Chapter 236 - 167: Unwilling
...instead of choosing three young masters from Noble Families who reeked of alcohol and had no sense of priority.
Young masters from Noble Families like that had no sense of the situation. Drinking at a time like this... if they were to encounter real danger on the road, they would surely become a liability.
After selecting the three guards, the convoy set out once more.
After leaving Sanshui County and heading northeast, they soon arrived at the ferry crossing.
The area was already locked down by the Guard Army. Everyone passing through had to undergo an inspection. Ordinary merchants were treated leniently, but any Martial Artist caught without the proper documents would be arrested on the spot.
The only fate awaiting them was conscription into the army.
Of course, Fang Yue and his group had nothing to fear. With their official documents from the Observatory, they were ushered onto an official ship, which was even large enough for their three carriages. By noon, the massive warship was parting the waves, sailing toward the vast, misty expanse of the river.
Meanwhile, in a dense forest not far from the docks...
Xue Bing gritted his teeth, his gaze turning colder and colder as he watched the massive warship sail into the distance.
"You imbecile! You failed to get selected, so now we have no idea what the Observatory is up to. If you jeopardize our lord's grand plan, how will you answer for it?"
Just then, a man in black suddenly appeared before Xue Bing.
The man's presence was no different from that of an ordinary person; it was even fainter than Xue Bing's.
But the fact that he dared to speak to Xue Bing in such a manner proved he was anything but ordinary.
"Rest assured, Upper Envoy," Xue Bing said with a confident smirk. "Although I wasn't selected, one of the three who were is my man. The people from the Observatory won't get away."
"Hmph. Good. Keep an eye on them, but do not act rashly for the time being."
The man in black nodded, then turned and vanished.
As he watched the man in black disappear, Xue Bing's gaze shifted back to the warship, now just a black speck on the horizon. A cruel, cold smile crept onto his lips.
~~~~~~
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「Five days after leaving Shanyang Prefecture.」
The massive warship continued its voyage along the wide river. It moved at incredible speed, cutting through the waves as it headed northeast.
With nothing much to do these past few days, Fang Yue had fashioned two fishing rods. During his leisure time, he would fish off the side of the ship. After all, besides practicing his martial arts, there was precious little to do on the ship. Fishing was a perfect way to pass the time.
'This river is so wide it seems boundless, almost like the ocean. I guess this is my chance to experience sea fishing, in a way!'
Fang Yue cast his line, sending the bait into the water, and waited for a bite.
He had to admit, fishing on the ship was quite a pleasant pastime.
'Something's on the hook.' A faint smile touched Fang Yue's lips as he pulled up his rod. A silvery fish leaped from the water's surface.
The fish was two feet long, its body a translucent, snow-white color, like a piece of sparkling jade.
As if knowing its life hung by a thread, it struggled desperately to break free from the line.
But Fang Yue had no intention of letting go. He simply kept a firm grip, steadily reeling it in.
But Fang Yue was an expert fisherman. That, combined with his astonishing strength and fine control, meant the Silver Fish's struggles were short-lived. It soon went still.
'Hmm, not bad. This is a nice-looking fish. I wonder what kind it is.' Fang Yue smiled, about to toss the fish into his basket.
Just then, an aged voice spoke up from nearby.
"Heh heh. Young friend, that's a fine fish you have there. Name your price. This old man will buy it."
Fang Yue paused. He turned to see an old man with a white beard and hair standing nearby. The man's hands were clasped behind his back, and he projected an air of calm indifference.
The old man was dressed in fine black robes. He had a full head of silver hair, a powerful and well-built frame, and a chiseled face. He was clearly no ordinary person.
He strode over to Fang Yue's side, his eyes glittering as he looked at the Silver Fish in Fang Yue's hand.
"Not for sale," Fang Yue replied with a faint smile.
"Oh? Not for sale?" The old man's smile widened. "Young friend, you have no idea how much silver I am willing to offer."
Fang Yue simply smiled again, paying the old man no mind. He glanced at his fishing rod before asking lazily:
"Sir, what kind of fish is this? And how much silver are you offering?"
The old man frowned at Fang Yue's attitude. He was a Martial Artist himself—a Martial Master who had reached the Qi Sensing realm, no less. Moreover, he was a Fifth-Grade official. The number of people who sought his favor on a daily basis was endless.
He would have simply ignored anyone else and walked away by now.
But this young man had caught a Spirit Fish, a creature whose flesh was beneficial even to Martial Masters.
Of course, more importantly, it was also delicious. A craving had suddenly struck him,
and he wanted to have a taste.
This was only happening because they were on a ship. Anywhere else, he wouldn't have come to purchase it himself.
He would only need to reveal his identity, and someone would have presented the fish to him on a platter.
"This is a Silver Thread Spirit Fish. It is a fine tonic and an exquisite delicacy. I will give you one thousand taels of silver, and you will have a favor from me,"
the old man said. A man of his status naturally disdained lying, so he revealed the fish's name and properties outright.
He had also made a generous offer.
In truth, while a Silver Thread Spirit Fish was rare, its market price was only around five hundred taels.
Offering double the price was a clear sign of his sincerity.
But Fang Yue, as if he hadn't heard a word, just shook his head. "Sorry, I don't need the money."
"Oh? In that case, I won't impose. I just hope you won't regret this later, young friend. Do you have any idea what kind of opportunity you just passed up?" The old man chuckled and shook his head. A favor from someone of his standing...
...was worth far more than mere silver.
"Oh, I'm aware."
Fang Yue gave a slight smile and turned back to his fishing.
Seeing this, the old man could only shake his head and walk away.
At that moment, a Military Officer wearing the robes of a sixth-grade official emerged from the cabin and came face-to-face with the old man in black.
"You are... Lord Chen? I never imagined I would meet you here! Please, accept my respects!"
The official hastily bowed with cupped hands, his face a mask of awe.
Witnessing this, the other people on deck realized the old man was no simple character.
After all, anyone who could command such respect from a sixth-grade military officer had to be a person of great power and status.
They couldn't help but think that a favor from such a man was likely worth far more than one thousand taels of silver.
Some of them glanced involuntarily at the Silver Fish in Fang Yue's basket, their eyes burning with eagerness. They all wished they had been the one to catch that Spirit Fish.
If it weren't for the presence of the Official Army on the government vessel, some of them might have already tried to take it by force.
The old man smiled faintly at his words and gestured with his right hand. "Commander Liu, no need for such formalities. Where might you be headed?"
"Oh, I am on my way to Denglai City to assume my new post as the Vice Commander of the Navy."
Denglai City was the ship's next port of call.
And while Denglai City wasn't a Prefecture City, it was the second-largest city in the region.
Tens of thousands of Navy troops were stationed there, under orders to blockade the river—a crucial defensive line against the Rebel Army from Shanyang Prefecture.
"I see. This is an important assignment. Your responsibilities are great, so you must be diligent," the old man said with a nod and a smile.
"Thank you for your concern, Lord Chen," Commander Liu hastily replied.
"Very well. I will take my leave. We can catch up properly once we arrive in Denglai City," the old man said with a faint smile.
"Yes, Lord Chen!" Commander Liu bowed deeply, watching respectfully as the old man in black departed.
Once the old man was gone, the smile vanished from Commander Liu's face. He strode right up to Fang Yue and said in a cold voice, "Kid, I'll take that fish. The market price is five hundred taels. Sell it to me."
'Since Lord Chen wants this Spirit Fish, of course I have to find a way to get it for him.'
With that said, Commander Liu reached for the Silver Thread Spirit Fish.
"Hold on. You want this fish?" Fang Yue asked, looking at Commander Liu with amusement.
"What's the matter? You refuse?" Commander Liu snorted.
"That's right. Of course I refuse."