Master Yan explained.
"The Turkic people even dare to provoke a local gang?"
Chu Lingguang was taken by surprise. As the saying goes, even a mighty dragon can’t crush a local snake. Even if the Turkic rchants were protected by diplomatic privileges, if they truly angered the Shuiyu Gang and ended up hacked to death and sunk in the Canal, no one would ever know. It would be nearly impossible for the Court to investigate even if they wanted to.
"The Turkic people are tall and powerful, fierce and skilled in battle. Plus, they have diplomatic protection. As long as they don’t go around killing innocents, the Court won’t pursue the matter. Even the master of the Shuiyu Gang was injured by them, so what can the other gang mbers do?"
Master Yan sighed.
He was still doing business with the Turkic people. Although they didn’t dare to outright steal his dicinal herbs, they were always nitpicking, and the silver taels he earned grew less and less. He actually hoped the Shuiyu Gang would teach those people a lesson and make the Turkic rchants tone it down a bit.
"Don’t get involved in gang conflicts, and don’t go upstream."
Guo Wei instructed.
Since even the Court was letting it slide, the conflict between the Turkic people and the Shuiyu Gang had nothing to do with him and his master. Besides, their own identities were sensitive, and the Shuiyu Gang was an underworld force. If the two sides fought to the death, the passing rchant caravans would be the ones to benefit.
He just wondered if, without the Shuiyu Gang to keep things in check, the local water bandits would erge. But even if bandits did cause trouble, that would be for the Court to handle. He and his master didn’t want to get their hands dirty.
"Yes."
Chu Lingguang nodded. He understood the principle of self-preservation.
「The next morning.」
Chu Lingguang headed downstream. With each stroke of the oars, propelled by the Wind and Wave Power, his small fishing boat skimd across the water’s surface like a duckling.
At 3:45 PM, Chu Lingguang started heading back from downstream. He was becoming more and more proficient with the Wind and Wave Power. Although he still channeled it through his oars, there were faint signs that he would soon be able to control it with a re wave of his hand, completely independent of them.
Once he could control it freely without relying on his Spear Technique, there was a high probability it would rge with his Zhenyuan Technique.
"Hm?"
Just as he was rushing back, about to leave the Canal and enter the South City inner river, Chu Lingguang saw a line of fishing boats blocking his path.
Recalling the conflict between the Shuiyu Gang and the Turkic people, Chu Lingguang steered his boat toward the bank, hoping to slip through a gap. But to his surprise, a few small fishing boats sailed down from upstream and slowly approached him.
"Young Master Chu, our master requests your presence!"
A young man stood at the bow of a boat, cupping his fist to Chu Lingguang.
"You know ?"
Chu Lingguang looked astonished.
"Young Master Chu, disciple of Master Guo and top of the list for this year’s Daoist Examination in South City—everyone in the Shuiyu Gang knows of you."
The young man said with a smile.
"Why is your master looking for ?"
’They’re the local snakes of South City, and I’m the top scorer. It’s not strange that they’d know who I am. But what would their master want with ?’
"He wishes to discuss an important matter with you, Young Master Chu. Please!"
The young man pointed to the bank, where a horse-drawn carriage was already waiting.
Chu Lingguang thought for a mont and handed his boat over to them. He had an official rank, so the Shuiyu Gang wouldn’t dare to do anything to him, especially since they already knew his identity and background.
However, Chu Lingguang had a vague idea why Qu Qingcheng had invited him at this particular ti. It was probably about the Turkic people. He should have refused, but the other party had made a special trip to wait for him, and they were the local power in South City. Chu Lingguang couldn’t be so disrespectful as to not even show up.
’What if the Shuiyu Gang’s master wanted him for sothing else?’
The Shuiyu Gang’s mbers all lived in the shipyard’s docks. The shipyard itself was on the inner river, near a City Guard checkpoint, which clearly indicated that the gang had an unusual relationship with the City Guard.
The carriage entered the shipyard.
Chu Lingguang boarded a massive, five-story-high luxury Song Boat that was docked on the shore.
"Master, Young Master Chu is here."
The young man reported.
"Quickly, show him in!"
A resonant and powerful voice called from inside.
Two junior gang mbers imdiately pulled the door open. Chu Lingguang saw a banquet laid out inside, where a middle-aged man was waiting for him, flanked by six or seven Qi Sea Realm experts.
Chu Lingguang saw that the middle-aged man in the lead had his shoulder wrapped in gauze. Although his voice was strong, Chu Lingguang’s powerful Perception Power allowed him to clearly sense that the man’s internal aura was in disarray. It seed that in addition to the external wound on his shoulder, he had also suffered a severe internal injury and would need a long ti to recover.
"Young Master Chu, I’ve long heard of your great na. Please, have a seat."
The middle-aged man was none other than the master of the Shuiyu Gang, Qu Qingcheng. He personally pulled out a chair for Chu Lingguang, inviting him to sit at his side.
The n behind him all dispersed, standing by their chairs and waiting for Chu Lingguang to be seated.
Chu Lingguang had not expected this kind of treatnt.
But he rembered Guo Wei’s instruction to stay out of gang conflicts while he was away from ho. So, he didn’t rush to sit down. Instead, he cupped his fist and said, "I wonder what business Master Qu has with ? My master is waiting for to return."
"Don’t worry, Young Master Chu. I have no ill intent. In fact, you and I are connected in a way."
Qu Qingcheng said with a smile.
Chu Lingguang looked confused.
"Please take a look, Young Master Chu."
Qu Qingcheng handed a letter to Chu Lingguang.
Chu Lingguang opened it and saw it was a note from Mo Shan.
"My fifth brother, Chu Lingguang, is training under Master Guo in Baiyang County. He has run into so trouble recently. Please, Brother Qu, help keep an eye on the movents of all experts within the South City region..."
"Master Qu, you’re a friend of Mr. Mo Shan?"
Chu Lingguang was completely caught off guard.
He finally understood why Qu Qingcheng had sent people to invite him instead of approaching Guo Wei directly. After all, Guo Wei was his master; if the Shuiyu Gang had a major conflict with the Turkic people, only Guo Wei would be of any real help.
So this was how Mo Shan was helping him keep an eye on suspicious experts entering and leaving the South City region—through Qu Qingcheng.
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