Chapter 19
Chapter 19: Is the Young Fellow Sick?
The five men sprinted through the night, while the three behind them flew above the rooftops.
A patrolling Qing Spirit Guard noticed movement and swept out a distant divine sense. The moment it brushed over the jade pendant hanging at the lead man’s waist, the pendant lit with a hazy green glow. The divine sense withdrew at once, no longer pursuing.
The five ran straight to the southern docks.
The place was lit up like day—boats moored thick along the river, porters hauling cargo, merchant ships sliding in and out. It was noisy, bright, and crawling with people. The five men slowed, thrown off.
“So many boats?”
Old Boss looked down at the disk. The white dot had already moved far beyond the dock.
“It’s already two li outside the city,” he snapped. “Go!”
They rushed to a small boat tied along the pier. Old Boss tossed a silver ingot at the deckhand lounging at the bow.
“Row. Out of the city. Now.”
The deckhand saw the bright silver and didn’t waste a word. As soon as all five men jumped aboard, he pushed off and started rowing in the direction they pointed.
Old Five clicked his tongue, impatient. He stuck one hand into the river and formed a spell.
In the lamplight from the oil lamp at the stern, the water churned. White waves rolled as if something invisible was pushing the boat from beneath.
The little boat shot forward like an arrow.
The deckhand went pale. He kept his head down, sneaking quick glances at the five men—each one fierce-looking, each one cold. After seeing the worst of them casually bend the river to his will, the deckhand knew exactly what he’d run into.
Cultivators.
And not the kind you wanted to offend.
He shrank to the stern, too afraid to breathe too loud. His hands shook so badly he didn’t even notice when an oar slipped into the water.
The five men didn’t care. They stood at the bow, eyes locked ahead. Brother held the disk and kept pointing the way, weaving between boats. After chasing two li, they finally spotted it in the distance—
The biggest flower boat in Xuan Cheng, blazing with lanterns, packed with more than a hundred men and women.
“That’s the one,” Old Boss said.
The five were exhilarated—and then all of them frowned.
“So many mortals.”
If the old daoist priest and that woman were hiding up there, how were they supposed to search?
Within ten li of the city was the patrol range of the Qing Spirit Guard. Too much commotion, and they’d be exposed.
And the larger problem was worse.
The Yin Fiend Sect was a middling sect in the Yue Kingdom, but the treasure they were chasing was an heirloom from the Immortal Realm. Plenty of major sects would kill for it. Back when the Mystic Profundity Sect lost its sect-guarding treasure, the news shook the entire cultivation world of the Da Cheng Kingdom. Countless sects sent people to hunt for it, and in the end, none of them found a thing.
Even now, they said the Heavenly One Sect still had people searching for that treasure.
Compared to the Heavenly One Sect, the Yin Fiend Sect was nothing.
If they made noise, then even if they got the treasure, the Heavenly One Sect might come knocking—and the result would be their sect wiped out and the treasure taken.
Old Boss stared at the disk again, face sinking.
“Damn it.”
The flower boat was a place for pleasure and filth, thick with murky qi. The treasure’s aura was being smothered; the white dot on the disk was already fading.
If they waited longer, it might disappear entirely.
Old Boss clenched his jaw and put the disk away. “No more waiting. We board first.”
They brought their boat alongside the flower boat. Someone on deck noticed them and assumed they were here for fun. A man in short work clothes came over with an oily smile.
“Please come in, customer.”
The five men jumped aboard with cold faces.
The deckhand, seeing his chance, felt like he’d been handed a second life. He didn’t even want his boat anymore. He stuffed the silver into his clothes, dove straight into the river, and swam for the opposite bank without looking back.
Money could buy another boat.
It couldn’t buy your life back.
On the shore, three hidden figures watched.
“Sir,” one of them asked quietly, “Hundred-Captain, should we go in as well?”
The man in front shook his head. “No. We wait.”
His divine sense was already locked on the five men. If they moved, he could strike instantly—without disturbing the mortals on that boat.
Onboard, Old Five grabbed the nearest worker by the sleeve.
“Has a daoist priest come aboard?”
The brothel servant blinked, thought, then shook his head. “No daoist master came aboard tonight.”
Old Two snorted. “Old Five, are you stupid? If that old daoist priest is hiding, he’ll be disguised. Why would he still dress like a daoist priest?”
They headed upstairs.
On the second floor, music and dance were in full swing. Men and women laughed, tangled together, loud and drunken. A young lady drifted toward them with practiced sweetness, but the five men ignored her and sat with their backs straight and their faces hard. Wine appeared. Food appeared.
Four of them didn’t even glance at the women around them.
Only Old Five reached out, hauled one young lady into his lap, and raked his eyes over her with contempt.
“Tsk. Cheap powder and cheap perfume. Her qi and blood are already filthy. Mortals can’t tell good from bad, so they’ll take anything.” He pinched her chin, then sneered. “Even if you gave me one like this for free, I wouldn’t want her.”
And yet he kept an arm around her anyway, hands wandering like he owned her.
Meanwhile, deep in the belly of the boat, Gu Shi Yi was crouched in the bottom hold, wedged behind wine jars. She spoke in a low voice to Li Yan Er.
“Aren’t these boats supposed to sit at the dock and pull in customers? Why did it sail off? I even left Great King on the dock.”
She’d been waiting on shore. Then the flower boat had suddenly pushed off and raised anchor like it planned to leave the city. She hadn’t had time to think. She’d dashed over, hopped across nearby boats in a few quick steps, and climbed aboard while no one was looking. With people constantly coming and going, nobody checked her.
Now she could only huddle in the dark and wait.
“I don’t even know how far it’s going.”
Great King was still at the dock. What if someone picked him up and carried him off?
Li Yan Er thought for a moment. “Great King doesn’t look like a rare tree from the outside. It’s just a little sapling. No one would even profit much chopping it for firewood. If someone takes it, they’ll probably bring it home to raise it. As long as it doesn’t reveal its true form, mortals won’t notice.”
Gu Shi Yi nodded, but her mouth stayed tight. “Let’s hope it’s smart enough to behave.”
A hatch creaked open not far above them. Two men climbed down to fetch wine, grumbling as they worked.
“Those five customers are really strange. They came aboard and didn’t even play with the girls. They just sat there staring at people one by one… and after the second floor, they insisted on going up to the third. Geng house guard tried to block them. They’re making a scene.”
The other man snorted. “Sounds like they’re here to find someone. Catching an affair?”
“Could be. Happens every year. But if it’s catching an affair, where’s the wife with the yellow face? Why is it all men? What—did the brothers-in-law come personally?”
They laughed under their breath. Five brothers-in-law like that—whoever married into that family was finished.
Someone shouted from above, impatient. “Why are you two so slow? They’re making trouble up here! If Geng house guard comes down, he’ll take it out on you!”
“Coming!” the two men called back. They hurried, lifting the jars.
One of them chuckled. “Brothers-in-law catching an affair—how could it be fast?”
“It’s not that,” the other man said. “They’re looking for a man and a woman.”
“A man and a woman?”
“Yeah. An old man and a woman. It’s strange—Geng house guard stopped blocking them, and the madam isn’t calling anyone either. They’re just letting those five search room by room.”
In the darkness, Gu Shi Yi’s heart lurched.
Five men. Searching room by room. Looking for an old man and a woman.
Cold crawled up her spine.
She reached back and touched the nape of her neck. The fine hairs were standing straight up.
Li Yan Er leaned closer. “Shi Yi… what’s wrong?”
“Nothing…” Gu Shi Yi forced herself to smooth her hair down, but her fingers felt clumsy. “I just… I have a bad feeling those five are here for me.”
The thought popped into her head like a spark—and then caught, spreading fast.
No way.
No way.
No way.
Could it really be?
An old man and a woman… Master was an old man, sure, but—
“And me… how am I the woman?” she muttered. “I look like a boy right now.”
Li Yan Er’s face was pale even in the dark. “My master’s cultivation isn’t high, but his divination… nine times out of ten, he’s right. Otherwise, he couldn’t have hidden me for so many years. If he told us we had to leave within three days, he must’ve calculated someone would track us down.”
Gu Shi Yi didn’t answer. Her instincts were screaming—a raw, animal certainty with no logic behind it.
She didn’t know who those five men were, but she knew one thing: they were dangerous.
Whether they were here for her or not, she couldn’t afford to sit still and pray.
And she still had a job to do—smash the flower planter, rescue the female ghost.
Gu Shi Yi’s eyes flicked, turning over possibilities. Then she made her decision.
“Come on,” she whispered. “We go up first.”
She stuffed the Clay Doll against her chest and slipped out of the hold.
Up on deck, music and laughter spilled through the boards. Maids in green hurried past with trays. Servants in rough cloth carried wine jars two at a time. The whole boat moved like a living thing—busy, loud, slick with pleasure.
Gu Shi Yi watched for a moment—then shouting erupted above.
“What the hell is this? Who dares ruin my fun—”
“Madam! What kind of business is this? Letting people barge in whenever they want? Refund me! Refund me! I’ve got money—there are plenty of places to drink and play!”
“Which bastard is daring to offend me—”
On the third floor, doors flew open as angry customers stuck their heads out to see what was happening. Five grim men were forcing their way into every room without a word. And Geng house guard and the brothel madam stood like wooden posts, unmoving, eyes wide, watching the five men search.
The complaints multiplied. The boat began to boil.
Servants gathered in clusters, whispering. Someone ran. Someone shouted. It was chaos—beautiful, perfect chaos.
Gu Shi Yi took advantage like she’d been born for it. She slid through the crowd and made for the kitchen.
Inside, two old matrons were nearly drowning in work. One chopped meat in a frenzy. The other tended the fire, sweat shining on her face.
“Look at this,” one of them snapped. “So many customers tonight, and they even dragged Brothel Madam Bi upstairs. Like we aren’t already short-handed!”
“Exactly,” the other one complained. “So many dishes, and they want them fast. When they start yelling, guess who takes the blame?”
The chopping matron glanced up—and spotted Gu Shi Yi peeking in.
“You!” she barked. “What are you doing outside? Stop loafing and get in here!”
Gu Shi Yi blinked and pointed at herself. “Me? You mean me?”
The matron raised her cleaver—bright, sharp, and very persuasive. “Who else? Get in!”
Gu Shi Yi sighed and stepped in before she had to learn how fast an old woman could throw a knife.
“Stoke the fire,” the chopping matron ordered.
Gu Shi Yi sat down in front of the stove and took over. The other matron got up to wash vegetables. As they worked, they gave Gu Shi Yi a once-over.
“You look unfamiliar,” one of them said. “Are you a hired hand?”
Gu Shi Yi thought, [You don’t recognize me and you still dare boss me around. Aren’t you afraid I’ll poison your food?]
And honestly—she was tempted.
A little medicine in the dishes, customers puking their guts out, the whole flower boat in uproar… that would make things wonderfully messy.
But she kept her smile sweet.
“Of course you don’t know me,” she said. “I only came tonight. They said the boat was too busy, so I’m helping out for a few coins.”
That explanation was common enough. The matrons didn’t question it.
One of them squinted at her. “You’re a good-looking kid. What’s your name? At your age, you should be married. How many children do you have?”
Gu Shi Yi gave a dry chuckle. “Just call me Little Gu. I… I’m not married.”
Both matrons froze.
“Not married?” one repeated, scandalized.
She looked Gu Shi Yi up and down again, like she was rechecking the math.
Men who were older and still unmarried—on a flower boat, that usually meant one thing.
The chopping matron sucked in a breath. “Don’t tell me…”
The other matron whispered, horrified, “This young fellow… at his age… already sick?”