Outside Guangling City,
On the magnificent Dacang River, a huge floating palace was anchored.
It had nine levels of buildings with twelve pavilions, all intricately carved and exuding an ancient charm.
Many passengers stood on the ship, gazing afar at Guangling City.
Some passengers disembarked and took advantage of this rare docking time to stroll along the shore, enjoy the scenery, and purchase snacks, creating a lively atmosphere.
When Su Yi arrived, Lord Fu Shan, Yuan Luo Xi, and Cheng Wu Yong were already waiting there.
To Su Yi's surprise, Huang Yunchong and Huang Qianjun were also present.
"Mr. Su."
Everyone approached and greeted him.
When these prominent figures paid their respects to Su Yi, a young man, it immediately attracted the attention of many onlookers, even those on the ship cast their gazes over.
"Where are your other attendants?" Su Yi glanced at Yuan Luo Xi.
"I had them all ride horses back to Yunhe County yesterday," Yuan Luo Xi replied.
Yuan Luo Xi was still dressed in military attire, standing tall and elegant, exuding a charming and radiant aura.
Su Yi nodded and then looked towards Huang Yunchong and his son, asking with a smile, "Why are you here too?"
Huang Yunchong hurriedly replied, "Mr. Su, it's quite a coincidence. I was planning to send my son, Qianjun, to the Qinghe Sword Sect for training in the next few days. Yesterday, I happened to hear from Lord Fu that you would be taking the ship to Yunhe County today. So I thought, could I let him accompany you? When I inquired today, there happened to be some vacant spots on the ship. That's why I hurriedly brought my son."
Su Yi smiled at once and didn't say anything.
Huang Qianjun looked a bit embarrassed. Who couldn't tell that his father, Huang Yunchong, was not being truthful about this "coincidence"?
However, seeing that Su Yi didn't object and that Fu Shan and Cheng Wu Yong smiled without revealing anything, they remained silent.
Only Yuan Luo Xi raised an eyebrow and asked in doubt, "Uncle Yong said yesterday that all the spots on the ship were already fully booked. We could only secure some accommodations through Lord Fu's connections. Could it be that the ship's owner deceived us?"
Huang Yunchong cleared his throat and said, "Miss Yuan, as the saying goes, money can make the devil push a millstone. With a generous sum, there will naturally be people willing to give up their spots."
Yuan Luo Xi suddenly realized and said, "So it was a matter of spending money. I can do that too."
"What do you mean by 'spending money'? You can do that too..."
Su Yi couldn't help but chuckle.
During their conversation, a gray-robed old man with bronze skin, a beard like a spear, and a resolute expression approached from not far away.
"Old Fu, we're about to leave. Are these the esteemed guests you mentioned?" the gray-robed old man asked.
He wore worn battle armor, carried a bow and sword on his waist, and although he was already old, he exuded a powerful aura, tinged with a hint of bloody slaughter.
As he spoke, his gaze swept over the people present, completely ignoring Su Yi, Huang Qianjun, and Yuan Luo Xi, the young ones.
Only when he saw Cheng Wu Yong did his gaze pause for a moment, and a trace of surprise appeared on his face.
"That's right," Fu Shan nodded and introduced with a smile, "This is Zhang Yiren, the commander of the Forbidden Guard in Linsong City. He served under the Martial Spirit Marquis for twenty years in the 'Green Armor Army,' ranking as a commander of ten thousand soldiers. His martial skills were honed on bloody battlefields, and his temperament is fierce and unrestrained."
Zhang Yiren waved his hand and said, "Old Fu, stop exaggerating. Nowadays, I'm just a poor deckhand, and I've entrusted this life to this ship."
Cheng Wu Yong, however, clasped his fist and said, "So it's a warrior under the Martial Spirit Marquis Chen Zheng. My apologies for the disrespect."
Marquis Chen Zheng, the Martial Spirit Marquis!
One of the top five non-hereditary marquises among the 18 routes of Da Zhou.
Chen Zheng led his Green Armor Army to station year-round on the side of the "Bloody Thistle Demon Mountain," slaying countless demons and gaining a formidable reputation that shook the world.
Zhang Yiren was somewhat surprised and asked, "You're also familiar with my lord?"
Cheng Wu Yong said, "I had the honor of witnessing Lord Chen Zheng's battle against the 'Jade Serpent Demon,' his demeanor was like that of a divine being. I deeply admire him as well."
A hint of joy appeared on Zhang Yiren's face as he said, "Once we're on the ship, I'll treat you to a drink, and we can have a good chat!"
He glanced at the sky and said, "The departure time has arrived. Everyone, please follow me aboard."
Originally, Fu Shan had intended to introduce everyone's identities, but seeing this, he could only abandon the idea.
"Old Fu, we're leaving," Zhang Yiren waved his hand and took large strides forward.
Su Yi and the others followed behind.
Soon, all the passengers boarded the ship.
Until the massive floating palace slowly disappeared into the distant Dacang River, Fu Shan, Nie Beihu, and Huang Yunchong withdrew their gazes.
"A true gentleman hides his talents, waiting for the right moment to act. Mr. Su, as he sets off for Yunhe County, I wonder how many storms and winds he will stir," Fu Shan sighed with emotion.
In a pavilion on the floating palace, a young man stood by the window, watching with interest as Su Yi and his group followed Zhang Yiren onto the ship.
He wore a pale purple robe, a feathered crown on his head, and a green jade belt around his waist. He had a tall and handsome figure, exuding an invisible air of nobility.
"Why don't we send someone to ask and find out the identity of that young man?" he asked, intrigued.
Beside him, a girl leaning against the window frame absentmindedly replied, "You'll know if you send someone to ask, won't you?"
She appeared to be around seventeen or eighteen years old, with her dark hair tied up in a ponytail. Her features were exquisite and beautiful, with porcelain-like smooth and delicate skin. Beneath her delicate eyebrows were a pair of sharp and bright eyes.
Her figure was extremely alluring, even in a loose and plain white robe that couldn't hide her ample bosom and slender waist. She wore minimal accessories, appearing very simple, except for a string of green jade bracelets on her wrist, which complemented her fair complexion.
"Teacher Qingjin, you're good at everything, except that you're too lazy. You don't care about anything, and that's not good," the young man in the purple robe and feathered crown shook his head and sighed lightly.
"The matters of this mundane world are far less enjoyable than slaying demons, and there's nothing worth caring about. Besides, my only responsibility for this mission is to protect your safety. I couldn't be bothered with anything else," the girl replied listlessly, as she turned and climbed onto a soft couch, stretching her alluring figure comfortably. Her sharp and bright eyes narrowed.
Like a lazy cat, she didn't have any airs or grace, but she exuded a wild and enticing beauty.
The young man in the purple robe and feathered crown couldn't help but stare blankly for a moment, his heart fluttering.
However, as soon as he thought of the ferocious appearance of his teacher when he lost his temper, he shivered involuntarily and averted his gaze.
"Teacher, you rest first. I'll go out for a walk," he said as he turned and walked out of the room.
"If you encounter danger, just shout," the girl muttered in a muffled voice, then fell into a deep sleep the next moment.
"Danger? This is the floating palace under the Martial Spirit Marquis. What danger could there be?" the young man in the purple robe and feathered crown chuckled indifferently, walked out of the room, and gently closed the door.
"Your Highness."
outside the room, a middle-aged man standing guard bowed, his demeanor as solemn as a mountain.
"We need to keep this operation confidential and not allow any suspicious individuals to infiltrate the ship. Zhang Duo, go and investigate the background of the group that boarded the ship with Zhang Yiren," the young man in the purple robe and feathered crown instructed. "Remember, be polite and don't reveal our identities."
Zhang Duo replied respectfully, "Yes, sir!"
As the young man in the purple robe and feathered crown walked away, Zhang Duo couldn't help but ask, "Your Highness, where are you going?"
"Hush," the young man placed a finger to his lips.
Looking around cautiously at the closed door behind him, he lowered his voice and said, "I'm going to play chess with Miss Chajin. If I can listen to her play a tune, that would be even better."
Zhang Duo expressed concern, "Your Highness, to prevent any accidents, it would be better to have Lord Qingjin accompany you. This way, I can also be at ease..."
However, the young man in the purple robe and feathered crown ignored him and continued walking away.
Zhang Duo could only smile wryly. This prince was good in every aspect except for his playboy tendencies...
Shaking his head, Zhang Duo turned and hurriedly left, deciding to find Zhang Yiren and have a chat, gathering information about the people who had just boarded the ship.
In the room, Qingjin, who was sleeping soundly, suddenly sneered. Ah, men are indeed not to be trusted!
...
The Wen Family.
In the Huaming Hall, Lady Wen placed the letter she had just finished writing in front of her.
The letter was intended for Wen Lingzhao.
The content was simple, conveying the message that if Wen Lingzhao ever encountered Su Yi, he should treat him as a stranger.
The key point was not to rush to dissolve the marriage because, according to her estimation, the more excited Su Yi became, the closer he would be to his death.
Once Su Yi died, the marriage could easily be dissolved.
Lady Wen carefully read the letter several times, making sure that the message conveyed was accurate, and then put it into an envelope.
At that moment, a servant reported from outside, "Madam, Young Master Su Yi has just left on the floating palace."
Lady Wen was taken aback, remained silent for a moment, and sighed softly in her heart, "Third Young Master, if you had stayed in the Wen Family and lived as a mere useless son-in-law, perhaps you could have lived a long life. But you insisted on causing trouble, which is nothing but self-destruction..."
She understood too well the terrifying power of the Su family in Yujing City. Such overwhelming influence was enough to make even the martial arts masters in the world tremble!
...
In the 399th year of the Da Zhou calendar, on the sixth day of the second month, Su Yi departed from the city of Guangling on a luxury boat.
That same evening, above the Guimu Ridge, the night was as dark as ink. A magnificent divine crane with wings as sharp as knives cut through the dense clouds and gracefully descended outside the peach forest of Guimu Ridge.
A figure leaped off the back of the divine crane. He wore a light apricot-colored Daoist robe and possessed handsome features like a young gentleman.
Gently rubbing the crane's head, the young Taoist whispered, "Stay here, my crane friend. I'll be back shortly."
With light and agile steps, he walked towards the peach forest.
Along the way, the dazzling peach blossom miasma receded like a tide, clearing a path for the young Taoist to tread.
Soon, the radiant Pure Yang Fire Peach Tree appeared within his sight.
The young Taoist swept his gaze around and respectfully said, "Where is Tao Qingshan? I am Ge Qian, entrusted by my master, the Sea-Swallowing King Ge Changling, to come here and harvest the Fire Peaches."