Chapter 27: The Mysterious Figure in White Robes

Under the cover of night, Tong Jin moved swiftly through the empty streets of the Drainage City, heading rapidly toward the southern river dock. By now, he had donned the hideous mask gifted by the ghost doctor. This mask was extraordinary—soft and thin, it adhered to his face by means of the sweat on his skin, blending seamlessly as if it were a second layer of flesh. His eyes, nostrils, and mouth were perfectly exposed, while delicate wrinkles and soft folds concealed any seams or imperfections, making it impossible to detect it as a mask without close scrutiny.

Tong Jin wore a gray hooded robe borrowed from Nan Rongzhan, draping loosely over his still undeveloped frame. Pulling the hood over his head, only his aged, grotesque face was visible beneath. The overall effect lent him the aura of a mysterious, unfathomable old man.

Before long, he reached the dock, where a sprawling pier stretched before him, dazzling his eyes. Hundreds of massive wooden ships sat quietly moored in the dim night. To avoid unnecessary trouble, Tong Jin seized the moment when several members of the Fenglei Gang guarding the ships were dozing off. In a swift, flickering motion, he darted toward the largest vessel.

Gliding onto the deck, Tong Jin glanced up at the sky—stars glittered brilliantly, while the moonlight was faint and subdued. He smiled faintly, scanning his surroundings until he found a huge pile of wooden crates stacked high at the stern. Spotting a slightly wider gap between the crates, he bent and slipped inside.

“Heh, finally, a good place to rest,” Tong Jin murmured proudly, inching deeper into the crevice before wrapping his robe tightly around himself and sinking into a deep sleep.

The next day, he was rudely awakened by a cacophony of voices. As he attempted to sit up, his head struck the wooden crate above with a dull thud, instantly rousing him fully. He recalled then that he was aboard a ship.

Yawning, Tong Jin peered out from the crack between the crates. Several burly men were shouting orders as they loaded large quantities of cargo onto the vessel.

“Looks like we’re setting sail today. Heh, I made the right choice of ship,” Tong Jin boasted to himself, then lay back down, legs crossed, swaying gently as he waited for departure.

After nearly half a day, the men’s shouts finally ceased. Soon, the ship began to sway, and cheers rang out across the deck. Tong Jin noted that the ship carried quite a number of passengers. Carefully controlling his energy, he pushed the crate aside just enough to slip out silently.

Lifting the hood of his robe, the harsh sunlight made him squint. Before him stood dozens of men, women, and children on deck, none of whom noticed the sudden appearance of the gray-robed old man. Relieved, Tong Jin moved to a sunlit railing, settling against its smooth wood.

The massive ship slowly sailed southward along the river. As the waterway widened, the scenery on both banks shifted continuously. Having grown up in the northern Central Plains, Tong Jin had only heard of southern vistas through books and stories. Now, immersed in the landscape, he could not help but rise and watch the retreating countryside.

Lush green vegetation, vibrant and diverse architecture, and the colorful attire of the townsfolk captivated his attention. Occasionally, moved by a spectacle, he joined the surrounding passengers in their cheers. Absorbed in the scene, he failed to notice a pair of eyes fixed intently on him near the ship’s cabin entrance.

Suddenly, a restless stirring in his bosom alerted him. Tong Jin immediately withdrew his casual gaze and scanned the crowd with heightened vigilance. The last commotion caused by the corpse poison ants had exposed a spy from the Soul Guard Palace—could there be someone from the same faction aboard this ship? The thought sent a chill down his spine.

Though not a coward by nature, the recent ordeals had left him somewhat paranoid. Yet after scrutinizing the crowd, he dismissed his suspicion; the passengers, a mix of men, women, and children in small groups, showed no sign of deceit.

Smiling wryly at his own overcaution, Tong Jin was about to relax when the poison ant in his grasp suddenly fluttered its wings restlessly. At the same moment, he summoned his inner energy, and a surge of hostility rose within him. His sharp eyes beneath the gray robe snapped toward the cabin. There, a figure clad in white robes was lurking furtively at the doorway. Upon noticing Tong Jin’s gaze, the figure vanished inside.

Cautiously, Tong Jin scanned the area to confirm the white-robed person had no accomplices nearby, then drifted into the cabin.

Inside the spacious wooden cabin, rows of seats stretched before him, clearly visible at a glance. The figure could not hide here. At the far end, a stairway descended downward. Mobilizing his energy, Tong Jin proceeded carefully down the steps.

Below deck, two wooden doors awaited. From behind one came creaking sounds and rhythmic shouts. Tong Jin pried open a narrow crack, revealing thirty or forty shirtless men seated in rows, vigorously rowing thick oars embedded into the ship’s sides. Tong Jin realized this was the ship’s method of propulsion. Unbeknownst to him, the rowers only engaged their oars during river bends to steer and prevent collisions with the cliffs.

Seeing no sign of the white-robed figure, Tong Jin moved toward the second door. Suddenly, the poison ant in his robe crawled out and perched on his shoulder, buzzing frantically, sharply sharpening his focus.

With a creak, Tong Jin pushed open the door. Darkness enveloped the room, but the ant darted inside. From within came a series of high-pitched, eerie squeals—definitely not human. The sound was faint but profoundly unsettling, sending chills down his spine.

Summoning resolve, Tong Jin fully opened the door, letting a sliver of light in. The room was a square storage chamber piled high with wooden crates. Behind them, a white figure watched him cautiously. The darkness beyond the light concealed the source of the shrill cries. Tong Jin realized this person had a hidden weapon; thankfully, the poison ant had already entered earlier.

Suddenly, the white figure lunged directly at Tong Jin. “Humph!” Tong Jin met the assault without hesitation, unleashing his signature Gathering Sun Palm. Now a solid practitioner of the Qi Refinement stage, his palm struck with multiplied force. The white-robed assailant was formidable as well; with a muffled thud, their palm clashed against Tong Jin’s fist. Both staggered back three paces, evenly matched.

“Huh?” the white-robed person murmured, furrowing their brows. Bringing their palms together at the chest, they rubbed them vigorously. A strange blue flame flickered from their hands, and with a clenched fist, they surged forward once more.