It seemed that the old fisherman's boldness had inspired the younger villagers, as several of them also came out holding makeshift weapons. However, these villagers were all just ordinary people, and there were only about seven or eight of them. Their numbers were even fewer than the supposed "invaders."
What made it even more amusing was that these young men had clearly never seen such stunning women before. Their eyes were fixed on the girls, completely mesmerized.
The most beautiful girl in their village, who had recently gotten married, had soft, delicate skin and was considered a local beauty. But when compared to the women standing in front of them, the village beauty paled in comparison. These women's skin was as smooth as jade, their legs were slender and graceful, and their waists were slim. Their faces were flawless.
Although there are beautiful women among ordinary people, true drop-dead beauties are rare. However, among magic users, physical appearances often have enhancements. Skin stays soft and smooth, and even as they age, magic users retain a youthful glow. In contrast, ordinary people experience their most attractive years for only about a decade, at most.
Naturally, the village beauty couldn't compare to the women in this group.
"Sir, I think there's been a misunderstanding. This is our first time here, and we're just looking for some directions," said Ai Jiangtu.
"Don't pretend to be innocent! You people come here, build a few concrete houses like those relocation shelters, and try to convince our villagers to move there, claiming it's for their own good. But you're just after our land!" the old fisherman spat back angrily.
The group's attire was naturally quite stylish, and even Mo Fan paid attention to his appearance. In this world, appearance and power often go hand in hand. If you were powerful but dressed like a pauper, it would be quite laughable. Because of their clean and polished appearance, the old fisherman thought they were a group of unscrupulous businesspeople.
It really was hard to explain.
Mo Fan glanced at Zhao Manyan and chuckled, "Old Zhao, with you here, it's no wonder we're being mistaken."
"Shut up! My family doesn't do real estate!" Zhao Manyan retorted, though he couldn't deny that the accusation wasn't entirely baseless. After all, making money with a clear conscience wasn't really the Zhao family's way.
The nearby Nan Jue rolled her eyes at the two men. They still had the time to joke around? She stepped forward and explained, "We're just a group of adventurers traveling along the coastline to the north. We only came here to ask for directions to a bigger port."
"What's that?" the old fisherman asked, confused.
"Uncle, it's a group of people who love adventure, exploring remote and deserted places. People from the cities are into this kind of thing nowadays because they think it's exciting," explained a skinny young man from the village.
"Oh, so you're not real estate developers?" the old fisherman asked again.
"Of course not! Do we look like a bunch of roughneck builders?" smiled Jiang Shaoxu, her beauty mark only adding to her charm as she flirtatiously winked at the young men.
Jiang Shaoxu was a true little seductress. She loved to tease men, not because she was promiscuous, but simply because she enjoyed watching their reactions. She was the type to flirt without taking responsibility—truly a heartbreaker.
The young men from the village, having never encountered such a captivating woman, were left speechless, wide-eyed, and slack-jawed, completely enchanted. Jiang Shaoxu's playful laughter only heightened their sense of awe.
The old fisherman, however, wasn't swayed by her charms. Perhaps it was because he no longer had the energy for such things. Awkwardly, he said, "I'm sorry about that. If you're looking for a big port, just follow the coast along the rocky shore for about ten miles. After crossing a large bay, you'll see Feiniaoshi Port."
"Thanks. Let's hurry before night falls," said Nan Jue.
With directions in hand, the group had no reason to linger in the village. They all nodded in agreement and set off along the path pointed out by the fisherman.
As they left, the young men from the village couldn't tear their eyes away from the women, clearly infatuated. When the group finally disappeared from sight, one of the young men remembered something and quickly ran back to tell the village elder. He then rushed to catch up with the travelers.
When the skinny young man, Liu Meng, caught up with them, he warned them about the danger of sea monsters in the area. Jiang Shaoxu invited him to guide them, and with his help, the group finally arrived at Feiniaoshi Port.
Ports are rarely built directly on the coastline since the shallow waters of the continental shelf make it dangerous. Feiniaoshi Port was clearly an important trade hub, with large cargo ships sailing through. The wide river flowing into the sea connected the port to the vast ocean, and as they looked further inland, the river stretched far into the heart of the land.
Zhao Manyan surveyed the port and commented, "This place is pretty well-developed. Given the size of this port, the city should be close to a major urban center, but it feels kind of cramped."
This port was ideal, providing access to both inland rivers and the ocean. It could accommodate ships of all sizes. By all accounts, the surrounding region should be prosperous. But after traveling through nearby villages and towns and now arriving at Feiniaoshi, it was clear that this area was far from wealthy.
Even if the local government was incompetent, this place had too much potential to be so poor.
After hearing Zhao Manyan's analysis, Zu Jiming, a large man in the group, snickered, "Hmph, spoken like a true son of the Zhao financial empire. Always thinking in millions."
Despite his large size, Zu Jiming was quite the sour character, often acting more like a petty gossiping woman than a brawny man.
"These are business opportunities, you know?" Zhao Manyan sneered, clearly looking down on him.
"Enough chatter. Let's head to the port and ask if there are any ships going to Sakura," said Ai Jiangtu, cutting off their conversation and taking the lead.
"Even if we find a ship, they'll still ask for identification," Zu Jiming pointed out.
"Ugh, having you in the team really lowers the average IQ of the national squad," Mo Fan scoffed.
Zhao Manyan gave Mo Fan an approving nod. He wasn't a fan of Zu Jiming either, but since the guy bought his way into the team, insulting him openly wouldn't end well. But with Mo Fan doing the trash-talking, Zhao Manyan could relax and enjoy the show.
"What did you just say!?" Zu Jiming glared angrily at Mo Fan.
"Do you think you're the only one aware that we don't have ID? Does that mean we should just give up because of some minor obstacles? You're a mage too, right? Just stay out of the way if you're so useless!" Mo Fan retorted sharply before turning to Ai Jiangtu, saying, "In a city this big, there must be some problems that ordinary people can't solve. We can help them in exchange for a way out to sea."
Ai Jiangtu nodded in agreement. That seemed like a solid plan.
At that moment, Zhao Manyan added, "Follow me. I think I know where we can find someone who needs our help."
Although Zu Jiming was still fuming, he could only grit his teeth and glare at Mo Fan as they continued onward.
(End of Chapter)