Chapter 451
Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/PazjBDkTmW
Chapter 451: The Great River Flowing Westward
The rivers and lakes of the Ming Country no longer carry the same allure they once did. With the advancement of time and the onset of the information age, the government’s control has reached every corner, ensuring prosperity for the common people. In this modern age, no one seems to care about the rivers and lakes anymore.
As for the skilled martial artists, they have adapted to the changing world. Some have become professional fighters in clubs, while others teach martial arts at national institutions across the country. The title fights in the Ming Country draw viewers from all over the world. These events feature top-tier masters competing in real, tangible action, providing far more excitement than the martial arts tournaments in Dragon Ball.
The era of knights using martial arts to break the law has passed. Similar scenes, once common, can now be seen on television. After a fighter finishes a match, they often head straight to the market, expertly bargaining with the vendors. A journalist from a lifestyle interview program might catch this moment, conducting an interview with the fighter. The footage is not blurred, and the character is introduced with a thoughtful title: “Citizen Liu, the Vegetable Shopper,” instantly revealing the chivalrous nature of a once mighty warrior now blended into everyday life.
With the gradual disintegration of martial arts sects and schools, most martial arts traditions have now become part of the national heritage. The Ming government doesn’t need to intervene—over generations, the martial arts library is steadily filled with technique manuals from various lineages, effectively uncovering the secrets of the martial arts world without much effort.
Once, life and death were decided in the rivers and lakes. Today, it’s more like, “If you want to fight, go to the arena. If you get seriously injured, don’t forget to pay for medical expenses.” The taste of the rivers and lakes in the Ming Country has undoubtedly changed. Some who refuse to be pacified relocate their sects, while other martial artists who still adhere to the belief that “martial arts are weapons for killing, no matter how beautifully dressed” seek out places where the rivers and lakes retain their original flavor.
The state of Liu, however, is becoming increasingly like those old rivers and lakes.
Although it hasn’t been completely taken over yet, the most influential power in Liu State has shifted to local clans and aristocratic families. This has transformed into private armed groups within the populace. In every city, each person plays a defined role, giving the area the appearance of a city full of geese.
Does the goose listen to the mayor? It doesn’t listen.
Across the vast expanse of Liu State, every city seems to have its own version of Huang Silang.
Leaving Yanwei City and heading directly to Longyao City from Yanzi Mountain, one crosses a river called the Small Dragon River. Once a mighty waterway that flowed for thousands of years, nourishing countless fields, the river now lies altered. After the strange phenomena caused by the fall of Jiuyin and Bi Fang, the river changed its course twice, eventually drying up. The old tributaries became the main channel, which is now called the Small Dragon River, flowing westward.
Longyao City sits at the waist of the Small Dragon River, earning its name from the river. It was once a battleground of great importance.
For those who relied on the land and water, the river’s flow was essential to transporting goods. The Small Dragon River, flanked by green mountains on both sides, is dangerous. The first half of the river is calm, but as one approaches the latter stretch, the water becomes turbulent. Without experienced boatmen familiar with the terrain, it is impossible to navigate safely. Today, water transportation between Yanzi Mountain and Longyao City is a major industry, with cargo and passenger boats regularly making the trip.
The ticket Bai Wei bought was sold by a gang known as the “Qingwu County.” They mostly handle goods transportation but also provide regular water services.
The people of Yanwei City don’t manage water transport directly; they merely collect a percentage of the profits from this route. With a monopoly in place, they have stringent requirements for selling water transport licenses quarterly. The Qingwu County Gang spent a great deal of money to acquire the necessary qualifications. Now, they make do with modest profits from repeated boat trips, as the once high earnings have dwindled.
The leader of the Qingwu County Gang is a Green Bear demon, not a human. Bai Wei, using his special ability to assess the situation, quickly identified which boat was more reliable.
Among the nine gangs involved in boat transportation, three are from the Ming Country. Two of the gangs are marked in explosive red, while one is marked with a yellow warning. In this area, the Ming Country people often deceive their fellow countrymen.
The Qingwu County Gang, however, is the only one without any warning signs. Bai Wei wasn’t entirely at ease but could tell that these people were conducting legitimate business and not attempting any shady dealings to boost their profits.
Bai Wei recalled one of the blue-flagged fleets with a woman buying tickets. There was something off about the situation. The symbol on their heads caught his eye—a pink heart-shaped exclamation mark, indicating some form of hidden agenda.
No wonder the Qingwu County Gang appeared different. They were simply a group of honest boatmen, making an honest living compared to the others, who sought extra profits. The Qingwu County Gang earned their money through hard work, not underhanded schemes.
While operating the boats, the Qingwu County Gang would often remind passengers that food would cost extra. Bai Wei had no objections; the food was average but fresh.
He allowed the snake girl to start eating first, as she was clearly hungry—Bai Wei only allowed one meal per day, keeping her alert by ensuring hunger remained.
The snake girl ate happily, but she noticed the other two didn’t seem to be eating much.
“Why aren’t you eating?” Yan Yubing asked, a hint of concern in her voice.
“Are you okay?” Bai Wei inquired.
Miss Yan simply responded, showing no tricks.
Bai Wei nodded, “It seems it’s not poisonous. Go ahead and eat.”
The snake girl paused, a tear in her eye, before replying with a soft smile.
“You’re lucky I brought you along. This was a test for poison, which proved useless. Next time, it’ll be used for blocking bullets,” Bai Wei said coldly, his tone blunt and devoid of empathy. He acted with the cold efficiency of a dog.
Yan Yubing sniffed and resumed her meal, focused on eating quickly. Whether the food was poisonous was irrelevant to her—the taste mattered most.
Chao Lu, on the other hand, wasn’t as hungry. She took a few bites and then set down her chopsticks, elegantly wiping her mouth.
“I was concerned earlier, but now it seems you made a good choice with this fleet.”
“Naturally, I did. It’s best to avoid trouble and sail smoothly.”
Bai Wei glanced at the Qingwu County Gang’s fleet, “These people know their shipping business. They aren’t ordinary folks. They must have experience in escorting goods. They likely have good connections and are well-respected. Though they may not be the best at individual combat, their teamwork is solid—like soldiers.”
“That explains their caution,” Chao Lu commented. “In Liu State, people of all sorts operate. It’s tough for escorts.”
“Indeed,” Bai Wei thought, recalling their encounters with bandits on their travels. “It’s like facing enemies and Pokémon traps—hidden dangers lurking at every corner. Your heart stops every time you hear a noise.”
On the water, however, there were no wild Pokémon to fear, nor was it common for criminals to stop ships.
The mood aboard the boat remained silent, with everyone focused on reaching Longyao City.
Bai Wei stepped onto the deck and took out a compass, its center housing a Bi Fang feather. The compass pointed firmly in one direction.
Why was Bai Wei so certain? It’s simple: two straight lines determine a point. By identifying locations on the map and comparing the compass’s direction from two places a hundred miles apart, Bai Wei drew intersecting lines. The point where they met was Longyao City, and the farther apart the points, the more accurate the reading.
He put the compass away.
Chao Lu and Yan Yubing were deep in conversation when something unusual caught the attention of a few Qingwu County Gang members aboard their fleet.
As Bai Wei was about to return to his spot, he froze and looked up. A few figures swiftly passed by overhead.
Only three people aboard the fleet noticed this sudden occurrence: the leader of the Qingwu County Gang and a senior member of the gang.
The green mountains on either side of the river connected with several cliffs along the shore. The water was dotted with visible reefs. Despite its wide expanse, measuring several hundred meters, it was still passable. By stepping on the reefs above or below the water, one could cross during the boat’s passage, creating a temporary bridge.
The Qingwu County Gang members grew nervous, fearing an attack by pirates.
Even if this wasn’t an attack, this detour was bad news. The cargo they were transporting was precious, and its value could not be overstated. It wasn’t even enough to cover the lives of the hundreds of Qingwu County Gang members. They had to ensure the safe delivery of the goods to Longyao City—no mishaps allowed.
The Green Bear leader’s expression darkened, his hair bristling as if he were possessed by a legendary warrior.
Bai Wei took a quick glance, realizing he was overthinking it—the exclamation mark hadn’t even changed color…
Wait a minute?
Exclamation mark?
Bai Wei checked again, surprised. There had definitely been no warning signs earlier. Had the version updated? Was there a new world task?
Thankfully, the exclamation mark was still white, so it wasn’t urgent, and it didn’t seem related to the person crossing the river in front of him.
It seemed the Qingwu County Gang was far from ordinary. A mere bystander’s appearance had triggered an exclamation mark. Perhaps they’d concealed it before?
Bai Wei didn’t mind being a task expert, but now wasn’t the time to complicate things. Chao Lu’s safety was paramount—her identity must remain a secret, and he should stay out of the spotlight.
The mysterious figure crossed the river, stepping on the splashing water. They leapt over a bright reef, passing above the fleet without pausing. The assistants below, armed and channeling their energy, did not react.
Bai Wei thought everything would calm down, but to his surprise, the visitor suddenly burst into laughter and pulled something from their bulging pocket, tossing it toward the main boat.
“I don’t want this treasure anymore! Don’t chase me! Whoever has the skill can take it!”
A flash of bright green light soared through the air, splitting into three parts and falling toward the people aboard.
The snake girl, still eating, held her bowl of soup when something faintly glowing and green fell into it, splashing soup onto her face.
She stared, puzzled, before biting into a piece of braised meat. Her beautiful face, dripping with soup, looked like a person who truly loved to eat.
A single line appeared on her face: What happened?
