Chapter Seventy-Five: The Pavilion of Ocean Splendor

Haichen Pavilion was located in the most bustling and lively area of Little South Sea. Though it too was a pleasure barge moored by the shore, this was the domain of Old Fifth Hua, naturally setting it apart from the likes of Caiyun Pavilion and Yunxiao Pavilion. Surrounding Haichen Pavilion were several smaller yet even more lavishly adorned barges, interconnected by wooden walkways complete with finely carved railings.

Tonight would not be a peaceful night—this, fate had already decreed. Old Fifth Hua had just received a report from his men and was still fretting over the mishap at Caiyun Pavilion when another subordinate burst in, flustered and out of breath. He brought alarming news: Yunxiao Pavilion was engulfed in a raging inferno, its flames illuminating half the night sky.

Old Fifth Hua had already found Caiyun Pavilion's fire suspicious, though he had maintained a calm façade before his men. Now, unable to sit still any longer, he sprang from his chair, face ashen, and barked sharply at the burly man beside him, "A-Long! Someone is doing this deliberately! Take your brothers and go investigate ashore. Tonight we have important guests from Captain Cao’s entourage. No matter what happens, nothing must go wrong!"

A-Long, the sturdy man, nodded solemnly and strode out. Old Fifth Hua then turned to another, giving swift orders: "Old Wolf! Take your men and stand guard with Captain Cao. Make sure nothing happens!"

"Yes, rest assured, Fifth Master!" Old Wolf was short, even thin, but agile as a cat. With a quick motion he reached the doorway, but Old Fifth Hua stopped him with a stern shout: "Also, send a few reliable men to look into Caiyun Pavilion and Yunxiao Pavilion. Tonight’s events are not simple. Tell Tiger and Leopard not to be overly concerned—just bring their men back here and stand guard!"

Old Wolf paused, then understood, nodded, and quickly left the room.

Earlier that morning, word had spread that Cao You and Cao Hai of the Cao Commerce Guild had met with death and injury. Ordinary folk might not care or even believe it, but insiders like themselves knew it was no rumor. Especially before dusk, when the so-called Captain Cao Qi arrived here with several military officers and chartered a small barge. Old Fifth Hua had let slip that Captain Cao was secretly negotiating something with the others.

As reports continued to trickle in regarding Yunxiao Pavilion, Old Fifth Hua felt the stifling air in the room nearly suffocate him. After angrily cursing his men for not opening more windows, he stormed out, striding toward the deck—seemingly intent on getting some air ashore.

Since hearing of the trouble at Yunxiao Pavilion, Old Fifth Hua had begun clearing the premises and summoning more men to Haichen Pavilion. After all, Caiyun and Yunxiao together were not as significant as Haichen Pavilion. Deep down, he feared his own pavilion might share their fate.

"A-Long!" Old Fifth Hua stepped ashore and approached his trusted aide, his expression dark as he asked, "Well? Any unusual activity?"

"Fifth Master, the brothers have searched the area—nothing suspicious for now!" A-Long replied gravely, suspecting as well that this night would be far from calm. He frowned slightly, then added in a tone of warning, "But according to our men, Rudachi from the Mongol Gang seems to be gathering his people. Could this have something to do with what happened at Caiyun and Yunxiao?"

"Impossible! Rudachi hasn’t the guts or the means!" Old Fifth Hua immediately rejected the suggestion, yet his brow tightened. He was no novice—he knew A-Long’s warning was not without merit. Here in Little South Sea, Rudachi and the Mongol Gang were his only real rivals. Still, logic made him doubt this theory. After a moment’s thought, he added, "Even if he did have the nerve, Rudachi isn’t strong enough to take me down in one stroke! All the same, have a few reliable men keep an eye on him. Whatever happens, we must be prepared!"

"Yes, I thought the same and have already made arrangements," A-Long replied earnestly. His initiative earned him a look of approval from his master, and he turned, eyes sharp, to continue scanning their surroundings.

"Someone jumped into the water! Looks like a suicide—another one! Somebody, help!"

Suddenly, a startled cry from nearby drew the attention of Old Fifth Hua and his men outside Haichen Pavilion. The crisp splash that followed made everyone turn, but their view was quickly blocked by the crowd rushing to the scene. Old Fifth Hua and his companions turned away—while suicides weren’t an everyday sight, it was not uncommon for a gambler who’d lost everything to seek death in the waters every ten days or so. Usually, though, the attempt would fail, as there were plenty of passersby willing to lend a hand or interfere.

Ding Li had arrived at Haichen Pavilion some time ago. After scouting the area, he realized that short of forcing his way in, he had no better option for sneaking aboard—especially with Old Fifth Hua now on alert and A-Long, said to be the most formidable of his men, stationed ashore. The last thing Ding Li wanted was to be set upon by a mob and meet his end outside Haichen Pavilion.

But when Ding Li leaped into the water and heard the commotion from the shore, he cursed his luck. Why were there always busybodies about? Before jumping, he had made sure no one was watching, and even minimized his movements—but still, a crowd had been drawn. He didn’t know that suicide attempts here had practically become a local spectacle.

"Ah! He’s gone under—he’s dead!"

"Serves him right! Why gamble his life away?"

"Exactly! Decent folks know the odds are against them!"

"Another life, wasted… What a sin!"

Left with no choice and unwilling to be exposed, Ding Li took a deep breath and dove under, refusing to surface. His actions elicited a chorus of sighs and a few gloating remarks from above, while others simply watched from afar with indifference and soon drifted away.

"Ah, people… why do this to themselves?" A-Long beside Old Fifth Hua shook his head, not without a hint of irony. Even Old Fifth Hua’s gaze turned to the crowd, and after a thoughtful pause, he sighed, "This is human nature. In the face of gambling, greed bares its fangs. If they didn’t hope to win fortunes, would they be here losing everything?"

"Yes, greed—endless greed…" A-Long’s bitterness showed in his expression. He shook his head and glanced back at Haichen Pavilion. Suddenly, he stiffened, as if struck by a thought or a glimpse.

Old Fifth Hua noticed his aide’s odd reaction, followed his gaze, and grew puzzled. But then, as both men looked again toward the pavilion, astonishment spread across their faces.

"Something’s wrong!"

Almost simultaneously, they exclaimed in alarm. They quickly realized that nearly half an hour ago, the gambling hall in Haichen Pavilion had been cleared out. If a gambler had lost everything and sought death, he wouldn’t have waited so long. The timing simply made no sense.

At once, both men grew wary. If the person who had plunged into the water was not a desperate gambler, then there was something else at play.

Holding his breath, Ding Li swam swiftly to the side of Haichen Pavilion, his head breaking the surface only when he absolutely had to, gulping in air. He reached behind his waist and produced a small iron hammer and a half-foot iron spike—tools he had “borrowed” from a general store earlier—and began to work at the hull.

After just a few seconds, Ding Li threw the tools away in frustration. He had doubted their effectiveness before, but now he knew for certain—it was hopeless. The outer hull of Haichen Pavilion was sheathed in iron. With those tools, he’d exhaust himself before ever managing to sink the vessel.

He had barely discarded them and swum a short distance when he realized with regret that only the section he’d just tried was iron-plated; the area beside him—nearly ten feet wide—was all wood. Based on his estimate, this was right beneath the gambling hall.

There was no going back for his tools now. Annoyed, Ding Li punched the water a few times in frustration. Suddenly, a voice barked overhead, "Who’s there? What are you doing here?"

Startled, Ding Li looked up to see a thug leaning over the rail, stick in hand, aiming it menacingly. "Are you blind, you dog? Do you know where you are? Looking to die tonight?"

"Get over here!" the man shouted.

Ding Li grabbed the side of the boat, using it for leverage. With a sudden heave, he seized the man’s stick, and with a quick drop of his own body, pulled the thug into the water. The man yelped in surprise, but there was no real struggle. Ding Li slipped an arm around his neck and squeezed. In just seconds, the man’s frantic movements weakened and ceased; soon, his limbs floated limply, life gone.

To be sure, Ding Li checked for a pulse, then took the stick for himself, tucking it into his belt. With practiced agility, he gripped the boat and vaulted up, landing nimbly on the deck of Haichen Pavilion.