Volume One: The Dragon Rises from the Wild Chapter 113: No Set Date for Return

In the guest room.

Yu Ye was still sitting in meditation on the bed when he suddenly opened his eyes. Outside the window, all was pitch black. Next door, however, came the sound of a door opening, followed by the "creaking" of the staircase.

Yu Ye exhaled a breath of stale air, stretched his legs, and slowly stood up. Even without using his divine sense, he could perceive that the restrictive formations in the guest rooms next door had been dismantled. The occupants—Tao Feng and the other five Daoist disciples—were departing one by one.

It was not yet the hour of the Tiger, yet they were already setting off?

At that very moment, a voice transmission sounded in his ear:
"Yu Ye, take care of yourself!"

Because he had declined Tao Feng’s invitation, the others had left without a word. Meng Qingqing, however, mindful of their past acquaintance, had bid him farewell.

Yu Ye reached out and picked up his bamboo hat.

Since finding the merchant ship two days ago, he had been wandering around the town. He had learned that the bay where the ship was docked was called Chen Family Bay. The young master of the Chen estate was named Chen Hu—known to others as "Tiger of Huazhou"—and he made his living trading medicinal herbs. His "Hundred Herbs Apothecary" had branches all over the Great Marsh. It was said that he was well-traveled and had many connections in the martial world, yet there had been no word of him having any ties to the Daoist sects. If that were the case, why would cultivators appear at the Chen estate? Yu Ye could not fathom this, nor did he dare to act rashly; he could only wait until the ship set sail to uncover the truth.

He pushed open his door and followed the stairs down into the courtyard. The attendant was holding a lantern, rubbing his sleepy eyes and yawning. Yu Ye handed him a piece of silver and left the Nanze Inn.

The pitch-black streets were empty. Tao Feng and the other five had already used their lightness techniques to move far away. Yu Ye tapped his toes against the ground, leaped over thirty feet in a single bound, and turned into a faint shadow, speeding through the deserted streets.

Just as he rounded the Longgang hill at the west end of the town, six figures appeared ahead. One petite figure glanced back, a look of surprise on her face. Yu Ye slowed his pace slightly, and a voice transmission sounded:
"Yu Ye, have you raised the fare for the ship?"
"No."
"Why not ask Brother Tao to put in a good word for you..."
"There is no need!"
"If that is the case, why are you following us?"
"If I can board, so be it. If not, I am merely here to see you off!"

Since their kindness had been repeatedly refused, Tao Feng and the others had grown tired of paying him any mind; only Meng Qingqing still communicated with him privately.

A short while later, they arrived at Chen Family Bay. The courtyard in front of the wharf was brightly lit. The large ship at the pier also had a string of lanterns hung up, and figures could be seen moving about.

"Young Master!"
"Haha, esteemed guests, no need for such formalities! Just call me A-Hu!"

Tao Feng and the others landed, their movements relaxed and graceful. Among the crowd in front of the estate stood sturdy men, as well as women, children, and elders. A young man stepped out from the crowd and raised his hands in greeting.

"This is the fare: six thousand gold, not a penny short. Please check it, Young Master!"
"Thump, thump—"

Tao Feng waved his hand, and several money bags fell to the ground.

"Haha!" The young man chuckled and said, "Do not blame A-Hu for being greedy. The sea voyage is long, and the winds and clouds are unpredictable. Should any misfortune occur, it would mean a total loss. Therefore, I must ask for this 'life-buying money' in advance to support the families of my Chen clan members. As the saying goes, 'Wealth is sought in danger, and life is lost in peril.' You and I must work hand in hand, facing troubles together, so that we may cleave through the waves and finally reach the other shore!"

Several brawny men walked over and worked together to carry the money bags into the courtyard.

Tao Feng patted his chest and said with an air of righteousness, "Young Master, rest assured. Should we encounter any misfortune on this journey, I and my five fellow Daoists will take full responsibility!"

"Ah, with the strong support of six high-ranking experts, A-Hu has nothing to worry about! I thank you in advance!"

The young master, who called himself A-Hu, appeared to be twenty-six or twenty-seven years old. He wore a simple dark-green robe, had delicate features, and a pleasant smile. This wealthy young man was not only eloquent and smooth-talking but also shrewd and composed.

As he raised his hands in a bow, Tao Feng and the others returned the gesture with beaming faces. However, as A-Hu looked up, he added curiously, "Eh? There are more than six experts... there is also one more..."

Everyone turned to look. A few paces away, a young man wearing a bamboo hat stood silently. He had followed the Daoist experts here, but now stood alone to the side.

Tao Feng shook his head and said, "Oh, this person has nothing to do with us!"

The one who was once "Brother Yu" was now nameless.

A-Hu squinted to get a better look and gestured, "May I ask..."

Yu Ye did not reply; instead, he took off his bamboo hat.

"Oh...?" A-Hu pointed at him, surprised. "I recognize you—" He walked forward a few steps and looked him up and down. "Haha, to think we would meet again. You’ve grown taller, but your looks haven't changed at all..."

Tao Feng and the others exchanged glances, their expressions unreadable.

A-Hu asked, "May I ask your name, and what brings you here? Do you want another jar of cinnabar, haha!"

Tao Feng and the others were slightly taken aback.

Yu Ye smiled faintly, put his bamboo hat back on, and raised his hand. "My name is Yu Ye. I do not have the fare, yet I wish to board the ship to go to sea. Can the Young Master do me a favor?"

This Chen Hu was the same young man he had met in Herb Town. At that time, he had gone to the local Hundred Herbs Apothecary to buy cinnabar and had a brief encounter with him, but the man’s mention of alchemy had aroused his suspicion. Upon arriving in Huazhou Town and seeing another Hundred Herbs Apothecary, he hadn't linked it to this man. Who would have thought the eccentric young man was actually the young master of Chen Family Bay?

"You are Yu Ye..." A-Hu pointed at him again, then suddenly gave a mysterious smile and shook his head. "If you, Yu Ye, wish to board my ship, I, A-Hu, do not want a single penny."

Tao Feng and the others exchanged skeptical glances once more. It was clear that while Yu Ye and A-Hu might have met, they were not close and had no real friendship. Why would he waive the fare?

Yu Ye nodded in thanks, appearing neither surprised nor excited, as if it were all a matter of course.

"Haha!" A-Hu chuckled and waved his hand. "The time is right, everyone, please—"

Led by him, the group walked toward the wharf. Yu Ye followed with his head lowered. Meng Qingqing fell back a few steps and transmitted her voice:
"We were busy scrambling to raise the fare, yet you are boarding empty-handed. There must be a reason. Can you tell me the truth?"
"What would you have me say?"
"Humph, you know what I mean. You came to see us off, yet you sent yourself onto the ship..."

Yu Ye ignored Meng Qingqing’s resentment; he truly had nothing to say. He did not know why A-Hu had waived the fare. However, there had to be something suspicious about it. He quietly spread his divine sense, scanning everyone present—including the women and children—but other than Tao Feng’s group, he did not detect a single cultivator.

On the wharf, an altar was set up with sacrificial offerings. A-Hu lit incense, poured wine, and led everyone in bowing to the heavens and earth, praying for a smooth voyage and safety. Tao Feng and the others joined in the worship. The Daoist disciples had their own prayers—hoping for endless opportunities and success in the immortal path. Everyone present, regardless of age or gender, looked devout.

Yet there was an exception.

Yu Ye stood behind the crowd, arms crossed, not participating in the ritual. Instead, he studied the merchant ship docked nearby. He still held a sense of awe for the heavens and earth and feared powerful opponents, but he no longer believed in the protection of deities, nor would he entrust his life to some ethereal, invisible existence.

The ship, over ten zhang in length, appeared quite imposing in the darkness. Its bow pointed west, directly toward the mouth of the bay. A string of lanterns hung from the stern, swaying gently in the sea breeze. The stern cabin had two levels; the upper level was surrounded by a railing for observation and held a rudder for steering, while the lower level was partitioned into small rooms for living quarters. On the deck, goods covered in oilcloth were piled high. A gangplank connected the ship to the wharf, and several brawny men stood at both ends, waiting for the moment of departure.

The interior of the cabin was not yet visible. The thick wooden planks blocked his divine sense and concealed the ship's secrets.

"Everyone, board the ship—"

After the ritual, everyone stepped onto the deck. Yu Ye followed them, then turned to lean against the gunwale, looking down. The men retracted the gangplank, and three firecrackers went off. As the bamboo poles pushed off, the large ship slowly pulled away from the wharf. The women and children of the Chen family waved goodbye repeatedly, some sobbing at the painful parting.

A short while later, the ship sailed out of the bay. A northerly wind picked up, and a shout rang out: "Raise the sails—"

"Whoosh—"

More than a dozen men hoisted three sails, and the ropes pulled taut. Two men turned the rudder, others pushed with poles, and the great ship headed south, plunging into the depths of the vast sea.

At this time, it was still dark. Yu Ye stood at the bow, looking back into the distance. The ancient town of Huazhou still flickered with lights. A moment later, the town and the bay merged into the mountains and gradually disappeared into the darkness. Above, the morning stars shone exceptionally bright, as if guiding the way or reminding those who wandered that they should not forget the path home.

The sea ahead was endless, the mountains high, the waters deep, the journey long, and the date of return unknown...

Soon, a red sun leaped above the horizon. Under the morning glow, the seawater shimmered like fire. Tao Feng and the others, witnessing the beautiful scene, felt as if their futures were bright, and they were filled with passion and excitement.

"Fellow Daoists, when we return from our immortal journey, why don't we work together to revitalize the Great Marsh Daoist sects?"
"Agreed, Brother Tao! Today, the eighteenth of the seventh month, at the turn of summer and autumn, we make this vow: We six fellow Daoists of the Great Marsh shall go to Qizhou to join an immortal sect, and once we achieve cultivation, we will return to restore our Daoist traditions!"
"Brother An is right! I, He, shall add one condition: let us set a sixty-year term; surely by then, we will all have reached the Foundation Establishment stage!"
"Brother Tao, Brother An, Brother He, Brother Luo, and my senior brother, you all have exceptional talent and roots; Foundation Establishment will be a matter of course. As a woman, I am content to follow behind. When the sects are revived, I shall rely on you, brothers!"
"Qingqing, you jest. How could I, Luo Chen, compare to these brothers? Brother Tao and Brother Yu have already reached the fifth level of Qi Refining. In the battle at Mount Beiqi, you slew a Foundation Establishment master—I am in awe..."
"Brother Luo, you do not know the half of it. Brother Tao deserves the most credit for the killing of Nanshan. It was he who stood tall, defeated the many experts of Qizhou, and destroyed Mount Beiqi in one fell swoop..."
"Haha, this was the effort of all fellow Daoists; how could I, Tao Feng, take all the credit..."

Now far from the Great Marsh, Tao Feng and his group lost their guard, boasting of their ambitions and recounting the thrill of the battle at Mount Beiqi.

A-Hu remained on the upper deck with his men. Yu Ye stayed alone at the bow, leaning against a pile of cargo. He gazed at the morning glow, his expression thoughtful.

In front of the cabin structure, there was an opening leading to a wooden ladder that descended into the ship's hold. Just then, two men emerged from the opening.

The man in the lead was middle-aged, thin, sallow-faced, and possessed a gloomy expression. He stroked his beard and sneered, "Heh, such great skills, to have actually killed Nanshan. Who exactly is it—"