Volume One: The Dragon Rises from the Wilderness Chapter 122: Surviving on a Deserted Island

A sailing ship lay anchored by the shore.

Its size and appearance were identical to the Chen family’s vessel. However, two of its three masts were snapped, a section of the upper deck had collapsed, and the hull near the stern was riddled with holes. The entire ship looked scarred and battered, clearly having survived more than one harrowing ordeal.

Several members of the Chen family were busy working on the ship and the beach. An old man had set up a stove on the sand and lit a cooking fire. As he lowered his head to blow on the flames, he let out a surprised cry:

"Eh..."

Three figures were walking along the beach.

The two middle-aged men in the lead had tattered clothes and were soaked to the bone, looking wretched, yet their faces held expressions of relief. The young man trailing behind, only seventeen or eighteen years old, was shirtless and barefoot, covered in water stains, with a weary smile on his face.

"Oh my—"

The old man dropped his blowpipe, his beard trembling with joy as he waved repeatedly. "Lads, where have you come from?"

The Chen family members also dropped their axes, saws, and hammers, exclaiming in surprise, "The three masters have returned!"

"Why are you all here? Where is Ah Hu..."

The two middle-aged men began to converse with the Chen family members, inquiring about the situation. The young man, however, slowed his pace.

"Heh, I knew you had a tough life, kid!"

The old man trotted over, trembling with delight. The ones he called "lads" and "kid" were none other than Yu Ye. And the man burning wood to cook on the ship was, naturally, Gui Yuanzi.

Yu Ye looked at Gui Yuanzi, feeling a sense of deep familiarity mixed with a belly full of questions. Exhausted, he sat down on the sand and said with a smile, "Old Daoist, a gift for you—"

Two jars of wine appeared beside him.

Gui Yuanzi hurriedly sat down close by and clutched the jars to his chest. His eyes twinkled as he asked mysteriously, "Kid, did you strike it rich?"

Yu Ye pulled on a coat and glanced at the damaged ship, asking curiously, "Old Daoist, explain the situation first, and I’ll tell you my side later!"

"Hmm, fine wine—"

Gui Yuanzi had already impatiently opened one of the jars. Before even tasting it, he was already singing its praises, nodding repeatedly. "For the sake of this fine wine, listen to my tale..."

After the Chen family ship shook off the pirates, it had sailed swiftly for several days, but unexpectedly drifted off course and plunged into a storm. Fortunately, the Chen family members were skilled sailors; even with two masts broken, they had managed to survive. However, the ship was too damaged to continue, and having chanced upon this small island, they had anchored here. Repairing the ship required timber, specifically for the broken masts, which were hard to come by. Ah Hu had seen that the island’s mountains were thick with forests, so he had taken men to cut wood. They had been gone for two days and had not yet returned.

From Gui Yuanzi, Yu Ye learned that the two parties had been separated for over twenty days. Their chance reunion had much to do with that storm. While the storm was terrifying, it had brought the three of them to this very spot. Perhaps misfortune and fortune were intertwined; let us call it luck.

Yu Ye briefly recounted his own experiences at sea. Gui Yuanzi, however, had other concerns.

"I’m not asking if the scoundrels lived or died. Just tell me, did you get rich? Like, did you find the pirates' treasures, or more fine wine..."

"No treasure, but I did scavenge a few jars of wine!"

"Bring them here quickly—"

"These two jars are a favor. The rest is business."

"What do you mean?"

"You know what I mean."

"You little rascal!"

Upon hearing that Yu Ye possessed more wine, Gui Yuanzi’s eyes grew heated. He considerately urged him to get some rest before happily scampering off with the two jars.

***

Night fell, and bonfires were lit on the beach.

Only five Chen family members remained to guard and repair the ship, along with the cook, Daoist Gui Yuanzi. Being in an unknown place with Ah Hu and the others still missing was inevitably unsettling, but the return of the three cultivators brought a wave of relief and laughter to the beach.

About two or three hundred feet past the beach was a hillside. On the slope, there was a stone pit where stream and rainwater collected, serving as the ship’s source of drinking water.

Under the moonlight, Yu Ye walked toward the water pit.

Having drifted at sea for days and soaked in saltwater for hours, he was covered in salt crust and found it truly unbearable. After Gan Xing and Qiu Yuan had finished washing, he picked up a wooden bucket and a piece of soapberry to go there alone.

The moonlight was hazy, and the sea breeze was refreshing.

By the bonfire, Gui Yuanzi was laughing and joking with the others, boasting of his travels through the mortal world, which piqued the curiosity of Gan Xing and Qiu Yuan. On the beach, the waves rolled in, the sound of the surf rising and falling. That ceaseless sound was like the breathing of the sea—dull and long-drawn.

Yu Ye shed his clothes, letting the sea breeze hit his bare skin. He drew a bucket of water, poured it over his head, and began to scrub with the soapberry.

It was said that while the island was lush with vegetation, it was uninhabited. However, repairing the ship was a difficult task, and it seemed they would have to stay on this desolate island for some time.

Yu Ye rinsed off the soapberry, scrubbing away the grime. Just as he was finishing his refreshing wash, a figure appeared, following the beach from afar.

Yu Xin?

Yu Xin was surprised to see Gan Xing and Qiu Yuan, greeting them politely before waving to Yu Ye on the hillside. Gan Xing and Qiu Yuan ignored him, both wearing cold sneers. Yu Ye was still washing and could not easily speak up. Yu Xin had no choice but to explain to Gui Yuanzi that they hadn't found suitable trees for the masts, which had caused a two-day delay. He asked that if the group hadn't returned by noon tomorrow, the others should go to provide support. Shortly after, he hurried away, intending to relay the situation to Ah Hu, Tao Feng, and the rest.

Once Yu Ye had finished washing, he tied up his hair, changed into a rough linen tunic and cloth boots, and headed down the hillside with his bucket.

"How many years has this Daoist been wandering the world?"

Gui Yuanzi was still bragging about his life experiences, and the Chen family members were listening with great interest. He took a sip of wine and shook his head. "Ah, I can't remember clearly. I only remember the great mountains and rivers of the Great Marsh and the women of various lands. Tsk tsk, if you talk about different flavors: the northern women are fiery, the southern women are alluring, but none compare to the seductive women of the western Great Marsh. And the most unforgettable are the devoted women of the eastern lands!"

"Haha, what a shameless old man, hardly worthy of the title 'Daoist'!"

"A Daoist is a human too, wanting to indulge in a life of drunken dreams and cultivation. But the world is still young while I have grown old; the red dust remains, but the romance has faded. Now, I spend my days burning wood and cooking—how the hell is this so miserable!"

"Haha, the Daoist is truly amusing..."

Although Gui Yuanzi was playing the victim with great flair, his witty remarks made the Chen family members roar with laughter. Seeing Yu Ye approach, he complained again, "Sigh, even my only assistant doesn't listen to me—it's truly worrying!"

Yu Ye put down the bucket and feigned concern. "Old Daoist, you’ve traveled for many years, it must be truly exhausting. May I ask where you are from? Perhaps one day this assistant of yours can pay a visit!"

"Hmm, that’s a commendable show of filial piety!"

Gui Yuanzi nodded slightly and replied without hesitation, "I live in Yuntian Town, at Houtu Village. Lad, I’ll be waiting for you to visit!"

"Yuntian Town? The Yuntian Town in Qizhou?"

Yu Ye was somewhat surprised.

"What else?"

Gui Yuanzi stroked his beard and smiled, his expression inscrutable.

"Oh..."

Yu Ye had wanted to probe for information, but he ended up more confused than before. He picked up a scorched cake and a water jug from beside the fire and walked away in silence. As he passed by Gan Xing and Qiu Yuan, he saw the two of them eyeing Gui Yuanzi with suspicion.

A hundred feet away was another slope.

Yu Ye sat on the hillside, ate his cake, drank his water, and let out a comfortable breath.

Having drifted at sea for so long, he had felt restless, like duckweed without roots, filled with the fear and helplessness of drifting with the tide. Now, having his feet on solid ground, his heart felt much steadier. He hoped that the journey ahead would be smooth and that he could reach Qizhou soon.

But where did Gui Yuanzi live? Yuntian Town, Houtu Village?

Yu Ye raised his hand and cast a few incantations.

A formless barrier enveloped the area. Though it was only a few feet in diameter, it could block divine sense and insulate against the wind and rain, creating a quiet space of his own.

***

Yu Ye flipped his hand and took out a map scroll.

A map of Qizhou.

He was just about to look for Yuntian Town on the map when a mocking voice echoed in his mind:

"Heh, you actually believed Gui Yuanzi!"

"He said he lives in Yuntian Town, Houtu Village..."

"Your gullibility always provides an unexpected delight!"

"Jiaoying, speak plainly!"

"Oh, are you angry?"

"Was Gui Yuanzi lying?"

"He didn't exactly lie to you. The world is vast, and it is nothing more than 'under the clouds' and 'above the thick earth.' The so-called Yuntian Town and Houtu Village are merely different ways of saying that."

"Oh..."

"High-level cultivators speak in riddles; if you aren't careful, you'll be toyed with and won't even know it!"

"Have you confirmed he is a high-level cultivator?"

"Regardless of who he is, just be extra careful!"

Jiaoying was busy studying escape techniques and had no time to spare. After saying these few words, he went silent.

Yu Ye remained stunned for a moment, then shook his head secretly.

He had once believed that Gui Yuanzi was a hidden master, and he had firmly believed it. Yet, this very master spent his time talking about romance and was seemingly well-versed in all the vices of the world...

Another day passed.

Yu Ye continued to sit on the hillside, breathing and regulating his energy; Gan Xing and Qiu Yuan hid in the shade, practicing their arts. The three of them had suffered greatly in the storm and were in dire need of a few days of rest and recovery.

The five Chen family members were patching the holes in the hull, the sound of axes and hammers ringing out incessantly.

Gui Yuanzi sat beside his stove, dozing off.

This scene did not look at all like a shipwreck on a deserted island or the aftermath of a harrowing sea struggle; instead, it was filled with leisure and peace. But such leisure and peace were always fleeting.

Just then, a petite figure darted across the beach.

"Yu Ye—"

Yu Ye opened his eyes and raised his hand to dispel the barrier.

Barriers were far more useful than formations; once mastered, they were easy to cast anywhere and could be set up in an instant. This was thanks to the inspiration and lessons he had drawn from Gan Xing. Having no sect or master, the spells and supernatural powers he practiced came from Jiaoying, as well as from his opponents and enemies.

Meng Qingqing hurried over, her face flushed, perhaps from excitement. "I thought we would never see each other again..."

She was at a loss for words, her eyes shimmering like water. Her joy was plain to see.

Yu Ye stood up, feeling awkward and speechless.

Meng Qingqing pursed her lips into a smile, then turned and spoke aloud, "The masts we cut this time are too heavy to move. Ah Hu asked me to tell you to please come and help!"

"It's just moving trees, why is such a fuss necessary?"

"Brother Gan, we discovered a cave on the island, suspected to be a place where cultivators once sought refuge. Perhaps you and Brother Qiu might want to go and offer your expertise."

"Oh? Where is this cave? Let us go at once..."