"I have been practicing Taoist Cultivation Techniques since I was young, and although I got injured, I never stopped performing breathing exercises and Qi Cultivation every single day!"
Upon hearing this, everyone marveled at the miraculous nature of the Taoist Cultivation Techniques. Only Li Yaner harbored doubts in her heart,
"People say that it takes a hundred days to recover from damage to the muscles and bones. Shiyi was poisoned and fell from the top of a mountain. Not to mention the broken ribs, she had injuries all over her face and body. How odd is it that her external wounds aren't fully healed yet, but her bones already are? That's just too strange!"
However, this doubtful thought just flashed through her mind and she didn't linger on it much. Perhaps the Taoist Cultivation Techniques in this world are indeed profound?
Gu Shi Yi was crouching down and whispering when suddenly someone patted her on the shoulder from behind,
"Gu Shi Yi!"
Gu Shi Yi got a fright and turned around, only to see a face with a scraggly beard and a bright red bulbous nose. It was Liu Er. She cursed,
"Liu Er, are you a ghost or something? You walk without making a sound, trying to scare me to death!"
Liu Er laughed heartily, his face covered with a thick, untidy beard. When he smiled, except for his bright red nose, his eyes were barely visible,
"We are about to set sail. I saw you standing out here, so I came to tell you to go back to your cabin!"
Gu Shi Yi nodded and walked back slowly with Liu Er,
"Is everyone from our group on board?"
Liu Er nodded,
"Yes, they are on board. Three zhang away from shore, the Array will be activated and the ship will start to tremble. With your injuries, aren't you afraid of being shaken into the water? The water in the Five-Color River is not drinkable. Ordinary humans would die immediately upon drinking just a mouthful. Be careful!"
Gu Shi Yi nodded again,
"I have heard about this..."
The water of the Five-Color River was truly strange. Within this huge river, the red, orange, yellow, and green colors were distinct, with clear boundaries that never mixed. Even if disturbed by swimming fish or deliberately agitated by someone, within moments, it would revert to its original clear demarcation, which was quite magical. Some curious people had bucketed some out and found that away from the river, the water turned murky and lost its colors. Others, emboldened to taste it, suffered as if they had consumed poison, ranging from vomiting blood to instant death—it was extremely terrifying!
Liu Er escorted Gu Shi Yi back to her cabin. He was rough but very principled. He stood at the door, watching her enter, about to speak when he heard a commotion on the dock. Liu Er hastily dropped a line,
"Just stay put in the cabin. I'll go have a look!"
He then hurried away. Gu Shi Yi was curious and wanted to see what the fuss was about, but she was afraid that she wouldn't make it back to the cabin in time if the ship set sail. So she had to give up the idea.
She sat down in the cabin, poured herself some water to drink, when Old Lady Gu came in with a tray, smiling,
"You child are never settled. You start moving about as soon as your wounds get a little better. If I hadn't asked Liu Er to find you, you would probably still be wandering around outside!"
Gu Shi Yi giggled and reached for the tray,
"What delicious food has aunt brought me?"
Old Lady Gu smiled and brushed her hand away,
"Just sit tight!"
She set the tray on the table, opened a porcelain jar and said,
"This is Snake Fish from the Five-Color River, stewing it makes the best tonic. Drink it up quickly!"
"Eh... didn't you say the water here is not drinkable? Can you eat the fish from this river?"
Old Lady Gu laughed,
"The river's water is not for drinking, but the fish can definitely be eaten. Moreover, they are renowned delicacies. The Five-Color River has Silver Fish as small as a thumb and these half-zhang-long Snake Fish. It is said that Great Cultivation masters have even caught the Giant Kui Fish. The meat of this fish is rough and exceedingly fishy, but the roe, fish glue, and the white flesh are considered the finest delicacies in the world. Sadly, such large creatures can only be enjoyed by Great Cultivation masters, and we mere mortals can only hear of them!"
Gu Shi Yi, having traveled far and wide and seen many extraordinary things, had also tasted many fine foods, but this was her first occasion eating fish from the Five-Color River. So, she looked down and indeed saw a small segment of fish meat in the porcelain jar, slender like snake meat. Regrettably, since she couldn't see the whole fish, she had no idea what a Snake Fish looked like?
Old Lady Gu saw what she was pondering and said,
"Catching these Snake Fish requires using tender chicken meat as bait. Sixth Master had the men try it, and after half a day, they only caught one. They stewed it into a soup for the Sixth Master and several escorts to enjoy. Remembering your injury hasn't healed, Sixth Master had me bring a jar for you. If you want to see what the fish looks like, you'll have to wait until they catch another, and I'll call for you to take a look!"