Chương 56: Three Feathers City (Part I)

In Three Feathers City's docks, amid the bustling night crowd, a small man carried a wooden box, struggling to push his way through the sea of people. His legs were deformed, twisted inward, forcing him to walk with a sideways gait. Meanwhile, his arms were atrophied, curled in a way that made them resemble a crab's claws. Yet despite his appearance, no one showed disdain or insulted him as he walked through the docks. On the contrary, he received friendly pats on the back and casual nods.

A few women leaning over a nearby balcony waved their fans at him playfully. They offered playful winks and showed a bit more of their skin than necessary. Sneering, the small man known as Little Crab ignored most people greeting him, offering only a blink in acknowledgment to the women. He did not let the free show slow his pace, though. With hurried steps, he arrived before a massive wooden ship, comparable to a war vessel.

It was one of the ten largest ships docked at the harbor, and the cannons along its sides, combined with the luminous artifacts embedded in its structure, made it clear that it ranked among the five most expensive, with ease. Little Crab boarded without hesitation and swiftly made his way toward the captain's cabin. Pausing at the door, he straightened his wrinkled shirt and wiped his face clean before knocking politely.

"Madame Ching," he said.

"Little Crab is here to deliver what you requested." Next, his gaze lifted slightly. He knew a bunch of cultivators were watching him from the shadows. Carefully, he placed the box on the ground and opened it just enough for them to see its contents. A moment later, the door clicked open. Closing the box immediately, Little Crab nodded to the unseen watchers and stepped inside. If one were to describe Madame Ching's cabin, two words would suffice: Excessively luxurious.

Gold and precious stones adorned everything, from the walls to the bed and even the wooden desk, reflecting multicolored light in every direction. Madame Ching herself stood near her desk. She was a middle-aged woman wearing a silk mask that covered her mouth, dressed in layered robes of red and pink fabric with black ornaments. Golden amulets and necklaces hung from her arms and neck, shimmering faintly. When Little Crab arrived, she was painting over an already completed drawing.

The original image was simple, almost childish, depicting a whale. Yet under her brush, the creature seemed to come alive, the blending of colors so masterful it looked ready to leap from the canvas. Little Crab remained silent, observing her movements with great respect. He did not dare speak, move, or let his gaze wander away from the painting. When Madame Ching finished minutes later, she set her tools aside with elegant motions and walked behind her desk.

The chair shifted on its own, aligning itself as she sat. Then, with a flick of her wrist, she opened a paper fan. That was Little Crab's cue. He hurried forward, bowing and waiting for permission to talk.

"Oh, Little Crab," Madame Ching said, her voice raspy, as though worn down by years of laughter or smoke. At the same time, Little Crab noticed she had just read something on the table before addressing him.

"What have you brought me?" Love what you're reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. With a yellowed grin, Little Crab opened the box and carefully removed the item, presenting it to her. Unsurprisingly, she didn't try to reach for the object. Instead, controlling the environmental Qi, Madame Ching made the object float to the table, guided by the unseen force. She observed it closely, a hidden smile forming beneath her mask.

The object was a child's toy, crafted from soft cotton. It was shaped into the likeness of a Vermillion Bird, its details surprisingly intricate, taking the creature's majesty and fierceness while remaining as cute as a child's toy should be. Madame Ching let out a soft laugh and placed the toy aside.

"Lin Lin will love it," she said, her tone softening with rare warmth.

"You have done very well. I am pleased." A metaphorical heavy weight lifted from Little Crab's chest, and he nearly sighed aloud in relief. Holding himself back, he laughed lightly and said, "Then I am very happy, Madame. I hope Young Miss will enjoy it." Nodding, Madame Ching waved her fan and spoke into the air, "Renew Little Crab's protection for another year." She paused for a moment, then laughed softly.

"And take him to the Red District. Let him choose whoever he wants for the rest of the night." Feeling heat rise to his head, Little Crab bowed deeply.

"I am grateful for Madame's grace," he said, almost prostrating himself. Waving her fan dismissively, Madame Ching replied, "Go, go. Enjoy yourself. I will send someone to find you if necessary." Nodding, Little Crab backed away without turning his back and gently closed the door behind him. The moment it shut, the cabin dimmed, the gold and precious jewels losing their luster. Then, Madame Ching picked up the cotton toy and held it carefully in her hands.

Her eyes moistened as her fingers traced the vermillion wings.

"Any news?" she whispered. From the ceiling, a shadow twisted and took the shape of a muscular woman, who shook her head.

"No. We made deals with nearby islands to search for the wreckage, but nothing has been found." A faint smile appeared in Madame Ching's eyes, tempered by sadness.

"No news is good news."

"Should we try contacting the sects under the Falling Stars Palace or Ten Thousand Echoes Island?" the woman asked, placing her tattooed arm gently over Madame Ching's shoulder. Madame Ching rested her hand over it and nodded.

"We can approach the forces under the Falling Stars Palace. They are skilled in divination, and each force should possess a Black Turtle Shell. Try to negotiate as much as possible to avoid arousing their suspicion."

"Okay." Noticing the silence that followed, Madame Ching asked softly, "What is it, Mei Mei?"

"If someone finds them first…"

"That won't happen," Madame Ching interrupted, her tone turning cold.

"Dead or alive, I will find my family before those sharks and carrion birds do." Mei Mei nodded and spoke in a serious tone, "Of course. I'll make sure one grows suspicious." Taking a step back, the tattooed Mei Mei melted into the shadows and disappeared, leaving Madame Ching alone with the toy in her hands. Time passed as her thoughts drifted through memories. Hours later, she noticed the shadow near the window ripple slightly and asked, confused, "Something happened?" At her words, Mei Mei reappeared, frowning.

She scratched her chin, trying to make sense of the weird situation that was brought to her attention.

"I'm not sure if it's important," she said, her tone uncertain.

"But we just received word that Little Crab disappeared from the Red District." Madame Ching remained silent, her expression alone asking why that should matter. Coughing lightly, Mei Mei added, "Little Crab is the smuggler who delivers these toys. We used him so the other forces wouldn't notice Lin Lin's disappearance." Recalling the disfigured man she had seen earlier, Madame Ching nodded slowly.

"What, you think he was taken for information?"

"If he was, it was a waste of effort," Mei Mei said with a shrug.

"But he is under our protection, so we should at least find out who did it, right?" Madame Ching considered it for a moment, then nodded.

"Send a few girls to look for him. If a major player is involved, make it known. Targeting a smuggler, even a loose associate, would damage their reputation."

"And if it's not a major player?" Mei Mei asked.

"Kill them," Madame Ching replied calmly, fanning herself.

"And make sure the message spreads. We protect our own. Even this Little Rabbit."

"Crab. It's Little Crab," Mei Mei corrected with a shake of her head.

"I'll send Lady Caihong along with the girls, just in case." With that, she stepped back into the shadows and vanished once more. Left alone, Madame Ching continued to caress the Vermilion Bird toy, her thoughts returning to her family.