Unparalleled medical and martial arts skills, saving the CEO's fiancée at the start.

Zhou Wantong called the next day at noon.

Ye Chen had just finished feeding Ayiguli her medicine and was sitting in the courtyard wiping his sword.

Zhou Wantong's voice came through the receiver, low and husky, as if afraid of being overheard: "We've found Wuyi Ferry. It's in Anping County, on the south bank of the Yangtze River. It's an old ferry crossing that's been abandoned for a long time. It used to be a place for transporting salt and timber, but a dam was built and it became obsolete. But recently, someone saw boats there. They're flat-bottomed boats with a deep draft. They dock at midnight and leave before dawn. I had people patrol the area around the ferry crossing a few times, but they didn't dare get too close. The place is surrounded by reeds, so it's easy to get in but hard to get out. Song Tiezhu used to go there to collect smuggled goods and said that place is eerie, even during the day it's gloomy."

Ye Chen sheathed his sword and asked, "Can you confirm that they are from Blackwater?"

Zhou Wantong said, "No, but that boat has the 'Wu' designation on its sails, the bow is painted black, and it has a heavy draft, like it's carrying ironware. Local fishing boats don't operate like that. I'll send you some photos, take a look."

Soon, Ye Chen received five photos on his phone, all of them in the distance, but the shape of the flat-bottomed boat could be clearly seen.

The ship is old-fashioned, with an extremely narrow deck, and the cabin is covered with black canvas.

A man stood at the bow of the boat, dressed in black shorts, with a lean back and a bulging waist, looking like a fellow traveler.

Ye Chen showed the photo to the ghost servant.

The ghost servant pondered, "These are Blackwater's night-traveling ships. They transport people and goods at night. They don't hang lanterns at the bow, only a white lantern at the stern. Look closely at the second picture; isn't there a white dot at the stern?"

Ye Chen zoomed in and saw that there was indeed a tiny white light, like a firefly landing at the stern of the boat.

Ye Chen nodded: "It's settled. The Blackwater people have already arrived at Wuyi Ferry, which is only half a day's drive from our Jiangcheng."

Jiang Ruoxi came out of the house, carrying two bowls of freshly cut oranges.

Hearing Ye Chen's words, she placed the bowl beside him and sat down: "If the Blackwater people settle in Wuyi Ferry, what will their next move be?"

Ye Chen took the orange, took a bite of a segment, and said, "Let's rest first, then disperse and enter the city. The Blackwater people never fight unprepared battles. They brought it here by boat, so it's unlikely to be a large force. It should be an elite group, a dozen or so people, or even fewer. After they come in, they will first make contact with the local sentries. Now that Uncle Shui and the leeches are in our hands, and most of our nails have been cut off, they must have noticed. They will either have a quick victory or change their route. I tend to think they will send someone to scout out Uncle Shui's whereabouts first."

Ghost Servant nodded: "Uncle Shui is Blackwater's last intact connection in Jiangcheng. Since he's gone, the people who come are deaf and blind. They'll definitely determine whether Uncle Shui is dead or alive before deciding whether to take action. We can make a fuss about Uncle Shui."

Ye Chen pondered for a moment, stuffed the remaining orange into his mouth, wiped his hands, and said, "No, Uncle Shui can't be allowed to stay any longer. This kind of old fox, if you give him even the slightest opening, he can turn the tables. Han Song said last night that Qiao San's men found several people with southern accents at the junkyard in the south of the city. Their behavior was suspicious, and the local police station has already questioned them. But they came prepared, with all their documents, and they didn't get anything out of them. This further proves that they've already infiltrated. If we wait any longer, they'll only tighten their grip even more."

Ye Chen stood up and looked at Jiang Ruoxi: "I want to go to Wuyi Ferry. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Since they are resting there, I will go and meet the leader to find out how many people they have and who is in charge. This matter cannot be delayed. If it is delayed, you will be in danger every day in Jiangcheng."

Jiang Ruoxi looked at him but did not immediately agree.

She stood up, pulled Ye Chen aside, and whispered, "I'll go with you."

Just as Ye Chen was about to shake his head, Jiang Ruoxi continued, "I know what you're worried about, but I'm even more afraid that you'll go alone. Uncle Gui and Han Song are both seasoned veterans. I won't cause trouble for them if I'm behind them. Besides, I'm Jiang Yuanshan's daughter, and Hei Shui has a blood feud with me. I also want to see with my own eyes what these people who have been chasing my family for thirty years really look like."

Ye Chen looked at her.

When this woman gets serious, her eyes light up with an astonishing intensity, as if a fire is burning within them.

Ye Chen remained silent for a moment, then finally softened: "You can go, but you must agree to three conditions. First, obey my orders and do not act on your own. Second, no matter what happens, if I say retreat, you must leave without looking back. Third, once you arrive, you must stay between Han Song and Uncle Gui, and you cannot stray more than three steps from them."

Jiang Ruoxi nodded: "I promise you."

Ye Chen then turned to the ghost servant: "Uncle Ghost, you've gone to a lot of trouble. You and Han Song will take four brothers and go around to the upper reaches of Wuyi Ferry tonight to approach by land. Guli and I will go by water. Ruoxi will go with you. You just need to protect her. Guli is more slippery in the water than on land, so she'll come in handy."

Ghost Servant nodded and got up to find Han Song to arrange manpower.

Aygul jumped out of the upstairs window and landed in the courtyard like a black cat.

When Ye Chen explained his plan, she simply replied, "I'll swim there; it'll be faster than a boat."

Ye Chen smiled, took out a lollipop from his pocket, unwrapped it, and stuffed it into her mouth: "Eat more sweets, and you'll work harder later."

Aygul glanced at him and crunched the candy loudly.

As night fell, a thin mist rose over the river again.

Ye Chen and Ayiguli didn't take the right path; instead, they pushed a borrowed small wooden raft into the river through the reeds.

The raft was extremely narrow; Ayiguli held the oar, and Ye Chen held the sword.

Neither of them spoke; the only sound was the soft thud of the oars hitting the water, like a blade slowly slicing through the night.

The current was gentle, and the raft drifted downstream. About two hours later, a vast expanse of dark reeds appeared on the opposite bank. That was Wuyi Ferry.

The boat is still docked at the ferry terminal.

A flat-bottomed boat, black as a shuttle, with a white lantern still lit at the stern, a lonely white dot, like the eye of a dead fish.

There were several dilapidated thatched huts on the shore, one of which faintly emitted a tiny ray of light.

The surroundings were eerily quiet; even the chirping of insects was barely audible. Ye Chen instructed Ayiguli to hide the raft deep in the reeds, and the two waded ashore, making their way along the muddy ground towards the thatched hut.

As Ye Chen approached the thatched hut, he heard someone speaking softly inside.

The sound was like a piece of iron grinding against rough pottery, intermittent and broken.

Ye Chen couldn't hear clearly, only catching a few words: "Uncle Shui... is missing... find a boat... move against Jiang Ruoxi first."

Ye Chen's eyes suddenly turned cold.

Ye Chen glanced at Ayiguli, who had already placed her hand on the hilt of the knife.

Ye Chen gently patted her wrist, signaling her to calm down.

This is exactly what Ye Chen wants to hear.

They really were going to make a move against Jiang Ruoxi.

By this time, Guipu and Han Song, along with their men, should have already come down from upstream.

Ye Chen didn't wait any longer and gestured to Aygul.

The two men, like two plumes of black smoke, rushed out from the left and right sides of the thatched hut simultaneously.

The thatched hut instantly erupted into chaos, with lights overturned and people darting about.

Ye Chen kicked open the broken door and, by the light of the overturned candle, saw about seven or eight people inside, each with a fierce look on their face.

Ye Chen drew the Ku Zhao Sword. The sword light was only a thin line in the dark night, but it was as cold as if it had cut through the fog of an entire river.

"Anyone who touches Jiang Ruoxi, I'll send them on their way first." Ye Chen's voice wasn't loud, but it pierced everyone's ears like a knife.