Starting with the divine power of the Great Vajra, he traversed the heavens.

Chapter 102 Sword Silk Crossing the Void
The merchant ship continued its journey.

Hongxiu and Shi Shuyun sat at the bow of the boat.

Sailors and merchants passing by would glance at the two girls over and over, stealing glances at them.

She wore a short-sleeved shirt and trousers made of blue cloth, with the cuffs rolled up, which made her figure appear even slimmer.

The other one was wearing a pale white short jacket and had her hair in a bun, looking both cute and charming.

Shi Shuyun ignored their stares.

But Hongxiu turned her head and looked at him directly, her gaze calm, which immediately made everyone so ashamed that they covered their faces and left.

The little beggar laughed heartily.

"Hongxiu, I really envy you."

Hongxiu said nonchalantly, "I know!"

Shi Shuyun asked in confusion, "You know?"

Hongxiu leaned closer with a mischievous grin: "You envy me for getting along with everyone, don't you?"

Shi Shuyun said in a muffled voice, "Yes, everyone likes you."

Hongxiu shook her head and said proudly, "It takes skill for everyone to like me."

"ability?"

Hongxiu said seriously, "I see right through these people's thoughts, yet I still make them feel like they're basking in a spring breeze. Don't you think the ability to endure such grievances is a skill?"

"Wow!" Shi Shuyun exclaimed, "You're so amazing?"

Hongxiu scratched her head and laughed, "I'm used to it, I'm used to it."

"But won't you get tired performing like this?"

"What's so tiring about this?" Hongxiu thought for a moment and smiled, "Shaoyang and Ding'an are just genuinely kind to me, I don't need to put on an act for them!"

“Yes!”

The two remained silent for a moment, admiring the scenery on the river and the magnificent landscape.

Suddenly, Hongxiu elbowed Shi Shuyun.

Shi Shuyun turned to look at her: "What's wrong?"

Hongxiu said with a wicked smile, "You just said you were envious, but I'm afraid you weren't just envious of me."

Looking at her ambiguous smile, Shi Shuyun blushed and said, "I just envy you!"

"Hehe, really?" Hongxiu said casually, "I thought you were envious of my close relationship with Shaoyang!"

"No, no, no~?" Shi Shuyun's face flushed red, and she couldn't help but step forward and tickle Hongxiu's armpit. "You're talking nonsense."

The red-sleeved girl clucked and groaned, not daring to exert any force, and could only dodge with her body.

The two began chasing each other on the deck.

The sound of barbells and silvery laughter echoed across the entire river.

Inside the cabin, Old Man Shi, Ren Shaoyang, and Ding An sat facing each other.

After pouring wine for the two of them, he poured himself a bowl of wine as well.

"Please, gentlemen!" Old Shi said in a hearty voice as he picked up his wine bowl.

"Please!" *2
Shao Yang and Ding An also raised their bowls.

The three clinked their wine bowls together and downed their drinks in one gulp.

"Good man, come again!" Old Shi's eyes shone as he exclaimed loudly, and he poured another full glass of wine.

Shao Yang and Ding An naturally followed.

The three of them downed three bowls of wine before they finally started talking.

Old Shi took a bite of food and said with a smile, "You two are so young, yet your martial arts skills are superb, a rarity in the martial world! You even saved my new ship from dire straits, I am truly grateful!"

Ren Shaoyang smiled and said, "Senior's spear and staff skills are fierce, and your internal strength is unfathomable. You are rare in this world. I admire you very much!"

Ding'an clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Me too!"

Old Shi chuckled, poured himself a full bowl of wine, and asked casually, "Young Brother Ren, I have a favor to ask, something I'd like to inquire about."

Ren Shaoyang said, "Please go ahead, sir."

Old Shi said, "But I wonder what kind of skill and what kind of weapon Brother Ren used to cut down those twenty-odd small boats of the water bandits?"

In the martial arts world, it is absolutely taboo to ask others about their skills without permission. For Old Man Shi to ask this question was truly an "unreasonable request."

Ren Shaoyang, however, did not take it to heart and said with a smile, "My skill is derived from the Kunlun Sword Technique and is called 'Sword Silk Crossing the Void.' I have only just mastered it."

"Sword Threads Crossing the Void?" Old Shi kept muttering, then looked at him in shock. "Young Brother Ren, is this a self-created sword technique?"

Ren Shaoyang poured a bowl of wine, raised the bowl, and said with a smile, "Exactly."

Old Shi clinked his wine bowl against his, drank it all in one gulp, stroked his beard, and said earnestly, "You... have you found the way?"

Ren Shaoyang nodded, calmly but confidently saying, "Having a clear path ahead, one can forge one's own path."

"it is good!"

Old Shi slammed his hand on the table, startling Ding An.

But then he raised his thumb and exclaimed, "I never imagined that in my old age I would meet a master of swordsmanship! You're a true immortal!"

In his excitement, he repeatedly urged the two to drink.

Old Shi laughed heartily for a moment, then asked, "Master Ren, what brings you to Jiangnan this time?"

Ren Shaoyang said, "My sister wants to find someone to give as a gift to an elder."

Xiao Ren still doesn't like to lie, so she just said it directly.

"Find someone as a gift?" Old Shi was a little stunned, then he realized, "Oh~, this person should be someone with a high status and a great reputation, but who doesn't live up to his name!"

Ding'an gave a thumbs up: "Grandpa Shi, you guessed perfectly!"

Old Shi laughed heartily: "Old people are shrewd and clever; I've seen too many people like that."

Ren Shaoyang laughed and said, "You've already guessed it, sir?"

Old Shi nodded and sighed, "Someone of your stature would never look for a mediocre person in Jiangnan. That person must be in a high position and have a great reputation."

"If we're talking about reputation, twenty years ago it was Master Lu, and twenty years later it's Jiang Biehe."

He looked at Ren Shaoyang with great interest and said, "I know Master Lu well. He has a fiery temper and is a true tough guy."

Ren Shaoyang nodded: "I've heard of him, but unfortunately we've never met."

"Hmm~!" Old Shi nodded. "If it's not Master Lu, then it must be Jiang Biehe?"

Ren Shaoyang chuckled: "You have excellent insight."

"What kind of keen insight is this? I'm just sticking to my own beliefs."

Ding'an asked, "What kind of stubborn logic is this?" "The greatest villain appears as a loyal minister, the greatest falsehood appears as truth!" Old Shi sneered, "Jiang Biehe's reputation is too good, his prestige too great, no one ever speaks ill of him! Such a person is either a great saint or a great villain!"

Ren Shaoyang picked up the wine jar and filled his bowl with wine, saying, "You're right, this man's evil is far beyond imagination."

Ding'an also offered a bowl: "Grandpa Shi, your words have enlightened me greatly!"

Old Shi smiled and clinked bowls with the two men, then drank them all in one gulp and said in a deep voice, "Well then, I wish you both success in eliminating the traitors!"
-
The merchant ship sailed smoothly from then on, and arrived in Yichang before dusk.

This place is a crucial point for those traveling from Sichuan to Hubei, or vice versa. Boats of all sizes must stop here for a while to add water, firewood, and food.

Before the boat even docked, the little beggar was already looking around anxiously.

After bidding farewell to Old Man Shi and Shi Shuyun, the three drove their donkey cart ashore.

Old Shi looked at Shi Shuyun, who was staring blankly at the donkey cart as it drove away, shook his head, and muttered, "Such a person, we are destined to meet but not to be together."

At the ferry dock, people come and go, laughing, joking, cursing, and all sorts of human behavior.

In the distance, mountains and lakes are connected, and bridges and waterways are laid out in a harmonious and orderly fashion.

Ren Shaoyang drove the car, while Xiao Jiaohua and Ding An walked among the crowd, looking around and enjoying the lively scene.

After crossing a small stone arch bridge, you will see a long street running east to west, lined with shops on both sides, selling everything from silk and satin to general merchandise and medicine.

Even more fish, shrimp, and river delicacies, lively and jumping, are sold along the streets.

Ren Shaoyang glanced around and saw a spacious and impressive restaurant in the distance, built overlooking the river.

A wine flag hangs high, bearing the inscription "Jade Tower East".

Ren Shaoyang said, "Little beggar, do you see that restaurant?"

With her hands shading her eyes, she looked around carefully and said with a grin, "What a huge restaurant!"

Ren Shaoyang laughed and said, "If you want to catch Jiang Biehe, go to 'Yulou East'."

“That’s right.” Hongxiu put down her hand, pinched her chin and pretended to be deep in thought. “Jiang Biehe is fond of fame, so he must value pomp and circumstance. The most pomp and circumstance restaurant in Yichang is ‘Yuloudong’.”

Ren Shaoyang interjected, "Therefore, if he wants to do something to maintain his reputation, he will definitely do it here, which makes it convenient to spread the word."

The beggar sighed, "This man really goes to great lengths for fame."

Ding An said somewhat sullenly, "Don't you get tired of acting like this every day?"

Ren Shaoyang parked the donkey cart at the entrance of Yulou East and said, "This person has lost all sense of reality and acting, how could he be tired?"

The three of them entered the building together, went up to the second floor, found a seat by the railing, and sat down. After the food and wine were served, they began to eat heartily.

Hongxiu exclaimed, "This honey-glazed ham truly lives up to its reputation as a famous dish. Under the sunlight, it looks like crystal and agate! Wow!"

He took a bite, his eyes squinted as he ate, and he was extremely happy.

Ding'an ate noodles and gnawed on a chicken leg at the same time. He finished a big bowl of noodles and a big chicken leg in three bites, then gulped down the noodle soup. He rubbed his stomach with one hand, looked at the dishes on the table, and his face turned bitter.

Oh no, I actually got full from eating the main course!

Ren Shaoyang saw it clearly and pointed at him, laughing loudly.

As the three were enjoying their meal, they suddenly heard a commotion downstairs, so they looked down.

Then a few well-dressed men in their forties or fifties walked in.

Judging from their demeanor, they were quite imposing and clearly not ordinary people.

Listening to the explanations from the onlookers below, and combining them with the plot of the original work, Ren Shaoyang recognized these important figures from Yichang Prefecture.

For example, the skinny "Jade-faced Judge" Xiao Zichun.

Li Di, the "Golden Lion" who is as fat as a ball.

Lei Peng, the "Hand of Yama," wearing a wig.

He Wushuang, also known as "Ghost Shadow," wears a wig.

Although only nine heroes came, six of them wore wigs.

Ren Shaoyang exclaimed, "Damn it, starting a wig business in the future wouldn't be bad!"

However, at this moment, the wig masters were all drenched in sweat and looked ashen-faced.

It was all because they encountered the most troublesome person in the world, or rather, a ghost.

"The Gambler" Xuan Yuan San Guang!
This man was addicted to gambling, gambling away his entire life, including his wealth and fortune. There is no doubt that he was the number one gambler in the world.

Ren Shaoyang and his two companions watched as they gambled with each other, using all sorts of methods and bizarre stakes, including things like cutting off hands, betting lives, and money—none of these were new to them.

When they got to the back, their eyes were red, and they gambled on their wives.

As the gamble went on, they had nothing left to lose.

He Wushuang, nicknamed "Ghost Shadow," was so terrified that his mouth twisted and his eyes squinted, repeatedly saying, "No, I won't gamble, I won't gamble anymore!"

Xuanyuan Sanguang's eyes widened, and he said, "What? You dare not gamble?"

He Wushuang was so frightened that she stammered, "Ptooey... vomit... vomit..."

He was so terrified that his tongue went numb, and he actually said "vomit" instead of "no".

Xuanyuan Sanguang was overjoyed and laughed, "You little rascal, what do you want to bet?"

He Wushuang said, "No, I won't gamble!"

Xuanyuan Sanguang shouted angrily, "Damn it, you dare to lie to me?" As he spoke, he was about to step forward and grab him.

Tears welled up in He Wu's eyes. He turned to look at Xiao Zichun and the others, but how could they dare to stand up for him now?
Suddenly, a voice rang out: "Mr. Xuanyuan, why make such a fuss? If you want to gamble, I, Jiang, am willing to play along."

As they spoke, everyone's eyes lit up.

Then a scholar in a wide-sleeved blue robe gracefully walked into the main hall.

This man had clear eyebrows and bright eyes, and a handsome face. When he walked in with a smile, he was extremely elegant and dashing.

Although he was not young, his mature demeanor was irresistible, making one feel that he was someone one could entrust one's wife and children to!
That's why Xiao Zichun and the others were overjoyed to see him arrive, and He Wushuang was so happy she almost jumped for joy.

Xuanyuan Sanguang's eyes flashed like lightning as he glanced at him, and he couldn't help but be moved: "You, who are you?"

Before he could finish speaking, He Wushuang and the others simultaneously clasped their hands in greeting and said, "Greetings, Hero Jiang!"

The man smiled slightly, clasped his hands in return, and said, "My name is Jiang Biehe."

Meanwhile, upstairs, the beggar, who was drinking and eating, chuckled.

Ren Shaoyang asked, "What are you laughing at?"

Hongxiu said, "This person has been eavesdropping outside the door for quite some time."

Ren Shaoyang said, "That's normal. He wants the hero to make a grand entrance."

"But while he was listening, he also stuck his butt out and let out more than ten loud farts!"

Ding'an asked in surprise, "Did he have an upset stomach?"

The beggar sighed, "Go easy on him when you deal with him later, we just finished eating."

(End of this chapter)