Chapter 77: The Art of Living Wisely

"President Ye?" Uncle Biao looked at Ning Xiu's back and inquired.

"His strength is not in question," Ye Gang nodded slightly.

With Ye Gang’s confirmation, Uncle Biao could no longer hide the joy on his face. After all, with one more expert, their journey would be much safer. He hurried after Ning Xiu.

Only after Uncle Biao left did Ye Gang stretch out his right hand, which had been hidden behind him. His palm was swollen and red.

Before long, the cargo ship unfurled its sails and set off.

The small businessmen aboard were anxious, but fortunately, the voyage was uneventful.

Night quietly descended.

The early spring evening still held a lingering chill. The first meal on the ship was served in the cabin, with everyone seated at separate tables.

Though this small trading company couldn’t compare to the wealthy merchants and magnates, the ship’s facilities were quite complete. Besides the boatmen, there were cooks dedicated to providing meals.

Soon, freshly prepared dishes were brought to each table by the boatmen.

Ning Xiu shared a table with Uncle Biao, whose temples were graying.

At the head of the table sat three men of the martial world, clearly acquainted with each other.

Their voices were loud, recounting tales of blood and blade, as if eager for everyone to know they were heroes who commanded respect across the martial world.

Each spun their stories with great drama. Ning Xiu listened with amusement, finding their tales a fine accompaniment to his wine.

Uncle Biao glanced at Ning Xiu, perhaps thinking he was displeased with the seating arrangement, and explained, "These three are known as the Tiger, Dragon, and Leopard Brothers in the martial world—each a top-tier expert. They’re only helping us out of respect for our president, and their fee isn’t cheap, of course."

Ning Xiu nodded in agreement. "Top experts naturally command a high price."

"Exactly," Uncle Biao replied with a dry laugh.

As the Tiger, Dragon, and Leopard Brothers spoke, they shifted to the recent incident of the Red Immortal Fruit at Pine Wind Ridge.

Their words painted vivid scenes. Ning Xiu felt a stir within, not out of fear of being recognized, but knowing that keeping a low profile meant less trouble.

But the three never once looked at anyone else directly. As more dishes of fish and meat were served, they threw themselves into eating and drinking.

Yet food and drink could not silence their tongues. After several cups, their boasting grew ever more extravagant.

Zhang Long slapped his chest, full of bravado. He laughed loudly, "Second Brother, do you remember the day we encountered the 'Four Rogues of Plum Ridge'?"

Zhang Hu replied, "How could I forget? We were passing through Plum Ridge and saw the Four Rogues robbing a merchant. You couldn’t stand it and stepped forward to intervene. But they dismissed us outright, threatening, 'If you meddle again, you’ll lose your heads.'"

"Haha, I remember that too," Zhang Bao chimed in. "They hadn’t even swung their blades before Big Brother’s sword pierced their throats."

"Of course! Aside from the 'Iron Sword' Li Tiexin, one of the Four Grandmasters, who in all of Lingnan’s martial world can match our Big Brother’s speed with a sword?"

At this, the three raised their cups and laughed heartily.

Just then, a distant thunderous boom interrupted their merriment.

"A ship ahead is on fire!" someone rushed in from outside the cabin, shouting.

Ning Xiu’s figure flickered, and he appeared outside.

He looked out and saw a cargo ship in the distance engulfed in flames, the fire blazing fiercely. The river wind fanned the flames, painting the surroundings a vivid red for hundreds of meters.

The others followed, faces grim in the flickering firelight.

The Tiger, Dragon, and Leopard Brothers burped, rubbed their eyes, and stared at the inferno, finally sobering up.

"There are still people on that ship! A child!" someone cried out.

"President Ye, should we go rescue them?" someone asked.

Ye Gang turned to the three brothers, whose eyes darted away, avoiding his gaze.

Ye Gang, a seasoned veteran of the martial world, immediately understood their intention—they wanted no part of this mess. After all, it wasn’t their ship.

Minding one's own business was the way to survive.

Every old hand in the martial world knew this truth.

Ye Gang looked back at the burning ship, sighed deeply, and thought, everyone has their fate; it’s just their misfortune.

But at that moment, he suddenly heard a sharp crack.

He turned toward the sound and froze.

With Ning Xiu’s keen eyesight, he took in every detail aboard the burning ship.

The screams of women, the cries of children, men resisting to the death.

Ning Xiu was no saint, nor did he consider himself a good man, but when confronted with something, and possessing the ability to intervene, why not act?

Having lived again to this age, he understood that minding only one's own affairs was the smart way to live. Those who meddled were fools. Yet, he preferred the company of fools to smart men.

Ning Xiu stepped onto the deck. With a sharp crack, a plank split in two and flew into his hands.

He flung the two planks out, each landing fifty or sixty meters apart.

Letting out a clear whistle, Ning Xiu soared into the air.

In a single leap, he covered fifty or sixty meters. As he landed, he tapped the plank with his right foot and took flight again. Twice in succession, he crossed over a hundred meters of river, landing lightly on the burning ship.

His ethereal movement left the Tiger, Dragon, and Leopard Brothers dumbstruck—such mastery of lightness skill!

The moment he landed, a wave of heat struck him.

Amid the heat were the stench of blood and roasted flesh, utterly repulsive.

"Haha, that girl was quite the treat. We’d planned to bring her back for the brothers to enjoy, but who’d have thought she’d smash herself against the wall and die," a water bandit laughed as he emerged from the cabin with loot, dragging a naked female corpse behind him.

"Alright, that's enough. Grab the goods and get ready to retreat. The fire’s getting out of control," another bandit on the deck tossed aside his oil bottle and shouted to his companions.

But as he turned, he saw a face—a ghastly visage.

In the light of the flames, it was terrifyingly grim and monstrous.