"Boss, it's them."
In front of a roadside tea stall, Field Mouse led Scorpion and the others to where Li Fucheng's group was resting. 'Hmm... six people, all wearing straw hats and sandals. The women have good figures too, and they're clearly outsiders.
Definitely matches Third Brother's description of those hemp-clothed fools.' Nodding to himself, Scorpion turned to Dumb Ox and said, "You and Flat Cow keep watch here. I'll go report to Third Brother."
"Got it, leave it to us," Dumb Ox thumped his chest in assurance.
With another nod, Scorpion turned and melted into the crowd. About the time it takes to drink a cup of tea later, at a large estate outside town, Scorpion gave the secret passphrase and was admitted to see Chen Yuanzhou, who was in the middle of inhaling rainbow moth powder.
"Third Brother, we found the hemp-clothed ones."
"Oh?"
Chen Yuanzhou exhaled a stream of murky green qi, his face slightly flushed.
"Are you sure?"
"Six total, all wearing straw hats and sandals - just like you described."
"Good."
Chen Yuanzhou stood up, smoothing his slightly disheveled hair as he packed a pouch of grayish-white powder into his robe.
"Take me to see them."
"Right this way, sir."
Using several special contact signals, Scorpion led Chen Yuanzhou to the town market where they easily found Dumb Ox and Flat Cow still keeping watch.
"Third Brother."
The two immediately bowed when they saw Chen Yuanzhou.
"Where are they?"
Chen Yuanzhou asked. Flat Cow answered promptly, "They went into the pickle shop. Field Mouse is inside keeping eyes on them."
Nodding, Chen Yuanzhou strode directly into the pickle shop and saw Li Fucheng's group of six.
"Senior Brother, these pickles look really crisp. Let's buy some to try."
"Fine by me, they do look good."
After selecting a jar of pickles, Li Fucheng's group left the shop. Just as the shopkeeper was about to put the money in his cashbox, a voice suddenly called out, "Hold it." Startled, the shopkeeper looked up with displeasure, but his expression immediately changed to fawning respect when he saw who it was.
"Ah, Master Chen graces us with his presence! My humble apologies for not welcoming you properly!"
"Enough nonsense. Give me the copper coins those people just paid with."
The shopkeeper's heart sank, but he didn't hesitate for a second, immediately presenting the coins with both hands.
"Here they are, Master Chen. Please take them."
Casually plucking one coin from the shopkeeper's palm, Chen Yuanzhou's eyes narrowed. 'Just as I thought - Three Treasures Coins from the Huainan region.' Having confirmed his suspicion, Chen Yuanzhou tossed the coin back and glared at the shopkeeper.
"Don't tell anyone you saw me, or you know what'll happen."
With that, he turned and left. Field Mouse, who had followed him in, slapped the counter and growled, "You heard him, old man. If you breathe a word..."
He made a threatening fist gesture. Thoroughly intimidated for no clear reason, the shopkeeper kept bowing and agreeing until the two troublemakers left, at which point he finally exhaled in relief, his back soaked with sweat.
"What kind of nonsense is this..."
Back outside, Chen Yuanzhou rejoined Scorpion's group and ordered, "Find a couple men to stir up some trouble near them."
"On it!"
Scorpion nodded smartly and hurried off. Though Chen Yuanzhou was now seventy percent certain this was the same group that had encountered Gu Louqing earlier, he wanted to be absolutely sure.
Gu Louqing had mentioned there was a young woman in the group naive enough to fall for even the Night-Weeping Granny's tricks - probably a bunch of reckless fools all around.
About an incense stick's worth of time later, having nearly finished browsing the entire market, Li Fucheng's group was looking for an inn when loud arguing erupted ahead of them.
"Crash!"
"Clang!"
"Thud!"
The sounds of overturning tables and chairs and shattering dishes came one after another.
"Aiya! Master Wu! Please stop smashing things! This lowly one kowtows to you! I beg you!"
"Damn it! How dare you serve sesame paste this terrible and still run a shop? I'm doing the people of Falling Sunset Town a favor by wrecking this place! Pah! Cheating scoundrel!"
With that, Master Wu kicked over another table. The shop owner could only kowtow and beg, powerless to do anything else. Frowning at the scene as they approached, Li Fucheng saw Tang Tingshuang behind him already scowling with fury.
Were it not for the Young Master's orders to keep a low profile, she would have charged in already.
Thinking back on their journey's hardships and Tang Tingshuang's still-healing injury, Li Fucheng was about to say "Let's go" when he suddenly recalled something Brother Wang had told him: "You really think you made it safely from Huainan to the Northern River Region just on your own skills?"
At this memory, Li Fucheng abruptly said, "Tingshuang, Xiao Ni - go help them." Tang Tingshuang blinked in surprise but immediately brightened.
"Yes!"
Li Fucheng had made this decision because he wanted to confirm whether Third Uncle was truly nearby. If he was, Li Fucheng very much wanted to see him and pour out all the hardships of their journey. It had been truly difficult.
"Ruffian! Stop right there!"
Tang Tingshuang shouted as she rushed forward. Not far away, seeing Tang Tingshuang charge in, Chen Yuanzhou was completely certain this was the same group Gu Louqing had encountered earlier. Without watching further, he told Scorpion's men, "Keep watching them," then turned and left. ...
"This is an outright insult to our Yellow Gang!"
In an opulent hall, a tall, thin man roared after hearing Chen Yuanzhou's report. Beside him, Gu Louqing pondered for a moment before saying, "After already suffering consequences, they still meddle in such affairs. They must be extremely confident in their abilities."
"Hah! More like after beating our Hall Master Gu, they think our Yellow Gang has no capable men left. That's why they act so arrogantly."
Hearing this sarcastic tone, Gu Louqing immediately drew the purple copper saber at his waist and snapped at a fan-wielding man across from him, "Meng! If you've got the guts, fight me one-on-one outside! Stop with your disgusting remarks here!"
"Fight you? Who's scared of you?"
The man snapped his fan shut and stood abruptly.
"What's all this racket!"
Just as tensions peaked, a middle-aged man entered the hall calmly. At his appearance, the two near-combatants immediately turned and bowed.
"Greetings, Deputy Gang Leader."
"I heard you found them?"
Cheng Qingheng asked, glancing at Chen Yuanzhou.
"Reporting to Deputy Gang Leader - yes. A group of six, likely from Huainan. I've already sent men to investigate their background."
"How old do they appear?"
"The leader looks about sixteen or seventeen. The others similar."
Cheng Qingheng thought for a moment.
"Sixteen or seventeen, yet able to suppress Old Six? Which sect's genius disciple is this now..."
Gu Louqing's face alternated between green and purple at the words, but he dared not refute them, keeping his head lowered silently.
"Third Brother."
Hearing the deputy leader address him, Chen Yuanzhou responded promptly, "Here."
"Take me to see them. Young talents like this are rare - I should verify personally."
"Yes!"
Cheng Qingheng acted decisively, immediately having Chen Yuanzhou lead him into town. Arriving at the market, Chen Yuanzhou spotted Li Fucheng's group still present, now chatting animatedly with a white-robed young man who had joined them.
"Deputy Gang Leader, the ones in straw hats are our targets."
Cheng Qingheng nodded, looking toward Li Fucheng. At that moment, Li Fucheng happened to remove his straw hat and clasped hands toward the white-robed youth.
"I am Gu Qingyue of the Azure Cloud Sect. Many thanks for your righteous assistance earlier."
"No trouble at all! I meant to step in first, but your people beat me to it. Still, getting to meet someone like Brother Gu makes it worthwhile. Haha! I'm Zhou Guican of the Forest Wonders Sect. A pleasure to meet you all."
'Heavy Clouds Sword - Zhou Guican!? What's he doing here?' Chen Yuanzhou was stunned.
This Forest Wonders Sect disciple had been making waves recently, challenging numerous gangs in the Shan-Jin region. Now he'd somehow turned up here. While Cheng Qingheng was also surprised by Zhou Guican's name, what shocked him more was Li Fucheng's face.
'That face looks so familiar... where have I seen it before?' PS: Today we gained 3,500 recommendation votes - though not quite reaching 4,000, to thank everyone for your support, tomorrow will be three updates! And if we do hit 4,000 votes tomorrow, make that four updates!
(End of Chapter)