The cabin on the boat wasn’t small, more than enough to accommodate two people.
During her time at Bailu Academy, Ji Yutang had learned to coexist peacefully with her “fiancée,” maintaining a relationship that was “as respectful as ice.”
The sea was turbulent, and the deeper they went into the ocean, the more unsettled it became.
Ji Yutang sat in the cabin, cultivating quietly, using the Primordial Qi of heaven and earth to forge dragon scale armor.
Meanwhile, Li Jingyu often left the cabin to interact with fellow sea travelers.
One day, she leisurely entered the cabin with a feather fan gifted by a fellow Daoist.
Ji Yutang couldn’t suppress her restlessness and glanced at Li Jingyu.
Li Jingyu noticed Ji Yutang’s gaze and smiled warmly, “What’s wrong?
Is there a problem with your cultivation?
There are many Daoist friends on the boat.
Going out to discuss the Dao with them might be beneficial.”
Ji Yutang quickly averted her gaze from Li Jingyu’s smiling face and replied calmly, “My body’s condition is different from others.”
Li Jingyu laughed, “But the Dao ultimately converges into one.
No matter the method, all paths lead to the same destination.
Besides, the Daode Heavenly Book you contemplate belongs to the Tai Shang lineage.
Interacting with others will surely yield some insights.”
Ji Yutang pressed her lips together, remaining silent.
Recently, while practicing the Dragon Transformation Sutra, she sensed the connection between this scripture and the heavens and earth.
However, seeking the Dao is about transcendence, not erasing self-awareness and merging with the universe.
To shed these burdens, she would eventually have to turn to the Qi path.
But most Qi path techniques require cultivating magical power, and the only scripture she found compatible with herself was the Daode Heavenly Book.
During her cultivation, she also contemplated the heavenly book suspended above the divine dragon, and indeed, the burdens were invisibly removed.
Perhaps she should do as her “fiancée” suggested and go out to discuss the Dao?
Just as this thought crossed Ji Yutang’s mind, a clear, somewhat familiar voice reached her ears.
“Junior Sister Ran, you left something behind.”
Li Jingyu turned gracefully, and as the cabin door hadn’t closed yet, she reached out to take the book, and the speaker’s face came into Ji Yutang’s view.
The young Daoist wore a blue and white robe, a lotus crown on his head, with a refined and handsome appearance, red lips, white teeth, and eyes like ink.
This was Qin Ruoshui, the direct disciple of the Taiyuan Dao Palace!
The one who took Ran Guzhu away in the past!
Ji Yutang’s pupils contracted sharply, and her breath momentarily halted.
The other party seemed unaware of her, turning away after delivering the item.
However, Ji Yutang’s mind was not at peace due to Qin Ruoshui’s departure; instead, it was in turmoil.
He was here too, so why hadn’t he appeared before?
Why didn’t her “fiancée” go to Qin Ruoshui and instead insisted on staying by her side?
Did they have some scheme, waiting for her to let her guard down before stabbing her in the back?
Ji Yutang’s mind was in chaos, a shadow of gloom appearing in her eyes.
Her feelings towards her “fiancée” had always been conflicted, as the person before her was completely different from the image in her memory.
But Qin Ruoshui’s appearance sounded an alarm in her mind—she was almost caught in a trap without realizing it.
“Daoist Friend Ji?
Ji Yutang?”
Li Jingyu’s gentle voice reached her ears.
Ji Yutang snapped back to reality, her hand clenched into a fist within her sleeve, a flash of annoyance quickly replaced by calmness in her eyes.
She slightly raised her head, meeting the false concern in Li Jingyu’s eyes, and smiled slightly, “Daoist Friend Li is right.”
Li Jingyu looked at Ji Yutang in confusion, feeling that she seemed different from before.
When Ji Yutang took the initiative to discuss her insights on the Daode Heavenly Book, that feeling grew stronger.
Unable to pinpoint the reason, she eventually dismissed it, thinking Ji Yutang had come to terms with something, and soon put the confusion behind her.
Outside the cabin.
Qin Ruoshui had actually seen Ji Yutang and recognized her, but due to their relationship, he didn’t greet her.
However, he was puzzled.
Wasn’t Junior Sister Ran the one who disliked the eldest daughter of the Ji Family the most?
How did they end up together, chatting and laughing?
Did they go to sea together?
Since boarding the sea vessel, Qin Ruoshui had been in seclusion in the cabin, not caring about the outside world.
He even heard about a fierce flood dragon colliding with the ship from a fellow junior sister, so he naturally wasn’t aware of Li Jingyu’s matters.
“Senior Brother?”
A clear voice called out, and Qin Ruoshui turned to see his junior sister, Zhao Hechen.
He concealed the confusion in his expression and smiled warmly, “Junior Sister, what brings you here?”
Isn’t it because I’m worried you’ll stay in the neighboring cabin?
Zhao Hechen thought to herself.
Her senior brother only knew how to cultivate, with no sense of propriety.
Back then, taking Ran Guzhu out caused a lot of trouble, and it was the elders who eventually resolved it, though her senior brother was also punished.
Zhao Hechen hadn’t met Ran Guzhu many times, but in her mind, she labeled her as “trouble.”
“Did you return the item?”
Zhao Hechen asked.
Qin Ruoshui nodded, “I returned it.”
Zhao Hechen nodded slightly and added, “Junior Sister Ran practices the Beidou method.
I didn’t expect her to have such a deep understanding of other Daoist methods.”
Qin Ruoshui smiled, “After all, she’s the daughter of that uncle.”
At this point, his expression stiffened again.
That uncle had become a taboo in the Three Palaces after falling into demonic ways.
After exchanging a glance with Zhao Hechen, he changed the subject, “Junior Sister Ran went to sea with the Ji Family’s eldest daughter.”
Zhao Hechen raised an eyebrow in surprise.
She had heard Ran Guzhu speak ill of Ji Yutang, calling her a waste.
A Scattered Spirit Body couldn’t attain the Dao, and a natural Dao heart was wasted.
Actually, Junior Sister Ran had a point; the difference between immortals and mortals was vast.
How could a few decades of human life compare to what they sought?
“Maybe she’s following her parents’ orders,” Zhao Hechen replied, though she didn’t quite believe it herself.
If Ran Guzhu were truly obedient, how could she have done such things?
After thinking for a while, Zhao Hechen added, “By the way, did you ask Junior Sister Ran about her purpose?”
Qin Ruoshui replied indifferently, “What purpose could there be in traveling around?”
Zhao Hechen: “…”
After a moment, she said, “Who travels to the North Sea just for fun?
And with a mortal who can’t cultivate?
The North Sea is in turmoil now, likely due to Demon Sect cultivators stirring up trouble.
If they’re just out for a trip, we might have to persuade them to return.”
Qin Ruoshui shook his head, “Junior Sister Ran has already established her foundation.”
Zhao Hechen’s eyelid twitched in surprise, “So soon?
How long has she been in the Taiyuan Dao Palace?”
Qin Ruoshui smiled, “She must have been cultivating at home too.
After all, Senior Ran was once one of the Spring and Autumn Heaven Palace’s chosen successors.”
