Chapter 195: True Water Duke?

Though Yin Qing and Hu Yun didn't understand Mr. Ji's intentions, they trusted that he had his reasons. So, when he urged them, they quickly followed.

The return journey felt quicker than their outward trip. Once back on the Old Birch Mountain trade route, they could see various teams with oxcarts, donkey carts, and horse-drawn carriages, transporting goods, luggage, or passengers. Many people, like Mr. Ji and Yin Qing, were also traveling on foot.

As they walked, Hu Yun frequently glanced at the lotus leaf package Mr. Ji was carrying. He recalled that Mr. Ji had acquired those dried lotus leaves from a vendor in Jiudaokou County when buying pastries, and was surprised they were now being used to hold fish. The red fox instinctively sensed that the fish was no ordinary catch.

Meanwhile, Yin Qing, besides occasionally looking at the fish in Mr. Ji's hand, kept glancing at Mr. Ji's back. After they had walked for some time and found themselves without other travelers or vehicles nearby, he couldn't resist asking Mr. Ji in a low voice.

"Mr. Ji, where is the sword that appeared in your hand just now? Why has it disappeared?"

Yin Qing glanced at the cloth bundle on Mr. Ji's back, realizing that such a small package clearly couldn't contain a long sword, nor did its shape suggest it could.

"You mean the Green Vine Sword," Mr. Ji replied. "This sword is unwilling to be easily displayed to others, nor should it be. It's hidden from sight."

"Oh..."

Mr. Ji's ambiguous reply clearly indicated he didn't wish to elaborate, so Yin Qing let the matter drop.

"But that sword was truly beautiful," Yin Qing continued. "Its vibrant green color made it feel so nimble. One look, and you could tell it was definitely a divine weapon, couldn't you, Mr. Ji?"

Mr. Ji smiled, but before he could respond...

*A faint hum vibrated.*

A subtle hum of a sword echoed, causing a faint ringing in Yin Qing's and Hu Yun's ears. They instinctively looked around, but couldn't pinpoint the source of this strange sensation. Only Mr. Ji let out a quiet chuckle and remained silent.

The Old Birch Mountain trade route was carved along the gentle slopes of the mountain, making the journey to the ferry on the other side relatively easy.

Even though Mr. Ji and Yin Qing walked at a normal pace, they reached the ferry on the Xiaoshun River outside the mountain before noon.

Yin Qing still had cakes and pastries from Jiudaokou County in his book box, so they didn't intend to dine at the shops or taverns by the ferry. Instead, they proceeded directly to find a boat.

When Mr. Ji had visited this ferry in the past, it was early in the day. Now, however, it was a bustling time, filled with boatmen loading and unloading cargo and boat owners calling out to potential passengers.

The bustling atmosphere of the dock made Hu Yun, who was perched on the book box, a little uneasy. The sight of muscular, bare-chested boatmen, grunting and hefting large wooden crates and baskets while using leather pads, gave the fox an inexplicable sense of pressure. He constantly worried that one of those heavy boxes might come crashing down on him—a fear perhaps fueled by Yin Qing's frequent tales of villagers battling monsters.

Mr. Ji led Yin Qing as they walked around the ferry. Yin Qing thought Mr. Ji was searching for something.

"Mr. Ji, are you looking for something?"

Mr. Ji walked around the entire area but couldn't find the small passenger boat he had used years ago. He wondered if the boatman and his son had stopped their business, or if their boat had simply left and he had just missed them. He suspected the latter was more probable.

Mr. Ji smiled in response to Yin Qing's question.

"Oh, nothing in particular, just looking around. Do you two prefer a large boat or a small one?"

"Large boat!" "Small boat!"

Two voices rang out, one after the other. Unusually, Yin Qing and Hu Yun had differing opinions: Yin Qing preferred a large boat, while Hu Yun wanted a small one.

Yin Qing turned his head and met a slightly apprehensive fox's gaze. He paused for a moment, then revised his answer to Mr. Ji.

"Mr. Ji, perhaps a small boat would be better after all. It's quieter with fewer people."

"Alright, a small boat it is then!"

Leading Yin Qing directly to a small passenger boat, similar in style to the one the boatman and his son had operated years ago, Mr. Ji hailed a man dozing on the deck, his face obscured by a straw hat.

"Boatman, does this boat go to Chunhui Prefecture? Boatman..."

After two calls, the boatman finally removed his straw hat and sat upright. He looked at Mr. Ji and Yin Qing standing on the dock, noting that they appeared to be two scholars.

"Boatman, are you headed to Chunhui Prefecture?" Mr. Ji repeated his question.

The boatman scratched his face and then his head, giving a rather nonchalant reply.

"Chartering the boat costs two taels. Alternatively, you can wait for other passengers to share the fare. There's a limit of eight passengers."

Observing the man's suppressed vigor, Mr. Ji realized he was likely a skilled martial artist. However, the price premium was quite steep, so he waved his hand dismissively.

"Two taels?" Mr. Ji scoffed. "Jizhou has been free from disaster, and resources are abundant; surely the ferry fare hasn't increased that much. How about two hundred cash for a full charter, including meals on board?"

The boatman leaned out, scooped a handful of water from the river to wash his face, then looked intently at the shore.

"Oh, so you know your prices," the boatman chuckled. "Alright, how about this: if you charter the boat and we leave immediately, it's two hundred cash. But if you prefer to wait for other passengers to share the fare, the total cost will be four hundred cash. What do you say?"

Mr. Ji nodded.

"Alright, let's set sail immediately then. We'll charter the boat!"

"Excellent! You're a straightforward customer!" the boatman exclaimed enthusiastically. "Oh, young master, please wait, be careful! I'll set up the gangplank for you!"

Hearing that Mr. Ji was prepared to charter the boat without hesitation, the boatman's demeanor became much more cordial. He quickly set up the wooden plank from the boat, making it easier for Yin Qing to step onto the gangplank and board.

As Yin Qing boarded the boat with his book box, the boatman reached out a hand to assist. But just as Yin Qing stepped onto the small vessel, Hu Yun leaped from the book box directly onto the boat.

Although the red fox was extremely light, when it landed on the boat's deck, the boatman still furrowed his brow and instinctively glanced around before finally signaling Mr. Ji to board.

"Boatman, are you the only one working on this boat?"

Mr. Ji looked around the boat, noting there was no one else in the inner cabin. This meant there would be no one to rotate duties with.

"Heh heh, it's just me," the boatman chuckled. "Don't you worry, esteemed sir. If others take three days, I'll take three days. If others take five days, I'll still take three days. We won't be slow!"

As he spoke, the boatman had already untied the dock ropes and used a bamboo pole to steadily push the small boat away from the shore.

"Hold tight, hold tight! We're setting sail! Heave-ho!"

The boatman's vitality surged, and his muscles visibly flexed as he powerfully worked the oar. The small boat lurched violently from side to side as it pulled away from the dock and headed out.

Yin Qing, feeling unsteady on the boat, quickly found a seat on a bench inside the cabin and held on tight. Even the red fox, on its first boat ride, clung to the bench with its front and back paws.

Only Mr. Ji stood perfectly steady at the front of the cabin, gazing out at the Xiaoshun River, without so much as a tremor. This prompted the boatman behind him to squint and observe closely, secretly wondering if he had misjudged his passenger.

The boatman's rowing strength was clearly superior to that of the old boatman from years past. By afternoon, they had already reached the confluence of the Xiaoshun River and the Chunmu River.

However, just like the boatman from years ago, this small boat also stopped here. The boatman walked from the stern to the bow, retrieving a long-handled fishing spear from the cabin. A long rope was tied to the spear's handle.

"Please wait a moment, esteemed guests," the boatman announced. "There are many large fish at this river mouth, and tonight's meal depends on what I can catch here!"

Yin Qing and Hu Yun couldn't hide their curiosity and stepped outside to watch how the boatman speared fish. Mr. Ji also stood by the mast, smiling.

Other boats, both small and large, passed by, and some smaller vessels also paused here, with people either casting nets or fishing rods.

The boatman intently watched the water's surface, discerning subtle movements beneath the shimmering reflections. While a novice might struggle to judge the depth and location of fish due to light refraction, this was clearly not an issue for him.

"Mr. Ji," Yin Qing whispered, "why is he just standing there?"

"Shhh... just watch!"

No sooner had Mr. Ji spoken than the boatman moved abruptly, his muscles seeming to swell instantly as he forcefully hurled the fishing spear with fierce momentum.

*Whoosh! Thud!*

Water splashed high. The fishing spear shot out over ten feet, entering the water at an angle, with only a hand's breadth of its handle remaining visible above the surface.

"Hahahaha... Got one!"

The boatman chuckled, then swiftly pulled in the rope. Moments later, a large, still-thrashing silver carp was hauled aboard.

"Excellent skill!" Mr. Ji offered praise, and Yin Qing also exclaimed, "Amazing!"

From a short distance away, scattered applause drifted over. Looking in that direction, they saw a large boat passing by, and passengers on board, having witnessed the scene, were already applauding and cheering from afar.

"Heh heh heh, you flatter me," the boatman responded. "Just making a living on the water!"

The boatman didn't stop there, feeling that one silver carp wouldn't be enough to eat. He removed the fish from the spear, placed it in a wooden basin nearby, and once again raised his spear, concentrating.

This scene inexplicably reminded Mr. Ji of Run-tu and the badger, their postures exactly like the illustrations he remembered from his previous life's textbooks.

The boatman's catch consisted of a large silver carp weighing four or five catties and a grass carp of similar size. Pleased with his haul, he then happily returned to rowing, steering the boat out of the river mouth and towards Chunhui Prefecture.

There was little wind on the river that day, rendering the sail useless. Yet, the boatman's rowing vigor never diminished, as if he intended to row continuously until nightfall. However, at a certain point on the Chunmu River, Mr. Ji called for a halt.

"Boatman, please stop the boat!"

"Huh?" the boatman responded. "Esteemed guest, if you need to relieve yourself urgently, just do it off the bow, facing the river. Over there towards the bank, it's all forest and wilderness, no one will see you!"

Mr. Ji found himself between laughter and exasperation.

"Boatman, I don't need to relieve myself," Mr. Ji clarified. "We'll rest here for the night and continue our journey tomorrow!"

"Oh?"

The boatman looked at the sky, somewhat bewildered. At his rowing speed, he could have easily covered a considerable distance more before dropping anchor.

Mr. Ji cupped his hands and explained.

"Years ago, when I passed through this section of the river, some amusing things happened. Seeing it now brings back memories, and I wish to stay here for a night, just as I did then. I apologize for the inconvenience, boatman."

The boatman, still at the stern, scratched his head and returned the polite gesture.

"Alright, alright, alright, you're the one paying, so whatever you say!" the boatman conceded, adding in a low mumble, "Ah, these scholars are just so troublesome..."

The first part of his reply was loud and clear, while the latter part was a soft, grumbling complaint, every word of which reached Mr. Ji's ears.

Since Mr. Ji insisted, the boatman dropped anchor there and began to prepare the two fish he had caught. He then brought out a stove to cook the meal. Before sunset, dinner was ready. Both fish dishes were steamed, seasoned with ginger slices and the boatman's own sauces. However, after the meal was served, Mr. Ji borrowed the stove and an earthenware pot from the boatman, explaining that he wanted to take them to the bow to simmer some soup.

Out of curiosity, the boatman went to take a look. He found a large pot of water containing only two small, palm-sized silver fish, whose origin he couldn't guess – perhaps from a small jar inside the book box. The fish still seemed to be alive; although they had been belly-up when placed in the water, their gills and fins occasionally twitched.

"Uh, esteemed guest," the boatman offered, "would you like me to help you clean these two fish? The gills and intestines, and so on..."

"No, no, that's quite alright as is!"

Mr. Ji smiled as he declined the boatman's kind offer, leaving the latter dumbfounded and thinking to himself, 'These scholars truly are bookworms!'

As dusk settled, Mr. Ji, Yin Qing, and the boatman ate their dinner in the boat cabin. Hu Yun, meanwhile, lay by the table, staring with hungry anticipation, but the occasional "accidental" piece of fish dropped by Yin Qing was far from enough to satisfy the red fox's appetite.

One thing particularly pleased the boatman: Mr. Ji had produced a pot of Thousand-Day Spring wine during dinner. This renowned liquor was by no means cheap, and drinking it made the boatman feel a little abashed, especially since the wine cost more than the boat fare itself.

When they had almost finished eating, the boatman went to the bow to relieve himself. Yin Qing seized the opportunity, quickly scooped a full bowl of rice, drizzled it with soup, sauce, and bits of fish, inserted a spoon, and placed it on a nearby bench.

With lightning speed, Hu Yun gripped the spoon with his paw and ravenously shoveled rice into his mouth, eating with undeniable gusto. The sensation of secretly indulging after having his appetite whetted for so long was incomparably more delicious than any regular meal he had eaten in Ning'an County.

After relieving himself, the boatman went to the other side to scoop some river water to wash his hands. He then walked to the bow and added some charcoal to the stove.

"It smells quite good..." the boatman mused, "and Mr. Ji didn't seem to put any seasoning in it, did he?"

The boatman twitched his nose, then, unable to resist, used his sleeve to protect his hand from the heat and slightly lifted the earthenware pot lid to peek inside.

Instantly, a rich aroma wafted out, smelling so enticing it seemed to send a tingle through his entire body. He looked inside again; the two fish had vanished, leaving behind only a pot of silvery-white, transparent soup.

*Splash...*

Suddenly, a splashing sound came from the river nearby. Startled, the boatman immediately and inexplicably covered the lid, then looked out at the river surface a few feet away, where ripples were slowly dissipating.

*Splash...*

This time, the sound came from in front of the boat's bow. The boatman swiftly moved a few feet, looking towards the ripples, and vaguely caught a fleeting glimpse of green light. The disturbance from the ripples was significant, certainly not like that of an ordinary fish.

Even with his martial arts training, the boatman felt a chill run down his spine, wondering if there truly was a water spirit.