It will take nearly as long for them to cross the northern span and to descend into Fanese territory through Aer. It would be no trouble to intercept them along the Tunghui.” Listening to Zhen Yu, Ma Shou considered that he might take ill, and disgorge both his wine and his meal where he sat. The pirate was detestable, in every way he could be, barring the scarcely saving fact that he did happen to be a son of Sheng Fan. “I think I would do better,” Ma Shou eventually said, on a long and weary breath, “to intercept Xu Liang in the Imperial City itself.” Zhen Yu launched a crooked smile off of teeth that were equally misaligned. “Well, now, you do know that he’s headed there.” Ma Shou shuddered internally at the River Master’s quaint and misplaced sense of humor. Secondarily, he shuddered to think of going directly to Han Quan with nothing in his hands to offer save for failure.
