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Chapter 239: Down the River
Chapter 239: Down the River
"Mount Jiuhua is not far, yet not really near."
"If we take the boat down the river, passing through Hankou, Jiujiang, and Anqing, and then head south to Chizhou Prefecture, it's less than a hundred miles to Mount Jiuhua," explained Jiang Feng.
"But if we're talking about proximity, it's over a thousand miles from Yueyang to Mount Jiuhua," he added.
Of course, Jiang Feng opted for the river route.
Three days had passed since the engagement between the Murong family and Mei's family. Huayue Nu was sent to Changsha to escort Tie Pinggu to the Palace of Moving Flowers, while Yao Yue and Lianxing accompanied Jiang Feng on their journey south.
"Going to Mount Jiuhua is actually quite convenient. After dealing with Wei Wuya, or witnessing his defeat, we can tour the Jiangnan region together." Lianxing smiled and said, "I want to visit the Confucian Temple in Jinling, admire the Qixia Mountain, and see the Leifeng Pagoda in Hangzhou, as well as the Qiantang Tide."
"There's also the picturesque Qin Huai painting boats and the exquisite pavilions in Suzhou and Hangzhou," Jiang Feng added seriously.
Yao Yue and Lianxing turned their heads simultaneously, their gazes falling on Jiang Feng, who seemed oblivious as he looked straight ahead.
Yao Yue nodded and smiled gently, "That's true. I've heard that the courtesans in those places are skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, as well as poetry and dance. It would indeed be worthwhile to appreciate their talents."
Lianxing's eyes lit up as she said in a soft voice, "And the ones who are the top-billed performers are exceptionally beautiful, gentle, and graceful. Bringing one back to warm the bed would certainly be a feast for the eyes."
Jiang Feng nodded in agreement, "Makes sense. My Jiang family has a single descendant, and I'm expected to carry on the family lineage."
Yao Yue and Lianxing exchanged glances, their cheeks flushing with a mix of embarrassment and uncertainty, unsure why Jiang Feng had brought up this topic.
Jiang Feng winked and smiled, "Of course, that Murong Yong fellow is quite lucky. But I'm sure he's overjoyed to have nine little daughters."
Realization dawned on Yao Yue and Lianxing. They remembered that Jiang Feng had attended Murong Yong's engagement ceremony and must have seen Li Dazui's sensible daughter, evoking his paternal instincts.
However...
"Doesn't Murong Yong only have eight daughters?" Yao Yue asked.
"Oh, right." Jiang Feng nodded, "But I'm certain his next child will be a daughter as well."
Intrigued, Lianxing asked, "How do you know?"
Jiang Feng replied solemnly, "Fate works in mysterious ways."
Yao Yue and Lianxing rolled their eyes simultaneously, but they felt awkward continuing this topic of conversation.
Just then, shouts and battle cries erupted from the river.
"Oh?" Jiang Feng's eyebrows arched, and he laughed aloud, "This journey is certainly not boring!"
Yao Yue couldn't help but smile. She had discovered that beneath Jiang Feng's gentle and virtuous exterior lay a playful and witty personality.
"I suppose it's because he was previously constrained by his family background and his father's strict upbringing," Yao Yue thought as she glanced at Jiang Feng.
This side of Jiang Feng, with his refined and carefree demeanor, combined with his kindness and wisdom, set him apart from the stereotypical stoic heroes. Yet, one could still sense the chivalry within his heart.
Even Yao Yue was subtly influenced by his charm, prompting her to take Tie Pinggu as a disciple of the Palace of Moving Flowers. How could she have possibly thought of sending Lianxing away in the first place?
"That fellow who claims to be the number one divine sword in the world isn't so bad after all," Yao Yue mused, knowing that Jiang Feng hadn't initially gained fame through his martial arts prowess.
As these thoughts crossed her mind, Yao Yue glanced at Lianxing, narrowing her eyes slightly.
Lianxing, however, wasn't overthinking the situation. Or perhaps she had already developed an unspoken understanding with Jiang Feng. Hearing his words, she laughed, "The commotion on the river is nothing compared to the excitement on the official road. If you want more action, we should travel by land; we'd often come across mountain bandits fighting against escorts."
The large boat displayed a banner with the character ' Duan,' suggesting it was a merchant vessel. However, the pursuers on the smaller boats brandished swords and knives, their fierce shouts echoing across the river, clearly indicating they were skilled warriors.
There were other boats on the river, but despite the desperate calls for help from those on the large boat, the surrounding vessels steered clear, afraid of getting caught in the crossfire.
Jiang Feng blinked in surprise. "Have the river bandits become so brazen?"
The old man in charge of the passenger boat replied, "The Four Dragons of Poyang Lake—Wave-Turning Dragon, Mountain-Flattening Dragon, Town-Subduing Dragon, and Plain-Leveling Dragon. Those are the followers of the Wave-Turning Dragon. Who would dare interfere in their business, risking their livelihood on this stretch of the river near Jiujiang?"
"The Four Dragons of Poyang Lake?" Jiang Feng had never heard of them. "What about the Divine-Eyed Luo Family in Jiujiang? Why haven't they eliminated these dragons?"
"Who are the Divine-Eyed Luo Family?" the old man asked.
Jiang Feng shook his head, remaining silent. There were countless martial arts sects and clans, but only a few gained infamy by ruling over rivers and lands. For instance, the average folk in Shanxi might not know about You Longsheng or the Sword-Hiding Villa, but they would surely know about the Tiger-Soaring Group of Bandits.
Jiang Feng glanced at the fleeing large boat, his eyes narrowing. "And whose boat is that?"
"It belongs to the Duan Family of Hefei, one of the major merchants in the northern region of Anhui," the old man answered.
Jiang Feng nodded. It seemed that he knew them as well. In the original novel, Duan San, the third young mistress of the Duan Family, was the daughter of Duan Hefei, who would become the family head two decades later.
Wealth accumulation in ancient times was a slower process compared to the rapid wealth creation of modern times. Most often, it took several generations of effort to build a fortune that would make one the richest person in the region.
As one of the largest financial groups in the Yangtze River Basin, the Duan Family's wealth and influence were surely built over generations, not solely by Duan Hefei himself.
Duan Hefei's original name was not Duan Hefei, of course. His family's headquarters were in Hefei, and they were the foremost financial power in the city, hence the moniker 'Duan Hefei' used by others when referring to him.
"What's the reputation of the Duan Family like?" Jiang Feng asked.
"Pretty good," the old man replied hastily. "They pay their workers well, help those in need, and distribute porridge and rice during festivals."
Yao Yue and Lianxing couldn't help but smile, as Jiang Feng had done similar deeds in the Jingzhou area.
Jiang Feng chuckled. "It's rare to find merchants with a good reputation these days."
Just then, the large boat and its pursuers drew closer. They sailed against the wind with their sails unfurled, and several boat workers had joined the rowing crew, while a few others waved for help.
"The Wave-Turning Dragon of Poyang Lake... I wonder if he's among these pursuers," Jiang Feng mused.
With a soft laugh, Jiang Feng drew his longsword and, with a light step, flew across the river's surface, landing on one of the smaller boats.
Yao Yue and Lianxing didn't just stand by and watch. They took to the skies like graceful fairies, lightly landing on two other boats.
"Step back, this is the Wave-Turning Dragon's business. Mind your own affairs..."
Before the man could finish his sentence, Jiang Feng's sword found its mark in his throat.
...
Jiang Feng showed no mercy, and neither did Yao Yue and Lianxing. In quick succession, the dozen or so skilled warriors on the three small boats met their end at the bottom of the river.
The next moment, a chubby head poked out from the stern of the large boat that had stopped upon seeing their rescuers. "I am Duan Rui. Please, heroes, come aboard and let us talk!"
(End of Chapter)
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