Chapter 279

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Qin Shiyue was quite satisfied with Zhang Xiaohua’s cooperation. The previous situation had been truly perilous—had Zhang Xiaohua not stepped forward, the one lying lifeless on the ground from poison would have been him. Therefore, on one hand, he showed no mercy to Situ Yueming and Murong Jian, ensuring they would not survive. On the other hand, he felt genuine gratitude toward Zhang Xiaohua. Unfortunately, Zhang Xiaohua was involved in an important matter that concerned the leader of the Divine Cult. Otherwise, he would have had the authority to release him right then and there.

Of course, the words he had just spoken to Zhang Xiaohua were sincere. A true gentleman would never leave a debt of gratitude unpaid. Though Qin Shiyue had never considered himself a gentleman, he still disdained the act of repaying kindness with betrayal.

The group followed Flood Dragon King Xu through the grand hall. On the other side of the island in the lake, several smaller boats were waiting. The people split up and boarded them. Although Xu Jiaotong had kept her distance from Qin Shiyue since her earlier display of emotions, she still chose to board the same boat as him. Though one stood surrounded by others while the other stood silently at the bow, her gaze still occasionally, and somewhat unintentionally, drifted toward him.

Once everyone was on the boats, Flood Dragon King Xu signaled a servant, who turned back. Not long after, a special signal was launched into the sky. Flood Dragon King Xu then smiled and said to Qin Shiyue: “Let’s set off. Have the men disperse as well. There’s no point in fighting these naval forces who don’t even know the truth of the situation. Who knows? We might have to face them again another day.”

Qin Shiyue nodded. “Flood Dragon King Xu has thought of everything. May I ask where we are headed?”

Pointing to the far side of the lake, King Xu Jiao replied: “When we first settled in Jingyue City, the Flood Dragon Palace had already made preparations. This city isn’t our territory, and that lingering sense of being under someone else’s control has always remained. So, we arranged an escape route long ago, though we’ve never had to use it until now. Qin Daren, you are the first to experience it.”

Qin Shiyue chuckled wryly. “Flood Dragon King Xu, you jest. This so-called ‘first experience’ is one I would rather not have had.”

Everyone laughed, and the tense atmosphere immediately lightened.

On the far side of the lake lay the back of the manor, inaccessible by land from either side. Flood Dragon King Xu had deliberately left only a water route, blocked by an iron gate. Once all the boats had passed through, a servant shut the gate behind them. The boats continued for a while, navigating through a winding waterway. Jingyue City, situated at the river’s mouth, was crisscrossed with numerous canals like a spider’s web. Under the guidance of experienced boatmen, they quickly maneuvered through the waterways and arrived at a secluded location.

Onshore, servants had already prepared horses, including the very one Qin Shiyue had ridden here. Flood Dragon King Xu smiled and said: “Qin Daren, please mount up. Once we’re out of the city, we can discuss our next move.”

Qin Shiyue nodded with a smile, mounting his horse first. Under Flood Dragon King Xu’s lead, the group swiftly departed Jingyue City. Initially, Zhang Xiaohua had been wondering—since the naval forces were attacking Flood Dragon King Xu’s stronghold, how could the city gates possibly be opened for them? Yet, contrary to expectations, there was no interrogation at the gates; they simply rode out unimpeded. Zhang Xiaohua couldn’t help but shake his head—perhaps Murong Jian had indeed done this behind General Lu’s back, without even informing his Seventh Uncle-in-Law, who was in charge of the city’s defenses.

Now that they had safely left the city and the danger had passed, Zhang Xiaohua’s mind began to stir. He started looking for an opportunity to escape. Was he really supposed to follow Qin Shiyue to that so-called Heavenly Dragon Sect?

Just as he was thinking, he heard Qin Shiyue ask: “Flood Dragon King Xu, just a casual question—where exactly are we headed?”

Flood Dragon King Xu chuckled. “No need for alarm, Qin Daren. Initially, this old man intended for you to complete your task here in Jingyue City, but who would have expected such a huge mishap? Naturally, we can’t stay here any longer. The item that the Cult Leader requires is currently being transported here via the sea. Rather than waiting, why don’t we set sail to meet it halfway? Once you’ve secured the item, I must insist that you visit the South Sea Flood Dragon Palace. Now that you’ve come all this way, it would be remiss of me not to fulfill my duty as host.”

Qin Shiyue nodded with a smile. “Flood Dragon King Xu, you weren’t planning on letting me visit the South Sea before, were you? But as the saying goes, ‘Heaven finds a way when men do not.’ Looks like I have no choice but to pay a visit to the South Sea Flood Dragon Palace this time.”

Flood Dragon King Xu replied: “It was my oversight. I only wanted to have you complete your mission quickly, but I neglected proper hospitality. I should be punished for such negligence.”

Then, glancing at Xu Jiaotong, who was following nearby, he added: “Qin Daren, this is also a good opportunity for you to familiarize yourself with the route. In the future, when there’s nothing urgent, you should visit more often.”

Qin Shiyue immediately understood the implication behind his words and responded with enthusiasm: “Of course, of course! I will definitely visit often.”

Hearing this, Xu Jiaotong couldn’t hide her smile, lowering her head as she quietly followed along.

Zhang Xiaohua wasn’t walking right behind Qin Shiyue, but with his keen divine sense, he had already caught snippets of their conversation. Upon hearing that they were setting out to sea, his heart stirred. He recalled how, during his journey back from the coast with his second brother, the escort agency’s accountant had spoken about the magnificence of the ocean. He had regretted not having seen it for himself back then. Now, he was about to embark on a true voyage at sea—how could he refuse such an opportunity?

The thought of escaping, which had just arisen in his mind, immediately vanished. After all, he already had the ability to flee from Qin Shiyue at any time, so there was no need to rush. He might as well enjoy a trip to the South Sea first, take in the scenery, and make the most of the journey with Qin Shiyue. Once he had his fill, he could escape whenever he pleased.

The group left the city, avoiding the main roads and instead following familiar paths through hidden trails. After traveling for some time, they arrived at a place where lush trees provided shade and rolling hills stretched across the landscape. Flood Dragon King Xu pointed with his horsewhip toward a low-lying area and said: “Qin Daren, look over there—between those two hills lies the secret port of our South Sea Flood Dragon Palace.”

Sure enough, after rounding the hill, the sight of several large ships came into view. Zhang Xiaohua thought to himself, So these are the ships that will take us out to sea?

Everyone dismounted and boarded the ships, while the attendants led their horses onto another vessel. Only after this was done did they raise the sails and lift the anchors, setting off from the port. As they sailed out, Zhang Xiaohua realized that they were traveling down a wide river. The port they had just departed from was a well-hidden backwater, its entrance nestled inconspicuously between the barren hills. If he hadn’t just seen it for himself, he would never have believed that such a secluded harbor existed there.

Before long, the river became busier, with more and more boats of various sizes appearing—some drifting downstream, others pushing against the current. The scene was bustling with activity. This was Zhang Xiaohua’s first time aboard a ship, and everything felt new and exciting. He stood by the railing, looking left and right with great curiosity.

The river’s current was gentle, and the ship itself was quite large, so there was barely any swaying. This surprised Zhang Xiaohua—he had read in books that boats rocked violently on the water, and that those unaccustomed to sailing would easily become seasick. Yet he felt nothing of the sort.

At the ship’s bow, Flood Dragon King Xu stood beside Qin Shiyue and said: “Qin Daren, this must be your first time at sea.”

Qin Shiyue nodded. “The Divine Cult is situated deep in the wilderness, so there are rarely opportunities to travel by sea. Even river journeys are uncommon.”

Flood Dragon King Xu chuckled. “Then this is perfect! You’ll get to experience the wonders beyond the mainland. But for now, this old man is feeling a little weary and will go below deck to rest. Ah, old age truly spares no one.”

Then, turning his head, he called out: “Jiaotong, come here and tell the Daren some stories about the sea.”

Xu Jiaotong, blushing slightly, stepped forward. Only then did Flood Dragon King Xu clasp his hands in farewell and disappear into the cabin.

Standing at the bow, Qin Shiyue and Xu Jiaotong conversed, pointing at the scenery and laughing together. As their talk carried on, Xu Jiaotong gradually shed her initial shyness, her face blooming with a bright smile.

Zhang Xiaohua had originally wanted to listen in on some tales of the sea, but as the conversation turned increasingly sentimental, he felt awkward lingering nearby. Thus, he wandered toward the stern, content to admire the scenery along the river.

A while later, the ship finally left the river and entered the open sea. Seagulls soared through the sky, and the horizon stretched endlessly where the ocean met the sky. The sheer majesty of the view left Zhang Xiaohua speechless. He had only ever read about such sights in books, but seeing it with his own eyes was a thousand times more breathtaking than words could capture.

At that moment, an overwhelming sense of awe washed over him—the world was so vast, and life so full of wonders. What could be more thrilling than journeying across boundless mountains and rivers? Staring at the infinite ocean, Zhang Xiaohua let his divine sense expand without restraint. His state of mind soared to new heights, and in that instant, he felt as though he could ride the wind and fly!

Perhaps it was the vastness of the open sea, or perhaps it was the elevation of his state of mind, but Zhang Xiaohua felt his divine sense growing slightly stronger, extending just a bit farther than before. However, the seawater was far different from solid ground—it seemed thick and viscous, making it difficult for his divine sense to penetrate. When he attempted to probe downward, he found it hard to reach any significant depth.

Yet, upon the boundless ocean surface, his divine sense seemed somewhat limited. Gazing into the distance, he could make out countless tiny black specks along the horizon, motionless against the backdrop of the sea and sky. Relying solely on his divine sense, he could not perceive them clearly. Zhang Xiaohua understood that those unmoving dots were distant sea vessels—so far away that their movement was imperceptible.

At that moment, the sea became slightly choppier. The ship rose and fell with the waves, while seawater occasionally splashed against the hull, carrying with it a salty, fishy scent that Zhang Xiaohua found novel and refreshing.

After sailing for a while, he suddenly spotted an enormous ship approaching from the opposite direction. It was heading straight toward them, and Zhang Xiaohua was taken aback. Is that still considered a ship? Compared to it, the vessel he was currently on seemed nothing more than a mere skiff.

As the massive ship drew closer, Flood Dragon King Xu finally emerged from the cabin. Seeing Qin Shiyue similarly dumbfounded, he chuckled and said: “Qin Daren, please, come aboard. This is the real sea vessel that we’ll be traveling on. What we’re on now is merely a riverboat, used to ferry us to this point. The sea vessel has too deep a draft to navigate the waters near Jingyue City.”

Before long, a large basket was lowered from the giant ship, lifting each passenger aboard one by one. When Zhang Xiaohua set foot on the massive vessel, he found the footing remarkably stable—there was none of the rocking and swaying he had just experienced on the smaller boat. At his side, Flood Dragon King Xu continued explaining to Qin Shiyue: “Out on the open sea, the waves rise and fall unpredictably. It’s nothing like the calm waters at the river mouth. Riverboats are small and only suited for inland waterways. If taken into the ocean, a single wave could capsize them. Without a vessel of this size, there would be no way to sail the high seas.”

Qin Shiyue sighed and said: “To read ten thousand books is to travel ten thousand miles. If one never ventures onto the ocean, how could one ever witness such a grand vessel?”