Volume One: The Dragon Rises in the Wilderness Chapter 107: Smooth Sailing

Yu Ye spent several hours in a grassy pavilion outside the town. During that time, he had seen enough wind and rain, heard enough sighs, savored a touch of poetic charm, and come to understand the meaning behind the misty rain stretching ten miles. Yet all this was out of necessity. After Yu Xin left, he became the sole companion—and the only support—for Meng Qingqing. Moreover, having saved her life twice, he was her lifesaver. Because of this, Meng Qingqing invited him to walk in the rain, to accompany her in viewing the ten-mile drizzle, to share their reflections on the mortal world and freely discuss the life of immortals and sages. Facing such a spirited woman, Yu Ye could only quietly keep her company and listen attentively, occasionally answering her questions or staring blankly at the surging river.

Answering Meng Qingqing’s questions was no easy matter.

She asked: Were you a disciple of Xuanhuang Mountain, and who was your master? The cultivators of Qizhou accused you of stealing treasures—is that true? What treasure was it that brought calamity upon Daze? Why is your cultivation level undetectable—are you using secret arts? Where do your sword qi techniques and the endless supply of talismans come from? If you possess a hidden treasure, why not use it to save the Daze sect? Why did you refuse Tao Feng’s generous invitation to North Qi Mountain? And why did you subsequently hide in the shadows, intervening repeatedly in secret?

He replied: I have no sect and no master; the accusations from the Qizhou cultivators are baseless and meant to frame me, motivated by ulterior motives. My cultivation is undetectable due to the nature of the method I practice. The sword qi was taught by a reclusive master, and the talismans were obtained through deadly encounters. I possess no treasure; the disaster befalling the Daze sect has nothing to do with me. I declined Tao Feng’s invitation simply because our paths differ—there is no common cause. My cultivation is low, so I stay in the shadows to survive. As for helping others, it is a matter of principle and loyalty. If these answers are true, I will not entertain such questions or doubts again.

True to her word, Meng Qingqing ceased her inquiries. Instead, she spoke of childhood memories and amusing tales from the sect, sharing cultivation insights and the art of array formations. The Tiandan Peak sect excelled in formations, and both she and Yu Xin were adept in this art. Yu Ye’s interest was piqued; he humbly sought instruction, and she patiently explained, eventually gifting him three small flags called formation flags. They could be arranged into the Three Talents Formation, capable of offense and defense, reputed to have considerable power.

Yu Ye disliked accepting benefits without offering something in return. He compensated her with a jade scroll containing a cultivation method, two Dragon Suppression talismans, and ten Fire Separation talismans.

Several hours later, the two set off together again, still enveloped by the misty rain, each gaining something different from the experience.

Jiao Ying remarked that Yu Ye had suffered another loss. First, his background was uncovered, allowing others to probe his depth. Second, the Three Talents Formation flags were an entry-level technique worth only three to five spirit stones, while the items Yu Ye gave were worth far more than a hundred spirit stones.

Yu Ye paid no mind to Jiao Ying’s complaints—he had his own reasons. He and Meng Qingqing agreed to depart as soon as the rain ceased.

Three days later, at dawn, the sky was still overcast but the rain had stopped.

Yu Ye followed Meng Qingqing out of the inn.

Walking along the post-rain street, Meng Qingqing opened her oilcloth umbrella again. Her dark hair and simple gown, the verdant bushes at the street corner, and the wildflowers heavy with buds all exuded a fresh and graceful beauty.

A small dock lay three to five miles south of the town.

Several wooden boats were moored there. With the river swollen and mountain roads blocked, locals who needed to travel far had no choice but to take to the water.

Yu Ye and Meng Qingqing boarded one of the wooden boats.

About twenty to thirty feet long, it had a canopy over the middle section. Inside the cabin beneath the canopy, five or six passengers were already seated. Once the two boarded, the boatmen lit three firecrackers and called out wishes for smooth sailing before pushing off slowly.

The boatmen were a father and son pair.

The father, rowing at the stern, was a man in his forties with a dark complexion and honest visage; the son, poling the bow, was a young man in simple cloth, bare-chested and barefoot, his bronze face bright with a smile.

The journey was about a hundred miles, taking three days by water. By horse or foot, the route would detour hundreds of miles. Though slow, the waterway was steady and smooth, a common travel method in southern Daze.

Meng Qingqing sat at the bow, still holding her umbrella. Her delicate features and slender figure added a charming hue to the post-rain scenery.

The young boatman was full of youthful vigor and could not help but be drawn to the beautiful woman, frequently casting glances backward with a chuckle, his bamboo pole stirring the air with a whistling sound.

Yu Ye sat among the passengers in the cabin, his wide-brimmed hat pulled low, eyes half-closed as if dozing, while his hands hidden in his sleeves practiced various hand seals and gestures.

Jiao Ying had imparted all the methods and secrets of cultivating the Heavenly Restriction Technique. After three days of diligent practice, Yu Ye had made some progress, though its true power remained untested. Thanks to Jiao Ying’s devoted guidance, without which, given his current level, he would have needed years to grasp the subtlety of the technique’s confinement formula.

Just as Jiao Ying said, the journey ahead was long and fraught with danger. With no allies to rely on and no luck to shield him, the Heavenly Dragon Shield, Seven Killings Sword Qi, and Heavenly Restriction Technique were his most trusted means of survival and his sole capital for venturing abroad and standing firm in the immortal sect.

Yet he felt this capital insufficient. Without the ability to flee, how could one hope to survive? Having used the Armor-Piercing talisman, he understood well the advantages of escape techniques. Therefore, he looked forward to the Nine Escapes of Heaven and Earth.

Jiao Ying had told him the cultivation method for the Nine Escapes was incomplete, leaving only five escape techniques—Earth, Wind, Fire, Water, and Dragon. Training each in turn was time-consuming and would hinder his ability to surprise formidable foes. She suggested focusing on one escape technique, refining it to embody the strengths of all, yet retaining powerful force. She asked to contemplate carefully before deciding and requested patience.

Yu Ye had no objection, only growing more eager.

With the Heavenly Dragon Shield for defense, the Restriction Technique to trap foes, sword qi to kill, and escape arts to flee, this set of skills was near perfect.

Near midday, the boat docked for a break.

A stove was lit at the bow to cook fish soup and stew bread, shared among the boatmen and passengers.

Eight passengers traveled together—Yu Ye, Meng Qingqing, four traveling merchants, and a young couple visiting relatives.

The riverbank was wild and deserted, with only a few drooping willows swaying like long hair in the breeze, their reflections mingling with the water.

The sky remained gray, with occasional drizzles and a gentle wind cooling the river’s surface.

Yu Ye took a piece of bread and jumped ashore alone.

The bank was slippery; he nearly fell and, unable to use his lightness skill conveniently, clumsily crawled up, drawing laughter from those still on the boat.

The boatmen’s surname was Qi. The elder called himself Boss Qi; his son, in his twenties, was Qi Chun. They had been navigating the waterway from Nanqi Town to Gaoliang Town for several years and knew it well. According to them, after reaching Gaoliang, another three hundred miles led to the Nanping Mountain border, to which Huazhou Town also belonged. The location of the sea-crossing dock at Huazhou was unknown.

“Yu Ye—”

Standing on shore, gazing at the wild landscape while chewing bread, Yu Ye pondered the journey ahead.

Meng Qingqing called from the boat, clearly wanting to come ashore for fresh air.

With her skill, she could easily ascend trees, let alone step ashore. Yet she still held her oil umbrella, fragile and delicate, evoking pity.

Yu Ye ignored her.

This was just a disguise—did she really think herself an ordinary woman? Clinging to that umbrella, did she think it made her look better?

The boatman named Qi Chun was earnest, bringing fish soup and bread to her attentively. She pretended not to see, only waving at Yu Ye.

Qi Chun hastened to place a plank as a gangway on the shore. Only then did Meng Qingqing, with a lady’s grace, bow slightly, flash a smile, and step ashore with her swaying figure and umbrella over her shoulder.

The other passengers followed, enjoying the openness of the wild and the summer’s coolness.

“Here, take this!”

Meng Qingqing approached Yu Ye, holding a small pastry, softly suggesting:

“We live apart from common fare; eating and drinking are but passing pleasures!”

Yu Ye had just swallowed his bread and shook his head, saying, “Braised meat is the true delicacy!” As he spoke, he produced a wine gourd, tilted his head back, took a swig, then, exhaling the aroma, said with relish, “Eating heartily and drinking deeply—that’s the real joy!”

Meng Qingqing frowned slightly. “Such worldly habits!”

“Worldly habits” implied roughness and crudeness.

Yu Ye smiled faintly, raising the wine gourd for another gulp. His drinking style was learned from Zhong Jian and Tian Bao—perhaps crude and wild, yet free and unrestrained.

Thinking back, the days wandering the martial world had been the most satisfying. Now, the martial world was distant, and the future uncertain.

After a moment, the boat resumed its downstream journey.

By evening, they stopped again to rest.

Lanterns hung from the bow, and a fire was lit ashore.

Following Boss Qi’s suggestion, the young couple and Meng Qingqing stayed in the cabin, guarded by Qi Chun at the bow to prevent mishaps. The others made do on shore for the night.

Meng Qingqing refused Qi Chun’s insistence, determined to accompany Yu Ye, even claiming he was her brother, which eased the doubts of Qi Chun and the others.

As night deepened, everyone rested.

By the riverbank, Meng Qingqing and Yu Ye sat side by side. She took out a jade scroll and spoke of the fundamentals of array formations. Yu Ye, originally intending to meditate alone, found the opportunity too rare to miss and listened intently, fully focused. Meng Qingqing raised her oil umbrella again, shielding them from the mist and rain, concealing their figures and the passage of the night.

Yu Ye’s study of cultivation texts grew remarkably focused. Under Meng Qingqing’s careful guidance, his understanding of formations advanced rapidly. Coupled with his practice of the Supreme Spirit Talisman and Heavenly Restriction Technique, which resonated with formation principles, he unknowingly glimpsed the gateway to the art of arrays.

Yet deep within his Sea of Consciousness, someone sighed—

“You brat, so full of pride...”