Chapter 123: The White Tiger

The most talked-about dragon boats in this competition were undoubtedly three: the Red Dragon, the Yellow Dragon, and the White Tiger.

The Red Dragon was the official government vessel. Its crew consisted of elites who had been rigorously trained, making them perennial favorites to win the championship.

The Yellow Dragon was funded by the Wang family and various major merchant houses. Money talks, and they had spent thousands of silver taels to craft an exquisite vessel, selecting superior camphor wood and hiring famous master craftsmen for its design. The crew was also recruited with high salaries. Although they rarely won the championship, they always achieved respectable results. The sheer beauty of the boat was a major gimmick, sparking endless discussion among the onlookers, who marveled at the lavish spending of the merchant guilds.

The White Tiger, on the other hand, was organized by the common people. It lacked elite personnel and a luxurious boat, but its crew possessed hearts full of passion and worked incredibly hard. In terms of raw strength, they were arguably the most genuine, having won many championships and much glory in past years. Most importantly, as a team of "local roots," they were highly admired and cheered on by the common folk lining the banks, making them a sort of grassroots star team.

However, the overwhelming chants of "White Tiger!", "White Tiger must win!", and "White Tiger is number one!" made Liu Ping feel a bit awkward.

Well, perhaps his mind was just a bit impure. But phrases like that really made him think of things he shouldn't...

Before the race had even begun, the crews of the eleven dragon boats began provoking one another. They traded insults, though in the deafening roar of the crowd, their words could barely reach the spectators on either bank. They could hear each other clearly, however, which only made them more uninhibited.

This was a yearly tradition. Liu Ping raised an eyebrow slightly as he listened to the sailors taunting:

"Bah! You weaklings, I could beat you with one hand tied behind my back..."

"Hey, hey, hey! 'One hand'? That’s giving them way too much credit!" someone nearby chimed in, echoing the sentiment.

"Then what do you suggest?"

"No hands! These weaklings, these bird-brains—we’d definitely win even without using our hands!"

"Haha, let's just not move at all, and we'll still win! Haha! It's settled!"

The crew on the opposite side flared up, pointing fingers directly at their noses: "Heh, if you dare not to move, I’ll admit I’m a coward! But if you move even an inch, you’re all a bunch of spineless grandsons!"

The first group retorted, "Oh, 'grandsons,' is it? Hahahaha! As if you’d really believe that!"

Liu Ping remained silent; the level of decorum was rather low.

Inside the pleasure boat, the group of young men and women, feeling the electric atmosphere of the surging crowds on both banks, couldn't help but grow expectant and began to discuss the race.

"Which one do you think will win?" Hua Wu asked, waving her small fan.

"The Red Dragon," Jiang Zhongyuan replied without hesitation.

"The Yellow Dragon," Wang Hong said immediately after.

Hua Shang laughed, "Your stances are truly unwavering!"

Hua Wu asked again, "Shall we make a wager?"

Lu Wei drooped his face, "Betting again?"

Jiang Zhongyuan walked over and said, "Great idea!"

Wang Hong chuckled, "Looking at this, Brother Jiang, you’re still trying to win back your losses? Just be careful not to lose even more."

Jiang Zhongyuan sneered, "I’m afraid you’re the one who wouldn't dare!"

Wang Hong replied, "What is there to fear? I’m just giving you a friendly reminder. Don't blame me later if I didn't warn you."

Jiang Zhongyuan declared, "A man's word is his bond; how could I go back on it? Come, come, everyone place a bet."

Liu Ping shook his head slightly, saying, "I'll pass."

Jiang Zhongyuan urged, "It's just a bit of fun, Brother Liu. Why don't you put something in?"

Liu Ping said helplessly, "Fine. Brother Wang Hong, please place a bet for me."

Hearing this, the others were stunned. It had a slightly bossy tone, which was quite rude. They looked at Wang Hong, expecting him to be angry, but to their surprise, he didn't mind at all, nodding and saying, "Very well, I will place a bet for you."

The group was startled and looked toward Murong Zizhu, who didn't seem the least bit surprised. They thought to themselves that the relationship between Liu Ping and Wang Hong was clearly extraordinary. They remembered that earlier, when Liu Ping joked that he was "Long Aotian," Wang Hong had believed him instantly; such trust could only exist between the closest of friends.

In another pleasure boat not far away, the decor was significantly more opulent than where Liu Ping was. Coolly dressed maidservants stood on either side, and the local officials sat within. Leading them was the county magistrate, Jiang Hu, followed by the county vice-magistrate, the registrar, the head bailiff, as well as several scholars and the magistrate's protégés.

Among them was an editor from the You Shu Publishing House named Qian Wu, who was sitting next to Jiang Hu as his protégé. Back in his day, he had passed the scholar's examination at seventeen—how high-spirited he had been! But fifteen years had passed in the blink of an eye, and he still had not passed the provincial examination. His inspiration had run dry, and seeing no hope ahead, the disparity between his past and present was enough to make him cough blood. Fortunately, time had smoothed the sharp edges of his heart, and he had learned to endure even the most miserable circumstances.

People do not live in a vacuum; to make a living, he had taken the job of an editor, which he had held for three years. Life had not been easy. Though his days had become increasingly leisurely, he felt no true peace of mind. Watching the You Shu Publishing House teeter on the brink of collapse had left him depressed day after day. Just then, a savior had arrived: *The Investiture of the Gods and the Three Kingdoms*. It had turned the tide and saved the entire publishing house, bringing back the glory days.

The Zhang County branch had even received high praise from the main office. But the days that followed left editors like him dumbfounded: the third volume of *The Investiture of the Gods and the Three Kingdoms* had still not been submitted! The main office had sent over fifty reminders for the third volume, and readers had clamored for it countless times, yet "Long Aotian" remained calmly behind schedule, frequently vanishing into thin air. The editors were deeply frustrated but dared not push too hard, fearing they might offend this great master.

However, as time passed, their patience finally ran out.

His presence in Qingshui County was no coincidence; he was not here for the dragon boat race, but to find Long Aotian and deliver his first official push for the manuscript.

Not long ago, Qian Wu had gone to Liu Ping’s home, only to discover that he had already left to watch the race. Desperate and unwilling to wait, he had hurried over, only to run into his teacher from years ago, Jiang Hu. It was a rare connection to find his former teacher serving as the magistrate of Qingshui County, and after some mutual reflection on their reunion, he had accepted an invitation to board the boat.

"It is finally starting," Magistrate Jiang Hu said with a faint smile as he heard the drumbeats grow rapid. He was familiar with this scene. "Let us all watch."

"Yes."

*Boom, boom, boom, boom!!!*

The drumbeats became more intense, and the chattering crowds on both banks suddenly fell silent. They all knew the race was about to begin.

The young men and women on the other pleasure boat also fell quiet in that instant.

Just then, a loud voice bellowed, "The eighteenth year of the Tiande reign Dragon Boat Race, begin!!!"

*Boom!!*

*Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!*

Seeing the dragon boats darting across the water like crossbow bolts, the people on both banks burst into cheers, the entire scene erupting into a frenzy.