Morning light gradually brightened, and the outline of the island ahead slowly became clear. The island was lush with trees that gleamed green even in this harsh winter season. Shrouded by vegetation, it wasn’t until they sailed close that Meng Jianqing realized the island’s terrain was extremely steep. Jagged reefs near the shore prevented the seagoing ship from approaching, so they moored beside a massive reef.

A small boat was lowered.

Meihong said softly, “This small boat will take you to the island. Fourteen and Seventeen will watch the ship. Uncle Yanfu will guide you to find that place. The six from Ruian are just for hauling cargo. You can entrust other things to them, but there’s a locked red sandalwood dressing table—you must personally bring that back to me. It belonged to my mother.”

Meng Jianqing now understood what Meihong intended to do.

When the Fang Guozhen brothers had gathered their forces in this region, knowing they lacked the strength to dominate the realm, they loaded all their plundered treasures onto ships, ready to flee to Southeast Asia at any time. But when the Hongwu Emperor’s great army approached, the subordinates left to guard the ships abandoned them and fled first. When Ming forces gave chase, the fleet was scattered. What was hidden on that small island must be part of those treasures, and Meihong’s mother had been among those who knew.

What enormous sum would make even Meihong calculate so carefully?

And what did she plan to use it for?

The small boat entered a waterway with rapid currents, traveling upstream until the sun rose over the eastern mountains before finally mooring at a small bay pointed out by Uncle Yanfu. Leaving Fourteen and Seventeen to watch the boat, the other eight landed on the island.

Uncle Yanfu walked very hesitantly, frequently stopping to look around, seemingly unsure of the route. His dark, thin, aged face bore countless emotions.

The mountain path was treacherous, with many places having no trail at all. They pushed through scattered rocks and old vines, thorns tearing their clothes and leaving shallow, bloody scratches on their hands and faces.

Near noon, they finally found a small waterfall hidden in dense bamboo groves, not actually far from the riverbank. Uncle Yanfu was the first to crawl behind the waterfall, with Meng Jianqing following closely. The six from Ruian waited by the small pool. In less than half an hour, Meng Jianqing and Uncle Yanfu had found the iron chests stacked deep in the cave. Meng Jianqing counted sixty-four chests total—the small boat couldn’t transport them all in one trip. Uncle Yanfu’s idea was to first move everything to the riverside, then transport it to the ship in multiple trips. But Meng Jianqing felt this back-and-forth would waste considerable time and invite trouble, so they agreed to have two men cut bamboo while Fourteen and Seventeen built rafts at the shore, hoping to complete transport in one journey.

Even with everyone working frantically, it wasn’t until the winter sun slanted westward that they could load the iron chests onto the small boat, leading six bamboo rafts downstream.

Mountain peaks reflected in the waterway, darkening toward dusk. Ahead at the river mouth, brightness suddenly appeared with golden glints on the sea surface. In the distance, they could see Meihong standing at the rail of the ship moored behind the great reef, gazing in their direction.

Uncle Yanfu frowned as he looked toward Meng Jianqing.

He naturally knew what Meihong was watching for.

Meng Jianqing’s heart warmed, like a wanderer returning home to glimpse family waiting at the door, and he couldn’t help waving to Meihong.

Meihong also waved gently back.

Meng Jianqing was secretly startled.

Wasn’t Meihong’s expression a bit too composed? Seeing them return fully loaded, given her usual manner, she would certainly create some flourish to show her joy.

As the small boat approached, long ropes were lowered from the ship. Meng Jianqing, carrying the dressing table Meihong had entrusted to him, moved ahead of Uncle Yanfu to grab a rope and climb toward the deck.

Even Uncle Yanfu couldn’t help but secretly admire Meng Jianqing’s agile movements.

Just as Meng Jianqing rolled over the railing onto the deck, a figure suddenly emerged from behind Meihong, swinging a blade toward Meng Jianqing’s feet as they touched the deck.

Meng Jianqing drew his blade faster, crouching and sweeping backhand to deflect the single-ring saber diagonally to the right. Meng Jianqing then stepped left, pressing into close quarters. His left knee struck the figure’s left ribs. The figure cried out in pain, and as he rolled sideways backward, he grabbed Meihong and pulled her down, his right-hand blade returning to rest against Meihong’s neck as he shouted fiercely, “Stop!”

Meng Jianqing slowly stood straight, blade horizontal before his chest, watching his opponent.

This middle-aged man in dark blue fishskin armor wasn’t one of Meihong’s retainers.

Uncle Yanfu called anxiously from the small boat, “What’s happening? What’s wrong?”

The middle-aged man dragged Meihong step by step toward the railing, stood up to let Uncle Yanfu see Meihong under his blade, and shouted, “Nobody move!”

Meihong’s face was pale, her lips trembling slightly.

Meng Jianqing quickly scanned the surroundings.

Were there more of this man’s accomplices in the cabin?

He slowed his voice to avoid provoking the middle-aged man, saying, “What do you want?”

The middle-aged man looked him up and down. Now calming down and seeing his opponent was an Imperial Guard Lieutenant, he couldn’t help but be surprised. While silently calculating how much threat his hostage posed to this Lieutenant, he shouted, “First, put down your blade!”

Two more men in water armor flashed out from the cabin, apparently ready to subdue him once Meng Jianqing dropped his weapon.

Meng Jianqing hesitated slightly. The middle-aged man increased pressure, his blade edge cutting a bloody line on Meihong’s neck, crimson drops seeping out.

Meng Jianqing’s gaze swept across Meihong. When their eyes met, they immediately looked away. Meihong said tremblingly, “Lieutenant Meng, you can’t abandon me to die!”

Meng Jianqing was slightly startled, then understood Meihong’s meaning. He stepped back, saying coldly, “I must save myself first! You’re on your own!”

As he retreated, the middle-aged man realized something was wrong, but it was too late to warn his companions. While backing away, Meng Jianqing had already spun and struck, slashing diagonally upward toward the two men’s lower bodies. They hastily lowered their blades to block. The first man, bearing the brunt of Meng Jianqing’s spinning force, was struck precisely when his old strength was nearly spent and new strength not yet generated. His grip burst open, and he could no longer hold his single blade steady. Fortunately, he reacted quickly, immediately dodging aside to let his companion meet Meng Jianqing’s next strike. His companion blocked Meng Jianqing’s nearly spent blow and twisted his wrist to press the blade down. The first man immediately attacked from behind, man and blade together, slashing toward Meng Jianqing’s back.

Meng Jianqing suddenly withdrew his blade and rolled on the ground. The single blade that had been pressing him swept over his head, shaving off a piece of his hat brim. The man attacking from behind couldn’t stop his momentum and nearly wounded his companion.

Once Meng Jianqing broke free from their pincer attack, he leaped onto the cabin roof. The two men, thinking he was fleeing, chased urgently. But Meng Jianqing twisted at the waist on the cabin roof, gave a great shout, and pounced down from above. His blade carried wind and thunder, forcing the two men to nearly close their eyes as their faces stung. In their hasty retreat, they were already a step too late.

Meihong watched as the two men didn’t even manage a cry before being cleaved down on the deck by this aerial strike, separated from heads and limbs, blood spurting like fountains. She couldn’t help feeling a chill in her heart. After cutting down these two men, Meng Jianqing landed on deck, paused briefly, then immediately leaped back onto the cabin roof, apparently planning to leave on his own. The middle-aged man holding Meihong hostage hadn’t yet recovered from his shock. Seeing him about to leave, he momentarily lost composure and blurted out, “Hey, you—”

In that moment of distraction, Meng Jianqing suddenly twisted and flung his arm. A short blade secretly gripped in his left hand shot out, tracing a crescent arc in the sunset light and striking the middle-aged man’s right shoulder, penetrating to the bone.

The middle-aged man screamed as his single blade clattered to the deck. Fortunately, he reacted quickly, his left hand swiftly reaching for Meihong’s neck. But he hadn’t expected Meihong’s agility to far exceed that of ordinary women, and her composure. As soon as the blade left her neck, she quickly pulled out a silver hairpin from her hair ornament and stabbed backward blindly. The middle-aged man cried out and instinctively covered his stabbed right eye, staggering backward. Suddenly alert again, he reached out to grab Meihong but caught only air.

Meihong was caught around the waist by a long rope that Meng Jianqing had thrown and forcefully pulled away.

Meng Jianqing simultaneously leaped down from the cabin, his left hand catching Meihong while his right hand threw a short blade in another arc, slashing diagonally from the side into the middle-aged man’s left leg. The momentum was still unspent, nearly severing the entire left leg.

The middle-aged man screamed and collapsed on deck.

Only then did Uncle Yanfu climb up the rope to the deck, staring dumbfounded at the bloody stains covering the deck.

Meihong could hear Meng Jianqing’s violent heartbeat. His left hand tightly embracing her waist, was trembling slightly.

And she felt weak in her limbs, her heart pounding wildly.

In her heart, a surge of bittersweet emotion arose, almost bringing her to tears.