After strolling through Waterwatch Street and securing all necessary purchases, Chen Ping'an was ready to return home. Unexpectedly, Ah Liang proposed a night boat tour along the Chongdan River. Few showed interest; only Lin Shouyi nodded in agreement. Chen Ping'an didn't mind dropping off his items first and taking a look at the treacherous waters, but when Li Baoping tugged at his sleeve, he understood her intent. After weighing his coin pouch, he found he had enough scattered coppers to buy her a candied hawthorn skewer.
Zhu Lu dragged her father Zhu He to visit a weapons shop, while Li Huai, loudly complaining of hunger, was taken back to Zhen Tou Inn by the posthouse manager for a late-night snack. And so, the group dispersed.
Lin Shouyi walked alongside the straw-hatted man and asked in a low voice, "Elder, you once said Li Huai is blessed with great fortune. That book, Severing Water at the Great Cliff, which appeared freshly printed—was it the most valuable?"
Ah Liang nodded slightly, revealing the truth, "It only looks new. It's actually been around for years. The contents are worthless—chaotic water cultivation methods meant to mislead novices. But the book's material is rare and resistant to rot; it could sit for centuries without suffering worm damage."
He uncorked his gourd and took a swig of wine. "And if I'm not mistaken, the book has already birthed several bookworms. You can't see them with the naked eye—they're among the world's mystical beings. Minuscule creatures that drift between words like live fish in a river. They feed on the spiritual essence of the text. When fully grown, they're no thicker than a strand of hair. While this book's species is common, it could still fetch three thousand taels of silver if sold to a curious noble. It's one of the most valuable volumes in that shop."
The youth was dumbfounded.
Invisible bookworms worth thousands of silver taels? Was money truly so worthless beyond their small town?
Ah Liang, reading the boy's thoughts, chuckled. "Once you truly step onto the path of cultivation, you'll learn that to common folk, gold and silver seem precious. But to cultivators, even if you piled up mountains of it, it can vanish in a blink. The very fact it must be spent so recklessly is proof that these vulgar metals are, paradoxically, the most valuable."
Lin Shouyi nodded thoughtfully.
Ah Liang grinned. "But if you tried explaining this to Chen Ping'an, he might not understand."
"He'd understand if it's about money," Lin Shouyi replied with conviction.
Ah Liang burst into hearty laughter as they reached the riverbank of Red Candle Town, teeming with people. The bustling night scene contrasted starkly with the stillness of their hometown. Perfumed air filled every breath—at first pleasant, but soon cloying.
Once they stepped through a narrow alley and arrived riverside, the view opened dramatically. Both shores were paved with heavy bluestone. Amidst laughter and flirtations, lovely women leaned languidly over balcony railings, baring soft arms like lotus roots. Dressed in vibrant reds and greens, their beauty was amplified by lanterns strung along tall buildings.
Painted boats of various sizes drifted slowly by, bamboo curtains swaying. Most bore two women seated at bow and stern, with another rowing. Unlike the women above who brazenly called out for business, the boat girls—though dressed revealingly—carried themselves with greater elegance. The younger ones resembled demure neighborhood beauties; the older, stately noblewomen.
From time to time, the women above would mock or hurl produce at the boat girls, who rarely retaliated unless struck directly. When a quarrel did erupt, the nearby men would erupt in cheers, delighting in the chaos.
Lin Shouyi, feeling overwhelmed, asked nervously, "Senior Ah Liang, weren't we here to admire the view of Chongdan River?"
Ah Liang feigned ignorance. "Aren't we already at the confluence of the three rivers? This counts."
Unable to argue, Lin Shouyi fell silent.
Ah Liang squatted by the river, watching the passing boats. Whenever a boat girl flirted or called out, he would take a sip of wine and mutter to himself. Lin Shouyi, crouching beside him, strained to listen, catching fragments like "chaste as jade," "a true gentleman," and "lust is a deadly blade." He couldn't help but chuckle—seemed this elder was no better than him.
Ah Liang turned his head slightly, eyeing a nearby boat. A plain-looking woman sat confidently at its bow, scanning the crowd with the composure of a noble lady rather than a working girl. But behind her, the young rower was strikingly beautiful.
As the boat drew near, Ah Liang suddenly pulled out a gleaming gold ingot. "Is this enough?"
The woman smiled gently but gave neither a nod nor a shake. The rower, however, stared blankly, clearly eager to accept the deal.
The woman's eyes bypassed Ah Liang and pointed toward Lin Shouyi. "Young master, you may board alone."
Ah Liang swiftly pocketed the gold. "This boy's penniless. Not a single coin!"
The woman said softly, "He doesn't need to pay."
Following her gaze, the girl saw the blushing youth—delicate features, scholarly air—and offered a shy smile.
And so, the dashing, gold-bearing Ah Liang was ignored. Bewildered, he muttered, Is she blind? Or just picky? Surely a man as handsome and spirited as he should've caught her eye. If she preferred Lin Shouyi, would she pay to take someone even scrawnier like Chen Ping'an?
"Slighted, truly slighted…" he murmured.
The woman's smile lingered on Lin Shouyi. Despite her plainness, there was something fox-like, seductive in her expression. "Won't you come aboard?"
The youth shook his head.
Ah Liang sat back on the steps and drank sullenly. "Kid, get on. Worst case, you'll never drink gourd wine again. But nothing tastes finer than wine shared with a courtesan. Don't let this pass you by."
Lin Shouyi didn't budge, only rolled his eyes at the man's back.
The boat glided on, urged forward by those behind. The woman looked back and smiled one last time. The youth, unfazed, returned her gaze coldly.
More boats floated by, each unveiling a portrait of feminine grace, as if a series of painted scrolls come to life.
"Were you waiting for her?" Lin Shouyi asked quietly.
Ah Liang adjusted his hat, chuckled, and replied, "A whim, nothing more. I just wanted to see how wide this fishing net was."
The scholar sat beside him, openly watching the river's painted beauties.
Children darted along the stone path, baskets swinging, their voices selling apricot blossoms ringing out—one from the east, another from the west.
Meanwhile, Zhu Lu sought a dagger to keep at her side—sharp, but aesthetically pleasing. To her disappointment, the weapons shop was closed. She stood sullenly at its entrance, saying nothing.
Zhu He tried to comfort her. "We'll return tomorrow."
The girl leaned against a hitching post and looked up at the night sky.
"Something on your mind?" he asked gently.
She shook her head.
He hesitated. "On the last leg of our journey from Qidun Mountain, the young lady insisted on sharing a mount with you. Was that because…"