Chapter 66: Treacherous Currents Conceal Hidden Foes

“Let’s go back.”

The earth was sealed, the gravestone erected, and Ye Chang knew that the only trace Ye Shu left in this world was this burial ground. Madam Fang held her two children close, gazing once more at the small tombstone with longing, heartbreak, and endless sorrow—all of which turned to pearly tears streaming down her face. She kept looking back every few steps, but finally followed Ye Chang away.

According to village custom, the funeral procession made a wide circuit, nearly circling Wu Ze once, though the burial ground was not far from Wu Ze’s pond—separated only by a waterway. Some relatives mourned, others sang rustic songs or laughed quietly, even Ye Shu’s kinsmen were no exception.

The only one still grieving was likely Madam Fang; even Ci Nu and Little Miss, being young, did not grasp what the small grave meant.

There had been a wooden bridge across the waterway, but upon arrival, everyone discovered it had somehow been destroyed. Someone cursed, “Yesterday the bridge was intact, today it’s broken—who’s the rascal behind this mischief?”

“Let’s cross by raft, there’s one nearby.” None wished to take the long way, so they grumbled, but soon someone found a solution—a wooden raft moored at the water’s edge.

“Take the raft back, and Da Lang, Liu Lang, Ba Lang—you three brothers come with me first. Bring the carpenter and tools, we’ll fix the bridge together,” Ye Dan commanded.

He was naturally the first to cross. The Ye clan and their relatives numbered dozens, and the small raft could carry only six or seven at most, so several trips were needed.

Ye Chang stayed behind with Madam Fang. The last group consisted of Ye Chang, Madam Fang, Shan Zhi, Ci Nu, Little Miss, and Ye Zhi, who steered the raft.

“Be careful, the raft isn’t very stable,” Ye Zhi reminded.

Madam Fang held Little Miss, while Ye Chang kept Ci Nu close. The waterway was only four fathoms wide, but very deep. Ci Nu, being a child, was restless—if he fell in, it would be serious.

“Ci Nu, don’t move!” Madam Fang scolded when she saw Ci Nu getting fidgety.

As she spoke, the raft pushed off from the shore. Four fathoms was a short distance, but as the raft reached the middle, suddenly the water surged—a huge object burst forth in a spray, crashing straight onto the raft.

It struck with force, tilting the previously stable raft. Madam Fang screamed, pushing Little Miss toward Ye Chang, while she herself fell into the water!

Ye Chang caught Little Miss. Ci Nu cried out, running toward his mother, but the quick-eyed monk grabbed him.

Madam Fang plunged into the water.

The raft pitched upward. Ye Chang handed Little Miss to the monk, rushed over, and grabbed Madam Fang’s struggling hand. Madam Fang gasped, keeping herself afloat, and Ye Zhi came to help.

“Don’t come over! Stay there, I’ve got her, it’s fine,” Ye Chang shouted, fearing too many people might tip the raft. “Get to shore, quickly!”

Ye Zhi understood, pushed hard, and the raft trembled, sliding to the bank. Ye Chang dragged Madam Fang out.

Madam Fang crouched, shivering, while Ye Chang took off his jacket and draped it over her—her mourning clothes clung to her wet body.

Fortunately, Ye Chang’s own clothes were large enough to cover her completely, and only then did she dare stand. Those who’d already crossed came to comfort her, while Ye Chang worried she might be injured but couldn’t ask with so many people around. Just then, someone cried out, “The Dragon Maiden of Wu Ze!”

Everyone turned. At the corner of the raft lay the object that had leapt from the river—a wooden idol. Familiar to them all, it was the Dragon Maiden idol of Wu Ze, which Shan Zhi had removed that morning to use as a makeshift bridge.

Faces paled. Everyone recalled Dao Ning’s earlier warning: “The goddess will show a sign, there will be divine retribution!”

Their eyes turned to Ye Chang. The idol had emerged from the water, nearly costing Ye Chang and his sister-in-law their lives—was this divine wrath?

It wasn’t mere ignorance. This was an era when shamans and miracle-workers thrived; the villagers had never seen such a thing—an idol flying out of the water!

Ye Chang stared at the idol in silence at first.

The idol wasn’t carved from solid wood, or else even the monk couldn’t have moved it—likely it was hollow. Amid whispers, some murmured, “Is the Dragon Maiden angry?” Others suggested returning the idol to the temple, offering sacrifices to appease her. Suddenly, Ye Chang laughed.

“Let’s wait here and see if we’ve really angered the Dragon Maiden of Wu Ze,” Ye Chang said loudly.

He called Ye Zhi and the monk over, whispering a few words. Ye Zhi, grateful for Ye Chang’s favor, nodded repeatedly; the monk grinned.

Ye Chang then told the uneasy crowd, “If you wish to leave, do as you please. I’ll stay and see what tricks the Dragon Maiden still has.”

Some timid villagers drifted away, leaving a dozen or so behind.

“Sister-in-law, why don’t you go home?”

“I’ll stay with you. If the Dragon Maiden truly punishes us, I’ll bear it with you,” Madam Fang said firmly.

Ye Chang didn’t press her. The men meant to fix the bridge hadn’t returned—no doubt they’d heard the news. Ye Dan remained, watching Ye Chang, hesitating.

“Don’t worry, uncle, I have my own plan,” Ye Chang said, finding a dry spot to sit. “Uncle, join me. While I was away, did Liu Fengyin cause trouble at Wu Ze pond?”

“That old man tried to build a temple for his nephew, Dao Ning, who broke monastic rules. He came twice to collect donations, but no real trouble.”

“Last time the goddess judged the case, the county bailiff punished him publicly. His reputation must’ve suffered?”

“Certainly. People used to say he could sway the magistrate and frighten us with officials, but now his tricks are known, and he’s just a petty clerk in the bailiff’s eyes—besides, he crossed the bailiff last time!” Ye Dan was pleased; after years under Liu Fengyin’s thumb, he finally felt vindicated: “So he’s been quiet these past two months, except for the temple.”

Ye Chang, who’d nearly met Emperor Li Longji in Chang’an, saw Liu Fengyin as a child playing with mud. He nodded, “Exactly. If one way fails, he’ll try another.”

“What do you mean?”

“Liu Fengyin’s dominance relied on two things: first, his clan’s numbers—they control the local militia. Second, his backing from officials—years as village chief allowed him to collude with clerks, intimidate superiors and deceive subordinates. The goddess’s judgment broke one pillar; now he relies on his clan, but even they can’t stand against two or three united families. He needs new allies and a new support. Dao Ning, a disgraced monk and Liu’s nephew, is perfect for playing tricks... Yet letting a monk preside over a Dragon Maiden temple is heresy—report it, and the court will intervene.”

Throughout history, the Chinese authorities despised unlicensed cults; nothing could stand above the imperial order, not even religion. Unapproved worship was considered heresy, and responsible officials always sought to suppress it.

Ye Dan, hearing Ye Chang’s analysis, was enlightened. “So it’s all Liu Fengyin’s scheming! That old fox—if you hadn’t received guidance and insight, we’d all have been fooled!”

“This isn’t really our affair. Liu Fengyin is playing with fire. The Medicine King Shrine and Ten Directions Temple ignore him only because he’s not causing much trouble—if he stirs things up…”

Ye Chang sneered. He could have watched the drama unfold, but since Liu Fengyin tried to use him to promote the Dragon Maiden temple, nearly endangering him and his sister-in-law, he would not be lenient.

After chatting a while, Ye Chang felt enough time had passed. “We’ve waited so long, and yet the Dragon Maiden hasn’t sent disaster—seems nothing will happen. Let’s go.”

The crowd followed, but some were uneasy, fearing trouble on the way.

As expected, after walking about a mile, Ye Chang suddenly said, “Ah, I forgot something by the water—let’s go back!”

The crowd tensed, but Ye Chang had spoken; they’d come this far, no one left. Some wanted to wait, but Ye Chang laughed, “If you want to see something interesting, follow me.”

So everyone returned to the water’s edge. From a distance, they saw people on the opposite bank preparing to climb ashore. Ye Chang shouted, “Thieves! Thieves!”

The two men turned, saw the group approaching, and scrambled up the bank. Just as they were about to run, a burly monk leapt from the grass ahead, “Amitabha, I’ve been waiting for you!”

The two tried to run in opposite directions. The monk seized one, pinning him. The other escaped, but tripped over a wooden pole hidden in the grass, falling face-first.

He tried to get up, but the pole pressed against his neck, pinning him. “Don’t move!”

The monk brought the first man over, and Ye Zhi produced a rope, tying both up.

The crowd was astonished: “How were they in the water? When did the monk and Ye Zhi cross to the other side?”

“When we waited here, they circled upstream and hid across the water, waiting for these two,” Ye Chang replied with a smile. “A good show… Monk, Uncle Zhi, bring them over!”

The two finally protested, “We’re good men, why are you arresting us?”

“Good men? Good men run when they hear ‘thief’ shouted?” Ye Chang sneered. “You’re river bandits!”

“No, we’re good men—it’s just hot, so we went swimming.”

No matter how they argued, the monk and Ye Zhi brought them over. Ye Chang sat on a stone, the two brought before him. Ye Chang looked up, muttering, “Too tall.”

The monk didn’t understand, but Ye Zhi did—he swept one man’s knee with the raft pole, forcing him to kneel.

The other also knelt, both clearly anxious.

“Does anyone know these two?” Ye Chang asked.

Everyone shook their heads—strangers.

“So, outsiders. Outsiders coming to Wu Ze pond to swim… Do you think that’s believable?”

The two exchanged glances, insisting, “We truly are outsiders. We heard your area produces fine herbs and came to inquire, hoping to buy some.”

“Herb buyers… Do you know who I am?”

“No, we don’t.”

“Really? Liu Fengyin brought you here, didn’t he mention my abilities?” Ye Chang sneered, “Such tricks—do you think you can fool me?”

Their expressions grew evasive; now everyone saw they were lying.

“Holding bamboo tubes to stay underwater, waiting for me to cross on the raft, then tossing the wooden idol out to fake a miracle—these tricks might fool others, but not me.” Seeing their silence, Ye Chang continued, “You dismantled the bridge too, didn’t you? And you were underwater, nearly capsizing the raft?”

Still no answer. Ye Chang shook his head. “Liu Fengyin clearly didn’t tell you everything. I was going to spare you, but it seems I can’t. Uncle, as village chief, it’s your duty to catch thieves and criminals—send these two to the authorities for attempted murder by river, and I’ll write a letter to Magistrate Yuan, ensuring their execution.”

The two shuddered. Attempted murder by river was a capital crime—if prosecuted, they’d face execution. With Ye Chang’s connections to the county bailiff, the case would be solid. For a bit of profit, they’d lose their lives.