Chapter Eight: Borrowing a Face for Mourning, Overseeing the Kitchen to Feast the Guests

"I am all ears!" Xu You smiled faintly, pretending to banter with him, while his mind raced, calculating how to rescue Ding Ji and his daughter.

The man before him appeared careless, but in truth, his thoughts were meticulous. By holding Ding Ji and Ding Ku'er as hostages, he aimed to restrain Xu You and Zuo Wen from acting rashly. Throughout their confrontation—whether sitting or standing, glancing around or maintaining silence—his right hand always hung at his side, fingers slightly curled, poised as if ready to claw or hook. In the shortest instant, from the most advantageous angle, he could end Ding Ji and Ding Ku'er's lives with a single strike.

"Then plant your feet, prick up your ears, and listen well!" the man declared arrogantly. "I am the Pirate Lord of the Dark Sea!"

Xu You knew little of maritime figures, so he turned to Zuo Wen for guidance. Unexpectedly, Zuo Wen appeared equally perplexed, frowning as he looked at the Pirate Lord, saying nothing.

The Pirate Lord waited, but received no thunderous praise or respectful greetings—only blank faces. Infuriated, he exclaimed, "A bunch of nobodies, hosting banquets in the kitchen, not even knowing my name! What a farce, what a farce!"

This time, Xu You looked genuinely surprised. "From your speech, you seem learned. Why'd you take to the sea, become a bandit?"

The references—‘hosting banquets in the kitchen’ and ‘borrowing a face for mourning’—originated from the Book of the Later Han, where Mi Heng used them to mock Xun Yu and Zhao Zhichang. Xun Yu was elegant in appearance, so Mi Heng said he only had a face to show; Zhao Zhichang, known for his large belly, was mocked for merely eating and drinking. Xu You, youthful and handsome, and Zuo Wen, a middle-aged man, fit these comparisons well. The Pirate Lord’s apt analogy revealed he was no uncultured brute.

"Nonsense! Who says bandits can't read or write? Every soul in the Dark Sea is a contemporary talent, far more refined than you beastly, sharp-eyed rogues!"

Since his rebirth, Xu You had never heard so many insults in one day, but he smiled, unfazed, and asked Zuo Wen, "Where is the Dark Sea?"

"Near Wengzhou, that stretch of water is unpredictable, filled with countless hidden reefs. Once you enter, you can't get out, hence the name 'Dark Sea.'"

Wengzhou is what future generations would call the Zhoushan Archipelago—a fact Xu You knew. In the late Eastern Jin, the pirate patriarch Sun En led a million men to raid the mainland, using Zhoushan as a base; an ideal place to attack or retreat, leaving the grand dynasty helpless.

Xu You mused that this truly was a perfect nest for pirates, chosen across two eras, inevitably attracting bandits.

Pirate of the Dark Sea... what an impressive title!

His mind whirled as he clasped his hands to the Pirate Lord. "Are you a descendant of the Shan family from Henei?"

The Pirate Lord froze, a barely perceptible shame flickering in his eyes. "What Shan family of Henei? Never heard of them."

Xu You, sharp-eyed and calculating, had anticipated this reaction. He smiled. "No matter. The surname Shan is rare; perhaps we share an origin, so I felt inclined to ask."

Zuo Wen, having served Xu You for some time, had grown attuned to his lord’s ways—the more perilous the situation, the more ingenious his schemes. Every word held meaning; nothing was said idly. He shrewdly asked, "Is there any renowned figure from the Shan family of Henei?"

"There certainly is. In the former Wei, Shan Juyuan, Lord Shan, entered officialdom at forty, and in just twenty years rose to the position of Grand Minister, serving three emperors. His discerning eye elevated talents throughout the court and provinces; the ruler relied on him as a pillar, and his peers regarded him as a model. His nature was pure and upright, his work clear and just—respected by all. Of the seven people I most admire in life, Lord Shan stands foremost!"

Zuo Wen sighed, "Such a figure—just imagining him inspires awe and longing. One wishes to have lived then, to witness his greatness."

"Why regret? Though Lord Shan’s descendants no longer attain the heights of the past, and seldom enter office, I’ve heard they maintain integrity, living peacefully and cultivating virtue, hidden among mountains and rivers. When fortune favors, one may yet meet such exemplary men."

"You are right, my lord. If Lord Shan could recognize men, he must have governed his family well. If his descendants retain even a tenth of that family tradition, they are truly rare and gifted. Should the opportunity arise, I must call upon them."

The two conversed earnestly, while the Pirate Lord fidgeted, unable to sit or stand comfortably, as if thousands of ants scurried across his body, nearly bursting with impatience.

"Enough!"

The sudden shout broke off Xu You’s history lesson. The Pirate Lord’s narrow eyes flashed coldly. "I’m only borrowing your boat for escape—what’s with all this pointless chatter? Move aside and stop the boat, I want to go ashore!"

There we have it—shame is akin to courage. It seemed the Pirate Lord truly had roots in the Shan family of Henei, though why he abandoned his noble lineage for piracy remained unclear. Xu You pointed to Ding Ji, smiling. "The boatman is still lying on the deck. If you don’t mind, brother Shan, please step back three paces so my friend can revive him."

"No need for such trouble!"

The Pirate Lord lifted a foot, kicking Ding Ji's shoulder, sending a burst of energy through his toes. Ding Ji’s body soared and spun toward Xu You. As he was about to collide, Zuo Wen darted forward, extending his arm like a gibbon and catching Ding Ji.

A cold, fierce force surged from within Ding Ji, like waves crashing against the shore. Zuo Wen shouted angrily, "Despicable!" He spread his hands, dissipating the Pirate Lord’s attack without moving a step, and as his feet shifted, his sword at his waist sang with a clear, dragon-like cry.

Clang!

Moonlight like snow—a sword strike like an aurora blooming in winter!

The Pirate Lord let out a strange cry, forced by the dazzling sword to abandon his attempt to use Ding Ku'er as a shield; instead, he repeated his earlier trick and somersaulted into the river. Yet before he fell, his foot flicked lightly, sending Ding Ku'er flying high—over Zuo Wen’s head, past the curved black canopy, toward the far bank of the river.

Zuo Wen’s sword was full of intent but not of malice—a feint to force the Pirate Lord back and seize the moment to save the hostages. Watching the Pirate Lord dive into the water, Zuo Wen’s body shot to the boat’s edge, his left foot pressed against the deck, propelling him backward at greater speed to chase after Ding Ku'er.

So close!

Zuo Wen reached out from above, aiming for Ding Ku'er’s collar, but suddenly the Pirate Lord burst from the river, flicking his fingers to form water arrows that split in two, whistling past Ding Ku'er from both sides.

Zuo Wen hadn’t expected such a trick—the Pirate Lord surfaced on the opposite side, faster than himself. Forced to defend, Zuo Wen slashed and parried, breaking the water arrows, but his strength was spent, so he flipped back onto the boat.

"Hmph!"

The Pirate Lord caught Ding Ku'er in one arm. His soaked clothes clung anew, as he balanced on a tiny spot at the raised stern, swaying with the wind yet steady as a mountain.

"With your meager skills, you think you can snatch someone from my grasp? If I were so easy to handle, would that old dog Liu Quan have chased me for three months, still unable to catch me?"

After this exchange, the Pirate Lord proved to be only mid-to-low sixth rank, inferior to Zuo Wen. Yet, accustomed to rivers and lakes, he was in his element on the water, making him a formidable opponent—and his mouth was as sharp as his blade, never conceding an inch.

Zuo Wen’s face darkened. His timing had been right, but he’d underestimated the Pirate Lord’s mastery of water and adaptability. Worse still, he’d ruined the opportunity Xu You had painstakingly created and greatly angered the Pirate Lord.

"My lord, someone’s boarded the ship—be careful..." Ding Ji, leaning against the cabin, groggily opened his eyes. Seeing Xu You before him, he quickly sounded the alarm.

Xu You reassured him, "I know. Everything’s fine, don’t worry."

Ding Ji’s panic eased, and Qiu Fen helped him stand, but as he looked up, he saw Ding Ku'er in the Pirate Lord’s grasp. His eyes reddened, and he struggled to rush over, calling, "Ku'er, Ku'er, are you alright? Wake up... please wake up!"

"Uncle Ding, Ku'er has only fainted—her life is not in danger. Please rest easy." Qiu Fen held him tightly. Xu You looked at the Pirate Lord and said softly, "If Brother Shan truly meant to kill, he would have done so already. There’s no need to trouble himself by knocking someone out. Go and steer the boat; find a shallow bank to dock. With me here, nothing will happen."

Ding Ji, seasoned in the ways of the river, knew his own abilities were limited in such peril. He accepted Xu You’s instructions without hesitation, steering the boat off course toward the nearest shore.

The Pirate Lord’s gaze lingered on Xu You, as if trying to fathom his depths. "Who are you?"

Xu You smiled. "Just a traveler. Since you wish to borrow the boat, it’s yours. I only hope we can all show some courtesy and avoid any unpleasantness."

The Pirate Lord’s eyes spun with cunning. Suddenly, he hoisted Ding Ku'er by the waist and grinned. "I’ve changed my mind. Since I’ve borrowed the boat, I’ll borrow it all the way. Have the lot of you escort me for a while!"

Zuo Wen’s expression darkened, his gaze fixed on the Pirate Lord’s waist and chest, as if he might puncture them at any moment.

"What are you staring at? One more look and I’ll strip a piece of clothing off this little girl... Damn it, why is she so dark-skinned?"