Chapter 38: Chapter 38
Half an hour later.
Li Suifeng emerged from the cabin. Behind him followed Lin Zhixu — her lips faintly swollen.
If Li Suifeng hadn’t used his Frigid Ice True Qi to reduce the swelling, it would have been rather obvious.
She’d changed into fresh clothes.
Every Canal Gang disciple on deck tactfully averted their eyes. This was Boss Li’s woman now. One did not stare.
“My lady — are you alright?”
Willow rushed to Lin Zhixu’s side, face etched with worry.
She’d been at her mistress’s side for over a decade. She could read the subtle changes on Lin Zhixu’s body like a book. How had her lips gotten swollen?
Huang Jiuyuan’s expression was one of bitter anguish.
Out of the tiger’s den, into the wolf’s lair. How could he face the old Gate Master?
Only Yuan Hai wore a knowing grin.
“Remember your promise.”
Lin Zhixu shot Li Suifeng a glare. The man had no concept of tenderness.
Short of the final step, he’d taken every liberty available.
“When Li Suifeng gives his word, he keeps it.”
His voice was mild.
…
Just before full dark, they finally pulled into the Linshui Docks.
“Boss Li is back!”
The dock hands swarmed forward.
“Boss Li!”
“Boss Li!”
Liu Yuan and Chen Shan came personally to greet him. They noted Lin Zhixu and her retinue behind Li Suifeng but asked no questions, simply lowering their heads.
“Anything happen in Nanyang while I was away?”
Liu Yuan spoke quietly:
“Elder Qin has disappeared.”
“He hasn’t been seen since the day you left. Looks like something happened to him.”
“The Helmsman has had the brothers searching the surrounding area, but there’s been nothing.”
“Mm.” Li Suifeng nodded.
By now, Qin Wuyang’s bisected remains had probably been picked clean by river fish.
“Set them up with quarters at the dock.”
“I need to see the Helmsman.”
His courtyard in Green Stone Alley only had two rooms. Not enough for this many people.
Once he had the Elder title, he’d need to upgrade to something larger.
Qin Wuyang’s old residence, for instance, would suit him nicely.
…
Li Suifeng brought Yuan Hai to the branch headquarters.
“Boss Li is back!”
“Boss Li — the Helmsman is waiting for you inside.”
At the gate, a middle-aged man hurried forward to greet them.
This was Ma Hua — Liu Zhenhe’s right-hand man. Li Suifeng had only seen him two or three times in all his years at the branch. He hadn’t expected the man to be waiting at the entrance.
At least seventh-rank, Li Suifeng noted without letting it show, and followed Ma Hua inside.
The council hall held two more people — Helmsman Liu Zhenhe and Qi Hu.
When Qi Hu saw Li Suifeng walk in behind Ma Hua, his pupils contracted — but he recovered instantly.
The moment he’d received word of Li Suifeng’s return, he’d known the headquarters gambit had failed. He just couldn’t figure out where the plan had broken down.
Li Suifeng was a nobody with no connections. If Manager Ma had pressed the issue, Li Suifeng shouldn’t have been able to fight his way out.
Had Ma taken the money and not delivered? Had it really been that long since Qi Hu visited headquarters?
“Helmsman.”
Li Suifeng clasped his fists.
“Mm.”
Liu Zhenhe regarded him.
“I hear you rescued a group of people being chased by the Divine Fist Gate on your way back.”
“Yes. They’re acquaintances of mine.”
So there was a mole among his crew.
He’d barely been off the ship before the news had reached Liu Zhenhe’s ears.
“The Divine Fist Gate has been growing bolder lately.” Liu Zhenhe nodded. “Since you’re back — the Elder’s seat I promised you is yours.”
“However, Elder Qin disappeared while you were away.”
“No leads at all. It seems something’s happened to him.”
“Normally, your appointment would call for a proper celebration. We’ll postpone that. Elder Qin’s fate — alive or dead — needs to be resolved first.”
He tossed a command token to Li Suifeng.
Li Suifeng caught it.
【Ding!】
【Host has become a Nanyang Branch Elder. Task complete.】
【Reward: One-Finger Zen Art (maxed). Extract now?】
“Extract.”
No hesitation.
The One-Finger Zen Art wasn’t the most enticing prize, but another maxed martial art was always welcome.
In an instant, a lifetime of One-Finger Zen mastery poured into his mind. He could feel the change in his index finger — denser, harder, thrumming with concentrated force.
“Suifeng — you’re a Canal Gang Elder now.” Liu Zhenhe smiled at the silent Li Suifeng.
“The Divine Fist Gate has built two docks outside the city. Apart from our Linshui Docks, they’ve been siphoning off most of the waterway business. You know our Canal Gang lives and dies by its shipping trade. Our influence may have declined, but if every sect starts muscling into our business — chipping away piece by piece — there’ll be nowhere left for us.”
“Elder Qin was handling this before. Now it falls to you.”
“By whatever means necessary — destroy those two docks.”
A smile touched Qi Hu’s lips. So that was Liu Zhenhe’s game.
He’d been wondering why the Helmsman had been so generous with Li Suifeng.
The answer: a sword aimed at the Divine Fist Gate.
Qin Wuyang had been responsible before, but he’d never had the stomach to actually provoke the Divine Fist Gate and had let the situation fester.
Now Liu Zhenhe was forcing Li Suifeng onto the front line.
“Done.”
Li Suifeng agreed without hesitation.
He’d figure out the specifics later.
“You’re young. Your authority in the branch is limited.”
“This assignment is your chance to establish yourself.”
“I’m giving you one month.” Liu Zhenhe held up a single finger.
“If the job isn’t done by then, I’ll have to find someone else for the Elder’s seat.”
“Understood.” Li Suifeng nodded, though his eyes had taken on a calculating look.
Maybe it was time to put this old bastard in the ground.
…
He spent half an hour at the branch before taking his leave.
Watching Li Suifeng’s retreating figure, Ma Hua stepped up behind Liu Zhenhe.
“Helmsman — why not bring Li Suifeng into the fold?”
“According to the dock hands, Li Suifeng killed Zhuo Buping with a single move on that ship. The man’s no weakling.”
Over the years, Ma Hua had handled many of Liu Zhenhe’s affairs. He knew the Helmsman had always wanted a transfer back to headquarters, and that the Divine Fist Gate situation was a test set by the man above Liu Zhenhe.
Winning Li Suifeng over could be a powerful asset for the return to headquarters.
“If Li Suifeng were a few years older, I would.”
Liu Zhenhe gazed in the direction Li Suifeng had gone, eyes narrowed.
“But he’s too young. Young men are proud. They don’t willingly serve an old man like me.”
“And Li Suifeng is too much of an enigma. His martial arts, while not exceptionally advanced, aren’t from our branch’s collection. Someone is behind him.”
“Righteous Manor is behind the Divine Fist Gate. I want to see what happens when Li Suifeng runs headfirst into that wall. If he stumbles — whoever’s backing him might just show themselves.”