Book 6 Chapter 12

Jiangnan Dragon, Shui Changhai's Dissatisfaction

There is no courier company that does not have a branch in Nanchang.

This is because it is one of the two major gathering places where the logistics of the martial arts world converge.

It was all thanks to the Tianwu Academy located in Nanchang.

So, how could they not have a branch here?

All the couriers here, regardless of their affiliation, were skilled in water combat. This is because if they didn't use professional couriers skilled in waterways, they wouldn't be able to respond properly to anything that happened on the waterways or boat routes.

Therefore, the large courier companies among the eight major courier companies of the Central Plains all had branches specializing in waterways under their command.

Then, what is the difference between courier operations on waterways and land routes?

Courier operations on waterways are fraught with as many difficulties as on land. There are two main issues to pay attention to at this time.

The first is humidity. First of all, care must be taken in managing the items to be delivered, preparing for humidity. If not handled carefully, the delivered items could be damaged by the moist river breeze during transport. Damage to the delivered items is equivalent to the courier company's reputation plummeting, so it could not be taken lightly.

The second is water bandits.

When on a courier mission, one encounters mountain bandits on land routes and water bandits on waterways. Therefore, preparations for this were natural. To protect the delivered items from the occasional groups of water bandits, one must be skilled in water combat.

This is because the difference between fighting on land and fighting on water is as vast as the difference between heaven and earth.

That's why the couriers of Zhongyang Courier Company undergo mandatory training to balance their bodies on a rocking plank and execute techniques. This is to prepare for combat on board.

Furthermore, the couriers from the Nanchang branch wear different attire from those in other locations.

The uniforms of couriers working on waterways are distinct from those working on land.

Their clothes do not have fluttering hems. Instead, they are form-fitting. Moreover, the fabric was specially custom-ordered, made of a special material that does not become heavy when wet.

The outcome of water combat is determined by how much freedom of movement one can secure.

Among the couriers of Zhongyang Courier Company, there was one person wearing particularly striking protective gear. He wore a luxurious, custom-made protective suit and had a long, hidden rope tied to his waist.

He was the supervisor in charge of this courier mission and also the head of the Nanchang branch. It was unusual for the branch head to personally lead the mission.

Given Nanchang's well-developed waterways, it was natural for the branch head in charge of Nanchang to be skilled in water combat. Shui Changhai, known as the "Jiangnan Dragon," was one such person. However, he seemed to be in a bad mood at the moment.

"Grrr! Crack!!!"

Shui Changhai, the Jiangnan Dragon and head of the Nanchang branch, set out on the courier mission, grinding his teeth. However, he was like a mute with a hole in his mouth, unable to utter a single word about his complaints.

He, the head of the Nanchang branch of Zhongyang Courier Company, a rising power in the increasingly influential courier industry, had never had any particular dissatisfaction with his life. He was content with his current situation and did not harbor great ambitions. But this was until a few days ago.

Until a youth with shaggy bangs covering his eyes appeared and presented him with a letter.

"Deliver!"

A letter bearing the seal of Zhang Wuyang, the head of Zhongyang Courier Company, stating to provide all conveniences with utmost sincerity and in the best possible condition. The power of that letter was enough to shake the Nanchang branch to its core.

Lately, Shui Changhai, the head of the Nanchang branch and the Jiangnan Dragon, had been seething with dissatisfaction over the negligent and lax work attitude of the celestial deities and the judges of the heavenly realm. What were heaven and the ghosts doing, so busy that they didn't catch these people and left them on earth!

"Brother! Will we be able to complete this courier mission safely?"

Shui Fengdao, also known as Water Wind Blade, the head courier overseeing all couriers and personnel of the Nanchang branch, asked his elder brother, Shui Changhai, with a grim expression.

"How can I presume to speak of the success of this undertaking? We can only await the will of heaven!"

"I don't trust heaven these days. I just hope it goes smoothly."

The dissatisfaction was etched onto the face of head courier Shui Fengdao.

"Do you think you're the only one who feels that way? Let's brace ourselves and be patient!"

Shui Changhai knew better than anyone that he was speaking to himself.

There had always been items to be delivered to Wudang Mountain. Although not every time, he, having traveled this route hundreds of times since he was a head courier, found the current journey to Wudang Mountain unusually long and arduous.

"Sigh!"

He sighed involuntarily.

"If we were to encounter the fellows from Heilongzhai…"

Heilongzhai, one of the eighteen fortresses of the Jiangnan waterway, and the ruler of the Hubei waterways.

They were always encountering each other, but they had coexisted without any significant conflict.

Of course, this involved a considerable amount of treasure. The only way to maintain smooth relations with bandits and water fortresses was through monetary transactions.

This might be difficult for those called the foremost rising stars of the righteous path to understand. Without their pride, they would be no different from corpses.

Shui Changhai was filled with worry. He wished this time it would pass quietly.

The people accompanying them now were individuals beyond his control. If anything were to happen, Zhongyang Courier Company and they themselves would be the ones to suffer. He absolutely did not want that.

However, Shui Changhai would soon realize how futile his modest wish was.