Chapter 27: Jin River by Moonlight
As Shi Hao walked, the Immortal Ice Technique and Mysterious Charm Technique continued to circulate within him.
He could feel the two normally incompatible energies intertwining within him like a taiji symbol, swirling and merging.
Like surging waves, they flowed through his meridians, circulating endlessly.
In two days at most, he would completely master both techniques.
After leaving the city, he changed back to his original appearance and returned to Ming Kun Monastery.
Entering the White Peony Courtyard, he was greeted by the aroma of medicinal herbs.
The sound of roaring flames came from one of the alchemy rooms. Daoist Lan Ke was working on something inside.
“Brother Shi!” a soft voice called out behind him.
Shi Hao turned and saw Du Yuejiao, dressed in her Daoist robe, walking towards him.
In the distance, on the training grounds, disciples were gathered, their synchronized shouts echoing through the air.
Du Yuejiao’s flower-patterned robe fluttered around her like butterfly wings as she moved.
“Brother Shi!” She floated to his side and looked up at him. “I remember you went to Chuan Jin Treasure Pavilion last time to buy Great Cold Peony Immortal Buds and Water Moon Exquisite Lotus. Besides those, is there anything else you need?”
Shi Hao thought for a moment and said, “Besides those two, I also need three Blazing Sky Leaves, along with some more common ingredients like borneol, Northern Wild Chrysanthemum, and Ice Stone Vine. The White Peony Courtyard seems to have them all. Why do you ask?”
Du Yuejiao said cheerfully, “That’s good! I’ve been thinking about how I treated you so rudely when you went to buy those ingredients.”
She lowered her head, slightly embarrassed, and fidgeted with her robe, “So, I’ve been thinking about how to make it up to you. It just so happens that our medicinal garden in Deer Ridge has a Great Cold Peony in bloom, growing in the cold spring.
“We also have Water Moon Exquisite Lotus there. And as for Blazing Sky Leaves, my master has a dozen or so in her room. If you need them, I can send a message to Deer Ridge in my master’s name, asking them to send a bud and a lotus. If we send a messenger now, they should arrive by the morning after tomorrow.
“As for the Blazing Sky Leaves, I’ll just ask Master for three.”
Shi Hao almost couldn’t resist kissing her!
What a wonderful girl! How could he have brought himself to mistreat her?
He took her hand and whispered, “Thank you, Yuejiao.”
The girl blushed slightly and whispered, “It’s nothing, Brother Shi. You’ve helped me so much. I also want to do something for you.”
“By the way, there’s one more thing,” Shi Hao said, looking at Du Yuejiao, “I need you to accompany me to the Marquis’ residence.”
Du Yuejiao asked in surprise, “Brother Shi, are you going to see Junior Sister Li Tong?”
Shi Hao asked, surprised, “How did you know?”
Du Yuejiao lowered her head, “Brother Shi, I know you saved Li Tong as well, but…”
“What are you talking about?” Shi Hao said, “It’s about the case we discussed. I need to see Miss Yue Ke Tai.”
“Oh, it’s about that case!” The girl sighed in relief.
Du Yuejiao sent a message to Deer Ridge in the name of Ming Kun Monastery’s Wei Xiang Pavilion, requesting a Great Cold Peony Immortal Bud and a Water Moon Exquisite Lotus.
Since the Great Cold Peony Immortal Bud could only be stored for seven or eight days at most, and ideally used within six days of being picked, she confirmed the timing with Shi Hao.
Then, they took a monastery carriage and headed into the city.
Arriving at the Marquis’ residence, they met with Yue Ya’er and County Mistress Li Tong in the back garden.
They sat down in the pavilion.
Shi Hao turned to Yue Ya’er, dressed in her flower-patterned attire, and said, “I’ve found out that the gang involved in the child abductions is the Shu Tiger Gang. They’re a local gang in West Shu Province, usually involved in smuggling salt and other goods.
“Someone must have paid them a hefty price to ‘purchase’ a large number of children. The Six Gates usually wouldn’t participate directly in such matters. They would just collect protection money and turn a blind eye. The fact that they’re directly involved this time means the buyer must have offered them a fortune!”
Yue Ya’er snorted, “The Shu Tiger Gang? I don’t care what they usually do. We’ll just wipe them out.”
Shi Hao lowered his voice, “There’s a problem with that. Even if we eliminate the Shu Tiger Gang, the buyer might just find another supplier. If we don’t find out who the buyer is, we’re just treating the symptoms, not the cause. Also, I heard the Shu Tiger Gang has connections to Ming Kun Monastery…”
He looked at Du Yuejiao.
Du Yuejiao’s eyes widened, “What does a shady gang like that have to do with us?”
Shi Hao said, “I heard that Cheng Kun, the leader of the Shu Tiger Gang, is a relative of your abbot.”
Du Yuejiao hesitated, “That only means they were from the same clan before the abbot joined the monastery. Our Chongxian Sect is a righteous sect. The abbot wouldn’t participate in such a thing.”
Yue Ya’er muttered, “You can’t be so sure about that.”
Then she smiled, “But it doesn’t matter. I’m in charge of this matter. We don’t need to worry about such complications.”
Shi Hao nodded… That was exactly what he wanted to hear!
Ming Kun Monastery likely had its share of shady dealings, but they wouldn’t openly participate in something like human trafficking.
After all, the Chongxian Sect presented itself as a “righteous” sect.
And both Ming Kun Monastery and the local Six Gates wouldn’t dare to cross a royal family like the Yue Ke Tai clan.
Shi Hao said, “The Shu Tiger Gang has an accountant named Gu Shufeng. He’s essentially their chief financial officer. If we can capture him, we can definitely find out who’s buying those children. Although I can obtain information, I don’t have enough skilled men…”
Yue Ya’er smiled, “That’s easy! Just give me the information. I have people who can handle the capture.”
Shi Hao looked at the eighteen Jin warriors surrounding the pavilion, their positions forming an invisible net around Yue Ya’er.
With Dark Thunder’s intelligence network, Yue Ya’er’s status, and these eighteen warriors, the Shu Tiger Gang was doomed.
And perhaps he could also use this opportunity to further his own plans!
After discussing the details with Yue Ya’er and County Mistress Li Tong, Shi Hao and Du Yuejiao left before the city gates closed.
Back at Ming Kun Monastery, they parted ways. Shi Hao returned to the White Peony Courtyard. After dinner, he found a secluded spot and practiced his swordsmanship.
In the Primordial Grotto Heaven, the Holy Jade Immortal had taught him the Six Immortal Lightning Strikes. He had only mastered the first three strikes: “Ice Crystal Phantom Sword,” “Mysterious Firefly Flying Sword,” and “Ephemeral Sword Radiance.” The remaining three, due to his insufficient power, he had set aside.
After days of continuous cultivation, he felt a significant improvement in his Immortal Ice Technique.
So, he began practicing the remaining three strikes.
Sword light flashed, and sword energy whistled through the air.
Fueled by his increasingly powerful Immortal Ice Technique, his sword moved like lightning, and by the end of the night, he had mastered the remaining three strikes.
He took a short nap after daybreak.
Even in his sleep, the Immortal Ice Technique and the Mysterious Charm Technique continued circulating within him.
In the afternoon, he left Ming Kun Monastery, but he didn’t go into the city.
He changed his appearance and found a small shop in a town outside the city.
Entering the shop, he gave the secret signal, and the shopkeeper quickly handed him a stack of documents…
“This is Gu Shufeng.”
Night had fallen, but the Jin River, flowing through the city, was bustling with activity.
Various pleasure boats, adorned with lanterns, drifted along the shimmering water.
The colorful lanterns, a myriad of hues, stretched along the river, almost outshining the stars in the sky.
Music, the plucking of pipa strings, and the singing of women drifted from the boats, intermingling to create a vibrant scene.
The hill by the riverbank, bustling with activity during the day, a popular spot for young masters, ladies, and scholars, was now quiet and deserted.
It was a stark contrast to the Jin River, which seemed to come alive at night, vibrant and bustling.
Shi Hao took out several portraits and handed them to Yue Ya’er.
Yue Ya’er didn’t even look at them, passing them directly to one of the warriors, “I only want this one.”
The portraits were passed among the Thunderclap Eighteen Riders.
Shi Hao, Du Yuejiao, and Yue Ya’er stood on the hilltop, the eighteen Jin warriors guarding Yue Ya’er.
These warriors, trained in external martial arts, were tall and muscular, their imposing figures radiating power.
Twenty Yingzhao beasts stood beside them, their formation neat and orderly.
Compared to other mounts, Yingzhao beasts possessed considerable intelligence, but they were difficult to breed, and their numbers were few.
Following the information provided by Dark Thunder, Shi Hao pointed towards the Jin River, “That pleasure boat with the kingfisher statue on the bow is called the Emerald Lattice Pavilion. Gu Shufeng is a regular customer of a courtesan there named Emerald Butterfly. Every night around this time, he’s in her room.
“The pleasure boat itself is also owned by the Shu Tiger Gang. It’s more accurate to say that Emerald Butterfly is his ‘personal property’ rather than him being her regular customer.
“There are many martial artists on board, and Gu Shufeng has personal bodyguards protecting him…”
Shi Hao explained the situation, looking at the Jin warrior who had received the portrait.
The warrior sneered, “A trivial matter! The only question is, do we take him quietly, or do we make a big scene and let everyone know we were the ones who took him?”
Yue Ya’er, hands on her hips, looked imposing, “We’ll make sure everyone knows we did it, that we were the ones who captured him. The bigger the commotion, the better. Especially those Six Gates fools. They’ve been deceiving me, giving me vague answers every time I ask about their progress.
“We’ll show them we’re not to be trifled with! Did you hear me?”
The Thunderclap Eighteen Riders roared their assent. Capturing someone discreetly might be a challenge, but causing a scene was their specialty.
Four warriors remained behind, while the others mounted their Yingzhao beasts and flew towards the pleasure boat.
Shi Hao and Du Yuejiao watched as the fourteen riders, ignoring the stares from the other pleasure boats, flew directly towards the Emerald Lattice Pavilion.
They leaped from their mounts onto the boat. Someone shouted, “Who are you? What are you…”
A scream followed… Even from this distance, they could hear the sound of breaking bones.
Shi Hao and Du Yuejiao saw chaos erupt on the pleasure boat. Explosions echoed, followed by splashes as people were thrown into the river, and the screams of women and men.
The sounds of fighting and clashing energy could be heard, but they quickly subsided.
Even on the bustling river, the commotion attracted attention from the other pleasure boats. Some moved away, while others watched from a distance.
The wooden structure on the pleasure boat collapsed, and figures flew through the air, screaming, landing in the river with loud splashes.
The lanterns hanging from the boat swayed with the violent movement. One fell, and the flames spread along a piece of cloth like a fiery snake.
Shi Hao and Du Yuejiao watched in amazement. Although they didn’t mind a commotion, this was excessive.
As expected of “royal” warriors, accustomed to acting with impunity, they clearly didn’t consider this a big deal.
Constables arrived on the opposite bank, but they hesitated, looking at the Yingzhao beasts circling above. Someone swam ashore, crying and begging them to stop the attackers.
However, the constables, accustomed to bullying the weak and fearing the strong, seeing the unusual nature of the attackers, didn’t dare to intervene.
The fourteen Jin warriors leaped from the burning pleasure boat onto their Yingzhao beasts, one of them carrying a struggling, screaming man.
The Yingzhao beasts circled and flew towards the hilltop in formation.
Arriving at the hilltop, the warrior casually tossed the captured man to the ground. The man rolled twice, his face bruised and bloodied, his mouth bleeding, probably missing a few teeth.
“Spare me! Please spare me!” he cried, kowtowing.
Yue Ya’er laughed, “I told you to capture him, not beat him to a pulp.”
The warrior who captured him said, “He talked big when he saw how many men he had, so I taught him a lesson.”
Yue Ya’er said, “Forget it. Take him away.”
There were twenty Yingzhao beasts on the hilltop. Yue Ya’er mounted one, and Shi Hao and Du Yuejiao shared another.
The eighteen warriors, with the captured accountant of the Shu Tiger Gang, followed them, flying towards Red Mountain…
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