Chapter 226: Eastward Flows the Great River
Shi Hao returned to the manor with Xiang Gu, then entered Dàxīng City.
He met with Du Yuejiao, who said, “Brother Shi, I’m afraid I can’t go to the East Sea with you.”
Shi Hao asked, surprised, “What happened?”
Du Yuejiao explained, “The sect is abandoning Dàxīng City. They’re closing the main temple here and transferring all the immortal ingredients from Spirit Jade Cliff. Master has been tasked with escorting the ingredients. I’m worried about her, so I want to go with her.”
Shi Hao said thoughtfully, “You don’t have to stay with the Chongxian Sect.”
Du Yuejiao said, “I know, but Master has been with the sect since she was a child. She doesn’t know where else to go.”
Shi Hao considered this. Although he wanted both of them to come with him, Yuejiao didn’t know about his relationship with her master, and he wasn’t sure how she would react.
And he himself was a wanderer now. They might not be safe with him. The Chongxian Sect, despite its flaws, was still the most powerful Daoist sect. They would be safer there.
Besides, he could sense that Yuejiao, being with her master, was more at peace.
Her soul was still tainted by the Yin Demon, and although the corruption wasn’t severe yet, the dangers of the jianghu could trigger it.
Zhuo Mulan lived a simple, quiet life, dedicated to cultivation. Staying with her would be good for Yuejiao.
He nodded, “I’ll come find you after I return from the East Sea.”
“Okay,” Du Yuejiao hugged him, her face pressed against his chest. After a moment, she added, her voice filled with concern, “Brother Shi, be careful out there…”
“Don’t worry, I will,” Shi Hao said.
She whispered, her voice small, “I mean… don’t… don’t go chasing after other girls.”
Shi Hao said, “Huh? Of course not.”
Du Yuejiao, torn between her concern for her master and her worry about him leaving, her insecurity fueled by the presence of other women around him – Plum Blossom Lady and Peach Blossom Lady were clearly interested in him, and there was also Xu Xiaoyan – hesitated.
She asked, “How are you getting to the East Sea?”
Shi Hao said, “I’ll travel down the Hanyang River to the Long River, then by boat to the East Sea. It’s the fastest route.”
Du Yuejiao was slightly relieved. Xu Xiaoyan had said she was returning to Jiangzhe. He shouldn’t encounter her along the Long River.
But deep down, she couldn’t shake the feeling that he cared more about Xu Xiaoyan than her.
Shi Hao held her close and smiled, “Don’t worry, I’ll find the Dream Grass and return quickly.” He sensed her growing insecurity since leaving Changbai Mountain.
To distract her, he teased her, using his usual… methods, ropes, whips, and candles, until she was crying and pleading, “You’re always bullying me,” her voice, however, a mixture of complaint and pleasure.
Shi Hao, with the Azure Sky Vermilion Fruit and the Illusory Sea Lingzhi, traveled southeast along the Hanyang River, reaching the Long River.
He traveled on a ship provided by the Mirror Flower Water Moon Pavilion, disguised as a vessel belonging to a prominent family, its documents forged.
Although they encountered barbarian patrols along the way, the ship’s seemingly noble origins allowed them to pass without incident.
Xiang Gu was also with him, although she hadn’t seemed very enthusiastic about the trip, she hadn’t refused either.
If she had truly refused, he couldn’t have forced her to come.
Sha Lingshan, Plum Blossom Lady, and Peach Blossom Lady were also on board, ostensibly escorting him to the Moon Lotus Pavilion, but Shi Hao suspected they were simply bored.
The Mirror Flower Water Moon Pavilion seemed to have more free time than the other two Evil Lotus factions.
Plum Blossom Lady and Peach Blossom Lady were very attentive to him, their service almost… excessive. He suspected that if he asked them to join him in bed, they wouldn’t refuse.
But he didn’t. He had to maintain a balance between the three factions.
They were still in the process of merging, and since he couldn’t devote much time to managing their affairs, the three branches still operated relatively independently, loosely coordinated by Elder Shuiyue.
Showing favoritism towards one branch would only create resentment among the others.
And although Sha Lingshan didn’t seem to mind her companions’ blatant attempts to seduce him, Shi Hao, having spent some time with her, knew her personality and didn’t take it personally.
During their occasional stops along the riverbank, he heard people discussing the recent strange events in Wu Gorge.
But no one knew they had narrowly averted a catastrophe.
If the Three Gorges had been destroyed, the Long River’s course altered, in these turbulent times, it would have triggered widespread devastation.
And although the Hanyang River didn’t flow through Wu Gorge, as a tributary of the Long River, it would have been affected as well.
The barbarian court had sent investigators, but they hadn’t found anything.
Shi Hao continued his cultivation during the journey, his Daoist and demonic energies both reaching their peak. To advance further, he would need to break through.
He spent his days on deck with Sha Lingshan, enjoying the scenery and discussing martial arts.
As for Xiang Gu, she was usually occupied with her… pets, her collection of strange and creepy crawlies in bottles and jars, occasionally releasing them, making Plum Blossom Lady and Peach Blossom Lady shudder.
And at night, when he had nothing else to do, Shi Hao would tease and torment Little Emerald… revenge for her biting him in the Primordial Grotto Heaven.
Without your master here, who’s going to protect you now? he thought, as she squirmed and protested.
The Han River flowed southeast, joining the Long River, which continued southeast for a considerable distance, then turned northeast after reaching Poyang Lake.
As they traveled, they saw more and more refugees, those from the south fleeing north, those from the north fleeing south.
They gathered along the riverbanks, their numbers growing.
At one point, they saw a horrific scene: corpses littered the riverbank and floated in the water, all refugees, their killers unknown.
Shi Hao could do nothing. Such tragedies were becoming increasingly common.
Long Niu joined them along the way, reporting the latest news.
As expected, the Supreme Emperor’s departure from the capital had caused widespread unrest, the undercurrent of rebellion growing stronger.
“Martial artists are gathering in secret,” Sha Lingshan said, waving her fan, “Only the Taisu Immortal Pavilion could have such influence. Yun Caiyao must be aware of Lie Zunyi’s true intentions and is preparing a response. The Six Gates are also active, while the Chongxian Sect seems to be withdrawing, perhaps waiting to see what happens.”
Shi Hao said, “The question is, how strong is Lie Zunyi now? Three hundred years ago, he was an unparalleled expert, only the Holy Jade Immortal and the Demon Empress surpassing him. And the Holy Jade Immortal was a rare genius, even for the Taisu Immortal Pavilion.
“I doubt they’ve produced another expert of her caliber. If they had, she would have appeared long ago.”
Sha Lingshan nodded, “This Yun Caiyao likely emerged because of the True Dragon energy at Dragon Head Mountain. She was forced to act. But for her to appear publicly, she must be a high-rank expert. Alas, in the past three hundred years, our Evil Lotus Sect hasn’t even produced a single high-rank expert, let alone someone comparable to our legendary Sect Leader.”
She lowered her voice, “When will our Sect Leader return, Young Master? With her power, she would be invincible.”
Shi Hao said, “Not soon. It will be a few more months.” According to Ye Zi Yin and Su Mei, he had to reach the fourth rank and complete a task for them before they could leave the Primordial Grotto Heaven.
And even if Su Mei returned, she wouldn’t be invincible. After all, her rival, the Holy Jade Immortal, would also return, and another martial world catastrophe would likely follow.
Shi Hao dreaded that. He didn’t want them to fight to the death. The idea of only one of them surviving was unbearable.
But if they both returned… the world would be plunged into chaos.
Sha Lingshan, unaware of his worries, was relieved to hear of the Demon Empress’s impending return. After three hundred years, a few more months was nothing.
They finally reached Poyang Lake.
It was evening, the moon hanging high in the sky, its light reflected in the shimmering water.
Although no longer full, it was still bright. The ship slowed down, and a large, ornate pleasure boat, about sixty feet long, similar in size to their own vessel, but adorned with lanterns and colorful silk banners, like something used by a wealthy young lady for a leisurely cruise, approached.
The pleasure boat stopped before them, and a soft voice called out, “Is the Young Master there?” Sha Lingshan smiled, “That’s Branch Leader Yue. I’ll leave you here, Young Master.”
Leave a Reply