Just as the Yongfu had hidden from view for only a moment, Mozi saw that ship getting closer and silently thanked heaven for not treating her poorly.

  If it wasn't for her own initiative, she would have probably run into them. Whether they were friend or foe was hard to say, but her intuition told her they wouldn't be friends. After all, those who took this water route weren't officials, but rather people trying to avoid the naval inspection and sneak into South Germany. The conflict between officials and civilians meant that the Yongfu would be unlucky if it encountered them - there was no need to elaborate on that. However, even for those trying to smuggle themselves in, they wouldn't want others to stumble upon them, even if those others had the same purpose as them. This was what you called "same trade, different boats".

  She had just seen the volume of that ship, not as agile as Yongfu, but also a medium-sized hull. Entering Jingyu Beach is not impossible, but it requires extremely high steering skills. Therefore, she wanted either to have a master on that ship or to be an outsider who didn't know the height of heaven and earth. However, those swaying lanterns really didn't look like they were commanded by a master. If it was an outsider, seeing the white waves surging forward, he would probably be scared and turn back. Sure enough, as she had expected, the ship sailed back.

  Mozi and Baiyu et al. crouched on the deck, only revealing their eyes, staring intently at each other's approaching ships. Almost parallel to Yongfu, the distance between the two ships was only a few meters. If it weren't for the dense vines and deep cliffs, they would have been discovered at this distance long ago.

  Although she held her breath and tensed up her whole body, Meizhi was still curious about who that boat was carrying.

  It seemed as if the heavens were determined to satisfy her wish, for on that boat, heading in her direction, appeared two people. Because they were close by and the lanterns were bright, through the gaps between the branches, she got a good look at their faces.

  One was an old man with white hair, dressed in a grey robe, with his sleeves and legs tied up, wearing the attire of a martial artist. He had a monkey-like face and carried a long bamboo pole. The other was a short, stout middle-aged man with a lucky appearance, sporting a goatee beard, small eyes and a large nose, wearing a wide white satin robe that made him look rotund and comical.

  Two people were talking, thinking it was a dark and windy night, with no walls to block their voices, and they didn't lower their tone.

  "I said it early on, without a local boatman to guide us, we can't get through." The goat beard snorted, with dissatisfaction in his tone, "A young whippersnapper who has just won a few small skirmishes, thinks he can control the waters of the world? If I weren't entrusted with this task by the king, I wouldn't have taken on such a job."

  "Old Hu, why bother with that little brat? If this mission isn't completed, it's all because of his poor command, what does it have to do with us? He'll be the one to explain himself to Wang Shang. We're just small-time followers, we can't make decisions, and when we speak, he just ignores us like farting. Let's just get through this and that's it." Gao Zhu Gan looked down on their leader completely.

  "You speak lightly. On the day of departure, Wang said that I would follow you and exercise my right to cheapness at critical moments, and now it's time to show off. What do you mean?" The goat glanced up at the high bamboo pole and asked himself, "That means if things go wrong, don't look for your own brothers, but find us unlucky ones."

  "This... can't be, right? The two of us have been following him since he was the crown prince, loyal and devoted. Not to mention civil or military achievements, but also outstanding military exploits. The king has always trusted us deeply. Old Hu, you're thinking too much." Gao Zhu Gan patted Shan Yang Hu's shoulder, seemingly unconcerned.

  "You old fool, only knowing how to fight and not reading books. Aren't there many records in history books about emperors dealing with their meritorious officials after ascending the throne? You'd better be careful with your arrogant attitude, or you'll be the first one to get killed. Can we, like the Crown Prince, be considered as close friends who share a deep bond? Can we do that with the Emperor? In the Crown Prince's mansion, we can come and go freely, without kowtowing or kneeling, calling out to him in a familiar tone - can we do that in the palace? Although we are now favored officials of the king, it's like heaven and earth apart. You should think carefully about this."

  "What to do?" Gao Zhugan heard, finally somewhat anxious, "Or else, we go in and persuade him, and take the boat ashore with a bang? Don't care if it's startled fish or dead fish, I don't believe we can't get ashore."

  "Your kung fu is quite good, but unfortunately you can't swim." The mountain goat splashed cold water from a bamboo pole. "If you want to go, then go, I have self-awareness and want to keep my life to have more sons."

  "At your age, having seven daughters is a blessing. Marry them off and have grandsons to carry on the Hu family lineage?" Gao Zhugan chuckled with glee.

  "Two masters, Young Master Hou has invited you." A soft and melodious female voice rippled across the water.

  The moment the ink-purple sound reaches the eardrum, it resonates with the heart, stirring up ripples.

  This voice - who is it? Why does it make me feel so peculiar?

  The purple eyelids opened wide, but the woman stood in a tall and fat shadow, only to see that her hair was embedded with a silver shiny brooch, shining with purple gemstone light.

  "Miss Ye, have you made a decision?" Mountain Goat Hu spoke to her with some respect.

  "Alright. Young Master Hou has decided to follow your suggestions, traveling light and simple, abandoning the unnecessary and choosing the essential, entering from Pingjiang." The woman's voice was as beautiful as a nightingale, as clear as morning dew.

  "Hey, it's better this way." Gao Zhu Gan couldn't hide his joy, and he chuckled with a "heh heh" smile.

  Mei Zi couldn't see Shan Yang Hu's expression, but it was imaginable that he wouldn't be as heartless as Gao Zhu Gan.

  "Hu Lao, Gao Lao, young Master Hou is indeed vigorous and ambitious. Since the king ascended to the throne, he has been eager to make achievements for His Majesty. Sometimes his actions may be a bit rash. You have followed the king for many years, and young Master Hou has practically grown up under your care. He truly does not mean to disrespect you two elders, so please try to understand him more. In any case, we are on this mission by order of the king, sharing both fortune and misfortune together. It's best if we unite our hearts for the sake of our lord." That Ye Er girl has quite a clever tongue.

  "Did Ye Er girl really follow..." The words of Shan Yang Hu were left half unspoken.

  "Wow, you guys are talking about me behind my back. Ye Er, you said you'd help me invite the two elders, but it turns out you're here to complain." The young voice was mischievous in tone, with words that were half-true and half-false, and an air of proud nobility.

  Deep purple covered her mouth and heart.

  However, the owner of the voice was standing in the shadows just like Ye Er, with indistinct facial features. But he had a mouthful of shiny and neat silver teeth, which shone brightly when he smiled, illuminating even the dark night.

  Is there such a voice in memory? Is there such beautiful teeth in memory? Always proud, always mischievous, always making people laugh and angry, always making people helpless, yet can't be disliked.

  Is there? Is there?

  She doesn't know.

  She only knew that there was something inside her that wanted to come out, surging and overwhelming everything. But she couldn't let it out, didn't want to let it out. Don't ask why, she bit her lip, the iron taste of fresh blood seeping into the gaps between her teeth, spreading across her tongue, and swallowing.

  Like a poisonous drug, it is addictive and opens with blood, an uneasy soul, only then can it be calm.

  Close your eyes tightly and listen to the sound of the boat paddling slowly pushing the water ripples to Yongfu, from front to back.

  The sound is gone, the boat is gone, the light is gone, the people are gone.

  －－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－

  Just saw PK600, no time today, double update tomorrow.

  Thank you for your continued support, dear friends.