Chapter 233: On the East Sea
The five of them ascended Three Peaks Mountain.
Three Six Gates agents remained at the Daoist temple dedicated to Wang Lingguan.
The Six Gates had set a trap here last night, but due to Shi Hao’s interference, their target had escaped. Although they kept a watch on the temple, they didn’t expect the fugitives to return, so they only left a small contingent behind.
Shi Hao and the others quickly dispatched the three agents.
They went to a rock garden behind the temple and, following Daoist Zhong’s instructions, turned two hidden mechanisms within the rocks. A nearby pavilion shifted, revealing a hidden passage.
Leaving Huan Tingting to guard the entrance, they entered the passage.
It led to a hidden chamber where they found the sea chart, the Water Repelling Pills, and a small booklet describing the method for entering the Crystal Palace.
Shi Hao unfurled the chart and located Flower Coral Island, marked with a small symbol, “According to Old Zhong, the entrance to the Crystal Palace is on this island.” He looked up at Yue Yaotai, “Is this the route you took, Branch Leader?”
Yue Yaotai shook her head, “There are several ways to reach the Crystal Palace, but those who know them keep them secret. The Crystal Palace contains many rare immortal ingredients and valuable pearls, a closely guarded secret.”
“I went with someone else, traveling by sea and using special equipment to dive down, following an underwater current to reach the palace. It was a complicated and dangerous journey.”
Shi Hao asked, “Why would you risk your life to enter the Crystal Palace, Branch Leader? Was there some ingredient you needed for a demonic ritual?”
Yue Yaotai said calmly, “Not exactly. There’s a type of fish in the Crystal Palace that, when cooked with black plums, has medicinal properties. I was… curious.”
Xu Xiaoyan looked up, startled, “Aunt Yue…”
Yue Yaotai said softly, “I happened to be traveling to the East Sea, so I decided to visit the Crystal Palace. It wasn’t because you were sick.”
Shi Hao murmured, “The Henggong Fish… The Classic of Divine Anomalies describes it as ‘a fish shaped like a carp, but red, its flesh impervious to blades, immune to boiling, killed only by black plums, its flesh a cure for all diseases.’ I thought it was just a myth. It actually exists?”
He then said, “Although we have the map, Old Zhong is injured and can’t sail. How are we getting to the island?”
Yue Yaotai said, “That’s not a problem. I can arrange a ship and a crew. The map is the most important thing.”
Shi Hao smiled, “In that case, I’ll leave it to you, Branch Leader.”
Yue Yaotai said, “It’s my pleasure, Young Master.”
They left the mountain that night and arrived in Zhenjiang the next day.
Although there were barbarian patrols and Six Gates agents along the way, having returned to their original appearances, they weren’t recognized.
And although Yue Yaotai had encountered Bei Lingyu, the Eastern Gate Constable King, she had also been disguised.
Zhenjiang was located at the mouth of the Long River, where it flowed into the East Sea.
They stayed in Zhenjiang for a day. Yue Yaotai remained with Shi Hao, while Huan Tingting made the necessary arrangements.
The next afternoon, they went to the docks, where Huan Tingting had secured a fu ship, a large, sturdy vessel commonly used for coastal trade.
The fu ship, with its pointed bow, wide stern, and upturned ends, designed for both trade and warfare, equipped with a ram, was a fast and stable vessel, said to be able to “crush enemies like a chariot.”
A middle-aged woman called “Aunt Fu” captained the ship, with six young women as crew.
The six young women, clearly skilled martial artists, two dressed in black, the other four in simple dresses, were all disciples of the Moon Lotus Pavilion.
They were quiet and obedient, following Aunt Fu’s instructions without question.
Having spent time with Sha Lingshan, Plum Blossom Lady, and Peach Blossom Lady, Shi Hao found the Moon Lotus Pavilion’s atmosphere strangely… oppressive.
These disciplined and subservient young women were all carefully selected, their beauty exceeding that of their peers.
“Is the Moon Lotus Pavilion always like this?” he asked Xu Xiaoyan, pulling her aside.
Xu Xiaoyan muttered, “It’s always been like this. It’s not just Aunt Yue’s strictness. It’s their tradition, passed down through generations. It’s ingrained in their culture.
“That’s why, although they treated me well, I couldn’t stay.”
Shi Hao thought, Her personality is definitely not suited for the Moon Lotus Pavilion.
With Xiaoyan’s free spirit, she would be more comfortable with Sha Lingshan and her companions.
He realized that these girls, having grown up in this environment, would inevitably be affected. And as they progressed in their cultivation, they would perpetuate this oppressive culture.
It was a miracle that Xiaoyan, having lived there for several years, hadn’t become like them.
He thought, The reunification of the three factions can’t just be about power. I’ll have to encourage more interaction between the Moon Lotus Pavilion and the Mirror Flower Water Moon Pavilion.
He felt more relaxed and comfortable with Sha Lingshan and her companions.
But with these Moon Lotus Pavilion disciples, he felt constrained, their constant, silent presence, their heads bowed, their faces expressionless, unsettling.
But the Moon Lotus Pavilion’s culture wasn’t something he could easily change, not now, not yet.
He wondered about the atmosphere in the Black Lotus Realm.
He had only interacted with Long Niu so far, and she seemed… relatively normal, not as cold and aloof as Huan Tingting.
Of course, Long Niu, with her short stature, wouldn’t have been accepted into the Moon Lotus Pavilion.
The fu ship left the docks, the wind filling its sails, carrying them out to sea.
The ship was well-stocked with food and refreshments. Shi Hao, Xu Xiaoyan, and Xiang Gu sat on the deck, eating and chatting.
Neither Shi Hao nor Yue Yaotai mentioned the Penglai Mirage Pavilion to Xu Xiaoyan… a silent agreement.
And as for Xiang Gu, as long as no one mentioned the “Holy Pavilion,” she seemed to have forgotten about it.
The sea was calm, the water a deep blue, the sky above a clear, endless expanse, merging seamlessly with the horizon.
At noon, a fleet of ships appeared in the distance, each one larger than their fu ship, six of them carrying massive, wooden constructs on their decks.
These constructs, resembling folded buildings, were a strange and impressive sight.
Yue Yaotai approached Shi Hao and whispered, “That’s the Sea Shark Gang.”
One of the ships, noticing them, changed course and headed towards them.
Aunt Fu, sensing danger, ordered the six disciples to raise the sails.
The approaching ship was filled with martial artists, a large man in a brocade robe, a saber on his back, standing at the front, shouting, “Stop your ship!”
“Go!” Yue Yaotai said.
The fu ship accelerated, turning sharply, away from the fleet. The pursuing warship gained on them, its crew loading a catapult, but it was still too far away to be effective.
It slowed down, then turned back, not wanting to stray too far from the fleet.
“I wonder where they’re going,” Shi Hao said thoughtfully, “They seem to be preparing for a naval battle.”
Xu Xiaoyan snorted, “The Sea Shark Gang are just barbarian lapdogs, bullies and thugs. They’re probably up to no good.”
Yue Yaotai approached them, “It’s good they didn’t attack us. Although our ship is sturdy, we wouldn’t stand a chance against them in a naval battle.”
She shook her head, “The Sea Shark Gang, with the barbarian court’s backing, controls the lower Long River. Even our most discreet operations are struggling to survive.”
Xu Xiaoyan glanced at Yue Yaotai, the wind causing the front of her robe to flutter slightly, revealing the curves of her figure despite the tight sash.
She looked at Shi Hao, who was also… admiring the view, and kicked him discreetly.
Shi Hao couldn’t help it… the wind was strong.
Of the three Evil Lotus Sect leaders, Yue Yaotai was definitely the most… well-endowed. And her figure was undeniably attractive.
He turned away, looking out at the vast expanse of the sea, “We should reach Flower Coral Island by evening.”
Xu Xiaoyan, her gaze also fixed on the horizon, had been searching the sea since they left Zhenjiang, hoping to find something, anything, in this vast, blue expanse.
But it was like searching for a needle in a haystack.
Shi Hao wanted to help her, but he couldn’t. He glanced at Xiang Gu, who was still eating pastries and playing with her collection of creepy crawlies, oblivious to everything else.
Of all of them, only she might know the location of the Penglai Mirage Pavilion.
But unless he was certain Xu Xiaoyan’s sister was there, he wouldn’t mention it.
The fu ship continued its journey, and as the sun began to set, they finally reached Flower Coral Island.