Chapter 925 - 420: Patrolling Zhen’e, Another Encounter with Li Hengfeng, The Courtesan’s Heart—Do You Want It?

Chapter 925: Chapter 420: Patrolling Zhen’e, Another Encounter with Li Hengfeng, The Courtesan’s Heart—Do You Want It?

Repentance Lake is bordered by "Yuanbao Square" to the west and "Zhengyuan Square" to the east. Despite being a place to suppress evil thieves, the lake’s surroundings boast exquisite lake scenery.

After another incense stick’s time, the vessel docked, and constables assisted ashore, taking the ship’s rope and tying it to a wooden stake on the shore. They had arrived at "Evil Suppression Island."

Li Xian sheathed his horizontal saber, stretched his body, producing "crackling" sounds. Gazing from the deck, he saw the island shrouded in mist, extremely silent. Sparse with a few withered trees, leaves yellowed and twisted, quite eerie.

As his foot reached the shore, the ground felt soft and snaring—an unusual swamp. Li Xian remained calm, noticing the swamp stretched far, he performed a lightweight skill to step in mid-air and flew back to the ship’s bow. Zhang Qiusheng advised, "Brother Li, it’s your first time on the island; you’re unaware of the rules. From here, a swamp extends a mile. With your skills, you can easily use lightweight skill to soar across, but it’s preferable to accompany us walking on wooden boards, to avoid dirtying your shoes and socks."

Li Xian smiled, saying, "Thank you for the reminder!" He cast his gaze around. Feeling it deeply, he thought, "Besides the swamp, each leap makes the body suddenly heavier; lightweight skill seems suppressed, no wonder Lei Chong arranged it this way. Though the swamp is perilous, it can’t stop a martial artist’s lightweight skill. But for felons, it is fatal; wearing iron shackles which are extremely heavy, sunk into the swamp, even if their lightweight skill is decent, it’s hard to display."

It turns out...

This Evil Suppression Island has unique terrain and was once a mineral vein. Rare jade was hidden inside, and after years of excavation leading to a collapse due to a geological tremor, it formed a deep pit, accumulating water into a lake. But the deep area retains rare jade mines, possessing peculiar influence, a mysterious power lingered.

Few birds existed on the island due to the jade’s influence; birds flew over, bodies grew heavier, gradually tiring, finally falling exhausted into the lake. Only specially bred "Sharp-beak Dove" with strong wings could fly over Repentance Lake.

The Gold Appraisal Guards used these birds to deliver messages.

Troops laid wooden planks to pave the road. Li Xian and others crossed the swamp, seeing several lookout towers, its vegetation barren with scorched ground, extremely ominous and oppressive. A clear discernible path for carriages and horses existed.

Following the path, winding and turning, they reached the island’s depths, where evil robbers were kept.

Before them stood a square "cage tower," about seven fathoms high, with sharp corners, entirely black. The person responsible for all affairs on Evil Suppression Island was a tall, thin man named "Liu Quan," with an eccentric appearance, carrying a longsword on his back.

The sword was more than half a person’s height, five to six feet long. Li Xian thought, "This person’s swordsmanship must be extremely unusual. Swords three feet long are best suited for wielding and carrying. Anything longer is cumbersome and conspicuous. This sword’s odd length must have a remarkable purpose."

Liu Quan stepped with assuredness, his martial arts very strong, mastery deep. He was a "mud-faced mud-body" kind of person, yet he treated the Gold Appraisal Guards courteously, welcoming with a smile, introducing daily affairs and the temporary residence...

The Gold Appraisal Guard was responsible for Jade City’s security. Evil Suppression Island suppresses evil robbers; if they escape, it surely impacts Jade City’s security, hence the Gold Appraisal Guard has the right of surveillance and protection. They frequently assign Gold Appraisal Guards to station and inspect the island, monitoring island conditions.

The Gold Appraisal Guard’s duties were relatively relaxed but held certain jurisdiction. Mainly ensuring guard posts, patrol inspections, island patrol, and lake patrol — four major tasks. Each island stationing, four Gold Appraisal Guards operated as a group, each responsible for one task, rotating with one another.

Daily, they earn six points in military merit. After half a month stationed, they receive five qian of Essence Meat, a salary of ten taels. It was a relentless yet profitable duty. However, descendants from great clans disliked coming here. Far from prosperity, lonely and harsh.

Lei Chong usually arranged those from impoverished backgrounds, of ordinary status to come here. Like Wang Absolute, Zhang Qiusheng, and Hong Dexin had come multiple times and were versed in internal rules. Evil Suppression Island’s deputy Liu Quan, unaware of Li Xian’s new arrival, assumed he already knew the island’s layout, hence he didn’t elaborate, introducing briefly.

Li Xian, being very intelligent, gleaned a rough understanding from a few words. Then he inquired the prison officer for more, quickly grasping what was needed.

That day, after Li Xian and others checked in, they began their duties. Li Xian was responsible for island patrol, Zhang Qiusheng for guarding posts, Hong Dexin for patrol inspection, Wang Absolute for lake patrol.

Each led dozens of troops following them. Li Xian organized his thoughts: "Coming to Evil Suppression Island is surely no vacation. Zhang Qiusheng and the others schemed against me; perfect, I’ll use this chance to familiarize myself with the island’s situation, in case an incident occurs, I can respond quickly."

It was nearing twilight. Li Xian examined the southeast direction according to the map. If abnormalities were found, he dispatched troops to investigate. Troops below him respected Li Xian, obeying him without daring offense but not flattering overly.

This was because en route to the island, Hong Dexin intended to seize power. Troops perceived possible discord among the four, dared not approach and curry favor casually, fearing displeasing the others. Evil Suppression Island’s vegetation was sparse, trees shriveled and twisted, the grass a mournful yellow.

Li Xian, wherever he passed, carefully scrutinized. If any place could hide people, he diligently checked. Yet due to pervasive mist, visibility was impeded, slowing island patrol significantly.

After patrolling the southeast area, it was close to dusk. Resting for a moment in place, he then turned to head northeast. Upon arrival here, a berth was visible. When Li Xian and others arrived by ship, they docked at this location.

Several ships were moored inside the berth. Their regulations differed, and uses varied. Evil Suppression Island’s patrol lake boats were over ten vessels, three material boats, four transit ships, and one convict transport vessel... These ships were used to maintain Evil Suppression Island’s operations.