The darkness was thick, every breath filled with river tide.

Night sailing ship, night traveling people—it should be hasty and cramped, but Mo Zi’s mood was as leisurely as spring water.

The ship had already traveled nearly half a shichen. Because they were still in Great Zhou’s waters, the lights remained very bright, and they occasionally encountered other night-sailing vessels and could greet each other for safety.

Someone climbed the ladder behind her. She turned to look—it was Chouyu.

According to modern ship positions, Chouyu was her first mate. His coordination and communication abilities were as formidable as his eyesight, so she placed him in this position. Shuishe was exclusively in charge of the stern rudder, Feixia exclusively in charge of both wings, and Old Guan comprehensively patrolled—all were irreplaceable.

“The more I look, the more uneasy I feel.” Chouyu said as soon as he came up. “Aren’t things going too easily?”

Mo Zi’s cabin was on the second level, two rooms front and back—the back for sleeping, the front for work.

From the desk through the window, she could see Wu Cheng’s ship very clearly. Shadowy figures moved on it, without any disturbing furtiveness. During this period when Xiao Er and the others had already retired for rest, her gaze had hardly left the ship ahead. Her thoughts naturally aligned with Chouyu’s—the more she looked, the more uneasy she felt.

She walked to the window and slapped down the specially made bamboo slat blinds, saying to Chouyu, “Blow out the lamp.”

Chouyu did as told, then imitated her manner, standing behind the blinds, gently pulling down bamboo slats to look outside. “So this weird blind serves this kind of purpose—quite convenient.”

Mo Zi laughed softly. “Specially for spying.”

Chouyu grinned and nodded. “Useful, useful. Speaking of which, this ship is simply full of treasures. Brother Mo—” His eyes gazed.

Cascading black hair hung down covering half her cheek, the lamp outside outlining her slender and beautiful silhouette. She reached up to tuck the dark hair behind her ear, revealing a small jade-like earlobe. Her complexion was golden, her expression serene, her profile like the moon in heaven—flawless and bright.

“?” Mo Zi heard his voice break off and looked over.

“I suddenly think that perhaps I shouldn’t call you Brother Mo anymore.” Chouyu looked her up and down repeatedly. Even if completely blind, looking at her she was clearly a young lady. “Not seeing you in men’s clothing, and moreover not hearing you curse. Just now I called you Brother Mo, then turned around and saw a beauty, and it felt strange.”

Mo Zi’s eyes curved with laughter. “It’s just a name—how could it be so awkward? In the past I feared you’d look down on me as a woman running ships, so I steeled myself to drink heavily and curse loudly. After a long time, it became hard to change, thinking that even wearing women’s clothing I still seemed like a man. According to what you say, have I changed a bit now?”

Chouyu chuckled twice. “Whether Brother Mo or Mo Zi, your conduct is naturally different from those timid and constrained women. Wanting to be a refined lady or a great family’s young miss is probably impossible in this lifetime, but you’re an undisputed female hero. No one can treat you as a man, but no one can treat you as an ordinary woman either. However, probably from wearing women’s clothing more, your feminine appearance shows more now.”

“That’s good then, saves you from gossiping behind my back about me worrying over marriage.” Mo Zi playfully blinked, but her next sentence addressed the main topic. “In your view, how many people can Wu Cheng’s ship hold?”

Wu Cheng had changed ships. From the originally medium-sized cargo ship on the smaller side, he changed to a long-distance cargo-passenger ship with about the same carrying capacity as her ship.

“At least two hundred people.” This was also Chouyu’s worry. “Strange, right? Two days ago I asked Qiao Laosi, and he said the ship we saw that day was the one going to Yuling. Today I asked him, and he said it seems there was more cargo this time so they changed ships. I don’t know whether to believe him or not.”

“Qiao Laosi is also under Yu Zhong’s surveillance. Wu Cheng probably won’t tell him too much. Rather, that Niqiu who came aboard our ship with him—I see he’s not like an ordinary gang member, and moreover the navigation chart is held by him, so he’s probably trusted by Wu Cheng. Pay more attention to his actions. Also, have your two brothers and Old Guan lead people to appear less skilled—don’t reveal your full capabilities. Those hidden points must not be neglected. All twelve shichen of the day, keep eyes bright.” If the ship ahead held two hundred people, that would be more than double this side. “I estimate that even if they make a move, it’ll be after entering Yuling. However, we can’t be careless because of this.”

“Right!” Having received Mo Zi’s instructions, Chouyu immediately went out to pass on orders.

The next day after everyone finished breakfast together, Niqiu and Qiao Laosi entered.

“Having watched the sailing all night, forgive my bluntness, but this ship sits deep in the water and uses heavy wood—it’s really not the best for traveling rivers.” Niqiu lived up to his name—dark and thin, hairless, with small narrow eyes, a flat nose and flat mouth, just like a smooth loach’s head.

Xiao Wei was best at frowning tightly. “Little Sister, you rented this ship, and the rent wasn’t cheap either.”

Mo Zi feigned surprise. “How could that be? I rented from Yajiang Freight Transport. They said this ship was big and fast and could withstand wind and waves. Moreover, didn’t those ship gang members we found also say this ship was good?” Not having rehearsed lines with Xiao Er beforehand, she hadn’t expected he could cooperate so well.

“Big Brother, the ones you found aren’t proper ship gang members—they’re independent boatmen, fine for short trips.” When Niqiu said this, the corner of his mouth unconsciously curled—an expression of disdain.

Disdaining the three Chou brothers?

“Then what should we do?” Mo Zi quite wanted to hear the other party’s suggestions.

“Your ship’s speed is too slow and will delay our schedule. The ship is heavy—best to add large oars. How many people are on your ship? Can you spare some to row?” Niqiu was still quite enthusiastic. “If you don’t have enough hands, we can lend experienced gang members, and we can bring large oars aboard too.”

What a fine move to probe their strength while trying to plant people on board.

“We just have these seventy or eighty people.” Mo Zi was honest. “The ship has large oars. How about, Elder Brother, we deploy half the people? Better than just eating without working.”

The gleam in Niqiu’s eyes faded. “That’s good then.”

“Speaking of which, can we see the navigation chart? It was agreed with Boss Wu originally.” Mo Zi opened her mouth to handle the important matter.

“About this—” Niqiu hesitated. “Elder Brother and Boss Wu said there should be a copy of the chart on this ship, kept by our side, but never said you could look at it.”

“I paid an extra hundred taels of gold for a chart, and I’m not trying to take possession of it—I can’t even look at it once?” Mo Zi was a bit “annoyed.” “Then go tell Boss Wu I’ve changed my mind and won’t follow your ship. Anyway, we’re still on Great Zhou’s river—let’s part ways right here.”

“Little Sister, don’t throw a tantrum at a time like this.” Xiao Wei appropriately assumed an elder brother’s authority. “They have their rules for traveling rivers.”

Niqiu hastily nodded in agreement.

“How about this—let my cousin’s wife take one look.” But Mo Zi wouldn’t relent. “Although she only recognizes a few characters, she can still tell whether something is a map or not.”

Yang Qiao exclaimed, “Don’t—I don’t even read books, and you want me to look at maps?”

Seeing this, Niqiu agreed.

Urged by Mo Zi, Yang Qiao finally shuffled over and perfunctorily looked. “I recognize the characters for water and map, and then there’s winding and curving stuff like landscape paintings, with some place names or river names framed.”

The corner of Niqiu’s mouth twisted again. He put the chart back in his bosom and retreated with Qiao Laosi.

As soon as they left, Mo Zi immediately took out paper and brush, spread them on the table, and quickly ground ink.

Yang Qiao took the brush and, without looking at the surrounding three people, lowered her head in complete concentration.

“What are you doing?” Wei Jia didn’t understand.

Mo Zi pulled Xiao Wei and Wei Jia outside before saying, “She’s drawing the map.”

“The waterway chart?” Xiao Wei was startled.

“Mm.” Mo Zi gently closed the door. “Did you think His Majesty sent Yang Qiao out just to look pretty? She has photographic memory, and her painting skills surpass even her brother’s. As long as she’s seen a chart—whether a map or landscape painting—she can reproduce it with ninety percent similarity.”

When Yuan Cheng told her this, she too was both shocked and delighted. Shocked that beneath Yang Qiao’s adorable exterior lay such ability, delighted that they had one more helper with photographic memory on the journey.

Wei Jia felt a bit chagrined. “Last night I was still laughing at her for coming out to sightsee. She just smiled without temper and said that’s exactly what it was.”

“She probably didn’t expect to use her skill so soon.” She had only told Yang Qiao early this morning. “During the meal, Yang Qiao was so nervous she dropped her chopsticks twice, but when it came down to it, she performed very calmly.”

“This kind of thing, you should have told us earlier.” Wei Jia scratched his head.

“If I had told you, there wouldn’t have been such natural reactions. Your expressions just now also looked like she was looking for nothing. Niqiu saw it all. The effect was excellent. Besides, I’m in charge of sailing matters—what harm is there in letting me be willful?” After she laughed, she gazed intently at the deck area. Niqiu released a pigeon from the bow.

Was this how they maintained two-way contact?

“Mo Zi, even so, don’t do everything first and then tell us. After all, naval warfare is Wei Jia’s and my forte.” Xiao Wei instinctively sensed a hair-trigger tension existing between the two ships.

“Don’t worry, once fighting breaks out, I’ll absolutely let you two charge to the very front. However, it has to be after entering Yuling territory.” Mo Zi couldn’t tell Xiao Er that if the situation evolved into double-crossing, it would purely be because of private reasons on her side. If she told him, given Xiao Er’s righteousness, she could well imagine he would fly into a rage and say things about prioritizing the overall situation. But for her, this was an important chess move that led the overall situation forward.

About half a shichen later, Yang Qiao poked her head out, her face beaming with smiles. “Done.”

The three people walked in and saw a chart with ink not yet dry on the table, with mountains and water, marked with detailed place names.

“Qiaoqiao, how confident are you?” Mo Zi immediately spotted their current position.

“Completely.” At this moment Yang Qiao was radiant. “That waterway chart was rather simple. If it were a famous artist’s calligraphy or painting, I’d still fear I couldn’t imitate that spiritual essence.”

“Here you outlined in red—was it like that in the original chart?” Mo Zi pointed.

“Yes. It should be their route.” Yang Qiao answered.

“It does look like it.” Wei Jia also agreed. “The waterway is narrow, the gorge deep and secluded, creating fierce winds and strong waves. There must be quite a few hidden reefs and shoals too.”

“Our ship sits very deep in the water—can we pass through?” Xiao Wei asking this meant he agreed with their assessment.

“If their ship can pass, we can pass.” Mo Zi pointed to another spot. “If they want to scheme against us, this would be the best location.”

At the same time, Wu Cheng was also looking at that chart.

“Right here—I want those three little bastards to die without a burial place.” The voice was not Wu Cheng’s.