Chapter 497: Small Boat Moored in the Reeds in the Tight Wind

Great Liang Kingdom, Xiaqiu—

The city was built against the mountains, and the river flowed around the mountains; this was a place where many waters crisscrossed.

Just speaking of the great lakes, the Qiwa Lake, which ranked in the top six within the Great Liang Kingdom, was not far from the mountain city. There were also five great rivers—the Youshui, Lijian, Zhangshui, Ruanjiang, and Fushui—whose waves gradually merged here, and the people of the country still called the great river formed by the confluence the Youshui.

And the Youshui flowed westward without stopping, crisscrossing through the lands of several countries, until it finally merged into the vast West Crossing Sea, only then coming to a stop.

Because of the vast water area, the fish market business in Xiaqiu City was exceptionally prosperous, giving birth to fishing gangs of all sizes.

The members of each gang were all people who had practiced mortal martial arts. Not only could the experts among them fight one against ten, but it was rumored that the leaders of the two largest fishing gangs in Xiaqiu City were even cultivators who had stepped into the Heavenly Gate of the Great Dao.

They could drive talisman artifacts, use ghosts, and various fierce beasts, truly possessing fierce prestige that could not be underestimated!

They not only held onto the several river and lake water veins around Xiaqiu, thereby firmly controlling the fish market in the city, but also colluded with the officials and high-ranking officers in the county, having smoothed out all the human relationship barriers.

Since then, their status had become even more solid, and they were already a bully in the city!

In this Xiaqiu City, because of the habit of families huddling together for warmth,

anyone working in a slightly larger fishing gang was regarded by the people in the city as a proper livelihood.

As for those from the large fishing gangs, it went without saying; the thresholds of their homes had been stepped over who knows how many times by matchmakers in the city.

And today was the happy day for a famous member of the Yihu Gang.

Because the Yihu Gang was also considered a fairly large fishing gang, with the couple sending out wedding invitations widely, quite a few people came to give them face, and there were also many clerks who were familiar with the newcomer who specifically took leave to come and join in the fun, making the scene even more lively.

For a time, this old house with three entrances and three rooms was filled with the sound of gongs and drums, and laughter was endless.

The eaves were hung with red silk cotton and cypress branches to ward off evil and seek good fortune, and set against the bright red wedding couplets all around, it looked exceptionally festive.

However, because there were too many guests coming to the banquet, the house could no longer hold so many feet, and the neighbors also came to help, letting out their own small courtyards.

Even the streets on both sides were filled with tables, chairs, and benches, spread out along the street, forming a long dragon team.

And at this time, at a large reunion table, six or seven people were already sitting around, chatting while having tea and melon seeds.

Suddenly, a half-grown boy with skin tanned rough and dark, but eyes bright and spirited, turning around with a clever look, suddenly turned his head.

He seemed to have heard a familiar voice just now and hurriedly jumped off the bench.

His movements were so fast that the sun hat he was wearing on his head tilted, and he hurriedly reached out to steady it, only then barely stabilizing it.

And the boy hadn't heard wrong; sure enough, within a few breaths, a figure turned into the door.

After that person exchanged polite bows with the host who was welcoming guests in the front, he walked straight toward this place.

"Big Brother Chen!"

The boy jumped forward and shouted happily.

What caught his eyes at this time was a young man in his twenties, wearing a half-old blue cloth long gown, with a thin build and an ordinary, unremarkable appearance.

Chen Hang, who had turned into the door, smiled and nodded at the boy.

He first exchanged polite greetings with the others at the table, and only then pulled the boy over and sat together on the bench.

"I haven't seen you for a few days, and you've tanned even more. I forgot to ask yesterday at the fish market, how are those cormorants you're raising doing lately?"

Chen Hang picked up the teacup and took a sip, asking the boy.

"Big Brother Chen, don't even mention those cormorants! I was planning to raise them big so they could catch fish for me to play with, but unexpectedly, they all died together a few days ago, this—"

Hearing this, the boy became even more enthusiastic.

Once his chatterbox was opened, he couldn't stop, just pulling Chen Hang and talking non-stop.

And as Chen Hang listened, his thoughts also moved slightly, and for a time, he couldn't help but feel something.

Unknowingly, since he used magic to cover his appearance and came to this Xiaqiu City as a traveling scholar, half a year had passed in a flash.

During these six months, he had also restrained his magic power, just rising at sunrise and resting at sunset like an ordinary mortal, showing nothing unusual.

And after earning a sum of money by selling calligraphy and writing articles in the market, Chen Hang even specifically purchased a small boat.

In his spare time, he would drive the boat to travel between rivers and lakes, enjoying the wind and moon; to outsiders, it could be considered carefree and happy...

And a few months ago, when Chen Hang was rowing to a tributary of the Zhangshui outside the city, he accidentally saved a life, which was this dark-skinned boy wearing a sun hat.

The boy's name was He Chang, and he was the son of He Hui, the old leader of the Zhuxi Gang.

Although this Zhuxi Gang was also called a fishing gang and was properly registered in the Xiaqiu City Chamber of Commerce, it was actually just a few fishing families from Zhuxi Village and its surroundings gathered together, and even the gang name was directly taken from the village name.

Therefore, although He Hui was the leader of the Zhuxi Gang and the head of the entire fishing gang, his family was actually not too wealthy.

Coupled with a change in the family years ago, He Hui was even less willing to move to Xiaqiu City to settle down, just guarding the ancestral business in the village to make a living.

And a few months ago, He Chang was accidentally bitten by a poisonous insect while swimming, disrupting his breath.

If Chen Hang hadn't saved him onto the boat, I'm afraid He Chang's life would have been lost at the bottom of the water.

With this connection, He Chang naturally felt very close to Chen Hang.

And He Hui was even more grateful to

Chen Hang, repeatedly offering generous gifts in return. Although he was repeatedly politely declined, He Hui had always kept such kindness in his heart.

At this time, when He Chang finally finished speaking, his mouth was dry, and he hurriedly picked up the teacup to drink like a cow.

Suddenly, an old man with gray whiskers walked over, and without saying a few sentences, asked Chen Hang to move outside the courtyard to write a few words.

He Chang originally wanted to tell Chen Hang about his experience in raising cormorants over the past few months.

But seeing someone inviting him, he had to sheepishly close his mouth, waiting for Chen Hang to return to the table to talk in detail.

And Chen Hang usually made a living by selling calligraphy and writing articles in the market, so He Chang was not surprised by this scene.

But not long after Chen Hang left, at a nearby table, a green-skirted girl with a pretty and delicate appearance pursed her lips and quickly followed him out the door.

He Chang frowned, his brain turned a few times, and he instantly understood something in his heart.

He turned his head and looked around, as if wanting to call his father and a few friends from the same village to come forward and help.

But after looking for a long time, he didn't know where these people were, making He Chang blink repeatedly, sweating profusely.

"At a time like this, where did they go to drink horse urine again?"

He Chang knew that this situation could not be delayed, and after a moment, he couldn't bear it anymore, jumped up, and ran outside.

However, before he could catch up with Chen Hang, when passing through a dark alley, a hand suddenly reached out from inside, wanting to exert force suddenly and drag He Chang into the depths of the alley.

Suddenly encountering this change, although He Chang was startled, his reaction was not slow at all. He hurriedly twisted his waist, used a "iron bridge" kung fu, and wanted to dodge this grab.

They were all people who made a living on the water, and these fishing gang disciples usually had to learn some fist and foot kung fu for self-protection.

Not to mention He Chang's elder brother who died early; this person was a true Immortal Dao Qi-Refining cultivator who had joined the Liang Kingdom's cultivation sect, the Yuanshan Mansion, making the He family in Zhuxi Village at that time truly glorious and famous in Xiaqiu City for a while!

Although this person died miserably in a training session before he could achieve Foundation Establishment, causing his hard-earned embryonic breathing to turn into water flowing east, he still left behind some legacy.

Among them were a few martial arts classics and medicinal bath methods, which were later used on He Chang.

At this time, although He Chang dodged in time, he didn't expect the person in the alley to change moves again, flipping his wrist downward, and actually grabbed He Chang's collar, exerting force to drag him to his side.

He Chang's scalp tightened, but he couldn't break free at this time.

He simply fell forward, and at the same time, he fiercely threw a punch, hitting straight at the face of the person in the dark alley.

Bang!

A palm just happened to block He Chang's fist.

When a muffled sound came out, He Chang had the illusion of hitting thick old cowhide, and his finger bones turned slightly red.

However, the person opposite also let out a light hum, obviously He Chang's punch was not easy to deal with, at least it hurt him.

"He Chang, your kung fu hasn't improved at all over the years. Your brother was such a magnificent figure back then, a dignified Immortal Dao Qi-Refining cultivator! Why are you, his brother, as stupid as an ox?"

Just when He Chang was about to get angry, the hand grabbing his collar suddenly loosened.

Then a voice sounded in the dark alley:

"I heard that a few months ago, you were playing with the lice at the bottom of the river while swimming, and almost drowned after being bitten? Such a stupid thing, in this vast Xiaqiu City, I'm afraid only you could do it!"

"Huang Min?"

Hearing this voice, He Chang slowly lowered his fist.

But his vigilance in his heart did not decrease, and he doubted:

"Do you know about today's matter? Although your mouth is often filled with dung, you still have some backbone as a martial artist. You shouldn't be able to lure Big Brother Chen out and then beat him up in a group, right?"

"Huang Min, if you are also involved in this, then I will really look down on you!"

"Fart! My Huang family is a big clan in Xiaqiu City, don't judge a gentleman with a villain's heart!

Today's matter is just my sister acting on her own. She wants to ask Chen Hang about his intentions face to face. There are only my sister and Chen Hang, and no one else will interfere, so where would there be any group beating?"

Huang Min slapped his palm fiercely and cursed angrily:

"Just a poor scholar who makes a living by selling calligraphy and writing articles, and he's from out of town, and his appearance is extremely ordinary, not even related to the word 'handsome' at all, hard to find even if thrown into a crowd.

How many times has my sister met him? How many times have they talked?

And she wants to admire Chen Hang's character and talent and insists on asking about his intentions?

Absurd, truly ridiculous! I think that Big Brother Chen is an evil cultivator of the Demon Sect, proficient in a good hand of witchcraft, which is why my sister is obsessed with him!"

He Chang's expression was truly wonderful at this time, and he probed:

"So, Big Brother Chen was lured out just now by your sister acting on her own? And you suddenly attacked to stop me, also because you didn't want to disturb the good things of these two?"

"What do you mean by disturbing good things?"

Huang Min was anxious:

"You are really unlearned and have no skills!"

At this time, as the conversation sounded, the person in the dark alley slowly walked closer. It was a fifteen or sixteen-year-old boy wearing a fine linen long gown, who was exceptionally burly.

He glanced at He Chang, still feeling indignant in his heart, and muttered:

"I just don't understand, what is so good about that Chen Hang?

Not to mention anything else, this person is even afraid of water. We are all people of the water town, yet my sister is obsessed with this. I really can't understand."

"Don't talk nonsense!"

He Chang's expression was unkind:

"If Big Brother Chen were really afraid of water, how could he go rowing, and how could he save my life? You are really talking nonsense with your eyes open."

"If he really isn't afraid of water, why does he only play in small rivers and lakes and never go rowing in the great rivers? Before, I asked him this question in the name of buying calligraphy and paintings, and he only said that the time had not yet come."

Huang Min shook his head:

"What time has come or not?

I think this person is clearly afraid of wind and waves, which is why he acts like this. In a water town family, how could there be such a person?"

He Chang's expression stiffened at this time.

He thought carefully, and although Chen Hang loved to travel through mountains and waters, he indeed had never been to those great rivers with high winds and urgent waves.

He had also curiously asked before, but the answer he got was indeed that kind of rhetoric.

"Don't talk nonsense!"

He Chang just repeated it again.

Huang Min sneered slightly and didn't speak. After a while, he guessed that his sister should have finished saying what was in her heart, so he raised his chin to signal, and walked out of the alley one after another with He Chang.

And just as these two turned a corner, Huang Min saw his sister's eyes slightly red, just lowering her head and walking away, with Chen Hang bowing apologetically behind her.

"Don't know what's good for you, this is even better!"

Seeing this, Huang Min also knew the final result.

He was both angry and relieved, his mood truly complicated, just throwing down this sentence and turning to leave.

He Chang touched his chin, and when he walked to Chen Hang's side, he heard Chen Hang shake his head and sigh:

"To be in such a state, how could I still encounter this matter?"

"What did Big Brother Chen say?"

He Chang was puzzled.

"Nothing, it's just that I might have to go to the fishing gang to make a living later." Chen Hang smiled.

"Big Brother Chen just refused the intentions of Huang Min's sister, so the Huang family won't let you sell calligraphy and write articles in the city? How overbearing!"

He Chang was shocked and angry:

"I'll go find Huang Min and ask for an explanation!"

"It's not like that. Just now, the Huang girl also said she wanted to buy me a storefront so I wouldn't be exposed to the sun and rain, but since I have already refused the marriage, how could I accept this favor? So I used this as an excuse to withdraw the stall.

Besides, I had long intended to go to the fishing gang. Your father also knew about this. A month ago, I mentioned this to him, and the Huang family did not force me." Chen Hang said truthfully.

Refused a girl's intentions, and she still wants to buy you a shop?

Hearing this, He Chang felt as if he were in a dream and hadn't woken up.

He subconsciously stared at Chen Hang and looked at him a few times. His life-saving benefactor was clearly not handsome, just had good handwriting and a good temper.

Just like this, there were people fighting to feed him soft rice?

"If I had known this, I should have learned poetry and books back then? I wonder if I can encounter such beautiful things later..."

He Chang muttered in his heart, and then he wanted to persuade Chen Hang again.

After all, in He Chang's view, making a living on the water was a real bitter job, having to suffer from wind and waves, sun and rain; how could it be as comfortable and easy as selling calligraphy and writing articles in the city?

However, Chen Hang seemed to guess what he was thinking, patted He Chang on the shoulder, and took him forward.

"Big Brother Chen, where are we going?" He Chang asked blankly.

"We've already paid the gift money, and now the banquet should be ready. If we don't rush over now, we'll only be able to pick up some leftovers.

Those few people at the table shouldn't leave us any wine or food."

Chen Hang smiled:

"I usually don't get much money from selling calligraphy, so since I've spent it, I should eat back the cost this time."

"Alright, then I'll go fishing with Big Brother Chen from now on, but don't withdraw the stall lightly, it wouldn't hurt to try playing for two days..."

He Chang scratched his head. Seeing that Chen Hang had made up his mind, he swallowed his words back into his stomach, smiled honestly, and said:

"It is right to eat back the cost!"

And as the cold and heat alternated, two years of time passed in a flash.

This day, at the Feiyun River.

Xun Jian, who had turned into a human form, stood on the shore. He looked at Chen Hang, who was much thinner and darker on the small fishing boat, already no different from an ordinary fisherman.

Xun Jian couldn't help but twitch his eyes, not knowing what to say for a moment.

"If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, who would believe that this person is a dignified Yuchen noble son?"

He secretly slandered.

"If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, who would believe that this person is actually a dignified and noble son of Yuchen?"

He secretly slandered.