“Qin’er, what is it?”
The Ninth Princess asked.
“There are people in the woods ahead, and quite a few!”
Qin’er said, staring at the forest.
“People in the woods?”
The first squad leader instinctively looked towards the trees but saw nothing.
Qin’er had no intention of explaining. She grabbed the Ninth Princess and ran back up the mountain behind them.
As the two moved, a chorus of whistles erupted from the woods.
The first squad leader dropped flat on instinct.
The next instant, sharp whines cut overhead.
Then a band of bandits burst from the trees, shouting as they came.
“There really are people!”
The first squad leader’s heart jolted. He sprang up and dashed behind a large boulder.
Fortunately, Qin’er’s warning came in time. No veteran or guard took an arrow; all sheltered behind rocks.
“What kind of path did you lead us on? How could bandits be lying in wait?”
Qin’er glared fiercely at the first squad leader. “Are you in league with them?”
“Qin’er, no wild talk. If Big Ox meant us harm, he need not have saved us at the start.”
The Ninth Princess said. “If I am not wrong, bandits would waylay us no matter which road we took.”
“As expected of Your Highness!” Hearing this, the first squad leader nodded vigorously.
Qin’er had no patience for bandying words with him. She peeked down. “Bandits number at least two hundred, and the archers lurk in the woods yet. Your Highness, what now?”
“With bandits so numerous and fierce, we must not tangle.”
Though the Ninth Princess paled somewhat, she stayed calm. “Withdraw, backtrack. Big Ox, you lead again!”
“Yes!”
The first squad leader assented and guided the group back up the mountain.
Zhu’er saw the Ninth Princess lagging and hoisted her onto her back.
The bandits pursued relentlessly.
…
Meanwhile, Jin Feng and Qin Mu Lan seized the lull in rain to reach Jinchuan Ferry at last.
A massive cargo ship lay docked there, none other than the salt hauler with Guan Zhuzi aboard.
Guan Zhuzi was shouting something, though too distant to make out.
“I worried just now that Wu Yang had arrived already. Good, she has not.”
Qing Mu Lan spotted only the salt ship at the ferry and breathed a little easier.
Guan Zhuzi saw Jin Feng and came running, calling from afar. “Brother-in-law, trouble!”
“What happened?” Jin Feng’s heart tightened slightly.
“Yesterday I hired a cargo boat. The captain, Wei Lao San, went to the docks this morning with his son…”
“Stop, stop! I do not care what the captain is called!”
Jin Feng cut him off and turned to the female steward who caught up. “Tong Tong, you tell it.”
“Yes! We were bringing back ore salt today when we saw river pirates looting a passenger ship. Someone on the passenger ship shot a letter to our boat!”
The female steward drew silk from her bosom and handed it to Jin Feng, then went on. “Brother Zhuzi knew the folk aboard were Miss Mu Lan’s and Lord Qing’s cousin, so he sent Big Ox with men in the lifeboats to drive off the pirates.
But we reached the passenger ship too late. By the time Big Ox scattered the pirates, the big ship was holed through!”
“What?”
Qing Mu Lan blanched, nearly toppling over.
Jin Feng jumped too.
Heavens, that was the Ninth Princess, the Da Kang Emperor’s favourite. If mishap befell her in Jinchuan bounds, the sky would fall on them all!
“Miss Mu Lan, Sir, do not fret!”
The female steward hurried. “Before the big ship sank, Big Ox got the passengers onto the lifeboats. We thought all safe, but who knew the pirates gained shore first, spotted the lifeboats too, and chopped trees by the bank to ram them over…”
Qing Mu Lan’s legs buckled. Without A-Mei’s quick hold, she would have collapsed.
Regaining herself, she clutched the female steward’s arm, eyes red. “Then what?”
“Then… then we saw them drift past the bend downstream. Our big ship was too slow to keep sight…”
The female steward soothed. “But I saw them tie on the lifeboat hog bladders when they fell in, and Big Ox swims like a fish. They will be fine for sure.”
As they spoke, shouts rose from the distant riverbank, drawing a crowd.
“What is that?” Jin Feng frowned.
“Before the big ship went down, Big Ox told those aboard to dismantle it, cling to planks, and float down.”
The female steward said. “Since midday meal, folk have drifted in steadily. Likely another just now.”
The ferry nestled in a mountain hollow where the river calmed. Many guards and servants from the passenger ship washed up here and were fished out by ferry folk.
“Any sign of Big Ox and the rest?” Jin Feng asked.
“None.” The female steward shook her head.
“Big Liu, have men water the warhorses at once. We may need to ride out soon.”
Jin Feng instructed, then led Qing Mu Lan and the others to the sheds housing the rescued.
After a round of questions, Jin Feng’s mood grew heavier still.
When the lifeboats left, the passenger ship had not yet sunk, so two guards witnessed the first squad leader pulling the Ninth Princess ashore.
By time reckoning, even afoot, the Ninth Princess’s group should have reached the ferry long ago. Yet no sight of them even now.
At the stables, Big Liu and the rest fed the horses.
This batch of warhorses came from Xi He Bay. These days they had first trailed Jin Feng to Wu Lang Mountain, then from there to the ferry, and were weary indeed, unfit for further hard riding.
But to search for the Ninth Princess, Jin Feng could not mind that.
“Mu Lan, I just asked around. From the wreck to the ferry, two roads: official and trail.”
Jin Feng said. “I will leave three mounts; take the rest. You lead men on horseback by the official road. I take the remainder by trail. What say you?”
The ferry stored vast ore salt and goods, so two ranks of escorts garrisoned it usually.
Now Jin Feng had mustered them all, outnumbering the horses by far.
“Fine!”
Qing Mu Lan, past thought of aught else, only yearned to find the Ninth Princess swiftly.
“Good, then off at once. Careful on the way; send word to the ferry if news.”
“Yes!”
Qing Mu Lan nodded, led dozens of escorts astride the warhorses, and galloped from the ferry yard.
Jin Feng followed with the rest, taking the trail.
But mere steps out the gate, a hunter-dressed man emerged from the side woods.
“Are you the Xi He Bay bandit hunters? I saw bandits, loads of them!”
The hunter gesticulated wildly. “They waylaid a group, folk in your Xi He Bay bandit hunter garb. Hurry and save them!”
