In February, a tropical storm from the South Pacific made the Star Ferry Pier precarious.
Uncle Ming sat by the railing, a cigarette in his mouth and a frown on his face.
"It's almost Chinese New Year and there's still a typhoon. I've never seen anything like this in all my years of life."
Caihua Xiong sat aside and touched his nose. "This year's weather is indeed very abnormal. It's probably the so-called El Nino phenomenon."
"El Niño? What is that?"
Uncle Ming looked at Cai Huaxiong through the reflective lenses of his glasses, "Is this what the foreign professor at the university said again?"
"more or less."
Caihua Xiong scratched his thigh and said, "El Nino phenomenon means that extreme and abnormal weather and climate occur, such as snow in summer and typhoons in winter. The climate is chaotic and unpredictable."
"I see."
Uncle Ming seemed to be thinking about something. "Now I understand what you said. Maybe the dragon vein has changed, so we are also affected here. The wind and rain are not regular."
"Well, what happened outside the Great Wall can affect the south? This is a bit far away." Caihuaxiong couldn't help but doubt.
"That's why I usually ask you to read more."
Uncle Ming rolled his eyes. "Feng Shui is a matter of divination. If you change the position of an ornament in your bedroom, something big might happen in your company tomorrow."
"I don't run a company." Caihuaxiong muttered softly.
Lin Hu sat aside, didn't interrupt, just laughed.
The three chatted for a while, and finally a ship appeared in the wind and waves. At first it was a small black dot, like a worm in a rice bag, and later it became a small bean. Suddenly the ship grew larger, turned into a sharp arrow, broke through the raging waves, and headed towards the port.
"It's the Black Widow."
Caihuaxiong stood up.
Uncle Ming also threw the cigarette in his hand to the ground and looked at the sea.
Compared with three months ago, the Black Widow looked much more dilapidated. The hull was covered with patches of different colors, and even the mast seemed to be shorter, obviously having been broken.
This gave Uncle Ming a bad feeling.
At this time, there were no boatmen working at the berths at the dock to help ships enter the port.
"Let me do it."
Lin Hu put on a raincoat, walked to the berth, and waved the lantern in his hand at the approaching Black Widow. After a while, the boat turned around and headed towards Lin Hu.
After swaying closer, the sea lion on the bow of the ship, braving the wind and rain, threw a rope over from dozens of meters away.
In such a storm, only he has the arm strength to do this.
Lin Hu was not vague either. He took the rope with a muffled sound, and the dozens of meters of rope were stretched straight with a shake of his wrist.
Then, under his tow, the Black Widow slowly moved towards the port.
Finally, the bow of the ship gently hit the berth and a sampan was lowered.
"haven't seen you for a long time."
The fur seal was at the bow, and as soon as it opened its mouth, rain water poured into it.
Uncle Ming held an umbrella and nodded at him as a greeting.
Then, a figure appeared in the rain, and a light flashed behind Uncle Ming's foggy lenses.
Yin Xiu walked behind Ma Xiaoyu holding an umbrella, with one hand vaguely placed behind her waist, as if trying to protect her and prevent her from falling off the board.
However, the distance seemed too close, so when Ma Xiaoyu saw Uncle Ming looking at her, she blushed, coughed lightly twice, and slightly distanced herself from Yin Xiu.
Yin Xiu was calm and composed, and waved to Uncle Ming, "I'm back."
Uncle Ming looked at Yin Xiu and felt that there was a different aura about him, full of subtle pressure.
But he was also happy that his apprentice had returned, and a smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, "Unlucky boy, it was raining and windy as soon as you came back, this is not a good sign."
Yin Xiu said helplessly: "Who would have thought that there would still be a No. 8 typhoon signal in February?"
"It's called the El Nino phenomenon, um..."
Uncle Ming lowered his head and pondered for a while, and finally said: "It means that the wind is blowing very hard, the rain is falling very hard, everything is very heavy."
"I see."
Yin Xiu nodded, but before she could flatter Uncle Ming any more, she was hugged by the excited Cai Huaxiong. The special smell of engine oil mixed with sweat made Yin Xiu speechless.
"Let's get out of the way and ask others to come down."
Yin Xiu said perfunctorily.
However, behind them, Liu Banxian and Ren Qi also came down, each holding an umbrella.
When Uncle Ming saw Ren Qi at the end of the team, he felt as if his eyes were stabbed, and then he understood what changes had taken place in Yin Xiu.
Lin Hu knew it even more clearly, because he was a martial artist and had seen the heights of martial arts.
In Ren Qi and Yin Xiu, he saw the mountains and also saw himself.
He couldn't help but think that at his age, he had entered the seventh level of the Xuanguan. In the eyes of others, his speed was naturally as fast as a meteor. However, compared with Yin Xiu and Ren Qi, he was much slower.
Ren Qi was fine. After all, when they first met, Lin Hu was defeated by his sword, so he already knew that he was a strong man of the ninth level of Xuanguan. From beginning to end, Lin Hu was unable to take his sword. Seeing such a strong man make further progress in martial arts, Lin Hu could only sigh and did not feel any frustration.
As for Yin Xiu, he did not have such a terrifying realm before, but in less than a year, he had become a strong man in the realm of synesthesia. Such a speed made Lin Hu ashamed.
However, this sense of loss was only fleeting, and what was left was only admiration for Yin Xiu and Ren Qi's rapid progress, and happiness at seeing them return safely.
For a warrior, the mountain he has to climb is only himself, not others.
When practicing martial arts, you are always competing with yourself, not fighting with others.
"Thanks for your hard work."
Yin Xiu patted his shoulder. There was no need for any small talk between him and Lin Hu. Just a simple greeting was enough.
As for Ren Qi and Lin Hu, there was even less to say. With just a glance, both sides understood.
"I've brought the car here, get in, everyone."
Lin Hu led the way in front.
The most anxious person at this time was Liu Banxian, who was walking in the front.
Although their trip was not slow, it was not in a hurry either. They could stop at ports and rest for a few days, but returning from outside the Great Wall was as fast as an arrow.
Except for stopping at an unnamed port to refuel, the rest of the time was spent rushing on the road, so much so that Liu Banxian hardly had a chance to put his feet on the ground.
After being tossed on the sea for so many days, he felt like a salted fish hanging on the side of a boat, tossed back and forth with the waves, almost dried out inside and out, and marinated by the sea breeze.
However, after walking a few steps, he turned back, trotted to Yin Xiu, and stuffed something into Yin Xiu's palm, his movements secretive.
Yin Xiu weighed the object in his hand, and after figuring out what it was from its texture and shape, he looked around cautiously, and when he found that no one was paying attention to them, he asked in a low voice, "Why did you give this to me?"
"What else can you do?"
Liu Banxian showed an expression that everyone understood.
"Uncle, I have always been loyal. I can't just think about myself and forget about you, Brother Yin.
When we are on the boat, everyone is crowded together and there is no place for you to vent your anger no matter how angry you are.
Now that I'm off the boat, the sky is high and the sea is deep... Bah, bah, bah, I never want to go to sea again in my life.
Anyway, what I mean is that you have plenty of time and places to practice martial arts. Young people, don't hold back your temper. However, safety is also very important. After all, it's not good to cause any trouble. You can't ask Uncle Ming to be your master at such a young age.
I was afraid that you would have nowhere to buy it because of the No. 8 typhoon signal today, so I gave you a stock. Don’t worry, although it is thin, it is very strong and will not leak. ”
"Who do you think I am!?"
Yin Xiu stared at him with his eyes wide open, and then stretched out his index finger and shook it in the air, "I'm telling you, although I, Yin Xiu, am not well educated, I am a gentleman and I would never do such a despicable thing!"
"what happened?"
Ma Xiaoyu had already gotten into the car, and since she didn't see Yin Xiu coming out for a long time, she stuck her head out and saw that there was uncontrollable joy between Yin Xiu's brows.
"Nothing, I was just discussing martial arts with Liu Banxian."
Yoon Soo said as he stuffed the things in his hand into his pocket.
"Have you finished discussing this? Let's get in the car."
Ma Xiaoyu now spoke softly to Yin Xiu, which made Yin Xiu a little dazed.
I remember the first time we met at the Star Ferry Pier, her tone was full of sharpness, and she sounded like a female killer, not a Taoist priest.
"Here it comes." Yin Xiu grinned.
He ran forward a few steps and was about to get into the car when Lin Hu gently stopped him.
“Brother Yin, it seems someone else wants to see you.”
"Well?"
Yin Xiu was a little displeased. He stopped and looked in the direction Lin Hu pointed. Sure enough, there were three people standing there with umbrellas in the rain.
The three men were holding black Western-style umbrellas made of oilcloth, wearing rain boots, but were wearing court uniforms, which looked very incongruous.
The enemy showed up so soon?
Everyone in the car stopped. Ma Xiaoyu watched from the window, while Ren Qi and Liu Banxian stood under the car.
"I'll go and deal with them?" Ren Qi had already put his hand on the sword.
In his eyes, these people posed no threat at all and were no different from dead people.
No matter where he is, killing a few people is just like eating for Ren Qi. It is just something he has to do every day. The only difference is that sometimes it is a big meal, and sometimes he can just have a bowl of noodles.
Yin Xiu could naturally see that these people did not pose such a big threat and looked like just ordinary palace masters.
"They don't look like they're here to fight. Instead, they look like they want to tell me something."
Yin Xiu signaled Ren Qi not to rush into action.
"I'll go ask them what they mean first. If they really want to do something, I'll call you."
Ren Qi heard this and glanced at Yin Xiu, "You are becoming more and more like a master, or a superior."
"What do you mean?" Yin Xiu asked him.
"The superiors never need to do anything themselves. They only need to say a word or give a look, and we lackeys will rush forward with knives in hand."
"If that's the case, I did offend you a little."
"No offense."
Ren Qi said calmly: "In this world, some people are the lackeys of others, some are the lackeys of women for money, power, fame, and so on. Being born as a human being, you will eventually become a slave to something. There is only a good or bad situation, not a different fate.
So, I don’t mind you telling me what to do.”
Yin Xiu smiled and said, "That's not an order, it's just a help. How about I add "please" in front of it next time I ask you to do something?"
"It's up to you. I remember when you asked me to stay up half the night, you also added a "please"."
"..."
Yoon Soo shielded his face with the umbrella and walked quickly towards the three men.
"What do you mean?"
When he arrived in front of them, Yin Xiu's face was as cold as a knife.
The man in the lead was short and thin, with a haggard face. He bowed slightly to Yin Xiu.
"Sir, the Imperial Palace Master Sticking Rod Office has been waiting for you for a long time."
"You guys are really well-informed. If I'm not mistaken, this letter would have arrived in Hong Kong Island the day before yesterday at the earliest."
The man smiled softly, "For the Sticking Rod Department, this is not a secret. As long as we want to know, we can know it."
"So, you three are here to fight? Or are there hundreds of Imperial Palace masters lying in ambush around here, ready to beat me to pieces at any time?"
By this time Yin Xiu had discovered that the spy from the Sticking Rod Department had a distinct Hong Kong accent when speaking. He didn't know whether he had learned it on purpose in order to lurk here, or whether he had lived here for many years and was absorbed by the Sticking Rod Department.
If this is the case, it is not surprising that the Sticky Rod Office is well-informed, even if it is a bit too bizarre.
"We don't plan to do anything, but the court wants to pass on a message to you."
"Oh? I thought the imperial court was only interested in fighting and killing, and couldn't talk to common people like us."
Yin Xiu nodded his chin, "Go ahead."
The spy straightened his collar, tugged at his sleeves, and said sternly, "Mr. Yin, if you stop now, there is still room for redemption. Don't wait until a big mistake is made and the overall situation of Kyushu is ruined. By then, it will be too late to regret."
"Finished?"
"Yes, that's all."
The spy looked calm, as if he had no intention of hearing Yin Xiu's reply.
He really was just like he said, he was here to pass on messages instead of to communicate.
"I see."
Yin Xiu turned around and walked back, no longer paying attention to them.
The court obviously did not send this spy to negotiate peace with him or to talk about any great principles, because if the reasoning was reasonable or the two sides could sit down to negotiate, so many people would not have died before.
This spy appeared here just to give Yin Xiu a warning.
That is, no matter how lax and slow the court was before, it is no longer dozing off. No matter where you escape to, the court can find you as long as it is willing.
This time he just sent someone to deliver the message, but the next time someone came with a knife and superb martial arts.
"What did they say to you?"
Uncle Ming watched the three people disappear in the rain, and his thoughts couldn't help but go back to that rainy night many years ago.
"Are you OK?"
Yin Xiu waved his hand in front of his eyes.
Uncle Ming slapped his hand away impatiently, "What can happen to me? Now it's you who's in trouble, you poor boy. As soon as you got back, your enemies came looking for you. What did they say to you?"
"It's just some boring talk."
Yin Xiu put away the umbrella and got into the car.
As soon as he entered the car, he leaned out from behind the curtain and gave Ren Qi a look.
Ren Qi glanced at him and said, "Didn't they say that when two armies are at war, envoys should not be killed?"
"I don't want to kill anyone. I'm just giving a response. If they come all the way here and I don't answer anything, they might as well just shout at the wall." Yin Xiu said calmly.
Ren Qi threw away his umbrella and rushed into the rain. (End of this chapter)
