Martial Arts Crossover: It All Started with Hijacking Li Canghai

Cheng Ying grew up traveling around with Huang Yaoshi since childhood, so she naturally knew nothing about Aunt Ruan's experiences in her youth. Seeing that Ruan Xingzhu still looked worried, she thought that she was worried about her safety on the way back.

She smiled and comforted her, "Aunt, you are the matriarch of the Chai family, the number one imperial merchant family in the world. This ship flies the Chai family's flag. Looking across the entire martial arts world, I haven't heard of any fool who would dare to attack a merchant ship from the Chai family, one of the four great families of the Song Dynasty. Besides, wouldn't it be a good thing if we could make friends with that highly skilled Young Master Qin on the road? If we really encounter any trouble, having more friends means having more options."

Cheng Ying's words were meant to comfort Ruan Xingzhu, but Ruan Xingzhu found them to be very insightful.

His eyes lit up. Oh yes, how could he have forgotten that!

Now I'm not too worried about Qin Han who suddenly boarded the ship. What I'm really worried about now is Dao Baifeng, that ruthless and petty woman!

Since this trip to Dali was a clandestine rendezvous with an old lover, which was considered dishonorable, he did not bring any of the Chai family's elite guards. Instead, he brought trusted confidants from the Ruan family, making the ship's defenses relatively weak.

If Dao Baifeng really sends people to intercept and kill us, the few people on the ship will probably have a hard time protecting us. If we can win over Qin Han, the situation will be completely different!

A master who can walk on the great river as if it were flat ground and easily detect Cheng Ying's spying, his strength is absolutely beyond doubt.

With his help, even if Dao Baifeng sends a master from Dali, we'll have an extra layer of protection, won't we?

Thinking of this, Ruan Xingzhu felt much less hesitant. That young master Qin seemed to be a gentleman, and if she treated him with courtesy and offered him a great deal of benefit, she thought he would not refuse.

"Yes, you're right!" Ruan Xingzhu smiled. "I was just too worried. Right now, the most uncertain factor on the ship has become our greatest asset."

He couldn't help but call out to the door, "Someone come here."

Two pretty maids immediately entered from outside the door and bowed to stand in attendance. These two were Ruan Xingzhu's personal maids, one named Xiaoyu and the other Xiaohong. They were both brought from her maternal family, the Ruan family, and were not only outstanding in appearance but also deeply trusted by her.

Ruan Xingzhu looked at the two maids before her and instructed, "That young master Qin who just boarded the ship is my honored guest. From now on, you two will personally take care of his daily needs. Remember, treat him with the highest honors and do not show the slightest negligence, understand?"

Xiaoyu and Xiaohong exchanged a glance. Having followed Ruan Xingzhu for many years, they naturally understood the deeper meaning behind the words "highest standard".

That doesn't just mean providing the best food and the most comfortable accommodations, it also includes...

By fulfilling all the guests' needs, and even some of their special requests, the lady was essentially offering them as gifts to that young master Qin.

The two maids felt no resentment or dissatisfaction with this arrangement. In this era, human life was cheap, and their fate was determined by their master.

Moreover, that young master Qin was not some old man in his seventies or eighties; he looked young and handsome. Serving such a man might not be a bad thing for them, and could even be a great opportunity.

"Yes, madam."

The two responded in unison, curtsied to Ruan Xingzhu and Cheng Ying, turned and left, walking lightly towards the room where Qin Han was staying.

soon……

"Knock knock knock".

A gentle knock on the door startled Qin Han from his meditation.

He slowly finished his practice, opened his eyes, and a glint of light flashed in them. Who would come looking for him at this moment?

"Please come in," he said.

The door was pushed open by two pretty maids.

Two pretty young girls carried in a huge wooden bath tub, followed by several maids carrying clean clothes, towels, and various toiletries.

The maid, Xiaoyu, who was in the lead, gave Qin Han a graceful curtsy: "Young Master Qin, Madam has instructed that you are a distinguished guest on the ship. We have prepared hot water for you so that you may bathe and change your clothes to relieve your fatigue."

They placed the huge bathtub in the center of the room and deftly poured buckets of steaming water into it, then sprinkled fragrant flower petals and herbs that promote blood circulation and relax muscles into the water.

Soon, the entire room was filled with a warm and fragrant steam.

After doing all this, the ordinary maids bowed and left, leaving only Xiaoyu and Xiaohong in the room.

They showed no intention of leaving, but instead walked up to Qin Han and stood on either side of him.

Xiao Hong seemed to be the bolder one, her big eyes filled with shyness and anticipation as she softly said, "Young master, may we... assist you in changing and bathing?"

Qin Han looked at the two delicate and beautiful maids in front of him, their eyes filled with undisguised invitation and expectation.

He chuckled inwardly: This Madam Ruan really knows how to win people's favors. Knowing that she is highly skilled in martial arts, she immediately offered such a generous gift. Her methods of winning people's hearts are truly simple, crude, and direct.

But...

How could I possibly let two women have the benefit?

Given Mu Wanqing's personality, she would probably follow him to Sichuan to demand an explanation. Besides, Lingjiu Palace has the four sisters Mei, Lan, Zhu, and Ju, so there's no reason for him to choose two pretty maids he's never even heard of.

She smiled slightly, but with a clear sense of distance: "No need, I'm used to doing it myself. You can leave once you've put your things down."

Xiaoyu and Xiaohong froze slightly, not expecting the man in front of them to refuse so decisively. This was the first time they had encountered a man who was unmoved by their good looks, and they stood there dumbfounded, not knowing what to do.

The two women felt disappointed and aggrieved. Was it because they weren't pretty enough?

Or perhaps, this young master... doesn't like women?

Qin Han, unaware that the two women had labeled him as someone who disliked women, glanced at them, his tone this time tinged with displeasure: "What? Aren't you leaving? Do I have to ask you to leave?"

The two women sensed Qin Han's displeasure, quickly bowed, and withdrew.

Qin Han shook his head, stood up, took off his outer clothes, and stepped into the steaming bathtub.

The warm water enveloped his body, relieving the fatigue from practicing in the Valley of the Deaf and Mute. He closed his eyes and enjoyed this rare tranquility.

Time passed slowly.

Night was falling.

The river water lapped against the bottom of the boat's side.

"Knock knock knock".

A knock on the door interrupted the rhythm of Qin and Han's cyclical movements.

"Young master, we have prepared a meal for you. May we come in now?" A familiar female voice came from outside the door. It was the maid named Xiaoyu from before.