Chapter 47

As the group of Hui people left, Li Wucheng's mood became somewhat complicated, seemingly reluctant, but he also knew that he could not provide Huo Qingtong with a stable life at present. Even when he could enter the Book and Sword world again was unknown, and he could only sigh deeply.

While he was lost in thought, he suddenly saw a rider galloping towards him like a streak of smoke, getting faster as he approached. It was Xinyan returning.

Xinyan saw Chen Jialuo from a distance, dismounted, and led the horse to him, exclaiming joyfully, "Young Master, Uncle Zhang will be here shortly. We caught someone."

Chen Jialuo asked, "Who did you catch?"

Xinyan replied, "I rode the white horse to the dilapidated temple. Uncle Zhang was talking to someone. That person wanted to leave, but Uncle Zhang asked him to wait. They were arguing, and when that person saw the horse I was riding, he cursed me as a horse thief and swung his sword at me. I and Uncle Zhang fought him. That person's martial arts were good, but he had no weapon. He stole a chopping knife from somewhere, but it was not easy to use. After more than twenty rounds, Uncle Zhang used his wolf-tooth club to knock the chopping knife out of his hand. That person was really skilled, fighting us two with bare hands. Later, I picked up stones from the ground and kept throwing them at him. He was dodging the stones and, in a moment of carelessness, was hit by Uncle Zhang's club on his leg, and that's how we caught him."

Chen Jialuo smiled and asked, "What's that person's name? What does he do?"

Xinyan replied, "We asked him, but he wouldn't say. But Uncle Zhang said he is from the Han family in Luoyang and uses the Iron Pipa technique."

Soon, Zhang Jin also arrived, dismounted, and saluted Chen Jialuo. He then casually lifted the person tied to the saddle. The person's hands and feet were bound, but he stood tall and proud, with a very arrogant demeanor.

Chen Jialuo asked, "Are you from the Han family in Luoyang? What is your name?"

The person raised his head and did not answer.

Chen Jialuo said, "Xinyan, untie this gentleman." Xinyan drew his knife, cut the ropes binding his hands and feet, and stood behind him with his knife, ready to prevent any sudden moves. Chen Jialuo said, "They have offended you, please do not take it to heart. Please come to the tent and sit down."

The four of them entered the tent, and the Red Flower Society members followed one after another.

Throughout the journey, Li Wucheng and the other practitioners had always acted independently, not particularly close to the Red Flower Society members, but also not overly distant.

The Red Flower Society members did not think much of this. They were grateful for the help, and Chen Jialuo did not expect to be able to command them.

As for Li Wucheng and the others, they were not particularly concerned with the affairs of the Red Flower Society; their goal was to complete their mission.

...

In the following days, the group pursued the Qing soldiers escorting Wen Tailai without stopping. News from the front was continuously reported to Chen Jialuo through scouts, guiding their path forward.

After several days of relentless pursuit, they finally reached the Yellow River. After walking for half a day, they arrived at the Chita Ferry, set up their formation, and waited for the Qing soldiers to arrive.

The Yellow River bends here, and the rocks along the shore are as red as blood, hence the name "Chita Ferry."

When the Qing soldiers arrived at the Chita Ferry, it was already evening. In the twilight, the vast yellow water flowed eastward, the waves crashing against the shore, making a loud noise. A large expanse of turbid water, like boiling soup, surged and roiled.

Zhang Zhaoyong said, "We will cross the river tonight. The water is treacherous, and any delay could lead to trouble."

The Yellow River upstream has swift currents, and boats cannot navigate it. Crossing the river relies entirely on sheepskin rafts. The soldiers searched for sheepskin rafts but found none after half a day, and it grew darker.

Zhang Zhaoyong was becoming anxious when suddenly two sheepskin rafts rushed down from upstream like arrows. The soldiers shouted loudly, and the two rafts approached the shore.

Ping Wang called out, "Hey, boatman, take us across, and we'll give you silver."

A large man stood up on one of the rafts and waved his hand. Ping Wang said, "Are you mute?"

The man said, "F*ck, get on if you want, or don't. You guys, don't bother with so much nonsense."

His Cantonese was incomprehensible to the others, and Ping Wang ignored him, asking Zhang Zhaoyong and the other guards to escort Wen Tailai onto the raft first.

Zhang Zhaoyong, who could not swim, was afraid of being tricked, so he said, "Commander Ping, you go first with a few soldiers." Ping Wang agreed and boarded the raft. On the other raft, about seven or eight soldiers also boarded.

The current was swift, and the two rafts first headed upstream. After several dozen yards, they turned towards the center of the river.

The two boatmen, skilled in the water, safely delivered the soldiers to the opposite shore. They returned for the second trip. This time, Cao Neng led the soldiers. As the raft left the shore, a long whistle suddenly sounded from behind.

Zhang Zhaoyong quickly ordered the soldiers to spread out, surround the cart, and be on high alert.

At this moment, a new moon had just risen, and the moonlight covered the ground. From the east, west, and north, about twenty horsemen appeared sparsely. Zhang Zhaoyong rode forward and shouted, "Who are you?"

The horsemen lined up and gradually approached. A man rode out from the middle, holding no weapon, slowly waving a white folding fan, and said clearly, "Is the Firebrand Judge Zhang Zhaoyong ahead?"

Zhang Zhaoyong replied, "That's me. Who are you?"

By now, dear readers, you should know that the people blocking the road were the Red Flower Society members and the practitioners. They had set up a trap, waiting for the Qing soldiers to fall into it.

The Red Flower Society members were at the front, and the practitioners were at the back. Li Wucheng, seeing Chen Jialuo's graceful appearance, inwardly thought he was showing off.

Chen Jialuo smiled and said, "Our fourth brother was protected by you all the way here. We dare not trouble you further and have come to welcome him."

Zhang Zhaoyong said, "You are from the Red Flower Society?"

Chen Jialuo smiled and said, "In the martial world, the Firebrand Judge is known for his unparalleled skills, but who knew he could also predict events so accurately. Yes, we are from the Red Flower Society."

As Chen Jialuo spoke, he suddenly raised his voice and let out a long whistle. Zhang Zhaoyong was taken aback, and he heard the boatmen on the two rafts also let out long whistles.

Cao Neng, sitting on the raft, saw the enemies on shore and was unsure what to do. Suddenly, he heard the boatman's long whistle and turned pale.

The boatman inserted the paddle into the river and stopped the raft, shouting, "You guys, f*ck off, into the water."

Cao Neng, not understanding the Cantonese, stared with wide eyes. He then heard a clear voice from the other raft, "Thirteenth brother, let's go!"

The boatman on this raft replied, "Alright!"

It turned out that the two boatmen were Luo Bing and Jiang Sigen. Cao Neng thrust his spear at Jiang Sigen, who deflected it with his paddle and flipped the handle, knocking Cao Neng into the Yellow River.

Luo Bing and Jiang Sigen attacked the soldiers with their weapons, forcing them into the river, and then rowed the rafts towards the shore.

The Qing soldiers fired arrows, but the distance was too great, and in the darkness, they could not aim accurately, so none of the arrows hit their targets.