Chapter 226 - 36: Second Transformation

Chapter 226: Chapter 36: Second Transformation

The East River waterway wound between rolling hills. In addition to the main channel, numerous tributaries crisscrossed the landscape, branching off to the various counties under the Qing State Prefecture.

The Lin Family was assigned to guard the Gourd Mouth section in the middle reaches of the river within Qing State Prefecture. This area stretched for three hundred li, surrounded by water on three sides with its back to a great mountain.

When Lin Yan arrived at Gourd Mouth on horseback, it was just dawn.

The rising sun stained the river’s surface red. In the distance, the mountains were dark as ink, their layered peaks vanishing into a thin mist.

The terrain of Gourd Mouth was even more treacherous than he had imagined. It was surrounded by water on three sides, with only a narrow ridge connecting it to the mainland. Both sides of the ridge were steep slopes that dropped down to the surging river.

The Lin Family’s garrison was built on high ground at the end of the ridge. Its walls were made of bluestone, over ten feet high, and topped with Lin Family banners that snapped in the river wind.

Two guards with long sabers at their waists stood at the gate. Lin Yan dismounted, took out his Identity Token, and handed it over. The guard took it and inspected it carefully, then looked up to compare it with the portrait on the back of the Token. After confirming it was a match, he cupped his fist and said, "Young Master Yan, please wait a moment. I will go announce your arrival."

Lin Yan nodded and waited outside the gate with his horse.

Before long, the sound of footsteps came from within the gate, and a young man walked out briskly. To Lin Yan’s surprise, it was none other than Lin Mingye, the man he had spoken with at the Spiritual Weapon Vault.

"Lin Yan, we meet again," Lin Mingye said with a smile. "Come on in."

Lin Mingye led Lin Yan through the gate, explaining as they walked, "There are thirty-seven clansmen stationed here at the Gourd Mouth garrison. One is at the True Gang Realm, and with you, there are now eight in the Blood Exchange Realm. The rest are at the Skin Smoothing Realm. Uncle Shouzhi left early this morning to discuss matters with the Cui Family. I’m afraid he won’t be back for two or three days."

Lin Yan nodded and asked curiously, "For Uncle Shouzhi himself to go, it must be something major, right?"

"Lately, a band of bandits has been running rampant, hijacking several merchant ships in a row. And they’re smart—they operate right on the border between our territory and the Cui Family’s. Although the Four Great Clans share the same goal of guarding the East River to keep the waterway clear, there’s no shortage of conflict between us. Once the bandits cross the border, it’s hard to continue the pursuit."

Lin Mingye gave Lin Yan a meaningful look, and Lin Yan indeed understood.

It was impossible for the Four Great Clans of Qing State Prefecture to not have friction between them. Right now, they all guarded sections of the East River for a common goal. But if bandits were to intercept a ship in the Lin Family’s section and then flee into the Cui Family’s territory, and the Lin Family’s Martial Artists gave chase, the Cui Family certainly wouldn’t cooperate.

For one, the two families didn’t see eye to eye. For another, with roving Water Bandits like these, they carried all their valuables on them. Whoever caught them got to keep the confiscated goods.

"Uncle Shouzhi knew you were coming and already made arrangements for you." Lin Mingye led Lin Yan into a room. The furnishings were simple: a wooden table, a few chairs, and a huge map of the East River Waters hanging on the wall. Many places on this map were circled in red ink.

"This is a detailed map of the three-hundred-li stretch of water around Gourd Mouth, which is the entire area our Lin Family is responsible for. The areas circled in red are where the Water Bandits frequently appear."

Even before Lin Mingye explained, Lin Yan’s gaze had fallen on the map, and he had already guessed that the red areas were where the Water Bandits were active.

The reason was simple. These marked areas were either a Reed Marsh, a bay, or a stretch of water bordering deep mountains.

"In the stretch of water our Lin Family is responsible for, there are three primary bandit strongholds: the Swallow Gang at Swallow Cliff, the Black Flood Dragon Society at Black Flood Dragon Bay, and the Water Bandit Alliance at Broken Dragon Beach."

Seeing Lin Mingye point to the three large red circles, Lin Yan frowned and asked, "Why not just wipe them out completely?"

"You think it’s that easy?"

Lin Mingye gave a wry smile. "Broken Dragon Beach is surrounded by reed marshes, and these Water Bandits are extremely skilled underwater. They can just hide in the marsh and hold their breath for half an hour, making them impossible to find unless we mobilize nearly a thousand men to surround the area. Black Flood Dragon Bay is flanked by deep mountains; they just disappear into them before our men even get close. Swallow Cliff is a similar story."

"We’re here mainly to deter these Water Bandits and keep them from getting too out of line. They wouldn’t dare to touch the merchant ships of our Four Great Clans. As for other merchant ships, if they’re stopped by these three groups, they can usually get by after paying some money."

Hearing this, Lin Yan’s expression turned a bit odd. ’If these three groups of Water Bandits already have a tacit understanding with the Four Great Clans, is there still a need for people to stand guard?’

"Don’t think our presence isn’t needed. Before our four families started garrisoning this area, Water Bandits were everywhere. Now, only those three major groups remain. Our main purpose here is to defend against the Roving Bandits. These Roving Bandits have no fixed lairs—many are just temporary crews. They’re utterly ruthless. If a merchant ship runs into them, the entire vessel is slaughtered."

Now Lin Yan completely understood. Water Bandits like the Swallow Gang wouldn’t dare to overly offend the Four Great Clans; they wouldn’t kill the goose that lays the golden eggs.

But the Roving Bandits were different. They were just here for the short term to pull a few jobs, grab the loot, and run. When they struck, they aimed to wipe out everyone on board to avoid exposing their identities.

"Lin Yan, you’re responsible for this section."

Lin Mingye’s finger landed on a spot on the map—a stretch of the river roughly fifty li long. "From Gourd Mouth, fifty li westward to the eastern edge of Black Water Bay. This part of the river is relatively calm, but there are many tributaries on both banks. Water Bandits often use them to launch surprise attacks on merchant ships."