The Imperial Guardian Spirit

One evening, dozens of Japanese settlers boarded Shang Lao’er’s ferry at the town landing. They crowded together with their families and heaps of luggage, chattering away in Japanese. Before pushing off, Shang Lao’er checked once more: there wasn’t a single Chinese person aboard besides himself. The ferry slowly left the shore. The Japanese kept chattering, oblivious to the strong young man at the oars. A hint of joy crossed the ferryman’s grim face, unnoticed by anyone, and there was a trace of ruthlessness in that joy...