I had no intention of entering the martial world.

Chapter 22 Nighttime Investigation of the Raging Waves

At midnight, Jiangling City was as quiet as a giant tomb.

Lu Chenzhou avoided the main street and chose to walk through the alleys. The moonlight was very faint, mostly obscured by thick clouds, with only a few pale rays of light leaking through the gaps in the clouds, shining on the bluestone pavement like a thin layer of frost.

His footsteps were light. Two years of arduous training on Zhongnan Mountain had not only honed his swordsmanship but also his ability to walk in the dark. As Lu Jinghong once said, a true assassin is not one who is ruthless when killing, but one who can approach without even a gust of wind.

Jingtao Warehouse was near the South Street Wharf, about three miles from the镖局 (bodyguard agency). Lu Chenzhou walked quickly, but his mind worked even faster.

It's almost certain that Shen Xingyao is connected to the Jingtao Society. Her father, Shen Sihai, is the chief镖头 (bodyguard) of the Sihai镖局 (escort agency), a well-known figure in Jiangnan. It would be unrealistic to say that he has no connection with the underworld.

The question is, to what extent has this relationship progressed?

Cooperation? Exploitation? Or... are they all one entity at the very end?

And then there's Yingtang. Why would a Jin Dynasty spy organization appear in Jiangling? Why would they contact Jingtao? What were they trading?

And most importantly—what does all of this have to do with the Azure Destiny Sword?

Lu Chenzhou touched the jade pendant in his pocket. It had returned to its cool state, like an ordinary piece of jade pressed against his chest. But the faint pulse remained, like the breathing of some creature in its slumber.

The Azure Sword was guiding him. Or rather, it was using him.

Lu Jinghong once said that sword energy possesses a spirit and chooses its master. But Lu Chenzhou now increasingly suspects—it wasn't that he chose the sword energy, but that the sword energy chose him. Like a shrewd hunter, selecting the most suitable prey, and then guiding it step by step, until…

Until what?

He didn't know. Nor did he want to know.

He only needed one answer: the truth about his parents' deaths and the name of his enemy.

Everything else can be put on hold.

---

We've arrived at the dock.

The dock at night was a stark contrast to its daytime bustle. Large and small boats were moored on the river, their dark forms resembling sleeping giants. Waves lapped against the boats and the embankment, producing a monotonous splashing sound. A few dilapidated lanterns hung from the pillars of the pier, swaying in the river breeze and casting a dim, flickering glow.

Jingtao Warehouse was located on the west side of the dock, an inconspicuous two-story brick building with mottled exterior walls weathered by the river wind and covered with dark green moss. It looked ordinary during the day, but at this moment, Lu Chenzhou could sense that someone was inside.

more than one.

He hid behind the wooden crates piled up at the dock and observed carefully.

The warehouse doors were tightly shut, but a faint light shone from the windows on the first floor—not the light of candles or oil lamps, but dimmer and more flickering, like… a luminous pearl?

There was no one guarding the entrance, but Lu Chenzhou saw that there was a person crouching in the shadows on both sides of the warehouse.

Hidden sentry.

He waited patiently. After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the warehouse door opened a crack, and a figure darted out, looked around, and then quickly walked eastward—the direction back to the city.

The opportunity is here.

Lu Chenzhou moved like a shadow, silently approaching the warehouse, brushing against the shadows of the wooden crates and piles of goods. He chose a tricky route—cutting in from the back corner of the warehouse, right next to the river embankment, a place most people wouldn't notice.

On the back wall, there was a small ventilation window, positioned quite high, about ten feet off the ground. Lu Chenzhou estimated the distance, took a few steps back, took a deep breath, and pushed off with his foot—

His body shot out like an arrow, stomped twice on the wall, and his right hand was already gripping the edge of the air vent.

The movements were clean and swift, without making a sound.

The vent was sealed with wooden strips, but due to its age, the wood had rotted. With a little effort, Lu Chenzhou broke the strips. He squeezed in sideways, his knees slightly bent as he landed to absorb all the impact.

It was very dark inside, filled with a strange atmosphere. Lu Chenzhou held his breath, adjusted to the darkness, and then began to observe.

This was a cluttered room, filled with broken fishing nets, rotten wooden crates, and rusty ironware. At the other end of the room was a door, through which a faint light shone and the sounds of people could be heard.

Lu Chenzhou tiptoed over and pressed his ear against the door to listen.

"...This shipment can't be delayed any longer. They're pressing us hard over there."

It was a man's voice, hoarse, with a northern accent.

People in the shadow hall.

"What's the rush? The waterways are blocked, and the land routes are being monitored. Sending them out now would be suicide."

Another voice, younger, with a local Gangneung accent.

"Then what do you suggest we do? Our master can't wait any longer. If we drag this out any longer, we'll all lose our heads."

There was silence for a moment.

"Three days," the young voice said. "Give me three days, and I'll forge a new path."

"Three days is too long. Two days at most."

"...Okay, two days it is. But the price will increase by 30%."

"you!"

"What? You're not happy about it? Then figure out how to get it out yourself."

Another silence followed.

"...Deal." The hoarse voice gritted its teeth. "But if it can't be shipped out in two days, you know the consequences."

"Don't worry. I, 'Crossing the River Dragon,' have been in Jiangling for so many years and have never failed."

A dragon crossing the river?

Lu Chenzhou's heart skipped a beat. He had heard of this name before—the biggest smuggling boss in the Jiangling area, with connections in both the legitimate and criminal worlds, and it was said that even the government had to give him some face.

So he was the leader of the Shocking Waves Society?

No, that's not right. Crossing the River Dragon is a smuggler, but the Surging Waves Society... sounds more like a江湖 (jianghu, a term referring to a criminal organization or underworld group) organization.

"Where is the goods?" the hoarse voice asked.

"An underground chamber. Follow me."

Footsteps sounded, leading them deeper into the area.

Lu Chenzhou waited until the footsteps faded into the distance before gently pushing open the door.

Outside the door was a narrow corridor with rough brick walls and a few oil lamps hanging there, their flames flickering in the draft. At the end of the corridor was a staircase leading underground.

He went down the stairs.

The further down you go, the more humid the air becomes, and the stronger the musty smell gets. The stairs are made of wood, and they creak slightly when you step on them. Lu Chenzhou steps on the very edge of each step to minimize the noise.

Once down to the basement, the view suddenly opened up before me.

It was a large space, as if several rooms had been combined. A dozen oil lamps illuminated the walls, making it as bright as day. The floor was piled high with wooden crates of various sizes, some open, revealing their contents—

Weapons. Armor. Firearms.

There were even a few small cannons.

Lu Chenzhou's pupils contracted.

This is not ordinary smuggling; it's an arms deal.

Did the ceremonial hall come from the Jin Dynasty to purchase military supplies from the Southern Song Dynasty? And were these military supplies destined for the Jin Dynasty?

This is treason and collusion with the enemy.

He hid behind the pile of goods and continued to observe.

Two people were standing in the center of the basement.

One was dressed in black, his face covered with a black cloth, only his eyes showing—he was from the shadows. The other was a man in his forties, not tall but very strong, wearing a silk robe, with a bunch of keys hanging from his waist, and a scar on his face running from the corner of his eye to the corner of his mouth, like a centipede crawling on his face.

A dragon crossing the river.

"The goods are all here." Guo Jianglong patted a wooden box next to him. "Thirty sets of infantry armor, fifty divine crossbows, one hundred horse-slaying swords, and twenty boxes of gunpowder. They are all good stuff from the Military Equipment Bureau, guaranteed to be exactly the same as what the Imperial Guards use."

The people in the shadow hall lifted a wooden box, picked up a horse-slaying sword, looked at it, flicked the blade with their fingers, and nodded in satisfaction.

"Good. I've brought the money; it's on the ship. Tomorrow night, cash on delivery."

"Tomorrow won't work." Guo Jianglong shook his head. "The city defense department is checking very closely, and they've added three extra patrols at the docks tonight. The day after tomorrow, at midnight, the usual place."

The people at the cinema frowned, but didn't object: "Okay. The day after tomorrow then."

The two exchanged a few more words, and then the people from the shadow hall turned and left. Guo Jianglong watched him go up the stairs, then breathed a sigh of relief, took out a small wine flask from his pocket, and took a swig.

"Damn it, dealing with these northern barbarians is a sure way to shorten my lifespan."

He muttered something to himself, then turned and walked towards the other end of the basement.

There was an iron gate with a huge brass lock on it. The man from across the river took out his key, unlocked the gate, and pushed it open.

Lu Chenzhou waited a few moments to make sure no one was outside before emerging from behind the pile of goods and silently approaching the iron gate.

The door was ajar, letting in even brighter light.

He turned sideways and peered through the crack in the door.

Inside was a small room, furnished like a study. There was a desk, two chairs, a bookshelf, and a calligraphy scroll on the wall that read "Still waters run deep."

The outlaw sat at his desk, flipping through an account book. After a few pages, he suddenly stopped and took something out of the drawer—

A jade pendant.