I had no intention of entering the martial world.

Chapter 15 The Waters Run Deep

Shen Xingyao snapped out of her daze, gritted her teeth, and jumped onto the carriage: "Giddy up!"

The carriage drove past three men in black—Zhao San was still groaning while clutching his neck, Wang Mang was screaming in agony while clutching his severed wrist, and Li Qi was rolling on the ground—without stopping, it continued forward.

After walking a few dozen steps, Shen Xingyao couldn't help but look back.

Lu Chenzhou had caught up and was still walking on the left side of the carriage. His steps were steady and his breathing was even. Only the hand holding the sword seemed to have a deeper bloodstain on the tiger's mouth.

"You..." She opened her mouth, but didn't know what to ask.

Who are you? Why are you so powerful? Or... what's that red mark at the corner of your eye?

In the end, she didn't ask anything.

He simply tightened his grip on the reins and turned his gaze back to the distance ahead.

---

At dusk, we finally saw the Han River.

The river flowed vast and wide, shimmering with golden-red light under the setting sun. On the opposite bank were rolling hills, from which wisps of smoke could be faintly seen rising – a small town. The ferry crossing was rudimentary, consisting of only a dilapidated wooden dock with a few small boats moored there. The boatman was packing up to finish his work when he saw the carriage approaching and looked somewhat surprised.

"Need to cross the river?" an old boatman asked. "It's getting dark, you'll have to pay extra."

Shen Xingyao jumped out of the carriage and took out a piece of silver from her pocket: "Take the person and the carriage to the other side."

The old boatman took the silver, weighed it in his hand, and smiled. "Alright! Please wait a moment while I set up the planks."

While the boatman was busy working, Shen Xingyao inspected the carriage. The groaning of the axle was too loud to ignore, and the hemp rope was taut, as if it could break at any moment.

"We can hold out for another ten miles at most," Lu Chenzhou said.

Shen Xingyao nodded: "There's a car dealership on the other side where we can change axles." She paused, then looked at Lu Chenzhou, "Young Master Lu... are you really coming to Jiangling with us?"

Lu Chenzhou looked at her: "You don't believe me?"

"It's not that I don't believe you," Shen Xingyao shook her head, "it's just... this journey won't be peaceful. Those people were just an appetizer. The real trouble is probably yet to come."

"I know," Lu Chenzhou said, "but I must go to Jiangling."

Shen Xingyao was silent for a moment, then finally nodded: "Alright. Then... I'll leave the journey to you, Young Hero Lu."

His tone was solemn, as if he were entrusting something important to someone.

Lu Chenzhou didn't speak, he just nodded.

Once the planks were in place, the carriage carefully drove onto the ferry. The boat wasn't large, and with the carriage and several people inside, it felt somewhat crowded. The old boatman used a bamboo pole, and the ferry slowly pulled away from the shore, heading towards the opposite bank.

The river was wide and the current was gentle, but undercurrents stirred beneath the surface, causing the ferry to rock slightly. The afterglow of the setting sun shone on the river, creating a shimmering, almost unreal beauty.

Lu Chenzhou stood at the bow of the boat, looking at the river. He thought of the waterfall in Zhongnan Mountain, and that icy, bone-chilling curtain of water.

It's been two years.

From Qixia Town, to Zhongnan Mountain, and then to the Han River.

The road seems to stretch ever further. But the destination grows ever more and more blurred.

"Young Master Lu," Shen Xingyao's voice sounded from behind, "What are you thinking about?"

Lu Chenzhou didn't turn around: "It's nothing."

Shen Xingyao walked to his side and looked at the river as well. The evening breeze lifted her hair and brushed against her cheek; she casually brushed it aside.

"That sword strike just now..." she said softly, "was very powerful."

Lu Chenzhou did not respond.

"But I can tell you're not a member of the martial world." Shen Xingyao turned to look at him. "There's no killing intent in your sword. Only... the aura of death."

Lu Chenzhou's fingers twitched almost imperceptibly.

"Death energy?"

"Hmm." Shen Xingyao nodded. "It's like a sword that's been buried for a long time. It's just been dug out and hasn't been sharpened yet, but it's already tainted with the yin energy of the soil." She paused. "My father said that such a sword will either never be sharpened in its entire life, or... once it's sharpened, it will draw blood, and a lot of blood."

Lu Chenzhou fell silent.

He looked at his hand, at the deep, bone-revealing gash between his thumb and forefinger. The blood had congealed, forming a dark red scab, like an ugly brand.

There was a lot of blood… He had already seen it. The two black-clad men torn to pieces on Zhongnan Mountain, the three ruthless bandits from earlier, and those from Qixia Town before that…

Is it not enough?

"The red mark at the corner of your eye," Shen Xingyao suddenly said, "is it the backlash from the sword energy?"

Lu Chenzhou suddenly looked up at her.

Shen Xingyao pointed to the same spot at the corner of her eye: "I have one too. But mine was left from when my internal energy went astray while practicing 'Autumn Water Sword'. Yours... seems a little different."

She leaned closer and examined it carefully: "It's darker, deeper, like blood has seeped in."

Lu Chenzhou subconsciously turned his head to the side.

"Don't dodge," Shen Xingyao said. "The backlash from the sword energy can injure you at best, and kill you at worst. Didn't your master tell you that?"

I told him. Not only did I tell him, I also told him that he would slowly lose his sense of taste, lose his emotions, and eventually, he wouldn't even know what "love" is.

But there's no need to say these things.

"I already said so," Lu Chenzhou replied calmly. "I know what I'm doing."

"Measure?" Shen Xingyao laughed, a hint of helplessness in her smile. "There's no such thing as measure when it comes to sword energy backlash. It's like a crack in a dam; it only gets bigger and bigger, until..."

She didn't finish her sentence, but her meaning was clear.

Until it collapses. Until it is swallowed up.

Lu Chenzhou looked at the river. The sun had already sunk more than halfway down, the sky was gradually darkening, and the river breeze was getting colder.

"Why did you decide to escort this shipment?" he suddenly asked.

Shen Xingyao was taken aback for a moment, then laughed: "Making money, of course. The Sihai Escort Agency has hundreds of people who need to eat. If I, the head of the escort agency, don't work, what will they live on?"

"Just to make money?"

Shen Xingyao's smile faded slightly. She gazed at the river and remained silent for a long time.

"Not entirely," she finally said. "This shipment... is a bit special. It can't fall into the hands of those people."

"People from the shadow theater?"

"Hmm." Shen Xingyao nodded. "There's more. In short, it's very troublesome."

She didn't elaborate, and Lu Chenzhou didn't ask. Everyone has secrets, just like the jade pendant in his pocket, the black stone, and the things in the brocade pouch.

By the time the ferry docked, it was completely dark.

The small town on the other side of the river is called "Baisha Ferry". It's not big, but it's quite lively because it's a ferry crossing. Lanterns are lit on the streets, wine flags are fluttering, and you can vaguely smell the aroma of food.

Shen Xingyao found a car repair shop and had the axle replaced overnight. The shop owner had already closed, but when he saw the money Shen Xingyao handed over, he immediately beamed and told his employees to get to work.

Lu Chenzhou sat on the stone steps in front of the car dealership, watching the passersby on the street. Most were merchants on their way, porters, and local residents. They talked, laughed, and cursed, living the most ordinary lives.

Those days are long gone for him.

So far away...like something from a past life.

"Young Master Lu."

Shen Xingyao walked over and handed him a paper package. Inside were steaming hot meat buns, still emitting white steam.

"Have something to eat. Changing the axle will take an hour, so we'll stay in town tonight."

Lu Chenzhou took the bun and took a bite.

It had no flavor. All I felt was the rough texture of the dough and the warmth of the meat filling.

But he still slowly finished eating.

"Thank you," he said.

Shen Xingyao sat down next to him and started eating a steamed bun. She ate with relish, wiping away a little oil stain from the corner of her mouth with her sleeve.

"What are your plans next?" she asked. "When you get to Jiangling, will you visit your relatives?"

Lu Chenzhou thought for a moment: "Let's find someone first."

"Who?"

"A man surnamed Yang," Lu Chenzhou said. "I heard he has a villa in Jiangling called 'Tingtao Villa'."

Shen Xingyao paused in her eating of the steamed bun.

"Tingtao Villa?" she repeated, her tone somewhat strange. "You're looking for Yang Shirong?"

Lu Chenzhou looked at her: "You know her?"

"I wouldn't say I know him," Shen Xingyao shook her head, "but I've heard of him. He's a wealthy merchant from the west of Jiangling City, fond of making friends in the martial arts world. Years ago, he built a villa called Tingtao Villa, where he often entertained heroes from all walks of life. However..."

"But what?"

"A year ago, he suddenly moved his whole family back to Sichuan," Shen Xingyao said. "The Tingtao Villa is now deserted. If you go there now, you probably won't find anyone."

Lu Chenzhou remained silent. The clue Lu Jinghong had given him pointed to Tingtao Villa. But now, the villa was deserted, and the people were gone.

The trail seems to have gone cold.

"What do you want with him?" Shen Xingyao asked.

Lu Chenzhou did not answer.

Shen Xingyao didn't ask any more questions. She just looked at the streetlights and said softly, "Jiangling City... the waters run deep. Be careful, you're alone."

Lu Chenzhou nodded.

The two sat in silence, watching the night deepen, watching the busy figures of the shop assistants in the car dealership, and watching the lanterns sway in the wind.

In the distance came the long, lonely sound of the night watchman striking his clapper.

It's like a reminder, and also like a farewell.

Lu Chenzhou gripped the jade pendant in his arms tightly.

Cold and hard, like a block of ice that will never melt.

And Jiangling is just ahead.