The Fish and Dragon Gang could only be considered a third-rate minor faction in Beiliang. Master Liu, the aging leader of the gang, was quite renowned; a martial arts expert skilled in both internal and external techniques. It was said that in his youth, he had once encountered a high-ranking Taoist priest from Wudang Mountain, who bestowed upon him an advanced internal cultivation method. Combined with the family’s traditional Kai Shan Pao Chui (Opening Mountain Cannon Fist), which he had diligently practiced for thirty years, many outlaws had perished under Master Liu’s fists. Unfortunately, Master Liu was stubborn by nature. At the peak of his reputation, he was too proud to lower himself and engage with government officials. Consequently, he faced numerous obstructions. When he was not yet old, Master Liu, along with several loyal brothers, managed to carve out a formidable presence in the turbulent martial world of Beiliang. However, as his old comrades-in-arms accumulated enough wealth and gradually retired from the martial world to enjoy peaceful family lives, Master Liu found himself increasingly hard-pressed to maintain the gang’s former glory. By the time he realized the need to mend relations with the local officials and share in the lucrative but shady business opportunities, it was already too late; even offering the finest gifts could not open the doors that had once welcomed him.
In the past ten to twenty years, smaller factions like Honghu Gate and Liu Sword School, which had once been considered junior to the Fish and Dragon Gang, had prospered by lavishly bribing officials and carrying out the government’s more unsavory tasks. Today, these factions are wealthy beyond measure. Not only their leaders but even their senior advisors have acquired private mansions in major cities like Liangzhou and Linzhou, where land is worth its weight in gold. Only recently did the Fish and Dragon Gang belatedly realize the importance of such alliances, tightening their belts and humbling themselves to offer tributes in hopes of gaining favor. Only then did some of their nearly lost business opportunities begin to show signs of revival.
The current journey’s destination was Liuxia City, located near the northern border of the Beiman Kingdom, under the jurisdiction of the Jian Nan Administrative Region. The Fish and Dragon Gang was tasked with transporting luxury goods—such as silk and cosmetics—purchased from the Jiangnan Province of the Empire to Beiman for resale. These goods were in high demand and commanded a substantial profit margin. However, such ventures were not for the faint of heart. On the Empire’s border with the Beiman Kingdom, lives were lost every day, and even official travel documents could not guarantee safe passage through the checkpoints. Fortunately, the noble patron behind this operation was the son of a high-ranking military commander of the Empire, so the Fish and Dragon Gang faced no serious obstacles on the Empire’s side. Their only concern lay in the bandits and raiders that plagued the Beiman side of the border.
The Fish and Dragon Gang reluctantly accepted the mission. Though the work was dangerous and only yielded a meager 10% profit, even the smallest gains were valuable. More importantly, forging a favorable relationship with the noble patron was more crucial than the silver they could earn. Last year, a senior disciple of the Fish and Dragon Gang confronted the young master of the Azure Dragon Gang for his misdeeds. The disciple was severely beaten and left crippled, and the Fish and Dragon Gang nearly had its operations shut down by the authorities. This was the difference between having powerful patrons and lacking them. During that time, the Azure Dragon Gang’s young master even taunted Master Liu’s granddaughter at the gang’s headquarters, leaving the entire gang seething with anger.
This time, serving the noble family’s son, the Fish and Dragon Gang dared not show any negligence. While Master Liu remained at the gang’s headquarters to deter opportunistic rivals, the second-in-command, Xiao Qiang, a dual-sword expert, postponed his retirement, sacrificing an auspicious date for the journey. Even Master Gongsun Yang, the gang’s senior advisor who had long retired from martial affairs, returned to active duty with his massive horn bow, joining Xiao Qiang in supporting Liu Ni Rong, the future leader of the Fish and Dragon Gang.
The cargo was not excessive, filling just one wagon. If not for the necessity of transporting it to the savage lands of Beiman, the presence of such a large bow would have seemed comically unnecessary. As they neared the border, thanks to the Empire’s well-developed postal roads, the Fish and Dragon Gang’s journey had been relatively smooth. Leading the group was a woman clad in tight, narrow-sleeved attire, her waist adorned with a green-sheathed longsword. Her beauty was alluring, yet she exuded an aura of untouchable dignity. Perhaps it was her cold, long-lashed eyes that gave her that air of unapproachability. Half a horse-length behind her rode Xiao Qiang, the second-in-command, known for his dual-sword technique. However, rather than carrying two swords separately, he wielded a single scabbard concealing two blades, a style as peculiar as it was deadly. His swordsmanship was ruthless, and the number of lives he had taken was in the dozens, if not hundreds. In the martial world, where reputations were built on the lives of others, Xiao Qiang’s name was well-earned. Many traditional martial artists valued their honor more than their lives, and the concept of vengeance was deeply ingrained. Over the years, the number of adversaries seeking retribution at the Fish and Dragon Gang’s doorstep had grown, a clear sign of the gang’s decline. This journey to Beiman was crucial for the gang’s future, and it was likely that some opportunistic enemies would take advantage of the situation.
The spirited young woman shielded her face from the blowing sand and gazed toward the distant checkpoint. Though the mountains seemed close, the journey was still long. She murmured, “Master, once we pass through the checkpoint, we’ll be in Beiman.”
Though Xiao Qiang’s swordsmanship was sharp and fierce, his demeanor was known for being amiable and kind, especially towards his disciples. He smiled warmly at his student, speaking in his thick Longxi accent, “This is only my second trip to Beiman, and I have no great tales to tell. But Master Gongsun Yang, that quiet old gourd, earned his reputation there.”
The reserved young woman was, of course, Master Liu’s granddaughter, Liu Ni Rong. She asked in surprise, “Isn’t Master Gongsun from the former Xishu Kingdom?”
Xiao Qiang gently touched his sword scabbard, sighing softly, “Every family has its own troubles. The old gourd just doesn’t like to talk about his.”
Liu Ni Rong glanced back at the wagon, where Gongsun Yang, who had always kept to himself within the gang, sat alone. She turned back and lowered her voice, asking, “Master, do you know how much this cargo cost?”
Xiao Qiang chuckled, “The goods themselves are quite valuable, even in the wealthy Jiangnan Province. It would take around six or seven thousand taels to acquire them. Adding in the costs of traveling back and forth between Beiliang and Jiangnan, and the bribes paid to various local powers, it’s safe to say that the total cost would exceed ten thousand taels. However, once we reach Liuxia City in Beiman, they’ll fetch around thirty-five thousand taels. After deducting all expenses, the noble patron will still make a profit of around sixteen or seventeen thousand taels. This silver, like a snowball, just keeps growing. As long as you have the capital, connections, and background, wealth will follow. These aristocrats, whose parents are busy enriching themselves, are no slackers either. To be fair, these young nobles aren’t all fools. When it comes to building networks, even ten of us rough warriors, who only know how to fight, wouldn’t match one of them.”
Liu Ni Rong sighed, “The Fish and Dragon Gang missed its best opportunity. If we had been willing to invest and build connections twenty years ago, we might have become the largest gang in Linzhou by now.”
Xiao Qiang looked helpless, “So Ni Rong, don’t blame the old master. He introduced you to the son of the wealthy Lu family from Yuliang not just for their status, but to help the gang. The old master only has you as his granddaughter; how could he bear to push you into a pit of fire? I’ve seen that young man from the Lu family myself. He’s a bit arrogant, but his character is not bad. He’s already passed the imperial examinations. Not only our Fish and Dragon Gang, but even the daughter of the Dragon Gate Sect (Longmen Sect), the most prestigious martial sect in Beiliang, might not be good enough for him. My words may sound harsh, but they are true.”
Liu Ni Rong remained silent, her lips tightly pressed. Xiao Qiang knew his student’s aloof nature; once she set her mind on something, even ten horses couldn’t pull her back. He decided not to press further. After all, this was a family matter, and as an old man about to retire from the martial world, he had done his duty by offering his advice. Still, Xiao Qiang was aware that his own future comfort depended on the Fish and Dragon Gang’s strength, so he harbored a private hope that Liu Ni Rong would marry into a good family. Twenty years ago, the Lu family of Yuliang was merely a minor clan, wealthy but looked down upon even by small aristocratic families. However, they seized the opportunity to ally with a powerful military figure in Beiliang, rising to prominence amidst the chaos of the Spring and Autumn Period. Though the Lu family had gained some renown, they were still far from the top ten families in Beiliang. Yet, how could Liu Ni Rong, a martial artist from a declining gang, hope to marry into such an elite family?
Liu Ni Rong recalled something and let out a long breath, her eyes shining with admiration. “Master, I heard that the new Taoist Abbot of Wudang is a reincarnation of an immortal who once rode a crane to Jiangnan. There’s also the old sword saint Li, who fought Wang Xianzhi to a draw in the East Sea of Wudi City, and later, with just one sword, killed 2,600 cavalrymen on the Guangling River. Then there’s the Peach Blossom Sword Saint Deng Ta’ao, who single-handedly stormed the Dragon and Tiger Mountain, reaching the Celestial Master’s Mansion before being stopped by the young Lu Patriarch Qi Xianxia and a descendant of the Celestial Master’s family. He only turned back after that. Are these stories true?”
Xiao Qiang, hearing this, wore an expression of reverence. “These are divine figures. I’ve never seen one in my life, so how would I know if these tales are true? As for the idea of flying swords, even after thirty years of swordsmanship, I haven’t even scratched the surface of sword mastery. But I’d like to believe that these two sword saints are indeed terrestrial immortals capable of beheading enemies from a thousand miles away. At least it gives us dullards who wield swords a beautiful dream to hold onto. Just like how we can’t afford the delicacies served in the Beiliang Prince’s Mansion (Prince’s Mansion), but just imagining them can make our mouths water.”
Xiao Qiang laughed heartily, while Liu Ni Rong’s eyes sparkled with admiration.
Liu Ni Rong’s gaze caught a young man riding beside her, and she instinctively frowned. The young man, dressed in simple but clean clothes, wore an old-fashioned single sword at his waist. Liu Ni Rong only knew that he had been sent by the noble patron to supervise the transport of the goods. He had not revealed his full identity, and his role seemed to be that of a spy, ensuring that the Fish and Dragon Gang did not attempt to steal any of the valuable items. This naturally made Liu Ni Rong look upon him with disdain. The young man’s appearance and demeanor were both impressive, and the Fish and Dragon Gang’s dozens of members were not blind to his potential. They speculated that he might be the son of a steward from the general’s mansion, benefiting from his father’s position. Others guessed he might be a distant relative of the general, sent along for training. But most of them cynically thought he was probably the noble patron’s lover. After all, who could say for sure what went on in the hidden corners of the aristocracy? The secrets and scandals were endless.
Liu Ni Rong’s mind was clear and pure, unaware of the amused glances her gang members cast toward the young man. For the most part, the journey had been uneventful, and since the young man had not caused any trouble, she had no reason to confront him. She had once privately asked her master, Xiao Qiang, about the young man’s martial skills, but Xiao Qiang had simply said he couldn’t tell. Liu Ni Rong then dismissed the matter, assuming the young man was likely just a decorative figure, a common sight among the idle sons of wealthy families who liked to carry swords and daggers despite their lack of real martial prowess, their bodies weakened by indulgence in wine and women.
The young man on his horse maintained a noticeable distance from the Fish and Dragon Gang. When he noticed Liu Ni Rong’s glance, he smiled slightly.
Liu Ni Rong turned her head coldly.
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