The boat had already left shore, with three other boats pursuing from behind—probably Madam He worried about her son. Mo Zi didn’t proceed at full speed. With obstacles ahead and tails behind, forcing their way through was still premature. But observing He Meng, she felt somewhat strange.

He Meng had no tiger-like features, his appearance ordinary—placed in a crowd, he wouldn’t stand out. But his gaze possessed considerable presence; one sweep of his eyes surged with overwhelming force. Could a person of unsound mind have such rational, sharp eyes?

“Brother-in-law, let’s talk this through properly. My sister is injured—can we bandage her wound first?” With a hostage in hand, he truly made her cautious.

“Where’s my old man?” He Meng’s voice was cold and deep.

Luo Ying also found his reaction strange, tugging Mo Zi to whisper, “Earlier he was clearly yelling and shouting, unable to speak properly at all. Could he have regained clarity now? Doesn’t his condition flare up intermittently?”

Mo Zi had never seen such a case. Going mad without warning was understandable, but recovering to normal without any external stimulus or medicinal help, in such a chaotic environment no less—quite miraculous.

“Does Young Master He know who my sister is to you?” Whether his nerves were working or he was normal, she’d test it out.

He Meng’s eyelids didn’t droop, his face didn’t move. “Stop trying to probe me. Whether enemies or allies, we both know full well. Where’s my old man? That appearance of him slumped over just now might have fooled my mother, but not me. Where was the drunkenness? He’s actually dead, isn’t he?”

Mo Zi stepped back and shouted, “You’ve been faking madness?”

Zan Jin positioned himself in front of Mo Zi.

He Meng laughed coldly. “If I don’t fake madness, should I die together with that foolish father of mine? It’s always been this way—not knowing his own weight, always trying to overreach, resulting in losing the stronghold and only being able to act as thugs. But when a real opportunity came, he didn’t know how to seize it. Just as he stepped onto the right path, he uselessly let the court’s honeyed words deceive him into surrendering.”

“You disagreed with accepting amnesty?” He really was faking!

“My father doesn’t care for me. If I said I disagreed, he’d only consider it my ignorance.” He Meng’s gaze suddenly turned fierce. “Speak quickly—is he dead or not?”

“He’s dead.” The one speaking was Duan Geshou, who had already been rescued. “A’Meng, from now on you don’t need to fake madness and play the fool, worried he’ll harm you.”

“Second Chief!” Seeing Duan Geshou, He Meng was overjoyed. “You’ve truly escaped.”

Duan Geshou’s deep, profound gaze fell on Mo Zi’s face. “For that, I must thank Miss Mo Zi for her righteous assistance.”

Mo Zi furrowed her brow and said nothing.

“A’Meng, don’t let your hand go soft. Our only way to control this boat’s direction is through your delicate wife.” The corners of Duan Geshou’s lips curved upward.

“Duan Geshou, you’re breaking your word!” Su Lan was a witness to that day’s “transaction scene.”

“How am I breaking my word?” Duan Geshou had sufficient reasons to explain his character. “I promised not to expose you all, so He Hu died so easily at your hands. And I also promised—” His eyes looked toward Mo Zi.

“What you asked me to do.” He said, “Naturally must wait until I return to Daqiu, and isn’t something achievable in a single day. You can’t say I’ve broken my promise.”

Mo Zi’s brows smoothed as she smiled. “Correct, you haven’t broken your word—you’ve merely exploited a loophole. It’s my fault for being overconfident, acting like Mister Dongguo and unnecessarily saving you, this wolf. So what now? Do you want me to escort you further, or do you want to capture me and take me back to claim credit and rewards?”

“Both.” Duan Geshou spoke bluntly.

“You think that with a hostage in hand, we fear you?” Ding Gou tried to act cool. “That woman has nothing to do with Mo Zi. Kill her or torture her as you please.”

“You all don’t fear me, but she does.” Duan Geshou’s gaze never left Mo Zi. He’d heard too much about her and could strike directly at her weakness. One’s conduct and way of handling matters could be learned and changed, but one’s essential nature was difficult to wear away. She was kind.

Mo Zi felt somewhat angry and somewhat vexed, but had to admit, “I do fear it. She and I aren’t unrelated—we’re friends.”

Ding Gou sighed. “Don’t you understand what it means to pretend not to care?”

“I do, but that trick won’t work on him.” Because the opponent had seen through her.

Duan Geshou sat on the iron post for tying cables, his expression composed. “Willing to go through fire and water for friends—you’re not only wise and discerning, but also benevolent and righteous. Duan Geshou admires this.”

“Benevolence and righteousness are meant to be exploited by villains. You needn’t admire it, and I don’t care for your admiration.” Mo Zi smiled elegantly.

“Fine then, let’s get straight to the point. The edict of amnesty—hand it over. Although He Hu’s daughter was the first to let it slip, it was I who told you where it was hidden. Allow me to claim this merit once.” Duan Geshou extended his open palm.

“What do you want the edict for?” Mo Zi’s mind started working.

“Miss, you cannot give it to him.” Su Lan had already thought of it. “Without the edict, He Hu isn’t a traitor, but an innocent hero killed by us. It would put the Yiyuan Army in the wrong, losing moral standing and popular support. Daqiu, on the other hand, would elevate He Meng, and the Zicao forces would become Daqiu’s vanguard.”

“What an excellent scheme of killing with a borrowed knife.” Mo Zi’s thoughts aligned with Su Lan’s. “Duan Geshou, you’ve taught me a lesson. Henceforth I’ll never easily trust others again.”

Duan Geshou shook his head to correct her. “Enemies.”

Mo Zi smiled with narrowed eyes. “Look at me, making such a foolish mistake, forgetting that when conflicts escalate to nation versus nation, though I have no personal grievance with you, we’re enemies, not friends.”

“Miss Mo Zi, while I still have patience, give me the edict. Otherwise, your friend’s body will gain another hole. I see she seems quite delicate—one more stab and she’ll probably faint.” Calling her Miss Mo Zi, Duan Geshou raised his brows—better sounding than Empress.

“From what I see, you’re more anxious about her life and death. If she dies, I’m relieved and you’re in trouble. Without a hostage, and with me so angry from your schemes that I’m humiliated, I’ll definitely seek double revenge against you.” Her kindness had limits—do one’s best and leave the rest to fate, also depending on the degree of the opponent’s provocation. “I can’t give you the edict for now. Come to think of it, why should I give it? Once you capture me and take me back, everything on this ship will be yours anyway.”

“Because I don’t dare underestimate you. What if the same situation as last time occurs—you’re right before my eyes yet still escape.” Once bitten, twice shy. Duan Geshou’s palm remained turned upward, his tone somewhat stern. “Hand it over.”

“We’re on the river.” She wouldn’t run. The boat was hers.

“A’Meng, slice off an ear.” Duan Geshou wouldn’t let her delay.

Hearing these words, Wu Youyan’s expression nearly crumpled into tears, but she stubbornly bit her lip tight, not uttering a single weak word.

“Wait, I’ll give it to you.” Mo Zi really wanted to curse. A stab was one thing, but if a beauty lost an ear, she might as well be dead. She took out the yellow silk that hadn’t yet warmed in her possession and threw it out forcefully.

Duan Geshou’s body moved light as a swallow—he kicked off, grabbed the mast, spun in a circle, and the yellow silk was in hand. “Don’t waste your efforts scheming to throw it in the water thinking you can fish it out.” Having said this, he lit his tinder as if to burn it.

“This is still Tiger Stronghold.” Mo Zi said coolly. “If you burn it, with He Hu already dead, He Meng becomes the rightful new Tiger King. On his territory, are you necessarily safe?”

“Second Chief, I’ve always obeyed you—I’m not even sad about Father’s death. Don’t listen to her sowing discord!” He Meng grew anxious. “You promised me you’d burn this thing to ashes.”

“People change when they gain power. When you helped his father, didn’t he gratefully promise how he’d repay you and such? What happened? You had to seek help from enemies.” Mo Zi fanned the flames.

Duan Geshou tucked the silk into his robes. “A’Meng, it’s not that I don’t trust you, but your father’s actions have disappointed me. Now I must keep some insurance for myself. But rest assured, as soon as I see my Daqiu ships, I’ll destroy it.”

Though He Meng said nothing more, displeasure grew in his heart.

And so, everyone remained in place, forming an iron triangle with each occupying one point.

“Young Master, Young Master…” Voices rose and fell in succession—the three boats caught up.

“Meng’er, what’s wrong with you? Today is a joyous day—don’t make your father unhappy. Quickly release your wife and return to shore.” Madam He was also on the boat, repeatedly calling to her son.

Perhaps He Meng didn’t have a good father, but his mother clearly loved him. However, he didn’t move. Duan Geshou had reminded him that this position was safest—the slightest shift in angle and the opponent’s experts could instantly strike him down.

He couldn’t move, but he could speak. “Mother, I want to go on the river. Don’t worry about me, and tell the boats ahead to let us pass, or I’ll jump in the water with my wife and drown myself.” Still faking madness and playing the fool.

Madam He was scared out of her wits. “Don’t, don’t! My son, if you die, what will Mother do? Mother’s counting on you for the rest of her life. Where’s your father? That damned man only has eyes for those shameless goods. Drunk, my foot—I bet he’s bouncing on someone’s bed board and won’t come down.”

Hearing her shout so loudly with veiled insults directed at herself, Mo Zi wasn’t annoyed. “Madam He, calm your anger. All these fellows on my boat can testify that the Tiger King is truly drunk. And isn’t the Second Chief here as well?”

After clearly seeing Duan Geshou, Madam He froze. “You… weren’t you locked up?”

Duan Geshou sat there studying the cable. “There was some misunderstanding. Once the misunderstanding was cleared up, naturally I was released.”

Madam He was half-believing, half-doubting.

Just as they reached the canyon entrance, five large boats lined up in a row, tiger flags flying on the ships.

“Stop the boat!” On the tiger-head boat in the center, a tall, sturdy dark man called out. “The Tiger King has ordered that no one may leave the stronghold today unless they have his exit permit.”

“I’m He Meng, and I want to leave the stronghold. Who dares stop me?” He Meng shouted for them to let him pass.

The dark man seemed to be He Hu’s confidant. “Military orders are like mountains. If Young Master wishes to leave, please produce the token.”

“The Tiger King’s exit permit is here.” Just as the standoff continued, Duan Geshou tossed something over.

The dark man caught it and looked it over, then didn’t make further difficulties.

After Mo Zi’s boat passed, Duan Geshou suddenly turned back to the dark man and said, “One permit, one boat. Madam’s boat cannot follow. This is the rule.”

The dark man nodded, brought his arms together, and the five boats joined together, blocking Madam He’s three boats. No matter how Madam He employed soft or hard tactics, they wouldn’t yield an inch.

Outside the canyon, dawn light faintly broke. The sound of river currents gurgling could be heard. Before them stretched white expanses like clouds or snow—floating mist.

Duan Geshou was glad the fog wasn’t thick and urged them to proceed across the river.

Mo Zi didn’t object. The boatmen did as Duan Geshou said, and moreover, their movements couldn’t be slow—slowness would cost lives.

When they’d crossed more than half the river, Mo Zi spoke. “I made a mistake and deeply regret it. Fortunately, I still believe in one saying—”

“What—” Before Duan Geshou could finish speaking, a violent tremor occurred beneath him, causing him to fall and roll on the deck.

“Better late than never to mend the fold after losing sheep.”