"As a shining example of failure, I really did quite well."
Lan Yan said leisurely, "Us soldiers butting heads with you merchants in this game of wits—really, that was us getting too full of ourselves."
"As for timing, you stirred up chaos in Xuanzhu County—the unrest broke out the same day as the military funds transport. If that's just a coincidence, well, I'll take the loss. If I hadn't sent people ahead to meet the transport team, I'd probably still be in the dark right now."
"For location, you set up an ambush for the funds in advance, and you chose to move by water. Other than the Heyang Army, nobody could have intercepted you, and the Heyang Army had already been crushed by our Linhai Army."
"On the human front, I only brought a few dozen Swift Blade soldiers to follow up. We are the furious losers, and you all are the victors, returning fully loaded."
"That time someone came to meet me, I knew right away only you and Jing Zhengwei were qualified to sit at the table with me. But even then, I still underestimated you."
"You played both me and Jing Zhengwei like chess pieces, and honestly, I learned a lot from it—even if the lesson fee really hurts."
Even though every word Lan Yan said sounded like giving in, Le Yuxin's heart couldn't help but tense up.
"The dog that bites doesn't bark, and it's always the worst fart that makes no noise."
"There's no way I'd believe Lan Yan came here just to let me hit him, or to show off how useless he is while making Qin Leyin look good."
Lan Yan wasn't that much of a clown. If he thought there was no chance for him at all, he probably wouldn't have gotten close. He would've just jotted Le Yu's name down in a little black book and walked away, waiting for a future day to deliver a revenge so deep even his ancestors would feel it.
"This way he broke apart and analyzed his own loss step by step—it sounded like war drums closing in on me," thought Le Yu.
"People who can look their own failures straight in the eye are the scariest."
"Qin Leyin!" Lan Yan suddenly shouted, "You think Jing Zhengwei ended up pretty?"
Le Yu's thoughts spun rapidly and he shook his head, "No idea, didn't see it happen. Maybe if you head back to Xuanzhu County right now you'll catch him crucified and sunbathing!"
Le Yu chose to hide the news of Jing Zhengwei's death. He still needed that alias for matchmaking in the future.
"The scene you're describing is quite beautiful—Jing Zhengwei's fate, tinged with a sort of tragic sanctity," Lan Yan said, laughing, "So, the present Jing Zhengwei gave me, are you planning to return it?"
"Why should I? I got my hands on it, it's mine."
Actually, if he could have thrown some cash at Lan Yan to make him leave, Le Yu would have been all for it. But with the Statistical Department's Qingyi from Yanjing and Shi Huaifeng, one of the Radiant Four, right here—if he caved at the first scare, he'd get eaten alive by the time he reached Yanjing.
"In this world, you don't have to hurt others to survive," he thought,
"But you do have to show you can fight back against harm, if you want to get by."
"Goodness without teeth is just weakness."
Besides, bickering with Lan Yan felt pretty damn good—a luxury that Qian Yuliu, Yin Yinyin, and Jing Zhengwei never got to enjoy!
"Lan Yan, if anyone's going to beat you, it'll be me, Le Yu (Qin Leyin)!"
"If it really is finders keepers in this world, that's just too cruel," Lan Yan sighed.
Le Yu jeered, "Don't like it? Come and take it back if you think you're tough enough!"
"Young Master Qin." Lan Yan's voice suddenly rang out loud and clear, "Do you know why flowers by the cliff always look so beautiful?"
"Because, unlike us, they don't stop at the edge of the cliff—they step into the sky without fear—"
"Taking a step into the sky!"
As soon as he finished, Lan Yan leaped high up, striding as though he was walking through air, landing right over the Yan River.
The light gathered beneath his feet, and the sunlight seemed to weave him a pair of wings.
He drew both swords from his waist. Spinning in midair, he slashed down over the Yan River, and the filthy waters suddenly surged, light dipping and diving through the waves, while the split river erupted in rolling spray and bursts of gleaming droplets. Each flying splash sparkled with his swordlight, every trace of swordlight rolling up even grander waves.
Walking on light!
Riding the waves!
He alone became a thousand-foot waterfall, the Silver River plunging from the heavens!
"Don't panic, he's alone!"
"Brace for impact!"
"Gunners, aim!"
Pandemonium broke out across the deck—swords drawn, guns loaded, shouts flying in all directions. Le Yu understood their panic—outnumbered or not, no one could stay unmoved when staring down a charge this wild and untamed.
"How strong must he be, how little does he care about us, how far above us—if he dares challenge all of us by himself?" "Fear had already been sown; when the killing began, it would take root."
Lan Yan, before even attacking, already won the battle of the mind!
Le Yu readied himself for the fight, but he knew—if Lan Yan truly charged, then even his own life might be out of his hands.
Though Lan Yan wasn't some bloodthirsty murderer, just out for money—he'd probably let him live.
But who could say? Le Yu had just acted like such a jackass, he might as well have yelled "come bite me if you dare."
Dying at Lan Yan's hands wouldn't even be that unacceptable for Le Yu. Still, Lan Yan's social network was way messier than Qin Leyin's—rumor was, he had some rich and beautiful wife, a loyal crew, and commanded the Linhai Army. He really was the full-on warlord type.
On the plus side, his system challenge "win a major victory" might finally stand a chance. On the downside, Lan Yan might go full rebel, seize power, and unify the entire country.
But all Le Yu really wanted was a peaceful life. Being emperor sounded like way too much work…
As Le Yu weighed going for tyrant overlord or wise monarch, the waves of the Yan River calmed, and everyone on deck stared at each other in confusion.
Where was Lan Yan?
Everyone looked closer—Lan Yan was still on the shore.
You thought he jumped over, but he jumped right back.
The wild torrent Lan Yan had just created was just for the scare, to cover up the fact that he couldn't really walk on light all the way over the river—and had to bounce back to shore instead.
This time, as everyone took a breath, they realized just how rattled they'd been.
A Martial Artist can only step on light once or twice—double jump, triple jump, at most. Crossing a full fifty-meter river? No chance.
But Lan Yan's spirit, momentum, murderous intent—
He hadn't left them time to think straight at all.
"Young Master Qin," Lan Yan called out from the distance, his voice drifting over the water, "like you said, I took my gift back myself... even if it's just half of it."
Le Yu's heart skipped, and he snapped his head toward the ship behind them!
While they sparred with Lan Yan, the two steamships had quietly drifted farther apart—and now, several dripping-wet Linhai Army soldiers had already climbed onto the rear ship!
Looking farther back, Le Yu realized every Swift Blade soldier who'd come with Lan Yan had stripped off their boots and armor, diving straight into the river and rushing the back ship!
But Lan Yan had been such a showstopper, no one had noticed the Linhai soldiers at all!
That sword swipe at Le Yu earlier wasn't just venting rage—it was the signal for his soldiers to act!
"That was quite the show, Young Master Qin. Letting me have a whole ship for my performance isn't excessive, right?" Lan Yan laughed.
"Not at all." Le Yu shrugged. "It's already been given away—you getting it back is just skill."
Lan Yan laughed, "Don't blame me for being greedy, but there are no steamships in Chenfeng District, and with my wedding coming up, if I can build a fleet from this one, it'll make the perfect dowry for the father-in-law."
"Anyone on board—so long as they don't try anything stupid—I'll guarantee no harm comes to them. I'll give them a ship and some cash and let them make their own way to Yanjing."
Le Yu snapped his fingers, "Tell the rear crew, don't resist. Turn the ship around and head back."
Shi Huaifeng nodded, signaling the sailors with flags.
"Such generosity, Young Master Qin," Lan Yan called out loudly, "As for the other half of the treasury funds—consider it tuition for your lesson today."
"I wish you smooth sailing, Young Master Qin. May you shine in Yanjing and climb to greatness!"
"And I wish you, Lan Yan, loyal commanders, the power to rule every corner of Chenfeng, and the strength to suppress opposition!"
With all the sardonic blessings exchanged, Le Yu watched Lan Yan turn and leave, watched the distant ship disappear below the horizon, watched the sun sink in the west.
Only when the tidal spring met the open sea, the moon shining on the rolling tides, and it was clear Lan Yan would never catch up, did he finally breathe out a sigh.
He headed below deck to find his R-Card little brother. "Hey, dummy, go burn Jing Zhengwei's corpse to ash and scatter it in the river."
Qin Yueyang nodded; disposing of bodies had always been his specialty.
But he couldn't help but wonder—was big brother hoping Jing Zhengwei's remains would drift through Dongyang, nourishing its land, fulfilling his last wish? "Big brother really was a hopeless romantic," he thought.
With Jing Zhengwei's body ensured never to be found, Le Yu returned to his cabin, ready for his first solo, luxurious night's sleep in months.
But just then, he caught sight of Qin Yueshi hurrying onto the deck. He and Qin Yueyang, curious, followed after, only to find their little sister leaning against the railing, gazing into the distance, face lost in bliss and a hint of daft wonder.
The night sky glowed with a faint red, and the black river glittered like fire, filled with liquid mercury, overflowing with orange and silver, blooming with pale light.
On both sides of the Yan, trees shone red, flowers bloomed silver, like lanterns lighting up the road ahead, running all the way out to the horizon.
Qin Yueyang, who'd never seen anything like this, found himself just as dazed. Without thinking, he asked, "What is that?"
"Fiery trees and silver flowers." From the side, Shi Huaishong flicked his cigarette ash, exhaled a smoke ring, and laughed, "Nowhere else in all of Huio does anywhere grow these miraculous plants."
"Welcome to Yanjing."