned to Yang Yi and inquired, “How have you handled such matters in the past?”
Yang Yi responded with a commanding tone, “If there are casualties, execute them on the spot. If there are no casualties, deliver them to the authorities.”
Lu Zheng nodded, finding this form of punishment more agreeable, and instructed the Cao Sect disciples nearby, “Follow the usual procedure!”
Qu Changqing felt somewhat awkward being ignored, but he refrained from taking any action. After all, he had just saved the two groups of people.
He quietly tugged on Zuo Shaoqing's sleeve and whispered, “Has my younger brother faced any mistreatment here?”
In his mind, Zuo Shaoqing possessed a gentle personality and a pure, kind nature. It seemed challenging for him to coexist with these rough individuals.
Zuo Shaoqing comprehended and replied emphatically, “Absolutely not! Don't be misled by the rough demeanor of the Cao Sect members; they are actually genuinely forthright and honest individuals.”
Yang Yi couldn't help but shoot him an incredulous glance upon hearing this. He thought, “Does this scholar even know how to speak? What do they mean by ‘rough'? Did they expect us to act as genteel as scholars and still expect to stay here?”
Nevertheless, they were correct in labeling the Cao Sect members as upright and straightforward.
Once Cao Sect had finished counting the water bandits and inquired about the situation, it would be at least an hour before they returned all the stolen goods to their rightful owners.
A young man approached Yang Yi and whispered in his ear, “Second Brother, are you truly planning to hand them over to the authorities? That's not our usual practice, is it?”
When had they ever captured someone and tossed them into the river as fish food?
“Absurd!” Our boss eats the same rations as everyone else. How could he disregard human life? If you're not accustomed to it now, you'll adapt eventually,” Yang Yi Hu retorted firmly, urging, “Hurry up, and don't forget to request a reward from the old master!”
When the young man heard about the reward, he burst into laughter so hearty that his eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. “Well then, little brother is off right away!”
Two ships had been rescued, both carrying students on their way to the capital for examinations. The members of the Cao Sect had searched thoroughly while tallying the recovered treasures and reluctantly returned after confirming there was nothing else to salvage.
Soon after, a group of well-groomed youths approached to express their gratitude. Even Zuo Shaoqing, who led the group, was taken aback.
The young man appeared to be around Qu Changqing's age, approximately sixteen or seventeen years old. He donned a white cloth suit with a crescent moon pattern and a black cape. His features were handsome, and he stood tall and upright.
Zuo Shaoqing noticed that he seemed to be in charge of the two ships, which piqued his curiosity about the young man's identity. However, his curiosity was short-lived as Qu Changqing, standing beside him, called out, “Brother Liu Tie, come over here!”
A sharp glint flashed in Zuo Shaoqing's eyes as his body tensed up. Could this remarkable youth be Jiung Hengzhou, the top scholar of this year's Imperial Examinations, whom he had always regarded as his rival?
Such an extraordinarily handsome young man. If he were Lu Zheng, he might look at him differently, wouldn't he?
A peculiar thought crossed Zuo Shaoqing's mind. Could it be that in a previous life, Lu Zheng had also saved these two ships on their journey and had then become acquainted with Jiung Hengzhou? Could he have fallen in love at first sight, leading to an entangled fate?
Zuo Shaoqing had no interest in the students around him. He turned to gaze nervously at Lu Zheng. He couldn't deny that he was anxious, not just about love. Maybe Lu Zheng simply had a preference for individuals like this?
Nervous sweat broke out on Zuo Shaoqing's forehead, and he felt chilled all over. He yearned to grasp Lu Zheng's hand and rest his head on his chest to affirm that this life was different and that this man was truly his.
Lu Zheng noticed the unusual state of Zuo Shaoqing and touched his forehead. He could feel the cold sweat and asked with a concerned frown, “What's wrong? Have you caught a cold?”
Zuo Shaoqing gently clasped Lu Zheng's hand, drawing warmth from it. He shook his head, his complexion pale. “It's nothing, I might have been exposed to too much wind.”
Lu Zheng paid no heed to the students who had come to express their gratitude. He took hold of Zuo Shaoqing's arm and guided them into the cabin, leaving behind the stunned students and the perplexed Qu Changqing.
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