Chapter - 38
By Tea Time Translations
Time waits for no one, and the seasons flow like a river. It is once again midsummer, with a gentle breeze and the vitality of plants and trees. On this day, at the ancient ferry called Dayi on the outskirts of Yazhou, a ferryboat carried over a dozen passengers about to cross the river. The ferryman used a pole to push the boat away from the shore as it was about to head toward the middle of the river. Suddenly, a cry from the shore was carried by the wind: 'Boatman, wait!'
The ferryman turned around and saw four or five people approaching. They quickly arrived at the riverside, dressed in ordinary attire with dusty clothes. Among them was a slightly slim young man with a calm countenance and bright eyes, while the rest followed him closely, clearly indicating his leadership.
'Boatman, come back! Go to the opposite bank!'
One of the men shouted loudly at the ferryman, his voice booming.
Although this ancient ferry was right next to the road, it was the only way to cross from the west bank to the east bank, making it a necessary passage. However, it was quite remote, with only a few passengers. The river was vast and the current swift, so a round trip took at least half an hour. Sometimes, the ferryman could not make more than a few trips in a day. Now, seeing more passengers arriving, the ferryman's face lit up with joy. With a heavy local accent, he bowed and said, 'Honored guests, my boat is small, and this trip can accommodate at most two more passengers. It's too crowded with all of you. The water in the middle of the river is turbulent, and too many people will not be safe.'
The rest of the people all looked at the young man. He narrowed his eyes slightly and gazed at the dense opposite shore, nodding in agreement.
The ferryman discussed the fare, and then urged the passengers who had boarded the boat earlier to sit together to make room for the newcomers.
The man beside him is Yang Yun, and seven or eight days ago, he had left Usang. Taking a shorter route through the Yun Chuan region, he set out on the journey to the capital. However, this stretch of road was rugged due to the difficult terrain, with numerous mountains and bodies of water. It was an area without an established road system, leading to a slower pace. It was only today that they had arrived at this ancient ferry crossing on the way to the east bank.
The ferryman quickly bowed, expressing his humility. Once the passengers had boarded, he used a pole to push the boat away from the shore, then guided the boat along the river's current towards the opposite bank.
As they gradually approached the middle of the river, the wind picked up, and the water became increasingly turbulent. Some passengers, particularly the more timid ones, began to feel nervous. The ferryman, however, was used to this route and maintained a calm demeanor, standing barefoot at the stern, steadily guiding the boat. He shared local stories and anecdotes with the passengers, his eloquence putting them at ease. As a result, the passengers who had initially been fearful were now less anxious.
Yang Yun, who had a cautious disposition, remained vigilant and stayed close to Pei You'an. He observed their fellow passengers, noticing a young local woman towards the stern of the boat. She appeared to be in her early twenties, with fair skin. She was clutching a bundle tightly to her chest and had her eyes shut, motionless. The other passengers seemed like ordinary travelers, with no apparent cause for suspicion. Yang Yun figured that once they reached the opposite bank, the main road would gradually return to normal. Starting tomorrow, they would be able to travel on horseback, which would speed up their journey and allow them to relax. However, just as he was contemplating this, Pei You'an suddenly inquired with the ferryman about the distance to Huayang Prefecture and the most convenient route after disembarking.
The ferryman replied with a smile, "I've been operating this ferry for half my life, so you've asked the right person! After landing, simply keep heading straight for several dozen li (Chinese miles). You'll reach a three-way fork in the road. Head east for about 200 li, and you'll be in Huayang Prefecture. Are you traveling for business, sir?"
Pei You'an looked at the ferryman, gave a faint smile, and said, "Indeed. Thank you, my friend."
The boat was gradually approaching the middle of the river, swaying slightly as it was carried by the currents. The ferryman's expression turned serious, and he ceased his earlier conversations with passengers. Instead, he focused on steering the boat cautiously, using a bamboo pole. Suddenly, there was a loud "snap." The bamboo pole he was using, about as thick as a calf's leg, had snapped in two. The break was so abrupt that no one had anticipated it, not even the ferryman himself. He stood motionless at the bow of the boat, holding the two broken pieces of the pole, seemingly in shock.
The boat, now without its main prop, began to spin in the vortex at the center of the river, causing it to sway violently from side to side. Panic spread among the passengers, with the young woman screaming loudly.
Yang Yun, witnessing the situation, had already noticed a spare bamboo pole lying on the floor of the boat. He yelled, "Ferryman, don't panic! Keep going!" as he picked up the bamboo pole and handed it to the ferryman.
The ferryman finally regained his composure and rushed to take the bamboo pole. As he passed by Pei You'an, he did something unexpected. In an astonishingly swift motion, he suddenly bent over and quickly reached into his waist. He retrieved a dagger from his belt, and within a fraction of a second, the dagger was heading toward Pei You'an's neck.
Yang Yun was horrified, but he immediately realized what was happening. He shouted, "Be careful!" and threw himself forward in an attempt to intercept the attack. However, it was too late. The ferryman was standing extremely close to Pei You'an, and the strike was incredibly fast and precise. In the blink of an eye, the ferryman bent forward, and the tip of the dagger was drawn across Pei You'an's throat.
But Pei You'an had apparently anticipated the attack. His eyes flashed with a resolute glint, and he quickly leaned back, narrowly avoiding the dagger. The ferryman was too close, and he didn't have time to react further. In a surprising turn of events, Pei You'an made a sudden move, grabbing the man's wrist with five firm fingers. He then executed a swift counterattack. With a swift twist of his wrist and a gruesome sound of steel penetrating flesh, the dagger found its way into the ferryman's chest, stopping short at the hilt.
The ferryman froze, his one hand still gripping the dagger tightly. It appeared as if he had plunged the dagger into his own chest, ending his own life. He had a bewildered and terrified expression in his eyes.
As the ferryman's body stiffened, it seemed like he had impaled himself with the dagger, and he was left lifeless. The boat lurched suddenly, and the ferryman's body tilted backward. With a loud splash, he fell into the water, quickly swallowed by the current.
Everything happened in the blink of an eye. Only when the ferryman fell into the water did the passengers on the boat react. Panic and cries erupted once more, and the young woman even began to cry.
"Are you all right, sir?"
Yang Yun, who had narrowly escaped an attack, hadn't had a chance to catch his breath. He felt the boat swaying violently, almost losing his footing. When he turned around, he saw several passengers standing up in a panic. The imbalance caused the boat to tip to one side. Just as the boat was about to capsize, a whirlpool formed on the river's surface. The boat tilted to one side, and with a series of screams, four or five passengers fell into the water, struggling and calling for help.
"Keep the boat steady! I'll rescue the people!"
Pei You'an immediately shouted at Yang Yun.
Yang Yun, not as skilled in water as Pei You'an, shivered but quickly regained his composure. He grabbed the same bamboo pole he had used earlier and stood at the bow of the boat, pressing it against a protruding river rock, struggling against the strong current. Eventually, the boat began to stabilize, no longer spinning in circles. Meanwhile, Pei You'an had already jumped into the river and quickly brought the passengers who had fallen into the water back onto the boat. At last, he climbed back aboard as well.
However, a faint cry for help reached their ears, and they turned to see the young woman who had been on the same boat, earlier carried away by the water to the stern. Pei You'an hadn't noticed her, but she was lucky enough to have caught hold of a piece of rope trailing from the back of the boat. She was barely hanging on, but that was enough to prevent her from sinking. Pei You'an immediately rushed to the stern, reaching out to pull her to safety.
As he grabbed her hand, Pei You'an's eyebrows furrowed slightly, and instead of pulling her aboard, he looked at her, then suddenly released her hand. The young woman, who appeared almost lifeless moments before, suddenly showed signs of strength. She had grabbed the rope and climbed nimbly, displaying unexpected agility. As she reached the stern, she held a knife, similar to the ferryman from earlier, and lunged toward Pei You'an.
Panic erupted once more on the boat. With a barely audible "crack" of her wrist breaking, the young woman screamed in agony. She fell back into the water, her head bobbing a few times before gradually sinking beneath the surface.
The remaining passengers on the boat, who had never experienced anything so harrowing, suddenly realized their misfortune. They had unwittingly boarded a boat with criminals. Seeing Pei You'an dispatching two people without hesitation, leaving no room for mercy, their faces turned pale, and a few who were quick on their feet scrambled to their feet, begging for mercy and calling themselves innocent while trying to justify their presence.
Pei You'an knew that among the remaining people, there were no further threats. He gradually relaxed and returned to the bow of the boat, sitting down and wringing the wetness out of his clothes.
Yang Yun focused his thoughts and, aided by the current, worked hard to slowly steer the ferry to the shore. Finally, the boat touched land.
Once ashore, the passengers gathered their belongings and hastily fled, barely looking back. Yang Yun paddled back to pick up the remaining attendants, and after they were all safely aboard, he steered the boat to the bank. Upon reaching land, he saw Pei You'an standing by the river, gazing at the opposite bank with a thoughtful expression. Yang Yun recalled the multiple perilous encounters they had faced, and although they had escaped unscathed, he still felt a lingering fear. He walked over to Pei You'an.
"My lord, I've sensed that we've been followed on this journey. Today, it finally led to trouble. Fortunately, you have divine protection, and we're safe now. It's a shame that both of those attackers are dead, so we won't be able to interrogate them. Do you have any idea who might want to harm you?"
Pei You'an turned his gaze away from the riverbank and said in a calm tone, "I don't have many enemies, but I don't consider myself without any. It's hard to say for sure at the moment. It's a pity indeed. I might have used a bit too much force earlier; otherwise, we could have questioned them."
Yang Yun listened to his calm demeanor and felt relieved that Pei You'an didn't seem overly concerned about the recent assassination attempt. Yang Yun's anxiety eased, and he asked another question, "When the boatman attempted to assassinate you, it seemed like you were already prepared. How did you realize he was a threat? I noticed that he had a solid stance, but people who steer boats for years often have strong legs and a stable stance, so it didn't seem unusual to me. Thankfully, you were alert, or I would never forgive myself if something had happened to you."
Pei You'an explained, "The boatman appeared to be a local resident, with tanned skin and impeccable boat-handling skills. He looked completely ordinary. However, did you notice that his feet and lower legs had lighter skin compared to his face and arms? Why would a boatman be wearing shoes and long pants year-round? This raised suspicion, and when I questioned him about his profession, he lied."
Yang Yun expressed his admiration, saying, "I still have much to learn from you. Please guide me in the future. How about the young woman? How did you realize something was amiss with her?"
Pei You'an replied, "That was simple too. The young woman had fair skin, which indicated that she wasn't a laborer. However, she was traveling alone, which was unusual. When I grabbed her hand to pull her back onto the boat, I noticed that her hand was smooth, but there were calluses in specific areas that were consistent with someone who regularly practices with a blade or sword. That's why I concluded that she was in league with the boatman."
Yang Yun had an epiphany, saying, "I glanced at the passengers earlier but didn't pay much attention to that woman. This experience serves as a lesson. I will be more vigilant in the future."
Pei You'an advised, "Remember, when something seems unusual, it's a potential threat. This is especially true for women. In the future, you'll learn that being cautious with women is always a good practice."
Yang Yun was deeply impressed and expressed his gratitude, saying, "Your wisdom enlightens me, my lord. I will remember your advice."
Pei You'an gave a slight smile, then turned to look ahead, stating, "If my calculations are correct, His Highness should already have entered the capital. There's no need to linger here. There should be an inn ahead. Get a few horses there and stay alert on the road. Let's make haste."
Yang Yun agreed, and the group continued along the post road, walking briskly.
Chapter - 38
By Tea Time Translations
Time waits for no one, and the seasons flow like a river. It is once again midsummer, with a gentle breeze and the vitality of plants and trees. On this day, at the ancient ferry called Dayi on the outskirts of Yazhou, a ferryboat carried over a dozen passengers about to cross the river. The ferryman used a pole to push the boat away from the shore as it was about to head toward the middle of the river. Suddenly, a cry from the shore was carried by the wind: 'Boatman, wait!'
The ferryman turned around and saw four or five people approaching. They quickly arrived at the riverside, dressed in ordinary attire with dusty clothes. Among them was a slightly slim young man with a calm countenance and bright eyes, while the rest followed him closely, clearly indicating his leadership.
'Boatman, come back! Go to the opposite bank!'
One of the men shouted loudly at the ferryman, his voice booming.
Although this ancient ferry was right next to the road, it was the only way to cross from the west bank to the east bank, making it a necessary passage. However, it was quite remote, with only a few passengers. The river was vast and the current swift, so a round trip took at least half an hour. Sometimes, the ferryman could not make more than a few trips in a day. Now, seeing more passengers arriving, the ferryman's face lit up with joy. With a heavy local accent, he bowed and said, 'Honored guests, my boat is small, and this trip can accommodate at most two more passengers. It's too crowded with all of you. The water in the middle of the river is turbulent, and too many people will not be safe.'
The rest of the people all looked at the young man. He narrowed his eyes slightly and gazed at the dense opposite shore, nodding in agreement.
The ferryman discussed the fare, and then urged the passengers who had boarded the boat earlier to sit together to make room for the newcomers.
The man beside him is Yang Yun, and seven or eight days ago, he had left Usang. Taking a shorter route through the Yun Chuan region, he set out on the journey to the capital. However, this stretch of road was rugged due to the difficult terrain, with numerous mountains and bodies of water. It was an area without an established road system, leading to a slower pace. It was only today that they had arrived at this ancient ferry crossing on the way to the east bank.
The ferryman quickly bowed, expressing his humility. Once the passengers had boarded, he used a pole to push the boat away from the shore, then guided the boat along the river's current towards the opposite bank.
As they gradually approached the middle of the river, the wind picked up, and the water became increasingly turbulent. Some passengers, particularly the more timid ones, began to feel nervous. The ferryman, however, was used to this route and maintained a calm demeanor, standing barefoot at the stern, steadily guiding the boat. He shared local stories and anecdotes with the passengers, his eloquence putting them at ease. As a result, the passengers who had initially been fearful were now less anxious.
Yang Yun, who had a cautious disposition, remained vigilant and stayed close to Pei You'an. He observed their fellow passengers, noticing a young local woman towards the stern of the boat. She appeared to be in her early twenties, with fair skin. She was clutching a bundle tightly to her chest and had her eyes shut, motionless. The other passengers seemed like ordinary travelers, with no apparent cause for suspicion. Yang Yun figured that once they reached the opposite bank, the main road would gradually return to normal. Starting tomorrow, they would be able to travel on horseback, which would speed up their journey and allow them to relax. However, just as he was contemplating this, Pei You'an suddenly inquired with the ferryman about the distance to Huayang Prefecture and the most convenient route after disembarking.
The ferryman replied with a smile, "I've been operating this ferry for half my life, so you've asked the right person! After landing, simply keep heading straight for several dozen li (Chinese miles). You'll reach a three-way fork in the road. Head east for about 200 li, and you'll be in Huayang Prefecture. Are you traveling for business, sir?"
Pei You'an looked at the ferryman, gave a faint smile, and said, "Indeed. Thank you, my friend."
The boat was gradually approaching the middle of the river, swaying slightly as it was carried by the currents. The ferryman's expression turned serious, and he ceased his earlier conversations with passengers. Instead, he focused on steering the boat cautiously, using a bamboo pole. Suddenly, there was a loud "snap." The bamboo pole he was using, about as thick as a calf's leg, had snapped in two. The break was so abrupt that no one had anticipated it, not even the ferryman himself. He stood motionless at the bow of the boat, holding the two broken pieces of the pole, seemingly in shock.
The boat, now without its main prop, began to spin in the vortex at the center of the river, causing it to sway violently from side to side. Panic spread among the passengers, with the young woman screaming loudly.
Yang Yun, witnessing the situation, had already noticed a spare bamboo pole lying on the floor of the boat. He yelled, "Ferryman, don't panic! Keep going!" as he picked up the bamboo pole and handed it to the ferryman.
The ferryman finally regained his composure and rushed to take the bamboo pole. As he passed by Pei You'an, he did something unexpected. In an astonishingly swift motion, he suddenly bent over and quickly reached into his waist. He retrieved a dagger from his belt, and within a fraction of a second, the dagger was heading toward Pei You'an's neck.
Yang Yun was horrified, but he immediately realized what was happening. He shouted, "Be careful!" and threw himself forward in an attempt to intercept the attack. However, it was too late. The ferryman was standing extremely close to Pei You'an, and the strike was incredibly fast and precise. In the blink of an eye, the ferryman bent forward, and the tip of the dagger was drawn across Pei You'an's throat.
But Pei You'an had apparently anticipated the attack. His eyes flashed with a resolute glint, and he quickly leaned back, narrowly avoiding the dagger. The ferryman was too close, and he didn't have time to react further. In a surprising turn of events, Pei You'an made a sudden move, grabbing the man's wrist with five firm fingers. He then executed a swift counterattack. With a swift twist of his wrist and a gruesome sound of steel penetrating flesh, the dagger found its way into the ferryman's chest, stopping short at the hilt.
The ferryman froze, his one hand still gripping the dagger tightly. It appeared as if he had plunged the dagger into his own chest, ending his own life. He had a bewildered and terrified expression in his eyes.
As the ferryman's body stiffened, it seemed like he had impaled himself with the dagger, and he was left lifeless. The boat lurched suddenly, and the ferryman's body tilted backward. With a loud splash, he fell into the water, quickly swallowed by the current.
Everything happened in the blink of an eye. Only when the ferryman fell into the water did the passengers on the boat react. Panic and cries erupted once more, and the young woman even began to cry.
"Are you all right, sir?"
Yang Yun, who had narrowly escaped an attack, hadn't had a chance to catch his breath. He felt the boat swaying violently, almost losing his footing. When he turned around, he saw several passengers standing up in a panic. The imbalance caused the boat to tip to one side. Just as the boat was about to capsize, a whirlpool formed on the river's surface. The boat tilted to one side, and with a series of screams, four or five passengers fell into the water, struggling and calling for help.
"Keep the boat steady! I'll rescue the people!"
Pei You'an immediately shouted at Yang Yun.
Yang Yun, not as skilled in water as Pei You'an, shivered but quickly regained his composure. He grabbed the same bamboo pole he had used earlier and stood at the bow of the boat, pressing it against a protruding river rock, struggling against the strong current. Eventually, the boat began to stabilize, no longer spinning in circles. Meanwhile, Pei You'an had already jumped into the river and quickly brought the passengers who had fallen into the water back onto the boat. At last, he climbed back aboard as well.
However, a faint cry for help reached their ears, and they turned to see the young woman who had been on the same boat, earlier carried away by the water to the stern. Pei You'an hadn't noticed her, but she was lucky enough to have caught hold of a piece of rope trailing from the back of the boat. She was barely hanging on, but that was enough to prevent her from sinking. Pei You'an immediately rushed to the stern, reaching out to pull her to safety.
As he grabbed her hand, Pei You'an's eyebrows furrowed slightly, and instead of pulling her aboard, he looked at her, then suddenly released her hand. The young woman, who appeared almost lifeless moments before, suddenly showed signs of strength. She had grabbed the rope and climbed nimbly, displaying unexpected agility. As she reached the stern, she held a knife, similar to the ferryman from earlier, and lunged toward Pei You'an.
Panic erupted once more on the boat. With a barely audible "crack" of her wrist breaking, the young woman screamed in agony. She fell back into the water, her head bobbing a few times before gradually sinking beneath the surface.
The remaining passengers on the boat, who had never experienced anything so harrowing, suddenly realized their misfortune. They had unwittingly boarded a boat with criminals. Seeing Pei You'an dispatching two people without hesitation, leaving no room for mercy, their faces turned pale, and a few who were quick on their feet scrambled to their feet, begging for mercy and calling themselves innocent while trying to justify their presence.
Pei You'an knew that among the remaining people, there were no further threats. He gradually relaxed and returned to the bow of the boat, sitting down and wringing the wetness out of his clothes.
Yang Yun focused his thoughts and, aided by the current, worked hard to slowly steer the ferry to the shore. Finally, the boat touched land.
Once ashore, the passengers gathered their belongings and hastily fled, barely looking back. Yang Yun paddled back to pick up the remaining attendants, and after they were all safely aboard, he steered the boat to the bank. Upon reaching land, he saw Pei You'an standing by the river, gazing at the opposite bank with a thoughtful expression. Yang Yun recalled the multiple perilous encounters they had faced, and although they had escaped unscathed, he still felt a lingering fear. He walked over to Pei You'an.
"My lord, I've sensed that we've been followed on this journey. Today, it finally led to trouble. Fortunately, you have divine protection, and we're safe now. It's a shame that both of those attackers are dead, so we won't be able to interrogate them. Do you have any idea who might want to harm you?"
Pei You'an turned his gaze away from the riverbank and said in a calm tone, "I don't have many enemies, but I don't consider myself without any. It's hard to say for sure at the moment. It's a pity indeed. I might have used a bit too much force earlier; otherwise, we could have questioned them."
Yang Yun listened to his calm demeanor and felt relieved that Pei You'an didn't seem overly concerned about the recent assassination attempt. Yang Yun's anxiety eased, and he asked another question, "When the boatman attempted to assassinate you, it seemed like you were already prepared. How did you realize he was a threat? I noticed that he had a solid stance, but people who steer boats for years often have strong legs and a stable stance, so it didn't seem unusual to me. Thankfully, you were alert, or I would never forgive myself if something had happened to you."
Pei You'an explained, "The boatman appeared to be a local resident, with tanned skin and impeccable boat-handling skills. He looked completely ordinary. However, did you notice that his feet and lower legs had lighter skin compared to his face and arms? Why would a boatman be wearing shoes and long pants year-round? This raised suspicion, and when I questioned him about his profession, he lied."
Yang Yun expressed his admiration, saying, "I still have much to learn from you. Please guide me in the future. How about the young woman? How did you realize something was amiss with her?"
Pei You'an replied, "That was simple too. The young woman had fair skin, which indicated that she wasn't a laborer. However, she was traveling alone, which was unusual. When I grabbed her hand to pull her back onto the boat, I noticed that her hand was smooth, but there were calluses in specific areas that were consistent with someone who regularly practices with a blade or sword. That's why I concluded that she was in league with the boatman."
Yang Yun had an epiphany, saying, "I glanced at the passengers earlier but didn't pay much attention to that woman. This experience serves as a lesson. I will be more vigilant in the future."
Pei You'an advised, "Remember, when something seems unusual, it's a potential threat. This is especially true for women. In the future, you'll learn that being cautious with women is always a good practice."
Yang Yun was deeply impressed and expressed his gratitude, saying, "Your wisdom enlightens me, my lord. I will remember your advice."
Pei You'an gave a slight smile, then turned to look ahead, stating, "If my calculations are correct, His Highness should already have entered the capital. There's no need to linger here. There should be an inn ahead. Get a few horses there and stay alert on the road. Let's make haste."
Yang Yun agreed, and the group continued along the post road, walking briskly.
