The elders, upon hearing this, clapped their hands in praise, "What a brilliant plan, what a brilliant plan. If we hide early, they would hardly foresee it."
Ye Cheng smiled and said, "If we’re lucky, the shipping will resu tomorrow, and perhaps we can escape by then."
Li Jiu asked, "What if our hiding place is discovered?" Li Xian replied, "I’ve already investigated, and the situation at the shipping port is complex, with people gathered from all over. We can hide within the logs, fill the hollow inside with cotton, making it indistinguishable from solid wood, and we might escape detection."
"There’s no news yet of the resumption of shipping. They would surely not expect us to be hiding inside a ship. When the news is out, they will surely inspect the ships thoroughly, guarding all around. But by then, we will already be hiding in the timber, living there for so ti. They will undoubtedly overlook us as they would never guess we’ve been lurking all along."
An Weicheng asked, "What if the shipping doesn’t resu for a long ti?"
Li Xian said, "Shipping is the lifeline of a city, how can it be blocked for long? Though Flying Dragon City is determined to capture us, they cannot act recklessly. Blocking shipping for too long would affect the city’s operations, and families and the populace would be dissatisfied. Therefore, shipping will surely resu shortly."
The elders pondered carefully and continuously praised.
An Weicheng’s eyes flickered as he said, "I can assist with this plan. The Duan family’s golden line wood is on a rchant ship on the river; tonight, we can quietly hollow it out and hide inside! When we see daylight again, we will be free n!" The elders’ eyes flickered, discussing it until midnight, and all felt it was worth the risk to try, so they acted that night.
The next morning, the marketplace was bustling and lively. The Flower Cage Sect’s escape plan was brewing in the shadows. They perfectly hid within the Duan family’s rchant ship’s timber.
That noon.
At the entrance of Yun Nan River Alley, the sound of horse hooves suddenly rang out. Yang Xingqiang appeared, resplendent in white armor, and said to the crowd, "There has been progress in capturing the Flower Thieves. Starting imdiately, Flying Dragon City will resu shipping. Any river ships, upon passing inspection, may enter and leave Flying Dragon City."
Nearly a thousand rchant ships were piled up along Yun Nan River, the river channel wide, but shipping was congested. Complaints were rampant in the river alley; if shipping did not resu, blocking people’s financial routes was akin to killing their parents. Under silent pressure, shipping indeed resud, allowing ships to co and go.
Yang Xingqiang, though young, held a high position. As the ssage was disseminated, he proudly inspected, confidently and calmly.
There was a narrow strait on Yun Nan River. All ships entering and exiting had to pass through here, the strait so narrow that only one ship could go through at a ti.
He stationed himself at the river strait, intercepting ships leaving the city, sending people to board and search; cabins, bedrooms, decks, cargo holds... any place capable of hiding people was thoroughly checked, leaving no room for error. Beneath the river, nets were spread out – these nets didn’t obstruct the flow of water nor affected the shipping. But if thieves were diving, they would be ensnared by the nets and could not escape.
Yang Xingqiang thought, "Those Flower Thieves are already hiding in the ship, still thinking I don’t know. Among them is a clever one, but unfortunately, they’re petty flower thieves with trivial tricks, ultimately just making laugh. Once we discover their whereabouts, they will inevitably act desperately and try to escape by jumping into the river. Then, ensnared by the nets, they will be effortlessly captured."
Beside him were Zhou Shijie, Wang Dezhong, and others assisting with the inspection. Several ships passed the inspection, found to be correct, and sailed away from Flying Dragon City.
Wang Dezhong said, "Brother Yang, according to you, there really are Flower Thieves among these ships? How can you be sure? Releasing them in such haste, what if there’s a mistake?" Here, the forces were concentrated, defenses were tight, with disciples from the Five Great Sword Sects and so elders secretly watching, dressed in plain clothes, hiding around.
Yang Xingqiang was twenty-seven, a bit older, showing remarkable abilities recently, with ingenious plans that earned him the Sword Sect elders’ admiration. Wang Dezhong, Zhou Shijie, and others followed him to learn. Zhou Shijie said, "If I haven’t guessed wrong, Brother Yang is confident; his thorough inspection of the Flower Cage Sect has been effective. The Flower Thieves must be under pressure, glimpsing this escape opportunity, attempting it with luck. Little do they know, they are falling into the trap; this is the true killing ga."
"There are many rchant ships here; it would take at least five or six days to let them all pass. During this ti, they will surely find a way to blend in with the rchant ships to escape from here. When they co, there will naturally be a flaw. This is like waiting for the rabbit to co, an enticent plan."
Yang Xingqiang confidently smiled, "Brother Zhou’s words make sense to so extent, but are both correct and incorrect. I have said that I would capture that Li Xian Flower Thief within three days, and I am confident, it is not just empty talk. Today is the third day. If it goes as Brother Zhou said, I fear that even today or tomorrow, we might not catch that thief; wouldn’t that make a liar?"
Yang Wentian said, "Oh? Does Brother Yang have a thod to capture the Flower Cage Sect thieves today?"
Yang Xingqiang smiled without speaking, gently nodding.
Zhou Shijie, eager to act, said, "If Li Xian refuses to be captured, I must act to bring him to justice. I have a personal history with this one; it couldn’t be more fitting to settle it here." Yang Xingqiang smiled, "That’s not a problem; he certainly won’t escape. If Brother Zhou wants to showcase his skills, please go ahead."
Zhou Shijie was delighted. By evening, during the inspection of the Duan family’s large timber ship, which reached the strait, carrying massive logs perfect for hiding people, Yang Xingqiang slightly smiled and said, "Brother Zhou, the opportunity is right here, keep your spirits up."
Everyone was amazed. Hua Wu from the Li Mountain Sword Sect asked, "Brother Yang, how can you be so sure that the vicious thief is on this ship?" Yang Xingqiang smiled, "Earlier, you asked why I was so confident; now I shall answer you. Co out!"
Suddenly, among the soldiers behind him walked out a middle-aged man, dressed in soldier’s armor, looking similar to ordinary soldiers. It was An Weicheng from the Flower Cage Sect. It turned out, he had long harbored the intention to defect, but as an elder, surrendering would an inevitable death. So, he laid low, plotting to make a great contribution at a critical mont to atone and save his own life.
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