Becoming a god starts with one certificate becoming eternal.

Chapter 93 I promise I'll never do it again

The night wind at the inland river dock was colder than at the Starry Night Hall.

The wheels rolled over the bluestone, heading east along the main canal of the lower city, the dampness growing heavier with each step. The lights on both sides were squeezed into a line, and the signs of warehouses, brokerage firms, and taverns swayed in the mist.

Turning into the waterway, the view suddenly opens up.

The water was dark and murky, the lights flickering and swaying along the shore. This was the inner river dock of the lower town, also known as the river wharf. It wasn't a large port with open water, but rather a section of unloading dock dug along the town's waterways, yet it sustained half of the lower town.

The revetment was built of stone slabs, the edges of which were polished to a shine by ropes. The mooring posts were wrapped with knots, and the walkway stretched from the shore to the water. The moss was slippery, and the porters left watermarks with every step they took.

The flat-bottomed cargo boats were moored side by side, their gunwales touching. Sacks, wooden crates, and oil paper packages were piled on the decks; the smell of sweat landed on the ground before the goods.

The dock never sleeps.

Business by day, rules by night.

It's even more lively now.

As soon as Ye Xiao's car stopped, some people on the shore pretended not to see him, but kept their ears perked up. The shopkeeper at the entrance of the warehouse smiled with his arms crossed, but his smile was full of scrutiny; several porters in short jackets squatted by the steps smoking, but their eyes were fixed on the way they came.

Yan Quan jumped out of the car and whispered, "Master, there are a lot of people tonight."

"The more people, the better," Ye Xiao said calmly as he got out of the car.

He looked up at the main canal.

A boat had just docked on the water, and before the bow was even properly secured, two groups of people on the shore were already reaching out to receive the cargo.

One was a warehouse worker, and the other had a black rope tag tied to his arm. He was quick and strong, as if he wanted to drag the box away directly.

The corner of the box hit the stone bank with a dull thud.

The footsteps around immediately slowed down, and the air seemed to tighten slightly.

Yan Quan was about to step forward when Ye Xiao raised his hand and stopped him.

Ye Xiao didn't rush over; he first glanced at the mooring post on the shore.

Before leaving, Yan Quan showed him the dock's accounts for the past two weeks, the disputes, and several "potentially dangerous spots." He also specifically reminded him to tie the boat ropes according to the rules set in the hall, and not to leave the rope ends too long, lest someone take advantage of the chaos to pull them, causing the boat to tilt, people to fall, and causing trouble or even death.

But now, on that mooring post, the knot is tied tightly, but the end of the rope is left long.

This is not negligence; it's more like a provocation.

At the entrance of the passageway, a man in gray sleeves squeezed through and whispered, "According to the rules, this guy should be put into the warehouse and registered first, but they rushed to drag him away first—this is the third time today."

1

Yan Quan's face darkened.

Ye Xiao simply nodded, as if he had expected it.

Behind him, the silent Wild Wolf stood like a shadow. At this moment, Wild Wolf took half a step closer, his voice extremely low, just enough for him to hear: "Master, those who are tied with black ropes are from the Blackwater Gang."

"His name is Gao Qing, he is the vice leader of the Blackwater Gang, and he is close to the Black Feather Hall."

Ye Xiao's eyes remained unchanged, but he had already figured out the purpose of the visit.

Xu Chongshan is a member of the Black Feather Hall.

They don't steal goods, they just use them to cause trouble. Once chaos breaks out, the rules can't be maintained.

He stepped down the path.

The moss was slippery, but his steps were steady. When he reached the box, he didn't rush to speak, but simply placed his hand on the lid and pressed down gently.

It's not heavy, yet it brings both sides to a stop simultaneously.

The shore fell silent instantly.

All eyes turned to them, some probing, some curious, some gloating, and some waiting to see them make a fool of themselves.

Ye Xiao raised his eyes, his tone flat: "Whose goods?"

The warehouse manager immediately squeezed out, his face beaming, "Master, this, this is all a misunderstanding. We operate according to the rules. We were just worried about the goods getting wet, so we thought of—"

Before he could finish speaking, Gao Qing suddenly chuckled softly. His voice wasn't loud, but it sent chills down one's spine.

"The new leader of the Green Owl Gang," he said slowly. "Haven't shown his face for half a month, and now he's thinking about the docks?"

I just don't know if your physique can handle the rules here.

As soon as he finished speaking, he flipped his wrist.

Instead of pulling the box towards himself, he used the slippery, damp rocky bank to propel it towards the entrance of the path.

The crate slipped and headed straight for the wet, slippery walkway. If it really went up there, the porters would shove it, the boat would tilt, people would fall, and the dock would be in chaos; in chaos, the rules would fall apart.

People around immediately gasped.

Yan Quan's expression changed and he was about to pounce, but he found it was too late.

Ye Xiao touched the moss with his toes, leaned forward, and without making any big movements, pressed down with his palm as the box slid to his side.

"Thump!"

The box exploded with a muffled thud, coming to a sudden stop as if it had hit an anvil, without even bouncing back.

next moment.

"puff."

Ye Xiao swallowed hard and spat out a mouthful of blood, which was blown away by the wind and turned into dark red.

He looked up, his gaze still cold, but his voice even more indifferent than before: "Trying to test me with a human life? You've got some nerve."

Gao Qing looked at the smear of blood, a slight smile playing on his lips: "His strength is indeed formidable, just as rumored. However—the debt to Burning Blood hasn't been settled yet."

Ye Xiao didn't respond to that question. He simply removed his hand from the box lid and turned to the warehouse manager: "Who does your warehouse rely on for its livelihood?"

The shopkeeper was taken aback: "Of course—we make our living from the docks."

"Who's in charge of the dock now?" Ye Xiao continued to ask.

The shopkeeper's Adam's apple bobbed, and his smile froze even more: "Star... Star Hall—"

Ye Xiao nodded, tapping the lid of the box lightly with his fingertip: "Then let's follow the rules of Xingchen Hall. First, the goods will be stored in the warehouse and registered, then unloaded. From now on, anyone who dares to break the rules will be considered to have stolen the goods."

"Yan Quan".

"Your subordinate is here."

"Seal this entrance to the trail for half an hour," Ye Xiao said calmly. "Let them see clearly that rules are not just words or decorations; they can really take away your livelihood."

The shopkeeper's face turned pale: "Master! This—this will ruin my entire shipment!"

"I'll ruin your entire cargo shipment, and teach you a lesson you won't forget." Ye Xiao didn't even look at him. "If you still can't tell who's in charge at this dock, I'll make sure your warehouse can never open for business again."

The surroundings were even quieter.

Gao Qing stared at Ye Xiao for a moment, as if weighing his options. Finally, he slowly released his grip, took a half step back, his smile unchanged but now cold: "The rules of the Star Hall—I've remembered them."

Ye Xiao didn't respond, but only looked up at the river. His voice wasn't loud, but it was like a nail driven into the dock: "From tonight onwards, the inland river docks will be operated according to Xingchen Hall's rules."

"Anyone who dares to cause trouble again will be dealt with according to the rules."

"seal up!"

Yan Quan clasped his hands in a fist salute and then began to give orders, which his men immediately put into action.

The two ends of the passageway were sealed off, a rope was pulled, a wooden sign was hung, and half an hour passed.

The porters were taken aback at first, then became agitated. The boatmen from several boats peered out, while the warehouse clerks' faces turned pale and then red. They wanted to shout but dared not, and could only stand there holding their breath.

The shopkeeper's smile completely crumbled.

He had initially thought Ye Xiao was just there to make an appearance and put on a show, and that his harsh words were merely meant to intimidate. But when the entrance to the road was sealed off, he realized—this was for real.

If a ship can't unload its cargo while docked, the cargo can't be stored in the warehouse, and if it can't be stored, it can't be cleared from inventory. Making a living at the dock is never a one-person job.

This letter, taken half an hour, has resulted in a significant loss.

What's even more problematic is that during this half hour, people who have lost money always need to find a place to vent their anger.

They dared not hate Ye Xiao.

That anger could only be directed at him!

The shopkeeper felt a chill run down his spine, his legs went weak, and he hurriedly squeezed in front of Ye Xiao, his voice trembling: "Master—Master, I was so foolish! I—I promise I'll never do it again! Please don't shut it down, please don't shut it down!"

Ye Xiao didn't even lift his eyelids, only saying calmly, "Are you afraid of losing out?"

The shopkeeper was stunned, his lips turning white.

Ye Xiao's tone remained calm: "If you're afraid of losing money, then remember the rules. If you want to do business here, first figure out who's in charge of this inland river dock."

After saying that, he turned and left without saying another word.

The shore was even quieter.

Gao Qing stood in the shadows of the embankment, staring at Ye Xiao's retreating figure for a moment before finally not approaching. The smile remained, but it had hardened with coldness, and then he too left.

The shopkeeper was filled with resentment and hatred. He had spoken kindly at first, but when things went wrong, he didn't care and left the mess for the shopkeeper to handle!

But who can he hate?

I can only blame myself for being blind and choosing the wrong side.

Ye Xiao didn't turn around when he got into the car, only saying, "This place is yours. Release me in half an hour. Anyone who dares to break the rules, I'll remember their face and their name."

Yan Quan stiffened, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and whispered, "Understood, subordinate!"

Ye Xiao casually wiped the blood from his lips and said to Huang Lang, "You drive the car and stop near the mine ditch outside the North Gate. You don't need to follow us."

The wolf immediately replied, "Yes."

The carriage turned around, its wheels rolling over the bluestone, and the mist carrying the lamplight retreated.