50: Chapter 47 Outfit 50: Chapter 47 Outfit After carrying Chu Yunyun back to the large driftwood, Chu Xisheng swept his gaze around the river surface, feeling a wave of concern.
Apart from the few passengers who initially fell into the river and were yet to be found, the rest had been rescued and brought aboard the sand ship.
Some were lying on the deck, others were tied next to the driftwood, and still others were clinging to a piece of shattered wood, none in immediate danger to their lives.
The problem was their location in the center of the river, at least four miles away from either bank.
Fortunately, the nearby currents were slow, so they weren’t at risk of being swept downstream any time soon.
As Chu Xisheng was contemplating how to get to shore, he heard a cheer from behind.
“Look, that’s a boat from the Iron Banner Gang!”
“They’re coming, the Iron Banner Gang’s boat is heading our way.”
We might live after all.
The men of the Iron Banner Gang are truly brave and wouldn’t just stand by idly.”
Chu Xisheng immediately turned around and looked back over the river surface.
Indeed, he saw a large sand ship sailing toward them, with three large black flags hanging from its mast; in the center of each flag was a boldly written ‘Iron’ character.
This sand ship was coming with the current, and after approaching them, it slowed down by lowering its sails and cast down four rope ladders.
An additional dozen or so sailors jumped down from the ship to assist the passengers in the water onto the vessel.
Chu Xisheng also grabbed onto a rope ladder, hauling the ‘frail’-looking Chu Yunyun up onto the ship with him.
Alas, once the cheap sister set foot on the deck, she wouldn’t let him carry her anymore.
Worried that Chu Yunyun might snap his neck in a panic, Chu Xisheng quickly let go and settled her in a corner by the ship’s rail.
Just then, a man soaking wet approached them.
Tears of gratitude filling his eyes, he bowed to Chu Xisheng and said, “You must be Chu Xisheng, the Mr.
Chu who slew the Heluo Fish.
Chu, I have no way to repay your life-saving grace, I only wish for Mr.
Chu to live a long life, blessed with endless prosperity and fortune.”
Following this man’s lead, the people on deck all realized who was before them and began to bow in Chu Xisheng’s direction.
My household of four owes you our lives,” one said.
“Honorable benefactor above, please accept our bow!” chorused others.
“I was fortunate to hear of Mr.
Chu’s fame half a month ago, known as the number one figure of the Inner Sect at Zhengyang Martial Arts Hall.
I never imagined that today I would be rescued by the illustrious Mr.
Chu, saving the lives of my whole family,” someone else added.
Chu Xisheng immediately cast a sideways glance in Lu Luanti’s direction.
Lu Luanti’s eyes flew open in response, glaring back with an imposing air and a look full of warning.
Dare this guy utter one wrong word and try?
Chu Xisheng had no intention of exposing Lu Luanti.
He’d gotten used to being a scapegoat, and besides, there were benefits.
A small burst of fireworks exploded in his vision; the number of Martial Arts Points he had increased to 33.
The amount was small, yet even the tiniest mosquito was still flesh.
Chu Xisheng inwardly ‘tsked’ and turned his gaze away from Lu Luanti.
He helped the people around him get up one by one, speaking in a gentle tone, “Please stand up, everyone, I hardly deserve such honor.
Actually, just now, it was Junior Sister Lu over there and I who together slain the Heluo Fish.
And our act of banishing that demon was to save ourselves; it would be too much to accept such grand gestures from all of you.”
He was still too embarrassed to take credit directly, so he resorted to a more ambiguous explanation.
Chu Xisheng thought to himself that he had indeed exerted some effort, having saved more than twenty people today and taking the blame to boot.
At that moment, a sturdy man with a red face, dressed in a short aqua-blue coat, strode forward with a vigorous gait.
He looked intently at Chu Xisheng, then, with an excited expression, brought his fist to his palm and said, “Are you Chu Xisheng, the honored Mr.
Chu from Zhengyang Martial Arts Hall?”
He did not wait for Chu Xisheng to speak and instead bowed with one fist and knelt down halfway, “I, the incense master of Iron Banner Gang, Li Dehou, offer my thanks to Mr.
For the life-saving heroics in risking your life to protect our Deputy Flag Master, everyone in the Iron Banner Gang will remember it forever with endless gratitude!”
Following his words, the surrounding Iron Banner Gang members were all moved and knelt down with fists clasped just like Li Dehou.
The people who were rescued also buzzed with amazement.
Among them, there were those who had heard the name Chu Xisheng, but few knew that Chu Xisheng had actually saved the life of Iron Banner Gang’s Deputy Flag Master.
However, this confirmed that the one who killed that Heluo Fish was indeed Chu Xisheng, beyond any doubt!
Even Xie Zhenqing among the crowd let go of her suspicion.
She thought Chu Xisheng’s clothes were dry and crisp, clearly not having been immersed in water, so she doubted the truthfulness of Lu Luanti’s words.
But now it seemed that there was another reason why Chu Xisheng’s clothes were dry.
Xie Zhenqing guessed it might be due to some water-repelling magic or talisman.
The key point was that besides Chu Xisheng, there was no one else on the boat capable of killing that Heluo Fish.
At that moment, within Chu Xisheng’s field of vision, another small firework appeared.
His Martial Arts Points had increased to 34.
The incense master of Iron Banner Gang, Li Dehou, was extremely warm towards Chu Xisheng, not only did he set up a table of food and drinks on the boat to entertain Chu Xisheng and his two companions, but also invited him to visit the Iron Banner Gang Headquarters.
He said their Deputy Flag Master had long been thinking of him, their lifesaver.
Chu Xisheng, however, declined politely as he had pressing matters to attend to that day and could not make it.
Li Dehou could only send them off with a heavy heart to the ferry terminal of the East Shore Ancient Market before sailing away.
His sand ship was originally meant to transport goods to the Coastal County of Linhai along the lower reaches of the Shenxiu River.
It just so happened to come across people in the water and rushed to rescue them.
Before leaving, Li Dehou made a special mention of Chu Xisheng.
He said that Tie Xiaosheng had already circulated his name throughout the entire Iron Banner Gang.
From now on, he would only need to announce his name at any ferry dock in Xiushui County to ride the boats for free.
Furthermore, in the Ancient Market, there was an Iron Banner Gang office.
If Chu Xisheng found himself in any trouble that he could not solve at the Ancient Market, he could seek help at the Iron Banner Gang office there.
After Chu Xisheng set foot on land, he asked Lu Luanti with a smile, “Junior Sister Lu, did you come to the Ancient Market for some important matters?”
Meaning if there was something important, she should hurry on her way and stop following them.
Lu Luanti glanced at the long and hard package Chu Xisheng was carrying on his back, and with a thought, guessed that Chu Xisheng had come to sell the swords from Fire Bone Cave.
The corners of her lips lifted slightly as she took out a dagger from her sleeve, “I’m here to sell this.
After saying that, Lu Luanti walked away without looking back.
However, after taking a few steps, Lu Luanti turned her head around in great surprise towards Chu Xisheng, “Eh?
Brother Chu, and Yunyun, why are you following me?”
Chu Xisheng had nothing to say; the largest weapons market in the black market was located on the southern side of the Ancient Market, so he could only continue to follow Lu Luanti.
Chu Yun, who was following behind, couldn’t help but chuckle at this remark.
However, with Lu Luanti around, she had to keep pretending to be feeble.
After all, she had fallen into the water and been soaked for quite some time.
Even a regular sorcerer wouldn’t be able to withstand that, let alone a sickly young girl like her?