“Fortunately, you saved the granddaughter of the Jiliao Governor, Minister Wang. Although they won’t bend the law for your sake, at the very least, before she leaves Tianjin, the Tianjin Military Affairs Office will have to show some respect. They won’t rush to arrest you and put the Wang family in a difficult position. But once that important person leaves, your life or death will have nothing to do with them. Samuel Kent is waiting to skin you alive—after all, you caused him to accidentally injure a scholar and offended Minister Wang. You’ve also made the entire Tianjin Garrison lose face; you broke through two city gates! The Military Affairs Office is furious, and I heard there’s even a high-ranking official in the city, preparing to go to the capital to see the emperor, watching him make a fool of himself.”

　　Helen Howard said.

　　“So we’re not going to Tianjin?”

　　William Young asked as he watched her steer the small sampan around the Sancha River mouth.

　　They were entering the North Canal.

　　Helen Howard quickly poled the boat into a patch of reeds along the shore. After making sure it was hidden enough, she set down the pole and sat across from him, pulling a cluster of water caltrops from the water, picking off a few tender ones and tossing them to him.

　　“My father says you’re pretty skilled. We just happen to be short a hand.”

　　She said as she peeled the water caltrops.

　　“You guys aren’t up to anything illegal, are you?”

　　William Young asked as he peeled the water caltrops too.

　　“Don’t talk nonsense, we’re law-abiding citizens!”

　　Helen Howard said.

　　“Law-abiding citizens harboring a fugitive?”

　　William Young said.

　　“Are you in or not?”

　　Helen Howard said, a bit annoyed.

　　“You already said it yourself—I’m at least going to get two hundred lashes, then hang once, and get my head chopped off twice. What choice do I have? My head’s already hanging from my belt, what’s left to be afraid of? Whether you’re smuggling, trafficking illegal salt, or river bandits, I don’t care anymore. But I am curious—your father sent a delicate girl like you to find a fugitive like me. Isn’t he afraid you’ll be like a meat bun thrown to a dog—never coming back?”

　　William Young lay there, grinning.

　　This girl was actually quite pretty. Years of drifting on boats had tanned her skin, but thanks to that, her figure was excellent—tall, long-legged, well-proportioned, not an ounce of extra fat, and her waist looked springy and strong. Even though she only wore coarse men’s clothes, her charm was hard to hide. Judging by her age, she couldn’t be more than seventeen or eighteen, probably not married yet—William Young was confident in his judgment. But in this era, she probably wasn’t considered the ideal beauty; after all, delicate types like Lin Daiyu were more popular, especially if they coughed now and then, looking frail and pitiful.

　　This one could only be called a wild girl.

　　Helen Howard smiled sweetly.

　　Suddenly, she flicked her sleeve, and a flash of cold light shot straight at William Young.

　　William Young’s right hand shot out like lightning.

　　“That won’t work!”

　　He said proudly, holding the small dart.

　　Helen Howard yanked the end of the long pole at her feet, instantly drawing out a short sword. William Young grabbed both sides of the boat and gave it a sudden shake, sending the girl into the water, where she disappeared beneath the boat. Just as William Young looked to the right for her, she suddenly surfaced on the left, grabbed William Young, and tried to pull him in. But she clearly underestimated her opponent’s reflexes—William Young spun around at lightning speed, grabbed her by the back, and hauled her out amid her startled cry. But when she brandished her short sword in mock threat, he quickly let go…

　　“Not bad!”

　　Helen Howard said, blushing as she pulled the water weeds off herself.

　　“Do you know when a woman is most attractive?”

　　William Young lay there, eyes shining.

　　“Scoundrel!”

　　Helen Howard glared at him.

　　“Of course, when she’s all wet!”

　　William Young said happily, admiring the curves of her silhouette against the sunset.

　　Helen Howard gritted her teeth and flung the short sword at him, stabbing it into the wood right by William Young’s ear. William Young acted as if he hadn’t noticed.

　　“I’m hungry!”

　　He said lazily.

　　Helen Howard pointed at the water caltrops.

　　“You think this is enough to fill me up?”

　　William Young protested in dissatisfaction.

　　Helen Howard rolled her eyes at him, pulled the short sword from beside his ear, and screwed it back into the end of the long pole. Only then did William Young notice the tip was made of iron, and the sword’s hilt was threaded. After a few twists, Helen Howard had turned it into a spear over five meters long. That pretty much confirmed it—none of the people on her boat were law-abiding citizens. This thing was clearly made for boarding fights on the water. But that was to be expected; river boatmen these days couldn’t compare to the half-merchant, half-pirate types at sea, but they were definitely not law-abiding. She gripped the weapon and stared at the water. Suddenly, she thrust it down, and a carp was speared and flung into William Young’s lap. She lifted her chin in a gesture.

　　“Eating it raw will give you parasites!”

　　William Young said.

　　“Parasites?”

　　Helen Howard asked in confusion.

　　William Young grabbed the carp and poked at its tail. Helen Howard sat beside him, curious. William Young glanced at her chest, and Helen Howard pinched him viciously. Satisfied, William Young lowered his head and soon found one for her—a thin red thread wriggling slowly in the fish’s tail, looking like a capillary. William Young then tore open the fish at the wound, searching carefully through the flesh, and soon picked out another blood-red one, placing it directly in Helen Howard’s hand.