Lan Zhou is the eighth largest of the thirteen provinces in the country of Yue, but when it comes to wealth, it ranks second, just behind Xin Zhou. Located in the southern part of Yue, Lan Zhou is blessed with fertile land, countless waterways, lakes, and canals, and a temperate climate that is perfect for rice farming. It is one of the top agricultural regions in the entire country.
At the heart of Lan Zhou lies Jia Yuan City, which, although not the provincial capital, is the largest city in the province. The city is strategically located along the major waterways, including the Xiangluo Grand Canal that runs north-south through the country. Several other water and land routes intersect here, making Jia Yuan a vital transportation hub for both commerce and trade. Because of its central location and its bustling economy, Jia Yuan City sees an enormous flow of merchants and travelers, making it one of the busiest cities in the region.
The streets of Jia Yuan are lined with various businesses, including numerous carting services, docks, and boat houses. The bustling activity of these enterprises is further supported by a large workforce of laborers, including many who work in transportation, from cart drivers to dockhands. Among these laborers is Sun Er Gou, a man who makes his living from the docks.
True to his name, Sun Er Gou (translated as "Second Dog") is a scruffy-looking man with slanted eyes and a mischievous grin. He is known for his cunning and ability to flatter others, which has helped him rise to become a small gang leader on the docks. He oversees a group of several dozen porters, helping merchants with their cargo and earning a decent living in the process.
Early one morning, Sun Er Gou arrived at his usual dock. As soon as he stepped off his boat, his subordinates hurried to greet him.
"Good morning, Second Master!" they all called, bowing respectfully.
"Second Master is here!" another one chimed in.
Sun Er Gou basked in the praise, feeling a sense of pride. After all, being addressed as "Master" meant that he had some influence in the area. He straightened his back and snorted in acknowledgment of their greetings.
"Second Master, what is this?" one of his subordinates laughed. "You're no better than a dog!"
"Ha! Yeah, just a two-legged dog!" another laughed.
The mocking laughter was unmistakable, and Sun Er Gou's expression darkened. His mood soured instantly.
He turned slowly to look across the dock, his gaze falling on a burly man standing on the other side—one of his most hated rivals. The man, known as "Black Bear," was the leader of a rival gang, the "Iron Fist Gang." Their rivalry had begun long ago when both gangs fought for control of the docks and customers. The competition between them had escalated into frequent verbal spats, and it was clear that neither could stand the other. Though they were both small-time bosses with similar levels of power, they had formed an uneasy truce due to their shared goal of keeping the "Poison Dragon Gang" at bay. Still, every morning, Sun Er Gou and Black Bear would exchange insults through their subordinates, who engaged in petty verbal duels. Neither man dared to get directly involved, as their positions demanded a certain level of dignity.
Now, as Sun Er Gou listened to the verbal clash between his subordinates and Black Bear's, he couldn't help but take pleasure in the insults.
"You know what the dumbest beast is?" one of Sun Er Gou's men shouted.
"It's the bear!" another chimed in.
"And what's the dumbest bear?" a third yelled.
"Of course it's Black Bear!" they all laughed.
Black Bear's face flushed with anger, but Sun Er Gou couldn't help but smile. He clapped his hands in approval and patted his subordinates on the back, congratulating them for their wit.
As the war of words raged on, suddenly one of Sun Er Gou's subordinates cried out, "A boat is coming in!"
At this, everyone stopped what they were doing and turned toward the river. There was nothing more enticing than potential business, and the sight of a boat docking immediately captured everyone's attention.
However, the excitement quickly faded when the boat came into view. It was a small, flat-bottomed boat, clearly incapable of carrying much cargo. It could barely accommodate three to five passengers, and it didn't look like the kind of vessel that would bring in any substantial business.
This wasn't surprising, given the rundown condition of the dock and its remote location. Large trading ships rarely made their way here, especially outside of peak trading seasons. Only during the busy times would ships unable to dock at other locations stop here.
When the boat finally came to a halt, two figures disembarked. One was a young man, no older than seventeen or eighteen, dressed in a plain blue robe. He had a rather ordinary appearance, and his eyes darted around, taking in the sights as if he had never been to a city before. The second figure was a giant of a man, towering over the others by at least two heads. He wore a green robe and a hooded cloak that obscured his face, giving him an eerie, mysterious look. He followed closely behind the young man, his every step heavy and deliberate, as if he were a servant or bodyguard.
The young man and the giant were none other than Han Li and Qu Hun, who had spent the past three months journeying to this town—the birthplace of the famed Dr. Mo.