Chapter Twenty: Young Master Huang

On the vast deck of the great ship, only three young men stood at the bow. Each one was tall and graceful, with elegant features and an air of nobility about them.

Facing the fierce sea wind and watching as the churning waters crashed into man-high waves against the ship’s hull, Xue Shoucheng sighed, “The wind and waves are truly something. Last time we took a night boat from Jiaxing to Pinghu, we hit a rare whirlpool and almost capsized—we thought then that nature could be no more perilous. But coming to Lingnan, we’ve seen that every mountain has a higher peak. That rainstorm felt as though the Milky Way had poured down from the heavens, and day turned to night.”

Xu Kaishan, son of the governor of Yuezhou, laughed heartily. “You’re certainly a noble guest from the capital—so moved by these wild places. Unlike us rough military men, when the waves come, all we think about is staying alive.”

“My friend Xu, you’re a man of action; I’m just a man of words. How could we be the same?” Xue Shoucheng replied with a faint smile, casting a sidelong glance at another distinguished youth not far away, who was gazing intently at the distant horizon, paying them no heed.

Xu Kaishan looked around to make sure there was no one nearby, then asked quietly, “Did the Water Dragon Society manage to reach an understanding with your father, or did they get wind of something in advance?”

“It’s not about reaching an understanding,” said Xue Shoucheng lightly. “That old Lu and my father were once fellow scholars, both passed the same imperial exam, and later served in the same court. Lu simply lacked cunning, got pushed aside, acted rashly out of anger, and was demoted to Lingnan for his mistakes. Now that the Water Dragon Society has grown in power, he’s returned home in glory—such is human nature.”

Though he spoke as if it was nothing, Xu Kaishan knew that the treacheries of the imperial court were a hundred times more dangerous than the fiercest waves—especially the great storm years ago, which shook half the officials in the land.

He hesitated, then couldn’t help but say, “There’s more to it, isn’t there? I heard the Water Dragon Society’s top general, Tiger Treading the Mountain—a member of their Four Tigers and Eight Wolves—was cornered by several factions, and the elders are working hard to rescue him.”

“And what has that to do with me?” Xue Shoucheng said with feigned surprise. “My family has been scholars for generations, never involved in the underworld.”

“Heh, come on, we know each other too well for that. Didn’t your second uncle take a post in Southern Yu, set up his own stronghold, and become a legend among both the righteous and the lawless? The reputation of your family outshines any official signboard. One word from your uncle, and who would dare make a move?”

Annoyed by Xu Kaishan’s cheeky tone, Xue Shoucheng shot him a glare. “Why does everything sound so coarse when you say it? This has nothing to do with me or you, understand?”

Satisfied with the affirmation, Xu Kaishan finally fell silent. Times had changed—no longer could one rely on ruthlessness alone to survive in this wild land. With new money flowing in and the waters growing ever deeper, dealing with small fry could easily provoke powerful figures behind the scenes. Xu Kaishan’s father owed his position to the Xue family’s backing; as long as Xue Shoucheng said all was well, his father’s seat was secure—for now.

After all, his father had made enemies in the Water Dragon Society during the coastal purges; he had no wish for his family to end up like one of those ill-fated magistrates.

Seeing Xu Kaishan looking so relieved, Xue Shoucheng couldn’t resist teasing, “There may be many avenues in the court, but my family can’t cover the sky with one hand. You’re relaxing a bit too soon.”

Xu Kaishan choked, groaning, “No way—your father can’t just—”

But before he could finish, Xue Shoucheng shot him a fierce look. Such things were not to be spoken aloud, especially before the third young man.

At that moment, the youth who had been gazing at the sea finally turned, his presence as dazzling as pearls set in white jade.

To be fair, both Xu Kaishan and Xue Shoucheng were striking in their own right. The former, tall with bold brows and an open, unpretentious manner, radiated a sense of forthrightness; the latter, handsome and refined in a flowing white robe and scholar’s cap, carried himself with a scholarly grace.

Yet next to this young man, they seemed mere mortals, while he was the very embodiment of nature’s finest artistry—hands as delicate as tender shoots, skin like congealed cream, features as flawless as carved jade, and brows arched with effortless elegance, a visage that must have left many a maiden breathless.

Even the legendary beauties of old could be no more than this.

“Damn it, what’s the point of a man being so pretty? You can’t eat with a face like that,” Xu Kaishan muttered under his breath. Noting Xue Shoucheng’s subtle warmth toward this “Master Huang,” he felt a shiver and edged away. After all these years, had Xue really gone that way? No wonder he’d refused all those arranged matches—something must be wrong.

As for himself, Xu Kaishan resolved to keep his distance—he was handsome enough not to tempt fate.

Fortunately, these thoughts remained unspoken; to voice them might have cost his father’s position outright.

“Speaking of fellow scholars, I recall an amusing tale from Qingping County in Jiangning,” Master Huang’s voice was as melodious as a songbird’s; were it not for his Adam’s apple, one might have mistaken him for a woman.

“I’ve heard that one too—the runaway scholar in the Jiangning provincial exam of the fifteenth year of Delong. Truly, the world is full of wonders. Must have driven the grandmaster to tears of frustration,” Xue Shoucheng said with interest.

“‘An official’s path is like water, ever eastward, the tides of gain and loss never cease. What use is rank, when uncertainty is life’s only constant? Better to shed the shackles of fame, and be free from idle sorrow. When the time is right, bind your destiny with the clouds and seek the Isles of Immortals.’” Master Huang recited softly, then smiled. “There’s a touch of charm in that.”

“Gentlemen, the Beast Banquet is about to begin. Master Wolf invites you to the feast,” a servant announced with a bow.

At this, Xu Kaishan perked up. “Excellent! At least your Water Dragon Society has done something right for once—nothing’s more exciting than a contest of man and beast!”

Without waiting for the others, he hurried off, brimming with excitement.

“Don’t be fooled by Xu Kaishan’s rough manner. He’s careful in all he does—and a true martial arts fanatic,” Xue Shoucheng couldn’t help but say, hoping to leave a good impression in such esteemed company.

“His steps are heavy yet light, like both bear and bird. Though it seems effortless, there’s a killing intent beneath it. His boxing skills are not weak,” Master Huang said coolly, a note of pride in his voice. “He’d make a decent third-rank bodyguard in my household.”

Xue Shoucheng could only smile wryly. This one was well known for his lofty standards.

“What is this Beast Banquet about?”

“It’s a Water Dragon Society spectacle. As you know, at least half the pirates in these waters—Pearl River, Guang Sea, Qiong Sea, and the nearby ocean—are secretly backed by them. They capture ferocious beasts from distant islands, wild men, warriors from foreign lands, enemy pirates, and the like. After years of dominance in Lingnan, they’ve also taken many prisoners.”

“Do they make them fight to the death?” Master Huang’s brows rose.

“Yes. Battles to the death among warriors are rarely seen by ordinary folk. There are also brutal contests between men and beasts, and all sorts of gambling games. Supported by the Water Dragon Society, these banquets have turned this into the largest gambling den on the southeast coast. They secretly control most of the betting, and it’s rumored that each event can see tens of thousands of taels of silver change hands.”

“But such tournaments are held at most every three months. This time, it’s a special occasion for our arrival—Master Wolf is truly attentive,” Xue Shoucheng said with a knowing smile.

“I’m tired. I’ll return to rest,” said Master Huang, a flicker of disgust in his eyes as he turned away.

……

“Hurry up, hurry! Clear out the slop at once—and here, too! The higher-ups are pressing us. If the honored guests so much as catch a whiff, I’ll have your heads!”

With the shouts of Water Dragon Society overseers and the crack of whips, hundreds of ragged slaves toiled in the belly of the ship, laboring for the grand feast above. Crates of fine wine and delicacies were carried in, while heaps of garbage and scraps were hauled out in a constant flow.

“Those cursed brutes have killed a few more slave girls—drag some more people up to replace them!”

At these words, nearly all the slaves shrank back in terror, even as the whips lashed them. It was a deadly job—serving those who would soon fight to the death, man against man, man against beast.

Those combatants, to have crossed the Water Dragon Society, were surely the fiercest of the fierce, even in defeat.

The beasts, captured from distant isles, were rumored to be ten times more savage than any tiger, leopard, or wolf.

Most of all, creatures facing their last moments were always the wildest—knowing they would be forced to fight for profit, their fury and violence demanded release.

Thus, few slaves survived a single Beast Banquet.

“You, you, and you—come with me!” The head overseer stormed down, picking out a dozen at random. Any who tried to hide were struck down with a single blow, their blood soaking the floor, chilling the hearts of all.

“Do your work and you’ll get an extra share of silver. Don’t be ungrateful,” the overseer said, wiping his blade on a corpse before casting his cold gaze around. Not everyone lacked the courage.

One man stood unmoving from the start, his hair matted, his face unrecognizable. Even when singled out, he remained silent and expressionless.

“A man of courage,” the overseer nodded approvingly. Perhaps this one could become a low-ranking member—if he survived.

“Keep your wits about you. All you need to do is assist those men with washing and dressing. Our own enforcers will keep order—it won’t be truly dangerous.”

“If you do well, the Water Dragon Society won’t forget you!” The overseer gave the grimy-faced man a final look.

But the man, not a nameless slave but Kou Li himself, could only smile bitterly in his heart. He had killed too many of their henchmen—how could the Water Dragon Society ever forget him?