Chapter 62: Terror On The Water

Chapter 62: Terror on the Water

“Do you two wish to cross the river? There’s freshly caught river delicacies on board…” The comely boatwoman, smiling before she spoke, rowed her oars close to the shore.

Seeing the two on the bank, the boatwoman let out an “uh,” her smile freezing, as if she wanted to row away and not take these two passengers.

Zhao Changhe and Cui Yuanyang exchanged glances. Their clothes were dirty and torn, their faces smeared with mud. Cui Yuanyang’s snow-white rabbit-fur jacket was ragged, with fluff leaking out everywhere, and covered in grime—they looked no better than little beggars.

They had been trekking through the rain-soaked mountain forests for three or four days…

Having been together all this time, they might not have noticed, but to others, the wind might have carried their stench all the way to the boat.

Cui Yuanyang whispered to Zhao Changhe, “She’s disgusted by us—does that mean she’s a normal boatwoman?”

Zhao Changhe felt a wave of relief. This silly girl was actually thinking about that, not crying over being scorned. She was getting less silly, wasn’t she? But then, was she also less adorable?

Zhao Changhe studied the boat. The boatwoman hesitated, wanting to come closer but rowing slowly, while an old boatman at the helm wore a pained, tight-lipped expression, seemingly reluctant to take these two passengers.

Whether this was a normal boatwoman was hard to say, but relatively speaking, it was certainly more normal than someone overly enthusiastic. Zhao Changhe’s own experience was limited, and he couldn’t spot any issues for now, so he said, “We have to cross the river anyway. We’ll have to pick a boat.”

After a moment’s thought, he suddenly smiled. “Actually, even your father might not recognize you right now…”

Cui Yuanyang snorted, then called out loudly, “Hey, boatwoman! If you don’t come closer, how are we supposed to get on and eat those river delicacies?”

The boatwoman hesitated. “River delicacies are expensive…”

Cui Yuanyang put her hands on her hips and pulled out a silver ingot, holding it high. “I have money!”

It was a moment of triumph. The rich little girl’s money had hardly ever been put to use, and she had been waiting for this for a long time!

The boatwoman’s eyes lit up, and she rowed over with a beaming smile. “We caught a big carp today—knew there would be honored guests coming!”

Cui Yuanyang giggled. “You sure know how to talk.”

The two boarded the boat and entered the cabin, which was like a small room with a bed and a table, perfect for a family outing to enjoy a fishing trip. It seemed such activities existed in this world too. From this alone, the “chaotic times” seemed a misnomer.

But perhaps it was because they were nearing the edge of the Cui family’s sphere of influence, where things were relatively peaceful—who knew?

“Are you heading straight to the other side?” Zhao Changhe asked the boatwoman.

“Depends on the guests. If you want to cross directly, we go to the other side. If you want to go downstream, that’s fine too—as far as you like, but it’ll cost extra!” The boatwoman laughed cheerfully.

Cui Yuanyang handed over the silver. “Take us downstream to Wei County then. Is this enough?”

The boatwoman took it happily. “More than enough. I’ll go cook some fish for you.”

As the boatwoman left and the curtain fell, the two exchanged a glance, both letting out a sigh of relief.

Once they reached Wei County, they would be truly within the Cui family’s domain. Cui Yuanyang could find anyone there and be protected from all sides, and nothing would happen again.

Moreover, the closer they got to the Cui family’s territory, the safer it became. It was understandable that the Cui family hadn’t known the situation at first, but after three or four days in the mountains, even if more bounty hunters were catching the scent, the Cui family couldn’t still be unaware. As long as they had any sense, by now they would have sent out their elite in all directions, clearing the main roads to welcome their little princess, and begun a thorough investigation of the traitor within.

Of course, the area was vast, and they might not be able to rendezvous accurately or arrange things beyond their territory in time, but the closer they got, the safer it was—that was certain.

The most dangerous stretch was right now. If the boat was safe, everything would be over.

Cui Yuanyang genuinely felt it should be fine. She tilted her head, gazing out the window, waiting to eat fish. But Zhao Changhe’s nerves only grew tauter.

At times like this, one could not afford to be careless.

Dusk was falling. The sunset’s glow reflected on the river, shimmering faintly, a beautiful scene. Cui Yuanyang watched a carp leap from the water and splash back down, clapping her hands in delight. From outside the cabin came the aroma of cooked fish, and the boatwoman’s song drifted lazily. A rider passed by on the shore, hooves clattering. The wind rustled the willows, water flowed with a murmur, and other boats behind them drifted downstream leisurely.

Every sound and shadow around them flickered through his consciousness, frame by frame.

Footsteps approached.

Zhao Changhe’s hand moved to his knife hilt.

The boatwoman lifted the curtain and entered, with her trademark smile before speaking: “Guests, the fish soup is here!”

She set the soup on the table, which swayed with the boat. Cui Yuanyang leaned in to sniff. “So fresh!”

The boatwoman laughed. “There’s braised fish too. I’ll go get it—won’t disturb your soup.”

She lifted the curtain and left. Cui Yuanyang saw nothing unusual at all. Eagerly, she picked up the ladle, scooped a small spoonful, and was about to taste it.

Zhao Changhe moved like lightning, grabbing her wrist.

Cui Yuanyang looked at him, puzzled. Zhao Changhe shook his head slightly, saying nothing.

She didn’t understand but pouted, setting down the spoon without a word.

The fish soup smelled so good… If it cooled, it wouldn’t taste as nice…

As Cui Yuanyang endured her craving, after what seemed like an eternity, the boatwoman finally brought the braised fish. Seeing the untouched soup, she looked surprised. “Why haven’t you had the soup, guests? It’s almost cold.”

“Nothing, we just like it cold,” Zhao Changhe said with a smile. “Leave the braised fish to cool too.”

The boatwoman stared at him, baffled, muttering, “What strange tastes.”

She didn’t press, set down the fish with a puzzled look, and turned to leave. Cui Yuanyang still saw nothing wrong and thought Zhao Changhe was being overly suspicious. Just as she was about to speak, a flash of blade light—Zhao Changhe inexplicably lunged, slashing at the boatwoman’s tender neck.

Cui Yuanyang was dumbfounded.

What happened next made her eyes go wide.

The boatwoman twisted her lithe body, stepping lightly like a lotus, effortlessly dodging the strike from behind. She spun around and, in one fluid motion, drove a dagger straight at Cui Yuanyang’s heart.

“Bang!” Zhao Changhe’s knife blocked it horizontally, while his other hand yanked Cui Yuanyang aside. He kicked over the table, splashing the fish soup toward the door. As if on cue, the moment the soup flew out, the curtain stirred in the wind. The old boatman’s pole had shed its bamboo casing, revealing a gleaming spear that thrust straight through the doorway.

The idyllic scene of fishing songs and leisurely riverside had suddenly turned into a tiger’s den, fraught with danger at every step.

Cui Yuanyang hadn’t even adjusted to this shift in roles. Instinctively, she drew her sword and thrust a Cui family technique, “Green Waters Flowing Far,” at the boatwoman’s face.

The boatwoman giggled. “Clever, Master Zhao. And not bad swordplay, Miss Cui.”

Meanwhile, Zhao Changhe’s blade met the bamboo tip, producing a metallic clang. The spear, like a snake’s tongue, jabbed straight at his throat.

Zhao Changhe sidestepped, dodging the thrust, and clamped the spear under his arm. With a furious slash, he aimed at the boatwoman’s back of the head.

The boatwoman: “?”

Her teasing words had barely left her lips before the wind of the blade came from behind. Now she was caught between Zhao Changhe and Cui Yuanyang. She couldn’t fathom what Zhao Changhe was thinking—pinning her spear while striking sideways, leaving himself wide open. The boatman could kick him in the gut and cripple him. Was he so desperate to kill her?

Or did he value Cui Yuanyang’s safety more?

With a “thud,” the boatman indeed kicked Zhao Changhe in the abdomen. But the boatwoman failed to evade the pincer attack. She barely twisted aside, crashing through the window and diving into the river, but a deep gash had been carved across her back by Zhao Changhe’s blade. Blood bubbled up from the water—whether she was dead or alive was unknown.

As if feeling no pain from the kick, Zhao Changhe, having forced the boatwoman into the river, turned without pause and slashed at the boatman’s neck.

Seeing the boatwoman flee, the boatman released his spear, flipped backward out of the cabin, and also dove into the water, disappearing.

Only then did Zhao Changhe kneel, leaning on his knife, clutching his abdomen and gasping. That kick had indeed injured him.

Cui Yuanyang hurriedly supported him. “Brother Zhao!”

She finally called him that, but now she felt no goosebumps—only frantic worry. “How are you? I, I have medicine for internal injuries.”

“Good, I was counting on you having good medicine, which is why I chose this plan.”

“Why did you have to fight and get hurt? I, I could have handled her for a while…”

Zhao Changhe swallowed the medicine, shook his head, and gazed at the river outside the window. “Do you know why I suspected them?”

Cui Yuanyang shook her head blankly. They hadn’t shown any flaw at all.

“Because I noticed our boat was slower than the others… While they were cooking the fish, more and more boats gathered behind us. I had to take these two out as fast as possible, or we’d be trapped in the river and doomed. That’s why I risked injury—it was worth it.”

Zhao Changhe took a few breaths to regulate his qi. The Cui family’s medicine was indeed effective; the pain had faded to a mere ache. He pushed himself up with his knife. “Do you know how to row a boat?”

"There is a river at my home; I know a little of it."

"Very well, then. You row the boat toward the bank. I must plunge into the water at once, for if I do not, the two water ghosts beneath the hull will bore through it, and we shall all perish here."