Author: 哔哔 (Bi Bi) / Jin Gang Quan

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

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Chapter 76

Before dawn the next morning, Huo Fenghua was jolted awake by knocking outside the door.

Ruan Qin stood outside and said, “Master Su, someone from Master Hu’s side is here. He says there’s something important he needs to tell you in person.”

Huo Fenghua flipped out of bed at once. He didn’t bother washing his face or combing his hair. He shoved his feet into his boots, threw on an outer robe, and headed out. “Have him wait for me in the guest room.”

Hu Dong had indeed sent someone in a rush that early, because there was urgent news. Hu Dong had long planted his own men in Shenlong Docks. They’d learned that late last night, Shenlong Docks secretly let two Donglin soldiers into the city to meet Bao Wentong. No one knew what benefit they’d promised him, but Bao Wentong had agreed to let the Donglin troops cross the Wu River tonight and enter Wuhetan to search for Feng Tianzong.

“That son of a bitch Thermos!” Huo Fenghua slammed a hand on the table. He rubbed his chin and thought for a moment, then told the messenger to take a message back to Hu Dong, asking Master Hu to meet at noon. After that, he also sent someone to invite Lan Shuilian.

After seeing the visitor off and returning to his room, Huo Fenghua shut the door and let out a roar, like he was venting frustration. Then he went to the cabinet, opened it, and rummaged until he pulled out a cowhide map.

He carried the map to the table and said to Feng Tianzong, who was seated there, “Move.” Then he spread the map out across the tabletop.

Both Feng Tianzong and Su Zeyang were already up. Feng Tianzong sat at the table while Su Zeyang helped tie up his hair. Feng Tianzong shifted aside to look at the map Huo Fenghua had laid out. It showed the entire terrain of Wuhetan.

Huo Fenghua stared at it, frowning as he thought. After a moment, his finger traced the winding Wu River outside the city walls, and he asked Feng Tianzong, “If I want to launch a sneak attack tonight while Shenlong Docks is ferrying the Donglin troops across, and seize control of the Wu River from Shenlong Docks, how should I do it?”

Feng Tianzong tapped the map lightly with long fingers. “This is the ferry crossing. Then this should be where the Donglin troops are encamped?”

Huo Fenghua nodded.

Feng Tianzong continued, “Besides the crossing, which other stretches of the Wu River does Shenlong Docks have men stationed at?”

Huo Fenghua pointed to three spots in succession. “Here is the dock where cargo gets unloaded from the river route. And here, and here too. The terrain and current are gentler there, so Shenlong Docks’s afraid people will try to sneak across. They posted guards.”

Feng Tianzong asked, “Do you have enough manpower?”

Huo Fenghua knit his brows. “If you add my people to Hu Dong’s and Lan Shuilian’s, three groups together should be enough to take the river. But to take the Wu River, we also have to pin Shenlong Docks down at the same time, so Bao Wentong has no chance to shift men around. We’ll probably need to discuss carefully how to deploy everyone.”

Feng Tianzong thought for a moment. “Will there be any loading or unloading at night at the docks?”

“Usually not,” Huo Fenghua said. “They’re afraid they won’t be able to count the goods properly in the dark.”

“Then you don’t need to worry about those three points,” Feng Tianzong said. “The main thing is the crossing.”

Huo Fenghua nodded. “I think striking while the Donglin troops are crossing is the best time, but I’m also worried. If our trouble with Shenlong Docks spills over to the Donglin soldiers and blows this up, and Donglin sends reinforcements, Wuhetan really won’t be able to hold.”

Feng Tianzong fell silent for a moment, then asked, “Do you have men who are strong swimmers?”

Huo Fenghua looked at him.

Feng Tianzong pointed at the crossing. “Have them slip underwater and drill holes in the boats while the Donglin troops are crossing. When everything on the water turns chaotic, seize the shore. Don’t draw blades against the Donglin troops. Just replace Shenlong Docks and negotiate with them directly.”

Huo Fenghua scratched at his chin. “Negotiate?”

Feng Tianzong said, “First, make them explain who the two men who infiltrated last night were. Then agree to let a small number of troops into the city to search. The point is that everything stays under your control.”

Huo Fenghua nodded slowly. He turned and patted Feng Tianzong on the shoulder. “That makes sense. It’s workable. I’ll have Xiongda and Xiong’er gather people right now. We’ll move tonight.”

He spun to run out, but Su Zeyang grabbed his wrist. “Wait.”

Huo Fenghua turned back, looped an arm around Su Zeyang, and kissed him once. “Be good, Senior Brother. Just wait here.”

Su Zeyang didn’t let go. He only said, “You’re going out like that?”

Huo Fenghua’s gaze swept the bronze mirror on the cabinet. Realizing his hair was loose and his appearance was a mess, he hurried to sit at the table and tugged Su Zeyang closer. “Senior Brother, comb my hair first, quick.”

Huo Fenghua went out to arrange for Xiongda and Xiong’er to gather manpower. At noon he also found time to meet Hu Dong and Lan Shuilian. He’d meant to agree on a two-pronged plan tonight, he would lead people to the Wu River crossing to stop the Donglin troops from coming over, while Hu Dong led men to surround Shenlong Docks. But Lan Shuilian brought him a new piece of information: tonight, Bao Wentong would likely not be at Shenlong Docks. He was going to Xueyue Tower to meet his old flame, Miss Qingru.

Seated at the table, Huo Fenghua’s fingers tapped the tabletop again and again. He thought for a moment, then said to Lan Shuilian, “That’s good news, Sister Lian. Don’t change your plan to attack Shenlong Docks. I have someone who can kill Bao Wentong alone, clean and fast.”

Hu Dong looked at him curiously. “Who? Your silly ‘son’? I’m afraid he’s too dumb to be reliable.”

Huo Fenghua raised an index finger and wagged it. “My son, of course, is coming with me. I’m talking about someone else.”

Hu Dong stood, clasped his hands at his chest, and paced behind Huo Fenghua. “Guangtou Qiang, tell me the truth. Is Feng Tianzong hiding in Wuhetan?”

Huo Fenghua looked genuinely surprised. “Uncle, why would you ask that? How would I know where Feng Tianzong is?”

Hu Dong stared at him. “Then why are you trying so hard to stop the Donglin troops from entering the city?”

Huo Fenghua crossed one leg over the other, smiling as he said, “Uncle, don’t be stupid. Let me ask you. What terms do you think the Donglin troops offered Bao Wentong that made him agree to let them in?”

Lan Shuilian had always liked Huo Fenghua. She laughed and asked, “So what do you think the terms were?”

Huo Fenghua patted his chest. “If I were Bao Wentong, I’d only consider agreeing if the Donglin troops told me that once they entered the city, they wouldn’t touch my power base, and they’d even help me wipe out all the other forces in Wuhetan and fold them under my command. Then Donglin became Shenlong Docks’s backing in the future. Only then would I think about it.”

Hu Dong’s expression tightened.

Huo Fenghua bounced his crossed leg. “So the key isn’t whether the Donglin troops enter the city. The key is not letting Bao Wentong be the one who brings them in. Once we take the crossing, we immediately renegotiate with the Donglin troops. We still let them enter, but this time the terms are set by us.”

Lan Shuilian ran a hand through the long hair at her chest and said nothing.

Hu Dong still seemed hesitant. He stepped behind Huo Fenghua and set a hand on his shoulder. “But if you take the Wu River, then Wuhetan will be yours to call the shots.”

Huo Fenghua knew what Hu Dong was worried about. He quickly said, “That’s not fair, Uncle. Tonight our manpower is being mixed and split up anyway. At the crossing, a third of the men will be yours. I’m just the one giving orders. What are you worried about? Besides, Shenlong Docks is still in your hands. Bao Wentong’s been raking in money for years. I want you to cut me in, too.”

Hu Dong didn’t respond.

Huo Fenghua stood. “There’s no end to the money in the world. A million taels or ten million taels, it doesn’t make much difference to me. I couldn’t spend it all in a lifetime of eating, drinking, and having fun. What I want is what comes next, our ‘Bu Xian Xian’ future. We should look farther ahead. Don’t be short-sighted, clinging to one river like Bao Wentong, becoming someone else’s stumbling block and thorn in the eye.”

Lan Shuilian laughed out loud. “Fine. Your sister believes you.”

Hu Dong pinched Huo Fenghua’s shoulder, voice low. “Since you’ve already called me Uncle, then like you said, I’ll trust you as family. Don’t let me down.”

Huo Fenghua raised one hand. “I, Guangtou Qiang, swear to heaven I won’t betray my uncle and Sister Lian. If I do, may lightning strike me and may I die a miserable death.”

After saying that, he blinked innocently.

After night fell, Bao Wentong went to Xueyue House to see Miss Qingru.

Miss Qingru was the top courtesan there. Bao Wentong had fallen for her at first sight and was mad about her. He’d always wanted to buy out her contract and bring her back to Shenlong Docks as a concubine, but she’d never agreed. She seemed to prefer staying at Xueyue House, continuing to entertain with her body.

When Bao Wentong came, Qingru wouldn’t receive any other clients. The two of them stayed in an upstairs room with the door shut. Bao Wentong drank wine and ate dishes while listening to Miss Qingru sing for him.

The private room had no windows, only a bed and a table. Before entering, Bao Wentong would have people inspect it to make sure there was no ambush. The food and wine would also be tasted by the brothel’s attendant first, to confirm there was no poison.

After that, Bao Wentong would get intimate with Qingru inside, while two guards stood watch at the door, both first-rate fighters in the gang.

Miss Qingru’s slender fingers plucked the strings, her voice soft and sweet. Bao Wentong took a sip of wine and closed his eyes, listening to her clear singing woven with the zither. For a moment, even the viciousness on his face eased.

Just then, the string snapped abruptly between Miss Qingru’s fingers with a harsh, grating sound. Miss Qingru cried out softly and hurriedly clutched her finger.

Bao Wentong opened his eyes. “You hurt yourself?”

“It’s nothing,” Miss Qingru said.

Bao Wentong beckoned. “Come here.”

Miss Qingru went to him and sat down. Bao Wentong took her hand and examined it. Seeing a bead of blood, he put her finger into his mouth and licked the blood clean.

Miss Qingru smiled faintly. “It’s a pity that song isn’t finished. I’ll ask the new luthier the house just hired to replace the string.”

Bao Wentong frowned slightly. “No need.”

Qingru held his hand. “Don’t worry, Boss Bao. That craftsman is blind. He can’t see and can’t do anything except repair instruments.”

“Blind?” Bao Wentong seemed to think of something amusing. He tugged Qingru into his arms. “Then call him in. Let him fix it.”

Qingru rose, went to the door, and opened it to call someone.

A moment later, the door opened again. The guard outside said, “Boss, the man to repair the zither is here.”

Bao Wentong said, “Let him in.”

As the words left his mouth, a white boot stepped over the threshold. Bao Wentong couldn’t help lifting his head to look.

The person entering was a young man in a white long robe. He was tall and slender, his steps light and unhurried. Long black hair fell loose down his back, with two strands at his forehead hanging all the way to his chest. A strip of white cloth was wrapped across his face, covering his eyes precisely. But the forehead, the bridge of his nose, and his chin left uncovered were smooth and pale, delicate and striking. His jawline was fine and clean, leading down to a long, snow-white neck, even the Adam’s apple elegant and pleasing.

After the young man entered, the door was shut.

Bao Wentong had never been fond of men, yet he couldn’t stop his gaze from lingering on that face.

Qingru stepped forward and called, “Master Huo.”

The young man nodded and cupped his hands toward the direction of her voice.

Qingru took his arm and guided him to the low couch where the zither rested. The young man knelt on a cushion beside it, and his pale, slender fingers brushed over the strings.

Bao Wentong kept watching him. When he saw the young man’s hands, he swallowed, the sound unusually loud in the quiet room. Then he said, “Take the cloth off your face.”

He was curious what kind of eyes a person this beautiful might have.

The young man seemed to pause. He lifted his head toward Bao Wentong’s direction. After hesitating, he shook his head.

Qingru looked at Bao Wentong and tried to dissuade him. “Master Huo is blind. Boss Bao, it’s better not to look.”

But Bao Wentong’s curiosity had been hooked until it itched. He was convinced that beneath that face there had to be a pair of seductive, captivating eyes. Blind or not, he wanted to see. He stood, strode up, and roughly pinched the young man’s chin to force his head up, then yanked the white cloth away.

In that instant, Bao Wentong saw a pair of eyes shining with watery brilliance. They held no light of focus, yet the pupils were dark and clear, like they could reflect a person’s heart.

He froze slightly. The hand gripping the young man’s chin tightened.

Then, in the very next moment, he saw something even brighter than those eyes, a flash of silver. A sword plunged straight into his chest. He didn’t even see where the blade came from, or how it had entered his body.

He only saw the young man’s eyes slowly gather their sharpness, and with a cold, indifferent glance, the young man drew his sword back out of him.

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