The Eternal Way

"Something's come up? What's the situation?" Li Qi shook his head, dispelling his previous distractions, and focused intently on the man before him—Uncle Six.

Uncle Six was an elder of the Paibo Gang and a respected leader. He was fair in his dealings, warm-hearted, and experienced, earning the trust and admiration of everyone around him.

This man, in his forties or fifties, had gray-streaked hair and a hunched back, a result of years of pulling boats that had left his spine twisted. A prominent scar ran from his neck down his back, clearly caused by the constant friction of towing ropes.

Most elderly pullers bore these physical marks, especially the pronounced curvature of their spines.

It was impossible to pull thousand-ton ships with one's bare body without sustaining some injuries.

"After the river ceremony ends, there will be rewards for the first shift. But wasn't the first shift originally supposed to go to the Lizhuang Gang?" Uncle Six asked.

"What does it matter what was originally planned? The river ceremony is already halfway done, and we've already completed the first shift. The governor himself witnessed it. Do they really think they can snatch it away now? Even if they try to retaliate later, the Lizhuang Gang's strength is about equal to ours. Competing for the first shift has always been a matter of skill, so what's the issue?" Li Qi was puzzled.

If this was considered being targeted, then the various puller factions were always keeping an eye on each other.

It was a competitive relationship, plain and simple.

"Yes, that's how it used to be. The Lizhuang Gang doesn't have the ability to fight us over this. It's just one missed river ceremony. But earlier, our informants reported that no one from the Lizhuang Gang showed up to watch the ceremony," Uncle Six explained.

At this, Li Qi frowned.

He sensed something was amiss.

"The first shift was ours, the second went to the Shuima Gang, and there was no third shift. But we always have people who tire out and need replacements. There are always members of the Lizhuang Gang capable of filling those gaps, yet not a single one of them came?" Li Qi stroked his chin, muttering to himself.

According to tradition, even those who joined the river ceremony later would still receive some reward, albeit less than the first or second shifts. There were surely members of the Lizhuang Gang struggling to make ends meet, and taking over a spot or two from the exhausted pullers would allow at least a dozen of them to earn a share of the rewards.

In the past, when the three factions competed for the first shift, those who failed to secure it would often try for the second. If they missed both, they'd still send people to join the crowd, hoping to scrape together some reward.

But now, not a single person from the Lizhuang Gang had shown up?

No wonder Uncle Six had rushed over to discuss a strategy with him.

When something unusual happens, there's bound to be trouble.

With that, Li Qi clapped his hands. "Uncle Six, I won't join the next rotation. I'll head over to check on the Lizhuang Gang."

Uncle Six nodded. "That's exactly what I was thinking. You're smart, and your combat skills are impressive. You've mastered the Paibo Technique well—it's second only to mine in the gang. I trust you the most to handle this."

Perhaps it was true that Li Qi had a talent for martial arts. Ever since learning the Paibo Technique, he had surpassed most of the gang's members within just two years.

Combined with his sharp intellect, he had effectively become the second-in-command of the Paibo Gang, second only to Uncle Six.

"Then I'll head over now." Li Qi was not one to delay and immediately rose to his feet.

"Be careful, prioritize your safety above all else," Uncle Six cautioned.

"Don't worry." Li Qi nodded and quickly departed.

---

During the river ceremony, the city of Lizhou bustled with activity.

Merchants prepared their goods, while street vendors stocked up on food, all busy getting ready for the post-ceremony trade.

After the river thawed, merchants and goods from many cities across the Daliu Kingdom would gather in Lizhou, using the Li River to transport goods in all directions.

Thus, the river ceremony was the most important event of the year in Lizhou, even more significant than the New Year celebrations.

At this time, everyone in the city had their own tasks to attend to. The streets were mostly empty except for laborers transporting goods and postal runners delivering messages.

So when a puller dressed in typical garb wandered through the city, many people cast curious glances his way.

Most were simply curious, but no one bothered to intervene.

Everyone had their own problems to deal with—why concern themselves with a mere puller?

Li Qi, however, after wandering the streets for a while, suddenly stopped a street vendor setting up his stall. "Excuse me, why does everyone look at me so strangely?"

The vendor rolled his eyes and glanced at Li Qi. "You're a puller. Why aren't you at the river ceremony trying to get a spot in the first shift? Instead, you're wandering around the streets—what do you expect?"

His tone was blunt, as pullers ranked far below merchants in society.

Merchants, under the patronage of wealthy businessmen, formed their own guilds. These guilds typically set unified prices within their industries, stifling competition. Knife and scissors merchants had their own associations, blacksmiths had theirs, and even porters and traveling traders had organized groups.

In this world, survival depended on banding together around a cultivation technique, and pullers were clearly at the bottom of the hierarchy.

"I see. But aren't there many pullers on the streets today? Why are they looking at me specifically?" Li Qi pretended to scratch his head in confusion.

"Are you out of your mind? Other than you, where are there any pullers on the streets? Enough talk—if you're not buying anything, leave. Don't waste my time. The river ceremony will end soon, and customers will start arriving. Are you going to compensate me for my losses?" Seeing that Li Qi had no intention of buying anything, the vendor waved him off impatiently.

Li Qi promptly stepped back, not wanting to disturb the vendor's preparations.

He had gotten the information he needed.

As he expected, under normal circumstances, all pullers would be at the river ceremony site, not wandering around the streets.

So, the Lizhuang Gang's members hadn't gone to the river ceremony, nor were they on the streets…

Clearly, they hadn't left their base and were holed up together.

Most ordinary pullers lived hand-to-mouth, rarely saving money. Even if they did, it wouldn't last long. Young, single pullers like Li Qi could scrape by since they only had to feed themselves. But married pullers faced immense financial pressure.

Under such pressure, they had still gathered together and skipped the river ceremony, and they weren't wandering the streets either. This was highly unusual.

In this era, what could two hundred pullers gathering together possibly be doing? Were they throwing a party?

This wasn't Chengdu, after all.

Li Qi decisively quickened his pace.

If so many people were gathered together, it could very well be some kind of rallying meeting. He needed to investigate quickly.

He knew the location of the Lizhuang Gang's base—it was near one of the tributaries of the Li River inside the city.

The tributaries of the Li River spread throughout the city like capillaries, giving the area the appearance of a Jiangnan water town. These waterways were essential for the city's survival.

Li Qi hurried to the riverside. The tributaries within the residential areas were still frozen, but the ice layer was thinner here compared to the main river.

This was exactly what he wanted.

Due to the urban heat island effect, the temperature in residential areas was significantly higher than near the main river.

This meant the ice here was weaker.

He found a tributary, stepped onto it, and stomped a couple of times. After checking that no one was around, he gave it a hard kick.

The ice shattered.

Without hesitation, he dropped through the crack into the icy water.

Within Lizhou, there were three puller factions.

The Shuima Gang's cultivation technique emphasized endurance, allowing them to pull boats nonstop for three hours without tiring. Their skin was tough, resistant to rope abrasion, making them more durable.

The Lizhuang Gang's technique focused on increasing strength. While it took fifty men from the other two gangs to pull a boat, thirty men from the Lizhuang Gang could do the same job.

As for the Paibo Gang's technique…

The name said it all. The Paibo Gang specialized in water-based abilities, enabling them to pull boats while swimming instead of standing on the shore.

Li Qi took a deep breath and activated the Paibo Technique, moving swiftly underwater like a fish.

The frozen surface provided near-perfect cover. Though he couldn't breathe, the Paibo Technique allowed him to stay submerged for up to two quarters of an hour without needing air.

And it would only take him five minutes to swim to the Lizhuang Gang's territory.

Soon, he arrived at their waters—a narrow alley with a tributary running through it.

The people living here were poor. A group of tailors and the Lizhuang Gang shared the area. Because of this, the Lizhuang Gang's clothing was much better than that of the other two gangs.

The tailors were no pushovers either—they were skilled with flying needle projectiles and had a good relationship with the Lizhuang Gang. Since there was no conflict of interest between them, they formed an alliance and helped each other.

Upon reaching this area, Li Qi became more cautious.

He noticed that holes had been drilled into the ice, with fishing hooks dangling down.

These poor folks, living by the water, naturally relied on fishing to supplement their income and occasionally enjoy a decent meal.

However, there were only hooks—no nets.

Using nets was the exclusive privilege of the city's official fishmongers. Anyone daring to use a boat and net privately would incur the wrath of the entire fishmonger guild. Those fishermen wielding tridents were not to be trifled with.

Such was the reality of this world, where groups and social classes were strictly stratified.

Carefully avoiding the hooks, he swam to a spot near the shore where there were no holes or hooks.

He listened intently.

After half a quarter of an hour, Li Qi noticed that the hooks hadn't moved at all.

Realizing this, he dove down, caught a fish with his own hands, held it firmly by the gills, and swam to one of the hooks. He hooked the fish onto the line.

The fish's lips were pierced, and it began thrashing wildly!

The fishing line extended rapidly, eventually dragging the rod down into the water.

In the end, no one pulled the fish up.

There was no one above!

When Li Qi had pressed his ear against the ice earlier, he hadn't heard any movement, and he also noticed that the hooks hadn't budged. That's why he decided to test the situation.

After another attempt, and still no one pulling the rod, it was clear that there was no one above.

He waited a bit longer, then retrieved the dragged-down rod, unhooked the fish, and reattached it to another rod.

Why waste a perfectly good fish? Catching fish was hard work, after all.

By the time the fish was hooked three times, its mouth was practically shredded. Finally freed, it fled in terror!

Killing a fish usually required just one strike—not three hookings!

Meanwhile, Li Qi was nearing his limit.

Two quarters of an hour were almost up, and even with the protection of the Paibo Technique, his limbs were stiff from the icy water, and his face was turning blue.

After confirming once again that no one was above, he located a fishing hole in the ice, leaped out swiftly, and rolled toward the shore without hesitation.

Originally, he had planned that if someone was stationed here, he would break the ice elsewhere to create a distraction and draw them away.

But since there was no one, he might as well go straight up.

He moved quickly, and the slippery ice helped him glide forward effortlessly.

Entering the alley, he sprang up, keeping an eye on his surroundings as he ran toward the Lizhuang Gnag's meeting area.

The area consisted of residential houses, but as he had guessed, most of their members were gathered together, leaving the outer residences empty.

The main thing to watch out for was the tailors, so he deliberately avoided their houses, sticking to narrow passageways.

The streets were deserted, and he was cautious, so he made it to the Lizhuang Gnag's usual meeting square without being discovered.

The so-called square was actually an open space in front of the Lizhuang Gang leader's house, about sixty to seventy square meters. Normally, it was used for drying fish and clothes, but when there was business to discuss, they gathered here.

After all, in this narrow alley, this was the only place that could accommodate a hundred or so burly men.

Li Qi approached carefully, hiding behind a wall and listening intently to the sounds coming from the square.

There were indeed voices on the square. The pullers had gathered here.

Some were talking, though not in hushed tones.

After all, these were just pullers, not known for discipline. Expecting a group of people to remain silent was unrealistic—even college students couldn't manage that, let alone pullers.

Knowing this, Li Qi didn't bother peeking and simply hid, listening closely.

At the same time, he removed his clothes and draped them over his face, leaving only his eyes exposed.

Nearby, some members of the Lizhuang Gang were loudly discussing the day's events.

"Do you think that sorcerer is really trustworthy?" one asked.

"How many times have you asked that question? The boss believes him, so what choice do you have?" another replied.

"You two are unbelievable! How can you doubt what you saw with your own eyes? That was sorcery! It's leagues ahead of our physical cultivation techniques. Now we have the chance to learn sorcery, and you're still complaining?"

"Today is the river ceremony! Skipping it entirely—if that sorcerer is lying to us, won't we lose our rewards for nothing?"

"Enough talk! They're coming out!"

At this, Li Qi immediately heard the sound of people rising to their feet and the creak of a door opening.

What perfect timing—he had arrived just as the sorcerer… The Lizhuang Gang had dealings with a sorcerer? And the sorcerer promised to teach them sorcery?

Impossible!

Li Qi knew full well how precious "cultivation techniques" were in this world.

Even the crudest cultivation technique was a treasured inheritance, enough to establish a family legacy!

Hearing this, even he couldn't help but peek out from the alley to look at the open space nearby.

As expected, a group of burly men stood there, surrounding two individuals at the center.

One of the men Li Qi recognized—it was the leader of the Lizhuang Gang.

The other was a young man dressed in cotton clothing, completely different from the pullers' rough hemp garments.

And in the young man's hand was something very familiar to Li Qi.

Isn't that… my game console!? What's half of it doing here!?