Ma Family.
Ma Sanyuan, dressed in white formal wear, looked at the butler. "Have someone strictly inspect the goods on the cargo ships. No contraband should be found!"
The butler bowed respectfully. "Master, please rest assured. This old servant has already instructed the people of Dongning Prefecture. I guarantee no illegal items will appear."
Ma Jun was dismissive. "Father, we don't need to be so concerned."
"Given our relationship with Chen Nan."
"Even if we were indeed transporting other items."
"Would he not give our Ma family face?"
"Don't forget, we gave him a Soul Gathering Pill worth five million taels of gold."
"And a priceless Ten Thousand Year Coiled Dragon Ginseng."
"If he truly showed no mercy, would he still be considered human?"
Ma Sanyuan said, "I know what you mean, but... the human heart is a complex thing."
"We cannot be reckless just because we've given Chen Nan some benefits."
"Doing so would surely displease Chen Nan."
"Especially since this is the first day of trade."
"Chen Nan will surely inspect all the goods on the ship thoroughly."
"Because many people are paying attention to this matter."
"If contraband is found."
"Even if Chen Nan and our Ma family are close, he cannot shield us."
"Therefore, no mistakes can be made this time."
"As for those money-making items."
"Why the rush?"
------
By afternoon, a large crowd of citizens had gathered at the water transport dock.
Many knew that the water transport dock was officially opening today.
They all wanted to come and witness the spectacle.
To see what large cargo ships looked like.
And to see what rare and strange treasures were being transported on the ships.
"Did you hear? It's said that the goods on the merchant ships are all from Dongning Prefecture. Dongning Prefecture is over five thousand li away from here!"
"I heard Dongning Prefecture is very prosperous, with many rare and exotic treasures, and many delicacies. Especially Dongning Prefecture's tea, which is famous throughout the Underworld."
"I heard Dongning Prefecture also has medicinal candies. Children who are sick and can't drink herbal medicine can completely replace it with medicinal candies."
The onlookers chattered amongst themselves.
They were all intensely interested in this merchant ship.
After all.
The goods on the merchant ships were not from Guangling Prefecture, but from another province.
In the information-scarce Underworld, it was difficult not to attract the attention of the common people.
As the sun began to set.
Five dragon-headed merchant ships, about twenty meters high and a hundred meters long, sailed in from afar.
The enormous hulls drew gasps of amazement.
It couldn't be helped.
The people of Tongcheng had never seen ships of such a large size.
Moreover, each merchant ship was piled high with cargo boxes, looking exceptionally magnificent.
They finally stopped in front of the dock.
Chen Nan, dressed in official robes, along with Han Zongyuan, Leng Qingmei.
And the father and son, Ma Sanyuan, emerged from the Water Transport Office and came to the dock.
Chen Nan looked at Han Zongyuan. "Lord Han, why don't you take the lead?"
Han Zongyuan smiled and shook his head. "You are the Governor of the Water Transport Office. This matter naturally falls to you, Lord Chen."
Chen Nan nodded slightly, then gave a signal to Wu Jiu and the others in the distance, and then said, "Merchant ships, dock!"
Following the command.
Wu Jiu and others struck the large drums.
The drums roared.
Firecrackers blazed.
At the same time.
The sailors on the first merchant ship threw down thick hemp ropes.
Chen Nan took a rope and tied it to a wooden post on the dock.
This also marked the official opening of the dock.
The merchant ships then moved closer to the dock, and a large number of ship workers disembarked.
An elder at the forefront presented a cargo manifest.
Handing it over to Chen Nan for inspection.
Chen Nan nodded slightly, then waved to Wu Jiu.
Wu Jiu led the people from the Water Transport Office onto the ship to inspect the goods.
Chen Nan sent a spiritual message to Ma Sanyuan. "Patriarch Ma, with our friendship, I naturally trust you."
"But today is the first day of trade."
"And there are so many people gathered around."
"As the Governor of the Water Transport Office, I must give the common people a satisfactory explanation!"
"I must make them believe in me."
"You won't blame me for this, will you?"
Ma Sanyuan quickly replied, "Lord Chen, what are you saying? You are the Governor of the Water Transport Office. Inspecting these goods is your right. How could I dare to blame you?"
He was very glad that he hadn't had anyone transport contraband.
If Chen Nan had found it.
Even if he had covered it up.
And not let the world know.
It would still have left a bad impression.
If that were to happen, it would truly be a loss outweighing the gain.
With nothing to do.
Ma Sanyuan suddenly said, "Lord Han, Lord Chen, have you two heard about the matters in the martial world?"
Han Zongyuan asked curiously, "What happened in the martial world?"
Ma Sanyuan said, "I received news earlier that Hidden Sword Villa, Moon Worship Sect, and Five Poisons Sect suffered heavy casualties when attacking Hundred Flowers Valley."
"Three cultivators at the peak of the Body Seizing realm died on the spot."
"Not only that, but the Heavenly Net Tower took the opportunity to consolidate the resources of the three sects."
"As of now."
"Only Hundred Flowers Valley and Heavenly Net Tower remain of the original five hidden sects!"
Chen Nan's eyebrows twitched.
As the protagonist of that battle.
He naturally knew that the experts of the three sects had suffered heavy casualties.
He also knew that only two hidden sects remained in the Underworld.
It was just that he hadn't expected.
Yu Bo of the Heavenly Net Tower had annexed the three sects.
No wonder he had left Hundred Flowers Valley in such a hurry that day.
Chen Nan asked curiously, "I've always been puzzled about one thing: why are the strongest individuals in the five hidden sects only at the peak of the Body Seizing realm?"
Although the Body Seizing realm is very strong.
There are still four realms above the Body Seizing realm: Fierce Ghost, Earth Ghost, Heaven Ghost, and Ghost King.
However.
The strongest of the five hidden sects were only at the Body Seizing realm, which had always confused him.
Ma Sanyuan shook his head. "No, no, no, the five hidden sects also have cultivators above the Body Seizing realm. However, once their cultivation exceeds the Body Seizing realm, they directly become a Level Seven Yin Messenger and are assigned to Fengdu City."
"From then on, they do not concern themselves with worldly affairs."
Chen Nan understood.
He hadn't expected that surpassing the Body Seizing realm would directly make one a Level Seven Yin Messenger.
Han Zongyuan said, "Although Level Seven Yin Messengers hold high positions, they actually lose a lot of freedom after becoming one."
Court struggles are extremely dangerous.
Many people prefer to live in the martial world than to enter the court.
Because the court is full of invisible blades.
And every blade is deadly.
Making it impossible to guard against.
Just then.
A temporary constable on the cargo ship, holding a torch in one hand and opening a cargo box with the other.
The moment he opened the cargo box.
A faint spark fell from the torch.
He let out a heart-wrenching scream. "Gunpowder, run!"
Before the words could even fall.
A fiery cloud rose into the sky.
A terrifying shockwave swept out in all directions!
It sent countless citizens flying.
And also forced Chen Nan and the others back dozens of meters.
Chen Nan's face turned pale, and he looked at Ma Sanyuan in disbelief. "You actually transported the king of contraband, gunpowder?"