The head courtesan of the News Department had just arrived by boat at the Xiaolangdi Naval Base.
She was extraordinarily bold.
Having only just finished reporting on the Manchu invasion, she had immediately rushed to the front lines in Henan, turning her attention to the suppression of bandits.
After all, most women who ended up in brothels came from desperate backgrounds. Poverty, chaos, famine—these were familiar companions. Many of them had witnessed the horrors of war and starvation from an early age. Some had even seen cannibalism with their own eyes.
This head courtesan was no exception.
Her father had died of illness when she was still young, leaving behind a widowed wife and a daughter.
A widow with a daughter—such a family was a classic target.
Her father's relatives descended without mercy, seizing what little property remained.
Mother and daughter were driven from their home. Later, when bandits swept through, her mother was eaten like livestock. The girl herself survived only because she was delicate and pretty—still worth a few coins. The bandits sold her to a human trafficker.
She was resold again and again, until at last she was delivered to a brothel.
From childhood onward, she endured beatings and scolding, forced to study music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. She sold her art, not her body—the madam was waiting for her reputation to rise high enough to fetch a handsome price from some official or noble, who would buy her as a concubine.
That was the fate prepared for her.
She watched herself rise to become the head courtesan of Puzhou City's Crimson Revelry House, her fame second only to Cai Lin's. All that remained was for some wealthy patron to pay the price.
She had already resigned herself to this destiny.
And then—
Dao Xuan Tianzun arrived.
She was redeemed by the people of Gao Family Village, restored to freedom, restored to civilian status.
From that moment on, she became a "disciple of Dao Xuan Tianzun."
A single turn of fate, dramatic beyond imagining.
She was bold—because she had already seen her own mother eaten alive. What fear could possibly remain?
As soon as the large ship docked at the Xiaolangdi Naval Base, she instructed the Special Operations Team soldiers to set up their cameras. The lenses swept across the harbor, recording the warships lined up along the docks, one by one.
As she filmed, she narrated smoothly:
"Everyone, please look. This is Gao Family Village's Xiaolangdi Naval Base. Several gunboats and flatbed cargo ships are currently docked here. As for the exact number of gunboats—well, that's a military secret, so I won't elaborate. Close-up shots are also prohibited; we can only observe from a distance."
She was thoroughly enjoying herself when she noticed one particular ship at the dock being loaded with large quantities of supplies.
"Row over there. Film that ship," the head courtesan instructed, pointing.
The Special Operations Team immediately complied, rowing closer and aiming the camera at the cargo vessel.
"Everyone, take a look," she continued. "This appears to be a cargo ship currently being loaded. It seems to be carrying a substantial amount of grain, likely being sold to—"
Before she could finish, a man dressed like a merchant suddenly leapt out from the cargo ship, waving his arms frantically.
"No filming! No filming!" he shouted. "This ship cannot be recorded. It must not be broadcast."
From a distance, the head courtesan called out calmly, "Oh? Sir, why can't it be recorded?"
The man replied, "Come closer to the dock, and I'll explain."
Moments later, their boat pulled alongside the pier.
The man stepped forward and bowed politely.
"Greetings, young lady. I am Jiang Cheng, an instructor from the Xiaolangdi militia detachment."
The head courtesan returned the courtesy.
"I am Zhou Daya, a reporter from the News Department."
"Zhou… Daya?" Jiang Cheng froze for a moment.
Such a beautiful woman—refined, capable, and composed—calling herself Daya?
Seeing his confusion, she smiled faintly.
"This is the only real name I have. If you prefer elegant, fabricated names, I have many—'Flowing Sleeve Blossom,' 'Willow's Graceful Sway,' and so on. But I don't wish to use them."
Jiang Cheng paused, then suddenly understood.
He clasped his hands and bowed deeply.
"Daya is a fine name."
She nodded, then asked directly, "Instructor Jiang, why can't this ship be filmed? It looks like it's only carrying ordinary goods. What's the problem?"
Jiang Cheng leaned closer and lowered his voice.
"The cargo itself is ordinary. The recipient… is not."
She understood immediately.
"A military secret?"
"Exactly," Jiang Cheng whispered. "Even though you are a disciple of Dao Xuan Tianzun, it's best not to probe too deeply into this shipment…"
"Indeed."
A figure suddenly appeared on the shore, chuckling softly.
"Heh. This matter truly isn't suitable for public reporting."
Jiang Cheng was startled and hurriedly bowed.
"Greetings, Dao Xuan Tianzun!"
The head courtesan, however, said naturally,
"Ah—Teacher has arrived."
That single difference in address immediately marked the gap in status.
To be able to address Dao Xuan Tianzun differently from ordinary people—Jiang Cheng felt an involuntary surge of envy.
Li Daoxuan smiled and explained,
"The cargo on this ship is destined for the bandit leader Lao Huihui."
The head courtesan's heart skipped.
"Oh? That Lao Huihui?"
"Exactly," Li Daoxuan chuckled. "The Border Army Iron Cavalry. Not light cavalry—true iron cavalry. Fierce, brutal, and extremely dangerous. Mostly Hui people, mixed with surrendered barbarians and Han soldiers."
He glanced at Jiang Cheng.
"This shipment of grain is meant to establish contact with him. In the future, we'll need to win over this Border Army Iron Cavalry."
At last, the head courtesan fully understood.
"I see," she said softly. "Then this truly cannot be reported. If it became public, it wouldn't just endanger Gao Family Village—it would endanger Lao Huihui as well. Other bandits might attack him."
"Precisely," Li Daoxuan said with a smile. "But while it cannot be broadcast, that doesn't mean it shouldn't be recorded."
She blinked.
"Oh?"
Even Jiang Cheng was puzzled.
"If it won't be reported, why record it at all?"
Li Daoxuan laughed.
"For internal archives. Events like this are historically significant. Decades—perhaps centuries from now—when these records are finally made public, future generations will look back and gain a rare, vivid understanding of this era."
The head courtesan bowed deeply.
"Teacher, please allow your student to accompany Instructor Jiang to meet Lao Huihui and record this moment for posterity."
Li Daoxuan smiled, though his words carried weight.
"It will be dangerous. That's a border army. You've seen Lao Nanfeng's methods, haven't you? Border troops kill without emotion—like slaughtering livestock."
"I'm not afraid," she said firmly.
"Excellent," Li Daoxuan praised. "That's the spirit of a true journalist. Go, then. Since the destination is dangerous, I'll accompany you."
She beamed with joy.
"Thank you, Teacher!"
With Dao Xuan Tianzun's involvement, everything became far simpler.
She changed into plain men's clothing, bound her hair, tucked it beneath a cap. Though her manner still carried a hint of softness, unless one stared closely at her face, it was hard to tell she was a woman.
The Special Operations Team surrounded Li Daoxuan and her, forming a tight protective ring.
Jiang Cheng finished loading the ship with grain and brought along a squad of militia soldiers. Including one of Dao Xuan Tianzun's avatars and the Special Operations Team, fifty people boarded the vessel.
Only then did the ship depart from Xiaolangdi Naval Base, sailing downstream along the Yellow River.
Before long, Wenxian appeared on the northern bank.
Li Daoxuan smiled and said to the head courtesan,
"Look—Wenxian. That's the territory under Chen Yuanbo's responsibility. It's also Gao Family Village land."