Chapter 41: Contact

Based on their intelligence, it should be about time. Su Yi thought to himself. His eyesight was already far superior to most, and now he took out a telescope, carefully observing the situation on the river.

He did not know how much time had passed before he muttered, “They’re here.” A double-decked flat-bottomed boat sailed across the great river, heading toward the dock beneath Jade Sparrow Bluff. Su Yi compared every detail with the information he’d been given; everything visible on the boat matched perfectly. Certain he’d found his target, he leapt down the mountain and arrived at the dock ahead of them to wait.

The afternoon scene at Jiangting dock was bustling. As the point where Han Waters met the great river, and with southern access to the endless blue expanse of Suiyang Lake, Jiangting occupied a strategic location connecting north and south. Its flourishing trade and transport ranked among the most prosperous in the land. The air was filled with the shouts of laborers, their sweat-soaked bodies weaving back and forth as they hauled sacks.

Amidst the din, a squad of armored soldiers burst onto the dock, heading straight for the pier. “Aren’t those from the City Patrol? They're not tax collectors from the Harbor Bureau—what are they doing here?” “Could they be here to arrest someone?”

The dock buzzed with speculation as the City Patrol soldiers halted before a double-decked flat-bottomed boat that had just docked. Several boatmen, busy lowering sails, pushing poles, and tossing ropes onto bollards, were startled and quickly called for the captain—a burly man in his forties, whose face was weathered by frost.

On the pier, the captain forced a smile, cautiously asking, “I am the owner of this boat. May I ask what business brings you, honored officers?” As he spoke, he discreetly slipped a few taels of silver to the leading soldier.

The leader eyed him sideways, his sharp gaze immediately recognizing the amount—three taels. On any other day, such a sum would have brought a grin to his face, but today, his appetite had been raised by a powerful patron behind the scenes, and he now found it unimpressive. He frowned and barked, “What do you think you’re doing? Call your passengers out here! This doesn’t concern you!”

“Right away, officer, I’ll fetch them at once.” The captain, having handed over the silver, returned to the boat and called out, and soon a group—perhaps already aware of the commotion—emerged from behind the cabin curtain in single file.

At the front were two burly men, followed by an elderly gentleman with silver hair and a boy of about eleven or twelve. The leading soldier’s eyes narrowed; he could tell at once that the men at the front were seasoned warriors, carrying the air of battle-hardened veterans—a presence he’d only seen in those who’d fought through countless campaigns. He instinctively tensed.

One of the burly men cast a disdainful glance at the soldiers lining the pier and addressed the leader, “Jiangting City Patrol? Are you the detective officer?” His tone made clear he did not regard the other's rank highly.

“And who might you be?” the leader demanded.

Before the man could reply, the elderly gentleman stepped forward, placing a hand on his shoulder to silence him. He bowed to the officers and spoke, “Greetings, distinguished officers. I am Zhao Xing, steward of the household. These two are our guards. We are accompanying our young master southward to return home, passing through Jiangting. It appears you are here specifically for us. May I ask what urgent business brings you?”

The old man's voice was steady and powerful, his youthful spirit undimmed; those sharp, bright eyes held a commanding presence. The detective officer thought to himself, “Well, they say even minor officials at the prime minister’s gate carry weight—there’s truth in that. This old man comes from the Protectorate’s household, indeed he has some authority.”

He bowed in return, saying, “Steward Zhao, we are from the Jiangting City Patrol, acting under orders from our superiors. We have important matters to discuss—may we speak privately?”

“Please, officers, step aboard,” the old man gestured.

The detective officer waved his hand behind him, “Clear out these idle onlookers!” His men shouted and drove the crowd away, and after instructing the captain to have his crew tend to their duties, the detective officer and his companion boarded the boat.

“Follow me, please,” Zhao Xing invited.

Though the boat had two decks, space was limited and cramped. The group entered a narrow cabin; the detective officer waved for the rest of his men to stand guard outside, entering with just one companion.

“Please, officer, take a seat.”

Once Zhao Xing had performed the duties of host and arranged seats, he stood beside the young boy and addressed the detective officer, “May I ask what urgent matter has brought you here? Our late master resigned his post and retired before his passing; surely we have no entanglements left with the court?”

“General Chi earned great merit through his campaigns north and south—I’ve always admired him deeply. However, the matter that brings us here does not concern the General, but rather falls upon your young master.”

At these words, both burly men, Zhao Xing, and the boy all started. The boy's gaze was steady as he spoke for the first time in a youthful but composed voice, “Officer, what do you mean? Peng Jin is eager to hear the details.”

“So the youngest son of Chi Lingxiao is named Chi Peng Jin,” thought Su Yi, disguised as a City Patrol officer and seated beside the detective.

The detective officer took out a warrant stamped with the seal of Jiangting Prefecture and handed it to Chi Peng Jin. “This matter began this morning. Our Jiangting Garrison launched a large-scale operation to purge a stronghold of the demonic Yuanmo Sect within the city, razing it completely. Under interrogation, captured cultists confessed they had been secretly lurking in Jiangting, waiting in ambush to harm you. They claim their motive is a technique you possess, which they covet at any cost.”

Chi Peng Jin trembled, exchanging a glance with Zhao Xing.

“Learning from the cultists that you would arrive in Jiangting this afternoon, our superiors sent us here at once. Many Yuanmo Sect fugitives remain hidden, waiting to strike, and their strength is formidable. From here, Master Su will take over arrangements to ensure your safety.”

At this, everyone turned their attention to Su Yi. The two burly men’s eyes sharpened; the man who had appeared so unremarkable now radiated an inexplicable aura, as though a peerless sword were about to be unsheathed.

Such power—even the late General would have been hard-pressed to match it.

As the saying goes, a true expert reveals himself in a single move; Su Yi had only let slip a fraction of his strength, and the two guards instantly recognized him as a master of unfathomable depth.

“I am Su Yi, honored to meet you all.”

After interrogating Xie Lingyuan and clarifying the consequences, Su Yi had reconsidered how to approach the young son of Chi Lingxiao. He couldn’t simply walk up as soon as they arrived in Jiangting and say, “There are demonic cultists out to harm you; I’m here to protect you.” After much thought, he decided to use the morning’s events as a pretext and cloak himself with an official identity.