Chapter 61: Visitors from the Pei Family

Feng Jun stepped out of the dark alley in the west of the city, watching Liu Shen clicking his tongue in regret and asked with a smile, “Well, what do you think?”

“What a pity…”

“A pity?”

“Yes…” Liu Shen nodded slightly, a knowing smile on his lips. “Ten taels of silver—half a year ago, I couldn’t even redeem my indenture for that sum. To lose such a charming character, isn’t that a shame?”

Feng Jun chuckled in response, sharing the sentiment. “People are always like this—once you have pursuits, you become fixated. And when someone’s obsession is beyond others’ comprehension…” He clicked his tongue again, searching for the right words, and then, with a laugh, added, “Their words and actions may be endearing, but that’s just how it is.”

“We must thank you for your help this time, Master Feng,” Liu Shen said with a smile. “If not for your introduction, I’d never have known that our little Heyang County had such an extraordinary person.”

“Don’t mention it.” Feng Jun waved off the compliment, then, as if remembering something important, fixed him with a serious look. “By the way, spring is almost here—you’d better pay more attention to the dock work.”

“I know, I know…” Liu Shen replied, flattering him with a smile. “Those who can, do more. But with you watching over the hall, I can leave for a while. Once I take care of this matter and return, I’ll be sure to ease your burdens.”

He had worked as a porter at the docks for five years, and now, as deputy hall master of the Qingsha Gang, he was well aware of the unique challenges that came each year after spring began and after the autumn harvest.

In fact, along the entire canal, all the river gangs approached these two periods with trepidation.

The reason was simple: after spring and the autumn harvest, the imperial tax silver and grain from all over the Great Qian would travel north along the canal.

That was the emperor’s tribute.

If anything went wrong along the way, the local officials would risk losing their heads—let alone the river gangs who made their living by the canal.

In the early days, before the Canal Guild had grown large, river gangs along the canal, though in name ‘gangs,’ were in truth little more than water bandits.

And, as bandits, some bold souls once dared to lay hands on the imperial tribute.

But their fates were uniformly disastrous—their entire clans wiped out.

Later, the water bandits wised up, came ashore, and as the Canal Guild became more organized, collecting protection fees from merchants became the norm. It had been a long time since anyone had committed such a foolish act.

“You’d best stay alert, boy.”

Feng Jun saw Liu Shen was not taking the warning to heart and sighed, “Now, under the leadership of our Dragon Head, the Canal Guild’s influence in the martial world is greater than ever—it’s no exaggeration to say a million people depend on us for their livelihoods. Recently, it seems the imperial court has taken notice.”

He paused, glanced around to make sure no one was near, and lowered his voice. “Rumor has it that these past two years, the agents of the Court’s Grand Directorate have been seen frequently in the towns and counties along the canal. They seem to be searching for something. This is no good omen…”

“The Grand Directorate…” Liu Shen’s eyes narrowed.

He knew all too well—the ‘Grand Directorate’ Feng Jun spoke of was the single most powerful agency under the Great Qian’s imperial court.

There were three main directorates: the Grand Directorate, the Directorate of Celestial Affairs, and the Directorate of Command.

Of these, the Directorate of Celestial Affairs, home of the Grand Preceptor, stood apart from worldly affairs.

The Directorate of Command represented the great military houses at the capital—their power lay outside the city.

But the Grand Directorate, specially empowered by the emperor, not only oversaw the officials within the court with the right to execute first and report later, but also kept watchful eyes in the martial world at large.

In the capital, it was said, “Children stop crying at the mention of the Grand Directorate,” and, “Should the Grand Directorate come calling, fortune flees and calamity follows”—testament to their fearsome reach and reputation.

For such an instrument of imperial power to leave the capital and appear again and again in the towns and counties along the canal was indeed a bad sign.

“Don’t worry, Master Feng…” Seeing Feng Jun’s worried expression, Liu Shen tried to reassure him. “Even if the sky falls, there’s always someone taller to hold it up. For us, worrying ourselves sick won’t change a thing.”

“You’re right…” Feng Jun let out a long sigh. As their hall drew into view, he said with a smile, “You’ve found where Yu Shan is—now the rest is up to you.”

“I wouldn’t dare trouble you further, Master Feng.”

“Just don’t forget your real duties, boy…”

“Rest easy, Master Feng!” Liu Shen thumped his chest in a show of confidence. “When I return, I’ll have the young madam keep an eye out for you—see if we can’t arrange a good match, perhaps even a wealthy wife.”

They bantered a while longer, then each went home.

With this matter settled, Liu Shen was finally at ease—he returned home and devoted himself to his training without further worry.

He could feel it—the second stage of martial cultivation was within his grasp. It would happen in the coming days!

In the days that followed, aside from his daily training, Liu Shen either spent time at the Song residence, nurturing his relationship with the young madam, or he would take wine, food, and eggs to the black alley in the west of the city, plucking tender shoots from the Chinese toon tree at Yu Shan’s home to fry with his wine.

Yu Shan, usually a man of few words, could not help but protest as his already-bare tree grew even more ragged under Liu Shen’s depredations. “Take a little less,” “That’s enough,” “There’s more than enough for a dish,” “Don’t strip the tree bare,” he would say, his face full of pained regret.

Another day arrived…

A carriage rolled leisurely into the city through the southern gate. A lean driver held the reins, with two burly, middle-aged men riding beside him on horseback.

“Tut, tut…” The man on the left, as if visiting for the first time, gazed about and said, “I hear the Qingsha Gang has unified all the river gangs in Heyang County—that’s something, isn’t it?”

“I came to Heyang six or seven years ago,” said the man on the right. “Back then, the Qingsha Gang was a minor outfit, hardly worth mentioning. Who could have guessed they’d grow so fast and swallow the Chishui Gang? That Ning fellow is something else.”

“I’ve met Ning Hongwu—looked like a fool, dumb as an ox,” the thin driver scoffed, shaking his head. “The real power in Qingsha is his sister—the Iron Lady.”

“That woman is ruthless, all right. She beat that old fox Zhang Wanxuan so badly he fled for dozens of miles and hasn’t dared show his face since.”

“And I hear she’s already close to the fifth stage of martial cultivation, and still so young. I wonder what kind of hero could ever tame such a wild mare.”

The man on the left grinned slyly, waggling his brows. “Boss, you’re nearly at the fourth stage yourself. Why don’t we throw in with the Qingsha Gang? Who knows, maybe she’ll take a liking to you—you win the beauty, and we get to share in your good fortune!”

The other man snickered lewdly, his demeanor thoroughly disreputable.

“Watch your tongue!” the lean driver snapped, keeping his voice low. “This is their turf—and we’re here to snatch food from their mouths. If the wrong ears catch wind, trouble will follow.”

He snorted, his gaze flickering ahead. “That should be the Song residence up there. Be on your best behavior, both of you!”

The two men sobered at once and nodded. “Understood…”

As their carriage drew up before the Song residence, a few idlers on the street exchanged glances. Their leader gave a subtle signal, and one of them slipped quietly away…