Chapter 600

Thud!

The wooden crate landed, making the square table creak and sway.

"Owner, two bowls of meat sauce noodles, add twelve copper coins' worth of braised meat, five copper coins' worth of noodles."

"Coming right up!" The owner beneath the sunshade sprang up swiftly, flung his towel, and glanced up. "Oh? Sir, back from your lake cruise?"

Liang Qu raised an eyebrow: "You remember me?"

"How could I forget? I'm good at remembering faces like yours—tall and imposing. Even if you didn't come for four or five days, I'd spot you at a glance. Even after ten or more years, I could tell my grandson: 'A few days ago, I heard the official say he went boating on Peng Ze. How was it?'"

"Not bad. A land rich in treasures, populated by gifted individuals." Liang Qu pulled a small ingot from his pocket, pinched it between his fingers, shaping it like modeling clay. "In a few days, I found the Twenty Jiaoren, met General Yuan. The Twenty Jiaoren are shy, and General Yuan has a foul temper—a grumpy old lecher who only likes beautiful women."

Splash.

He scooped up noodles with chopsticks, tapped the strainer lightly against the pot to drain the water.

The owner's movements flowed like clouds and water; hearing the words, he assumed Liang Qu was joking and smiled.

"Sir, since you met General Yuan, is it true he carries a great island ten miles across?"

"Exaggerated. Not that big, but still sizable."

"Are there immortals on the mountain?"

"No. Just a bunch of golden-furred monkeys."

"Then they must be spiritual monkeys, sir. Your noodles are ready."

A steaming bowl of meat sauce noodles arrived. Liang Qu pulled out his chopsticks and ate heartily.

Good fortune lifts the spirit.

Apples and pears may fill the belly, but nothing compares to the comfort of a hot bowl of meat sauce noodles.

One bowl to settle the hunger, then refreshed, he mixed a second bowl, and only then found time to chat with the owner, listening to tales from all corners of the land.

From the gang wars at the dock three years ago, to which family had a lovely daughter sparking fights among men—some even broke their legs—stories told like storytelling, laughter never ceasing.

The noodles weren't exceptional, but the lively atmosphere made them delightful.

At last.

"Owner, I'm in high spirits today. Here's a little trinket for your grandson to wear."

Liang Qu flipped his palm, gently pressing down a hard object.

The owner stared closely.

There, shimmering silver, was a tiny turtle!

"Brother Long Binglin, you mustn't! This is already the third gift—you're spending too much. I feel ashamed to accept. Please take it back!"

"Brother Brother Quan Linghan, don't be so formal. We'll live side by side on the Jianghuai. There's plenty of time ahead. We're neighbors, our clans close. This small gift can't match our bond."

The Twenty Jiaoren tribe.

Brother Quan Brother Quan Linghan's face twisted in anguish as he watched Long Long Binglin dispatch river dolphins to hand out books and trinkets to every tribe member.

Since the night before last, after Long Long Binglin's first gift-giving, the young Twenty Jiaoren's resistance had spiraled out of control.

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One gift, closed.

Can't take it back.

Absolutely can't take it back.

Not just those who hid or refused to surrender.

Some books were openly handed in, perfectly intact, not even a crease.

But when opened, each had missing or torn pages—the binding had been undone and reassembled.

Comparing them, the missing parts were patched together into new books—ingenious, impossible to guard against.

Brother Quan Brother Quan Linghan had no idea his tribe's youth were so skilled—when had they learned bookbinding on their own?

Patrols reported that for the past three nights, Twenty Jiaoren homes always glowed with jellyfish lanterns.

The light went out when someone passed, then relit after they left.

In the morning, they woke sluggish, drowsy, exhausted.

Not a spark of youthful vigor remained.

Most critically, discontent within the tribe grew louder—rhymes mocking their journey to Jianghuai had already been composed.

In despair.

A young Twenty Jiaoren boy suddenly leapt from the line collecting gifts.

"Lord Long, the books you sent two days ago were all seized by the clan chief's men!"

The crowd murmured.

Brother Quan Brother Quan Linghan cursed inwardly.

Which brat is this!

Seeing Long Long Binglin's gaze, he hurried to explain.

"Actually, actually..."

"Ah, no need to explain." Long Long Binglin patted his shoulder. "Brother Brother Quan Linghan, if you really like them, just say so. Why steal from the young ones?"

"Lord Long speaks truly..."

Long Long Binglin reached into the crate, sifted through, pulled out two hardcover illustrated books, and shoved them into Brother Quan Brother Quan Linghan's arms.

"This one, 'Silver Vase Osmanthus,' complete set, deluxe edition with Master Lü's illustrations—I give it to you, Brother Quan Linghan! Keep reading, it never grows old." "..."

He chatted with Brother Quan Brother Quan Linghan for half an hour, confirmed the young Twenty Jiaoren had time to tamper with the books, then led the river dolphins away.

Watching the figures vanish.

Brother Quan Brother Quan Linghan's face darkened. He gave a command. Patrols surged out to re-collect all books and picture scrolls.

Half a minute later.

The books returned to the crate—visibly shorter than when they arrived.

"Hmm..."

A long, weary sigh.

Brother Quan Brother Quan Linghan returned to his tent, desolate.

Moments later.

Brother Quan Brother Quan Guangqin and Brother Quan Brother Quan Yuxuan requested an audience.

"Enter."

The two pulled back the curtain.

Brother Quan Brother Quan Linghan stood in the center, polishing a long weapon, his steel fork gleaming coldly.

"What do you want?"

They locked eyes.

Brother Quan Brother Quan Guangqin said: "Chieftain, today's situation—blocking is worse than guiding."

Brother Quan Brother Quan Linghan paused, his gaze unreadable.

"Brother Quan Guangqin, Brother Quan Yuxuan—I thought you two wouldn't join the others in this foolishness. How could you..."

Brother Quan Brother Quan Guangqin. Brother Quan Brother Quan Yuxuan.

The most outstanding youths in the tribe.

Hardworking, diligent, intelligent.

Especially Brother Quan Brother Quan Guangqin—he'd nearly been groomed as his successor.

"Chieftain, don't rush..."

They immediately recounted their "secret allegiance"—their journey to the Jianghuai marshes and ashore.

"To Jianghuai?"

"Yes. The dragon folk have waterways spanning east to west. Brother Quan Yuxuan and I went ashore and saw—dialects utterly different."

Brother Quan Brother Quan Yuxuan added: "After going ashore, we observed closely. Lord Liang has a reputation for righteousness; the people revere him deeply..."

"His righteousness has nothing to do with us Twenty Jiaoren!" Brother Quan Brother Quan Linghan's fins trembled, his fork pointing outside the tent. "Qiu Police Inspector of Huayan County, orphaned and impoverished in youth, had villagers pool their silver just to fund his journey to the capital for the imperial exams. He never forgot his roots—he built bridges, repaired roads, honored elders, and aided the poor. A famed virtuous official. But his wife adored Twenty Jiaoren tears, and heard they sparkled most beautifully when shed—so he captured Twenty Jiaoren, ripped off their tail scales alive, tortured them, leaving them bloody and scarred! When my uncle stormed his home and slew his wife and children in revenge, this 'virtuous official' cried out, 'I alone am guilty! Let me die in their place!' I saw it with my own eyes!"

This official, though risen to power, never forgot his hometown—he repaired bridges, paved roads, honored the elderly, and pitied the poor, renowned far and wide as a virtuous magistrate. But because his wife cherished Twenty Jiaoren tears, and heard they glistened most brilliantly when shed, he captured Twenty Jiaoren, tore out their tail scales alive, torturing them until their bodies were streaked with blood and covered in wounds.

He stopped Brother Quan Brother Quan Yuxuan, gathered his thoughts, and explained: "Chieftain, you misunderstand. Our point isn't that we trust Lord Liang because of his righteous reputation."

Brother Quan Brother Quan Linghan realized his emotions had flared. He laid down his fork.

"What then?"

"Whether or not Lord Liang's reputation is public, as long as it exists, our tribe won't just be able to go to Jianghuai—we can go with thunderous fanfare."

Brother Quan Brother Quan Linghan didn't understand.

Brother Quan Brother Quan Guangqin continued: "We simply announce to the people of Yixiang and Pingyang Prefecture that Lord Liang personally invited us, promising to protect our tribe, and that our people, moved by his benevolence, have come to join him. We make it known far and wide, loud and clear—this becomes a shared covenant. If any misfortune befalls our tribe later, we can advance or retreat as needed."

"Because no matter the reason, it will always be Lord Liang who broke his promise first."

"His actions will expose his hypocrisy, trap him in injustice, and turn his own reputation into our shield."

"Even if other reasons arise, we can prove Lord Liang lacks the power to protect us—allowing our tribe to come and go freely, unimpeded by the dragon folk."

At that time, we need only proclaim to the people of Yixiang Township and even Pingyang Prefecture that it was Lord Liang himself who personally invited them, promising to protect the Jiao people, and moved by his benevolence, the clan came to seek his refuge.

If we stir up public awareness beforehand, making it a topic of widespread discussion, it becomes a shared covenant. Should any unforeseen event arise later, we can either press forward or retreat with advantage.

For no matter the reason, it will always be Lord Liang who broke his promise first.

It was Lord Liang's doing—this exposes his hypocrisy, traps him in moral injustice, and turns his own reputation into our shield.

Even if other reasons arise, they still prove Lord Liang lacks the power to protect us, allowing our clan to come and go freely, with no interference from the Dragon people.

Brother Quan Brother Quan Yuxuan agreed: "Elder, even if we grant the worst-case scenario, if Lord Liang truly means no harm and possesses protective power, why not move the entire clan and exchange what we have?"

The situation overrides human will—we cannot flee, cannot retreat, the clan is divided; we must decide soon!"

Brother Quan Brother Quan Linghan fell silent.

Long silence.

"Let me think… let me think…"

Brother Quan Brother Quan Guangqin and Brother Quan Brother Quan Yuxuan did not disturb him, slipping quietly out of the tent.