Chapter 520: Integration

Cheng Feng did not linger long in the land of tenderness.

The sky had just brightened, and Zhao Wei was still fast asleep, one fair, white arm draped outside the silk quilt, a faint red mark left on her wrist from where he had gripped it the night before.

Cheng Feng slipped out of bed with light steps, tucked the corner of the quilt in for her, put on his clothes, and pushed the door open to leave.

The two wintersweet trees in the courtyard had shed petals all over the ground, looking like a thin layer of snow had been spread. He stepped through the courtyard, filled with the crisp fragrance of flowers, left the prefecture, and headed straight for the South City wharf.

The Hong Sect's Water Transport Gang was located on the opposite bank of a fork in the river by the wharf; several large houses with grey tiles and blue bricks stood with their backs to the water, with only a faded red lantern hanging outside the door.

To outsiders, it looked like an Ordinary warehouse, but only those in the know understood that the thirty-mile waterway south from that river fork was all under the light of this lantern.

Cheng Feng did not take the main entrance; he circled around from the small path behind the warehouse and boarded a wooden building built by the river.

This building was the Water Transport Gang's lookout post, standing much higher than its surroundings, allowing one to take in all the coming and going ships at a glance.

Before he had even gone up, he heard a steady sound of footsteps coming from above, and immediately after, a sturdy figure turned out from the corner.

Leng Feng.

He was darker than he had been half a year ago, and also leaner, his cheekbones appearing higher, yet his gaze held a bit more composure than before. He wore a dark brown short jacket with the sleeves rolled up to his forearms, and the exposed half of his arms were covered in overlapping old and new knife scars.

It seemed this water transport business really hadn't let anyone suffer less.

He was standing at the top of the stairs, just about to head down, when he looked up and saw Cheng Feng; he was stunned for a moment, then unhidden joy erupted in his eyes.

"Mas—" He had only shouted one character when Cheng Feng raised a finger to his lips and shook it, giving him a look that said "no need for formalities."

Leng Feng forcibly swallowed the "ter" that was to follow, twitched the corners of his mouth, and said in a low voice, "Cheng... when did Master Cheng return?"

"Yesterday." Cheng Feng smiled and stepped up the stairs, "Came to check on your side."

Leng Feng hurriedly stepped aside to make way, following behind him, the joy on his face impossible to hide. Having not seen him for half a year, he had a belly full of words,

but after opening his mouth, he didn't know where to start for a moment; he only rubbed his hands together and wiped off the chair upstairs for Cheng Feng.

"Sit, Master Cheng, you sit."

Cheng Feng did not stand on ceremony and sat down in the chair by the window.

Outside the window, the river surface was wide, the thin mist had not yet dispersed, and several transport ships were hoisting sails to head west; the boatmen's work chants drifted over from afar, mixed with the cries of water birds, a scene full of vitality.

The two chatted for a while first. Cheng Feng asked about some matters in the gang, and Leng Feng answered them one by one, from the number of transport ships to the wharf laborers, and then to the harvests of the various salt, iron, and grain waterways.

Cheng Feng listened very attentively, nodding from time to time.

He could see that Leng Feng had already gotten the hang of managing the Water Transport Gang; he was organized, dispatched things well, and the gang members above and below all obeyed him.

"You've done more steadily than I expected." Cheng Feng picked up a coarse pottery bowl and took a sip of tea boiled with river water, saying indifferently.

Leng Feng touched the back of his head, feeling uncharacteristically embarrassed: "It's all done according to the rules set by Master Cheng. Whoever breaks the rules, we find a place with no one around and sink them; after a few times, no one dares to cause trouble."

He said it lightly, but Cheng Feng knew how many scenes of blood and blades lay behind it.

However, the Water Transport Gang was originally meant to eat this hard meal on the water,

and if one wasn't ruthless, one couldn't sit firmly; the fact that Leng Feng could hold the fort showed he had the ability.

After chatting for another long while, Cheng Feng suddenly asked unhurriedly: "Have you encountered any trouble recently?"

Leng Feng was startled for a moment, frowning and thinking for a long time before he seemed to remember something: "There really is one matter."

He walked to the window and pointed to the west with his finger: "In that area west of the wharf, there are a few families doing silk and grain business; I don't know why, but recently they suddenly took an interest in the water transport sector.

We had a few ships of cargo coming from the north; the price had already been negotiated, but at the last minute, it was intercepted by someone.

The other party offered an extremely low price, clearly taking a loss to snatch the route.

This kind of thing would be fine once or twice, but it's happened three or four times in the last half month.

I had people go investigate, and behind it are a few families of noble descendants.

They have connections in the imperial court and can also speak in the Patrol Guard Division along the river.

Our Water Transport Gang can fight on the wharf, but when it comes to the public stage, without a solid backer, I'm afraid we'll suffer."

After listening, Cheng Feng tapped his fingers lightly on his knees twice.

Leng Feng was right; no matter how fierce the Water Transport Gang was, it was ultimately of grassroots origin.

The noble families of Heimu Prefecture had deep roots; once an official order came down, they could detain or inspect the cargo on the waterway whenever they wanted. Even if they couldn't touch your people, they could disgust you to death.

"What about the others?" Cheng Feng asked again.

Leng Feng thought about it this time and shook his head: "Nothing else. Just this one thing is a headache. The rest are all things the brothers in the gang can handle."

Cheng Feng smiled, stood up from the chair, and walked to the window to stand side by side with him.

The mist on the river had mostly dispersed, and the sun in the east had risen, illuminating the entire river until it was golden.

He squinted at the distance, as if calculating something.

"I thought it was some big deal." His tone was flat, with no discernible emotion,

"Isn't it just a few noble families wanting to take a bite out of the waterway? No need to rush. I still have time now, but this little matter doesn't count as a matter yet."

As he said this, the Blood Qi in his body flowed slowly through his meridians, like dormant flood dragons stretching their bodies in the dark.

Martial Dao internal practice had reached Organ Refining Peak,

and the second transformation of the Dragon Snake Nine Transformations meant his physical body could rival a Martial Artist of the Gang Qi Realm.

In a few more days, once the Blood Qi ground out True Qi, let alone the noble families of Heimu Prefecture,

he would have the confidence to clash with all the experts of Heimu Prefecture, both in the open and in the shadows.

He was, after all, a man who was going to the Immortal Sect.

"Master Cheng, you mean..." Leng Feng turned to look at him, seemingly sensing something.

Cheng Feng did not answer, but asked instead: "Among these few noble families, which one is the most jumpy?"

"The Qian Family. And there is also a Sun Family, which is related to the Qian Family by marriage." Leng Feng said, "The current head of the Qian Family is named Qian Xiuming, and he has a younger sister named Qian Xiu'e who has some fame in the Prefecture City. It is said that she was sent to study under some expert since she was a child and just returned this year, wielding a good Sword. Relying on this younger sister, the Qian Family has been exceptionally arrogant on the wharf recently."

"Qian Xiu'e?" Cheng Feng turned this name over in his mind,

but it left no impression.

The person he was in contact with now was the Zhennan Prince Ji Zhouyanran, an Immortal Seed and the top-choice disciple of the Immortal Sect.

Furthermore, there had been some dealings with the Heimu Family.

Beyond that, there was no one else he knew.

It is not uncommon in these parts for families like the Qian Family to send their daughters to apprentice under a master and then return to bolster the family's prestige.

The Qian Family jumping out to seize the water transport at this time was likely because they had gained some backing, wanting to encroach upon the water routes while he was away.

"Like this," Cheng Feng turned his head to look at Leng Feng, "in a few days, deliver an invitation to the Qian Family for me, saying that a neighbor invites the young lady of the Qian Family for tea. Do not use my real name."

Leng Feng's eyes lit up: "Brother Cheng, are you planning to..."

"See how the situation develops." Cheng Feng interrupted him, "They want the water routes; I will give them a much larger water route. It just depends on whether the Qian Family can handle it."

His tone was relaxed, as if he were talking about a small business deal, but having followed him for a long time, Leng Feng could hear the sharpness beneath that understatement. Cheng Feng was planning to enter the fray himself.

"What about the Sun Family?" Leng Feng asked again.

"Leave them be for now," Cheng Feng said, "When hitting a snake, strike at its seven-inch mark. Since the Qian Family is sticking their neck out, we will start by operating on the Qian Family. If the Sun Family is sensible, they will shrink back on their own."

Leng Feng nodded heavily, unable to suppress the smile on his face.

It was not that he hadn't thought of ways, but the Water Transport Gang was, at the end of the day, just a bunch of peasants.

They were not afraid of a head-on clash, but when it came to comparing foundations and surface-level connections with noble families,

he really felt powerless. Now that Cheng Feng had returned to take charge of the big picture, his confidence was suddenly bolstered.

Cheng Feng did not stay long at the Water Transport Gang. After giving his instructions, he went to take a look around the warehouse behind the cargo depot, and seeing that the goods were neatly stacked and the accounts were clear, he stopped asking about the minor details.

Finally, he patted Leng Feng on the shoulder: "Help me send a message to the old home; I will go back to visit in a while."

"About when?" Leng Feng asked.

"We'll talk once there is some progress with the Qian Family's matter." Cheng Feng said as he walked out, his silhouette stretched long by the rising sun.

"I will be at the prefecture for the next few days. If there is an emergency, come to the back door at night and knock three times."

Leng Feng followed him all the way to the old locust tree by the pier before stopping.

He opened his mouth, wanting to call out "Sect Master," but felt it wasn't solemn enough.

Cheng Feng looked back at him and laughed: "Alright, don't act like this is a life-or-death parting. Look after the place well."

Leng Feng nodded heavily, his dark face creased with a smile.

Cheng Feng did not look back, walking north along the river. The river wind was strong, blowing his robes until they fluttered wildly.

He knew that the Qian Family was just a small fry. The ones he truly needed to move against were the deeply intertwined hands behind the Qian Family. But for now, he had plenty of patience.

The three months were dwindling day by day, but he had to tidy up the matters at home one by one.

Since the Qian Family wanted to collide with him, he would use this opportunity to establish his authority. It was the perfect time to let everyone in Heimu Prefecture remember one thing again.

Don't mess with me!!!