The Demon Lords

Chapter 993 - 229: Eating Candy (3)

The difference is that the "profiting from national disaster" Chengjue does now ultimately flows back into his father’s treasury. After all, Chengjue has made military pledges regarding money and grain, and must deliver satisfactory results;

As for the Fan Family, they likely wouldn’t hand over the profits from smuggling, would they? At most, it goes as far as the Qu Clan.

"Is the journey smooth?" Zheng Fan asked Fan Yongxin.

"In response to Lord Zheng, though the journey is winding, it’s still smooth."

"Is the journey safe?" Zheng Fan inquired.

"In response to Lord Zheng, it’s complex but orderly."

"Then I’ll trouble you."

"You’re too kind, Lord Zheng. Your visit to Chu is an honor for Chu and the Fan Family. We will certainly serve you wholeheartedly."

"Good, if I meet the head of the Fan Family, I will personally convey my greetings."

"As your servant, I thank you on behalf of our family head."

Fan Yongxin departed. He brought a small fleet of boats, usually used for trading and smuggling, but this time they were smuggling people.

Zheng Fan’s group would not board the boats until nightfall, setting off downstream along the Lian River, then landing and heading into the mountains.

"Lord Zheng, can the Fan Family be trusted?" Keyan Dongge asked worriedly.

"You ask me, but whom do I ask?"

"..." Keyan Dongge.

Keyan Dongge was worried that the Fan Family might betray their group.

The original plan actually did not include the Fan Family’s involvement; their participation was forcibly added through Chengjue’s connections.

"San’er, what do you think?" Zheng Fan pointed to Xue Three. Xue Three had been there longer, and should be more familiar with the situation than anyone else.

"My lord, since we’re here, let’s adapt to circumstances. With the Fan Family’s help, entering Chu will be much easier."

Clearly, Xue Three agreed to board the Fan Family’s boat.

Jin Shuke said, "Lord Zheng, with your esteemed person, how can you take risks?"

Xue Three glanced at Jin Shuke, chuckled, and said, "As if without the Fan Family, entering Chu would be risk-free."

Realizing he misspoke, Jin Shuke bowed to Xue Three and stepped back.

Zheng Fan still trusted Xue Three’s judgment, saying, "In that case, we’ll board their boats, San’er, you’ll have to take on more work."

If the Fan Family harbored any ill intent, they could only rely on Xue Three for early warning.

"Rest assured, my lord. We have prepared all our food and supplies; I’ve briefed everyone on the rules, and stationed our people throughout.

If the Fan Family behaves, it’s all good; but if they scheme, I am confident I can protect you."

At this point,

Xue Three pursed his lips,

and said:

"My lord, along the route to Chu, Beacon Forts are scattered everywhere. Without the Fan Family leading the way, we’d have to clear them one by one, making the journey into Chu meaningless.

I think we should give the Fan Family some confidence.

Merchants have no loyalty and like to hedge their bets; we’ll just accommodate them.

A few days ago, when I met Fan Yongxin, he mentioned that the Sixth Prince promised the Fan Family the royal merchant position in the Chu region."

Keyan Dongge blurted, "The Fan Family really believed them?"

Zheng Fan raised his hand,

indicating for Keyan Dongge to stop questioning, also not to bicker over this matter,

and said:

"Enough, I believe it."

...

Night fell, and the team began boarding the boats.

The horses were divided on one set of boats, the people on another. They were cargo boats, though not large compared to the Chu State’s naval ships, their cargo capacity was impressive.

Heading downstream from the Lian River, then veering south, if all goes well, they could land at Yong County in Chu State. Although the journey wasn’t long, for cavalry, skipping three troughs, including the Lian River, in one night was quite efficient.

Siniang personally draped a cloak over Zheng Fan. She disguised as a bodyguard, removing makeup in the tent at night, standing beside Zheng Fan during the day.

Lord Zheng boarded the boat, where several of the Fan Family’s boatmen were busying themselves. Although it was night, there were many lanterns on the boat, providing high visibility.

Fan Yongxin waited on this boat for Zheng Fan, approaching him respectfully:

"Lord Zheng, I’ve prepared food and drink in the cabin, though conditions are simple, please bear with us."

"You’re too kind."

"Lord Zheng, please."

Zheng Fan followed Fan Yongxin into the cabin, discovering a hidden world within— not only a table of food and drink but also three maidservants, scantily clad.

"The maidservants greet the lord."

"The maidservants greet the lord."

The three maidservants knelt, seductively, before the alcohol flowed and the affairs commenced.

Fan Yongxin then said, "Lord Zheng, I’ll be waiting on the second floor of the boat. Should you need anything, just call."

Clearly, Fan Yongxin left perceptively.

Once Fan Yongxin had left, Siniang, disguised as a guard, whispered to Zheng Fan:

"My lord, these three women have been drugged."

"Drugged?"

"Yes, I understand that over in Chu, maidservants are not treated as human. This is a kind of noble fashion in Chu."

Siniang clearly had studied the "red tent" business of several nations and surveyed their ways.

"Hmm."

"However, my lord can certainly follow local customs."

Zheng Fan shook his head, saying, "After all, we’re at war, so I’ll step out for fresh air. You can detoxify them, as it looks bad for their health."

"My lord shows compassion to beauties?"

"No, we’re setting out on a long journey, consider it a way of accumulating merits."

Zheng Fan exited the cabin, noticing incense was burning within. But Zheng Fan disliked the added scents and couldn’t appreciate them. A simple, natural scent he could indulge in, but the artificially made fragrance, regardless of its effects, felt burdensome.

As soon as he reached the deck,

"Pah! Yan bastard!"

A boy wearing a vest in the dead of winter spat at Zheng Fan.

The spittle landed on Zheng Fan’s boots.

"Oh my, lord, forgive us, forgive us, it’s unforgivable!"

An old boatman immediately came over to press the boy’s head down to apologize to Zheng Fan.

Zheng Fan looked at the dirt on his boots.

He reached out, grabbed the curtain hanging at the cabin door, squatted, and wiped his boot.

Then he dug out an iron box of Chinese-brand cigarettes, the box had been revamped: the top half was cigarettes, the bottom half was mint candy.

He took a piece of candy,

Zheng Fan slowly approached the boy,

crouched before him,

reached out,

and touched the boy’s face.

These boatmen worked for the Fan Family and previously only assisted them with smuggling trades. Today, however, they transported a group of soldiers.

The boatmen weren’t foolish; they could recognize what sort of people they were transporting, yet as workers eating the Fan Family’s rice, nobody dared speak out, though they likely grumbled in private.

This boy must have learned from the adults that Yan people were on board, leading to his actions upon seeing Zheng Fan emerge from the cabin.

Just as his grandfather pulled him down in a kneel, the boy also panicked.

When Zheng Fan approached him step by step,

the palpable aura caused the boy’s emotions to collapse, he began shaking and crying, his courage vanished, replaced by overwhelming fear.

Zheng Fan placed the candy before the boy,

softly asked:

"Do you want some candy?"

The boy nodded shakily.

Zheng Fan smiled,

"Ah."

The boy obediently opened his mouth wide while crying.

Then Zheng Fan popped the candy into his own mouth,

and said:

"Not for you."

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This Chapter’s plot is stuck, and feels hard to write while it’s raining, affecting my flow and mood.

Just one update today.

I expect Chapter reviews to resume in a day, missing you all.