How prescient it was when Shen Xihe sent Shen Twenty-seven to Bu Shulin’s side.

Not only Xiao Changyan, who knew little of Bu Shulin except through investigation reports but even Jin Shan, who grew up with Bu Shulin, was momentarily confused by the carefree, blame-shifting Shen Twenty-seven before them.

If he hadn’t known the truth, he would have doubted whether this was the real Young Master who had arrived!

Xiao Changyan’s gaze grew colder with anger, yet he truly couldn’t do anything to the Young Master Bu before him, as Shen Yun’an, the big fish, hadn’t taken the bait yet!

With a cold laugh, Xiao Changyan ordered: “Search Young Master Bu’s quarters thoroughly.”

His men moved to act but were blocked by Zha Pu and others. Shen Twenty-seven glanced at the tense standoff: “On what grounds does Your Highness search?”

“Young Master Shen dares act so boldly because he knows I lack evidence to deal with him, isn’t that right?” Xiao Changyan didn’t even bother with excuses. “I need no reason to search Young Master Bu’s quarters now!”

The ship was full of Xiao Changyan’s men. How he treated these people—without evidence, even if they escaped and reported to the Emperor, nothing could be done to Xiao Changyan.

He finished with a cold glance at Zha Pu and the others: “Kill anyone who interferes!”

Both sides’ subordinates instantly drew weapons. Shen Twenty-seven raised his hand: “A true man knows when to bend and when to stand firm. Time isn’t on my side; I must accept fate and let Your Highness search.”

Though Zha Pu and the others looked extremely displeased, they stepped aside. Xiao Changyan’s men practically emptied the room, except for the bedding they had already searched.

While Xiao Changyan was warning Shen Twenty-seven with his men, Mo Yao infiltrated the ship with his group. He and Shen Six split up. Mo Yao’s group snuck into the ship’s kitchen, dispatched the guards, and poured out all the oil.

One person carried a wooden bucket while another sprinkled oil outside. The one with the bucket used wet clothes they had changed out of as cover. Even when passing patrol guards who glanced at what they carried, no one paid attention. This oil was brushed onto various inconspicuous places.

After completing this, Shen Six lurked in a spot where the wind would carry to Shen Twenty-seven’s room and lit a small piece of incense with a fire stick. Soon, a faint scent that aroused no suspicion drifted to Shen Twenty-seven’s nose.

He sniffed and said to Xiao Changyan: “Your Highness, quite a few people fell into the water earlier.”

This seemingly random comment confused everyone except Xiao Changyan, who processed the words, changed expression, and strode away, pausing at the door to order his confidant: “Guard Young Master Bu well!”

Leaving many men watching Shen Twenty-seven and two subordinates, Xiao Changyan quickly disappeared around the corner.

Leaving the cabin, he ordered his guard captain to gather all the guards who had fallen into the water. Just as the order was given, thick smoke rolled in and a sharp voice cried: “Fire! The kitchen’s on fire!”

Many guards near the kitchen instinctively rushed toward it. Shen Six’s group mixed in among them, secretly attacking—pushing some into the river, and when targets were alone and unobserved, striking quickly with blades.

Meanwhile, fires began breaking out throughout the ship. Mo Yao led men to intercept Xiao Changyan. When Xiao Changyan’s advisor saw Mo Yao, he moved to pull out the bamboo slate in his sleeve, but Xiao Changyan stopped him.

Xiao Changyan quickly surveyed his surroundings. With so many people, if they couldn’t kill them all and even one escaped having seen Mo Yao’s appearance, Mo Yao would no longer be an effective piece!

Xiao Changyan drew his sword to face Mo Yao personally.

In Shen Twenty-seven’s room, he remained sitting by the window. Below was the ship—jumping from the window into the river would be impossible to execute properly. This was indeed a room Xiao Changyan had carefully chosen for him.

But after the kitchen fire was called out, Shen Twenty-seven climbed out the window onto the ship’s edge. Guards stationed below, ordered never to abandon their posts, immediately drew swords. At this moment, two people attacked from both sides and four people instantly clashed.

The men Xiao Changyan had left behind were intercepted by Zha Pu and others when they gave chase, creating another scene of combat.

Shen Twenty-seven avoided these people. Whatever Xiao Changyan had done to him, while his limbs weren’t completely weak, he had little strength—unable to handle even a single guard.

Fortunately, though Xiao Changyan had separated most of those he brought, Shen Yun’an had sent many men. Those who hadn’t had time to switch identities with the fallen guards lurked in the river, and hearing the fire signal, surfaced to attack!

This led to many jumping into the river to fight, leaving Shen Twenty-seven, unable to fight, and struggling to find a suitable place to jump.

When he encountered enemies, he was completely defenseless.

While weapons clashed here and thick smoke rolled across the ship, Xiao Changyan’s shadow guards lying in ambush on the plain were alerted. Seeing the situation deteriorate, they rushed to aid.

But because of the distance, when they were halfway there, a group of black-clad men charged out to block them. Both sides engaged in fierce combat, with fists and legs flying—all specially trained fighters.

Their martial skills were evenly matched. The opposing side didn’t intend to fight to the death, but deliberately entangled them, preventing Xiao Changyan’s men from breaking through their line to provide aid.

The fire grew larger and larger. The wooden ship soon showed signs of collapse, yet both sides were evenly matched. Shen Twenty-seven couldn’t find a chance to escape, and Xiao Changyan’s men couldn’t find an opening to catch him.

Seeing that further delay would cause the ship to collapse, and knowing reinforcements would soon arrive to support Xiao Changyan, Shen Twenty-seven had to quickly choose a less risky position to jump.

Both Xiao Changyan’s men and Shen Yun’an’s watched his every move intently.

When he jumped, both rescuers and killers surged toward him.

In an instant, people converged on him from all sides, forming layers of encirclement with him at the center.

Some fought desperately to reach and kill him, others to protect him, leaving him unable to escape, forced to plunge into the river.

Though they were Shen family men, and the Northwest was mostly desert, a small portion had trained far from the Northwest, specializing in underwater combat. In the water, the resistance hampered Xiao Changyan’s guards significantly. Even when two approached Shen Twenty-seven, he cleverly evaded them.

At this moment, the official ships sailing in this direction were attacked by a mysterious large vessel. This ship’s helmsman steered directly to ram them—they had been Xiao Changyan’s backup plan.