No one was even considering complaining. During the past months they were used to practicing all day long and, since they were not home yet, it was normal to continue. Another thing that felt normal, was for them to be around each other and it was the reason why everyone instinctively gathered around Nick and YunYun in the galley, even though they had the best cabins on the ship at their disposal.
This was a cargo ship and wasn't built to accommodate large number of passengers, but none of the people on the board cared and many happily found their own spots in cargo holds during the night while chatted with others on the deck during the days. The tropical climate was pleasant, at least for now and they knew, or even hoped, that pretty soon they will experience the chill of Aurora's winter.
Three days after they left the Paradise city, Conny and Steven found Nick to look for advice in the Qi practice.
"Some time ago Conny said there is a practice method for married couples." Steven awkwardly said while both of them were blushed all over in a beet red color.
"It was while we were in the tower, remember?" Conny added in a weak voice. They didn't know what the technique was, but knowing how unique and effective Nick's ideas were, it might turn out to be some precious method. Now that they had a lot of free time and their own cabin as well, they braved to ask for it.
"Oh? You guys really have to try it! It's great!" Nick didn't even manage to utter a word when YunYun jumped in.
"You … you tried it already? But … you are not married yet!" Conny blushed even more. This was really embarrassing.
"Sigh, it's not like that." Nick sometimes felt helpless around YunYun, "It's nothing perverted or shameful. We accidentally practiced it during the escape in the river while trying to resist the cold water. We will show you later in the evening after we finish cooking the dinner, alright?"
In the evening the four of them gathered in Conny's and Steven's cabin. Nick explained the theory behind the technique and it wasn't really anything that difficult – they only had to circulate Qi between them and that was it. To avoid more awkwardness Nick decided to tell the intimate part of this technique to Steven later, when no one else was around.
The practical demonstration was also nothing they had to hide, therefore Nick and YunYun sat dawn cross-legged, facing each other, and joined their hands. Last time they somehow circulated Qi almost with their whole bodies, but none of them really remembered what or how it happened.
After a short discussion they decided that now a simple hand contact should suffice and, after closing their eyes, started to send Qi through their right hands to their partner's respective left while letting it take full route through the pathways in their own bodies. Thus a cycle was formed and Qi freely flowed through and between them.
Steven and Conny looked from the side and didn't notice anything special – their two friends were just sitting with closed eyes and meditating together, holding each other's hands. But the principle was clear and they wanted to express their gratitude and try themselves, when they felt a sudden ripple coming from the two and after that there was even some kind of gravitational force gently pulling them towards the pair. Steven looked around in confusion, but realized the gravitation force was only a feeling and all objects in the cabin stayed where they were. He tried to quietly call out to them, but the two seemed to be in a kind of trance and didn't hear him at all.
Thus Steven and Conny patiently waited for half an hour, but with time became increasingly nervous. Nick himself said that he wasn't fully clear how the technique worked and it was scary to imagine what would happen if they somehow damaged their Qi system or even their consciousness.
When he couldn't take it any longer, Steven left Conny to watch over the two and ran over to Clayton to look for advice since he was the only Qi master on board.
When Clayton saw the two meditating, the only thing he could do was to scratch his head and guess, that the weird gravitational force they felt were some Qi fluctuations and shouldn't be anything bad. He didn't try to touch or loudly call them and asked Steven and Conny to patiently wait around to keep the others from disturbing the pair because this could be, in fact, a good thing for their friends.
Steven took this seriously and really stood on the guard duty, while Conny grumbled a little while looking forward to the moment 'those two show-offs' would wake up so she and her beloved could experience this state as well. Unfortunately she fell asleep before it happened and, when finally Nick and YunYun opened their eyes at dawn, they were greeted by Steven's grinning face.
The two of them were confused at the beginning, trying to understand where and why the were, just to slowly remember what transpired.
"That was amazing!" YunYun exclaimed and couldn't resist to hug Nick. It was a simple hug, nothing more, but felt so warm and pleasant. Nick, while still in daze, was startled by her actions and clumsily patted her back.
"Sorry." He said to Steven, seeing the sleeping Conny nearby.
"Are you alright?" While being amused, Steven was still worried.
"That state is just too … I'm not even certain how to explain, but it's definitely something good. Although I want to consult some experienced Qi masters before attempting it again." Nick tried to describe, but no words really felt appropriate. The comfort, intimacy and happiness – it wasn't something the usual Qi practice brought. Still, after coming to his senses Nick felt as if his body was overflowing with Qi, almost like he was bloated.
"It's simply amazing!" YunYun repeated after finally letting Nick go. She was still blushed because of her earlier actions, "You guys have to try it out! And the benefits for Qi cultivation are great as well! Quickly, wake her up and try!"
"Sigh, YunYun, let Conny have some rest. They can try later and see for themselves."Nick did his best to calm her down.
"Hmpf, they are only missing out on something good." YunYun tried to pout, but she felt so good that only smile bloomed on her face.
"Are you sure it's safe?" Despite hearing their descriptions, Steven was not convinced they should try it.
"Definitely." Both YunYun and Nick said at the same time and got startled by it. Then looked at each other and awkwardly laughed.
"You will help Conny a lot. I think, in your case, it won't be this intense, her Qi levels are much lower than YunYun's." Nick explained.
Later in the afternoon the married couple under YunYun's and Nick's supervision carefully tested this technique out themselves. At first they didn't notice anything, but after twenty minutes Conny felt some warmth flowing in and her eyes lit up. Of course, she didn't expect the same effects like the two training maniacs had, but the result gave her hope and it was really pleasant experience as well.
"I feel it! I feel warmth flowing in!" She excitedly whispered.
"Great! Now, imagine those are Steven's feelings towards you and rotate them through you like you practice Qi with your Qi technique and send them back." YunYun expertly instructed, but the other three blushed and Nick pulled her out of the cabin and shut the door behind them before she could spout more 'nonsense'.
"Alright." He said to the confused YunYun, "Let them practice. Meanwhile let's go out on the deck – I have a new training idea."
They sailed towards the north for fifteen days and sometimes Clayton even changed the course north-east, away from the Mainland continent. He didn't want to meet any pirates or Sand kingdom's forces even if it prolonged their trip and didn't take the direct route home. Only when there were no more risks, he switched course towards north-west, but still mostly maintaining the north direction. They didn't know the current political situation and the waters closer to the southern cities like Ravi could also have a risk of pirates attacking.
People on board didn't care too much since everyone got their two daily meals and for the rest of the day had a light buzz from the cheap alcohol they drank instead of water.
After testing out Nick's dual technique once, Steven and Conny almost never left their cabin, but the others didn't mind since the young couple had to have their time and the run for over half a year in the stressful atmosphere was holding them back. Ali and sisters also noticed their absence, but tens of people on ship were pampering them all day long and thus they didn't have time to care.
Nick and YunYun practiced without breaks and it didn't matter if it was cooking or weird ways of scaling masts, they never stopped. After dozen days the previous captives were used to that as well and didn't even notice.
Clayton's navigating skills were great and it was no wonder his brother asked him to lead the "Queen Elizabeth" on its first voyage. Even though this ship didn't have any naval maps of the current region, using his memory and the wast experience Clayton finally caught the warm southern streams and their speed increased.
Thirty nine days after leaving the Paradise city they finally saw the Aurora bay, the many ships anchored there, as well as the city everyone was longing for. It was almost ten days longer a normal voyage would take, but considering Clayton took a long roundabout route and had a crew which consisted of random people, it was an amazing feat.