A threat from the sea must be dealt with at sea. Though the Zheng Kingdom showed signs of decline, its Navy still possessed the power to crush the Giant Whale Gang. Otherwise, these pirates would only dare to roam the distant seas.

「Quu River.」

A place where waterways converged.

Today, Lord Fang Shi’an was hosting a banquet here. After hearing the news, the group had come to pay a visit.

"Chairman Zhu." A middle-aged man with an effeminate air scanned the group. After receiving a signal, he extended a hand.

"Please, come aboard."

This was clearly a flower boat built for pleasure, complete with its own buildings and pavilions. Musicians plucked at their strings off to one side while a dancer spun in the center. A faint, fresh fragrance lingered in the air.

Never mind Yann Jingfu and Shenn Hu; even Zhu Ju couldn’t recall seeing such an opulent, magnificent flower boat, not even back when his own father was still alive.

The ship’s cabin resembled a grand hall, with several people seated formally on either side. Despite being the Prefecture of Yue City, Lord Fang was relegated to the second seat on the left.

A screen stood before the seat of honor in the center. A figure was faintly visible behind it, a clear sign of their exceptional status.

Without exception, all the men in the room carried an air of nobility. Their gazes were imperious, tinged with judgment.

’Officials!’

’This was an aura only officials possessed.’

’And these were clearly high-ranking officials!’

Though Court officials lacked Martial Arts, they held the power of life and death over common people. Years in high positions had allowed them to cultivate an imposing presence. Even a valiant Martial Artist like Shenn Hu couldn’t help but feel unnerved under their collective gaze.

As for Yann Jingfu and the others, their faces went pale and their legs grew weak. They had an overwhelming urge to drop to their knees right then and there.

"Zhu Ju?"

A soft, soothing voice drifted from behind the screen.

"I have heard of you. You possess a remarkable talent for dyeing cloth, and in just a few short years, you established the Wancai Cloth Shop..."

"Truly remarkable!"

’From the sound of his voice, he must be a middle-aged man.’

"You flatter me, Your Excellency." Zhu Ju cupped his hands and replied politely.

"My success today is largely thanks to Lord Fang for purging Yue City of its deep-seated ills, as well as his many pro-commerce initiatives. My own abilities are of little importance."

"Heh..." The man chuckled lightly.

"Lord Fang is a diligent and benevolent administrator who rules effectively. Every official in the Court has heard of his accomplishments. How could this King not know of them as well?"

"I am humbled." Lord Fang lowered his head.

"You are too kind, Your Highness."

’Your Highness?’

’The Third Prince, Zheng Hong!’

’The one who was made the King of Qii last year?’

’Shouldn’t he be in the Capital City, attending to state affairs? What is he doing here?’

By addressing him as "Your Highness," Fang Shi’an was also revealing the identity of the dignitary behind the screen to Zhu Ju and his men.

"There is no need for such modesty, Lord Fang." The Third Prince, Zheng Hong, waved his hand dismissively.

"The capable are promoted, the average step aside, and the incompetent are demoted. This is the principle of employment established by the Great Ancestor. Sometimes, you must fight for what you deserve; to do otherwise would only disappoint me."

"Yes," Lord Fang acknowledged. He then turned to Zhu Ju.

"What business brings you here, Chairman Zhu?"

"My lord," Zhu Ju began, cupping his hands. He recounted the day’s events at the association hall, then said:

"Yue City is a coastal city, and tens of thousands of its people rely on the Fish Market for their livelihood. If the Giant Whale Gang blocks their path to the sea, I fear great chaos will erupt."

"Young Master Zhu is absolutely right." Lord Fang frowned, his expression grave.

"The Giant Whale Gang is to Haizhou what Flower Street was to Yue City. If they are not eradicated, trade routes cannot remain clear, and the people will never know peace."

"Your Highness!"

He knelt on the floor, facing the screen.

"I beseech Your Highness to issue an order dispatching the Navy to suppress the pirates."

"Lord Fang, your concern for the people is deeply gratifying," Zheng Hong said, his voice full of emotion. Then, his tone shifted.

"However, deploying the army is no small matter. The local authorities must report to the Ministry of War, and my father, the Emperor, must then review and approve it. How could I make such a decision unilaterally?"

"Hmm..."

"But all this back and forth will cause critical delays. Lord Li, is there a more convenient way?"

"Your Highness," replied Lord Li, who was presumably an official from the Ministry of War. He rose and cupped his hands.

"The tides of war are as swift as the wind, constantly changing with the circumstances. There are indeed times when one can act first and report later, it’s just that..."

"The funding and provisions are difficult to arrange."

"Precisely!" Zheng Hong nodded.

"When the Court dispatches troops, funding paves the way. Without official documents from the Ministry of War to mobilize, any funds and provisions must be raised privately."

"Zhu Ju!"

"I am here!"

"I have long heard that the Wancai Cloth Shop’s fabrics are sold throughout the land, and that you are immensely profitable. Are you willing to donate the necessary funds and provisions?" 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

Zheng Hong’s voice was level.

"Lord Li, if we were to dispatch the Navy to suppress the pirates, how many silver taels would be required?"

"At least one hundred thousand taels," Lord Li said.

"With one hundred thousand taels of silver, we can dispatch the troops within three days."

"Good." Zheng Hong clapped his hands lightly.

"Zhu Ju, how about the Wancai Cloth Shop fronts the one hundred thousand taels of silver? Once the pirates are eliminated, the Court will reimburse you."

The room fell silent.

A chill ran down the spines of Shenn Hu, Yann Jingfu, and the others.

The Wancai Cloth Shop’s business was indeed growing stronger by the day, but it had been open for less than two years. How much profit could it possibly have made?

There were tens of thousands of taels of silver on the books, but this was working capital for procurement, shipping, and consignments—it wasn’t the shop’s own money.

If they handed over one hundred thousand taels of silver, the business would immediately grind to a halt. They wouldn’t even be able to pay their workers’ monthly salaries.

’As for reimbursement?’

’They’d be lucky to see that money again in this lifetime!’

’But if he refused...’

’The high Court officials in the room were watching him like hungry tigers, like a pack of greedy Taotie. Who would dare utter the word ’no’?’

"Your Highness."

Lord Fang cupped his hands and opened his mouth to speak.

"Ah!" Zheng Hong cut him off directly.

"When the military and the civilians are of one heart, their combined strength can sever metal. If the army mobilizes while the people simply sit back and reap the benefits, would that not dishearten our soldiers?"

"But..." Lord Fang hesitated.

"Your Highness," Zhu Ju said, raising his head, his expression serene.

"The Wancai Cloth Shop is not mine alone, and one hundred thousand taels of silver is no small sum. I must consult with others before making a decision."

"However, I can personally donate five thousand taels to the Navy, with no expectation of reimbursement."

The room went quiet for a moment. The officials’ expressions turned wryly amused.

"Haha..." Zheng Hong’s boisterous laughter erupted from behind the screen. It was loud, yet it was impossible to tell whether he was pleased or enraged.

"Excellent!"

"Excellent indeed!"

Yann Jingfu’s legs trembled, his heart leaping into his throat. He feared that the Prince would give the order and have them all cut down.

"I had heard that the Association Leader of the Wancai Cloth Shop was a young man, and I admit, I was skeptical," Zheng Hong began.

"Seeing you today, I realize you have extraordinary nerve. No wonder you were able to win the respect of so many powerful merchants and build such a grand reputation at such a young age."

"Five thousand taels it is!"

"Lord Li."

"Present," Lord Li replied, rising.

"Can you dispatch the troops within three days?"

"I will stake my life on it!"

"Good."

Zheng Hong raised his cup.

"Gentlemen, drink up!"

The officials raised their cups and drank them dry. Zhu Ju, however, kept his eyes downcast. Once everyone had set their cups down, he cupped his hands and asked to take his leave.

"You may go."

Zheng Hong waved his hand. Just as he was about to dismiss them, he paused.

"Wait. They just pulled a body from the water out back. They say he’s from the Martial World. Go and take a look for me."

*

*

*

The deck was crowded with armored Soldiers. These guards from the Imperial Palace possessed considerable strength; there were plenty of Body Tempering Martial Artists among them, and even a commander at the Gui Cang Level. When it came to experience in the Martial World, however, they were no match for a well-traveled man like Shenn Hu.

Having been in the water for a long time, the corpse’s skin was pale and its hands and feet were swollen. The livor mortis was faint.

Even so, it was still possible to tell that the deceased had been a skilled practitioner in life, and a powerful one at that.

"A Body Tempering Martial Artist!"

Shenn Hu said, his expression grave.

"This level of Tendon and Bone development means he must have been accomplished in Body Tempering. The fatal wound is in his chest—a single palm strike shattered his heart."

"No." Zhu Ju, an expert in channeling force, shook his head.

"His heart wasn’t shattered. It burst from the inside."

"The Palm Force seeped into the heart, making his Qi and Blood boil in an instant. The boiling blood then burst the organ from within. This is..."

"The Blood Poison Hand of the Red Blood Sect!"

The Red Blood Sect!

The faces of the men changed.

"To be able to do this, the attacker must be a Grandmaster Gui Cang at the very least," Zhu Ju frowned.

"The Red Blood Sect has kept a low profile for so many years. Why have they become so active all of a sudden?"

"You may not be aware, Chairman Zhu," one of the guards spoke up.

"A month ago, the Red Blood Sect Leader, Dugu Wuwang, stormed the Jinlun Temple and killed Master Yuanding. He has officially reemerged in the Martial World. Since then, many people in the Martial World have died at the hands of Red Blood Sect members."

’Hm?’

The men exchanged glances.

...

After bidding farewell to Lord Fang, who saw them off, the group spurred their horses toward Yue City.

"Whoa!"

Halfway there, Zhu Ju suddenly pulled on his reins.

"You all go on ahead. I’m going to visit a friend nearby."

"You have a friend around here, Brother Zhu?" Shenn Hu asked curiously, then nodded.

"Alright, we’ll go on ahead then."

"Mm," Zhu Ju grunted, turning his horse toward a small path and galloping away.

Although it was no longer early morning, the mountains were still shrouded in mist. The path ahead was unclear, and he gradually slowed his pace.

Just then, an aged voice drifted from up ahead as a figure slowly came into view. "A cornered beast fights like a tiger; a desperate fish baits a rushing whale."

"No matter how cunning the Swimming Fish, it can never escape the hook and bait. A seasoned fisherman always knows where to find the path his quarry travels..."

"Wouldn’t you agree, young man?"

Zhu Ju tightened his grip on the reins, his eyes narrowing as he watched the old man amble out of the mist.

"Whale Rider!"

A Limit-Breaking Grandmaster!