Chapter Seventy-Eight: The Embarrassed Cao Qi

As for Old Wolf’s origins, they were known only to Old Five Hua and a few trusted confidants; outsiders were unaware. But Old Wolf’s agility and his cunning, savage knife skills astonished even Ding Li, who, surprised as he was, could not help but feel a growing admiration. After exchanging more than a dozen blows, Ding Li still failed to spot a single flaw in Old Wolf’s defenses.

Moreover, when Old Wolf fought with his life on the line, he was no less formidable than the wounded Aguda had been earlier. Each time Ding Li tried to lure him into making a mistake, Old Wolf’s narrow, brooding eyes would flash with a predatory green light, reminiscent of a true wolf in the wild. Then, without hesitation, he would launch a desperate, life-for-life attack, forcing Ding Li into a direct contest of strength. For all his own prowess, Ding Li found himself momentarily unable to gain the upper hand.

Perhaps it was because Zhang Wu’s men fought with unmatched valor, or perhaps the earlier defeat and withdrawal of A Long had sapped the morale of Old Five Hua’s followers. Though Ding Li had yet to slay Old Wolf, their line was steadily, inexorably advancing. Old Five Hua, overseeing the battle from the rear, had already retreated onto the pleasure barge. Watching his side give ground, he betrayed no sign of anxiety; instead, his eyes sparkled with cunning, and he repeatedly cast significant glances toward a smaller barge moored behind him, connected to the main pavilion of Ocean Hall.

Before long, Old Wolf began to tire—a sensation he had not known in years. Observing Ding Li, who wielded his blade tirelessly, Old Wolf suddenly understood how his companion A Long had been wounded. Facing Ding Li and an opponent as reckless as Aguda in tandem, he did not doubt that he himself would have been quickly defeated.

Compared to Ding Li, Zhang Wu and Lu Dachi were even more ferocious. With each swing of their blades, they felled enemy after enemy. Flanking Ding Li on either side with their own men, they pressed forward, gradually closing in on the walkway leading directly to Ocean Hall, each determined to be the first to seize that crucial path.

Now, Old Five Hua’s power in Little South Sea was entirely concentrated in Ocean Hall. Should Ding Li and his allies prevail this day, they would uproot Old Five Hua’s influence at its source. Yet, if Old Five Hua survived, his wealth and long-cultivated connections would soon restore his dominance, and the destroyed Rainbow Pavilion and Cloud Loft would rise again as swiftly as before.

However, Ding Li increasingly felt that this road was fraught with peril, perhaps even impassable. Judging by the current situation, the two sides remained evenly matched; neither had secured a decisive advantage. Nonetheless, Old Five Hua, on the defensive, held a natural edge. The only connection between Ocean Hall and the shore was a narrow walkway, barely wide enough for four or five abreast. Ding Li was certain that Old Five Hua would never allow them to cross so easily. Especially when Ding Li caught sight of Old Five Hua’s calm expression atop the barge, a wave of unease surged in his heart.

Zhang Wu and Lu Dachi, lacking Ding Li’s doubts, grew ever bolder as their side advanced. They seemed not to tire, hacking ceaselessly at their foes and rapidly closing the gap to the walkway.

There was a dull thud—a sound that should have been thunderous, but was lost amid the din of combat, barely registering with the desperate fighters. To them it was as insignificant as the crack of a child’s firecracker.

On the nearby small barge, Cao Qi, clad in light armor, looked down at the shattered wooden door he had just kicked open, expecting the commotion to draw attention. Yet, his efforts seemed to vanish without a trace—as if a stone had sunk into the sea. None of the combatants spared him a glance. His pride wounded, especially in the presence of his fellow officers, Cao Qi’s anger flared. Was he not a proper officer of the Tang army, a sixth-rank captain commanding two hundred men? How could they ignore him entirely? Incensed, he strode forward a few steps and then turned to bark at his loyal followers, “What are you doing, trailing after me? Don’t you see there’s violence in broad daylight? Where are the signal arrows? Fire the signal and summon the brothers!”

“We…we didn’t bring any…” One of his men, braver than the rest, replied in a low voice, glancing between his companions as if to say, “See, we’re all in plain clothes. We have nothing but our sabers.”

Cao Qi followed their gaze and realized this was his own doing—he had specifically ordered them to come unarmed. As for his own light armor, he simply wished to stand out as befitting a sixth-rank officer.

He glared fiercely at the speaker and made as if to strike him, sending the man ducking for cover. But instead, Cao Qi turned to the other officers, all loyal to the Cao clan. They had all agreed to a secret meeting beforehand, so none were so foolish as to wear armor; thus, no one responded to Cao Qi’s silent plea for support. As the sounds of battle on the shore grew more intense, Cao Qi frowned deeply and issued a command, “Let’s go! Let’s see who dares act so brazenly!”

“Captain Cao, perhaps we should stay out of this?” A tall, thin officer grabbed his arm and whispered, “Anyone bold enough to cause trouble in Ocean Hall must be from the Zhang Commerce Guild. It’s best not to get involved.”

“What nonsense is this?” Cao Qi rounded on him angrily. “Are you suggesting I, Cao Qi, should fear those Zhang thugs? They are committing violence in public! Are you saying a sixth-rank officer of the Tang army has no authority here?”

“Of course not, Captain. You misunderstand!” The tall officer bowed hurriedly, a trace of contempt flickering in his eyes. Though they shared the same rank, his status was a notch below Cao Qi’s—he was only seventh-rank, with just thirty or forty men under him, and even those positions remained unfilled. In truth, his power was less than that of one of Cao Qi’s squad leaders.

The others, wary of Cao Qi and his powerful family, dared not argue further. They all knew the truth: if the Zhang Commerce Guild was fighting Old Five Hua, it was none of their concern. Even if it was, they would rather stay out of it. Everyone present remembered how Cao You and Cao Hai had fallen in Little South Sea the previous night—one dead, one wounded—at the hands of Zhang Mingzhi.

But Cao Qi’s mind was elsewhere. Humiliated by Zhang Mingzhi on the street the day before, he was eager to catch him in the act and bring charges of public violence. The very thought made his heart leap with excitement, and spurred on by these hopes, he strode toward the walkway to Ocean Hall without further hesitation.

“Insolent! Outrageous!” No sooner had he crossed the walkway and reached the prow of Ocean Hall than Cao Qi began waving his unsheathed saber, shouting furiously. But the blood-mad fighters paid him no mind.

By this time, Old Five Hua’s men had retreated to the walkway, and Old Wolf, unable to overcome Ding Li, had been called back by the anxious Old Five Hua. Zhang Wu and Lu Dachi, together with Ding Li, stood like three war gods upon that narrow path, carving out new ground for their comrades behind them.

“Damn it!” Infuriated by being ignored, Cao Qi snatched an iron rod from one of Old Five Hua’s men and hurled it at Zhang Wu, who was charging toward the walkway. “Zhang Wu, you bastard, stop right there!”

This finally got Zhang Wu’s attention. He looked up just as the spinning iron rod flew toward him. He dodged back, raising his saber to block, but Ding Li was quicker, intercepting the rod with a swift stroke. Only then did Zhang Wu realize the familiar voice belonged to Cao Qi. His bloodshot eyes widened, and, to everyone’s astonishment—including Cao Qi himself—he hurled his saber straight at Cao Qi, cursing, “Cao, you dog! Die!”

As the blood-stained blade spun toward him, Cao Qi froze, too stunned to feel fear. In the blink of an eye, a shining scimitar sliced through the air—clang!—knocking Zhang Wu’s saber aside. The blade grazed Cao Qi’s shoulder, sending a few plates from his light armor flying.

With a sharp gasp, Cao Qi sprang back several steps, grabbing a few of his men to shield himself, his neck hunched as he peered nervously at Zhang Wu through the gaps between their shoulders, his heart pounding wildly.

“Brother Wu! Calm yourself! You mustn’t kill him!” Ding Li, shaken by Zhang Wu’s impulsive attack, hurried to warn him, fearing he might try again. After all, Cao Qi was a military officer. To kill him openly, even with the Zhangs’ power, would bring dire consequences for Zhang Wu.

“He’s just a coward—I was only trying to scare him!” Zhang Wu laughed coldly, curled his lip in contempt, and resumed his assault.

On the barge, Old Five Hua’s former smugness vanished, replaced by a cold sneer as he glanced at Cao Qi. Beneath his gaze was a depth of scorn and cruelty. He had not expected the Cao clan’s scion to be so utterly useless—a complete waste of a sixth-rank captain’s title.