The time offshore was longer than I or anyone else in my group expected. Ma Chen showed me the location of the archipelago on the map and marked it, but it was hard to determine the distance just by glancing at an old map. It felt distant. One day, I woke up to the sound of seagulls and the tides hitting the ship's hull, causing it to sway. It was the seventh day at sea, and it seemed there was still a long way to go.
Lei Meixiang and Lei Ling didn't mind the passage of time. They were in the early stages of their cultivation journey, and without any distractions, they could focus more on their meditation, which was great for them. However, Tang Yusheng and I needed a proper place to meditate and concentrate, and the sea was far from ideal. The sound of the waves crashing against the ship and the ship's movement made it difficult for us to find focus.
