Chapter 32
The snow completely blocked the Tonghui River.
The black-sailed boat struggled to break through the murky ice and heavy snow, sailing alone onto the main artery of the Grand Canal. Only gray and white remained between heaven and earth. The once bustling towns and endless granaries on both sides were now swallowed by thick snow, their outlines blurred and deathly silent. Only the biting north wind, like an invisible whip, lashed the empty river, stirring up snow foam with a shrill shriek that poured into the narrow cracks of the boat's cabin.
The ship's hull rocked violently with the wind and waves, each jolt causing the oil lamp hanging from the low cabin ceiling to swing violently. The dim light danced wildly on the cabin wall, stretching Gu Linzhi's sitting figure, sometimes longer, sometimes shorter, making him look like a ghost. He was still dressed in black, leaning against the cabin wall, with Ge Ping's old account book, soaked in blood and tears, spread out on his knees. His fingertips slid across the rough, yellowed paper, pausing on a few lines of crooked handwriting:
"...On February 21st of the Jiachen year, we were transporting 300 bags of 'green salt', escorted by Zhou Fu and Zhang Lu'er... That night we passed Heishiji. There was no wind, and the water was calm..."
Next to the account book lay the battered camphorwood chest, number 7. Its lid tightly shut, it stood silently in the shadows of the cabin corner, like a tombstone guarding countless souls. Outside, the wind and snow howled, but inside, only the faint hum of the burning oil lamp and the rustling of the account book pages filled the stagnant air, filled with the cold, fishy scent of stale paper, tung oil, and river water.
"Sir, we're almost at the Linqing Lock." The old boatman's hoarse voice, wrapped in wind and snow, squeezed through the cracks in the black sail, with a sense of exhaustion frozen by the bitter cold. "It's so cold, I'm afraid the lock officials are all huddled in their rooms, warming themselves by the fire. It'll take some time to pass through the lock."
Gu Linzhi's eyes did not leave the account book, and he only nodded very slightly. Linqing Lock, the throat of the canal, with towering embankments on both sides, is a dead end for an ambush. He closed the account book and casually placed it on the camphorwood box. The light in the cabin suddenly dimmed a bit, and his dark figure almost blended into the darkness of the corner. Only the scar on his face, which looked particularly deep under the light of the snow, revealed a hint of coldness like a blade. He adjusted his sitting posture, seemingly casually, but the muscles in his shoulders and back were silently tensed under his black clothes, like a bowstring ready to be released. His hand naturally dropped and pressed lightly on the deck beside him, only a thin layer of board away from the narrow bayonet hidden in the secret compartment.
Amidst the blizzard, the black-sailed boat slid inch by inch toward the towering stone gates that jutted from the riverbank like the fangs of a giant beast. The gatehouses were reduced to a hazy, sinister silhouette in the snow. The river was squeezed here, its velocity accelerating dramatically, carrying with it even more floating ice that clashed against the boat with a teeth-grinding crunching sound. The embankments on both sides were blanketed in snow, a vast expanse of white. All that could be seen was the wind and snow.
Just as the bow of the ship was about to enter the narrow waterway between the two locks——
“Buzz!”
A dull, heart-stopping tremor of the bowstring tore through the whistling wind and snow! It was not the sharp sound of an ordinary arrow piercing the air, but the terrifying low hum with destructive weight produced by the instant release of some huge mechanical force, the violent rebound of the bow arm squeezing the air!
A blurry black shadow, thicker than a child's arm, shot out from the shadow of the towering embankment on the left at a speed indiscernible to the naked eye, like a venomous fang shot from the abyss of hell, carrying with it a biting cold wind and the breath of death! Its target was the low cabin of the sloop!
Time seemed to be frozen for a moment.
“Crack! Boom!”
A sharp crack and the shattering sound of sawdust erupted almost simultaneously! The terrifying arrow, with devastating force, pierced the side of the cabin! The sturdy black-sailed hull seemed as fragile as paper before it. A massive, jagged hole was instantly torn through the thick planking, and sawdust mixed with snow blasted into the cabin like an explosion! Icy river water immediately rushed in through the hole!
The oil lamp was knocked off its hook by the violent shock wave, smashed against the deck, and shattered with a "snap", and the last bit of dim light was completely extinguished. The cabin was plunged into darkness and chaos.
"Ugh!" A short, muffled groan came from the old boatman at the bow, followed by the "plop" sound of a heavy object falling into the water.
The moment the massive arrow pierced the wall, Gu Linzhi's body tumbled toward the starboard side like a ghost. Cold sawdust brushed his cheek, sharp fragments slicing through his black robe. The icy canal water instantly soaked through half of his robe, sending a piercing chill piercing his bones. He clung to a reinforced beam in the cabin with one hand, steadying himself. In the absolute darkness, his icy eyes instantly locked onto the direction of the massive arrow—an abandoned watchtower half-hidden by snow, midway along the left bank of the embankment.
However, the murderous intent did not cease even for a moment because of this shocking arrow.
Almost at the same time as the hull broke and the river water rushed in——
"Chirp—chirp—chirp!"
An eerie whistle, incredibly sharp, high-pitched, and at a frequency so rapid it surpassed the limits of ordinary human hearing, erupted without warning! This sound was incredibly penetrating, ignoring the obstruction of the wind and snow and the whimpering of the river. Like countless icy needles, it pierced deep into the eardrums and pierced the brain! It wasn't a single tone, but rather a frantic, rapid rhythm of continuous crescendos, accumulations, and oscillations. With an inhuman coldness and mechanical precision, it instantly filled the entire narrow sluice channel!
Buzzing copper whistle!
Gu Linzhi's pupils suddenly contracted! The detailed description of the Beidi secret copper whistle controlling the assassins flashed through his mind. This sound was the fuse! The target was the bottom of the ship!
His thoughts raced, his body reacting before his conscious awareness could. The muscles in his arms gripping the crossbar tensed, and he exerted force. Like a weightless shadow, he used the centrifugal force of the ship's uncontrolled spin in the rapids to launch himself backwards towards the massive hole torn by the crossbow!
Just as his body left the cabin deck and was about to sink into the icy river water—
“BOOM——!!!”
A devastating explosion erupted from the bottom of the ship!
A crimson fireball, swathed with scorching air, shattered planks, and murky river water, soared into the sky like a volcanic eruption! The powerful shockwave tore the already rickety pontoon boat into countless burning fragments! The blazing flames greedily licked the falling snowflakes, instantly evaporating vast expanses of white vapor, which then rapidly cooled in the biting wind, transforming into scalding raindrops that crackled and fell.
Gu Linzhi's figure, illuminated by the blast's flames, resembled a black leaf swept by a raging wind, hurled into the icy canal's current by the violent gusts of air! The immense water pressure and the scorching air squeezed his body simultaneously, and icy water instantly poured into his ears and noses. He fought back the dizziness and suffocation brought on by the explosion, his body instinctively curling up in the murky water, releasing the force. Like a slippery black fish, he followed the undercurrent created by the explosion and the chaotic underwater whirlpool, diving deeper into the riverbed.
Above the water, burning fragments of the wreckage, still smoldering with flames, drifted in the wind and snow, thick smoke billowing, and the pungent smell of gunpowder and burnt wood filled the icy air.
On the left bank embankment, in the shadow of the abandoned watchtower.
A towering figure, as imposing as an iron tower, slowly stood upright. He lowered the enormous, ferocious crossbow, which required a capstan to wind. The cold metal arm shone dimly in the snow. He was dressed in a tight-fitting suit, covered by a gray-white robe for camouflage in the snow. His face was covered by a half-finished metal mask, revealing only a pair of emotionless, beast-like eyes, fixed intently on the burning wreckage and swirling whirlpools on the river below.
It was Han Meng.
Behind him, two other crossbowmen in similar attire stood silently, their eyes empty and their movements stiff, like puppets controlled by invisible strings. They were the assassins driven by the sound of the copper whistle.
Han Meng's gaze swept across the water, but he didn't see the expected floating corpse. A fierce glint flashed in his eyes, and he pulled something from his back. It was a strangely shaped weapon, forged from fine steel, consisting of three short pistols connected by a dense black gold chain. The spearhead glowed with a cold, poisonous blue light. It was his signature weapon, the poisoned chain gun!
"Not completely dead yet?" Han Meng's voice, hoarse and low, pierced through his mask, carrying the texture of metallic friction, filled with bloodthirsty excitement and a hint of anger at having his prey escape. "Then I'll make up for it!"
He shook his wrist violently!
“Crash!”
Like an enraged blue python, the poisoned chain gun instantly broke free. With the piercing sound of chain links rubbing against each other and a shrieking sound that ripped through the air, it thrust with uncanny precision, piercing the murky, bubbling water several feet downstream from where Gu Linzhi had entered the water. The gun's tip aimed directly at the vital spot on the figure's back, the lurking figure beneath the water. The dark blue venom reflected in the snowy water was eerie and deadly!
The icy river water was like thousands of steel needles, piercing through Xuan Yi's clothes and into his bones. The underwater view was murky, with only the swaying, distorted crimson light of the burning wreckage. The roar of the explosion and the impact of the water buzzed in his ears, but Gu Linzhi's mind was tempered by the biting cold, becoming unusually clear.
The skin on the back suddenly tensed up, and an extremely sharp murderous intent, like an icy awl, stabbed at him fiercely!
Chain gun! Poison light!
Gu Linzhi twisted violently in the water! The movement was minimal, yet lightning-fast, maximizing the resistance his body created in the current. The poison-infused dark blue spear tip barely brushed against his black robe beneath his ribs. The cold metal and toxic odor instantly brushed against his skin, stirring a small shudder.
Having narrowly avoided the fatal shot, Gu Linzhi's body was swept downward by the current. In the murky water, he saw the poisoned chain gun like a maggot on his tarsal bone. After missing the target, the gun body strangely bent underwater, the chain rings clattering, and the gun tip suddenly raised its head like a venomous snake, biting his throat again! The speed was faster than before, and the angle was more cunning!
Han Meng! The man on the shore must be Han Meng!
Murder was imminent, and underwater evasion was limited. A cold glint flashed in Gu Linzhi's eyes, no longer holding back. His right hand shot out from the water like lightning, his fingers hooked, not to grab the deadly spear tip, but to precisely and precisely grab the black gold link connecting the middle section of the chain gun to the second section!
“clang!”
A dull sound of metal clashing exploded under the water!
Gu Linzhi's fingers clasped the cold chain tightly. The immense force of the impact numbed his arm, and his knuckles instantly cracked, a streak of crimson spreading in the water. The venomous force of the snake was stifled by this daring grip! Han Meng had clearly not expected the other party to be so audacious in grabbing his weapon underwater, and his chain gun's movement faltered.
It's this moment of stagnation!
With the force of the chain, Gu Linzhi's body shot like an arrow, breaking through the turbid river water and rushing upstream! His target was the steep stone foundation of the dam, which was covered with slippery moss and ice chips under the water!
Han Meng stood at the edge of the embankment's watchtower, feeling the overwhelming force and momentary stagnation from the chain-gun. A ferocious curve formed at the corners of his mouth beneath his metal mask. "Looking for death!" he growled, his muscles tensing as he yanked back with a fierce force from his wrist! He intended to drag the reckless creature from the water, gun and all, out of the water, then nail him to the riverbank with one shot!
However, the force he pulled back with all his might was like a drop in the ocean!
The force from the chain gun suddenly vanished, replaced by a resolute, reverse push! It was as if the person underwater had not only given up resistance, but had instead followed the force of the pull, pouring all their strength into the chain, accelerating towards the dam!
Han Meng was experienced and realized immediately that something was wrong. He wanted to reduce the force and change his tactics, but he was half a step too late!
"Bang!"
A dull roar came from under the waterline of the dam!
In the muddy river, Gu Linzhi's body was like a battering ram. With the huge force of Han Meng's pull back as a boost, his feet stomped hard on the solid stone foundation of the embankment! The huge reaction force was instantly transmitted through the chain!
Han Meng, on the shore, felt an overwhelming force hurling him backwards along the chain gun! His massive frame stumbled, his footing unstable, and he slid toward the edge of the embankment! The chain of the chain gun was instantly stretched straight by this combined force!
Underwater, Gu Linzhi used the force of this kick to suddenly change direction like a swordfish that had broken free from its restraints. Instead of heading upward, he suddenly shot diagonally towards the deep water, away from the dam and towards the center of the river! At the same time, he poured all his strength into the fingers that were tightly clasping the chain link, twisting and swinging it fiercely!
“Crash!”
The taut chain was suddenly stirred and thrown off by the strange force coming from underwater! The poisoned chain gun was like a snake with its fangs pulled out, losing its accuracy and power. It stirred in the water in vain before being withdrawn by Han Meng in shock and anger.
On the turbid water surface, only the slightest trace of Gu Linzhi's final escape through the water flow and a few slowly spreading, extremely light strands of blood remained.
"Asshole!" Han Meng steadied himself, retracting his spear. He stared at the blood stain on the tip of his spear, barely washed away by the river's current. Then, he gazed toward the river's center, a patch of water filled only with whirlpools and floating debris. A fierce glint flared in his eyes, nearly spitting fire. He slammed his fist against the cold stone wall of the watchtower, sending shattered stones cascading down. The cooked duck had flown away! The opponent's bravery, decisiveness, and exquisite control of the water during that fleeting underwater fight had left him feeling intensely threatened.
He turned sharply, his bloodshot eyes fixed on the two men standing like wooden stakes behind him. He gritted his teeth, his voice filled with uncontrollable fury: "Go into the water! Search! Find them alive or dead! Pull up that tattered account book and the fragments of the camphorwood box!" He absolutely did not believe that they could escape unscathed from such a close-range explosion and poison. The trace of blood in the water was the best proof.
The two assassins' empty eyes didn't waver at all. Like puppets receiving orders, they took a few steps forward without hesitation and jumped into the freezing cold, murky river water with burning debris floating on it, stirring up two larger splashes of water and quickly diving towards the center of the river.
The wind and snow continued to rage above the locks, the howling of the wind drowning out all sounds underwater. The burning wreck gradually sank, the flames dying out, leaving only wisps of smoke struggling for a moment in the wind and snow before dissipating. On the river surface floated charred wood and tattered pieces of black tarpaulin, a devastating mess.
Han Meng stood at the edge of the embankment, a cold statue. His poisoned chain rifle dangled at his side, its dark blue tip dripping with blood. His hawk-like gaze repeatedly scanned the surging river, trying to find any trace of prey in the chaos. Time slipped away in the dead silence of the wind and snow, the only sounds being the whimpering of the river and the dull throbbing of the dead soldiers beneath.
Sudden--
“Crash!”
Dozens of feet downstream from the initial explosion site of the wupeng boat, near the edge of a snow-covered reed marsh on the opposite bank, the water surface suddenly broke open!
A dark figure emerged from the water like a dragon, leaping onto the shallows with a large splash of water!
It’s Gu Linzhi!
Icy river water poured down his body, soaking his dark robe and clinging to him, outlining his sturdy, yet scarred, figure, making his features even more rugged. A tear ripped through his left ribcage, the edge a strange blue hue, the mark of a poisoned chain-gun. The wound wasn't deep, but the flesh had rippled, and the surrounding skin was turning purple and numb at a visible rate, with a tingling sensation rapidly spreading. His face was unusually pale in the snowy light, but his eyes, still as cold as the abyss, held no trace of emotion, only a concentrated, icy murderous intent.
He half-knelt in the cold, shallow mud, panting rapidly, each breath a puff of white mist. His gaze, like lightning, swept across the vast expanse of the river and the vague yet menacing figure holding a gun on the opposite embankment—Han Meng. Confirming that the opponent could not pose a direct threat, he suddenly tore off a relatively dry strip of cloth from the inner lining. With swift and precise movements, he tightened it over the wound on his left rib, slowing the spread of the poison through his bloodstream. The cloth was instantly soaked with the dark blood that seeped from the wound.
After doing all this, his gaze did not linger on the wound for even half a second, but instead suddenly turned towards the muddy river water.
That Ge Ping's account book!
Under the impact of the explosion and the blast, the account book had already slipped out of Ge Ping's hand. It was the only piece of evidence that Ge Ping had guarded with his life, the only piece of evidence he had unearthed from the ruins of the Black Rock Massacre. It was the key to unlocking the vast mystery, and it must not be lost at the bottom of the icy canal!
Gu Linzhi didn't hesitate, ignoring the numbness and tingling in his ribs. He took a deep breath and slid silently into the icy river again, like a fish swimming. This time, he dove deep, but his movements were even more cautious, blending into the shadow of the current. He avoided the center of the river and followed the edge of the riverbed, relying on his memory, diving towards the direction where the black-sailed boat had originally sunk.
The water was murky, visibility extremely low. Most of the burning debris had sunk to the bottom, bubbling in the mud. Broken planks and tattered tarpaulins drifted gently in the undercurrent like the remains of a drowned wreck. The pungent smell of burning and gunpowder, mixed with the stench of the riverbed's mud, was suffocating.
Like the most patient hunter, he meticulously groped through the cold mud and debris at the riverbed. As time ticked by, the air in his lungs was squeezed, the numbness beneath his ribs intensified, and the poison, like an icy spiderweb, quietly eroded his strength. On shore, amidst the rustling of the wind and snow, Han Meng's furious scolding and the sounds of his soldiers breaking water for air seemed to be faintly heard. They were still searching in vain upstream.
Just as my breath was about to run out and my vision began to blur and darken due to lack of oxygen—
The fingertips touched a familiar, rough and tough texture!
He pulled it out of the mud with a jerk!
It was Ge Ping's thick account book! The cover was swollen and deformed from waterlogging, stained with black mud, and the edge had been singed by the explosion, leaving it charred and curled, emitting a burnt smell. But the main body of the page was still there, and the words soaked in blood and tears were faintly visible in the murky water.
Gu Linzhi clutched the battered but finally recovered account book tightly, as if he were grabbing the last piece of driftwood sinking into the abyss. Without stopping, he stomped his feet hard on the riverbed, and like an arrow shot from a bow, he quickly floated up towards the dense reed marsh downstream.
“Crash!”
He broke free again, carrying the ledger with him, and fell heavily into the deeper mud at the edge of the reed marsh. He began to cough violently, each cough pulling at the wound in his ribs, bringing a tearing pain and a deeper numbness. The cold mud coated half his body. He quickly checked the ledger, confirming that the core records were not completely destroyed, and immediately stuffed it into the inner pocket of his chest, using his body heat to protect the fragile pages.
He struggled to his feet, his black robe soaking wet, heavy as iron, dripping with mud. The cloth beneath his ribs was completely soaked with blood and venom, and numbness had spread to half his chest. Each heartbeat became heavy and slow, carrying an ominous throbbing. He looked up at the opposite bank. Han Meng's figure was still nailed to the embankment, staring intently at the reed marsh like a vengeful Yama. The two assassins seemed to have sensed the movement and were swimming towards them.
We can't stay here for long!
Gu Linzhi took one last look at the ferocious figure on the other side of the river, his mind etched with the image of Han Meng's form, his weapon, and especially those eyes that seemed to sense his fury even through the wind and snow. Without hesitation, he turned, dragging his heavy, injured body, each step leaving a deep footprint in the mud. Stumbling but with unwavering determination, he plunged into the vast expanse of white reeds behind him, swaying wildly in the blizzard. The dense reeds acted like a natural barrier, quickly engulfing his dark figure.
The wind and snow intensified. Feather-like flakes lashed the river, the embankment, and the vast reed marsh with fury. On the opposite embankment, Han Meng watched his target disappear into the reeds, his eyes blazing with rage. He suddenly raised the poison-tipped dagger in his hand, the dark blue tip pointing at the swaying white ocean, and let out a bestial, utterly unwilling roar:
"Chase him! He's been poisoned by my blue spider saliva, so he can't get far! I'll dig him out even after searching this reed marsh!"
The roar echoed across the empty river, only to be ripped apart and swallowed up by the even more violent snowstorm. Only the whimpering river water, carrying scattered fragments of charred wood, flowed silently towards the unknown south.
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