Chapter 34 Drafts

In the southeastern sea, the sky hangs low.

Lead-gray clouds churned, and flocks of silver gulls skimmed across the sea, their wings almost touching the snow-white waves.

The Purple Whale Gang's three-masted behemoth sailed through the sea.

Hai Kuotian sat cross-legged on a tiger-skin armchair, his fingers grinding a pipe.

The man in the blue robe opposite him lowered his head and leisurely drank the wine in his cup.

The fire in the pipe flickered, and Hai Kuotian's scarred face looked gloomy. "According to Young Master Ding's words, it seems that I, Hai, have been blind?"

Ding Feng remained calm, his fingers tracing the rim of his cup: "Back in the day, Lin Yuantu of the Fuwei Escort Agency was renowned throughout the seven southeastern provinces, and that reputation was well-deserved."

Hai Kuotian sneered, slamming his pipe heavily on the table.

"It's a pity that kid is too stubborn. Since we can't get anything out of him, we can't let him get away with it! Perhaps..."

He gave a thumbs-up and made a throat-slitting gesture.

Ding Feng chuckled, gently swirling the wine in his glass: "The dead don't keep secrets; this method is very reliable."

Hai Kuotian narrowed his eyes, pondered for a moment, and then roared, "Wang Dezhi! Li Debiao! Go and pry that brat's mouth open again!"

"If we still can't find out the whereabouts of the sword manual—"

"Chop him up and feed him to the sharks!"

.

Deep in the hold, the stench of the sea permeated every inch of the ship's planks.

Wang Dezhi chewed betel nut and urged Li Debiao to quickly open the hatch.

Li Debiao spat and used an iron bar to pry open the hatch in the hold, releasing a strong smell of the sea.

In the dim light, dozens of bamboo baskets filled with fish, shrimp, and crabs could be seen.

Light streamed in through the hatch, illuminating the thin figure on the rack. The boy's head was bowed, his long hair disheveled, blood still dripping from the ends.

The two pirates climbed down the ladder, one after the other, to the bottom of the hold.

Wang Dezhi spat and stepped forward to slap the boy's face hard.

The boy hung his head, unresponsive.

Li Debiao sneered, turned around, grabbed a wooden basin filled with ice water, and poured it over the boy's head.

The boy's thin back suddenly tensed, and water droplets seeped along his beautiful shoulder blades into his bloody wounds.

"Cough...cough cough!"

Lin Pingzhi was suddenly jolted awake, a metallic taste rising in his throat.

The wound on his forehead was still bleeding. The boy squinted through his swollen eyelids and looked around. Surrounding him were the same two bearded pirates, their eyes still as fierce as ever.

·

Li Debiao grabbed the boy's chin, "Be a good boy and tell me the whereabouts of the sword manual, and I'll give you a quick death!"

Lin Pingzhi looked at the hatch and sneered inwardly. These bastards really do have their eyes on the Evil-Repelling Sword Manual!

"I'm asking you a question!" Wang Dezhi squinted. "Behave yourself, old man!"

"Ptooey!" Lin Pingzhi ignored them and spat out a mouthful of blood.

Wang Dezhi's eyebrows twitched, and the veins on his neck bulged. He raised his hand and slapped Lin Pingzhi, knocking his head to the side. Then he slapped him again, left and right, the sound of slaps echoing loudly.

"Ugh..." His ears were ringing, his nose felt hot, and blood started flowing down his nasal cavity. Lin Pingzhi fainted.

"You little brat, you're faking death again!" Wang Dezhi swung a bucket of ice water and poured it over his head once more.

Lin Pingzhi couldn't remember how many times he had been choked awake by the icy water. He trembled uncontrollably as blood dripped onto his clothes.

"He's a tough nut to crack."

Li Debiao's eyes were mocking. He reached out and patted the boy's swollen cheek. Suddenly, he leaned closer, his big yellow teeth brushing against the boy's earlobe: "I'm asking you one last time, where is the sword manual hidden?"

This kid let go of the Purple Whale Gang's cash cow.

The group of young women locked up at Tangxia Ferry were originally intended to be sold to brothels at sea to make a fortune. Who would have thought that this young man who suddenly appeared would ruin everything?

If this kid hadn't revealed his identity as the young master of the Fuwei Escort Agency, his life would have been in grave danger.

The leader of the Hai Gang spared the life of the Bat Prince because he had heard him mention the "Evil-Repelling Sword Manual." He had hoped to extract the manual's whereabouts from the boy, but the kid was incredibly stubborn.

Two of his ribs were probably broken, and he was in pain every time he breathed. Lin Pingzhi glanced at him and deliberately coughed at him, spraying bloody saliva onto the pirate's clothes, which immediately earned him a look of disgust.

While the other person turned their face away, he quietly pried half an iron nail off the rack and held it in his hand. The sharp pain from the nail piercing his palm cleared his muddled mind somewhat.

"Stop hitting me, confess..." Lin Pingzhi's voice was weak, his eyelids trembled, "...I'll confess."

His eyes suddenly lit up, and Wang Dezhi urged, "Speak!"

“Yes…” Lin Pingzhi hunched over, his shoulders heaving violently as he coughed and gasped for breath.

The two pirates hurriedly asked, "Where?"

Upon seeing this, Lin Pingzhi threw his head back and burst into laughter: "Hahahaha!"

"What are you laughing at?!" the two pirates roared.

Lin Pingzhi finished laughing, tilted his head, squinted his eyes, and cursed, "...The Evil-Repelling Sword Manual? You blockhead, even a pig is smarter than you! You think you can get anything out of me? Your house's feng shui must have been turned upside down!"

"You're asking for it!" Wang Dezhi punched him in the stomach.

Lin Pingzhi trembled with pain and vomited a mouthful of blood, but even in the excruciating pain, he did not bow his head and beg for mercy.

.

Suddenly, Wang Dezhi's raised fist hung in mid-air.

The flickering oil lamp cast lingering shadows on the cabin wall. In the dim light, the boy's clothes were disheveled, revealing a section of his porcelain-white neck.

"I didn't expect him to be such a delicate little rabbit!"

Wang Dezhi couldn't help but reach out and stroke his neck, secretly marveling: This kid's skin is even more smooth and delicate than the "lard white" skin fired in Dehua kiln.

Although Lin Pingzhi was as beautiful as a woman, he had a fierce temper. Any rascal who dared to flirt with him would get a slap from him. The words "Rabbit God" were especially taboo for him.

Upon hearing this, Lin Pingzhi suddenly erupted.

"You're acting like a bastard, all tangled up!" The boy spat out a mouthful of bloody saliva in disgust, turning his head away from Wang Dezhi's filthy hands. "If you touch Lin Beixia again, you'll be crawling on the ground!"

"So fierce~ I've heard that Fujian is full of beauties..." Wang Dezhi grinned lewdly, reaching out to pull at the boy's belt. "Such a handsome face, it's a shame to feed it to the fish..."

Gang Leader Hai just gave orders that if they can't get anything out of this kid, they should chop him up and feed him to the sharks... Before taking action, wouldn't it be better to have some fun first? Li Debiao rubbed his hands together, a greasy and lewd smile appearing on his face.

Upon seeing this, a terrible thought flashed through Lin Pingzhi's mind, and his expression suddenly changed.

"Come play with us!" The two pirates grinned maliciously, looking eager as they untied the boy from the rack.

Lin Pingzhi was shocked and kicked his legs desperately, using the force of his legs to push towards Li Debiao who was rushing towards him.

Having taken several hard knee strikes, Li Debiao's knuckles dug into Lin Pingzhi's jaw: "You little bastard! You dare to hit someone!"

Although he was the young master of the Fuwei Escort Agency, he had been pampered since childhood and was spoiled. His martial arts skills were mediocre, and he was at a disadvantage.

The three of them tumbled together and crashed into the cabin wall, causing the bamboo basket filled with fish, shrimp, and crabs to overturn to the ground.

With the back of his head slamming against the rack and his mouth filled with the metallic taste of blood, Lin Pingzhi became enraged. He suddenly roared and delivered a knee strike to the crotch of the two men: "Even the ancestral tablets in the house will be turned upside down!"

They were hit squarely, and the two pirates rolled on the ground in pain.

Lin Pingzhi pressed on with renewed vigor!

The iron nail hidden in his hand was plunged into Li Debiao's carotid artery. The nail was pulled out, blood splattered everywhere, and then he slashed Wang Dezhi's neck with his other hand!

In that instant, he felt a surge of pleasure!

The pent-up hatred finally found its outlet.

He stabbed repeatedly with ferocity until his tiger's mouth went numb, then collapsed to his knees in despair.

Tears had already blurred my vision.

Staggering to his feet, he steadied himself against the rack, a sour, salty taste rising in his throat. He bent over and vomited violently.

He vomited and cried, but his stomach was already empty and he couldn't vomit anything.

Lin Pingzhi sat slumped for a long time, then suddenly felt like bursting into tears.

“I…I did nothing wrong…” he sobbed, his nails digging deep into his palms, “These beasts…they deserved to die…”

"They deserve to go to the eighteenth level of hell."

He gritted his teeth and forced back his tears.

He had to leave this place; he had to escape this hellish place.

.

.

His vision blurred, and he gritted his teeth, looking up at the faint light above. Fine beads of sweat appeared on his temples, and with each step, Lin Pingzhi gasped for breath in pain.

Every inch of movement felt like a strain on every muscle and bone in my body.

For the last few steps, he practically shuffled up the wooden ladder on his knees. Finally reaching the edge of the hatch, he inch by inch, like a drowning man clinging to a piece of driftwood, rubbing his face against the deck until he crashed heavily outside.

We've finally escaped from the hold!

He had just straightened up when three shirtless men suddenly appeared from around the corner, coming face to face with Lin Pingzhi.

The pirate leader, a man with a fierce face, suddenly narrowed his eyes and smiled: "What a handsome little rat!"

"Da da da—"

Without a second thought, Lin Pingzhi turned and ran.

He leaped onto the rope ladder, and with a powerful push of his hands, his shoes stomped over the horizontal bars.

He doesn't want to die, at least not now!

He's only fourteen years old; his life has just begun!

This thought echoed repeatedly in his mind, and it was his only source of support.

"Grab him!" the catching pirate shouted, pointing at him.

Footsteps mingled with shouts rising and falling.

"Catch that brat!" The roar grew louder and louder.

Lin Pingzhi was almost out of strength. Just when he was about to despair, a half-open door came into view.

A small basket hung on the door, containing a bunch of dried purple herbs, which stood out conspicuously.

He instinctively rushed in, slammed the hatch shut with a loud bang, and with a click, plunged the bolt into the door.

Lin Pingzhi's whole body tensed up, his back pressed tightly against the cabin door.

Strangely, even though the pirates had surrounded the cabin like an iron barrel, Lin Pingzhi didn't hear any banging on the door. Instead, he heard a series of fearful curses.

"What are you doing? How could you let someone come here!"

"Do not disturb our distinguished guest, quickly summon Chief Hai!"

"..."

Despite racking his brains, he still couldn't come up with a way to escape. If he had to endure the pirates' humiliation for a chance to survive, he'd rather jump into the sea and feed the sharks!

Lin Pingzhi gritted his teeth, trying his best to hold back his tears.

Even in this situation, he still didn't regret letting those poor girls go. If they had fallen into the hands of the Purple Whale Gang, their fate would have been even worse than his.

At least he didn't let the bad guys get away with it...

Thinking of this, the boy slid down the door and sat on the ground, his chest heaving violently, and a trembling sound that sounded like both crying and laughing escaped his throat.

Where should they escape to next?

This door was no match for the pirates' ramming.

"what do I do……"

How he wished this was just a terrible nightmare. But reality was cruel, leaving him to await his fate in despair.

"What to do? What do you mean, what to do?"

A clear, melodious voice suddenly rang out.

Lin Pingzhi was startled and quickly looked up.

Beside the porthole of this cabin sat a slender woman in green. A Nuo mask with protruding fangs covered her face, obscuring her expression. She sat there quietly, staring at him for an unknown amount of time.

Lin Pingzhi quickly stood up, cupped his hands in greeting, and said, "Lin Pingzhi from Fuzhou greets this elder sister!"

"...A Fuzhou native?" The woman in blue tapped her finger lightly on the Nuo mask. "Then what are you...?"

"Sister, I am the young head镖师 of Fuwei Escort Agency. I saw this group of pirates robbing innocent women, so I released them when they weren't paying attention."

Lin Pingzhi, having given up all hope, simply recounted his ordeal in detail.

His fists were clenched tightly, his teeth itching with hatred. "In order to hold them off, I was dragged onto the ship. They wanted to force me to tell them the whereabouts of my family heirloom, but I refused to say, and that's why I was beaten like this."

"The pirates you mentioned... are you referring to the Purple Whale Gang?" The woman in green looked up at him and asked slowly.

"Yes." Lin Pingzhi gritted his teeth, seeing her calm attitude, and decided to go for it.

"Please, sister... grant me a way to live..."

·

[Ding! Respected young hero, your act of showing concern for Lin Pingzhi has been detected, triggering a hidden quest.]

[Mission Name: Reverse the Trajectory of Lin Pingzhi's Fate]

[Mission Description: Lin Pingzhi's life has been fraught with misfortune. While the Fuwei Escort Agency has not yet suffered annihilation, a conspiracy has quietly begun to unfold in the martial world. Young hero, you must use your keen insight to uncover the hidden dangers. It is recommended that you join forces with righteous figures in the martial world to intervene skillfully and, without revealing yourselves, prevent the Lin family's massacre. The martial world is rife with bloodshed; a single misstep can lead to total defeat. Please proceed with extreme caution.]

[Mission Reward: Unlock the special skill "Evil-Repelling Sword Intent (Weakened Version)"]

·

Yu Mingjiang's heart stirred: the Evil-Repelling Sword Intent?

Just hearing the name makes it sound like an amazing reward!

"Hmm, I didn't realize you were such a brave little hero... Since you're willing to risk your life to protect others, how can I pretend not to hear?"

She pressed the armrest of the wheelchair, and the wheels rolled along, instantly appearing in front of Lin Pingzhi. "Don't worry, stay here and hide. With me here, anyone who comes will have to think twice."

"Thank you so much, sister!" Lin Pingzhi was overjoyed, his gaze falling on her wheelchair, but after a moment, he hesitated.

This is Purple Whale Gang territory. Can she, a person in a wheelchair, really stand a chance against them?

If possible, what exactly is her identity?

"Knock knock knock!" Suddenly, there was a knock on the door.

Lin Pingzhi's heart sank. He realized that the pirate leader of the Purple Whale Gang had come looking for him. His eyes widened as he stared straight at You Mingjiang, his eyes filled with terror.

You Mingjiang reached out and pressed down on his trembling shoulders, her voice soft: "Don't be afraid. Since I promised to save you, I won't let anything happen to you."

Having received this assurance, Lin Pingzhi's heart, which had been pounding in mid-air, finally settled back into place.

.

·

"Tap tap tap! Tap tap tap—"

The knocking was soft, yet it was incredibly irritating.

After calming Lin Pingzhi down, You Mingjiang spun her wheelchair and sped to the door. Her sleeves billowed in the wind, and the hatch swung open with a roar. Upon seeing her, the pirates standing at the door fell silent.

You Mingjiang's tone was unfriendly: "Knock, knock, knock, never stop! Are you tired of living?"

After she finished speaking, her gaze swept over the crowd. The pirates around her looked at each other and unconsciously took a half step back.

Just then, a burst of laughter suddenly rang out: "Elder You, look at you, you look so energetic! I haven't seen you leave the house for the past two days, I've missed you so much!"

The pirates instinctively moved aside. Hai Kuotian walked over with a smile, followed by "Lone Eagle of the Sea" flying into the sky.

She was wearing a Nuo mask, so you couldn't tell if she looked well or not.

They're lying through their teeth.

You Mingjiang said calmly, "I'm afraid it's not that you want me to die, but that you want me to die, right?"

Hai Kuotian smiled broadly: "Elder You, you're too kind! As the saying goes, 'It takes ten years of cultivation to share a boat ride,' our friendship is no ordinary one. Please, just let me take that kid away, consider it doing my brother a favor. Now that you're free of trouble, you'll have some peace and quiet, won't you?"

"Is the face of Gang Leader Hai inlaid with gold or plated with silver?" You Mingjiang sneered. "How much is your face worth?"

Hai Kuotian's smile froze, his face turning pale and then red as he rubbed his hands together. "Elder You, look at the mess this has made! That kid has ruined Young Master Bat's 'goods'! If you send me to Bat Island empty-handed, I'm afraid... I won't be able to explain myself then!"

"So what?" The grotesque Nuo mask suddenly loomed closer, startling Hai Kuotian so much that his back slammed against the cabin wall. You Mingjiang narrowed his eyes and coldly demanded, "Or... are you threatening me?!"

"No, no, I wouldn't dare!" Hai Kuotian quickly smiled obsequiously, bowing and leaning forward. "Elder You, the person you've taken a liking to should naturally be enjoyed by you first. Keep him for as many days as you like, and when you're tired of him, you can hand him over to me..."

With a crisp "crack" sound, before Hai Kuotian could react, blood gushed out like a fountain!

The bloody severed little finger, along with the thumb ring it was wearing, fell onto the deck.

The ring spun around, and on its surface was reflected a Nuo mask with a blue face and fangs.

The pirates stared wide-eyed, their Adam's apples bobbing up and down, but they couldn't utter a sound.

Hai Kuotian staggered back two steps, his back slamming heavily against the bulkhead. He never expected You Mingjiang to be so ruthless; large beads of sweat rolled down his pale face.

"This is outrageous!"

Xiang Tianfei's face flushed red, his neck stiffened, and his eyes widened in anger. He lunged forward, but was stopped by the pirates.

You Mingjiang snorted coldly, raised his sleeves, and slammed the cabin door shut with a loud bang, causing the ship's deck to tremble.

Hai Kuotian leaned against the cabin wall, covering his severed finger with his uninjured hand, blood dripping continuously from between his fingers.

Xiang Tianfei quickly stepped forward and supported his crooked arm.

He stared at the severed finger, gritted his teeth, then bent down to wrap it in a handkerchief, gritting his teeth as he said, "Listen up, from now on... no one is allowed to come near here!"

The pirates responded in unison, glanced at the hatch with the purple grass basket hanging on it, and scattered in a flurry.

"Go find Ding Feng..."

Hai Kuotian's steps were unsteady. He leaned on Xiang Tianfei's shoulder and was supported by Xiang Tianfei as they stumbled away.

.

·

Inside the cabin.

After dismissing the Purple Whale Gang pirates, You Mingjiang washed his hands, put on a pair of medical nitrile gloves, and gestured to check Lin Pingzhi's wound.

Lin Pingzhi didn't hesitate much. He obediently unbuttoned his shirt, revealing his body covered in bruises, not a single patch of unscathed flesh. He sat quietly, letting her examine his injuries.

Yu Mingjiang reached out, and as soon as she touched the bluish-purple marks, Lin Pingzhi flinched. She pressed her fingers against his abdomen, gently pressing on his spleen and ribs.

She asked, "Does it hurt here? Tell me the truth."

"It doesn't hurt." The boy's shoulder blades twitched violently as if he had been burned by a spark. He lowered his head even further, his eyelids drooping tightly, not daring to meet You Mingjiang's gaze.

She stared into his eyes and said in a deep voice, "Don't try to tough it out. I'm a quack doctor. If you hide your illness, you'll be the one who suffers."

"It's nothing serious. Just some minor injuries..."

"It's just a minor injury..."

She braced her left hand against the boy's back, and suddenly pushed him with her right hand, causing his dislocated bones to make a dull "crack" sound.

Lin Pingzhi was in so much pain that he curled up like a shrimp. He gritted his teeth, and a muffled groan lingered in his throat, but he didn't let it out.

The swift repositioning technique and the irresistible force of the bone-pushing technique reminded him that the person before him was no ordinary itinerant doctor; he could instantly save him from his injuries, but he could also plunge him into an even more unbearable situation...

Be patient and don't annoy her.

You Mingjiang took out a jar of Tianxiang Disconnecting Glue, as well as triangular bandages and gauze bandages from the bamboo medicine basket.

The Tianxiang Broken-Healing Glue is said to be a sacred healing medicine of the Hengshan Sect, and also a trophy stolen from Blackwood Cliff. Later, it was given to her by Dongfang Bai as a thank-you gift for her trip to sea.

After applying the ointment evenly to the boy's ribs, You Mingjiang gently pressed it, pondering how to fix it in place.

Lin Pingzhi's breath hitched, and a vein throbbed on his forehead.

Don't be nervous, don't be nervous... He quickly forced himself to relax, his back was covered in cold sweat.

You Mingjiang unfolded the triangular bandage, folded it into a wide strip, wrapped it around his back to his chest, crossed it, and then tied a knot around his shoulder; then he took out a gauze bandage and, starting from his armpit, wrapped it diagonally around his chest, making sure it was tightly wrapped.

"Your broken bone has just been reset, so take it easy and don't try to push yourself. Otherwise, you won't be so lucky next time."

She glanced at Lin Pingzhi, then used gauze, iodine, hydrogen peroxide, and other supplies from the first-aid kit to disinfect, stop the bleeding, and bandage all the wounds, large and small, all over his body.

Then, she poured out one ibuprofen sustained-release capsule and one amoxicillin capsule, and handed them to Lin Pingzhi's mouth, saying, "Take your medicine."

Lin Pingzhi took the colorful capsules and seemed to be deep in thought.

He thought to himself: This important person's medicine seems to be somewhat different from others...

You Mingjiang said softly, "What are you standing there for?"

Lin Pingzhi was startled and quickly stuffed the capsule into his mouth. His Adam's apple bobbed violently twice as the dry capsule got stuck in his throat, making him choke and frown.

In his haste, he picked up the bowl of water and tilted his head back to gulp it down.

The water hit his trachea unexpectedly, and a violent cough suddenly erupted. He bent over, pounding his chest, tears streaming down his face. He could only wipe the water from the corners of his mouth with his dirty sleeve.

He stole glances at her expression, afraid that she would find him disheveled and rude and kick him out.

Just then, a handkerchief smelling of purple gromwell suddenly fell from above: "Drink slowly, be careful not to choke."

Lin Pingzhi froze on the spot, his hand, which was half-raised with his sleeve, hanging in mid-air, even suppressing a cough. He looked up, a hint of astonishment and bewilderment in his eyes.

Seeing that he froze, You Mingjiang simply pressed the handkerchief to the corner of his mouth and wiped it a couple of times. Lin Pingzhi's face flushed red instantly, and he shrank back, his head hitting the cabin wall hard.

Seeing the boy in pain, You Mingjiang frowned: "Are you alright?"

"I...I'm fine..." Before he could finish speaking, a rumbling sound like thunder came from his intestines. He suddenly clutched his stomach, his face turning purplish-red.

So hungry...

He subconsciously licked his chapped lips.

These days, he's been beaten at the drop of a hat, and there's not a single good spot on his body, though they haven't really beaten him to death yet. The most agonizing thing is that they've cut off his food because of the Evil-Slaying Sword Manual, and now his stomach is burning with hunger, it hurts so much.

Seeing that he was starving but didn't say anything, You Mingjiang was a little puzzled, but after thinking for a while, she could understand his feelings.

She said, "I cooked a pot of porridge, but I got tired of it after a couple of sips. It would be a shame to throw it away. Could you... lend a hand?"

Upon hearing this, tears welled up in Lin Pingzhi's eyes, but he forced them back and whispered, "Thank you."

·

·

"Gurgle gurgle—"

On the table was a small red clay stove, on which a clay pot was simmering rice porridge. The aroma of rice mingled with a cloud of white steam, and the surface of the porridge was covered with dense bubbles, splashing out tiny specks of rice glue.

You Mingjiang twirled her wrist, skimming off the white foam, and ladled the rice porridge into a rough earthenware bowl.

She turned around, holding the rough pottery bowl, and bumped into the boy's profile as he hurriedly looked away.

She reached out and handed over the warm bowl of porridge: "Drink this bowl of porridge, fill your stomach, and you'll feel warmer."

Lin Pingzhi stared at the white steam rising from the rim of the bowl, his Adam's apple bobbing. His fingertips trembled as he held the steaming rice porridge and sipped it slowly.

The rice grains are plump, and the cooking time is just right.

As the warm porridge slid into his stomach, a sudden wave of desolation washed over him, and Lin Pingzhi couldn't help but think of the rice porridge his mother used to cook. Whenever he ate something he shouldn't and got an upset stomach, his mother would always cook him rice porridge and then nag him, saying that his naughtiness must have come from his father.

Thinking of this, his throat tightened, and tears streamed down his face, falling into the bowl. He wondered how his parents were doing; they were probably searching the world for him, going crazy with worry…

Another drop of water fell onto the surface of the porridge, creating ripples that spread outwards.

"...Are you homesick?" You Mingjiang gently took the rough pottery bowl away, a scent of purple gromwell wafting from his sleeve.

She blew on a spoonful of rice porridge to cool it down, then fed it to his mouth, and the boy obediently swallowed it.

By the candlelight, Lin Pingzhi sized up the person in front of him.

This woman in green, wearing a Nuo mask, was someone the pirates of the Purple Whale Gang feared like the plague.

As the saying goes, fortune and misfortune are intertwined.

If it weren't for this incident, when he was unexpectedly captured by the Purple Whale Gang and taken aboard their ship, he would never have known how vast the world outside was.

It turns out there are such powerful masters in the world.

I used to be a frog in a well in the镖局 (escort agency), always thinking that the best martial arts masters were at most on par with my father.

A thought suddenly occurred to me: since she's been so kind, she can't be a bad person. If she really is willing to help…

“This… sister,” Lin Pingzhi said, looking at her mask, “why are those villains so afraid of you?”

Hearing this, You Mingjiang turned her head curiously: "How did you get the idea that they're all afraid of me?"

Looking down at his hands, Lin Pingzhi said in a low voice, "When those people see you, they're like mice seeing an old cat. Their legs tremble, and they wish they could kowtow and beg for mercy."

You Mingjiang understood.

He was subtly inquiring about his own origins and hers, worried that she might be an even more wicked villain.

She stated bluntly: "I am the law enforcement elder of Blackwood Cliff."

Upon hearing the words "Blackwood Cliff Enforcement Elder," Lin Pingzhi abruptly raised his head, his eyes filled with panic.

"Blackwood Cliff..."

Lin Pingzhi muttered to himself, his eyes filled with deep fear.

In the martial arts world, who doesn't know the formidable reputation of Blackwood Cliff? It's a place that strikes fear into the hearts of all.

Yet, the details of how she cared for him kept replaying in his mind. Would the law enforcement elder of Blackwood Cliff really take such good care of a stranger?

Fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, and he added in a low voice, "My sister treats me... naturally very well."

Having finally found a glimmer of hope, Lin Pingzhi was unwilling to give up easily. She was a key figure at Blackwood Cliff; if she was willing to help, he might be able to go home.

Lin Pingzhi mustered his courage and cautiously looked at You Mingjiang, "Sister, are you... really willing to let me go home?"

After asking that question, his heart jumped into his throat, and he nervously awaited her answer.

You Mingjiang smiled gently, fed him another spoonful of rice porridge, and only after seeing him swallow it did she slowly say:

"To outsiders, Blackwood Cliff might be a den of dragons and tigers, but to me it's nothing more than an ordinary place. I saved you entirely out of the goodness of my heart, without any ulterior motives. How about this..."

"Just focus on recovering. Once the ship docks at Qingyuan Prefecture's pier, I will personally escort you ashore."

.

·

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Author's Note: [Good Luck Lotus] Lin Pingzhi: A villainous male supporting character who turns from good to evil. He is a rich young master from the Fujian Fuwei Escort Agency. He is initially pure and kind. In the original work, he was about eighteen or nineteen years old when he officially appeared. Here, he appears at fourteen or fifteen years old.

[Good Luck Lotus] Purple Whale Gang: Hai Kuotian, Li Debiao, and Wang Dezhi are all pirate names.

[Good Luck Lotus] Ding Feng: The minor boss under the Bat Prince.

[Good Luck Lianlian] This is a poorly translated Fuzhou dialect I found online. Just bear with it.

[Green Heart] 25.4.6 Correction: Southern Fujian → Fujian Capital (Fuzhou is in Eastern Fujian, not Southern Fujian)

[Green Heart] 25.6.7 Correction: Sweet White Porcelain → "Lard White" from Dehua Kiln