Chapter 118: The Pledge of Allegiance

The subordinates brought by Jin Sanpang, who were from Silla, were highly skilled. Before the two men Ding Li had pointed out could even react, the Silla men had short daggers pressed against their lower backs. Without drawing any attention from the surrounding pedestrians, they guided the subdued pair into a nearby alley, their demeanor appearing as casual and intimate as close friends.

Once they vanished from sight, the smiling Ding Li shifted his back away from the pillar. He sighed softly before tilting his head toward Jin Sanpang, who remained anxious despite his lingering fear. "Alright, you can speak now. Beyond extorting ransom for the merchant ships, what other schemes does the Cao clan have that would make you, Brother Sanpang, so desperate to contact me regardless of the consequences?"

"Exactly! Brother Li, you’ve hit the nail right on the head!" Jin Sanpang nodded in sycophantic agreement, his face twisted in a bitter grimace. He rubbed his hands together nervously, his eyes darting around. Seeing Ding Li’s smile remained unchanged, he leaned in and spoke in a sheepish, serious tone: "Brother Li, those other fellows paying the ransom are fools, but I am not. Does the Cao Chamber of Commerce really lack our little bit of money? Even if they did, there’s no need to demand it this way at this time. They are forcing us onto their ship—the Cao Chamber’s ship!"

"That makes sense," Ding Li replied after a moment of contemplation, nodding in agreement. However, he furrowed his brows, deep in thought. "The Cao clan’s actions at this time are understandable. But Brother Sanpang, you have always collaborated with the Cao clan; why have you suddenly changed your mind? Do you truly believe the Cao clan cannot best the Zhang clan?"

"L-Brother Li, to be honest, I have indeed thought that!" Jin Sanpang knew admitting this made him look fickle, but he could find no better way to cover his tracks. He nodded sheepishly, then leaned in closer, whispering with a mysterious grin: "Brother Li, actually, this isn't my own deduction. It’s news I received from a friend in Fuxu’s Nan Hai region."

With a cunning smile, Jin Sanpang winked at the bewildered Ding Li, lowered his voice further, and added: "Brother Li, you must be familiar with Luda Chi of the Xiao Nan Hai in Fuxu Town, right? That’s where I got the news! We are old acquaintances from our time in Fuxu Town. I visited a few days ago regarding the ships and checked in on him."

Ding Li understood now, and his vigilance eased slightly. The loyalty of Luda Chi, the leader of the Mongol faction in Fuxu Town, to the Zhang Chamber of Commerce was unquestionable—at least for the time being. Since Jin Sanpang had laid his cards on the table, Ding Li only needed to send someone to Fuxu Town to verify the information to determine if Jin was truly seeking to defect.

"Understood," Ding Li replied flatly. He stopped speaking, his gaze shifting from Jin Sanpang to the street below the corridor, falling into a heavy silence.

"Brother Li, there is one more piece of news, though I am not sure if it will be of use to you," Jin Sanpang said, seeing Ding Li’s sudden reserve. He knew he had latched onto a powerful figure in Ding Li. He rolled his eyes and quickly explained in a low voice: "You surely remember Liu Fu, the owner of the smuggling ship caught at the Guangzhou port two months ago? His family is in the hands of the Cao clan! If you could get your hands on them, surely that Third Master Liu of the People's Militia wouldn't dare to be so arrogant in seizing the South Sea Gang's influence at the docks, would he?"

"I am aware of that, but I have had no leads on their exact whereabouts," Ding Li glanced at Jin Sanpang with slight surprise, nodding, and asked with a mix of helplessness and suspicion, "Why? Do you happen to know where they are?"

"Brother Li, forgive my presumption!" Jin Sanpang did not answer directly. He smiled mysteriously, bowed respectfully, then stepped forward and whispered: "In this Guangzhou Prefecture, what place is the safest?"

"The military camps, I suppose! Or perhaps the Governor’s Mansion within the city," Ding Li blurted out, then paused. Seeing the slits of Jin Sanpang’s squinting, smiling eyes, a flash of realization hit him. "The Foreign Quarter!"

"Exactly! The Foreign Quarter!" Jin Sanpang shook his large head proudly. "Brother Li, even the military camps or the Governor’s Mansion are not safe places to hide someone! If the Governor issues an order, they would be searched in no time. But the Foreign Quarter is different! Although the Governor has the authority to search, this is our enclave—a place granted to us foreigners by your Great Tang Emperor over a century ago! If the Governor wants to search, he must first negotiate with our headman. And Liu Fu? He is a Tang person. Who would ever suspect his family is hidden here?"

Ding Li accepted this logic. It was how he had hidden Liu Sheng from the Xunzhou Gang before. However, he remained cautious. Looking at Jin Sanpang, who was clearly fishing for a reward, he frowned slightly. "Your analysis is correct, but can you guarantee they are there? And the Foreign Quarter is huge—how do you propose to find them without a lead?"

"Brother Li, don't forget what I do. I’ve had years of business dealings with the Cao clan!" Jin Sanpang puffed out his chest, looking triumphant. "No matter how long the Cao clan’s reach is, getting into the Foreign Quarter isn't simple. Even the Zhang Chamber of Commerce, for all their years in Guangzhou, only has a good reputation and decent relations with the headman. But to get things done in this patch of land, you have to rely on us foreigners!"

Though he boasted, Ding Li had to admit he was right. The saying "a powerful dragon cannot crush a local snake" fit perfectly. Ding Li also knew that Saiyigade’s position as the second-in-command of the South Sea Gang was not just due to their close relationship or his capability, but precisely because of his status as a foreigner with influence among the youth.

"Brother Li, three days. Give me three days, and I will dig out Liu Fu’s family!" Seeing Ding Li’s silence, Jin Sanpang thought he was being doubted. He held up three fingers, gritted his teeth, and swore an oath: "If this succeeds, I ask for no reward. Let it be my pledge of loyalty!"

"That is unnecessary, Brother Sanpang!" Ding Li patted him on the shoulder, shaking his head with a faint smile. "The South Sea Gang rewards merit and punishes fault. If you can find them, it is a great service." Ding Li held up four fingers. "Regarding the forty percent dividend on your two ships we discussed earlier, the South Sea Gang will not take a single copper."

Jin Sanpang was shocked. He had been worried about how to support his wives and concubines, but now that the dividend was returned, he was overjoyed. He promised again to provide a satisfactory answer within three days.

This news was a pleasant surprise for Ding Li, though he kept his composure. When he had been at the tea house earlier, Uncle Fu had mentioned that the Zhang Chamber of Commerce was also desperate for this information, having found nothing in two months. Uncle Fu had hoped Ding Li could assist, but neither he nor Uncle Xiang had ever suspected the Foreign Quarter.

After dismissing Jin Sanpang, Ding Li had other business with Saiyigade and did not linger with Xia Qing. He politely refused her invitation to stay and left with a reluctant Liu Sheng.

Once they were away, Liu Sheng took his arm, her face beaming with sweetness. After a few steps, she tugged at his sleeve. "Brother Li, I suddenly feel so sorry for Sister Xia. A Tang woman sold into a brothel in the Foreign Quarter as a child—even if she is only a performer, she faces so much trouble. Like that Jin Sanpang! She told me that if you hadn't intervened that one time, he might have had his way with her."

"Helping those in need is only right," Ding Li replied distractedly.

"Hey! Brother Li, what are you thinking about?" Liu Sheng pouted and tugged his arm harder. "Brother Li, what if we buy Sister Xia’s freedom? It’s so awkward in that place. Whenever you’re away, I want to talk to her, but I find it uncomfortable to visit such a place."

"Hmm," Ding Li replied absentmindedly. "If you think it's for the best, then do it. I don't need to be involved in women’s matters."

"Really? You agree?" Liu Sheng was thrilled. "Then, since she has nowhere to go, how about she stays with us for a while?"

"Sure, you decide," Ding Li said, still preoccupied. To avoid revealing his lack of focus, he added, "If you need money, just have Xu Hong handle it."

"I will!" Liu Sheng beamed, her goal achieved.

Watching them walk away, hand in hand, Xia Qing stood by the window, her loneliness palpable. The scene blurred before her eyes, and a bitter, complex expression crossed her face, her emotions swirling with a profound sense of melancholy.