Chapter 23: Chapter 23

Wait — seventh-rank?

Qi Hu’s brow creased.

“Isn’t Li Suifeng late eighth-rank? When did he become seventh-rank?”

Below the fourth rank, where the spiritual domain came into play, it was impossible to gauge someone’s precise cultivation at a glance without exchanging blows. All one could do was estimate from experience.

Just days ago, the consensus had been that Li Suifeng was roughly late eighth-rank — with an unusually formidable body-hardening art layered on top.

But now Qin Wuyang was telling him Li Suifeng was seventh-rank?

And Qi Hu himself was only mid seventh-rank!

“Hah.”

“It seems Li Suifeng has been fooling even you, Old Qi.” Qin Wuyang sighed, his voice mild.

“If I hadn’t tested him at the docks just now and drawn out his real strength, he’d have had all of us fooled.”

“He’s been hiding for years. You really think he did all that just for one dock?”

“He kills Red Lotus Sect fighters at the dock, and at the same time Ye Qingmei kills the Red Lotus Sect’s branch master at the Yang compound — you believe that’s a coincidence?”

“Li Suifeng has almost certainly attached himself to Ye Qingmei. And Old Qi, you should know — Ye Qingmei is close friends with a certain young master of the Shen family. Do I need to spell out what the Shen family means for our Canal Gang?”

“Give it some time, and Li Suifeng’s standing in the Canal Gang will be above both of ours.”

Qin Wuyang finished and studied Qi Hu with an almost-smile.

He knew Qi Hu well. Beyond the greed, the man was cold-blooded.

Of all the old comrades who’d followed Qi Hu to Nanyang, how many had actually prospered? Aside from Zhou Chao, not a single one.

Qin Wuyang didn’t actually believe Li Suifeng and Ye Qingmei were connected. He’d simply woven two unrelated events together.

A seed of suspicion between the two men was all he needed.

“Shen Huchan?”

Qi Hu’s face darkened.

“Precisely. Number seven on the Human Rankings — Shen Huchan.” Qin Wuyang nodded.

Shen Huchan’s ranking might sit below Ye Qingmei’s, but Ye Qingmei had no faction behind her. Shen Huchan was different.

He was the legitimate heir of the Shen family — one of the Four Great Houses of the Daye Dynasty.

The Shen family was also based in Jiangnan. Even the Canal Gang leader had owed the Shen family favors in his younger days. Several elders at headquarters maintained ties with them.

If Li Suifeng truly had a connection to Shen Huchan, then even the Helmsman of Nanyang Branch would have to show the man some respect down the line.

“Hah.”

“Since Suifeng has reached seventh-rank, he naturally deserves more resources.” After a moment’s pause, Qi Hu’s expression settled back into placidity. “Suifeng is my man. I’m happy for him, of course.”

Damn!

A flag in whatever wind blows.

Qin Wuyang’s face twitched. His little speech seemed to have backfired.

Qi Hu had lost every ounce of fighting spirit. If Li Suifeng climbed higher, this old fox would simply yield ground and ride the coattails.

If Qi Hu eventually threw in fully with Li Suifeng…

Then Qin Wuyang’s life would become very difficult indeed.

And as a Red Lotus Sect agent, with Li Suifeng having killed so many of the sect’s people — any attempt to befriend the man would bring Elder Yun’s wrath down on his head before anything else.

Damn it all!

…

By the time Li Suifeng finished dealing with the docks and returned to Green Stone Alley, lamplight still glowed from the side room.

When he pushed the courtyard gate open, the side room’s door opened too.

“I’ll be leaving tomorrow.”

Ye Qingmei looked at him, her voice soft.

“Mm.”

Li Suifeng nodded.

Ye Qingmei had clearly come to Nanyang for the Red Lotus Sect. With Song Xian dealt with, there was no reason to stay.

She leaned against the door frame, speaking quietly. “The one who destroyed my Sword-Washing Sect was Yun Tuo. He’s in Mingzhou Prefecture now. That’s where I’m headed.”

“Yun Tuo is fifth-rank. You’re seventh-rank. You think you can handle that? Don’t get yourself killed.” Li Suifeng frowned.

Even the weakest fifth-rank master was beyond what Ye Qingmei could face.

Fifth-rank fighters condensed their qi into gang qi. The qualitative gap between fifth and sixth rank was enormous.

“Worried I’ll die?” Ye Qingmei smiled. “I’ve built up a few connections over the years.”

“I don’t do things without a reasonable chance of success.”

“Tch.” Li Suifeng shook his head. “If you didn’t do things without a reasonable chance, you wouldn’t have ended up recuperating in my house.”

Ye Qingmei’s face darkened.

He didn’t know how to talk to people? Then don’t.

“Hmph!”

She snorted and retreated into her room.

“What a temper.”

Li Suifeng chuckled and let it go.

He went to his own room.

Having a beauty around was easy on the eyes, but at this stage — having killed two sixth-rank Red Lotus Sect masters alongside Ye Qingmei — the sect would inevitably send investigators.

With Ye Qingmei gone, the Red Lotus Sect’s attention would follow her.

For now, the last thing he wanted was to be fully exposed to the sect.

At the very least, he needed to secure the Helmsman’s seat first.

…

The next morning.

Li Suifeng woke to find the side room’s door standing open.

He stepped inside. A neatly made bed. On the table, a jade pendant resting atop a slip of paper.

He picked up the pendant. Cool to the touch. He was no connoisseur, but he could tell it was fine jade.

The note read:

“You saved my life. If you ever face something you can’t handle alone, leave word at the Green Pine Inn in Yangzhou Prefecture. I’ll come when I receive it.”

Li Suifeng rubbed his nose and murmured:

“Her handwriting is actually rather beautiful.”

He burned the note, then headed out to the Green Stone Alley breakfast stall.

“Boss Li!”

“Boss Li — heard you pulled off another big one last night!”

Neighbors flocked over the moment they spotted him.

Nanyang Prefecture wasn’t large — and with corpses still laid out at the docks, last night’s two incidents had spread through the city like wildfire.

Li Suifeng offered nothing more than a faint smile and found an empty seat.

“The usual, Boss Li?”

“Two portions? One to go for Chen Shan?”

The stall owner asked quietly, a touch of deference in his eyes.

“Just one today. Chen Shan says he’s tired of it.”

Li Suifeng waved.

“Coming right up!”

He hadn’t finished eating when Liu Yuan came jogging up, out of breath.

“Boss Li — the Helmsman returned overnight. He wants you at the branch.”

…

Li Suifeng and Liu Yuan arrived at the branch headquarters.

“Boss Li!”

“Boss Li — the Helmsman and both Elders are already inside. They’re waiting for you.”

The disciples guarding the entrance straightened visibly when they saw Li Suifeng.

Yesterday Boss Li had not only killed dozens of Red Lotus Sect cultists — he’d kicked Lei Yun across the dock and traded blows with Elder Qin himself.

Elder Qin had publicly confirmed it: Boss Li had reached seventh-rank.

The Nanyang Branch might soon have itself a new Elder.