After landing, Xia Yun and the other boarded a ship and headed for a dense, dark forest where someone was waiting to receive them.
Chi You, frightened, clutched Xia Yun’s sleeve and surveyed the gloomy surroundings. The place was eerie, filled with gnarled trees whose canopy blocked out the sun, and the ground was a tangle of roots and thorns, making it difficult to navigate. Sparse moonlight filtered through the branches, casting a faint, cold glow on the group.
After Xia Yun paid the silver, he pulled Chi You along, following the reception party as they hurried through the woods. Chi You was too weak to keep up and stumbled along, her ankle getting cut by the undergrowth, drawing blood. Cold sweat broke out on her face from the pain.
Noticing her distress, Xia Yun turned to her. “What’s wrong?”
Chi You shook her head. “Nothing.”
Xia Yun peered at her closely in the moonlight and saw her injured ankle. He frowned. “Come on, I’ll carry you.” He patted his shoulder and crouched down.
Chi You looked at the people moving ahead and quickly grabbed him. “No need, Brother Ah Yun, let’s hurry.”
“What are you waiting for? Hurry up, we have to cross the river before the hour of the ox,” a voice boomed from ahead.
Xia Yun scooped Chi You onto his back and quickly followed. “I’ll carry you, faster.”
Seeing this, Chi You could only rest on his back, daring not to speak. The thick foliage completely obscured their surroundings; they could barely make out the path ahead. Strange insect chirps filled the air.
After a long trek, crossing rocks, rivers, and traversing misty mountains, they stopped as the moonlight began to fade. A turbulent underground river appeared before them.
“Boss, this batch has arrived,” two men waited by the river, and a middle-aged man covered in sweat rash sat in a boat.
Chi You dismounted Xia Yun’s back and looked around. The area was extremely narrow, the boat docked beneath a dark cave. The surging river seemed to threaten to capsize the boat at any moment.
“Alright, everyone on board. We need to get out of the city before dawn.” The river was terrifying. They boarded the boat, swaying precariously, and gazed around in horror. Snakes and insects were everywhere, and the ground was littered with white bones.
Xia Yun had heard before about a dangerous underground river leading out of the black market, a passage only decades-old boatmen dared to navigate, specifically for transporting hardened criminals.
The boat passed through the dark, winding cave entrance, and the air inside was stale. A chill ran down Chi You’s spine. She looked back and saw the gang leader leering at her. A bad feeling washed over her, and she tugged at Xia Yun’s sleeve.
“Brother Ah Yun, why is that person staring at me?”
Xia Yun subtly shielded her, wrapping his cloak around her, and whispered, “Don’t mind him. Hold onto the knife you have.”
Chi You nodded and huddled in the small boat, remaining still.
“Kid, where are you from? What did you do?” The gang leader’s voice came from behind.
Xia Yun turned back with a smile. “Killed someone, ran for my life.”
“Oh, you’re wanted.” The gang leader sat at the bow of the boat, stroking a mole on his face. “And who is the little brother with you?”
“My companion.”
As Chi You listened to their idle chatter, she felt the man’s ill intentions and shrank back slightly. The place was cold, the cave was vast, and a chilling wind whistled through, making the back of her neck feel numb. She curled her feet and looked ahead at the dark, indistinct path. Faintly, she saw green moss on the stone walls, and strange sounds reached her ears intermittently.
Suddenly, someone bumped her lower back. She turned in alarm to face a crooked-legged man with yellow teeth. “Heh, bumped you by accident.”
Xia Yun heard the commotion and turned, glaring coldly at the man. A knife glinted faintly from his sleeve. The crooked-legged man, unfazed, stroked his chin and spoke to someone nearby with a chuckle. Although Chi You couldn’t understand them, their gazes were clearly mocking her.
Xia Yun pulled Chi You to the front, positioning himself between her and the man, giving him a cold glance.
“Brother Ah Yun,” Chi You whispered, moving closer. “Have they recognized us? Do they want the bounty?”
Xia Yun blocked her and whispered, “No. Are you hungry?”
“I’m a little thirsty.”
Hearing this, Xia Yun took out a waterskin from his bag and handed it to her. “Drink up.” Chi You took the waterskin and drank it in small sips.
The boat was small, carrying seven people in total, making it quite cramped. Xia Yun remained alert, watching the others, shielding Chi You from those with malicious intent. But some, emboldened by their freedom from prison, deliberately or inadvertently moved closer to Chi You, only to be blocked by Xia Yun.
Some became angry, thinking Xia Yun ungrateful, and began to curse. In this dark place, with nothing else to do and the raging river below, they weren't afraid of causing trouble. The gang leader exchanged a look with the man beside him, a lustful thought stirring within him. The long night was tedious, and the young lady looked tender and delicate; she would be perfect to quell his desires on the boat.
“Ahem, move over there,” a middle-aged man sat down heavily beside them.
Xia Yun frowned and moved aside, letting Chi You sit further forward. But suddenly, several hands reached out, trying to push him overboard. Xia Yun, already wary, grabbed the man beside him. However, no matter how vigilant he was, he never expected that everyone on the boat wanted him dead. Several burly men surged forward, drawing knives and laughing as they slashed at him.
Xia Yun cried out in alarm, “Ah Wu, jump into the river!”
Chi You gasped and looked back, seeing the struggle and pushing. “Brother Ah Yun!” She rushed to help but heard a splash, water spraying everywhere. Xia Yun was pushed into the river.
Her face turned pale, and she leaned over the side of the boat, shouting, “Brother Ah Yun!” The river was bottomless, the current fierce, and he vanished in an instant, without a single struggle. Her eyes reddened, and she too wanted to jump.
The gang leader grabbed her. “Your man is dead. How about following me? I’ll ensure you live in luxury.”
“Hahaha, I’ve been watching this young lady all along. She’s bound to be tender and delicate, a lot of fun.”
“Boss, after you’re done, let us have a turn.”
The gang leader looked at Chi You, who was struggling and retreating in fear, and laughed even more unrestrainedly, his disgusting face filled with wicked intentions. “When I’m done, you guys can have a go.”