Eternal Saber-Chapter 289 - 13: Times Have Changed

Judging by the scale of this merchant ship, the weapons being transported are likely not a small quantity of just a few pieces.

What does the young lady's family do?

Is there an army to equip?

The Dongyi Race is skilled in forging weapons?

Chen Tang pondered, thinking about the Flood Dragon Skin on his back, feeling a bit tempted.

"Can this ship go to Nanxia?"

Chen Tang suddenly asked.

Shen Yu hesitated for a moment and said, "We need to wait here for about twenty days. Once the weapons are forged and loaded onto the ship, we have to return to Celestial Cauldron Continent. As for going to Nanxia, I can speak to my father."

Chen Tang could tell from Shen Yu's tone that they certainly couldn't go.

He clasped his hands and said, "If the young lady has no other matters, then I shall take my leave."

Chen Tang planned to first look for a craftsman in the nearby Qianzhu City to make this Flood Dragon Skin into a piece of armor.

Thus, he would have additional protection.

Then find an opportunity to take a ship to leave this place for Nanxia.

"Hey!"

Shen Yu quickly said, "Don't! On Hermit Continent, there is definitely no ship going to Nanxia. Moreover, since you're from the Divine Land, even if there were ships departing from Hermit Continent, they wouldn't let you aboard."

"Stay by my side; if you can accomplish a few great deeds, I'll have the confidence to ask my father to let you go to sea and such."

Chen Tang asked, "What would one need to do to stay by your side?"

Shen Yu said, "Let me briefly explain; ever since the Continent Lord of Celestial Cauldron Continent died suddenly decades ago, the continent has been in chaos. Various military lords have been vying for power, and wars have been ceaseless. After years of warfare, there are now four major countries left, each led by a military lord."

"My father is the military lord of Chuansi Country."

"After much effort, I secured this opportunity. If we can safely escort this batch of weapons and armor back, it would certainly count as a great deed."

From what Shen Yu implied, Celestial Cauldron Continent is different from Hermit Continent.

Celestial Cauldron Continent was originally overseen by a Continent Lord.

After the Continent Lord's sudden death, it entered a period similar to the warlord era in the Divine Land.

And the leaders of the four major countries are not emperors or kings, but military lords.

Of course, even though Chen Tang had cultivated to the Fifth Grade, with his strength, he still appeared insignificant in national confrontations and large-scale wars.

Moreover, having just freed himself from the imperial court, he was somewhat averse to such matters.

"I am not interested in this, sorry."

Chen Tang shook his head slightly, unwilling to involve himself in these matters.

What he wanted was still to leave this place as soon as possible to avoid trouble and head to Nanxia.

"Oh..."

Shen Yu seemed a bit disappointed.

Xiao Pu snorted lightly and couldn't help but mock, "My lady just helped you settle your troubles, gave you food and clothes, and now you turn around and don't recognize her, hehe."

"Xiao Pu!"

Shen Yu frowned and promptly stopped her.

She smiled apologetically and said, "Xiao Pu speaks without thinking, please don't take it to heart. Since I have a sincere intention to befriend you, these provisions are nothing; it's only proper hospitality."

Chen Tang glanced at the clothes he was wearing.

The two were merely casual acquaintances, and he indeed didn't want to owe anyone a favor.

Chen Tang suddenly asked, "Since Miss Shen is the daughter of the military lord of Chuansi Country, and you came to Hermit Continent to transport weapons and armor, would there be a hermit coming to assassinate you?"

Mentioning this, both Brother Yin and Xiao Pu instantly became alert, stepping forward to shield Shen Yu.

"There could be."

Shen Yu said, "As long as someone issues a bounty mission in the Shadow Tower, and the reward is sufficient, hermits may target me."

"Follow me."

Chen Tang said and headed down the ship.

Though puzzled, Shen Yu and the other two followed him.

Before long, the four of them arrived at a level of the ship's hold, where many staff members were moving crates of cargo from the hold to the port.

A faint herbal scent emanated from these crates.

Chen Tang's gaze fell on a limping staff member in the distance, and he softly asked, "Do you know this person?"

"This is Ah Fu."

Xiao Pu said, "He's worked on the merchant ship for several years, can be considered an old hand."

Chen Tang asked again, "Was his leg always lame?"

Xiao Pu said, "No, I heard he got hurt the day we arrived at the port, seemed to have gotten banged up while the ship was docking."

As the three talked, Ah Fu limped toward the ship's hold.

Xiao Pu took a couple of steps forward, stopped him, and frowned, "Ah Fu, why didn't you rest with such an injury? We're not short one person."

Ah Fu smiled sheepishly but just shook his head and murmured indistinctly, "It's nothing."

He looked up toward Shen Yu for a glance, and upon seeing Chen Tang beside her, his expression did not change but a trace of astonishment flashed in his eyes.

Ah Fu quickly lowered his head again, avoiding Chen Tang's gaze.

"What, don't recognize me?"

Chen Tang approached Ah Fu, asking with an enigmatic smile. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

When he saw this person on top of the ship, a familiar feeling arose in his heart.

Although this man's appearance had changed, his walking posture, and many details, were identical to the assassin who once attacked him in Wu'an County!

He almost fell for it during that assassination attempt!

Therefore, he had a deep impression of this assassin.

Even though this person hadn't reappeared for some time afterward.

Of course, Chen Tang had no absolute certainty.

It was only after discerning the astonishment in this man's eyes that he became truly certain!

Ah Fu acted as if he hadn't heard, about to turn away.

Chen Tang's eyes widened, and with a quick step forward, he reached for Ah Fu's shoulder!

Ah Fu turned around, back facing Chen Tang.

Just as Chen Tang's hand was about to land on his shoulder, something flashed under Ah Fu's ribs, stabbing toward Chen Tang's chest, extremely covertly!

"Hmph!"

Chen Tang neither dodged nor evaded, increasing his hand speed by a fraction more, grasping Ah Fu's shoulder first, and using the Dragon Capturing Technique to lock his shoulder joint, lifting his whole body up!

Ah Fu, in pain and unable to gather strength, dropped the concealed flash from under his ribs; it turned out to be a sharp dagger.

Chen Tang pinched Ah Fu's shoulder and collarbone, flicking his wrist lightly.

Crack, crackle!

Strange sounds came from within Ah Fu's body, as though with just a flick, all his bones were dislocating.

Chen Tang casually tossed the now limp Ah Fu to the ground.

"This..."

The event unfolded so swiftly that Shen Yu and the others hadn't even reacted before it was over.

Brother Yin saw the dagger dropped by Ah Fu's feet, his expression changed, and he whispered, "This is a Hidden Saber!"

There are many kinds of hermits' weapons, and a Hidden Saber is one of them — varying in length, extremely sharp, and marked with the unique insignia of a hermit.

"He is not Ah Fu!"

Shen Yu noticed something and said, "He has a human skin mask on his face."

Brother Yin stepped forward, stepping on Ah Fu's chest, rubbed his face a few times, and tore off a human skin mask, revealing the person's original appearance.

"Who sent you!"

Brother Yin stared at this person, shouting sternly.

This person remained silent, just fixated on Chen Tang.

As a hermit, emotional fluctuations were not supposed to be significant.

But at this moment, a deep sense of unwillingness and shock surged in his heart.

In truth, when he first saw Chen Tang, and his mind was shaken, he realized he was exposed.

He never expected to encounter this person here.

What's more, half a year ago, he almost managed to kill him.

But now, he couldn't even withstand a single move from him!

Time changes things, this person actually cultivated such strength!