The exact location of the boat's journey was unclear now. The current of the river grew swift, causing the small boat to sway gently, as if it were an uneasy fish.

Chen Yi turned his head to look out. On Beiyao River, there were many small islands, none too large, barely enough to accommodate a dozen people, and a dozen blades. The old boatman pushed against the pole feebly, each movement appearing as if he were struggling futilely against the turbulent waters...

The small boat gradually followed the current, drifting toward the eerie and shadowy islands.

The boatman spoke, "Young master, mind your balance. The river current is strong and the boat unstable."

"Old boatman, how about I tell you a story?"

The man carrying the long blade suddenly broke the silence and spoke.

"A story?" The old boatman furrowed his brows in confusion.

"Yes. Old boatman, have you heard of the tale of Zixu crossing the river?"

Without waiting for the boatman's response, the man began narrating on his own:

"It is said that during the Spring and Autumn period, Wu Zixu was pursued by Chu people and desperately needed to cross the river. The boatman, upon hearing that it was Wu Zixu, risked everything to ferry him across.

On the boat, Wu Zixu worried the boatman might betray him, and thus offered his sword—worth a hundred gold—to the boatman. Yet to his surprise, the boatman refused and sternly declared that he ferried him across because of his admiration for Wu Zixu's character. He wouldn't accept even Chu Kingdom's thousand gold, let alone Wu Zixu's hundred gold."

"…What happened after that?" The old boatman's voice trembled slightly.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the man's hand was already gripping the hilt of the blade.

"Later, after bringing Wu Zixu to the riverbank, the boatman drew his sword and killed himself to cover Zixu's tracks. Wu Zixu was left deeply ashamed."

The old boatman heard the man continue, his tone slow and eerie:

"The unyielding spirit of those ancient figures stirs the soul,

But… I wonder if today, I might be Wu Zixu?"

A shiver ran down the old boatman's spine. He immediately yanked hard on the pole and rowed with all his strength, desperately steering the small boat away from the shadowy island in the river, speeding straight toward the shore.

At the same time,

Spies from Xique Pavilion on the island, observing through the branches, saw the boat that was initially drifting toward them suddenly change course. In an instant, they understood something.

"Why has that boat changed direction?"

"Could the person on that boat be Chen Qianhu?!"

"Release the hawks and alert the leader!"

......…

Even before Chen Yi entered the city, Xique Pavilion had already deployed individuals disguised as boatmen at the docks.

Each was given pieces of broken silver and instructed to remain watchful for anyone using currency exchanged from Beixin Bank.

If they found such a person, they were to ferry them to the islands in the river.

The old boatman was one of those individuals.

Chen Yi's judgment had been correct; the boatman was not merely a spy planted by Xique Pavilion. Many details could deceive, but the wear brought on by time could not.

Seeing Chen Yi place his hand on the blade's hilt, the old boatman rowed with all his might, regretting the life-threatening deal he had made.

The small boat crashed into the riverbank, reeds brushing against the hull, and the creaking of the ancient cabin filled the air. The vessel nearly collided with the rocks along the shore.

When it finally ground to a halt, the old boatman fell to his knees with a thud:

"Spare me, young master, spare me. I… I didn't mean it."

Chen Yi remained silent, lost in his thoughts.

The old boatman nervously retrieved the ten copper coins Chen Yi had given him earlier. One coin slipped from his trembling hand. Frantically, he blocked its fall and shoved all the coins forward:

"Young master, the money… the money is all here. I won't take your money… I won't take your money…"

Chen Yi stared at the fearful old man without speaking. Slowly, he moved his hand away from the blade's hilt and stepped past him:

"Here's an old saying for you: Trust must exist alongside caution, but never harbor harm toward others."

The old boatman kowtowed with terror and watched Chen Yi's departing figure. Clutching the ten coins, he prepared to tuck them into his pocket.

Whoosh!

A bolt whizzed through the woods, and Chen Yi barely tilted his head in time to dodge it. In an instant, the arrow pierced through the old boatman's skull.

The old boatman died, clutching the ten coins in his hand. His lifeless body collapsed onto the same small boat he had manned all his life. The frigid wind nudged the boat, sending it drifting back into Beiyao River.

Chen Yi's hair stood on end. Were it not for the Shangqing Heart Method, he would have been the one to die. He saw figures darting through the trees, with none other than Xique Pavilion's leader, Laughing Pelican, at the forefront!

Xique Pavilion had blocked all waterways, stationing personnel not just on the river islands but along the shoreline as well. Laughing Pelican, assuming Chen Yi would not fall into the boatman's trap, had personally taken position by Beiyao River.

And he guessed right.

Laughing Pelican stroked his chin, studying Chen Yi as he said:

"It's been a while."

"Only two or three days," Chen Yi replied, unhurried.

"I truly enjoy listening to your stories. A single day apart feels like three autumns. Her Majesty says I may capture you alive or kill you outright, but I'd prefer to capture you alive; that might earn me more merit."

After Laughing Pelican finished speaking, he let out two coughs—both amused chuckles and the rasp of someone choking on water.

Chen Yi smirked. "Alright then, come and chase me."

As his words fell, he instantly spun his body and leapt—like lightning—onto the drifting small boat!

Ordinary Qinggong techniques below the second tier couldn't possibly achieve such distance in a single leap. Mid-air, Chen Yi activated the Wind Control Technique with one hand, and as the wind surged at his back, he landed steadily on the small boat.

"Fire the arrows!"

Almost simultaneously, bolts pierced through the boat's cabin and shattered the air. Wood fragments flew, scattering into the shimmering surface of the river. Chen Yi used his Primordial Qi to lift the old boatman's corpse and jammed it against the cabin door.

Arrows rained down.

Bolts relentlessly pierced the corpse, and fresh blood splattered outward before it could even coagulate.

As the wind stirred and the boat swayed, Chen Yi's hand remained firm while his Primordial Qi surged, his collar fluttering wildly. The small boat, now visibly accelerating, pulled farther and farther away from the shore.

Laughing Pelican was not about to let him escape and ordered the release of the hawks to spread the word, before diving straight into the river himself.

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