Stranger Danger

"What do you think they're doing right now?"

Nanjiang, Flying Flower Fortress. Ye Qing and Feng Qingyou were currently sitting on top of a cliff and admiring the distant sunset fading slowly into the clear, blue sea. They were also watching the working fishermen and playing children on the beach. They looked relaxed and at ease.

Flying Flower Fortress was the southernmost Nanjiang fishing village that bordered the Southern Sea. The people here were mostly fishermen. Ye Qing and Feng Qingyou had arrived just a teatime ago.

After arriving at the Tai Kang City of Wei using the Yin Horse Carriage, the duo had used the teleportation array they had prepared beforehand to teleport all the way to Nanjiang. Then, they used various Magia and secret arts to pass through the One Hundred Thousand Mountains of Nanjiang and arrive at Flying Flower Fortress.

Of course, they weren't planning to stay. They were just going to catch a small break before they departed for the sea.

"Hunting for us and your friends all over the world, of course. What else could they do?"

The wind rustled Feng Qingyou's black hair and lifted it into the air from time to time. From a distance, it looked like the finest piece of brocade.

Ye Qing said disdainfully, "Yeah, that's more or less the kind of tactic I expect from their ilk."

Emperor Jing Run had used this tactic against him earlier. Now that they couldn't find him or Feng Qingyou, it only made sense for Emperor Jing Run and the three sect heads to employ the same tactic again.

That was why he had prepared countermeasures long before they even executed their operation. Fang Xiaoman and the rest of his former colleagues were staying in Canglang City and enjoying Lady Canglang's protection, so he did not need to worry about them.

Yi Pin and Li Longxiang had left Bei You a long time ago. Not even he knew where they ran away to.

Originally, he wanted to bring Yi Pin and Li Longxiang to Canglang City as well. However, Yi Pin turned him down saying that this was a good opportunity to give Li Longxiang morejianghuexperience. So, that was that.

Yi Pin might be lacking in the fighting department, but Ye Qing was fairly confident in his ability to run and hide from others. After all, he dared to turn down a surefire way to protect himself and Li Longxiang after all. This must mean that he knew a way to avoid the three sect heads and Emperor Jing Run for sure. So, he did not need to worry about their safety[1].

Besides Yi Pin and Li Longxiang, he needed to worry about his Heavenly Demon Dependents as well—except he didn't need to. Their connection to Ye Qing was pretty well-hidden, and he strongly doubted that the three sect heads or Emperor Jing Run could find out about it. Even if they did, it wouldn't matter. They wouldn't find anything.

Finally, there were acquaintances that he met like once or twice at most. Obviously, he did not give a shit if the three sect heads and Emperor Jing Run captured them or not.

Long story short, the three sect heads and Emperor Jing Run would be sorely disappointed if this was indeed their plan to capture him.

"The three sect heads and Emperor Jing Run should have joined forces at this point."

Ye Qing picked up a stone and tossed it into the sea, causing a splash.

"There are no eternal enemies, only eternal profit. Such is the case since ancient times."

Feng Qingyou remarked carelessly before smiling. "Besides, they are jackals of the same tribe[2]."

"Do the jackals know that you are slandering them?" Ye Qing smirked. "This is the biggest slander a jackal has ever heard, I bet!"

"I think you should say this to their faces." Feng Qingyou shot Ye Qing a playful look. "I would love to watch their expressions when you do so."

"Forget it. I have no plans of dying just yet."

Ye Qing rubbed his nose. Those three would rip him into a million pieces if he actually did as Feng Qingyou said.

"It's almost time. Let's go."

Feng Qingyou climbed to her feet and leaped down the cliff. Ye Qing followed right behind her.

Right before they would hit the sea, Feng Qingyou casually tossed out a boat that was about the size of her palm. It quickly swelled in size and transformed into a big boat about thirty meters long and eight to nine meters wide.

The boat was ornately painted and carved. It had houses, buildings, pavilions, and even a garden. The boat was also flanked by white clouds. It looked a little similar to the luxurious boats that sailed the rivers and hosted guests with songs and dances every night, but it was less mundane, vulgar, and boorish and more elegant, refined, and magical.

The boat had no mast or sails. Logically speaking, it could only travel slowly on slow, calm rivers. And yet, Feng Qingyou's boat was cutting through the sea waves like lightning. Not only that, it did not shake or tilt at all. The white clouds It was thanks to the clouds flattening even the tallest waves and quelling the strongest gales before they could reach the boat.

From a distance, it did not look like the boat was sailing on the sea. It looked like it was sailing on a sea of clouds.

The boat was, naturally, no ordinary boat. It was a Disaster-class Strange Artifact called the Cloud Boat.

Legend had it that the Cloud Boat was forged by a master artificer called Dextrous Fairy over a hundred years ago. Forged from the essence of clouds, the Cloud Boat was light as a feather despite its humongous size. It could float in the sky or the sea like a literal cloud while weighing less than a feather. It could move as swiftly as lightning in any direction without needing to rely on the wind. It was quite the impressive boat.

Not only that, the clouds surrounding the Cloud Boat could conceal the boat or defend it from danger as well.

The Cloud Boat boasted zero offensive capabilities, but it was still an extremely potent and useful strange Artifact.

As soon as the duo landed on the Cloud Boat, the clouds slowly covered up the entire boat. Then, it took off like an arrow and cut through the sea with supernatural ease.

The sun quickly sank into the sea. The dying rays of orange and yellow in the horizon also disappeared completely.

The world above the sea surface was not pitch black, however. It was because a beautiful crescent and a sea of stars were hanging high up in the sky. They cast countless rays of silvery light onto the sea surface and coated it in a layer of glittering silver paint. It looked absolutely gorgeous.

Ye Qing and Feng Qingyou were the only two humans on the sea, but it wasn't lonely at all.

The sea at night wasn't just mysterious. It was also very lively.

In the sky, all sorts of birds were circling the air. From time to time, the would dive into the sea like arrows and kick up many a splash.

In the sea, all sorts of strange, colorful, and bright aquatic creatures were swimming here and there and generally enjoying a good time.

At the bottom of the sea, large shadows were floating closer to the sea surface or sinking further below. They all gave off a terrifying aura.

On the boat, there was a red clay furnace that was cooking a pot of Burning Fire. As the fire burned, the boiling wine ejected steam and fragrance into the air.

Burning Fire was a famous wine in Nanjiang. It was cold and bitter to drink cold, but rich and sweet if heated on a fire. Its aftertaste was endlessly sublime as well.

However, Burning Flame could not be slow-cooked using a weak flame. It must be boiled using a strong flame. The longer it was boiled, and the higher its temperature, the tastier it would become.

That was why Burning Flame was described like this: "Burning Flame boils three times, and even a god may sway on their feet."

While waiting for the wine to be ready, Ye Qing and Feng Qingyou sat beside the furnace with a fishing rod in their hands. They were fishing.

Suddenly, Ye Qing's fishing line shook ever so slightly. It was such a weak tug that one could easily mistake it for an effect of the wind, but Ye Qing did not hesitate to pull his rod.

The fishing rod abruptly bent like the crescent above their heads, and a large creature burst out of the sea water. Ye Qing casually flicked his fishing rod, and the creature landed squarely on the deck.

1. Apparently that sword kid who is Li Longxiang's friend is just gone. Or maybe he is accompanying Yi Pin and Li Longxiang, IDK. When the word 等 is used it is completely up to the author whether he means "These specific names only" or "These specific names plus other people I didn't mention." ☜

2. They are all just as bad as each other. ☜