Seeking Truth with a Sword

Chapter 443 - 394: Boat Ticket

For decades, the SS Sea Charm had been patched and repaired, losing the mighty presence it once had when a single ship could suppress dozens of warships from the Zhou Kingdom. It had been transformed into a civilian sail cruise and cargo ship.

But when it spanned across Suzhou Port, it still dwarfed all other seagoing vessels nearby. To common folk standing on the shore, the ship was like a giant, rendering them as insignificant as ants.

Su Xinghuo took out a blue, card-like ticket from his breast pocket and handed it to the inspector. The inspector checked the ticket against the list, examined the information, and after confirming it was correct, cut off a corner of the ticket. Su Xinghuo, carrying two suitcases, was then allowed to board the ship via a sturdy wooden plank leading to the deck.

Far away in Chang’an, Li Ang pondered for a moment and immediately made a decision. The chance to find more clues about the origin of Mo Si was right in front of him, and he could not afford to miss it. Li Ang instructed his Ink Silk Clone in Suzhou City to investigate details such as when the SS Sea Charm would set sail, its route, and the cabin where Su Xinghuo would be staying.

Soon, he received the answers through local newspapers in Suzhou. The SS Sea Charm had already been docked at Suzhou Port for fifteen days and was set to remain for another two days to complete its spiritual energy-based modifications. Multiple large-scale Spiritual Energy Machines were to be installed, turning it into an ocean-going cruise ship powered by these machines. The ship would also incorporate the latest inventions from the Academic Palace, such as talisman lamps.

How very... trendy, Li Ang mused. On the surface, the SS Sea Charm was "leased" to Liu Guang Bank by the Jiangnan East Road Government. The latter profited from the SS Sea Charm and paid annual taxes to the court. Liu Guang Bank, ostensibly part of the Chang’an Chamber of Commerce represented by Jin Wusuan, was actually controlled by the Emperor and Empress in the Great Ming Palace.

Just like many other enterprises spread across the Yu Country, this roundabout method was designed to quietly contribute to the Emperor and Empress’s personal treasury while avoiding the royal principle of "not competing with the people for profit." Besides the Head of Taihao Mountain, the wealthiest individuals in the world were the Emperor and Empress of the Yu Country. Otherwise, they could not have afforded such a lavish wedding for Prince Yue—a feat unmatched in history and likely to remain unrivaled in the future. With the Emperor and Empress backing it, the SS Sea Charm naturally had access to the coveted, quota-limited large-scale Spiritual Energy Machines.

"In two days, the modified SS Sea Charm will officially depart from Suzhou Port as a cruise ship, carrying 3,700 passengers and 400 crew members. It will sail southward along the coast of the Yu Country, entering the peripheral areas of the Endless Sea and anchoring near a few safe islands previously explored by the Academic Palace. This will offer passengers a view of the magnificent scenery of the Endless Sea. The ship will then return to Suzhou Port in the Yu Country. The entire journey will last fifteen days and fourteen nights..."

Li Ang contemplated this information and made his decision instantly. He instructed his Ink Silk Clone in the cave outside Chang’an City to allocate seventy percent of its mass, transform into a flock of birds, carry a portion of gold and silver ingots, and fly towards Suzhou.

Tickets for the SS Sea Charm are nearly sold out. I need to secure a legitimate identity to get aboard the SS Sea Charm discreetly, get close to Su Xinghuo, and gain his trust. All this, while ensuring I don’t arouse the cat demon’s suspicion, so I can obtain clues related to the origin of Mo Si...

The birds transformed from Mo Si didn’t need to stop and rest. Before night fell, they had already landed in a forested area within Suzhou City. After landing, the flock observed its surroundings for some time. Confirming no humans were nearby, they ceased their cawing disguise. All the birds then converged, melting and deforming. If a stranger happened to come close, they would surely be frightened to death by the sight—hundreds of birds collectively melting, forming a mottled, piled-up mass of flesh. This mass of flesh writhed continuously, "squeezing" out one living person after another.

The Ink Silk Clone at the Fifth Stage could parasitize and control living things. At the Sixth Stage, however, it could mimic any material it had touched, including humans. The Ink Silk Clones that differentiated from the mass of flesh were not black-haired, black-eyed Yu Country people, but rather blond-haired, high-nosed, deep-socketed Western Regions Barbarians. They were dressed in the expensive and luxurious attire of Hu Shang. This group of "people" adjusted their faces and clothing, walked out of the woods, and headed straight to a mansion owned by the Lu Family Merchant to seek an audience.

The steward at the entrance of the wealthy merchant’s mansion saw a group of unfamiliar Hu Ren approach and immediately consulted his master. The Lu Family Merchant, upon hearing the news, was completely puzzled, as he did not recognize any Hu Shang. However, considering the steward mentioned that the group appeared exceptionally wealthy, he ultimately decided to meet them.

The Lu Family Merchant welcomed the Ink Silk people disguised as Hu Shang into the main hall and asked cautiously, "May I know who your honor is..."

"I am An Xuehai, a representative from Chang’an’s Qin He Trading Company," the Hu Shang said in heavily accented Chang’an official speech, gravely presenting a name card and a seal. "I am a friend of Manager Jin Wusuan."

After Li Ang had dealt with the Water Poison in Suzhou, he accepted an invitation from Prince Guang, Li Shan, to attend a dinner party at his residence. At the banquet, the city’s elites had all vied to curry favor with him. This was why he remembered this Lu Family Merchant. The merchant was the Manager of Liu Guang Bank in Suzhou and also one of the prominent figures in the Suzhou Port Chamber of Commerce, with influence over some affairs regarding the SS Sea Charm.

The Lu Family Merchant carefully examined the seal and confirmed it indeed belonged to Manager Jin. Jin Wusuan possessed dozens of seals, large and small, each with a different purpose, only entrusted to close business partners. Once he verified the seal’s authenticity, the Lu Family Merchant instantly became respectful, his tone turning much more reverent. "What brings your honor to Suzhou? Is it for business negotiations?"

"It is not," the Ink Silk Clone shook its head. "I grew up in the arid desert and have never seen the ocean. When I saw the news about the SS Sea Charm’s imminent voyage in the newspaper, I thought of purchasing a ticket to fulfill my dream of seeing the sea."

Li Ang controlled the Ink Silk Clone to bluff with ease. To Manager Lu, however, it sounded perfectly logical. He had seen many wealthy elites from inland over the years who, having never seen the ocean, wanted to experience a sea voyage. Last time young master Li visited Suzhou, he had even wanted to treat him to a sea tour, but unfortunately, the Little Medicine King God wasn’t interested in such leisure.

"Here is a little token of my appreciation. Please accept it with my compliments," the Ink Silk Clone gestured. Another Hu Ren servant brought over a wooden box, opening it to reveal gleaming, thick gold ingots.

"Very well, very well." Manager Lu chuckled as he closed the wooden box. With Jin Wusuan’s private seal as endorsement and gold ingots as compensation, there was no reason not to get the job done. He sent a servant to the privy to fetch a structural diagram of the SS Sea Charm and asked enthusiastically, "Which cabin would Manager An like to stay in?"

Li Ang, who had already scouted Su Xinghuo’s cabin, controlled the Ink Silk Clone and said with a smile, "One close to the deck, where I can constantly see the ocean, would be best."

The Ink Silk Clone casually pointed to the structural diagram of the SS Sea Charm, selecting the cabin right next to Su Xinghuo’s.