"We're almost there" Kang Da, the driver called out to the four inside the carriage, it was a dim morning as the scent of salt drifted on the wind and lights from lanterns began to be lit in the distance.
Shu He's eyes opened as he yawned slightly, he had been taking one of his rare naps since he had been busy experimenting with what he could the past three weeks, he drew the curtains of the carriage, a large town could be seen through the thin treeline and just beyond that was a shore filled with sand.
'I'm already back' he thought to himself, it had only been just over half a year and yet he had returned here – to Sunnyside Town, it was here that they would set off to the Water Region.
"Finally, I was getting impatient, sitting still for so long" Na Xue happily stretched as she grabbed her belongings, eager to depart from the carriage. Bai Lian was also staring out towards the vast blue expanse, her thoughts unknown.
They quickly drew in to the entrance to Sunnyside as they passed the guards that were half-asleep at the small stone wall.
'The security is as lax as ever' Shu He couldn't help but think as he patted the duck next to him "Wake up, change your form".
[Hnnn…] One of Shu Xue's eyes opened as drool leaked from her beak, eventually she shook her head before she changed to her human form, yet she still fell on to Shu He's side, half-asleep.
The carriage slowly drew to a stop as the driver spoke "We've arrived, it should be fine to depart now" the three stood up and got off, Shu He had to carry Shu Xue as she was in a deep sleep once more, he didn't feel the need to force her awake since they were just moving a bit.
Behind them Kang Da didn't depart from the driver's space but bowed "Now then, you've arrived safely, so I should take my leave".
"You're not going to take the time to rest?" Shu He replied with slight surprise.
A wry grin grew on the driver's face "With how much work the chairman wants us to take, we don't have the luxury for such things".
Shu He chuckled slightly "So Xiao Fu is working you ragged, please tell him that I said to take care of his workers".
The driver flashed a smile "I definitely will, thanks; May we meet again if fortune permits it" with that he snapped the reins as the horses set off dragging the empty carriage along, he was heading to the exit gate where'd he'd try to pick up passengers for the way back, there was no point taking an empty carriage after all!
"I'm surprised you knew someone from the Traders Guild, such a fancy carriage isn't easy to rent normally" Na Xue murmured as she watched the carriage leave.
"I just got lucky" Shu He responded, it was the truth after all, his encounter with Xiao Fu was purely fateful.
"Even so, normally you'd have to ask an Elder to organised one…" she was going to continue to pester Shu He but then shook her head "Never mind, where are we going now? You said you organised a boat already".
Shu He nodded.
"I'm sorry, I don't mean to be doubtful Shu He, but a normal boat won't be able to cross the ocean between here and the archipelago…" Bai Lian suddenly spoke, she was looking around the village and seeing it was a fishing village she assumed Shu He may be talking about a fishing boat.
"I know, don't worry, in fact you can see the boat we'll be using from here" He smiled as he pointed into the distance.
"From here? I don't see a boat near…? Is it on the ocean already…?" Na Xue's eyes narrowed as she looked to the horizon, it was dawn so there were no boats out on the water yet, so she looked at Shu He with doubt.
On the other hand, Bai Lian's eyes locked on to a large hulking vessel in the distance, one that was currently docked in a dry dock with crew members running back and forth carrying things. "You don't mean that one, right?" she pointed at it.
"That's the one".
"Really? Impressive… it's almost as big as our clan vessels…" Bai Lian stared at the large boat with approving eyes.
"Whoa, that's bigger than I was expecting… I know it's a mortal vessel, but how did you convince them to let us board it?" Na Xue's face flushed with excitement as she stared at it.
"I was just lucky" Shu He brushed her off as he started walking with Shu Xue asleep in his arms, he would place her on his back but he had his bags there.
Na Xue pouted slightly before following along, followed by Bai Lian, their little group caught the eyes of the residents that were just getting up; Some offered their greetings while others just pretended, they were normal and ignored them.
"This town is pretty relaxed" Na Xue commented as she bit on an apple, she bought from a stall that just finished setting up.
"It's on the edge of our region after all, not many people visit here, so there aren't many disturbances" Shu He went to bite down on a large grape like fruit, then realised his hand were empty as he looked at Shu Xue in his other arm, happily munching down on his fruit.
"If you're awake, walk" he placed her before she asked for more, making him sigh.
Bai Lian had opted to not eat as her eyes stared at the blue ocean whose colours reflected her eyes. "What's wrong Bai Lian?" Shu He asked, she had been fairly silent since they arrived.
She shook her head "Nothing, I was just thinking that I haven't been on a boat in a while".
"That's right, your clan is in the Water region, right?" Shu He remembered.
"To be more precise, it's near the border between the two regions… but we regularly travel around the Water region, so I'm familiar with the landmarks".
"That'll be a great help… I've never been on a boat before, so I'm a little jittery honestly" Shu He couldn't help but laugh, he was speaking about both lives after all.
"Me neither, water is my weakest element" Na Xue casually admitted.
"That's a surprise, didn't you take the pilgrimage as well, Senior Sister?" Shu He assumed a core disciple would have taken the same path as him.
"You forget I come from a cultivation family, there were plenty of resources there for me to reach Elemental Infusion" she shrugged "It's the same for you, right?" she asked Bai Lian who nodded.
'How convenient…' he thought but didn't say out loud; He understood being part of a cultivation clan, or family wasn't all sunshine and rainbows after all.
"But, with how confident you were I thought you were used to boats Shu He" Bai Light laughed lightly, covering her mouth.
"I was a regular child just over half a decade ago, I can only do so much" He shrugged helplessly "Anyway, we're on schedule so we should be able to set off tomorrow".
"That's good, the sooner the better" Bai Lian said as she glanced over the ocean once more.
"Shu He! I wanna' eat" The one that was oblivious to everything else tugged on Shu He's sleeve with a hint of drool at the corner of her mouth.
He sighed.
"Later, be good and you can have some more treats, okay?"
"Okay!".
…
The four of them soon reached the boat that was as large as a three-story building as they stood watching the workers load it up with crates and objects to prepare for their trip.
It wasn't long before some crewmates noticed them and ran off before bringing along a group, if someone didn't know anything they might think they were an angry mob coming for the unknowing spectators, yet as Shu He saw them coming along he couldn't help but smile lightly.
"Doctor Shu! It's been a while! It's good to see you again!" The man in the front yelled with his scruffy beard and captains hat tilted on his head.
"Captain, it's has been a while, thanks for taking on my request" Shu He walked up to him as they shook hands and exchanged smirks.
"Ah, don't be like that, call me Zou Qiang! You saved our lives after all; this little job is nothing compared to that!" the man laughed heartily as he patted Shu He's shoulder.
This man was Zou Qiang, the captain of the men he had saved from their unfortunate encounter with parasites last time he came here, Shu He had decided to cash in the favour they owed him already.
"And who are these beauties? You already married?" He laughed, glancing at Na Xue and Bai Lian behind him.
"N-nothing of the sort!" Bai Lian frowned as she covered her face with her sleeve, hiding the slight hesitation in her voice.
"Don't be rude, captain, both of them could deal with you with their pinkies" Shu He warned him causing him to take a step back "My apologies, it's just a joke" he chuckled before whispering to Shu He "Only one of them denied it though?".
Shu He turned his head and glanced oddly at Na Xue who had a pondering expression on her face.
Her eyes lit up slightly as she winked "I'll consider it."
"Oi" he rebutted. This girl was a master at causing a mess.
The captain laughed "And is this one your daughter?" he pointed over his shoulder at Shu Xue who was curiously poking her head into the different crates laying around.
"Well, something like that" Shu He casually said as he began walking towards the ship leaving the Zou Qiang dumbfounded.
"What's wrong? How's the ship coming along? Are we on schedule?" Shu He began barraging the captain with questions snapping him out of it.
"Ah, right, we're almost ready so you can go ahead and set up in the cabins" he cupped his hands before yelling "Oi! One of you fools guide the guests to the best cabins! Don't even think of doing anything to them girls either or being thrown overboard is the least of your worries!".
"We won't captain, we aren't a dumbass like you!" One replied causing the rest to laugh.
"Bastard, you wanna' live with the fishes?!".
"Doctor Shu! We've been waiting for you! Can you check our captains head while you're here?".
"That's it, you and me, one on one right now!" Zou Qiang ran towards the ship, faced red with anger.
With this ruckus, the four of them boarded the ship in preparation for their journey across the sea!