Chapter 143: Fengling Crossing

Chapter 143: Fengling Ferry

The tavern called "Taste Pavilion" sat at the confluence of several clear rivers at Fengling Ferry, making it the unavoidable gateway to the ferry crossing. The establishment bustled with lively business; waiters hurried back and forth, their sharp voices calling out orders and greetings.

Zhang He chose a corner seat on the first floor, ordering a large platter of roast chicken and boiled pork slices, accompanied by a pound of daughter’s red wine. Since the destination, Zhouzhuang, lay another 300 li north beyond Fengling Ferry, and there were likely no other inns along the way, he decided to feast heartily now—who knew when the next opportunity would come.

Most patrons entering and leaving the tavern were dressed splendidly and neatly, predominantly everyday players, though a few underworld figures occasionally passed through.

At that moment, three players entered as well, selecting a small corner table right beside Zhang He’s. Ordinarily, these three would have gone unnoticed, but Zhang caught sight of them because the waiter greeted them with an unusually warm smile: “Gentlemen, what would you like to eat or drink?”

“Anything!” replied a large man wearing a big felt hat, sounding indifferent.

Since they had requested “anything,” it was clear they weren’t truly here just to eat. Zhang’s curiosity was piqued, and he glanced at them again.

Besides the large felt hat, the other two men wore all black. One had a hooked nose and a stern expression; his build was neither tall nor short but extremely lean. His face looked as if carved by a blade, evoking a chilling, forbidding aura.

Zhang noticed his hands, though bony like white claws, bore a faint blackish tint on the backs, with veins bulging prominently, as if about to burst forth. This man clearly practiced eagle claw strength, and it was no weak skill.

The third man was the opposite—tall and stout, always smiling broadly, reminding Zhang of a plump praying mantis.

“It’s past 5 p.m. now; shouldn’t it be dark already?” the big man asked with a grin.

The felt-hat man nodded. “It’s April; it won’t be fully dark until around 7 p.m.”

The hooked-nose man responded coldly with a gruff “Hmm.”

The big man appeared uneasy. “Are you sure he insists on waiting until nightfall before coming to Fengling Ferry?”

The felt-hat man nodded again. “He has to leave from here, and it must be after dark.”

“Why?”

“Would he dare show himself during the day? Besides, only Fengling Ferry has boats nearby. Once he leaves, it’ll be difficult to track him.”

At that moment, the big man noticed Zhang staring at them. The hooked-nose man was about to rise, but the felt-hat man coldly said, “No need to check on this one.”

Startled, Zhang realized these men were no ordinary players—they had been watching him all along.

“Why?” the hooked-nose man frowned.

The felt-hat man calmly said, “If he had something to hide, would he sit there openly staring at us?”

Pausing, he waved toward Zhang. “Friend, do you have urgent business? If not, come join us for a drink. It’s on us.”

Zhang forced a bitter smile, already guessing that these men were law enforcers from the Six Doors.

When Six Doors officers invite you for a drink, refusal isn’t an option.

He knew his current evil notoriety far outweighed his chivalry; being targeted by the officers was only natural. Yet, since he wasn’t marked as a criminal openly, they couldn’t just seize him outright.

Just as Zhang settled, the hooked-nose man suddenly raised his hand, curling his palm into a claw and lunging at Zhang’s right shoulder.

Indeed, he wielded eagle claw strength. The strike carried a gust of wind, covering six vital points on Zhang’s right shoulder. The sudden attack left no chance for a normal player to dodge.

But Zhang was prepared. Meeting the claw with his palm, he pushed back forcefully.

The felt-hat man and big man looked surprised. They knew the hooked-nose man’s eagle claw was formidable—without a refined inner power or strength, even touching his claws was impossible.

Yet Zhang met claw with palm, opting for a head-on clash—a strategy sure to injure both.

Zhang clearly calculated the opponent wouldn’t fight him openly inside the tavern. As their hands neared collision, the hooked-nose man suddenly retracted his claw, as if nothing had happened.

Zhang admired the move; such a withdrawal demonstrated mastery of eagle claw strength.

The hooked-nose man quickly noticed Zhang was no pushover and retracted his palm just as swiftly.

The big man blinked, then chuckled, “Haha, just joking, just joking. Friend, don’t take it seriously. Come, let’s drink!”

Zhang laughed in return. “I’ll toast to our eagle claw brother, turning conflict into friendship.”

Without waiting for consent, he picked up a bottle of distilled liquor and a small ceramic cup.

He poured slowly, the wine flowing like a silver thread. Meanwhile, the big man and felt-hat man’s eyes widened in surprise.

They saw the wine steaming, as if boiling.

Zhang had forced the liquor to heat by concentrating his inner energy in his palm—a technique that doesn’t rely on elemental attributes but rapidly heats by sheer force.

This method quickly drains inner power and requires excellent cultivation to recover swiftly.

Nevertheless, Zhang deliberately did this to send a message: “I’m not afraid to expend this much energy. I’m ready to play.”

He then placed the steaming cup before the hooked-nose man, smiling, “My rash move earlier was uncalled for. Please forgive me. Let me offer this cup as a peace offering. I hope you’ll grant me some face.”

The three froze. Who could drink such scalding wine? Drinking it would burn the tongue; suppressing it with inner power would eventually force vomiting.

If they refused, it would be seen as disrespect, making a fight inevitable.

Originally intending to intimidate Zhang, the officers had been outplayed.

The hooked-nose man stared at the cup, troubled. Drink or not drink—both options were difficult.

The big man laughed again, “Haha, it’s a misunderstanding. No fight, no fight. Waiter! Charge this table to us, got it?”

The waiter didn’t hear, but Zhang did, and he set the cup down.

Finally, the felt-hat man smiled warmly, “I am Yi Pichongtian. May I ask your honorable name, friend?”

Such a name was familiar to Zhang. Yi Pichongtian was renowned in the Six Doors as the star detective of Qiongzhou, a fifth-rank expert famed for high efficiency—over 500 underworld figures had fallen to him. Rumor had it he was striving to become a “Grand Imperial Detective,” no friend to the wicked.

A star detective from Qiongzhou appearing here hinted at a major case near Fengling Ferry, serious enough to pull him far from his jurisdiction.

Yi Pichongtian’s candid introduction was no invitation for friendship.

Zhang wisely responded, knowing lies would be uncovered, “My name is Wu Li Zhengfu Yiqie—Force Conquers All.”

Upon hearing this, the hooked-nose man finally spoke coldly, “I know of you. You’re a wanted man—wanted in Chuanzhou for stealing the Blood Parrot Flower from Elder Shui Yimeng of the Tang Sect and for maliciously killing many disciples.”

Zhang inwardly sighed. Star detectives indeed had impeccable memories, recalling every warrant across the Central Plains. He respected their professionalism.

Clearly, justice was no easy path; only the capable could play this game.

Expecting hostility, Zhang was surprised when Yi Pichongtian laughed as if hearing a good joke.

Curious, Zhang asked, “You don’t intend to arrest me?”

“Arrest you? Why would we?” Yi Pichongtian looked puzzled. “You’re wanted in Chuanzhou, not Qiongzhou. Besides, this is Chenzhou. Why would I meddle in others’ affairs?”

Zhang understood: a shocking case had occurred nearby, and in the eyes of these star detectives, he was but a minor ripple—not worth their effort.

They handled the big cases, the major players, the significant affairs. His own conflicts with the Tang Sect were irrelevant to them. Even if he had decimated several sects in Chuanzhou, what concern was it of theirs?

Yi Pichongtian continued, “So, Brother Wu, you come from Chuanzhou?”

Zhang replied, “I’m from Yuezhou.”

Yi Pichongtian nodded slowly but firmly, clearly satisfied with Zhang’s honest answer. With his experience, any deception would have been obvious.

He smiled and asked, “What brings you to Chenzhou? Meeting friends for a dungeon run? Or visiting the pleasure houses in Yangzhou City?”

Zhang answered plainly, “I’m on a mission.”

“A mission? What kind? Assigned by a player or an NPC?”

He questioned thoroughly, unwilling to let things drop.

Zhang said, “By an NPC—from Lingyin Fairy at the Seven Saints Yaoguang Palace of the Shushan Sword Sect.”

Yi Pichongtian nodded again, still satisfied. “May I ask where the mission is located?”

Though normally forbidden from prying into players’ secrets, exceptional circumstances compelled the question.

“In Zhouzhuang, Fengling Ferry—exactly 300 li from here.”

At this, Yi Pichongtian’s smile vanished utterly, and the faces of the big man and hooked-nose man darkened as well.