Xie Miao’er tried hard to recall but still seemed puzzled: “No.”
Lu Huaihai said, “That day on the stairs, two people brushed past us. Their footsteps were unusual, and I paid extra attention to them. They were Japanese.”
Hearing this, Xie Miao’er was startled. “Japanese? Why would Japanese people come all the way here?”
Trusting his judgment without hesitation, Xie Miao’er believed him immediately. Lu Huaihai, who originally intended to explain further, paused and said, “It’s not that surprising. In the past two years, Japanese pirates have frequently infiltrated. Unlike mountain bandits, they operate in scattered groups—ten to several dozen people—sometimes even establishing their own strongholds.”
Xie Miao’er was already aware of this. With the chaos across the sea in the island nation, their warriors would cross the ocean to plunder and wreak havoc. Crossing the sea itself was a near-suicidal endeavor, and they never seemed to care about returning alive. They were all ruthless and ferocious, and ordinary people could hardly defend against them.
Xie Miao’er felt a twinge of unease. “Then why did they so brazenly appear at the relay station?”
“Not just there,” Lu Huaihai shook his head. “Last night, I saw those two people again on the ship.”
Xie Miao’er gasped. “How could this be? How did the boatman allow strangers of unknown origin to board?”
“They move freely and must have their own methods,” Lu Huaihai replied. “I don’t think it’s that simple. You need to be extra cautious.”
Xie Miao’er was still optimistic. “I will. But with so many people on the ship and just the two of them, even if they want to cause trouble, it won’t be that easy.”
Lu Huaihai, however, remained wary of such coincidences. He said, “During this period, I’ll have the guards pay closer attention to you.”
He himself would also remain vigilant.
Having lived a second life, Xie Miao’er cherished her life greatly. She agreed and then asked, “So, Shaoye, what are your plans now?”
“I’ll keep an eye on them,” Lu Huaihai replied.
Having witnessed the brutal methods of the Japanese pirates, he would not harbor any illusions about them. Since they went to such great lengths to hide their identities and board the merchant ship, they were definitely not here for leisure.
Xie Miao’er instinctively grabbed his sleeve but quickly released it in a panic. She said, “Alright, but you must be careful too!”
In her memory, Lu Huaihai’s trip to the capital to assume his post had been uneventful and smooth.
Was it that such minor details were not recorded in the annals of history, or had her presence already begun to alter the course of events?
No one could answer this question for her.
Xie Miao’er suddenly felt a sense of dread. She emphasized again with a more serious tone, “You must be careful.”
Lu Huaihai lowered his gaze and saw her tightly intertwined fingers. He chuckled lightly and said, “I will.”
—
The ship docked briefly at Jiaxing for half a day.
The freshwater and supplies on the ship needed replenishing. Even for those not disembarking here, everyone aboard was eager to go ashore for a bit of a break.
After being on the river for so long, stepping back onto stable ground gave one an unsteady, swaying sensation.
Xie Miao’er nearly fell face-first into the ground, but fortunately, Lu Huaihai was quick to catch her.
Being under his constant watch made Xie Miao’er feel somewhat embarrassed. “You…”
Before she could finish, she saw the two hooded Japanese men disembark as well. As they passed by, one of them seemed to glance back at them.
His eyes were like those of a hawk or a venomous snake, and Xie Miao’er immediately felt goosebumps all over.
Lu Huaihai took two unhurried steps and positioned himself beside Xie Miao’er, deliberately standing between her and the two men. As he moved, he unintentionally bumped into the taller one.
Bang! Something black fell to the ground, and with just a couple more rolls, it would have tumbled into the river.
The tall man quickly bent down, picked up the token-like object, and tucked it into his sleeve. He smiled at Lu Huaihai, who was blocking his way, and spoke in perfect official Chinese.
“Please make way.”
Lu Huaihai said nothing and moved aside to let him pass.
After they walked away, Xie Miao’er whispered, “There wasn’t a trace of an accent.”
Lu Huaihai glanced thoughtfully at their retreating figures before turning to Xie Miao’er. “Let’s go back to the ship.”
On the deck, most of the passengers had gone ashore for fresh air, leaving behind only a few sailors huddled in a corner playing Pai Gow during the docking.
Lu Huaihai gathered all the accompanying guards and instructed them to stay vigilant.
The merchant from the capital, Zhou Qilong, also stayed on board. Seeing them gathered, he walked over, puffing on a pipe as he approached. “Relax. I’ve taken this route dozens, if not a hundred times, and nothing has ever happened. Brother Lu, this must be your first time traveling far, no wonder you’re so cautious. A man should broaden his horizons.”
Lu Huaihai had no evidence of the Japanese infiltrators; otherwise, he would have reported it directly to the ship’s leader. The key issue was that the Japanese men were extremely careful, leaving no obvious traces over the past two days.
Lu Huaihai only shared this with Xie Miao’er because he knew she would trust his judgment. He had no intention of explaining it to others.
As a result, he merely glanced at Zhou Qilong and said nothing.
However, Xie Miao’er shot back, “Better safe than sorry. Even I, a young lady, understand this principle. Uncle Zhou, you’ve eaten more salt and rice than I have. How could you not know?”
Zhou Qilong didn’t bother to argue and awkwardly left.
After assigning tasks and dismissing the guards, Lu Huaihai stopped Xie Miao’er, who was about to return to her cabin. He asked her with a hint of amusement, “So, you’ve learned to retort now?”
Xie Miao’er rolled her eyes at him and replied, “That Zhou guy was clearly mocking you just now. You’re so good-tempered, not even upset about it.”
But she was upset.
Seeing this, Lu Huaihai’s lips curved slightly. “Why should I care about what others think?”
Xie Miao’er snorted. “Fine, then I won’t stand up for you next time.”
For some reason, this response seemed to amuse Lu Huaihai even more. His eyes were practically brimming with laughter, leaving Xie Miao’er utterly confused.
Soon after, however, Lu Huaihai’s expression turned serious. He took out a short blade, just slightly longer than his palm, from his sleeve and tossed it to Xie Miao’er.
“No matter how prepared I or the guards are, there will always be moments when we can’t reach you. Keep this on you,” he said solemnly. “Try it.”
Xie Miao’er calmed herself, gripping the handle as she unsheathed the blade. Its cold light glinted, and her palms began to sweat—she had never even held a kitchen knife before.
She curiously ran her fingers along the leather-wrapped handle. “Is it really that dangerous?”
Lu Huaihai idly spun the sheath in his hand. “Better safe than sorry.”
After saying that, he used the sheath as a prop to demonstrate a few techniques to her.
Xie Miao’er was always a quick learner. Seeing this, Lu Huaihai’s gaze held a trace of approval, and he proceeded to teach her a few more moves.
“Use finesse, not brute force,” he instructed.
“Be ruthless.”
Lu Hong saw what was happening and eagerly joined in. However, unlike Xie Miao’er, she couldn’t grasp the techniques as quickly, hitting her own hand multiple times in the process.
She didn’t dare bother Lu Huaihai, so instead, she clung to Xie Miao’er, begging her to teach her.
Taking advantage of the situation, Xie Miao’er slipped away with Lu Hong as fast as she could.
Her retreating figure practically screamed “avoid at all costs.” This time, Lu Huaihai finally sensed something was amiss.
Since when had she stopped being so attached to him?
—
After leaving Jiaxing, the merchant ship resumed its journey.
To accommodate the needs of canal transport, the Grand Canal was excavated to an impressive width. Standing at the ship’s railings, one could almost lose sight of the opposite bank. Even the largest ships seemed insignificant in these waters.
This particular section of the canal was even more so, as it connected rivers and lakes. The banks were broad, and the current was swift. By the time night fell and the fishing lights began to flicker, the area around the large merchant ships was teeming with countless small cargo boats, creating a scene far livelier than the docks on shore.
Ahead lay the confluence of the river and lake, where the waters grew treacherous. The helmsmen braced themselves, their synchronized calls echoing loudly as they prepared for the challenging navigation.
And then, calamity struck.
In the wind and waves, a number of seemingly unremarkable small boats clung tightly to the sides of the large merchant ship. Like vines in a rainforest silently climbing a towering tree, they began their relentless assault.
In the shadowed corners, blood seeped into the cabin walls.
A tall, thin man slipped into the wheelhouse and, with a single stroke, slit the throat of the ship’s captain.
Dusk fell, casting the world into a hazy blur of shadow and light.
The merchant ship came to a halt on what seemed like a deceptively calm stretch of water.
The storm raged on, and blazing flames reflected off the river’s surface, only to be snuffed out moments later by the torrential downpour. In the chaos, pairs of Japanese warriors worked in tandem, scaling the ship quickly using ropes thrown from the deck.
The vivid red of blood soon spread across the wheelhouse.
The sound of blades clashing began to rise.
Cold, curved blades pierced through chests. Cries of struggle and calls for help echoed one after another. The deck trembled beneath the frantic steps of panicked passengers, some of whom, driven to despair, leaped into the river.
The sails flapped uncontrollably in the wild wind, the storm intensifying with each passing moment.
By the time the rain stopped, dawn had broken.
In the face of overwhelming adversity, as Japanese blades swung toward them, the travelers—brought together by desperation and unified under the guidance of a steadfast leader—fought back with all their might, carving a path to survival amidst the bloodshed.
Sensing the tide turning against them, the small group of Japanese pirates abandoned their prey, leaping into the river and vanishing like mud sinking into the sea.
In the aftermath, the surviving travelers and sailors were overcome with mixed emotions. Some wept with joy at their survival, while others mourned the fallen. Exhausted beyond measure, Lu Huaihai, however, did not allow himself to linger in any particular emotion. He turned immediately toward the stern cabins.
The women, grouped in threes and fours, had taken shelter there. Xie Miao’er was no exception.
She must have been frightened. She needed to be comforted, Lu Huaihai thought.
But when he stepped through the cabin door, he was greeted by the sight of the two guards who were supposed to protect her lying dead on the floor.
The heat of his blood surged upward, only to turn ice-cold in an instant.