Stranger Danger-Chapter 1254: Night Only Cruise

“There’s no hurry.”

But Sunlao Taijun stopped him. “I have one thing I need to discuss with you.”

“What is it?” Thousand Change asked.

“I’m hoping that Westwind Inn will mobilize more people for this operation,” Sunlao Taijun answered.

“But why?” Thousand Change looked puzzled.

“To ensure that there is absolutely no chance the operation will go south, of course,” Sunlao Taijun answered. “I don’t wish to risk even the smallest chance that the plan might fail at the last moment; that Taisui’s grand plan would be ruined.”

“If that is true, then why don’t you mobilize more people for this operation?” Thousand Change asked coldly.

“Because our manpower is limited,” Sunlao Taijun replied frankly.

“Is that why you want me to send our men to their deaths?” Thousand Change’s voice was indifferent, but the sarcasm and disdain in his words were as clear as day.

Sunlao Taijun replied, “No. It’s because your men’s lives are priced,” Sunlao Taijun answered.

“So?” Thousand Change prodded.

“So, we’ll up our price.” Sunlao Taijun offered, “We’ll pay you ten thousand silver for each additional Great Trueman or Great Grandmaster you send.”

“Ten thousand silver? Do you think our Great Truemen and Great Grandmasters are cabbages, Sunlao Taijun?” Thousand Change stared at the old woman with an indecipherable gaze.

“Ten thousand is a lot.” Sunlao Taijun did not compromise. “Do not forget that we are in a mutually beneficial partnership. If anything goes wrong, and the Mad Lord manages to escape, then you can kiss goodbye to your Earthly Sovereign Bell.”

“All things considered, ten thousand is enough.”

Thousand Change kept quiet for a moment. “I do not have the power to make this decision. I’ll need to speak with the Boss.”

“Sure. I’ll wait for your answer.” Sunlao Taijun nodded and disappeared the next moment.

After Sunlao Taijun was gone, Thousand Face dropped to one knee and made a hand seal with his right hand. Then, he tapped lightly on the pond in front of him.

Knock!

There was a deep, low knock that resonated continuously inside the cave and caused every pond to wobble for some reason. This lasted at least a dozen breaths before a new voice rang inside the cave.

“Why have you asked for me, Thousand Change?”

The voice seemed to come from both the pond next to Thousand Change and the deeper parts of the cave. It was impossible to say where it truly came from.

“Boss, Sunlao Taijun of Taisui Mountain just contacted me. She wants us to dispatch more Great Truemen or Great Grandmasters so that there is absolutely no chance the Mad Lord could survive our ambush,” Thousand Change replied respectfully while keeping his head bowed.

“Hah. They want us to send more people?”

The Boss of Westwind Inn let out a cold chuckle. It sounded like it came from thousands and thousands of kilometers away, and yet it filled the entire cave and dropped the temperature by at least several degrees. “Tell them not to even think about it...”

“... Not unless they’re planning to pay more!”

“Ahem...” Thousand Change let out a soft cough before continuing, “Sunlao Taijun said that she would pay ten thousand silver for each additional Great Grandmaster or Great Trueman we send.”

“Just ten thousand silver? What is this, pocket change to placate the beggars?”

Maybe it was because he heard the word “silver”, but the icy wind in the cave suddenly disappeared like it never was. “Tell them that we’re taking this job.”

Thousand Change: “...” I thought you said that ten thousand silver is pocket change for beggars? Where is your shame, boss?

Still, Thousand Change was extremely familiar with his Boss’ modus operandi and so did not show his thoughts even a little as he replied, “How many should we send then?”

“Two.”

The Boss of Westwind Inn answered, “I’ll message the Shopkeepers of White Mountain and Black Water and tell them to support you.”

“As you command, Boss.” Thousand Change clasped his hands together.

After the Boss of Westwind Inn was gone, the ponds ceased their trembling and slowly returned to normal. Then, Thousand Change went back to the previous pond, performed another hand seal, and summoned Sunlao Taijun once more.

“How did it go?” Sunlao Taijun asked.

“Boss agreed.” Thousand Change replied, “We will send another two Great Truemen.”

“Just two?” Sunlao Taijun raised her voice a little. It was clear that she was disappointed with this outcome.

“What, you think it’s not enough?” Thousand Change was unhappy with her reaction.

“Never mind. Two is better than nothing.”

Sunlao Taijun changed the subject, “When will they show up?”

“Half a day at the latest,” Thousand Change answered.

“Half a day...”

Sunlao Taijun pondered for a few breaths before continuing, “That’s good. Assuming that the Mad Lord travels as expected, he should reach the Red Moon River half a day later. The ships of Red Moon River only travel at night, and the river itself is extremely spacious. It is a great place to set up an ambush.”

Thousand Change gave it some thought and found nothing wrong with the idea. So, he replied, “Alright. Red Moon River it is.”

“Everything hinges on this operation. I sincerely hope that your side won’t make a mistake when the time comes,” Sunlao Taijun warned.

“I’m the one who should tell you that.” Thousand Change said coldly, “When it comes to killing, we are professionals.”

“Hahaha... Sounds like music to my ears.”

Sunlao Taijun chuckled. “See you at Red Moon River then.”

“See you at Red Moon River.”

......

Red Moon River stretched over several hundred kilometers and spanned three lands and five cities. It was one of the few great rivers of Wei, and also one of the most famous.

Red Moon River was famous for several reasons. One, it was incredibly vast. It was several hundred kilometers long and so wide that you couldn’t see the other shore. It was impressively grand.

Two, it was beautiful. Red Moon River boasted two spectacles. The first was its size and volume, which was quite rare in the tall, cold Wei. The second was its night view. Red Moon River was called Red Moon River because both the moon and the river appeared to be blood red in color when the moon was suspended high in the sky. It was as if the river had turned into a river of blood, fantastical and gorgeous.

Three, it was very dangerous. Red Mon River was fraught with dangers no matter the time, but it was especially dangerous during daytime. All sorts of Strangers and Anomalies appeared during this time, and anyone who ignored it would surely be met with misfortune including but not limited to Stranger encounters, Anomaly encounters, destruction of the vessel, death, and mysterious disappearances. Even if someone somehow left Red Moon River alive and sound, they were still cursed by the river, meaning that they would experience all sorts of anomalous incidents and eventually die a strange death. This was something not even some Truemen or Grandmasters could solve.

That was why Red Moon River was extremely dangerous during the day and avoided by all.

On the other hand, the night time of Red Moon River was relatively safer. There were neither an endless amount and variety of Strangers and Anomalies, nor mysterious curses that killed you even after you had put the river behind you. Obviously, it wasn’t completely safe, but it was still far safer than during daytime.

This was especially a moonlit night. Red Moon River would become calm and tranquil during this period, and neither Stranger nor Anomaly could be spotted. Anyone could pass through Red Moon River safely and encounter no dangers—barring exceptional circumstances, of course.

That was why people also called Red Moon River the “river that is only crossable during the night”.

But why was Red Moon River so different during the day and night? No one knows. It was an unsolved mystery no one had an answer to.

And four, Red Moon River’s strangeness also warped the objects inside the river and made it very different from normal rivers.

For example, river food fished from Red Moon River was full of anomalous powers. Some people grew stronger, healthier, and longer-lived after eating a fish or a prawn that was fished from the river, but some received curses and died from unknown causes.

For example, Strange Artifacts would pop out of Red Moon River from time to time. Some of those who obtained them rose to the heavens and became famous throughout the jianghu as if the god of fortune himself was helping them, but some also died an early death, went insane, or plunged into the Dark Ways.

For example, strange sights would sometimes appear on Red Moon River. Some of those who saw them became extremely lucky and encountered fortunes non-stop, while some became extremely unlucky and experienced misfortunes continuously.

In summary, both the river and the objects inside the river were overflowing with mysteries and anomalies. It was as unfathomable as it was unpredictable.