The tavern buzzed with the raucous energy of hunters, their laughter and boasts echoing off the rough-hewn beams. The air was thick with the scent of roasted meat, stale ale, and the earthy tang of the wilderness. Amidst the lively din, the Guozhao Hunters and their friends sat hunched over a heavy wooden table, their own conversation a quiet counterpoint to the boisterous atmosphere, as they eagerly devoured their meal.
"What are the three of you doing here?" Lim Peizhi asked, his eyes sparkling with amusement.
"Stupid old Shan took a job for two thousand coins," Zhao Renshu grumbled, a hint of exasperation in his voice.
"How about you?" Guo Baiyu asked Lim Peizhi.
"Remember my sister Yuehai?" Lim Peizhi chuckled, a knowing look on his face. "The one you refused to marry." He paused for effect. "She married the mayor's son!"
Guo Baiyu smiled warmly. "Good for her. Why not stay at the mayor's residence?"
"We just got here, and we haven't been to the mayor's residence yet," Lim Peizhi explained. "I have two guys who sent a message to my sister that we are in this tavern. Moreover, it is very inconvenient for Yueliang, Hongse, and Longtong to stay there right now."
"We are looking for a room," Guo Baiyu said. "It seems that there is no room here. We will look for rooms after we finish eating."
"Nonsense," Lim Peizhi scoffed. "Hongse and Yueliang can share a room."
"Very true," Huang Yueliang affirmed, nodding. "In addition, we have already paid for the room."
"Who hired you guys?" Huang Hongse asked, looking at the trio.
"I don't know," Guo Baiyu replied. "Shan told us to stay in the city for two days."
"Old Shan agreed to take the job," Zhao Renshu complained, his jaw clenching. "He thought it was easy. The people who hired us didn't mention a word about the job's difficulty. We spent too long with the kids, so we decided to take a break from them."
"Kids?" the Huang sisters and Guo Longtong chorused, surprised.
"Our disciples," Zhao Renshu clarified, a hint of pride in his voice.
"Therefore, the rumors are true that the Guozhao Hunters have disciples!" Huang Hongse exclaimed.
"Really true," Zhao Renshu confirmed with a smirk. He smiled and drank his wine, enjoying their reaction.
Suddenly, a voice shouted from the front door. "Peizhi! Peizhi! Where are you?" It was Lim Yuehai.
The group rushed to the stairs. They saw a heavily pregnant Lim Yuehai, Li Luli, Lim Peizhi's two guards, and twenty law officers walking inside the tavern, their faces grim.
Lim Peizhi rushed down the stairs. "Mei mei, what happened?"
Lim Yuehai sobbed hysterically, tears streaming down her face. "Peizhi, they got Aiguo! You have to help your brother-in-law!"
"What happened?" Lim Peizhi asked, his voice urgent.
"I just heard from my father that Aiguo was captured by Xu Baohai," Lim Yuehai explained, gasping between sobs. "Four days ago, Xu Baohai sent us a letter of surrender. If we surrender the city, he will let us live. Otherwise, he will send the pirates to destroy our piers and kill everyone. We are a commercial city without military power. Please write to father and send soldiers!" She held Lim Peizhi's hands and sobbed, desperately pleading.
"It's too late," Guo Baiyu said calmly from behind, stepping forward. "It will take months of preparation and months of sea travel for a group of soldiers to arrive here. When the soldiers arrive here, the city will have been destroyed. We need an alternative plan."
"Baiyu... you are here too," Lim Yuehai gasped, recognizing him. Lim Yuehai immediately knelt down, despite her pregnancy. "Please help my husband!"
"Yuehai, please get up," Guo Baiyu said gently, helping her to her feet. "You are pregnant, kneeling down like this is not good for your health. We will do our best here."
"Sister-in-law, your brother is here, he will definitely help you," Li Luli tried to reassure her.
"Baiyu is right. It's too late for that," Lim Peizhi conceded, grim-faced.
Ping'an kept sneezing, an unusual reaction.
"Are you okay?" Zhao Renshu asked Ping'an.
"I think it might be something in the tavern that made me sneeze. I will breathe some fresh air outside," she excused herself and walked out of the tavern.
"I now know who hired us," Guo Baiyu said to the others. "Think about it, Ocean City is by the sea. They may have an excellent naval force, but they are not strong on land. I believe the mayor hires hunters to fight on land, and he takes his soldiers to fight at sea. If my guess is correct, he is leaving his city to the hunters. What I worry about is that not all hunters keep their words. What if the other party provides more money? The greed of individuals is a force that remains notoriously hard to predict."
"You are absolutely correct," an elder man in his sixties said, stepping forward. It was Mayor Du.
"Father," Lim Yuehai cried, rushing to him.
"Uncle," Li Luli greeted him respectfully.
"Peizhi... I didn't know it was you who came to visit," Mayor Du said, surprised but relieved to see his son-in-law.
"My mother wants me to visit Yuehai," Lim Peizhi explained. "I didn't know that you are facing problems here."
"It's good that you are here. These are?" Mayor Du asked, looking at the Guozhao Hunters.
"Let me introduce," Lim Peizhi said proudly, gesturing. "These two are 'The Red Moon Hunters and these are 'The Guozhao Hunters. This is our good friend Guo Longtong."
"I heard the Guozhao Hunters will take jobs to serve justice, not because of fame and fortune," Mayor Du said, his eyes meeting Guo Baiyu's and Zhao Renshu's. "I specially hired you for twenty coins, and you are here. Guozhao Hunters is worthy of the name." He smiled and nodded at Guo Baiyu and Zhao Renshu, impressed by their integrity.
Zhao Renshu's jaw dropped wide open. "Twenty coins?!" He clenched his fists, enraged by the paltry sum. He turned to Guo Baiyu and murmured, "When we come back, I will kill that lying old spirit!"
Guo Baiyu shook his head, a slight amused smile on his face. "Mayor Du, you need to establish a leader for the hunters. Right now, no one is better than Peizhi. He is family, and only family cannot be bought by gold."
"Come with me," Mayor Du said, leading the way.
The group walked out. Ping'an was sitting by the stair, still looking unwell.
"Feeling better?" Guo Baiyu asked her.
"Yes," Ping'an replied. Then Ping'an started sneezing again, her face scrunching up.
"Uncle, I will head back home," Li Luli said to Mayor Du. She and four officers left, escorting Lim Yuehai.
"Take Lady Lim back to rest in her bedroom chamber," Mayor Du instructed.
The group followed Mayor Du to the conference hall. There were two hundred hired hunters and four of his military generals inside the conference hall, a formidable gathering.
"Today, the pirate Xu Baohai captured my son and threatened me to surrender," Mayor Du announced to the assembled hunters. "If I do not open the city gate before noon tomorrow, he will slowly kill my son in front of the city gate. I have hired each of you for ten thousand coins to help me defend this city while I take my military to battle him at sea." He looked at Lim Peizhi. "I will let my son-in-law, Lim Peizhi, be in charge of all of you."
Some hunters chatted endlessly amongst themselves. "I know him, his title is 'Tiger General of Waterfall City'."
Other Hunters added, "I fought side by side with him and the Guozhao Hunters in Waterfall City."
"Hey, you stop sneezing," Zhao Renshu said to Ping'an, noticing her continued discomfort. "If we are able, then we should stay with the mayor; it might be the best choice for you. The tavern looks very old, there may be too much mold, and it looks very unclean."
"My fellow hunters," Lim Peizhi addressed the crowd, his voice strong and inspiring. "Let us defend this city with dignity and pride. Let us show the world that no amount of money can buy us!"
"He is good at speaking," Zhao Renshu murmured to Ping'an, impressed.
"Because he is born to be a leader," Ping'an smiled, her sneezing momentarily forgotten as she looked at her friend with pride.
Everyone decided not to return to the tavern and decided to stay at the mayor's residence, opting for the security and comfort offered.