Wuxia: Drinking with Spring Breeze

"Get down!"

"Stay still, don't move your hands around!"

"Big head over there, I'm talking to you, keep your hands still..."

Yang Ge, with nothing better to do, strolled around the cargo ship with his axe, watching the fierce imperial guards on how they suppressed a number of guardsmen several times their own.

Over there, a long fight involving Shen Fa, Xie, and others had finally come to an end.

Then came a desolate laugh, "Young master of the Shen Family, Uncle Xie will take a step ahead today, to reserve a good spot underneath the Yellow Springs, waiting for your Shen Family folks..."

Turning his head, Yang Ge saw a strong figure with hair like a madman, several steel knives stuck in his body, plunging into the Bian River.

On the other side, several imperial guard masters huddled together like a stack of Arhats. Although it was too far to see clearly, one could hear the unwilling and angry roar of the Tartar spy coming from there.

'Ah, finally time to call it a day...' Yang Ge took one look and then averted his gaze, seizing the opportunity while the imperial guards were distracted, he sneaked into the cargo hold.

He was curious about the major trades going back and forth in this era, what kind of goods were they carrying... Didn't Xie say at the beginning? They were transporting some items that shouldn't be transported. Even if that was just a ruse to attract attention, there must be some real deal in there.

Since he was there, he had to see for himself!

As soon as he entered the cabin, Yang Ge sniffed a somewhat familiar scent, but couldn't quite remember what it was.

With the light flickering from the deck, Yang Ge saw the cargo hold neatly packed with long, rectangular wooden boxes. He approached and tried to lift one, but it didn't budge, as if it were nailed shut.

He hesitated for a few seconds, but his curiosity got the better of him. He picked up his axe and pried open a wooden box, revealing a lot of dry, crisp straw.

He pushed away the straw, revealing several black, rod-like items.

The light was too dim, and he couldn't make them out at first.

It wasn't until he picked up one and examined it closely under the flickering light from the deck that...

"Damn!"

Yang Ge was so frightened that he jumped, dropping the item in his hand and running back to the deck; he hadn't run far before his whole body broke out in a cold sweat.

He burst onto the deck and shouted with residual fear, "There are guns and gunpowder in the cargo hold!"

The imperial guards in charge of the deck, upon hearing his shout, looked at him with strange gazes, as if to say, 'What, you didn't know?'

Facing those odd looks, Yang Ge's shouts grew quieter and quieter, while the fear in his heart continued unabated, eventually leaving only a soft murmur, repeated over and over, "Madmen, you're all madmen..."

You know the enemy has guns and gunpowder, yet you dare to charge up with torches?

Is it you who aren't afraid of death, or is it I who am not?

"My lord!"

The voice of Fang Ke sounded from behind Yang Ge; turning around, he saw his incredulous face: "All that gunpowder is at the very bottom of the cargo hold, plus it's separated by several layers of fireproof cotton. Unless someone sets fire to the entire ship, even if you wanted it to explode, it couldn't manage!"

Yang Ge was stunned, then pointed fiercely at the cargo hold, "What about those guns?"

Fang Ke was stunned for a few seconds before realization dawned upon him. "Oh, you're talking about those firearms? Don't be fooled by market gossip; those things are not only a hassle to use but also not very powerful. Unless you give them enough time and enough people to form a shooting squad, they're nowhere near as effective as bows and arrows!"

Yang Ge also finally snapped out of his reverie, knowing that the guns in the cargo hold were likely outdated muzzle-loading firearms with limited killing power.

But... which chemistry teacher taught you all that gunpowder won't explode if it's covered with flame-retardant cotton?

Yang Ge felt that in the future, it would be better to deal with these people at noon. Otherwise, there would be inevitably an accident sooner or later.

"If there's nothing else, let's get off the boat first. With so many torches on deck, it's not safe to stay on the ship."

He said this as he walked toward the ship's side.

Fang Ke followed his steps. "Please wait a moment. The comrades are retrieving that Xie family man. The commander has ordered that we must find him alive or, if he's dead, then find his body!"

Yang Ge looked toward the river upon hearing this, and saw a huge chain net that covered the entire section of the river being slowly lifted from beneath the cargo ship, accompanied by the whinnies of mules and horses on both river banks.

He stared at the big fish tumbling in the net and had another epiphany. "No wonder they dared to take action in the middle of the river. They were prepared!"

The actions of the Imperial Bodyguard... were indeed quite skillful!

...

Yang Ge lifted the pot lid, and a mist of steam rose up.

He leaned over the edge of the iron pot, inhaled the hot air, and clicked his tongue in dissatisfaction, mumbling to himself, "Without chili, it still lacks some flavor..."

"Ah, I've come just in time!"

Just then, a voice that sounded halfway between a laugh and a snort came in from outside.

Upon hearing this familiar tone, Yang Ge's heart sank, and he quickly replaced the pot lid and hurried out of the kitchen to see Shen Fa, now dressed in an ink bamboo white robe, holding a paper-wrapped package and standing in the sunlight, teasing the ruffled Huang.

It seemed like the man had taken a bath; his hair was tied up with a smooth white jade hair band, matching his high-quality, well-tailored white robe, which exuded a leisurely and flamboyant aura from head to toe. Even the scar on his cheek, which had a touch of evil qi, did not detract from his dandyish charms!

It had to be said, when he wasn't looking fierce, he could be quite the charmer for the ladies!

However, Yang Ge's gaze only lingered on him for a moment before shifting to the courtyard door... which was firmly closed.

He let out a weary sigh.

Shen Fa, noticing Yang Ge's gaze, turned his head toward him, raised the paper package in his hand, and smiled. "I'm not eating for free, look, I'm pitching in."

Suppressing the urge to roll his eyes, Yang Ge dried his hands on his apron and returned to the stove. "Shouldn't you be very busy today with all the tasks following last night's big operation?"

Shen Fa, acting as if he was completely at home, followed him into the kitchen, eying the steamy iron pot. "No matter how busy, I can't neglect a great contributor like you!"

Yang Ge lifted the pot lid and swiftly scooped the sauerkraut fish from the pot into a bowl. "Please, if you just consider me insignificant and forget about me, that would be the greatest reward for me!"

Shen Fa's gaze followed the ladle to the soup bowl. "I won't allow you to underestimate yourself, you're worth more than you think!"

With that, he casually grabbed a pair of chopsticks from the holder, picked up a piece of fish and sauerkraut, and popped it into his mouth. After chewing for a moment, he let out a satisfied sigh. "Not to mention anything else, but with your culinary skills alone, your future should not be confined to just being a waiter!"

Yang Ge: "Oh, I've been promoted. I am now the shopkeeper of Yuelai Inn!"

Shen Fa: ...