Chapter 2: Ignorance, Truly Ignorance

The young man in the blue suit with gold-rimmed glasses was Yan Ning, a member of the Yan family, one of the three great supernatural clans in Fuling City. He served under the eldest miss, Yan Ruobing. He had come to this small fishing village called Wang’ao, located by the sea on the outskirts of the city, with a mission: to find the fishing boy named Shuisheng.

Why the eldest miss had singled out a boy from such a remote village was beyond his knowledge, and he wouldn’t ask a single question. All he knew was that whatever the eldest miss wanted done, he was to do it without compromise.

If the eldest miss said to bring Shuisheng back, then he would bring Shuisheng back, no matter what it took.

“He looks like he’s heading home. Let’s go down,” said the chubby boy with rosy cheeks. His name was Zhou Yudong, Shuisheng’s neighbor and childhood friend. Earlier that afternoon, after selling fish with his father at a stall in Ting’ao town, he happened to overhear Yan Ning and his party asking for directions to Wang’ao village.

Since they were going home as well, Zhou Yudong took the lead in his four-wheeled farm vehicle, guiding the two luxury cars carrying Yan Ning and his entourage to Wang’ao. When they arrived at Shuisheng’s house, they found it empty, and the fishing nets were gone. Zhou Yudong guessed Shuisheng was out fishing by the sea and led them there.

“Hmm.” Yan Ning took a step forward, suddenly pointing toward a small island in the distance and the dozens of fishing boats anchored along the shore before it. It was near dusk, and the boats were lit by solar lamps, twinkling like stars, swaying gently with the tide, evoking a peculiar atmosphere. “Those boats…”

“You must have heard about this, right? That island is Fengmen Island. Six days ago, it started to exhibit the aura of a boundary point, as the supernatural users call it,” Zhou Yudong said proudly. “Supernatural users from all over swarm there like ants, renting fishing boats from the village to get to the island. They even pay the locals to provide food and care for them… The fishing boats have basically become their guesthouses.”

Yan Ning nodded; he was aware of the matter. It was evidently a relatively small boundary point from the aura alone. The Yan family had casually sent a squad to investigate, not expecting much in the way of valuable findings.

They descended from Wangfu Cliff and headed toward the fishing harbor of Wang’ao village nearby. Shuisheng was steering his boat in that very direction. Within minutes, they reached the dock, where Shuisheng had already tied his boat and was jumping off, carrying two large tackle boxes.

“Shuisheng, brother,” Zhou Yudong called out, “these gentlemen… are looking for you.”

Shuisheng’s clear, bright eyes scanned Yan Ning and the others’ faces. He didn’t recognize any of them—not a single one.

He waited silently for them to explain.

Yan Ning, dressed in his blue suit, took a business card case from his pocket, withdrew a card, and handed it over. “Let me introduce myself. I’m from the Yan family of Fuling City, and my name is Yan Ning. This is my card—it has my phone number, WeChat ID, email, and address. Please feel free to contact me.”

“I don’t think I know any of you,” Shuisheng replied firmly and did not reach out to take the card.

Yan Ning’s face stiffened for a moment before he smiled and said, “It’s okay if you don’t know us yet. We’ll get to know each other soon, and in time, we’ll become good friends. Because you’re about to go to Yan Garden, the Yan family estate.”

He made a very gentlemanly gesture toward the luxury cars waiting in the distance. “The cars are ready over there. We can leave immediately. Please, come with us.”

Shuisheng looked at him in astonishment, his expression clearly saying: What are you talking about? Bro, don’t be so presumptuous; when did I ever agree to go with you? Who are you?

“Sorry, my clothes are still wet and I haven’t changed… I haven’t had dinner… The fish I just caught need to be sold while fresh…” Shuisheng said as he strode past them, carrying the two large tackle boxes. After stepping down from the wooden pier, he glanced back. “No matter who you are, there’s really no need to target me. I’m an orphan, poor and without any family background… If you’re trying to trick me into some trap… cough cough… forget it. I’m sick, not suitable for that kind of thing…”

Zhou Yudong: ...

Yan Ning: ...

The path from the harbor to the entrance of Wang’ao village was only about 200 meters. In the dimming twilight, the slender boy carrying two large tackle boxes looked like a praying mantis.

Yan Ning signaled his subordinates to follow, but Zhou Yudong, eyes full of suspicion, stopped them. The chubby boy’s gaze grew more doubtful. “Are you the kidnappers they talk about online?”

Yan Ning was about to respond when several fishermen, having just returned from fishing, overheard the words and gathered around. They blocked their way, clutching fish spears, ropes, boat poles, even wooden buckets. The crowd grew with a menacing intent to encircle them.

“Kidnappers? How dare you come to Wang’ao village to cause trouble without even learning about our customs!” a dark-skinned fisherman shouted. “Last year, two bastards came here stealing dogs. We caught them and beat them half to death! And you still dare to show your face!”

“A few days ago, some guy went to Fengmen Island trying to get rich off the boundary point. He rented a boat, ate and drank with us, then didn’t pay. We threw him into the sea overnight to freeze nearly to death!”

Yan Ning nearly lost his composure. Kidnappers? What nonsense! The Yan family was a noble, prestigious clan. He, Yan Ning, team leader under the eldest miss, was a capable, authoritative figure. Wherever he went, he was honored and respected. Did they really take him for a kidnapper? To put him on the same level as dog thieves and deadbeats? Shameful! Absolutely shameful!

He hurriedly pulled out his business card case again, offering a card. “Let me introduce myself. I’m from the Yan family of Fuling City. My name is Yan Ning. This is my card, please—”

The dark-skinned fisherman didn’t take the card and raised his fish spear at him.

Seeing the situation, Yan Ning thought for a moment, then pulled out his wallet and handed over a thick stack of thousand-yuan Donghua bills, totaling no less than thirty or forty thousand. “Uncle, the eldest miss of my family asked me to come for this Shuisheng. I’m here to take him back. This isn’t much money; take it and have a drink on me, just to smooth things over.”

Had he not taken out the money, things might have been better. But once he did, the fishermen’s eyes turned even more wary. Another fisherman slapped the business card to the ground. “Are you leaving or not? If you don’t, we’ll tie you up and hand you over to the police!”

The fishermen gathered more and more, united in their hostility. A stout middle-aged fisherman knocked on Zhou Yudong’s head. “You damn kid! You bring anyone into the village! How can you trust people so easily? If they’re kidnappers, aren’t you scared they’ll grab you too?”

Zhou Yudong shrank his neck, frightened.

The fishermen wouldn’t listen to any explanation. It seemed there was no way to complete the mission today. Yan Ning sighed silently and looked up at the darkening sky. It was best to leave for now and prepare something trustworthy to bring tomorrow. These fishermen didn’t understand the bigger picture; it would be better to talk directly to the village chief then. They would listen to him.

He said, “I understand you don’t trust me. I will—”

“Bang!”

Before he could finish the word “will,” a heavy boat oar struck his head. As a supernatural user, such attacks normally wouldn’t touch him, but he had been so focused on talking that he did not dodge, utterly shocked that anyone dared attack a member of the Yan family in Fuling City.

His glasses flew off, and a broad red mark, flecked with mud and wood chips, appeared across his handsome cheek.

Yan Ning was stunned.

Someone actually dared to attack Yan Ning of the Yan family—the ever-handsome, elegant, and refined Yan Ning!

Yan Ning of the Yan family! The capable subordinate under the eldest miss of the Yan family!

Such ignorance! Truly ignorant!