Book 15 Chapter 8 – Lover of Flowers

When Xu Ziling was about to apply his power to row the boat, Ba Fenghan spoke in heavy voice, “As much as possible, we must not arouse his attention. This is an assassination operation, not a decisive battle following Jianghu’s rules.”

Xu Ziling hung his head low to prevent Dugu Ba from seeing his appearance. His oar paddled the water slowly, seemingly without a lot of strength, giving the impression of relaxed, easy and comfortable rowing.

Like an arrow Dugu Ba’s gaze shot at the two men.

Because Ba Fenghan, who was sitting on the bow, had his back against him, plus the continuous drizzle floating in the air, he was unable to see his particularly magnificent build. Xu Ziling’s face was obscured by the wide bamboo rain hat, plus he was stooping his back, hence he looked like an ordinary boatman.

Dugu Ba only shot one look, and then his mind turned to many other things.

If the two men’s boat were coming from behind, his vigilance would have been raised considerably; moreover, he had just come across Hua Lingzi, two martial sister and brother, naturally he did not have any concern even more.

If even Ba and Xu, two men, had never thought that by strange coincidence [lit. the gods pull, the ghosts push] they would run into Dugu Ba, much less Dugu Ba himself.

This moment Dugu Ba’s fast boat was only about twenty zhang away from the small pier, while Xu and Ba, two men’s small boat was approaching from the opposite direction approximately thirty zhang away. With regard to Luoyang’s busy waterways, it was a totally common scenario.

Ba Fenghan had already put the Beheading Mystery Sword, still in its sheath, on the bottom of the boat near his feet, so that Dugu Ba did not have the slightest suspicion.

Dugu Ba’s small boat reached the pier first. Evidently this man was impetuous and ruthless; even the patience to wait until the boat was moored properly onto the pier was lacking. His feet kicked lightly, he leaped over the two zhang of water and landed on the pier.

Without waiting for Ba Fenghan’s order, Xu Ziling suddenly applied his power, propelling the small boat three zhang forward, brin