Chapter 187 - 121: Demon 2
"Let’s go!"
Joy flashed across the scar-faced leader’s face.
But in the very next instant, the hair on their arms stood on end.
WHUMP!
A blast of cold spear qi shot over from the distance, smashing heavily into the water and sending up countless splashes.
"Who’s there?!"
Greatly alarmed, the three men looked in the direction the spear qi had come from.
Chen Qing stood at the prow of a ship, the wind and snow whipping at his robes. "The Wutai Sect is clearing out the remnants of the Demon Sect and is guarding this channel. Leave fifty percent of the goods on your ship as toll money, and you may pass."
"Fifty percent?! Bullshit!"
One of them exploded with rage. "Some little punk who still smells of his mother’s milk dares to demand a..."
"Shut up!"
The scar-faced leader barked at his companion.
He had roamed the Jianghu for years, living a dangerous life on the edge of a blade, and his instincts for danger were exceptionally sharp.
’This waterway appears to be guarded by only one person, but he’s probably a real tough nut to crack!’
’Nine Waves Island is now a den of demons that devours people whole, leaving not even the bones. It’s not worth kicking an iron plate and losing our lives over a bit of wealth!’
He forcefully suppressed the greed and ferocity in his heart and cupped his fist toward Chen Qing.
"This... brother, my companion was reckless just now. Please don’t take offense. I am Liu Hou from Changping County. I’m just here with my two good-for-nothing brothers, answering the call to suppress the bandits and trying to make a living. We were lucky enough to acquire some of the Water Bandits’ belongings."
He pointed to the bundles on his boat. "The Wutai Sect is clearing out the Demon Sect and maintaining order here. This is just a small token of our appreciation. Consider it enough to buy you and your esteemed sect a drink to warm up. Please, let us pass."
As he spoke, he turned without hesitation, personally dragged two bundles from his boat, and tossed them forcefully. They landed steadily on the deck of Chen Qing’s Treasure Ship.
The bundles landed with a heavy thud, clearly full.
"That’s fifty percent! Please accept it, brother!"
Scarface Liu’s posture was very humble, but a look of pained reluctance was still hidden in the depths of his eyes.
Chen Qing nodded slightly and stepped aside to clear the channel. His voice remained flat. "You may pass."
Scarface Liu secretly breathed a sigh of relief and quickly cupped his fist. "Many thanks, brother!"
Then he shot a fierce glare at his two companions behind him, who still looked indignant, and hissed, "Get the boat moving! What are you dawdling for?!"
The fast boat quickly started up, sailed cautiously past Chen Qing’s Treasure Ship, and soon disappeared around a bend in the waterway.
Chen Qing opened the bundles to check. They were worth several thousand taels of silver.
As Noon approached, the wind and snow began to subside.
Shen Xiuyong came sailing over on his Treasure Ship, hands behind his back, looking completely carefree.
He had come to see if any fat sheep had passed by Chen Qing’s post and, while he was at it, to check on the debt for his three Thunder Fire Bombs.
When his gaze fell upon Chen Qing’s brand-new Treasure Ship and the bundles on its deck, his lazy eyes instantly went wide.
"Huh?!"
Shen Xiuyong’s figure flashed, and he appeared at the side of Chen Qing’s boat. He looked the sleek, new Treasure Ship up and down, then glanced at the pile of clearly valuable bundles on the deck. The corner of his mouth couldn’t help but twitch.
"Well, well, kid!"
Shen Xiuyong circled halfway around the boat, clicking his tongue in amazement. His tone was full of surprise and teasing. "It’s only been one night, and you’ve already traded your bird-gun for a cannon! This ship... tsk tsk, Iron Heart Wood reinforced with a Cold Iron keel. The rudder mechanism looks even newer than mine. Must’ve come from the Zheng Family’s Treasure Vault, right? And these..."
He pointed at the bundles. "Quite a haul! This is as much as I’d get camping the main channel all day! ’Fess up, did you catch a big fish last night?"
Chen Qing had long since concealed his aura. Hearing this, he simply cupped his fist. "Elder Shen jests. The wind and snow were too heavy last night. I only ran into a few scattered stragglers who were blind enough to try and force their way through. I simply followed your example, Elder, and had them leave some toll money. As for the ship... I was just lucky. I found an abandoned, broken-down boat in the waterway. After a few minor repairs, it’s barely usable. It can’t compare to the Elder’s vessel."
"Found it? A broken-down boat?" Shen Xiuyong rolled his eyes, clearly unconvinced.
He stared suspiciously at Chen Qing for a long moment, as if trying to read something on that calm face.
Chen Qing’s expression was serene as he allowed the scrutiny.
’I still have a Middle-Grade Treasure Saber I haven’t shown him.’
’As for Wang Zhenshan and Zheng Da, I definitely won’t bring them up. Getting involved with the remnants of the Zheng Family and the Wang Family, who colluded with them, would be too much trouble. Making a fortune quietly is the way to go.’
Shen Xiuyong couldn’t find any holes in the story after staring for a while, so he had to give up on questioning him further.
"Fine, fine, you’re a lucky kid. But..."
He changed the subject, holding up three fingers with a grin. "Luck is luck, but a debt is a debt. Chen the Kid, my three Thunder Fire Bombs... that’s thirty-three thousand taels of shiny silver. When do you plan on paying me back? I’m waiting for that silver to put food on the table."
Chen Qing already had a plan. He immediately bowed with the utmost respect. "Please rest assured, Elder Shen. How could I dare to delay payment on my debt to you? It’s just that we are in a dangerous place right now, and carrying a large sum of money is inconvenient. Once this matter is concluded and I return to the Sect or the Fishery, I will raise the silver taels at the first opportunity and deliver it to you personally, not a single coin less! I would never dare to make the Elder wait long."
Shen Xiuyong stared at Chen Qing for a few seconds and asked, "You’re not planning to welsh on the debt, are you, kid?"
"I wouldn’t dare," Chen Qing said, bowing again.
"Not that you’d dare!"
Shen Xiuyong waved his hand, seeming to have lost interest. "Alright, you keep watch. Be smart, and don’t capsize in a ditch. If there’s ’big business,’ contact me with the paper effigy!"
With that said, he ignored Chen Qing’s new boat and riches and headed back toward his own channel.
In the afternoon, the number of people leaving the island dwindled, and even fewer were trying to enter.
Chen Qing knew that after several rounds of fighting, there were probably no small fry left on the island.