Li Banfeng asked Ling Pantao, "What did you mean when you said you were seeing off warriors?"
Ling Pantao poured Li Banfeng a cup of peach juice. "Recently, the Inner States made two moves against us. Quite a lot of people came, and we lost many warriors. That is why, during this time, every island has been holding send-offs for them."
Li Banfeng looked at the crowd singing and dancing. "You've been fighting the Inner States all this time?"
Ling Pantao nodded. "Because this place is very close to the Inner States, we are always the first to clash with them. The moment the Inner States are mentioned, everyone raises their guard."
Li Banfeng looked toward the distant peach grove. "Do those who fall in battle turn into peach trees?"
Ling Pantao nodded again. "Because they are warriors of Baisun Commandery. Even in death, they stand tall."
The drums sounded again, and the young men and maidens invited Li Banfeng to dance another round.
Before Li Banfeng could fully piece together the whole story, Ling Pantao had already been pulled over to the bonfire by the crowd. Holding a basket of flat peaches, she danced along with everyone.
"Friend from afar, dance with us! When the entrance to the Inner States opens, there will be a special sign. When that sign appears, if you still insist on going to the Inner States, we will offer you our blessings."
***
Bai Wusong led the group to the shore. Qiu Zhiheng sent Youtao to hire a boat, but after searching for nearly half a day, she couldn't hire a single one.
Most of the boats along the shore were earth-trading vessels. Taking on a few extra passengers would essentially be free money for them; there was no reason to refuse the business.
Yet not a single boatman dared accept. No matter how much money Youtao offered, none of them would agree.
Qiu Zhiheng saw through it: someone had issued orders beforehand.
Qin Tianjiu stared at the crowd of boats lining the shore, unable to board any of them. The more he thought about it, the angrier he grew. "Who's trying to make life hard for us? We've got to find a way to ferret this guy out."
Qiu Zhiheng checked the talismans and weapons on his person. "No need to ferret him out. Since they're targeting us, they'll likely show themselves shortly. Brother Bai, besides this beach, is there anywhere else we can rent a boat?"
Bai Wusong looked grave. "There are other places, but they aren't close."
Luo Zhengnan was anxious. "We can't afford to waste time. I need to deliver an urgent batch of supplies to Seventh Master."
Bai Wusong hesitated, but Qiu Zhiheng made up his mind. "Does anyone among us know how to sail a boat?"
Practically none of the people Qiu Zhiheng had brought had ever even seen the sea, let alone knew how to sail.
Bai Wusong said, "I worked as a boatman in the past. I know a bit."
Qiu Zhiheng said to Bai Wusong, "If we really don't want to take a detour, we'll offer a high price to buy a boat outright. And if we can't even buy one, we'll just have to 'borrow' one by other means."
Everyone understood what "borrow" meant.
Qin Xiaopang flexed his arms and said to Bai Wusong, "Master Bai, just tell me which boat catches your eye."
With so many people boarding, a small boat certainly wouldn't do; yet if they took a large vessel, Bai Wusong wouldn't know how to steer it.
As he was pondering what kind of boat would be suitable, an elderly voice suddenly spoke: "Xiao Songzi, you returned to Santoucha and didn't even drop by the gang?"
The gang?
Some time ago, when Bai Wusong had to go to Sheqiao Village to help resettle the three-headed people, he had revealed his true identity to Li Seven.
Those close to Li Seven knew that Bai Wusong belonged to the White Crane Gang.
When this old man mentioned "the gang," was he referring to the White Crane Gang as well? Had the White Crane Gang reached its hands all the way into Santoucha?
The others were unfamiliar with the inside story, but Qiu Zhiheng and Luo Zhengnan knew.
The White Crane Gang was divided into an inner branch and an outer branch. The White Crane Gang most people knew was the outer branch, headquartered in Green Water City with Bai Wuchuan as gang leader, handling the vast majority of gang affairs.
Few people knew about the inner branch, which was based in Santoucha. Because the White Crane Gang was a physical cultivator sect and physical cultivation originated in Santoucha, the inner branch had far fewer affairs compared to the outer branch, primarily focusing on grooming new talent for the gang.
This was precisely why Bai Gu'an was so intent on seizing the Sea Market. Despite his high seniority, serving as the inner branch leader of the White Crane Gang gave him neither financial backing nor real power—he was purely an ornamental figurehead.
Bai Gu'an walked up to Bai Wusong and sighed. "Xiao Songzi, you haven't come home in years, and the moment you step foot back, you bring trouble to the gang. Look at the kind of people you associate with! To think you're actually consorting with someone like Li Seven! He's a local tyrant. Colluding with him like this—aren't you ruining the gang's reputation?"
Qin Tianjiu could no longer contain his temper. "Old man, watch your tongue!"
Bai Wusong held Qin Tianjiu back, turned to Bai Gu'an, and clasped his fists. "Martial Uncle, coming right to our doorstep without paying my respects to you was my fault. Once I have finished this urgent business, I will come straight to your residence to make amends."
Bai Gu'an frowned. "What urgent business could you possibly have? Are you still running errands for Li Seven?"
Bai Wusong did not hide it, nodding in response. "Indeed, it is for Li Seven. Li Seven is an extraordinary figure of our time, and he has rendered great help to our pathway. In public duty and private feeling, in reason and in conscience, I ought to help him."
Bai Gu'an flared up in anger. "Did you not hear what I just said? Li Seven's misdeeds are overflowing, his crimes too numerous to record! And you claim he helped our pathway? I'd like to hear just how he helped! Don't you dare bring up those three-headed freaks. They barely count as human, let alone cultivators of our pathway!"
As he spoke, a group of three-headed laborers working along the shore glanced over in their direction.
Bai Wusong smiled faintly. "Martial Uncle, in my eyes, the three-headed people are fellow practitioners. We can discuss these matters later. I am in a hurry to put out to sea, so please excuse me for now."
Bai Gu'an reached out to bar Bai Wusong's way. "Xiao Songzi, back when you were apprenticed to the gang, nobody liked you. Senior Brother beat you plenty back then. If I hadn't always protected you, you never would have made it to where you are today."
Bai Wusong hurriedly bowed. "I have never forgotten Martial Uncle's kindness toward me."
Was there really any kindness?
In truth, there was none. Bai Wusong came from humble, impoverished beginnings; when he was learning his craft, Bai Gu'an had never even bothered to spare him a glance.
Yet Bai Gu'an felt he had done Bai Wusong a great favor. "Since you remember my kindness, you must heed your martial uncle's words. Bring these friends of yours and come with me to the gang. Whatever it is, we can discuss it at leisure."
Who had time to discuss it at leisure with him?
Qin Xiaopang wanted nothing more than to take Luo Zhengnan and leave immediately, but he could also see what was happening: the reason they couldn't hire a boat was this old man obstructing them.
Bai Wusong fell silent for a moment before saying, "Martial Uncle, I truly have urgent business to attend to. Today, I have no time to receive your teachings."
Bai Gu'an's face darkened. "Xiao Songzi, is that how you speak to me?"
Bai Wusong simply nodded. "Then consider it this disciple's offense against Martial Uncle."
Bai Gu'an's heart tightened, sensing something was off.
Bai Wusong was kindhearted and had always been the easiest to push around among his generation of disciples in the White Crane Gang. Today, however, things seemed quite different.
After all, they hadn't seen each other in more than twenty years; perhaps Bai Wusong's disposition had changed.
Yet he had heard from others that Bai Wusong had spent those twenty-odd years in secluded cultivation, without experiencing much of the world.
Bai Gu'an continued to put on an elder's authority and barked harshly, "In my capacity as the inner sect leader, I order you to return to headquarters with me at once! If you dare utter another word, I will expel you from the gang this instant!"
Bai Wusong raised his head. "May I ask which gang rule this disciple has broken?"
"You defy your elders! You betray your masters and ancestors!"
As they spoke, Tangyuan walked over.
She had just gone down the beach, shown her work ID, and used her Outer States status to purchase a boat.
Bai Wusong didn't want to waste any more words on Bai Gu'an. "Say whatever you wish today, but what I must do, I will do. If you refuse to let this go and will not listen to reason, feel free to take the registry and strike my name off!"
Bai Gu'an grew increasingly flustered inside, still unable to fathom why things had turned out this way.
Qiu Zhiheng, however, understood completely.
Bai Gu'an had eyes, but they were useless—he was blind to human character.
Bai Wusong was indeed kindhearted, but kindness did not mean foolish inflexibility.
Since words were useless, Bai Wusong wasted no more time arguing with Bai Gu'an. Saying "Farewell," he turned to leave.
Bai Gu'an could not let him leave. If he failed to stop Bai Wusong, the business with the Sea Market would fall through.
"You vile creature! Today I shall clean out our house!" Bai Gu'an leapt into the air, extending sharp claws and raking down toward Bai Wusong's skull.
This was the employer's order: if reason failed, he was permitted to kill Bai Wusong.
The only problem now was that Bai Wusong wasn't so easy to kill.
Bai Wusong dodged Bai Gu'an's claws with a sidestep, seized his lapels, and followed through with a push, sending Bai Gu'an stumbling.
"You brute! You dare touch me?" Bai Gu'an glared at Bai Wusong, his eyes reddening.
A sizable crowd gathered to watch the commotion. Most did not know Bai Wusong, but many recognized Bai Gu'an.
Just a moment ago, Bai Gu'an had addressed a group of boatmen, declaring himself the newly appointed overseer of the Sea Market and ordering that they could only transport cargo today, not passengers.
Now, barely in office, the overseer was already brawling. Neither the boatmen of the Sea Market nor the farmers of the Earth Market had ever seen such a spectacle.
Bai Gu'an abruptly raised his right hand.
Bai Wusong warned the onlookers, "Stay back, everyone."
No sooner had the words left his mouth than a feather shot forward, flying not only toward Bai Wusong, but also toward Qiu Zhiheng, Qin Xiaopang, and the bystanders nearby.
The feather flew faster than a bullet, capable of piercing more than an inch deep into stone—one of the White Crane Gang's signature techniques.
He attacked over such a wide area precisely because he grasped Bai Wusong's temperament.
Bai Wusong could not bear to watch so many innocent people get caught in the crossfire. Sure enough, he whipped off his outer coat to shield those around him, ensuring not a single spectator was harmed.
The onlookers fled in terror. Bai Wusong's coat was studded with feathers, and he tossed it aside.
Bai Wusong himself was injured; two feathers had embedded themselves in his back.
"Martial Uncle," Bai Wusong clasped his fists toward Bai Gu'an, "let us say this disciple was in the wrong today. You have dealt your punishment. Let the matter end here. What do you say?"
Bai Gu'an chuckled.
How could it end here?
Those two feathers had given him a massive advantage.
Subduing enemies with feathers was a supreme technique of the White Crane Gang. It was by no means as simple as striking accurately or hitting hard; those two feathers would grow madly inside Bai Wusong's body until they pierced his internal organs.
Worse still, the feathers were venomous, and the poison would spread throughout Bai Wusong's body as they grew.
"You brute, if I do not punish you severely today, it will corrupt the gang's rules and ruin the reputation of our pathway!" Bai Gu'an threw back his head and howled, a crane's cry tearing through the air.
This was another lethal strike, and one that would harm innocents.
*Wuuu—*
Bai Wusong uttered a low groan, absorbing most of the crane cry's destructive force. The others were left dizzy with ringing ears, while blood trickled from Bai Wusong's ears and the corners of his eyes from taking the brunt of the attack for them.
Bai Gu'an sneered. "Brute, will you still not surrender your life? You defy your elders, rebel against superiors, collude with villains, and aid evil! Your character is rotten as dead wood and filth, your record stained with unforgivable wickedness! Today, this old man shall rid the gang of scum like you!"
Qin Xiaopang gritted his teeth. "I'm going to tear this old bastard apart!"
Qiu Zhiheng held Xiaopang back. "Don't move, whatever you do. Don't put Brother Bai in a difficult spot."
Though injured and poisoned, Bai Wusong showed not the slightest trace of panic on his face.
He clasped his fists toward Bai Gu'an. "Martial Uncle, you struck three times, and every strike was meant to kill, leaving no leeway whatsoever. This disciple's fraternal ties with you have come to an end."
Bai Gu'an laughed. "Well said! Since there is no sentiment between us, do not hate me in the underworld!"
Qiu Zhiheng couldn't help but chuckle as well.
This old bastard truly had no sense of propriety. He had crossed an honest man's bottom line without even realizing it.
Seeing that Bai Wusong's movements had become slow and rigid, Bai Gu'an thrust his claws straight for Bai Wusong's throat.
Bai Wusong stood motionless where he was. Once Bai Gu'an brushed past him, Bai Wusong turned around and asked Tangyuan, "Miss, which boat did you buy?"
Tangyuan pointed toward an earth-trading boat by the shore. "That one over there. It's not too big, a bit battered, but the owner was willing to part with it."
Bai Wusong examined the boat's shape and said to Qiu Zhiheng, "Let's check the boiler room and the engine room."
Qiu Zhiheng nodded and followed Bai Wusong.
Qin Xiaopang stood dumbfounded for a long moment. *The fight isn't even over, and we're just walking away?*
Bai Gu'an remained standing where he was, unmoving for a long time.
Qin Xiaopang walked up close to look and discovered a feather impaling Bai Gu'an's throat, completely piercing through his neck.
Another feather was embedded diagonally in the back of his head, running down the back of his neck into the spinal cord.
Checking for breath, Bai Gu'an was already dead.
Yet he stood upright like that, unbudging even when pushed.
***
Qiu Zhiheng's party followed Bai Wusong onto the boat. The vessel Tangyuan had chosen was very suitable; Bai Wusong truly was able to operate it.
The boat owner felt some regret and didn't want to sell anymore. These people had just killed the new head boss; selling them a boat might mean he could no longer survive in the Sea Market.
Yet when Tangyuan handed over the money, he dared not refuse it. This bunch dared kill even a head boss, let alone a nobody like him.
With the transaction settled, Bai Wusong did a quick check over the boat and prepared to set off.
Xiaopang volunteered to stoke the boiler, taking the opportunity to eat some coal.
Lightbulb knew a bit of mechanics and served as chief engineer. Youtao paid top dollar to hire a few bold boatmen, and the group set off across the water.
Luo Zhengnan placed a phone call and recounted the events to the gramophone. Before he could finish speaking, a sudden crane cry echoed from the ship, making Luo Zhengnan shudder.
The gramophone heard the crane cry over the phone as well, along with several popping bursts.
This was Bai Wusong's method of clearing out tracking hooks.
The gramophone praised, "This Mister White Crane is indeed thorough in his methods. Brother Luo, please transfer the call to Miss Xiao."
Xiao Yeci was currently staying at an inn on Yuxiang Island. She picked up the phone, greeted by a woman's voice: "Miss Xiao, I have a task I need to trouble you with."
*What a pleasant voice this woman has.*
*But I don't know her, so why is she asking me to do something?*
"Madam, whom are you looking for?"
"You are the one I'm looking for. I am a friend of Li Seven's, and this is being done on Li Seven's behalf."
At the mention of Li Seven, Xiao Yeci grew somewhat excited. Ever since arriving on Yuxiang Island, Li Seven had vanished without a trace, and none of them knew where he had gone.
Yet hearing this woman say she was Li Seven's friend made Xiao Yeci feel a twinge of unease.
*With such a lovely voice, she must be very pretty.*
*She claims to be Benefactor's friend, but who knows what kind of friend...*
"My friend, what did you need me to do?"
"Please tell Tan Jinxiao to prepare to receive Luo Zhengnan."
"Mr. Luo has come to the Under-City?" Xiao Yeci paused; she knew Luo Zhengnan.
"Yes. Their boat is already on the sea."
Xiao Yeci quickly picked up pen and paper. "What does Mr. Luo's boat look like? Are there any identifying features?"
"Never mind what Luo Zhengnan's boat looks like. Do not take to the sea rashly; simply be prepared."
"If we don't go out to sea, how are we supposed to receive them?" Xiao Yeci didn't understand what this meant.
The gramophone answered, "The other side moved first. Countering their moves isn't as good as playing along. Set up the front first, then take care of the real work inside. Don't flip the table; send the other side running around in circles. Repeat these words to Tan Jinxiao, and he will understand."
*He'll understand?*
*What does any of that even mean?*
The more Xiao Yeci listened, the more baffled she became, but she could only relay the exact words to Tan Jinxiao.
Tan Jinxiao stared blankly for a long while. "Miss Xiao, who told you this?"
"She said she was Seventh Master's friend, but I don't know which friend she is."
Tan Jinxiao pondered for a moment, then said to Xiao Yeci, "Miss Xiao, trouble you and the Liangwucai sisters to go rent a boat."
Xiao Yeci blinked. "That might not be good. Wouldn't sending those two sisters attract too much attention? Even sending Juanzi would be better than them."
In the Under-City, one-headed people were common, and three-headed people were common, but a two-headed person like Liangwucai was one of a kind.
Tan Jinxiao said, "Miss Xiao, trust me. It's precisely because they attract attention that I'm sending them."
Still completely in the dark, Xiao Yeci asked, "What kind of boat would be suitable?"
Tan Jinxiao waved his hand. "No need to be picky. I reckon there aren't many boats left anyway. Just rent whatever is available."
Xiao Yeci took Liangwucai to rent a boat. They left in the morning and secured one by the afternoon. "There was only one passenger boat left on the island. It's not large, but it can fit all of us. Good thing I went early; if I had gone any later, even this one would have been gone!"
Tan Jinxiao shook his head. "That one boat wasn't going anywhere. It was saved specifically for us. Pack your things; we're changing lodgings."
Everyone assumed they were about to board the boat, but once their belongings were packed, Tan Jinxiao brought out a garment for Juanzi.
The garment was exceedingly loose and made of golden-yellow satin, smooth as water.
Juanzi looked at the color, feeling somewhat suspicious. "Brother Tan, what material is this garment made of?"
"Fine material, a treasure imbued with homestead cultivator spiritual energy. Once you wear this, ordinary folks won't notice you."
Juanzi slipped the garment on. Tan Jinxiao then said to Xiao Yeci and Liangwucai, "Young ladies, Juanzi has only just entered the pathway, so she needs a spiritual relic to look after her. You two have cultivated for many years; you should have some means of concealing yourselves, right?"
Xiao Yeci lacked confidence. "I know a little, but it definitely wouldn't fool an expert."
Tan Jinxiao said, "Whether someone is an expert depends on how you look at it. Anyone living in Santoucha who doesn't have three heads has at least some cultivation. I know this innkeeper. If I remember correctly, he's a tier-two physical cultivator, transformed from a snake. His eyesight isn't great, and especially when the weather turns cold, he's rather sluggish. Are you confident you can fool him?"
Xiao Yeci thought about it and nodded. "I should be able to."
"The innkeeper has a few workers under him, all tier-one cultivators. Can you fool them?"
"I should be able to."
Tan Jinxiao turned his gaze to the Liangwucai sisters. "What about you two?"
Having consumed so many fine elixir pills alongside Li Seven, the Liangwucai sisters had already reached tier seven; such a trivial task was no problem at all.
"Since everyone has the ability, let us set up the front first. There's a mountain behind this inn; you've all seen it, right?"
Liangwu nodded. "We took a walk up the mountain yesterday looking for Seventh Master."
"There's a pavilion halfway up the slope. You all know where it is?"
Everyone nodded; they had been to that pavilion.
Tan Jinxiao said, "We leave separately. Miss Xiao goes first, then you two sisters, and finally Juanzi, the three of you. Make sure no one spots you as you leave. I will handle the rest."
Xiao Yeci asked, "We're not boarding the boat?"
Tan Jinxiao said, "Boarding the boat is the inside work. I'll take care of the inside work."
Xiao Yeci asked no further questions. She was the first to leave the inn. As she descended the stairs, she peered cautiously into the main hall.
The innkeeper was balancing the ledger while the workers were sweeping and sprinkling water in the hall.
Xiao Yeci whispered under her breath, "If I speak no word, I go unseen."
A scholar cultivator technique: Word Becomes Truth.
Without uttering a word, she walked out through the main hall. The workers showed no reaction. The innkeeper felt as though someone had passed the entrance, but when he looked up and saw workers coming and going, he didn't pay it much mind.
Half an hour later, the workers finished cleaning and went back to sleep, leaving only the innkeeper still settling accounts at the counter.
Liangwucai came downstairs.
The two sisters were mind cultivators, and as they walked down the stairs, they exerted their technique.
The innkeeper felt the ledger growing more and more confusing the longer he looked, convinced a mistake was lurking somewhere. With his attention completely glued to the ledger, Liangwucai walked straight out the main entrance without him noticing in the slightest.
Another half hour passed. The innkeeper closed the ledger and began dozing behind the counter.
Wearing the yellow garment, Juanzi also walked out of the inn.
Tan Jinxiao remained inside the inn, pulling a small porcelain bottle from his pack.
Clutching the porcelain bottle, he felt it for a moment, muttering to himself, "Haven't used this skill in years. Who knows if it still works."
He popped the stopper off the porcelain bottle, poured out a lump of gold paste, coughed up a glob of phlegm, mixed them together, and pinched out a miniature figurine.
This figurine was sculpted in Xiao Yeci's likeness. Comparing it against his memory, Tan Jinxiao nodded. "Seventy percent resemblance—close enough."
Then he sculpted a two-headed figurine and a three-headed figurine.
Setting the three figurines on the table, Tan Jinxiao said, "Give us a smile."
With that, he smiled first, and the figurines all smiled along with him.
Tan Jinxiao picked up the porcelain bottle again and sprinkled some liquid gold over them. The three figurines quickly swelled to full size, their figures roughly matching Xiao Yeci, Liangwucai, and Juanzi.
Leading the three figurines downstairs, he came to the counter and woke the innkeeper: "Brother, settling the bill!"
The innkeeper rubbed his eyes and looked at Tan Jinxiao. "Master Tan, you're not staying?"
"Time to go take care of proper business. When I return another day, I'll stay at your place again."
The innkeeper swept a glance over them. The hall was large, and the candlelight was none too bright; seeing that it appeared to be those same people, he asked no further questions and quickly settled the bill for Tan Jinxiao.
Once the party had left, the innkeeper summoned a worker. "Hurry and send word to Master Miao. These people have boarded a boat."
***
Tan Jinxiao brought his party aboard the boat. The boat boss looked at Tan Jinxiao, then at the others, but as he did, his eyes felt irritated, stinging as though smoked by something, watering profusely.
Tan Jinxiao asked, "What are you staring at? Didn't our Miss Xiao already settle everything with you?"
"Xiao Yeci" smiled from behind Tan Jinxiao.
The boat boss nodded. "Right, all settled. Shall we leave now?"
"What are you waiting for, then? Are the cabins cleaned?"
"Cleaned long ago. Come have a look!"
The passenger boat was indeed not large, with only two cabins. Tan Jinxiao sighed. "We'll make do. Set sail quickly, head for Huantu Island."
The boat boss asked, "Are you going to Huantu Island to find someone or to do business?"
"Why ask so many questions? When I tell you to sail, get a move on!"
The boat boss dared not pry further and hurriedly ordered his men to set sail.
Tan Jinxiao entered the cabin, poured out another lump of gold paste, and sculpted another Tan Jinxiao.
Knowing himself intimately, the figurine he molded was an exact replica. Once sprinkled with the golden liquid, Tan Jinxiao smiled, and the "Golden Tan Jinxiao" smiled as well.
The passenger boat blew its horn, weighed anchor, and set sail.
Silently, Tan Jinxiao slipped off the passenger boat, returned to the island, and vanished into the darkness.
As the passenger boat weighed anchor and headed for Huantu Island, the boat boss hastily sent word to Bai Miaosheng.
Not long after clearing the pier, another passenger boat trailed closely behind.
Bai Miaosheng and the Jiaoqiao Horse-Toppling Battalion were aboard this trailing vessel.
Hong Jiao asked Bai Miaosheng, "Master Miao, why bother tailing them from behind? Why not board their boat and finish them off right now?"
Bai Miaosheng pinched Hong Jiao's cheek and chuckled. "There's no soil on a boat, nothing can be planted. How do you expect me to fight aboard a ship?"
Hong Jiao complained, "We should have gone onto Yuxiang Island earlier and finished Tan Jinxiao off then."
Bai Miaosheng shook his head. "That's why you lack vision. If I had dealt with them back on Yuxiang Island, where would I go looking for Bai Wusong?"
Lan Qiao asked in surprise, "Wasn't Bai Wusong left to your martial grand-uncle?"
Bai Miaosheng said, "I just received word. My grand-uncle failed. He couldn't talk him down, couldn't beat him, and was killed by Bai Wusong right on the shore. Bai Wusong has already put out to sea."
Lan Qiao asked, "In other words, Tan Jinxiao put out to sea from here in order to rendezvous with Bai Wusong?"
Bai Miaosheng nodded. "Our employer didn't trust me and insisted on having my grand-uncle deal with Bai Wusong. That old man didn't know his own weight, yet he actually dared take on the job. Bai Gu'an thought that because Bai Wusong was an honest fellow, he'd be easy to push around. That's why I say he was blind to people and never amounted to anything his whole life!"
Hong Jiao asked, "Master, then what do we do?"
Bai Miaosheng laughed. "Tan Jinxiao is going to Huantu Island to rendezvous with Bai Wusong. I'll have my men make preparations on Huantu Island and wipe them all out in one swoop."
Lan Qiao was somewhat concerned. "Bai Wusong plus Tan Jinxiao—even setting aside the others, those two alone won't be easy to handle. Can our people really pull it off?"
Bai Miaosheng nodded toward Lan Qiao. "That's why you're the elder sister—you're far more sensible than Hong Jiao. Relying solely on our own people certainly won't do. Send word to Envoy Cai and have the Garrison Office send help. Let Envoy Cai see who truly calls the shots in the Under-City!"
Lan Qiao returned to her cabin, pulled out her hairpin, bit down on it, and tapped her teeth against it in a rapid, continuous rhythm—*di-da, di-di-da-da*.
Over at the Garrison Office, the telegraph machine flickered as the transmission came through.
*Di-da, di-di-da-da—*
Mr. Kongfang gently tapped a copper coin against the table at the exact frequency and tempo of Lan Qiao's tapping.
"I knew it. Those two women still belong to the Garrison Office." Mr. Kongfang pocketed the copper coin and smiled.
Embezzling military pay, robbery, kidnapping, slaughtering innocents—such things were commonplace in Santoucha. Why would Liao Zihui care about any of that?
The Jiaoqiao Horse-Toppling Battalion was the Garrison Office's eyes and ears planted in the Under-City. Bai Miaosheng knew the truth, yet he deliberately took them in. Who were these informants meant to watch?
They were clearly aimed at me.
Bai Miaosheng, go ahead and slaughter it out with them. If you win, Li Seven won't spare you; if you lose, you forfeit your life, and Bai Wusong and Tan Jinxiao will still lose a layer of skin.
In this deal, I can't possibly lose!
Chapter 656