Volume One: The Dragon Rises in the Wild - Chapter 116: A Private Word

The stars twinkled in the sky, while the sea stretched out into endless darkness. The great ship rocked and surged, cutting through the waves between the two. The ceaseless roar of the ocean and the billowing of the sails filled the ears, making it impossible for one to find a moment of peace.

Yu Ye had had his fill of the sea breeze at the bow and turned to make his way back along the gunwale. Meng Qingqing had already returned to rest. To her worries and inquiries, Yu Ye could only respond with silence. What else could he say?

Tao Feng and the others were bent on confronting the two cultivators from Qizhou. Regardless of whether they could succeed, once a fight broke out, both sides would inevitably suffer casualties. Tao Feng should have understood the risks, yet instead of listening to reason, he had sent Meng Qingqing to probe Yu Ye, hoping to draw him into their camp.

Among the six Taoist disciples, only Meng Qingqing had any real interaction with him. Even this simple acquaintance now seemed far from simple.

As the night deepened, everyone else had retired. Only a few of the Chen family members remained, either at the bow or atop the ship’s tower, keeping watch and steering the vessel. The twenty Chen family members were all sturdy men, well-versed in the ways of the water and skilled in navigation.

In front of the tower, a string of lanterns remained lit. Made of fish skin, they were windproof and waterproof, fueled by fish oil and wax to burn for a long time. These seven small lanterns, hung in a vertical row, were a familiar sight for night voyages and provided a faint glimmer of light in the vast, desolate sea.

Guided by the light, Yu Ye found the hatch. Just as he was about to step off the deck, the cabin door opened, and a voice called out:

"Might I have a word with you?"

It was A-Hu, standing at the door with a smile, gesturing for him to approach. Yu Ye nodded and walked over. Climbing the wooden ladder, he reached the top of the tower. The deck there was quite spacious, measuring about fifteen to twenty feet across. Two men were at the helm, while another kept watch, all of them focused and diligent in their duties.

A-Hu walked to the side of the tower, cupped his hands, and said, "Everything has been so chaotic since we set sail; I’ve been busy all day. If I have been negligent in any way, please forgive me."

Yu Ye stood steadily to the side and returned the gesture. "Young Master, there is no need for such formalities."

"If you don't mind, just call me A-Hu."

"Very well, let us address each other by name."

"Haha!" A-Hu, though shrewd and worldly, possessed a straightforward nature. He laughed, "Times have changed. To call you 'brother' might seem presumptuous, and to call you a 'master' would sound like flattery. Addressing each other by name—free of personal bias or worldly etiquette—that is the friendship of gentlemen. Excellent, truly excellent!"

The young master was quite talkative. He continued, "I often have cultivators aboard our Chen family ships, and I have seen talisman techniques before. That is why, when we first met in Caoben Town, I guessed what you needed the cinnabar for. I just didn't expect someone so young to already be famous throughout the Great Marsh."

"It is merely an exaggerated reputation. I am unworthy of such praise," Yu Ye replied modestly, testing the waters. "You waived my passage fee, and I have yet to thank you. Perhaps I could help in the galley to make amends?"

"Haha!" A-Hu waved his hand and shook his head with a smile. "You mean Daoist Guiyuan, right? He traveled on our ship many years ago; he and my father were old acquaintances. He calls himself a master who enjoys the ways of the world, and as a junior, I must show him due respect. I have never seen him display any supernatural powers, so if he insists on cooking, I must let him. However..."

A gust of wind hit the ship, causing it to rock. A-Hu held onto the railing and continued, "However, before we set sail, the old man told me that if a young man named Yu Ye came to board, I must not charge him a fee. When I asked why, he said you were a noble person who could help me turn misfortune into fortune."

"He is talking nonsense!" Yu Ye could not help but laugh. He asked casually, "As you just said, did Guiyuanzi travel across the Great Marsh on this ship years ago?"

"Indeed!" A-Hu confirmed.

"I see..." Yu Ye pondered for a moment. "I am merely a fugitive, and I know nothing of sailing or the rules of the sea. There is one thing I do not understand; may I ask you, Young Master..."

"A-Hu. A-Hu of Huazhou."

"Right. I am Yu Ye, from Yu Village."

"Please, go ahead."

"The several Taoist disciples and the two Qizhou cultivators have a deep-seated grudge. If they were to fight on this ship, what would happen?"

A-Hu’s expression changed. "If cultivators fight, it is not a mere brawl. With magic and supernatural powers, the ship would be destroyed and everyone would perish!" He looked increasingly worried. "Both sides are powerful cultivators; I cannot afford to offend either. Only if you intervene to mediate can this disaster be avoided. I beg of you."

Yu Ye nodded, offering a bitter smile, and turned to descend the tower. Tao Feng and the others, though not particularly high in cultivation, were stubborn. If he could not curb their impulsiveness, the innocent would surely suffer. *Sigh, I had hoped that boarding this ship would lead to a smooth journey to Qizhou, but I am once again embroiled in conflict.*

"Might I have a word with you?"

Just as Yu Ye stepped off the ladder, he heard a telepathic transmission. A-Hu was still on the tower, waving at him. Yu Ye turned and walked toward a small cabin beneath the tower. He hesitated for a moment before pushing the door open.

Inside the cramped cabin, an oil lamp was lit. A figure sat on the bunk and transmitted, "Please, come in."

Yu Ye stepped inside. The door closed. Instantly, several seals were cast, and the cabin was enveloped in a layer of magical energy, not only blocking the sounds from the ship but turning the small space into a world of its own.

"Please, sit."

The cabin was only about ten feet wide, containing a bed, a table, and two stools. A small window by the head of the bed was now blocked by the magical barrier. A middle-aged man sat cross-legged on the bed. His sparse beard, gaunt face, and eyes that held a hidden, sharp light all bespoke a man of shrewdness and strength. Yet, at this moment, he wore a bitter smile, his expression desolate and lonely.

Gan Xing—the man who had repeatedly hunted Yu Ye. That such a powerful opponent and life-or-death enemy were now sharing a ship and a cabin only showed how unpredictable fate could be.

"Those Taoist disciples are constantly spying; it is truly irritating. I set up these restrictions just to have a moment of peace." Gan Xing explained, then gestured with his hand. "Our grudges are settled. Sit."

His words were an expression of goodwill, and the barrier he had set was simpler and more effective than the Sancai Formation. Yu Ye sat on the stool. Though Gan Xing said their grudges were settled, Yu Ye remained uneasy. He knew well how unpredictable the human heart could be.

"I know you are wary of me, and I am the same toward you. After all, you killed Nanshan, and your sword energy is terrifying. Fortunately, I helped you twice, which serves as a backup for myself. Now that Bu Yi has permitted me to return to Qizhou, I might as well speak plainly..."

Gan Xing paused, his voice low. "When you scouted Northern Qi Mountain that night, I had already sensed you. The reason I turned a blind eye when you mingled with the crowd was because I was acting under Bu Yi's instructions..."

Yu Ye nodded.

"Bu Yi and Nanshan did not get along, so he used you to ruin the Immortal Sect's ceremony. But he could not control Nanshan's two junior brothers, which led to another disaster for the Great Marsh's cultivation world. In his rage, he stopped caring about the sect's affairs and dismissed me and Qiu Yuan. Think of all our fellow Daoists; only the two of us survived. Not only did we return empty-handed, but we cannot leak any word of our trip to the Great Marsh, or our lives will be forfeit. Looking back now, what was the point of all that life-and-death struggle? Sigh..."

Gan Xing sighed and continued, "I have been at the pinnacle of Qi Refining for years. Once I return to Qizhou, I will go into seclusion. As for whether I can reach Foundation Establishment, I will leave that to fate. You are still young, and your future is immeasurable. If you ever reach the summit, do not forget the old acquaintances of the past."

Yu Ye shook his head.

"This is not flattery on my part, but what Bu Yi said."

"Oh?"

"Although Bu Yi let you go, he is convinced that you obtained a treasure from overseas. Your luck is heaven-defying; even he can do nothing about it."

"That is an exaggeration."

"Heh, look at the Qizhou Immortal Sects. A Qi Refining disciple who has just stepped onto the path of immortality not only slays experts from the fifth to ninth levels of Qi Refining but even kills a sixth-level Foundation Establishment senior. Go ask anyone if they believe this, and tell me if it isn't heaven-defying luck."

"What kind of treasure is it, exactly?"

"You asked me that before. Truly, no one knows. Perhaps the experts of the Yun Chuan Sect know the details."

"What is the cultivation level of the experts of the Yun Chuan Sect?"

"You don't think you can kill a Golden Core expert, do you?"

"I dare not. I still have some self-awareness."

"Even with your heaven-defying luck, this trip to Qizhou is fraught with danger. I advise you to find an Immortal Sect to shelter in, then make your plans."

"Why must I find an Immortal Sect?"

"Without the protection of a sect, you will find no footing in Qizhou."

"Do you not want to seize the treasure I possess?"

"Heh, I might not be able to kill you, so why invite trouble? Besides, even if the treasure is good, it is also the source of disaster. The Yun Chuan Sect will certainly not let it go; you should know that better than I."

Yu Ye lowered his head in silence. Gan Xing's words were like a mountain pressing down on him, making him feel heavy and unable to catch his breath. The mysterious Yun Chuan Sect was in Qizhou. Even with his luck, he could not face a powerful Golden Core expert. This trip was like walking into a tiger's den; one wrong step, and he would be crushed to pieces.

Every fellow cultivator who knew him was convinced he held an overseas treasure. Presumably, Tao Feng and the others believed this as well, which was why they were constantly trying to win him over and probe him, while simultaneously guarding against him in secret.

Gan Xing continued, "I invited you here tonight for no other reason than that we are on the same ship. We may need to look out for each other in the future. Furthermore..." He hesitated, then added, "You should also persuade those Taoist disciples to stop causing trouble. Our grudges are settled; let us favor harmony."

"I was just about to bring that up, but those fellow Daoists will not listen to reason."

"Oh? What is Tao Feng planning?"

"I fear... it is detrimental to you."

"Heh, he lacks both the ability and the courage!"

Yu Ye said no more and cupped his hands. "Rest well."

A bit more color returned to Gan Xing's face. He cast a spell and smiled. "I will not see you out."

Yu Ye rose and walked out, the cabin door closing silently behind him. He returned to the deck. The night was deep, and the sea breeze was fierce.