Chapter 53: Return

By the sea, on the sandy shore.

Over twenty fishermen, divided into eight groups of three, were practicing their thrusts with long wooden poles under the guidance of a one-armed fisherman.

This one-armed fisherman was Deng Dahai from Botou Village. He had served as a soldier and was experienced in spear training.

Deng Dahai was upright and forthright, and had once clashed with the village scoundrel Deng Yurong. In retaliation, Deng Yurong used his connection with a dog demon to drive several wild beasts from the forest into the village, where they mauled Deng Dahai and tore off his arm.

In truth, had Deng Dahai not been a former soldier with quick reflexes and considerable skill, the attack would have cost him far more than just an arm.

Living with a missing arm made life difficult.

Initially, Deng Dahai had planned to recover from his wounds, then risk everything to kill Deng Yurong. But with his family to consider, he was uncertain—killing Deng Yurong might bring retribution from the so-called “Mountain God” upon his loved ones. The thought weighed on him, and he couldn't make up his mind.

Later, when Deng Yurong ingratiated himself with the wealthy Qian family in town, taking action became even harder.

With Deng Yurong free to do as he pleased, and vengeance for his lost arm seemingly out of reach, Deng Dahai was filled with hatred but powerless to act.

Fang Yue, with a single stroke, had slain both the dog demon and Deng Yurong, thus avenging Deng Dahai’s maiming. Afterwards, he coerced Qian Daguai into compensating the three victimized families, another act of kindness.

Thus, when Deng Dahai heard that Fang Yue intended to train the fishermen to defend against pirates, he volunteered to help.

Fang Yue stood nearby, observing Deng Dahai lead the training. The method was straightforward: three-man squads coordinated their thrusts with wooden poles.

This was at Fang Yue’s request. If they wanted the fishermen to become combat-ready quickly, this was the only way.

Most of the trainees came from Fangqiao and Botou Villages. Fangqiao needed no explanation, and in Botou, Fang Yue’s assistance to the two victimized families, along with Deng Dahai’s standing in the community, had convinced a few more to join.

Twenty-some fishermen was not a large number, but with everyone else busy making a living, the two villages could scarcely spare more. Had it not been for Fang Yue's recent display of authority in Yutou Town, even this many might not have come; after all, the pirates he spoke of had not yet appeared, and the fishermen remained skeptical.

Usually, pirates plundered at sea; rarely did they attack settlements, much less venture to this impoverished backwater.

Even Fang Yue couldn’t be certain that pirates from the East Sea would descend upon Yutou Town. All their preparations were, in truth, precautionary.

Fang Baomu, holding a long wooden pole, was earnestly practicing thrusts with the others.

Suddenly, his gaze fell upon a fishing boat far out at sea.

He had keen eyesight; even at a distance, he recognized the boat as belonging to his cousin, Fang Baoliang.

He dropped his pole at once and ran to the water’s edge, waving frantically. “Cousin Baoliang! Cousin Baoliang!”

The fishing boat, sails full, rode the wind swiftly to shore.

Fang Baoliang secured the boat and leaped onto the beach.

His clothes were tattered, his body stained with blood, and overall he was a pitiful sight.

Fang Baomu rushed over, shocked at his cousin’s appearance. “Cousin, you’ve been robbed?”

Fang Baoliang, still shaken, replied, “On the way back, I encountered a pirate ship. They seized both me and my boat and took us to a small island. I waited until nightfall, when their guard was down, then managed to slip out of my ropes, make my way to the shore, and escape with the boat.”

By this time, Fang Yue had also approached, drawn by news of pirates. “You met pirates? Do you know where the island is? How many were there?”

“That island is a barren one, not far from the sea route from Yutou Town to Baiquan Harbor,” Fang Baoliang replied. “I’d stopped there once before to rest, after getting lost in the sea fog. That experience helped me find my way off the island this time. As for how many pirates were there, I can’t say. After they captured me, they tied me up and locked me away. Once I escaped, I fled immediately—I didn’t dare linger. But I had the vague impression the island was quite lively.”

Fang Yue fell silent, lost in thought.

It seemed the nightmare of an East Sea pirate invasion was soon to become reality.

Fang Baoliang looked embarrassed. “Scholar, the silver I earned selling wild game was all taken by the pirates, so…”

Fang Yue snapped out of his reverie, patted Fang Baoliang’s shoulder, and smiled. “It’s enough that you’re safe. Money doesn’t matter. You’ve been gone so long, your family must be worried. Go home and let them know you’re all right.”

“I was just on my way.” As he spoke, Fang Baoliang took a step back, as if unintentionally.

After he left, Fang Yue frowned in puzzlement. When he had patted Fang Baoliang’s shoulder, it hadn’t felt like flesh and bone, but oddly soft, as if padded with something.

Moreover, as he drew near, Fang Yue detected an overpowering fishy odor. Although Fang Baoliang was a fisherman and naturally carried such a scent, this was excessive—as if he were hiding a pile of dead fish on his person.

…

Chen Xiangyu lingered at her mother’s house for a while, stayed for lunch, and endured several pointed remarks from her sisters-in-law.

She felt aggrieved—her own mother hadn’t spoken up for her. Having been sent away as a servant girl when she was young, she had never been close to her mother.

Upset by her reception at home, Chen Xiangyu took it out on her husband, blaming Fang Baoliang’s lack of ambition and inability to earn good money for her inability to hold her head high among her kin.

Leaving her family home, she didn’t return at once to Fangqiao Village, but headed into town instead.

Her husband had not returned from sea, but she felt not the slightest anxiety.

In town, Chen Xiangyu made her way familiarly to a tiny cosmetics shop.

The townsfolk here were not wealthy, so the shop was pitifully small, and business seemed slow.

The shopkeeper, an elderly woman, sat cracking melon seeds, barely acknowledging her customer.

Chen Xiangyu glanced at the meager array of cheap cosmetics on display, wistfully recalling her days as a maid in a wealthy household, when the master would often slip her fine powders and jewelry in secret.

Those were days to remember, but when the mistress threw her out, the woman confiscated everything—she left with nothing.

“A young lady here to buy cosmetics?”

A man’s voice sounded in the cramped shop, startling her. She looked up and saw a rather handsome gentleman.

The listless old woman immediately stood up, greeting him respectfully. “Oh, Young Master, what brings you here?”

The gentleman smiled. “This shop may be small, but it’s still one of my family’s businesses. I stop by whenever I can.”

Hearing that he was the owner—and not just of this shop but others as well—Chen Xiangyu’s eyes brightened.

With a fan in hand, the man approached her. “With beauty such as yours, these common powders hardly do you justice.”

Chen Xiangyu covered her face demurely, feigning shyness. “Who would speak so poorly of their own wares?”

He replied, “It’s the truth—these are not fine enough for you. Should I lie for profit?”

As he spoke, he produced a new box of rouge. “This is ‘Half-Blush,’ brought from the capital. The ladies of the great families there all favor it.”

Chen Xiangyu leaned in for a look, and the man took the opportunity to draw closer; the two were nearly touching.

A cough startled them both, and they quickly stepped apart. Chen Xiangyu blushed scarlet.

The old woman behind the counter admonished them, “Be mindful of appearances.”

The gentleman glanced at Chen Xiangyu, suggesting, “People might come in. Why don’t we try the rouge in the back room?”

Chen Xiangyu hesitated. “This rouge is too fine for me—I couldn’t possibly afford it.”

He replied, “It’s fate that we meet today. Let me gift it to you.”

She was still unsure. “A man and a woman alone…”

The old woman cut in impatiently, “Our young master is a man of virtue, like Liu Xianghui himself. What are you afraid of? I’ll be right here—if anything happens, just call out. If you want to try the rouge, do it inside. Don’t dally here and drive away customers.”

The man shrugged. “All right, all right, I won’t disrupt your business.” He led the way into the back room.

Chen Xiangyu hesitated a moment, then lowered her head and followed.