The two at the Blackwater Domain reached an agreement, and Ye Lu soon left. The Black Whale ship, docked by the shore, set sail again towards the reed forest and slowly disappeared into the depths of the water.
Previously, the skirmish between Su Mu and the Blood Wolf Woman only damaged part of the ship’s deck, without truly harming the main hull of the Black Whale ship.
"Ye Lu... Ye Family, East River Merchant Association."
In the dark, Su Mu’s eyes slightly narrowed. Among the Four Families of Donglai, there was no Ye Family, but there was a Ye lineage that relied on the Li Family in Donglai County, owning the East River Merchant Association and other businesses.
However, just like the name Lin Langtian that he gave, the name Ye Lu mentioned might also be fabricated.
"This person came for the wine, not recognizing me... What a coincidence indeed."
In fact, it wasn’t their first meeting; Su Mu had encountered Ye Lu back in Qifeng Town. At that time, she had an older, brother-like man in fine clothes with her.
That’s right, Ye Lu is the younger sister among the siblings from Qifeng Town.
Last night, as soon as Ye Lu approached, Su Mu instantly recognized her identity. Ye Lu had an extremely faint, peculiar scent on her, perhaps indiscernible to ordinary people, but Su Mu, with his sharp senses, could easily identify it.
"Elder Baili mistakenly identified me as someone from the Li Family back then, so he left the Three Flood Dragon Pill Furnace and a furnace of elixir, saying it was to compensate the Li Family..." Su Mu’s thoughts raced.
"Looking at it now, the ’Li Family’ Elder Baili referred to is indeed the Li Family among the Four Families of Donglai."
"As for the Wang Family, they were likely once a vassal force of the Li Family, but later betrayed them, while the Ye Family to which Ye Lu belongs remains loyal to the Li Family. Therefore, did the Ye siblings go to Qifeng Town to trouble the Wang Family?"
In an instant, Su Mu connected the broken pieces of information, unknowingly reconstructing the truth to a considerable degree.
Understanding this and sensing no hostility from Ye Lu, Su Mu dismissed any further thoughts.
The agreement to sell wine at Jing’an Square on the first of every month was merely paving the way for Li Lu. Given their acquaintance, Su Mu, being not heartless, was fully aware he wouldn’t stay in Donglai County for long.
Returning his thoughts, Su Mu glanced towards the Blackwater Domain.
"The Black Whale ship... Jiao Blood Gang... aren’t on particularly good terms with the Four Families of Donglai?"
During this time, although reclusive, Su Mu had heard about the relations between the major powers in Donglai County. These matters, as long as one paid attention, even commoners could gather some information through hearsay gossip.
"Cyan Fish Gang, or White Whale Gang?"
Su Mu’s mention of ’Lin Langtian’ was mere fabrication, but he noticed a subtle shift in the attitude of the mysterious Vice Whale Master behind the screen on the ship’s third-floor deck.
As Su Mu reasoned, his effort to fend off the Blood Wolf Woman tonight somehow aided the Black Whale - that Vice Whale Master, though inviting him, was aloof while issuing a guest expulsion order after a few words, revealing some insights.
The Four Families of Donglai are Tao, Li, Lin, and Zhou, and the name Lin Langtian, which he randomly concocted, happened to sound like Lin, leading to the Vice Whale Master mistakenly thinking of him as a Lin Family member, thus the indifferent attitude.
"Originally, Cyan Fish and White Whale were united, but these factions were later divided by the intervention of Donglai County’s government at that time. It’s rumored the Four Families of Donglai played quite a role in this." Su Mu reflected on the rumors he heard upon arriving in Donglai County, including the Cyan Fish Gang’s Young Master’s annihilation of river bandits, explaining tonight’s retaliation by the Jiao Blood Gang.
The two gangs controlling the water transportation in Donglai County harbor grudges against the Four Families and are natural mortal enemies with river bandits. Hosting a grand black market on the water and constructing treasures like the Black Whale ship may be backed by either the Cyan Fish Gang or the White Whale Gang.
Su Mu leaned more towards the latter, as the word ’whale’ in Black Whale could easily lead to such a connection. However, regardless of which group, it didn’t significantly affect Su Mu.
"Better head back."
Outside the city, Su Mu glanced at the towering gates, nearly ten stories high, equipped with heavy crossbows and heavily guarded. He felt a sense of something and considered before abandoning the idea of sneaking into the commandery city, as it seemed unnecessary.
Su Mu then settled down cross-legged, deciding to enter the city at dawn, when the ground subtly trembled.
"Hmm?"
Shortly, Su Mu saw the tightly closed East City Gate slowly open, and out poured a group of more than a hundred people in line. Each was mounted on a tall horse, but they wore no armor.
"Judging by their appearance, they aren’t military personnel."
Su Mu was surprised. These hundred or so people didn’t resemble government forces, and even if they were on a covert mission, they wouldn’t exit in such grandeur.
Yet, to exit the city so openly after curfew, they must be no ordinary people. Watching them charge and head east had Su Mu thinking.
The east of the commandery city is precisely where the Blackwater Domain black market is located.
"Could it be that the force behind the Black Whale ship couldn’t swallow their anger and intends to seek revenge on the Jiao Blood Gang?"
Having the power to exit the city during curfew is no small feat, further confirming Su Mu in his conjecture.
However, the vendettas and grievances among these major forces were irrelevant to him. Su Mu merely glanced before withdrawing his gaze, quietly using the Small Faceless Transformation Technique to conceal his aura and employing spiritual power as an additional safeguard.
Then, he resumed his meditation with closed eyes.
...
At dawn, the sun rose as usual.
Outside the commandery city, a burst of hot and vigorous energy erupted in a small grove.