The iron wheels of the carriage rolled slowly, leaving deep tracks in the yellowed grass.
Li Huowang sat in the carriage and gazed at the grasslands, recalling his last visit to this place.
He didn't know much about Qing Qiu other than that most of its people were nomads, generally lean, and dark-skinned.
He also remembered two unique factions in Qing Qiu: the Antrabhara Temple, which worshiped death, and the bizarre Lion Dance Palace.
The grass in Qing Qiu really has turned yellow. Is this some premonition? Li Huowang leaned slightly to the left and ran his fingers through the yellow grass.
He then thought about the recent Natural Disaster that caused loss of taste and smell, which had lasted only three days. This wasn't comforting. The recent Natural Disaster had been minor, but what if the next one was extremely severe?
Li Huowang wanted to understand what was happening, but nobody outside the Baiyu Capital would know what was happening in the heavens.
At this point, his sharp eyesight spotted a small black dot on the yellow horizon in the distance. As the carriage drew closer, the small black dot became larger as they approached and eventually revealed the outline of a city.
"This should be Qing Qiu's Bintie City?" Li Huowang muttered to himself.
He had made some preparations before he came. This was the only city in Qing Qiu and also the capital.
Building a city seemed impossible in a place without wood or stone. Bintie City was an exception that rose starkly in the barren land.
The Great Khan of Qing Qiu and the Surveillance Bureau of Qing Qiu were also located here.
Since Hou Shu was battling the Dharma Sect, rushing into Hou Shu to kill the Dharma Sect members wasn't feasible. It would be inefficient and alert the enemies, resulting in minimal casualties to the Dharma Sect while harming some civilians. It was better to first contact Qing Qiu's Surveillance Bureau to gather more information.
Additionally, the Imperial Preceptor mentioned that the Chiefs of the Surveillance Bureau from the Great Liang and Si Qi should also be here.
As Li Huowang pondered, the distinctive smell of sheep and horse dung gradually filled his nostrils.
Perhaps due to Qing Qiu's suitability for breeding livestock, the outskirts of Bintie City were littered with cow and horse dung. Sparse patches of grass were interspersed with piles of dung from both livestock and humans.
When Bai Lingmiao saw the carriage wheels roll over a fresh pile of cow dung, smearing them greenish-brown, she frowned. "This place is filthy, almost as bad as the Benevolent Nunnery."
"Endure it. It's clear there's no sewage system here," Li Huowang said and lightly shook the reins.
The carriage sped up towards the city. They winded through cattle, sheep, and horses, then finally squeezed into the city. It wasn't much better inside.
There were buildings of all kinds inside—tents, wooden houses, and stone houses. They were haphazardly arranged without any signs of planning.
Countless feet trampled cow and sheep dung, which formed a dense black carpet that covered the roads, just like the stone pavements in the Great Liang city.
The streets were very crowded. Although there weren't many humans, almost everyone herded some livestock, which made it incredibly congested.
Children squatted and defecated by the roadside, which made the smell even more unbearable.
"Let's continue inward! The inner city should be better!"
The carriage slowly moved inward. The initially grim faces of the group gradually improved over time.
It was not because the environment improved—it was because their noses had slowly gotten used to it.
"Dad, what's that?" Li Sui pointed to a luxurious white building against the city wall in the distance.
The building was enormous and could be considered the largest in Bintie City. However, it didn't look like it belonged to royalty.
Li Huowang surmised that the Great Khan of Qing Qiu might not be the highest authority, as there were others who seemed to hold an even higher status.
"That should be a temple, right?" Li Huowang guessed as he saw the high spire and thought of the Antrabhara Temple.
He scanned the surroundings and noticed some Lamas wearing black sheepskins and cockscomb hats.
All the Lamas were elderly, frail, and had dark spots that covered their bodies, much like psoriasis.
Li Huowang noticed their bone ornaments, then gripped the reins and urged the carriage to move faster.
Despite the filth, security was tight. Before they could approach the royal palace, they were surrounded by light cavalry with bows and swords. There were even falcons on their shoulders and dogs following the horses' hooves.
Li Huowang did not want to waste time, especially when it came to potential communication issues. He directly tossed his Surveillance Bureau waist badge over. "Is Xuan Pin here? Tell him I've arrived!"
Li Huowang was not brought to see Xuan Pin, but he was led through an underground tunnel.
Though Bintie City looked filthy outside, its inner city was surprisingly clean. For some reason, all Surveillance Bureaus were located underground.
The sheep oil lamps on the walls burned slowly and crackled. Li Huowang observed a peculiar woman remaining silent before him.
He couldn't discern her origins. Though he had seen many strange people, this was his first time seeing someone whose face was covered in white powder with red patterns.
This Qing Qiu lady dressed revealingly. Cloth was used to cover the important areas, but everything else was exposed and intricately painted with floral and complex designs.
A row of people wearing large bamboo hats stood behind her. The hats almost entirely covered them, and only their legs were visible.
They stood there silently, which added a layer of mystery in the dim environment.
"Why are you seeking the Surveillance Bureau of Great Liang?" The woman questioned Li Huowang coldly.
Li Huowang replied bluntly, "Send someone qualified to speak. You're not qualified."
The woman's response caught him off-guard. "I am the Chief of Qing Qiu's Surveillance Bureau. Am I qualified enough now?"
Chapter 671 - Trouble
"Are you the Chief of Qing Qiu?"
"I know who you are, Li Huowang. What are you doing in Qing Qiu?"
"Xuan Pin told you?" Li Huowang frowned. It seemed that the intelligence networks of the various Surveillance Bureaus were exchanging information.
The woman replied, "No matter who told me, you must answer my question now. What are you doing in Qing Qiu?"
"What am I doing in Qing Qiu? Of course, I'm here to help deal with the Dharma Sect! Isn't that obvious?"
The woman sneered, "I heard you're from the Emperor of Great Liang, who promptly refused the Great Khan's request for troops and instead sent you here as if offering charity?"
Li Huowang's frown deepened as he looked at the woman. Her attitude seemed quite off. Is there a complicated history between Qing Qiu and Great Liang that I don't know about?
"You know me, so you should also know my abilities. Isn't that enough?"
"Hehe, well, I would like to test whether you, Li Huowang, are as formidable as people say," she said and stood up. "I am Bian Zhen, trained in unorthodox methods. Please instruct me."
"Unorthodox methods?" Li Huowang sized up the woman before him and gripped the spine sword slowly with his right hand.
As the atmosphere grew tense, Li Huowang saw the woman's body gradually melt and transform into the tall appearance of Xuan Pin.
"Xuan Pin, what do you mean by this? Do you really have the time to prank me at a time like this?"
Xuan Pin lightly inserted his slender finger into Li Huowang's forehead and then withdrew it. Li Huowang's forehead remained unscathed.
"I'm not actually here. I just received news of your arrival and hurried over. Bian Zhen, there's no need to test him. I know Li Huowang's capabilities."
Bian Zhen stepped out from the Chief's body, looked Li Huowang up and down, then turned on her heel to leave.
Since no one else was around, Li Huowang quickly said, "Alright, since we know each other, let's skip the formalities. What's the overall situation? How far has the Dharma Sect's influence spread?"
Li Huowang needed to quickly understand everything happening here to determine the best way to increase his side's chances of victory.
Xuan Pin did not answer Li Huowang's question and posed his own instead. "Did you bring the Saintess of the White Lotus Sect with you? Why?"
"Does that need to be asked? The Dharma Sect has spread so rapidly because the gullible masses believe their god Yu'er can save everyone. We need to counter that by promoting the belief in the Heavenly Mater. At least for now, the Heavenly Mater is on our side."
Xuan Pin nodded. "Correct, but you need to think several steps ahead. You must enlist multiple factions to undermine the Dharma Sect's foundation, and avoid replacing one problem with another."
"In fact, we have already spoken with other sects. Many disciples have descended from their mountains and have begun to move within Hou Shu."
"I don't care about that. I need the current situation in Hou Shu."
"The situation is dire. Although Hou Shu's troops are steadfast, they are on the brink of collapse. The Dragon Vein of Hou Shu was severed yesterday right before noon," Xuan Pin said, and the atmosphere in the room grew heavy.
Li Huowang knew the dire consequences of a severed Dragon Vein. It wouldn't be long before Hou Shu became a living hell.
"Weren't Hou Shu and the Dharma Sect locked in a fierce battle? How did the Dragon Vein get severed so quickly? What happened?"
"I don't know. We communicated with Hou Shu's Chief just the day before yesterday. The Dragon Vein was intact and protected by layers of traps. The Dharma Sect hadn't even approached Hou Shu's royal city at that time."
"How did such a drastic change occur in just one day? I can't figure it out. There must be some significant underlying cause."
Li Huowang frowned and paced the room, pondering how he could help now.
He recalled Gao Zhijian's experience and said, "Even a severed Dragon Vein can be reconnected. Can we find a way to reconnect Hou Shu's Dragon Vein?"
"Theoretically, yes, but where will we find a suitable hidden descendant? Moreover, the Dragon Vein is now in the hands of the Dharma Sect. How do we retrieve it?"
The Chief paused briefly and corrected himself. "Just now, news came from Zheng Boqiao in Hou Shu that the Dharma Sect is already using Hou Shu's Dragon Vein."
Li Huowang frowned deeply and bit his lip as he considered the situation. He knew the power of the Dragon Vein. This situation would only worsen Hou Shu's predicament.
After a moment of contemplation, Li Huowang looked up at Xuan Pin. "I'll go to Hou Shu now and handle the Dragon Vein issue. Can you find a suitable descendant? For now, let's focus on reconnecting Hou Shu's Dragon Vein!"
Xuan Pin replied, "It's difficult to find. Each royal bloodline is accounted for and one emperor can't serve two lands, unless you can find another royal family from the Great Qi."
"Does that mean we give up just because it's difficult? Should we switch roles? You handle the Dragon Vein?"
Li Huowang pulled out a map from his pocket and spread it on the table. "Look closely. If we lose Hou Shu and add it to Si Qi and Nanping, the Dharma Sect's domain will be larger than the Great Liang's!"
Xuan Pin looked at the map on the table, thought for a moment, and then nodded lightly. "Alright, you retrieve Hou Shu's Dragon Vein. I'll find a descendant, even if it's not a royal. This will prevent the Dharma Sect from using the Dragon Vein."
"Good. First, tell me the Dragon Vein's location, and I'll set off immediately!"
Shangguan Yuting emerged from Xuan Pin's large red robe and bowed to Li Huowang shyly.
"She will inform you of the Dragon Vein's approximate location. I will also command those remaining in Hou Shu to give you as much assistance as possible."
"Alright." Li Huowang turned to leave the dimly lit inner city.
Xuan Pin's words made him pause. "Be careful. The Dharma Sect will surely guard the Dragon Vein heavily, and many people will be around it. Moreover..."
"Moreover, what? Spit it out. Why do you always speak in incomplete sentences?" Li Huowang replied impatiently.
"Moreover, I always felt there was something suspicious about the loss of control over the Hou Shu's Dragon Vein. Although negligence previously occurred due to the distraction of Shai Zi from the Sitting Oblivion Dao, the Surveillance Bureaus of other countries are not to be trifled with. The strength of the followers of the Dharma Sect seems to have increased too rapidly."
"What do you mean by that?" Li Huowang's frown deepened.
"I suspect we're not just dealing with god Yu'er. Perhaps one or even two more hidden figures are aiding the Dharma Sect."
Chapter 672 - Boat People
"Not just god Yu'er?" Li Huowang felt a chill run down his spine. He had been in Great Liang all this time and hadn't paid much attention to what was happening here.
Now, thinking back, Xuan Pin was right. When the Dharma Sect first appeared, the various Chiefs of the Surveillance Bureaus pursued and blocked them, and even the military was employed to deal with them.
Yet, despite such circumstances, they managed to destroy Si Qi and Nanping and then advance into Hou Shu.
Even if these countries were not in good condition, plagued by constant war and corrupt governments, the expansion of the Dharma Sect was unusually rapid.
"Does this mean there's another Siming opposing us along with god Yu'er?" Li Huowang asked Xuan Pin, his expression extremely grave.
Regardless of which power was responsible, the root problem seemed to lie with the Dharma Sect.
Xuan Pin shook his head slightly, "Opposing us? Why do you think all Simings would be on our side? Can you guess what a Siming thinks? Do you truly believe them even if they say they will help you?"
These words left Li Huowang feeling unsettled. A terrifying thought crossed his mind, "Are you suggesting that all the Simings in the Baiyu Capital are actually allied with god Yu'er?"
"The Surveillance Bureaus are meant to observe the heavens. No matter what, don't rely on others, and don't place your lifeline in someone else's hands," Xuan Pin said, then his enormous red robe gradually began to turn transparent.
"No matter what is helping the Dharma Sect behind the scenes, be careful when you reach Hou Shu. There are still many things in this world that can kill you."
"Though I can't trust you, we are allies in dealing with god Yu'er. I've informed the Chief, and they will assist you with anything you need."
Xuan Pin's body completely disappeared and left Li Huowang alone.
In the dim underground room, Li Huowang stood in deep contemplation for a long time. Finally, he turned and strode out of the dark chamber.
Li Sui and Bai Lingmiao had been waiting for him, and they immediately approached him. "Senior Li, how did it go? Did they give you a hard time?"
Li Huowang shook his head slightly and replied, "No, it's fine. Have your people resupply quickly. We're leaving this city."
"We're leaving already? Where are we heading?"
"Hou Shu."
"Hou Shu? Really? That place is currently at war. In recent times, people have only been fleeing from there, not going in," the boatman with a missing incisor said.
He was barefoot and squatted on the deck as he eyed the two young people before him. One was a teenager, and the other a young woman in her twenties or thirties. Their age gap didn't seem like they were mother and child. They looked like they could be siblings, but their interactions suggested otherwise.
"It's fine. We're not going deep into Hou Shu. We just need a boat to the edge of Zhenhai Cape. Boatman, please accommodate us."
As the boatman hesitated, Yang Xiaohai handed him a letter written by Sun Baolu's clan members. "I don't want to travel aimlessly in these chaotic times, but I'm part of the boat people. My parents are still there, and I need to save them. I have no choice."
"Boat people? You don't look like one," the boatman said, quickly glancing through the letter.
After reading it, the boatman lowered his guard slightly. "It's good to be filial, but using such a big boat just to fetch you is..."
The boatman saw that Yang Xiaohai was about to hand him some silver. He accepted it and stuffed the letter and silver into his pocket.
"Alright, since I'm a filial son myself, we'll take this trip for your parents' sake."
Yang Xiaohai expressed his gratitude repeatedly. He was finally going to see his family!
The sails unfurled while Yang Xiaohai's group boarded the sizable, old, flat-bottomed boat with their carriage.
As the boat moved away from the harbor, Yang Xiaohai was excited, but he remained cautious of the boatman. He had prepared enough fresh water and provisions to avoid being drugged.
He had not forgotten how he and Senior Li were previously forced by river bandits to choose between sliced noodles and dumpling soup.
The boatman noticed Yang Xiaohai's wariness but was equally cautious of him. In these chaotic times, a young man and a woman traveling alone must have some means to protect themselves.
As the days passed and they neared their destination, the initial wariness between them had lessened.
When Yang Xiaohai learned they were close to their destination, he approached the boatman, who was fishing, and asked, "Boatman, how many years have you been sailing?"
"Heh, twenty or thirty years. It's been even longer if you count my dad and grandpa. This is our old trade. Some things and some people are hard to transport by land, so we go by sea."
"That long? Have you dealt with boat people before?"
"Of course. Anyone that makes a living at sea has interacted with them." The boatman suddenly sat up straight and reeled in his line.
"How are they? Are they easy to get along with?" Yang Xiaohai asked nervously.
He knew his family were boat people and lived at sea, but he knew nothing else about them.
The boatman was occasionally reeling and releasing the line. Then, he glanced at Yang Xiaohai. "Aren't you of the boat people? Don't you know what your own family is like?"
"I... I was taken ashore right after I was born, so I don't know what it's like."
The boatman didn't prod him on his poor excuse, and he said, "Boat people? They're just like those living on land. The men fish while the women dive for pearls. If they have a good harvest, things are fine. If not, times are tough."
Yang Xiaohai's expression dimmed slightly. He had been sold during hard times.
"The poorer they are, the more rules they have. I generally avoid dealing with them," the boatman said as he continued to reel in his line.
Chapter 673 - Boat
"What rules?" Yang Xiaohai couldn't help but become curious. Farmers on land didn't have so many rules.
"What rules? Sea rules, of course. We boatmen have a few, like certain surnames can't board the boat or certain words can't be said on the boat. The boat people have even more rules than we do, even down to where they can relieve themselves."
"I don't know all the details. When you get home, make sure to ask your family so you don't accidentally break any taboos."
"Alright." Yang Xiaohai tried to piece together an image of the boat people in his mind with the boatman's description.
"But there's one good thing about the boat people. Whenever there's anything floating on the water, be it alive or dead, they have to fish it out for a look. If they don't, their ancestors will be angry."
With that, the boatman strongly tugged on his fishing rod and pulled up a blue-green fish glistening with seawater. The boatman nodded with satisfaction at his catch, then pulled out a knife from his waist and gutted the fish. He sliced it into thin and translucent pieces. As he poured some soy sauce over the fish, the flesh seemed to tremble as if it were still responsive.
The boatman picked up a few pieces with his fingers and put them into his mouth, chewing on them contentedly. "Want to try? The freshest fish is always the best. Anything that has been out of the water for more than fifteen minutes is sold to those clueless people on land."
"No, thank you. I don't eat raw fish," Yang Xiaohai said, shaking his head lightly.
"Then you're missing out. This fish is at its fattest now." the boatman popped another piece into his mouth.
He continued, "Aren't you looking for the boat people? We're here. See those boats clustered together? That's the place you're looking for."
Yang Xiaohai widened his eyes and looked in the direction the boatman was pointing.
He saw houses standing on stilts near the water's edge. They were surrounded by a mix of old and new wooden boats.
"Is that my home? The place where I was born?" Yang Xiaohai felt a surge of emotion. He had endured countless hardships and traveled from Great Liang back to Hou Shu just for this day!
As the flat-bottomed boat approached the wooden island, he began to understand why the boatman had doubted he was from the boat people.
Years of exposure to the elements had given the boat people dark and weathered skin. They wore loose blue-black clothes, with the men often bare-chested and barefoot.
Their dark, smooth skin was adorned with scale tattoos, which covered some even on their faces. Both the men and women had similar tattoos.
Though the boat people looked at him with hostility, Yang Xiaohai felt an inexplicable sense of kinship.
"Excuse me, do you know someone called Chi Baishui?" Yang Xiaohai cautiously asked an old boatman on a nearby boat about his father's name.
The old man just slammed his window shut with a stern face and shut off Yang Xiaohai's friendly gaze.
With no response, Yang Xiaohai moved on to the next person. However, each one ignored him, and their hostility was evident in their expressions.
When he was starting to feel anxious, someone finally spoke to him, "What do you want with Chi Baishui?"
The speaker was a middle-aged man with a wet beard, which suggested he had just come out of the water.
Yang Xiaohai excitedly gestured, "I'm Chi Baishui's son! I'm his son!"
"Son?" The man scrutinized Yang Xiaohai. "I don't recall Chi Baishui having a son."
"Can you take me to see him? He'll recognize me once he sees me. I really am his son."
The middle-aged man glanced at the flat-bottomed boat then waved his hand. "Come on, I'll take you to him."
Yang Xiaohai nodded, gave some instructions to Zhao Xiumei, then jumped into the water and swam over.
Under the man's guidance, Yang Xiaohai leaped quickly between various boats. Most were old and patched up, but they felt strangely familiar to him. After some time, the middle-aged man brought Yang Xiaohai to an old, worn boat.
An elderly woman with graying hair and blue-scaled facial tattoos was sitting at the bow. Her tattoos mingled with her wrinkles, which gave her a bizarre appearance.
She looked confusedly at the middle-aged man. "What's going on, Jiang Erlang? Who is this boy?"
"Is Uncle Baishui here? This boy says he's your son," Jiang Erlang signed to the elderly woman.
When she understood what he was trying to convey, her eyes widened and she looked at Yang Xiaohai. "You... you...you're...Fifth Child?"
Yang Xiaohai was in a daze as he stepped forward, his body trembling slightly. He recalled hearing that his mother had become deaf, and this woman fit the description.
"Mom?" Yang Xiaohai asked hesitantly.
The elderly woman seemed to understand what he said, and she stumbled forward to embrace him.
She rolled up his left sleeve to reveal a faint birthmark on his elbow.
Tears welled up in her eyes as she exclaimed, "Fifth Child, it really is you! I never thought I'd see you again!"
Yang Xiaohai realized this woman was indeed his mother, then threw himself into her arms and hugged her tightly.
When he felt the sense of familiarity and warmth he had only dreamed of before, Yang Xiaohai felt that all the hardships he had endured were worth it. He finally had a mother.
He could proudly defend himself if anyone dared to insult him again!
"Fifth Child, I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry!" The elderly woman cried as she hugged Yang Xiaohai tightly.
The lost son that the Chi Family had sold off had now returned. Once his identity was confirmed, the other boat people softened their attitudes towards him.
When Yang Xiaohai was worried about how to get his cart from the flat-bottomed boat to his home, many boat people brought their boats to help.
After a flurry of action, Yang Xiaohai brought Zhao Xiumei, the three monkey children, and their carriage onto the Chi Family's boat.
"Mom! This is my wife, Zhao Xiumei." Yang Xiaohai gestured to make his deaf mother understand.
"Good! You're so capable, being married at such a young age!"
"Mom, this is mutton from Qing Qiu. Try it. It's very tasty!"
As Yang Xiaohai spoke with his mother emotionally, the other boat people gathered around and watched the warm reunion with smiles and occasional whispers.
Jiang Erlang saw that Yang Xiaohai was genuinely looking for his family, and his expression grew much gentler.
He whispered to a small boy beside him, "Where did Uncle Baishui go? This is so important, and he's not here."
"Uncle Baishui took his son to the Dragon King Temple."
"Go inform him that the fifth child he sold in the past has found his way back."
Chapter 674 - Water Banquet
"Mom, this is delicious too. Try this; I brought it especially for you from the Great Liang.
"Oh, and here are some honey dates. I happened to see them on the way and thought they tasted good, so I bought you two pounds.
"Mom, do you like sour things? I brought you a jar of something sour too."
Yang Xiaohai finally didn't have to pretend anymore in front of his biological mother. He reverted to how a child his age should've been.
"Oh, and this too!" Yang Xiaohai handed a large bag of silver to his mother.
His mom replied, "Oh my, this is too much! No more, it's enough!"
Yang Xiaohai became even more enthusiastic, as though he wanted to empty the entire carriage. After his mother stopped him, Yang Xiaohai finally ceased unloading things.
He started telling his mother about the hardships and longing he had experienced over the years. However, she was deaf and had a confused look, and she was clearly unable to hear much. This left Yang Xiaohai with a lot to say but no way to express it.
"Come, you just got home. You don't know the family yet. Let me introduce them to you." His mother stood up and pulled Yang Xiaohai towards the other boat people who had gathered around.
"This is your Second Brother."
"Hello, Second Brother!" Yang Xiaohai greeted the man shorter than him.
Second Brother seemed more reserved and mumbled awkwardly, "Uh... Hey, you're back? Have you eaten?"
"This is your Third Brother."
Yang Xiaohai greeted him, "Hello, Third Brother."
He seemed more mature compared to Second Brother. He patted Yang Xiaohai on the shoulder. "You've grown so big. Good to see you. You were as small as a chick when you were little."
"This is your little sister. Her marriage has been arranged for after the new year, so you must come and celebrate as her brother."
"Definitely."
Aside from his immediate family, his mother introduced him to the surrounding boat people one by one. These were his numerous aunts and uncles.
Through her introductions, Yang Xiaohai realized that all the boat people he had encountered along the way were actually his relatives. The family hierarchy was also very confusing. He even had to call a girl younger than him as Grand Aunt.
Yang Xiaohai didn't mind at all. On the contrary, he was delighted to know he wasn't alone and had so many family members in the world.
After introducing the elders, his mother pulled him towards the back of the boat to introduce the younger generation.
"These two are your Second Brother's kids, so they are your nephews," she said and pointed to two children wearing only dudous.
The two nephews seemed fine apart from being a bit thin. However, the ropes that tied them up made Yang Xiaohai uncomfortable. It looked as if they were raising dogs rather than children.
Yang Xiaohai couldn't help but glance at the three monkey kids near the carriage. They were also tied up similarly when he first met them.
"Mom, why are my nephews tied up?" Yang Xiaohai couldn't help but ask.
However, his mother was deaf and couldn't hear him. She continued to pull him along.
At this moment, Jiang Erlang came over to explain, "You've been on land too long to understand. We have to raise kids this way on the water. If they're not tied up, they might fall into the water. That's how your Second Uncle died."
"Is that so? But surely they won't be tied up forever, right?"
"Of course not. Once they are past the childhood age, they can go to the Dragon King Temple and burn incense. They will then be registered as dragon household members, and can be released."
"Dragon household? What's that?"
Jiang Erlang touched his scale tattoo and said, "Those like us are the dragon household, which is like registering in an ancestral hall on land." 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎
"Oh," Yang Xiaohai said, nodding in understanding. The rules the boatman mentioned earlier had real reasons behind them.
"Dad! Guess who's here? Fifth Brother is back!" His Second Brother's voice sounded from the bow. Yang Xiaohai felt a sudden tension. Dad?
Yang Xiaohai and his mother returned to the bow, where he saw a stern old man. He looked a bit younger than Lu Zhuangyuan, with a thick neck and fish scale tattoos on his hands and body.
"...Dad?" Yang Xiaohai stepped forward nervously.
He saw his father jump over from the other boat, then rolled up his sleeve to check his faint birthmark.
The sleeve was rolled back down, and Yang Xiaohai's father turned to the surrounding boat people and shouted, "Today, my Fifth Child is back! Great news! No one cooks tonight! The Chi family is hosting a water banquet!"
Amidst the boat people's cheers, Yang Xiaohai felt moved as he looked at the small old man beside him. His nervousness disappeared instantly.
That night, Yang Xiaohai finally saw what a water banquet was like. The boats spread out and carved out a waterway.
Two small wooden boats laden with dishes moved back and forth along the edge of the waterway, allowing everyone to take food.
Perhaps because the boat people rarely went ashore, there weren't many seasonings in their food. The dishes mainly consisted of various raw and blanched items.
There were also some dishes from the shore, which were consumed the fastest. These included the hard guokuis that Yang Xiaohai had used as rations on the road.
That night, Yang Xiaohai ate more fish than he had in his entire life. There were all kinds of fish and seafood he had never seen before.
Yang Xiaohai didn't care what these things were and just stuffed them into his mouth. He felt nothing but joy.
He picked up a long sea snail, sucked from one end, then followed his Third Brother's example and sucked from the other end. The meat from both ends tasted different, which gave a unique flavor.
He glanced at his father, who was drinking with his uncles in the cabin. Yang Xiaohai turned to his brother beside him. "Third Brother, I remember hearing that our family has four children. Where's the other one?"
He remembered clearly that the old man had told him there were four siblings.
His Second Brother was eating a bloody shellfish. He answered, "We have an amazing older sister. Our family's success is all thanks to her."
"Our older sister was married as a child bride to a wealthy family and often sends money home. Otherwise, your Second Brother and I wouldn't have been able to get wives."
"Oh, I see." Yang Xiaohai felt a bit disappointed since he had not met one family member on this trip back.
"Where does our sister live? I want to visit her," Yang Xiaohai said, thinking he could make a detour if it wasn't too far.
"No need! Our sister is coming home in a few days!" His little sister said.
The little girl had been slightly reserved, but she had warmed up to Yang Xiaohai when she saw that he was good-tempered.
His little sister continued, "She said she would bring me something too!"
Coming home? To avoid trouble? Yang Xiaohai thought to himself, as he was aware of the current situation in Hou Shu.
Chapter 675 - Dragon Household
Yang Xiaohai felt somewhat relieved when he heard that his elder sister was coming home soon. In these troubled times, being on the sea was relatively safer than being on land.
"Fifth Child! Your father wants you to come over."
Yang Xiaohai quickly acknowledged his Second Brother. He crouched down to wash his hands in the water, then stood up and headed into the cabin.
The cabin was just big enough for Yang Xiaohai to enter without bending down.
"Come on, Fifth Child, have a drink!" His father, Chi Baishui, pulled him over and thrust a cup of wine into his hand.
Although Yang Xiaohai didn't drink, he glanced at the elders looking at him, then downed the wine in one gulp.
The wine had a strange fishy taste, which made him want to vomit. Everyone else burst into laughter at his reaction.
"How is it, Fifth Child? Not used to it, huh? This is white fish wine. It's good stuff, it can be both drunk and used as medicine! You'll get used to it after a while." Chi Baishui patted Yang Xiaohai hard on the back and laughed along with the others.
"Fish... fish wine? Can you really make wine from fish?" Yang Xiaohai had never encountered such a thing before, even as a cook.
"Of course, you can make wine from fish! Come on, have a seat!" Chi Baishui pulled him to the table.
After several rounds of drinks and dishes, they began to discuss serious matters. Chi Baishui was a little tipsy, as he took a sip of wine and said, "Fifth Child, now that you're back, go to the Dragon King Temple tomorrow morning to register into the dragon household. I'll buy you a boat, and you can fish and live with your wife from now on."
Yang Xiaohai was momentarily stunned. Buying a boat? Fishing? Settling down? These things hadn't been part of his plans.
Chi Baishui's face darkened when he noticed Yang Xiaohai's reaction, "Why? Are you planning to leave again? Why did you come back then?"
Yang Xiaohai felt a little panicked at his long-lost father's anger. "Dad, no, that's not it, really."
"Alright, that's settled then. You can go."
Zhao Xiumei saw her husband walk out of the cabin looking puzzled. She stopped shelling the crabs, then quickly stood up and ran over.
"Xiaohai, what's wrong? Weren't you feasting in the banquet?"
Yang Xiaohai was a little dazed. "Xiumei, my father wants me to stay and live here. What do you think?"
Zhao Xiumei turned to look at the swaying oil lamps on the distant boats and the families on them. "I'm fine with whatever you decide. I'll follow you since we're married."
Yang Xiaohai said nothing more and returned to sit with his siblings as they continued to eat at the feast.
After the water banquet, Yang Xiaohai lay in the hammock, but he couldn't sleep. On one hand, he had just met his family. On the other hand, he thought about the fellow disciples who had gone through life and death with him.
He wished he could have both, but it was impossible. He could only choose one side.
Yang Xiaohai finally fell asleep amidst his drowsiness. When he woke again, he saw his mother gently watching him. Her expression showed a fear that he might run away again.
Yang Xiaohai felt a warmth in his heart. He had never experienced such concern from his family before.
"Fifth Child, you're awake? I'll take you to the Dragon King Temple. Your father is waiting for you."
Yang Xiaohai nodded, then got up and helped his mother up the steps of the cabin.
Whether he stayed or left, he needed to be recorded in the ancestral hall, since he was part of this family.
Yang Xiaohai and his mother made their way through the wooden boats on the sea. The uneven paths were tricky, and he occasionally bumped into others' belongings.
The residents were very welcoming and gave Yang Xiaohai friendly looks.
During the walk, Yang Xiaohai wanted to ask his mother if they should move the family to Cowheart Village, where life was better than fishing out at sea. When he didn't get a response despite talking for a while, he was quickly reminded that his mother was deaf.
Forget it. I'll talk to Dad about it after registering in the ancestral records. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚
After a while, they arrived at a temple with wide eaves. The eaves blocked all the light, making Yang Xiaohai feel a bit oppressed.
"Come on, don't keep your father waiting. He's got a bad temper," his mother said and pulled him inside.
Once inside, Yang Xiaohai was awe-struck by a giant painting in the distance. The dark-toned painting was shrouded in incense smoke and looked especially mysterious.
"Mom, what's that?" Yang Xiaohai was about to point, but his mother quickly pulled his hand down.
"Don't point. It's disrespectful to the Dragon King."
"Dragon King? But isn't that a black snake?" The painting depicted a coiled giant black snake without pupils.
"Our Dragon King looks like that. Quickly offer incense. The Dragon King used to be more unreliable, but he's very effective now!"
Under his mother's urging, Yang Xiaohai solemnly offered incense, then performed three bows and nine kowtows to the Dragon King's painting.
While he was kowtowing, a group of people came out, including Chi Baishui and the elders from last night's dinner.
They were dressed in a brown top and a skirt, with outer ceremonial robes, which made them seem very grand.
Yang Xiaohai looked closely and realized the robes had fish scales, and they seemed to be made of fish skin.
As Yang Xiaohai wondered whether he was now officially part of the dragon household, he saw an elderly man with white hair step forward. This man took out a bamboo scroll and started to chant towards the painting.
Yang Xiaohai couldn't understand a word. The man's speech had a heavy accent that made it sound like singing.
However, one name was repeated several times, which Yang Xiaohai barely made out as Ao Wuzhi.
"Kneel~"
Yang Xiaohai heard this and knelt before the giant painting again.
After another round of three bows and nine kowtows, he saw the elders in fish skin robes surround and look at him solemnly.
Before Yang Xiaohai could understand what was happening, Chi Baishui stepped forward and removed Yang Xiaohai's shirt.
Then, fish spines dipped in ink pricked his skin, causing excruciating pain. He tried to get up instinctively but found he couldn't move. The fish spines contained more than just ink.
Yang Xiaohai just kept kneeling like that as he glanced sideways at his anxious parents. He endured the pain as the fish spines left scale tattoos on his body, just like the other boat people.
Chapter 676 - Big Sister
"Ouch." Yang Xiaohai only felt pain and no other sensations as the fish spines stabbed into his skin. The pain was so deep that he could feel it in his bone marrow, but no matter how bad it got, he couldn't faint at all.
Yang Xiaohai's consciousness started to fade in and out as time dragged on. As his consciousness wavered, Yang Xiaohai saw the Dragon King slowly move.
It wasn't until the mural moved that Yang Xiaohai realized the black snake was not the Dragon King—it was his shadow! The real Dragon King was behind the shadow.
As time passed, the shadow moved faster. The Dragon King's whiskers stretched out like the legs of centipedes from the shadow.
At the very least, Yang Xiaohai thought those were whiskers since they were the only thing that resembles that shape on a dragon. But on closer inspection, he thought it looked more like antennas of numerous insects, or some kind of thread.
The dragon's whiskers wriggled in the air along with the smoke and incense. As they wriggled, Yang Xiaohai's eyes widened—he felt an oppressive feeling on his chest that he couldn't shake, no matter how hard he breathed. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦
In between the space of the dragon's whiskers, Yang Xiaohai saw a small section of the Dragon King's real body covered in scales.
The scales were swimming in water as they slid easily back, revealing a gray eye.
The moment Yang Xiaohai locked eyes with the Dragon King, his consciousness faded immediately and he was drowned in the abyss.
He didn't know how much time had passed when he was woken up by an ancient voice. "Kowtow~"
Yang Xiaohai shivered and quickly looked at the mural to find that the Dragon King was back to normal again. He was no longer suffocating, and nothing had changed.
He quickly looked around and saw his parents were signaling him frantically for him to kowtow.
He looked down on his body and saw the bloody tattoos resembling dragon scales before he realized what was going on. It was part of the procedure to enter the family and not them trying to harm him.
Yang Xiaohai quickly followed their instructions and kowtowed to the mural again.
The ceremony passed without any issues. Ten minutes later, Yang Xiaohai exited from the temple with the scent of incense stuck to his body.
"Mom, why didn't you tell me they were going to do that? It hurts so much," Yang Xiaohai said as he touched the bloody tattoos on his body.
He also wanted to tell his mother about how the Dragon King moved but he didn't know what to say.
"You are so weak. You are already an adult, so why are you so afraid of being in pain?" Chi Baishui scoffed at his own son with disgust before he walked away.
Yang Xiaohai felt humiliated when he saw how his father had reacted.
He wasn't afraid of pain, but he hated how his feelings had been invalidated. Even though it was his own father, he knew that it was not right. He had seen how Lu Zhuangyuan acted as a father.
Yang Xiaohai suddenly felt a cold sensation on his arm. He looked down and saw his mother carefully scattering some incense ash onto his arm.
"Fifth Child, don't cry. The ashes will stop your bleeding. I will cook two eggs for you to recover later."
Yang Xiaohai felt a warmth entering his heart. Even though his father was cold, his mother was as kind as he had imagined.
"Mother, I'm not in pain." Yang Xiaohai shook his head and helped her out.
Even though the process was painful, he felt that it was worth it since he finally joined the family properly.
Back in his boat house, he saw his own father was already in the water. Without waiting for him to react, Chi Baishui pulled Yang Xiaohai into the sea without any warning. Yang Xiaohai struggled to swim up, but Chi Baishui continued to push him down in the water.
Yang Xiaohai struggled until he felt tired, but for some reason, he was not struggling to breathe. He quickly reacted and moved his arm into the water. He then saw his father swimming in the water effortlessly.
Yang Xiaohai finally understood what the teacher in Cowheart Village was trying to explain about the phrase "like a fish in water."
He felt that he had truly become a fish, swimming without any difficulties. He played in the water until he felt his breath running out. He surfaced and took deep breaths afterward.
Yang Xiaohai was treading on water as he looked at his tattoo with surprise. He knew that the reason why he could swim so fast underwater was due to the tattoo.
"Hmph! Did you really think that your own father would harm you?" Chi Baishui was looking at him with pride before he crawled up onto the boat.
"Father, can everyone swim this fast once they join the family?" Yang Xiaohai swam to the side of the boat and climbed up too.
"Of course. The blessing of the Dragon King is a good thing. We don't let outsiders know about this and will only give it to the family."
Yang Xiaohai touched his swollen tattoos and didn't know what to say. Still, he thought that his father should have let him know earlier.
"Father! Father!" Both Yang Xiaohai and Chi Baishui turned to see who it was. Yang Xiaohai saw that it was his own sister as she sprinted at them with happiness.
"Father! Guess who just came back?"
She was going to excitedly tell the answer when a woman with short legs pushed her to the side gently. "Father, I am back. Are you doing well?"
The woman looked like Yang Xiaohai's mother. He guessed her age and deduced that she was his elder sister.
But to his horror, he saw the black cloth wrapped on her shoulder!
Dharma Sect! Yang Xiaohai remembered them attacking Cowheart Village! They were even more evil than bandits. To think that his elder sister had joined them!
Yang Xiaohai was caught in a daze when he saw his father staring at her black cloth too.
But instead of being disgusted or angry, he was surprisingly happy. "Oh? You weren't lying? Are you really working for the palace now? To think that they would accept women with bound feet[1] too!"
"Father, I just gave them some silver. They would accept anyone, regardless of whether they are elderly or children!"
The two of them laughed and entered the tent on the boat.
1. Footbinding was a custom in late imperial China where women would have their feet broken and tightly bound to change their shape and size. It was considered a status symbol and mark of feminine beauty, but it was very painful and resulted in physical impairments. ☜
Chapter 677 - Father
"Oh, I almost forgot. This is your Fifth Brother. He came back yesterday." Chi Baishui introduced Yang Xiaohai to his Eldest Sister.
The Eldest Sister looked at Yang Xiaohai's scale tattoo and nodded satisfactorily. "Fifth Brother, it's good that you are back. Have you gotten married? Do you need my help finding a wife?"
"Hahahaha, that won't be necessary. He's so amazing that he found someone old enough to be his mother as his wife."
The two of them entered the boat tent. It was only then that Zhao Xiumei rushed towards Yang Xiaohai and held his hands. "Xiaohai! She's one of the Dharma Sect! We need to run now!"
Yang Xiaohai hesitated before he reassured her by gently patting her hands. He then walked into the boat tent. "Let me see if I can convince her."
No matter what, she was his family, and he could not let his family be.
Their lunch that day was more luxurious to celebrate the return of Yang Xiaohai's Eldest Sister. Even though the dishes were delicious, Yang Xiaohai couldn't fully enjoy them. He was thinking about how to convince his sister.
"Father, how much silver do we have in our house? Give it to me, and I will try my best to give everyone in our family a position in the palace."
Yang Xiaohai immediately panicked and stood up. "You cannot do so! The Dharma Sect is an evil sect that kills others! You are pushing everyone in our family into the fire if you do so!"
Yang Xiaohai then explained to them what happened to Cowheart Village, how the Dharma Sect attacked them, and what the old lady from the Dharma Sect had done in the county.
But just as he finished his story, he saw his Eldest Sister and father laughing at him.
His Eldest Sister said, "Fifth Brother, you are still young. Of course, we know they are an evil sect for staging a rebellion, but what if they won?"
She then looked at Yang Xiaohai before taking a sip of the fish liquor. "If their rebellion is a success, then it's not considered a rebellion but a revolution! The Dharma Sect would then become the official religion! Do you know what that would mean for us?"
"I don't know!" Yang Xiaohai shook his head and said adamantly, "An evil sect is an evil sect. They treat human lives as insignificant and have killed a lot of people!"
"What a joke!" Chi Baishui slammed the table in anger. "And do you think the previous officials of Hou Shu valued people's lives? They are all the same! If it wasn't because of us trying to harvest pearls for them, your mother wouldn't have become deaf! It's better if they are eradicated instead."
He continued, "They need manpower now that the new palace and governors are being set up. If you don't become an official now, you will have to rely on harvesting pearls to maintain your livelihood. Do you want that?!"
Looking at Yang Xiaohai clenching his fists on the other side of the table, Chi Baishui waved his hand with frustration. "Nevermind. You haven't even grown all of your hair yet. You won't understand what I'm talking about, so just listen to me and follow my orders."
Chi Baishui looked at his Eldest Daughter. "Then we will do as you said. We didn't spend the money you sent back and your fifth brother brought back a lot of silver, so you can use all of it."
Both father and daughter were temperamental, so they acted immediately after lunch. They took the money and silver from the bottom of the carriage.
Even Yang Xiaohai's carriage was stripped of its valuables as everything he had brought from Cowheart Village was being taken out.
"Don't worry about the silvers. Give them to your sister and she'll exchange them for positions in the palace for us. It's much better than letting the silver rot away in storage." Chi Baishui was pleased with his plan.
Yang Xiaohai held his wife's hands and stared blankly at the items being transported out of the carriage. He wasn't worried about the silver, but he had the revelation that his family wasn't what he had imagined. He had thought all families were loving and caring, just like the Lu family.
"Father! You can't do that! The Dharma Sect murders people without a single thought! You will turn all of us into fugitives!" Yang Xiaohai tried to persuade them one last time. He couldn't let his family die a meaningless death.
"You are still a brat and know nothing! There's no good or bad person here! Do you think you're playing house?"
They took out everything and even sold off the carriage and the horse without Yang Xiaohai's permission.
As if sensing something, the monkey children and Zhao Xiumei stood beside Yang Xiaohai. They were upset too.
"Xiaohai, let's go back to Cowheart Village. This isn't how a family should function," Zhao Xiumei consoled and persuaded Yang Xiaohai.
Yang Xiaohai saw his mother was fetching a bowl of food for him and forced a smile. "Wait, let me think of a plan."
Yang Xiaohai was busy trying to figure out a way to stop his family. He thought of doing it physically, but he was surrounded by his cousins and relatives. It was a bad idea to resort to physical violence since he couldn't kill them either.
Yang Xiaohai was still formulating a plan as he lay in the hammock.
The monkey children are very nimble. Should I ask them to steal all the silver from my Eldest Sister? Then they won't be able to join the Dharma Sect anymore.
Yang Xiaohai was still trying to figure out the perfect plan when he heard the chittering of monkeys. Those noises were unique to children trained to be monkeys, and regular people could not emulate them.
"What's happening?" Yang Xiaohai jumped down from his hammock and carefully tiptoed past his Third Brother. He exited the boat and saw a horrific scene.
His father and Second Brother had tied up the monkey children and were walking further away.
"Father! What are you doing?!" Yang Xiaohai's voice was trembling when he shouted.
Chi Baishui looked up without a hint of panic. "I don't know why you picked up these three children. Since they are useless, I might as well sell them for money." He said it matter-of-factly without a hint of remorse.
Yang Xiaohai felt extreme pain in his heart as he stopped him. "Father, I've already given you the silver and the carriage. Why are you also selling them?"
"Since when do you think we have enough money? These three children look like monkeys, so I assume they've been trained before. We can sell them for a good price and then give the money to your Eldest Sister to exchange for some positions for us in the palace. We can earn back the money in two to three months anyway."
Yang Xiaohai had never felt so estranged from his father before. A frightening thought suddenly crossed his mind. Did he really sell me last time just because they didn't have food? Why is he selling people so easily?
Chi Baishui ignored Yang Xiaohai and motioned for his Second Son to continue pulling the monkey children away.
"Wait! Stop!" Yang Xiaohai blocked both of them without hesitation and took out his scepter, "Let them go."
"Hey, how could you talk to our father like that? Do you want to get a beating?"
"Why? Why did you sell me last time?" Yang Xiaohai shouted at them with tears in his eyes.
"Why? It's because I'm your father! Kneel!" Chi Baishui rolled up his sleeves.
Their shouting woke the other people. All of them tried to break up the fight.
"Fifth Son from the Chi family, you can't act like this. He's your father and you should listen to him. You cannot be so unfilial."
"Yeah, plus the three children aren't from our family anyways so we can just sell them."
"Alright, enough fighting. Just kneel and apologize to your father. We are all family so don't fight anymore."
Chapter 678 - Family
"What are you staring at? Hurry up and apologize to your father. Don't interrupt our sleep."
"I would've tied you and beaten you up if you were my son."
Yang Xiaohai looked around and couldn't believe that they were his family and relatives. To them, the three monkey children weren't humans but rather goods to be sold.
He looked around before staring at his own father as he felt bitterness in his heart.
No, not just the monkey children. He even looked at his own sons as goods to be exchanged for silver.
Chi Baishui saw Yang Xiaohai didn't kneel even after some time had passed. He felt humiliated by Yang Xiaohai's disobedience.
He rolled up his sleeves and slapped Yang Xiaohai. "Kneel down!"
Sensing the pain on his cheeks, the bitterness in his heart receded and was replaced by anger. Yang Xiaohai was pissed at his own father!
"I will not! Why should I kneel?! You are not qualified to be my father!" Yang Xiaohai pushed Chi Baishui and shouted at him.
"You fucker!" Chu Baishui was angered too. He looked around and immediately picked up a piece of wood with nails. He swung it at Yang Xiaohai's head.
Yang Xiaohai's mother, Second Brother, and Third Brother tried to stop Chi Baishui. The entire place was in chaos when Yang Xiaohai's Eldest Sister stood up to diffuse the situation.
"It's fine, father. There's no need to sell the three children. We are at war and children are worth very little. We have enough silver for now."
Chi Baishui threw down the wood and scolded Yang Xiaohai.
"I am your father! I will sell the three children, and you must listen to me! If you defy me again, I will sell your wife too!"
Yang Xiaohai's gaze changed when he looked at Chi Baishui. Before this, he didn't understand why Chun Xiaoman would kill her own father. But now he did.
There were evil people in his family too, and they were worse than strangers!
"Alright, father. There's no need to keep scolding him like this." The eldest sister gestured for her Second Brother and Third Brother to pull their father into the boat tent.
"Everything is settled now. Please go back to sleep. I'm sorry for interrupting everyone's sleep due to our quarrel."
After they left, she approached Yang Xiaohai and grumbled, "What's wrong with you? We are all family, so why can't you choose to be softer?" 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂
Yang Xiaohai lowered his head and grumbled, too. His fists trembled as if he had made up his mind.
His eldest sister sighed when she saw how thick-headed Yang Xiaohai was. "We should just let it be for tonight. Our Third Uncle is out in the sea to fish. You can sleep on his old boat and wait till tomorrow to talk about anything else."
She then pointed at the single lonely boat in the distance.
Yang Xiaohai nodded. He held the pale-looking Zhao Xiumei and the scared monkey children towards the boat.
The boat was small and leaking, but Yang Xiaohai just sat disappointedly, like a statue.
"Husband, what should we do?" Zhao Xiumei trembled as she huddled with Yang Xiaohai. It was clear that she was afraid too. The situation here reminded her of the bandit cave.
"This is not my house, and they are not my family! Our home is in Cowheart Village!"
Zhao Xiumei saw that Yang Xiaohai slowly changed from a statue to a living human. His gaze was filled with determination.
"Cowheart Village is our real home, and my Senior Brothers and Sisters are our real family!"
When he was a beggar last time, he had imagined what his family looked like numerous times while cold and hungry. He kept thinking about how well they would treat him.
But now he knew that his family was cold-hearted. If they had been truly good to him, they never would've sold him. It was just his wishful thinking, after all!
"How should we leave? They took our carriage and silver," Zhao Xiumei said with a frown.
"We will just take them back. Those belong to us, so how can they just take them without asking me?"
Yang Xiaohai clenched his fists and said to the monkey children, "The silver is with my eldest sister. You three go and steal the silver while I distract my eldest sister."
He continued, "Once we have the money, we can buy back our carriage and horse. We will steal the silver while they are sleeping and go back to Qing Qiu!"
Yang Xiaohai didn't tell the others that without the silver, his family also wouldn't be able to join the Dharma Sect.
He was discussing the plan with Zhao Xiumei when a sound from outside the boat hull made the both of them shut up.
"Fifth Son, it's cold, so I brought you and your wife a blanket." It was his mother's voice. Yang Xiaohao smiled gently because the only warmth he had felt from his family came from his mother.
He brought her into the boat.
"Haiya, how could someone live here? It's leaking everywhere, and it's so humid."
Yang Xiaohai's mother was complaining when Yang Xiaohai looked at her. "Mother, I'm leaving now. Do you want to come with me? We can go to Cowheart Village, where you can enjoy a better life."
"What? I'm deaf and I can't hear you. What are you saying?"
Yang Xiaohai pulled his mother out from the boat and pointed at the land far on the horizon. It took some time for her to understand.
"Fifth Son, why are you leaving? We've just met again, and now you're going away again?" Yang Xiaohai's mother cried and begged for him to stay.
Yang Xiaohai shook his head. He didn't want to leave his mother because she was the only one who treated him well.
"Is it because of your father? We are all family, so we should discuss this first."
Yang Xiaohai tried to persuade her to leave, but she wouldn't. The only thing he could do was persuade her not to tell his father.
"Alright, I won't tell him. Fifth Son, remember to write letters for us once you reach land. Come visit us whenever you are nearby."
He saw his mother walking back to the other boat while constantly looking back. There were some lights on the shore as if there were boats, but Yang Xiaohai ignored them. He had more important things to do. In the darkness of the night, he walked towards his sister's boat.
Chapter 679 - Departure
"Sister, can you come out? I need to ask you something," Yang Xiaohai shouted to the boat as he stood on the platform opposite it.
Yang Xiaohai saw his sister walking out from the boat and led her away from it before he feigned hesitation. "Sister, do they still need workers in the palace?"
"Why? Are you saying you don't want to see our father anymore and want to come with me? You're not a kid anymore, so don't be childish."
As Yang Xiaohai remained quiet, the monkey children quickly ran into the boat with several stones. They planned to use the stones as a decoy for the silver they were stealing. Their agile and silent nature made it clear that they were used to the work.
The sister looked at Yang Xiaohai before she sighed and said, "You can come if you want, but you have to kowtow and apologize to our father. I know you're still angry, but no matter how harsh his words are, he's still your father. I will only take you with me if he forgives you. You're my brother and you probably can't be an official for now, but I think I can find some work for you to do. Don't complain about it, alright? The Dharma Sect is still at war with Hou Shu. Everyone knows that Hou Shu is losing, so once we are victorious, you will also get a piece of the cake."
Yang Xiaohai saw that the monkey children had stolen all of the silver, nodded, and walked toward his boat.
Back in his boat, he saw the silver in the monkey children's clutches and sighed, "Alright, let's pack up and leave now!"
There wasn't much to pack up since most of it had been sold by Chi Baishui.
Taking advantage of the darkness of the night, they quickly moved toward the shore. It wasn't a smooth journey.
Whenever someone woke up, Yang Xiaohai would swing the scepter so they wouldn't make a sound. By the time they snapped out of it, Yang Xiaohai would be long gone and they would think that they were dreaming.
They finally escaped the wooden huts built on the sea and quickly up the path towards Hou Shu.
Even though he was tired and it was a cold night, Yang Xiaohai felt as if he had revived. He wanted to go back to his true home! 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢
Zhao Xiumei said, "Xiaohai, let's rest a bit. Even the children can't keep up."
Yang Xiaohai turned around and saw the monkey children panting as they carried the silver. The silver was too heavy to be transported by hand without a carriage. Yang Xiaohai looked at the dirt path, took the silver from the children, and placed it in his own stash.
"Alright, let's rest for now, but we cannot sleep. The Dharma Sect is still fighting against Hou Shu, so we need to return to Qing Qiu as soon as possible."
They were resting for a bit when he suddenly saw the path leading to the sea was lit up with torches, as if a fire dragon was slithering up the path.
"Oh no! They are awake!" Yang Xiaohai took the silver and prepared to run when he saw the path in front of him was also lit up. They were surrounded.
Yang Xiaohai soon saw the faces of those holding the torches. They were none other than his family and relatives with his father leading them.
But to his surprise, he saw his mother hiding behind his father. Yang Xiaohai felt as if his head had been hit by a hammer. Being discovered was one thing, but he never would've expected his own mother to betray him!
"You have guts to try and run with the silver!" Chi Baishui was abnormally angry and veins covered his forehead.
Yang Xiaohai's eldest sister was also upset. She now knew why Yang Xiaohai spoken with her. It was so they could take the silver!
"Shit, beat him up! Don't hold back and just kill him!" Chi Baishui shouted and Yang Xiaohai saw his own brothers approaching him menacingly.
"Scram!" Yang Xiaohai swung his scepter and the group was caught in a daze.
The other people shuffled backward from fear as they looked at the scepter in Yang Xiaohai's hands.
"What is that?"
"It's something used to harvest the souls of others! The Chi family's Fifth Child knows how to do that!"
While they were discussing that, Yang Xiaohai's eldest sister suddenly shouted, "It's an artifact! It can be used to harvest the souls of others! It's a treasure! The county magistrate told me that if we gave it to him, we could exchange it for an eighth-ranked[1] official position. The better the treasure, the higher the position we can get!"
The moment they heard that, everyone's eyes lit up with greed. Yang Xiaohai knew they were in deep trouble when his family wasn't intimidated by his actions.
"Follow me into the forest, then scatter! One of us must escape!" Yang Xiaohai waved the scepter to the group of people to the left, stupifying them temporarily.
"Now!"
Yang Xiaohai and the others quickly ran past the dazed people and rushed forward.
He waved the scepter repeatedly, so many of them were caught in bewilderment. Just as Yang Xiaohai almost escaped their encirclement, something metallic flew past in the air.
A fish harpoon with barbed hooks stabbed Yang Xiaohai's hands. Due to the intense pain, Yang Xiaohai let go of the scepter. He endured the pain so he could pick it up, but another harpoon nailed his left leg.
Chi Baishui picked up the scepter with glee before slapping Yang Xiaohai. "How dare you keep a treasure like this to yourself?!"
"Xiaohai!" Zhao Xiumei shielded Yang Xiaohai and looked at Chi Baishui with despair. "We are all family! There's no reason to do this!"
"Family? You are not one of us!" Chi Baishui slapped her too.
Chi Baishui chuckled when he saw Yang Xiaohai enduring the pain to shield Zhao Xiumei instead. "Fifth Child, your wife is excellent. We should be able to sell her for more money than the monkey children."
"What are you trying to do?!" Yang Xiaohai glared back.
"Aiyo! You are acting as if we are causing an inconvenience to you! Look at what you did! You lied to your mother and father, and you also stole the silver in our family! You even hid this treasure from us! Are you still human?"
"Xiaohai?" A foreign voice interrupted them.
Everyone looked at the direction of the voice to find a Daoist in red robes with three swords on his back.
Li Huowang approached Yang Xiaohai. He saw Yang Xiaohai's wounded hands and feet as well as the scepter in Chi Baishui's hands. He also saw Yang Xiaohai's sister had a black cloth wrapped around her shoulder. He understood what was happening.
"Are you his friend?" Chi Baishui scoffed and pushed Li Huowang away.
"You are already old. Aren't you embarrassed that you are mingling with a child? Scram! This is our business and you have no say in this."
Li Huowang looked at Chi Baishui before he grabbed his purple-tasseled sword. "And who the fuck are you?"
A glimmer of steel flashed in the night before Chi Baishui's head flew up high in the air.
1. Officials were separated by rank. There are Nine Ranks and Eighteen Tiers to be exact. ☜