Misty Rain of the Old Times

The midday sun in late spring is scorching hot, so intense that it makes you feel lazy and want to fall asleep as soon as you turn your head.

Chen Xuan walked out onto the deck with great interest. Du Juan, who was beside him, immediately scanned the surroundings and said coldly, "Master, please look, it's them."

The Qingping River has become increasingly wide in its middle and lower reaches. The section where Chen Xuan and his group are located is dozens of miles wide, with islands and reefs of all sizes scattered throughout the river, creating a complex and challenging environment.

There were no obstacles on the river within a few kilometers around the ship. Chen Xuan nodded and looked around. He saw more than a dozen light boats, each two or three zhang long, speeding towards their ship. The closest one was already within three hundred zhang.

On those light boats, each boat carried seven or eight to a dozen people, each carrying a knife and a stick. They did not look like good people and certainly did not have good intentions.

The most eye-catching thing was a sailboat about ten feet long, only one size smaller than the ship Chen Xuan and his group were on. It was obvious that the leaders and high-ranking members of this group were on that sailboat.

After a quick look, Chen Xuan laughed and said, "Looks like their job isn't easy either. Look at those henchmen, dressed in rags, their skin is as dark as a coal miner's, clearly exposed to the elements year-round. But the ruthlessness they exude is quite intimidating; most people would probably be intimidated by them."

These days, no matter what industry you're in, it's always the middle and upper classes who enjoy the good life. The lower classes are lucky if they can just make ends meet. If they can occasionally eat meat and drink alcohol, it's like celebrating the New Year. And even then, they have to risk their lives. They don't know if they'll live today or tomorrow. If they die, nobody cares and they don't even get a pension.

"Master, they're here. What should we do?" The little maid asked eagerly from the side. After all, she had been following Chen Xuan for a while, had seen many big scenes, and had also practiced martial arts for some time. Her perspective had gradually broadened.

With a smile, Chen Xuan said, "We're not in a hurry to get going. Let's see what their purpose is first. It's rare to have some fun, so let's play along."

The little princess who had come along wasn't interested in this kind of fighting and killing. She shook her head and said, "Husband, I'm going back to my room first. This isn't a good thing, so don't get too playful. Remember not to get our ship dirty; blood on it is bad luck."

"Don't worry, my wife, I know what I'm doing," Chen Xuan nodded. Unless they were from the martial arts world, most girls would keep their distance from fighting and killing.

After giving her instructions, the little princess went back to her room accompanied by Yunlan and her sister. She didn't like joining in the commotion; she'd rather use that time to think about what to eat for the afternoon.

At this moment, Liang Ren staggered out of the cabin and onto the deck. A young eunuch supporting him said anxiously, "Master, Mr. Liang insisted on coming out to see the situation. We couldn't stop him. Please punish him."

It wasn't that they couldn't stop him. Don't underestimate that eunuch just because he's only in his twenties. Even if several Liang Rens were added together, they couldn't beat him. It was just that Liang Ren insisted on it and they were worried about hurting him. He was already injured, and even Chen Xuan was politely calling him "uncle." The eunuch didn't dare to forcibly stop them, so Chen Xuan had to make the decision.

Seeing this, Chen Xuan waved his hand and said, "It's alright," then looked at Liang Ren and smiled, "Uncle Liang, why are you doing this? Your injuries haven't fully healed yet."

Why do the people on the boat all call him Master Chen? Logically speaking, as the pageboy of the top scholar, the top scholar should only be called "young master" here, not "master." Even if it seems that the top scholar is not on the boat, they shouldn't be so respectful to him.

These thoughts flashed through Liang Ren's mind. In fact, he had many questions, but it was not convenient to pry into them. It wasn't a matter of that level of concern. He could only say that everyone had changed a lot over the years.

He didn't have time to dwell on it, and looked at Chen Xuan, saying, "Young Master Chen, please don't blame them. It was my insistence that we come out; I was still a little worried."

As long as he didn't engage in strenuous activity, Liang Ren was fine after Chen Xuan's treatment. So Chen Xuan nodded and said, "Uncle Liang is very kind." Then he looked around and said, "I just heard Uncle Liang say that he has been making a living on this river for several years. Are you familiar with these people around here?"

Shaking his head, Liang Ren looked around and said, "I wouldn't call myself familiar with them. I'm not on the same side as these highway robbers; I'd rather avoid them than make contact with them. But I have dealt with many of them. Don't laugh at me, Young Master Chen, but I almost always came out on the losing end. There was nothing I could do; they had the numbers and the power. But I won't forget anyone I've met."

At this point, his expression changed, and he said in a deep voice, "Oh no, it's them!"

"Uncle Liang, don't be in a hurry. As I just said, we have some experts on our ship. It seems you know them. Can you tell me about them?" Chen Xuan asked calmly.

Taking a deep breath, Liang Ren stared at the approaching sailboat with a solemn expression and said, "Young Master Chen, look at the flag on that ship. They are from Fanjiang Village!"

"Seems to have some background, is he very powerful?" Chen Xuan asked with unwavering interest.

Liang Ren wasn't surprised by Chen Xuan's reaction, considering he'd seen it all with the top scholar. However, he still hoped Chen Xuan wouldn't be careless and said seriously, "Young Master Chen, don't underestimate them. They've been operating on the Qingping River in Haozhou for decades, boasting three thousand brothers who dare to fight and kill. They're the most powerful river bandits in the area. Even with the influx of outsiders, their force still ranks among the top five!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Xuan was stunned. A bandit den could gather three thousand people? And that wasn't even the largest river bandit force. That must be bragging. He probably had to include the old, weak, sick, and disabled to make it that number.

Liang Ren continued, "Fanjiang Village has four leaders. It is said that the chief leader is a top-tier acquired expert who has survived battles with innate experts. His skills are truly remarkable. The other three leaders are also formidable characters."

Hearing this, Chen Xuan almost laughed, thinking to himself that it was just a nobody. But the current situation was different from what Liang Ren had said. There were actually three innate masters on the sailboat opposite them, not just one. Two of them were hidden inside the ship. According to Liang Ren, even if those leaders broke through, it wouldn't be that exaggerated. Three innate masters could challenge famous sects.

But Liang Ren hadn't finished speaking when he looked at the sailboat with a grave expression and said worriedly, "What I said before is all in the past. Less than half a month ago, Fanjiang Village changed hands. A Xiantian master appeared out of nowhere, directly stormed Fanjiang Village, and usurped its territory. Two of the four former leaders died, and the others all submitted. I heard that the Xiantian master who single-handedly subdued Fanjiang Village was released from prison not long ago by His Majesty's general amnesty. The moment he came out, he made such a sensational move. He was probably imprisoned for too long, and his behavior after his release was extremely vicious. He committed all sorts of evil deeds, as if he wanted to make up for all the pleasures he hadn't enjoyed in the past few years."

Nodding slightly, Chen Xuan said, "If it really was the original leader of Fanjiang Village who broke through, why would he still dare to do this kind of thing? With such cultivation, it would be easy for him to clean up his act and go ashore. It seems he has encountered someone even more dangerous."

Judging from the current situation, this new leader at the Innate Realm won't stay in this line of work for long. After all, he's an Innate Realm cultivator; it's too beneath him. He probably plans to enjoy himself for a while and use this as a transition. However, Chen Xuan was somewhat speechless. Zhou Chen ascended the throne and granted amnesty to win over the people, but who knows what kind of monsters and demons he released?

Chen Xuan was still puzzled. Where did those two innate masters hidden inside the sailboat come from? His mind raced, and Chen Xuan suddenly remembered that he had just dealt with a group of Chongyan Sect members two days ago. He immediately understood. Good heavens, they came knocking on his door so quickly. They were quite efficient, and they were also quite cautious and invested heavily. Not only did they send two innate masters, but they also joined forces with the new leader of Fanjiang Village.

Having three innate-level experts, they can still brazenly mark their location at the gates of prestigious sects and escape unscathed.

"Young Master Chen, do you remember the 'Water-Splitting Mad Blade' I mentioned before? He wants to unify the many water fortresses within Haozhou and dominate the region. I wonder when it will be the turn of the 'River-Turning Fortress'. So, the 'River-Turning Fortress' has been plundering everywhere recently, planning to make a quick buck and run away to avoid his wrath. It's obvious that the new leader of the 'River-Splitting Mad Blade' is also afraid of that 'Water-Splitting Mad Blade.' By the way, the way I ended up this morning was done by the people of the 'River-Turning Fortress.' The two hundred miles or so along the Qingping River that enter Haozhou are their territory. That's all I know."

After listening to Liang Ren's explanation, Chen Xuan was speechless and said, "I see. The Flipping River Stronghold was worried about being targeted by the Broken Water Mad Blade, so they wanted to pull off a big heist and escape beforehand. That's why they set their sights on us. After all, our ship alone is quite valuable."

This is only the surface, and may account for part of the reason. However, Chen Xuan believes that the people of Fanjiang Village and the people from the Chongyan Sect have joined forces. How they reached an agreement is unknown. Moreover, does the small Fanjiang Village have the right to refuse the Chongyan Sect?

Seeing that he remained unmoved, Liang Ren hesitated for a moment before speaking earnestly, "Young Master Chen, although they seem to have ill intentions, it's best to avoid conflict if we can settle things peacefully. I'm not trying to embolden them, nor do I want you to bow down to them. After all, what are they anyway? They're not even as valuable as one of your fingers. There's really no need for them to bother with you."

You could tell that his words came from the bottom of his heart. Putting aside the real disparity between the two sides, Chen Xuan had to admit that Liang Ren had become more worldly-wise over the years, unlike the hothead who would fight at the drop of a hat. It was probably because life after getting married had smoothed out his rough edges.

"Uncle Liang, don't worry, I'm not an impulsive person. Let's see what they're planning to do first," Chen Xuan nodded.

They talked for so long, but it didn't actually take much time. The nearest light boat that had surrounded them hadn't even gotten within a hundred feet when the people on it revealed a sinister smile, took out a grappling hook, and prepared to throw the boat overboard once they got close.

Meanwhile, as Chen Xuan and his group observed their surroundings, others were also observing them.

On the sailboat, a man stood upright at the bow, his hair gray, looking quite old. His face was cold, his eyes filled with bloodlust and cruelty, and he did not conceal his innate realm aura, so much so that those around him were silent and dared not look him in the eye.

This is the new leader of Fanjiang Village. Twenty years ago, he committed a bloody crime. He took a fancy to a girl from a family and tried to force her into marriage, but when he failed, the girl was only ten years old. Enraged, he slaughtered more than thirty members of the family in one night. The family he killed was a semi-powerful force in the martial arts world, but they had ties with the government. Normally, the court would turn a blind eye to the feuds between the martial arts world and the government, but because of this connection, he was arrested by the Martial Arts Bureau and imprisoned. He disappeared and remained in hiding until he was released after the new emperor ascended the throne and granted a general amnesty. After his release, he not only did not repent, but became even more ruthless. In less than half a month, he has already killed hundreds of innocent women, torturing them to death. He is extremely cruel.

The sailboat moved forward, approaching Chen Xuan's ship. The man licked his lips, his face beaming with excitement, and said, "It's a fat sheep. We made the right choice coming here."

His eyes lit up as he looked at the understated yet luxurious ship, especially the beautiful girls on board, each with their own unique charm. He wanted nothing more than to kill all the men on board and indulge himself, but he had reservations and, despite his confidence in his own strength, he suppressed that impulse.

His gaze toward Chen Xuan was bloodthirsty and malevolent, filled with jealousy and hatred. Why were all those stunningly beautiful women flocking around him? Was it just because he was of noble birth and looked decent enough?

At this moment, a gray-robed scholar who looked to be in his fifties beside him said nervously, "Chief, are we really going to do this? That ship looks like it's no ordinary vessel; it's probably not something we should mess with."

This scholar was originally a strategist who devised plans for Fanjiang Village. He was quite intelligent, and he had made great contributions to the existence of Fanjiang Village for so many years. However, after the new leader stormed Fanjiang Village and witnessed the strength and ruthlessness of the enemy, he decisively switched sides and pledged allegiance. He was a man who knew how to assess the situation.

As soon as the strategist finished speaking, the new leader didn't even turn his head. He slapped him across the face with his backhand. It was just a casual slap, but it made the other man stagger and bleed from the corner of his mouth. As he did so, the leader said coldly, "It seems you haven't learned your lesson. I've said I don't like the title of 'Great Leader.' Now, in Fanjiang Village, I'm the only boss. Call me Uncle Hong!"

"Yes, Master Hong, I deserve to die. I will not make such a mistake again. But do we really have to take action? The other party looks really difficult to deal with. Please think it over, Master Hong," the strategist said earnestly.

Having served as a strategist for Fanjiang Village for many years, he has a keen eye and knows who to mess with and who not to mess with.

However, the new leader, who called himself Grandpa Hong, grinned and sneered, "Why don't we make a move? There's no reason to let a fat sheep fly away. Pass on my message: if we pull off this job today, everyone will have plenty of food and drink!"

With things having come to this point, the strategist had no choice but to follow orders.

But can't this old man Hong see that Chen Xuan and his group are not to be trifled with? He's not stupid; he's cultivated to the Innate Realm and endured twenty years in prison before finally seeing the light of day again.

Besides being driven by greed, he also had no other choice. At this point, if he hesitated or backed down, the two innate masters of the Chongyan Sect hidden in the ship would definitely kill him without hesitation.

Let alone the fact that his strength is no match for either of the two innate masters of the Chongyan Sect, he has no room to refuse just because of the name Chongyan Sect. Asking him to cooperate is an honor for him, so what can he do?
Yes, on the surface, the two sides are currently in a cooperative relationship. After all, Master Hong is a master of innate level, and the Chongyan Sect can't directly force or order him to do anything. They still have to give him some face on the surface.

His collaboration with the two innate masters of the Chongyan Sect was aimed at eliminating all the men on the ship. After the mission was accomplished, the Chongyan Sect promised to give him everything, including the ship and the women on it.

Hong Daye didn't know why the Chongyan Sect wanted to cooperate with him, and he had no choice. After seeing Chen Xuan's ship, he was also tempted. There were risks, but the rewards were high. He would feel he could die without regrets if he could get close to the women on the ship.

Of course, he wasn't stupid. This was clearly a case of playing with fire. How could someone whom the Chongyan Sect had to go to such lengths to ambush and deal with be simple? If things didn't look good, he would run away decisively. As long as you're alive, you can always make a comeback. Only by living can you enjoy life.

As for the people of Fanjiang Village, he never took them seriously. They were just temporarily occupying the area to enjoy themselves. If necessary, they could be used as cannon fodder. He had bigger goals. He would enjoy himself to the fullest first, and then cross the border to Rong Kingdom to rely on his cultivation to secure a future. The current situation in Rong Kingdom was perfect for someone like him to rise to prominence... (End of Chapter)