"Eh?" Suddenly, a flash of light pierced the darkness of the night and caught Brian Carter's eye. Overjoyed, he thought, just when I wanted to sleep, someone brought me a pillow.

He focused his gaze and observed carefully. It was clearly a boat traveling downstream from Nanyang to Xiangyang. However, the terrain along the Bai River was rugged and the current swift, making it unsuitable for navigation. Merchants usually took the Nanxiang Pass to travel north or south, but during the high-water season, there were still boats passing through.

Chapter Three: The Boat

After waiting until he felt the time was right, he slipped lightly into the water and swam forcefully toward that glimmer of light.

At this moment, Brian Carter couldn't care less about the wounds on his body. If he missed this boat, he would have to rely on his own two legs to escape his pursuers. Even if it was a bit risky, it was worth it. But to be sailing on the Bai River in the dead of night was certainly not something ordinary people would do. There were no passenger boats on the Bai River, and cargo boats would never risk traveling at night. Brian Carter was truly curious about who the passengers on this boat could be.

The Bai River was relatively calm in this section. Brian Carter tried his best to avoid making any noise as he swam, focusing all his effort on getting closer to his target.

The dark silhouette of the boat gradually became clearer before Brian Carter's eyes. What a huge boat!

Just from the appearance of the boat, Brian Carter could tell that the owner or passengers were by no means ordinary people.

The two-story deck was imposing and strictly structured. Cold glints flashed on both sides of the hull—clearly the weapons of hidden guards. At the bow and stern, two guards stood at attention with halberds in hand. Even as the boat rocked, the armored guards did not move a muscle.

Who on earth were these people on the boat, to have such an impressive display?

Brian Carter's curiosity was instantly piqued. Not only did he need to use this boat to escape danger, but the aura exuded by the passengers alone was enough to make anyone want to take a closer look.

Drifting slowly with the current, Brian Carter skillfully pressed his body against the side of the boat. Once he felt the solid hull against him, he finally began to calm down. He regulated his breathing; the sword wound on his shoulder felt a bit numb, but fortunately, it didn't affect his movements. The hull rose at least four feet above the waterline, allowing Brian Carter to hide well in the darkness. As long as the sentries weren't deliberately searching, he was confident he could cling to the boat for two or three hours without a problem.

Of course, if there was a better environment, that would be ideal. Slowly, he inserted his fingers into the floating wood beneath the hull, gripping the boat tightly with both hands. Brian Carter pressed his ear to the side of the boat and listened carefully.

There was at least one hidden guard on this side of the hull. The person's breathing was long and steady, clearly a trained expert, and it seemed they intended to stay vigilant for a long time. This was quite a headache for Brian Carter. If he wanted to board the boat, he would have to get past this person's watchful eyes and ears, which would not be easy.

"Green Butterfly, didn't I tell you to send those people outside the window away?" A soft, charming voice carried a magical allure that seemed to seep into one's heart. Brian Carter found himself actually wanting to climb aboard just to see the speaker's true face.

This surprised him greatly. He couldn't recall ever having such a strange feeling before.

"Miss, Lord Yuchi is only thinking of your safety. We're traveling by boat at night, and if a bandit or villain were to sneak aboard..."

"You silly girl, do you take me for a helpless maiden? Is the three-foot sword in my hand just for show?"

"Hehe, Miss, the Xue brothers usually let you have your way, but Lord Yuchi says that if it were a real battle, things would be very different."

"Hmph, the Xue brothers let me win? Do I need them to go easy on me? Go ask them—if we fought with no holds barred, would they still dare to boast? And who would climb aboard in the middle of the night on this great river? Are there water ghosts?" The young lady clearly understood her maid's meaning, but her words were full of defiance.

"Hehe, Miss, you never know. If you don't want Green Butterfly to keep you company tonight, maybe a water ghost will climb up and carry you off as his bride." The crisp, playful voice was clearly teasing, knowing her mistress's weak spot.

"Bah! You silly girl, trying to scare me. If a water ghost comes up, I'll give you to him first." At the mention of water ghosts, the young lady's previously indignant tone softened considerably, though she still sounded determined. "Go tell those people outside the window to leave. How are we supposed to rest with them lurking by the rail?"

"Miss, those are the most loyal guards of the household. You can rest easy—they won't disturb you."

"No, I can't sleep with them outside the window. Isn't there a magic barrier anyway? Just wait until I fall asleep, then you can call them back."

After some back-and-forth, the little maid, unable to win the argument, had to report to the so-called Lord Yuchi. The hidden guard, upon receiving the order, quickly disappeared from beside the hull.

Brian Carter slowly rose from the water, pressing his body tightly against the side of the boat, then cautiously poked his head out to look around.

The deck passage was empty. This was a three-story boat, already considered quite large for an inland river vessel. The first level was likely for the guards, while the second level housed the owner.