Chapter 522: The Dark River

Xiao Wazi's hand rested on the ladder, but he did not lift it. In the darkness, the two figures seemed to pause for a moment.

After an inexplicable silence, Second Locust's voice said, "Careful not to make a sound. Don't bang the Fire Seed Jar."

Xiao Wazi replied, "Understood, Second Chief."

After speaking, Xiao Wazi first turned his head to face Second Locust, then used both hands to forcefully lift the ladder and immediately spun around, swinging the ladder toward Second Locust's side.

Second Locust stepped back, and Xiao Wazi leaned the ladder against the outer wall. Second Locust crouched down, placing his sword on the floor; the blade struck the stone slab with a sharp clang.

"Xiao Wazi, you get on the wall first. Hand the Tung Oil up to you. I'll bring the Forage."

Xiao Wazi answered, first picking up his Cloud Ladder Blade from the ground. His left foot stepped onto the ladder, and the bamboo ladder emitted a faint creaking sound.

In the darkness, neither could clearly see the other's expression. Xiao Wazi moved very slowly. Once the bamboo ladder was steady, he waited another moment before stepping up with his other foot.

A clamor came from outside. Looking out from the dim alley, torchlight flickered beyond, and forceful commands sounded from time to time. Both stopped moving, listening as the sound of that troop of soldiers moved north and faded into the distance.

Second Locust's voice came from below, "The dog officials' troops still have an ambush. We need to light the fire faster."

Xiao Wazi bit his Cloud Ladder Blade between his teeth and climbed another step, his whole body now on the bamboo ladder. His hands had to grip the sides of the ladder tightly. Just then, he heard Second Locust say, "I'm passing the Tung Oil up. Catch it well."

Xiao Wazi answered, hearing the wooden bucket scrape against the ground below. Then came Second Locust's strained grunt. Relying on his blurry vision, Xiao Wazi extended his hand downward.

His hand touched the cold handle of the wooden bucket. Xiao Wazi gripped it with effort, his other hand tightly grasping the ladder frame. The bamboo ladder creaked loudly. The bucket of Tung Oil was very heavy; holding it while standing on the ladder, Xiao Wazi could barely move.

At that very moment, a burst of fireworks suddenly exploded in the sky, flooding the dark alley with light.

Their pupils, adjusted to the darkness, contracted simultaneously. In Xiao Wazi's field of vision, Second Locust's eyes blazed with ferocity. A short blade in his hand reflected the fireworks' light, stabbing straight toward Xiao Wazi's waist.

Xiao Wazi on the bamboo ladder had no way to shift his position. He could only twist his waist violently. A cold sensation spread across his waist. In his panic, the Cloud Ladder Blade clenched in his teeth fell. Xiao Wazi hurled the oil bucket in Second Locust's direction; the heavy wooden bucket came crashing down through the air.

Second Locust instinctively dodged. Seizing this opening, Xiao Wazi jumped down from the right side of the bamboo ladder.

A muffled thud sounded as the wooden bucket smashed onto the two bundles of Forage. The sound of Tung Oil splashing echoed through the alley.

Xiao Wazi landed with a stagger. Second Locust's figure was already lunging at him. Xiao Wazi yanked the lower part of the bamboo ladder, causing it to topple instantly. Second Locust's legs struck the ladder, immediately slowing him down.

Xiao Wazi stumbled and scrambled to the other side of the alley. Second Locust closed in again in hot pursuit.

A flash of blade light swept by. Second Locust retreated a step. The clothes on his chest were torn, and blood slowly appeared.

Xiao Wazi held a short blade in his hand, his chest heaving continuously. The wound on his waist bled profusely, blood pooling continuously beneath him.

The fireworks in the sky reached their peak. In the flickering light, Second Locust looked down at the wound on his chest, extended a finger to dab a bit of blood, and licked it from his mouth before saying in a low voice, "So you had two blades prepared as well."

Xiao Wazi gasped for breath without answering. Second Locust spat a mouthful of bloody saliva onto the ground and slowly approached again. Xiao Wazi's face twisted in pain. One hand pressed against the wound on his waist as he leaned against the wall to stand, his short blade still pointed at Second Locust.

Suddenly, several commands sounded from outside, and the sound of footsteps rushed from the direction of the military camp toward them.

Xiao Wazi immediately lowered his stance. Second Locust halted his steps, momentarily hesitating.

In moments, soldiers appeared outside. Carrying torches, they swept past the alley entrance. Second Locust stared at Xiao Wazi, hesitating.

Faint screams came from the distance. Second Locust's expression shifted for a moment, and finally, he too crouched down on the ground. The fireworks in the sky gradually dimmed, and darkness once again shrouded the deep alley.

That team of Anqing soldiers was maneuvering outside the Xiazongyang granary, the soldiers' torches passing by the alley entrance one after another.

Light and shadow swept alternately from left to right across the deep alley. The two men's fierce faces flickered between light and dark with the shifting light, glaring viciously at each other across the Forage on the ground.

Xiao Wazi, pressing his wound, said softly, "Second Chief, what benefits did the officials promise you?"

Second Locust narrowed his eyes at Xiao Wazi. "Eight Master surrendered to the officials without asking for benefits. I don't care for them either."

"The officials can give you a few taels of military stipend silver, but you can't kill people or rob money. What pleasure is there for you?"

"I surrendered to the officials, but I can still kill and rob with Eight Master. When I don't feel like killing anymore, I'll return to the officials and even get an official post."

"It was the officials who wanted you back for this beheading business. Too bad you couldn't find Yu Baodao's silver, or you could have run off."

Second Locust glanced back at the alley entrance. "You've tailed me three times in total. You wanted the silver too, didn't you? Did you really think I didn't know you were following me? Harboring ill intent toward your own gang leader—whether I surrendered to the officials today or not, I was going to take your head."

The pool of blood beneath Xiao Wazi was still spreading. Clutching his wound tightly, he sneered twice. "What use is the head of a mere Team Leader like me? You've sided with the officials, but you still don't dare go after Master Liu. When will you ever grow some guts?"

The corner of Second Locust's mouth twitched. "Someone will naturally take Master Liu's, and it'll be counted under my name too. Your head is just a bonus, to keep it from going back and spouting nonsense, so I can continue following Eight Master. I told you, whether killing is fun depends on who you're killing. The most enjoyable are the ones you know well."

By now, the Government Troops outside had gone far. In the darkness, Second Locust slowly rose and approached. Suddenly, a sharp crack rang out, and sparks flew from the ground. Before Second Locust could react, a blaze of light filled his vision as a flame roared up from the Tung Oil-soaked Forage.

Second Locust's vision was filled with white afterimages from the flash of flame. In his panic, he recoiled sharply. A short blade whooshed through the flames, flying at him. Second Locust grunted as the short blade sliced across the left side of his neck, taking a strip of flesh with it.

Enraged, Second Locust swung his blade wildly. The Forage was knocked flying to the edge of the alley, crashing against the wall and scattering sparks. Xiao Wazi's retreating figure was sprinting toward the other end of the alley. Second Locust gave chase from behind.

Xiao Wazi fled along the streets of Hongshazhou toward Riverbank Street. Second Locust pursued swiftly from behind. Neither of them shouted.

A trail of blood droplets fell behind Xiao Wazi as he stumbled onto Riverbank Street, only stopping when he reached the riverbank.

On both sides of the riverbank at Wharf, torches flickered everywhere. Shouts of killing and screams rose all around. Downstream on the river, a glow of lantern light was speeding toward Wharf—likely the officials' Scout Boats. Judging by the Scout Boats' direction, they were heading for the Grain Transport Ships docked across the way. Clearly, the Government Troops had scouted this out long ago.

Second Locust's voice came from behind. "Xiao Wazi, you can't swim. Jumping in means death either way. Just let this old master take your head for a bit of amusement. It wouldn't be unworthy of our long brotherhood."

Xiao Wazi stood alone on the riverbank, clutching his waist. He looked back at the pursuing Second Locust and, after a moment, said, "I'm not giving my head to anyone."

With that, his body fell backward. Second Locust watched Xiao Wazi disappear over the riverbank's edge, followed by a massive splash of white water erupting into the air.

Second Locust rushed to the riverbank, only to see a trail in the water swimming toward the river's center.

"Second Locust has turned official!"

A loud shout from Xiao Wazi came from the water. The shout echoed across the River Channel, blending into the surrounding clamor of killing and chaos.

Second Locust's face was pale. He stared blankly at that trail in the water, his cheek twitching uncontrollably. In mere moments, only ripples remained on the dark river surface. Xiao Wazi's trace was gone.

……

There were indistinct shouts on the River Channel, but Wang Dashan couldn't make out what was being shouted. He crouched on the deck of a Grain Transport Ship anchored across from Wharf, his body trembling as he looked downstream. A chain of lantern lights on the calm river channel was heading straight for their position.

He could now clearly make out the foremost Scout Boat. The Water Camp soldiers on its deck were using long bamboo poles to hold up lanterns, inspecting the river surface along the way.

On this Grain Transport Ship, there were only two Team Leaders with their Servants. The other Team Leaders and the gang leader had all gone ashore with Master Liu. On the opposite bank at Wharf, torch and lantern lights flickered everywhere, and occasionally the glint of swinging blades could be seen.

Anyone could see that Master Liu had fallen into an ambush by the Government Troops; otherwise, soldiers wouldn't be appearing everywhere at night.

Beside him, Xu Zhu was breathing rapidly, gripping his Short-Handled Axe with both hands and muttering incessantly under his breath.

Seeing this, Wang Dashan instinctively reached for the short blade placed on the deck. Before he could touch the handle, Xu Zhu grabbed his hand. Wang Dashan jumped in fright. When he looked up, Xu Zhu said, "Wang Dashan, we've known each other a long time. I've treated you well. If we fall into the water soon, my swimming is poor—you have to help me out."

Wang Dashan breathed a sigh of relief. Just as he was about to nod, a sudden boom thundered. The ship's hull shook violently and began to rock. Both men were scared out of their wits. Wang Dashan grabbed the gunwale and turned to look, only to see a Scout Boat, coming from who knows where, had rammed straight into them.

A sharp whistle sounded from that side. Several torches flew onto the deck, and then five figures leaped aboard. The two Team Leaders shouted and swung their blades to strike. The deck instantly erupted in panicked screams. Wang Dashan hunched over, his mouth agape, staring at the shadowy figures fighting.

Outside the boat came the continuous sound of bodies hitting the water. The hired sailors, with no one guarding them, leaped into the river one after another. Several Servants who could swim also jumped in after them. Wang Dashan stretched out his hand blankly, not knowing what he meant to do. From the deck behind him came a miserable scream.

He did not know who had been struck by a blade, but Xu Zhu had already shouted once and flipped over the gunwale. Wang Dashan had no time to think further; he did not even have time to pick up his Short Blade before he followed, jumping into the river.

An icy chill enveloped his whole body. Wang Dashan held his breath, paddled a few times underwater, and his head naturally bobbed to the surface.

His field of vision was filled with splashing water. Wang Dashan wiped a hand across his face and saw people paddling away in all directions, fleeing for their lives.

He quickly determined Xu Zhu's position. Xu Zhu was thrashing at the water, white spray flying up around him.

Xu Zhu was swimming toward the center of the river. Since they were fleeing for their lives right now, and Wang Dashan had no idea where to go either, he followed behind Xu Zhu. He swam much faster than Xu Zhu, and in a moment he reached the position right behind him.

After swimming this stretch, Xu Zhu's arm strokes slowed. His face was tilted high above the water's surface; it was clear his skill in the water was not practiced, but he should be able to reach the opposite bank. Wang Dashan followed behind him, his eyes fixed intently on the back of Xu Zhu's head.

The chaotic River Channel was full of swimming people. Downstream, lanterns waved above the river's surface, and from the riverbanks rose shouts of killing that shook the heavens.

Wang Dashan drove his arms forward with two fierce strokes, closing in from behind on Xu Zhu, who was swimming with all his might, head tilted upward.