Volume One: The Dragon Rises from the Wilderness Chapter 117: Harmony Is Precious

Dawn broke.

The cabin remained dimly lit.

Over a dozen men lay sprawled across the wooden planks, fast asleep.

Even as the boat rocked, the exhaustion from the previous night kept the Chen family disciples in a deep slumber.

Yet a few others sat cross-legged, spaced several feet apart, their hands forming seals, eyes half-closed—clearly seeking calm amidst the chaos, diligently practicing their cultivation techniques.

In a corner lay a solitary figure. Hanging on the cabin wall beside him was his bamboo hat.

Yu Ye was not practicing breath regulation.

He rested his head on his arm, eyes closed as if in deep sleep, yet his idle right hand continuously traced hand seals, moving back and forth without pause.

Since returning last night, he had not slept.

First, he recalled the words of Ah Hu and Gan Xing carefully, so as not to misunderstand or miss any crucial information. After suffering significant losses in the past, this habit had gradually taken root in him.

As Jiao Ying had said, “The slow bird flies first. The slow-witted should daily self-reflect thrice, so as to understand clearly and act without fault. Only through constant self-examination can one grasp true knowledge.”

Yu Ye considered himself slow-witted, so naturally, he needed to think more and examine himself constantly.

Some called him cunning and sly, but he did not agree. He could not outwit Er Gou in verbal sparring; he was outmaneuvered by Bai Zhi and Chen Qi in schemes; he was no match for Tian Bao’s ferocity and brutality; as for cunning and wisdom, he was no rival to Meng Qingqing. If he were truly clever, then there would be no fools in this world.

That said, although Gan Xing was an enemy, after resolving their grudges, their interactions had become somewhat easier. His reminders and warnings were sincere and straightforward. Moreover, his mastery of sealing techniques was impressive.

Once Yu Ye’s mind calmed, he spoke to Jiao Ying about Gan Xing’s sealing arts. Jiao Ying teased him for his lack of insight, saying that sealing techniques were fundamental to all disciples of the Immortal Sect, varying only in difficulty. The “Heavenly Sealing Technique” he practiced encompassed all such arts. With a slight variation of the “Imprisonment” formula within it, one could easily perform sealing techniques.

With Jiao Ying’s guidance, a sudden enlightenment dawned upon Yu Ye.

He spent the entire night pondering the “Imprisonment” formula and its sealing methods. After several hours of contemplation, he gradually grasped the essence.

Moments later, with a flick of his hand and a shift of his mind, a faint, almost imperceptible glow shot forth.

Yu Ye slowly opened his eyes.

The light he summoned bore the blessings of magic and an invisible array, forming a space several feet across that covered the porthole, blocking the sea breeze.

This was sealing?

Within his divine senses, he saw a small patch of invisible seals floating in midair, gently swaying with the sea wind, gradually showing signs of dispersing.

Yu Ye extended both hands and cast a series of hand seals again.

The fragments of invisible seals instantly merged into one, swiftly enveloping all around—front, back, left, and right—becoming incredibly sturdy, cutting off all sound and movement, forming an airtight world of its own. With a few more hand seals, the invisible seals thickened, as if conjuring a cloud of mist, shrouding the entire cabin...

“Bang, bang—”

Still immersed in experiencing the changes of the sealing, Yu Ye momentarily forgot his surroundings. Suddenly, a noise startled him awake, and with a wave of both hands, the mist and seals before him vanished completely.

Several Daoist disciples stood not far off, glaring fiercely at him.

Tao Feng’s expression darkened as he said, “Brother Yu, this is not a sacred cave in Mount Ling, how can you flaunt your powers here? It’s one thing to disturb us, but to scare the crew aboard is most inappropriate.”

Yu Ye felt embarrassed, intending to apologize, but then furrowed his brow and said, “Brothers, if I have offended, I will make amends. Let’s talk on the deck—”

He stood and walked toward the hatch.

Over a dozen men still slept soundly.

An old man peeked out from the galley, then quickly withdrew his head.

---

Tao Feng exchanged glances with Yu Xin, He Qingnian, An Yunsheng, and Luo Chen, shaking their heads disapprovingly. Then, they raised their hands and strode over.

The sea breeze was refreshing on the deck.

Looking out, the sky stretched vast and low, the sea deep blue like jade—magnificent scenery.

Yu Ye reached the bow, cast a faint glance toward the horizon, then crossed his arms, turned, and planted his feet firmly apart.

Tao Feng and the other four soon arrived.

Meng Qingqing, sensing the commotion, appeared and walked over at the right moment.

Tao Feng stroked his short beard, a smile gracing his face, magnanimous: “Brother Yu, there’s no need for apologies; we are not strangers…”

“No!” Yu Ye shook his head. “Though I am not a disciple of the Dao, I share with you a bond of common path and comradeship. Some matters are best spoken plainly.” He paused briefly, then switched to transmitting his voice mentally. “I advise you all not to provoke Gan Xing or Qiu Yuan. We are at sea seeking opportunity, yearning for peace. Why stir trouble unnecessarily?”

Tao Feng’s eyes flickered. “Brother Yu, has Gan Xing promised you something?”

Without hesitation, Yu Ye replied, “After reaching Qizhou, Gan Xing retired to the mountains, no longer involving himself in Immortal Sect conflicts, nor seeking vengeance against any of you. We should value peace between us…”

“Heh!” Tao Feng suddenly sneered coldly. “So you secretly collude with the enemy and now act as their mouthpiece. Such inability to distinguish friend from foe, right from wrong, is utterly contemptible!”

“Collude with the enemy?” Yu Ye was slightly stunned, exhaling heavily. “I admit I bore grudges with Gan Xing, but without his aid, I could neither have burned Beiqi Mountain nor destroyed the Xuanwu Pavilion, nor escaped afterward. Though young and naïve, I understand clearly the difference between gratitude and enmity…”

“Hmph. Facing an enemy, you forget hatred and only seek to repay kindness? That is your clear sense of grievance?”

Tao Feng’s face contorted with ridicule, then challenged: “You claim Qizhou cultivators burned Beiqi Mountain, ruined the Immortal Sect’s celebration, and then helped you kill the Nanshan faction—is that so? Do you take us for children, or are you speaking nonsense with your eyes wide open?”

Yu Ye endured patiently. “To be honest, I once infiltrated Beiqi Mountain twice at night, aided secretly by over twenty martial brothers from the Jianghu…”

“Heh!” Tao Feng laughed aloud, glancing at his companions. “See? This Brother Yu is truly formidable. Not only do the Qizhou experts obey him, but even Jianghu figures follow his orders. Now he demands we obey him as well. Truly a master unmatched across the ages!”

Yu Ye sighed.

Because his actions were secretive, even revealing the truth earned no belief. Moreover, if he did not want to prevent conflict, he would not have bothered. As expected, his advice was useless, instead met with mockery and humiliation.

“Brothers…” Yu Ye fell silent for a moment, then said, “If you insist on seeking vengeance, the ship will surely be destroyed along with all aboard. I have said my piece—do not regret it when it’s too late!”

Tao Feng laughed loudly, “Scaremongering…”

Yu Ye rolled his eyes, his voice turning cold—

“And what if I refuse?”

“Who do you think you are—”

Before Tao Feng could finish, he suddenly froze. At once, light flickered, and Yu Xin, He Qingnian, and the other three found their limbs bound, unable to move. Alongside this, beams of magic-infused light filled the surroundings. Within a blink, a two-zhang square was engulfed in mist.

Yu Ye seized the moment, stepping to Tao Feng’s front, pressing a sword seal against his brow, voice icy: “I am Yu Ye, from Yu Family Village. Whoever dares ignore wise counsel, I—”

Among the six Daoist disciples, only Meng Qingqing remained unharmed. Seeing the sealing around them, the five restrained Daoists, and Yu Ye’s murderous intent and sword seals, she was already pale and trembling, powerless to utter more than, “Have mercy…”

---

Perhaps moved by pity, Yu Ye hesitated momentarily, then spoke words more terrifying still—

“I will strip him of his cultivation!”

Having said this, he stepped back two paces and tapped Tao Feng’s forehead with two fingers, the severity of the warning compelling Tao Feng to nod. Yu Ye then waved his hands, and the mist and seals dissipated instantly.

At once, the sea breeze returned, waves rippled, and the daylight remained bright.

The five Daoist disciples shivered as if awakening from a nightmare. They had heard tales of a certain person’s ferocity and deadly strikes but never witnessed it firsthand—only rumors from the Jianghu. Now, the reality was terrifying: with a mere gesture, five Qi-refining experts were simultaneously sealed. Life and death hung on a single thought. To have one’s cultivation stripped was worse than death for a cultivator.

“Brother Yu…” Tao Feng’s face turned pale as he raised his hand, “As you say, peace is precious.”

Yu Xin, He Qingnian, An Yunsheng, and Luo Chen nodded in turn, speaking one after another—

“Brother Yu’s consideration for comradeship is most appreciated!”

“Brother Yu’s sword intent is unrivaled; his divine arts are just as astonishing!”

“The Jianghu is distant, the immortal and mortal realms estranged. Let us roam freely over sea and sky, and let grievances drift away with the wind!”

“The legendary overseas treasure is indeed extraordinary. No, I mean… Brother Yu’s fortune is remarkable…”

Yu Ye’s gaze swept over the group, finally resting on Luo Chen. Luo Chen, realizing his slip, opened his mouth to reply, but Yu Ye had already turned away, arms crossed, head held high as he stared into the distance.

Meng Qingqing reached out and patted her chest, then gestured with her eyes: “It’s all just a misunderstanding, brothers. Let us disperse.”

Tao Feng and the others said no more, quietly departing.

Meng Qingqing followed, then transmitted her voice mentally, “Some Daoist brothers are stubborn and arrogant. They need a taste of hardship to realize there are always greater people beyond and higher realms beyond the skies!”

Yu Ye continued to look ahead, letting the sea breeze brush his face.

---

Meanwhile, Ah Hu stood atop the ship’s deckhouse. Seeing Tao Feng and the others approach with downcast faces, he was puzzled.

Below in the cabin entrance, Gan Xing and Qiu Yuan stood side by side. The commotion at the bow could not escape their divine senses. They exchanged smiles, then turned their gaze to the young man standing at the bow.

Just then, someone shouted, “Meal’s ready!”

Several men carried out a wooden bucket and placed it on the deck.

Soon after, an elderly man emerged from below decks—it was Gui Yuanzi, wearing an apron. He glanced around and called out loudly, “Yu Ye? Where is Yu Ye?”

A figure hurried toward the bow—it was Yu Ye, surprised: “Old Daoist, what’s happened?”

“Hmph!” Gui Yuanzi snorted angrily, “Disorderly youngster, come on—”

He raised his hand and threw something.

Yu Ye caught it; it was a greasy rag.

Gui Yuanzi waved his hand, smugly: “Don’t just stand there, come help the Daoist scrub the pots!”

Yu Ye sighed helplessly and nodded.

Gan Xing and Qiu Yuan exchanged glances...