novelraw Chapter 268 - 136: Tianhai City [Second Update]
Chapter 268 - 136: Tianhai City [Second Update]
"Senior Brother, is it a bit dangerous for just you and Fourth Senior Brother to head to the Extreme North Snowfield?" Gu Qingqing asked worriedly as she looked at Si Lin."Don’t you know my cultivation level? Don’t worry. Besides, with Mu Chen around, unless it’s a situation like Yue Zhao’s poisoning, is there any illness Mu Chen can’t cure?" Si Lin comforted Gu Qingqing.
"Senior Brother is right. With me here, I definitely won’t let Senior Brother get into trouble." Mu Chen nodded in agreement with Si Lin’s plan.
"Alright, but no matter what, you both need to prioritize your safety." Gu Qingqing thought it over. If they were going to the Extreme North Snowfield, unless they encountered a large group of people, with Si Lin’s cultivation and Mu Chen’s medical skills, there shouldn’t be any problems. Yet, she still reminded them.
"Don’t worry, we’ll take good care of ourselves." Si Lin gently patted Gu Qingqing’s head, speaking softly, "You take care of yourself too, don’t make us worry."
"I will, Senior Brother, don’t worry." Gu Qingqing nodded firmly and promised.
With Gu Qingqing’s assurance, Si Lin felt a bit more at ease.
"Geng Geng just got back, take a rest first. Tomorrow morning, we’ll set off to find medicine for Yue Zhao." Si Lin said to the others.
"Alright!" The others responded in unison.
Jun Wu returned to Lingxi Sacred Land with Gu Qingqing. Gu Qingqing went to Yue Zhao’s room, while Jun Wu went to Gu Qingqing’s courtyard.
Since it was decided to go to the Heavenly Illusion Sea to find the Mermaid Tears for Yue Zhao, after returning to her courtyard, Gu Qingqing told Jun Wu about this matter.
"The Heavenly Illusion Sea is very dangerous, you shouldn’t come with us." She said to Jun Wu.
"Have you forgotten? I said, wherever you go, I go. If you’re going to the Heavenly Illusion Sea, I’ll accompany you. Don’t think you can get rid of me!" Jun Wu said seriously, looking at Gu Qingqing.
"But the Heavenly Illusion Sea is too dangerous, we can’t guarantee we won’t get hurt. You are the Saint Heir of Yunlan Sacred Land, with your own responsibilities, you can’t be reckless." Gu Qingqing tried to persuade Jun Wu.
"You don’t need to worry about the matters of Yunlan Sacred Land; I’ll arrange everything. In short, I’ll accompany you to the Heavenly Illusion Sea." Jun Wu shook his head, firmly telling Gu Qingqing.
Gu Qingqing looked up and saw Jun Wu’s resolute expression. Clearly, he had made his decision, and she could only concede.
"Alright, then come with me." As she said this, a smile couldn’t help but appear at the corner of her mouth.
Though rationally she didn’t want Jun Wu to join her in the adventure, emotionally, she was very happy and touched that Jun Wu would accompany her despite the dangers.
Seeing her smile, Jun Wu also couldn’t help but slightly lift the corners of his mouth, then pulled her into his embrace.
"In this life, unless I die, no one can separate us!" Jun Wu whispered tenderly in Gu Qingqing’s ear.
Upon hearing this, a silent smile appeared at the corner of Gu Qingqing’s lips, and she hugged Jun Wu tighter.
Feeling Gu Qingqing’s response, the affection in Jun Wu’s eyes deepened.
...
Early the next morning, Si Lin and the others were already at the entrance of Lingxi Sacred Land, and Wen Guiyun was there to see them off.
"This journey is fraught with dangers, and the outcome is uncertain. I have only one thing to say to you: protect yourselves! I don’t want to see another Yue Zhao incident." Wen Guiyun said in a low voice, his gaze sweeping over Si Lin and the others.
Hearing this, the expressions on Si Lin and the others’ faces became serious, fully understanding Wen Guiyun’s message.
"Master, rest assured, we will take care of ourselves. Whether or not we find the herbs, we will return safely!" Si Lin, as the Senior Brother, spoke first.
"Senior Brother is right, we will definitely return safely," Nan Hua said immediately afterward, looking more reliable than usual.
Although Mu Chen, Gu Qingqing, and Rong Ye didn’t speak, their intentions were the same.
"Good, I will remember your words, and I hope you fulfill your promise. Now, set off!" Wen Guiyun waved his hand, signaling for Si Lin and the others to leave.
"Master, take care!" Si Lin knelt down, saluting Wen Guiyun with a grand gesture.
"Master, please take care!" Nan Hua and the others followed Si Lin, also kneeling and bowing to Wen Guiyun.
"I know what to do. You all go now." Wen Guiyun turned his head, waved his hand, and stopped looking at Si Lin and the others.
"Geng Geng, Nan Hua, Rong Ye, you three be careful as well. I’ll be waiting for your good news," Si Lin turned around, looked at Gu Qingqing, and the others said.
"You too, senior brother. Be careful on the way." Gu Qingqing walked over, hugged Si Lin, and instructed.
The group looked at each other, swallowed their reluctance, and then turned to leave.
The Extreme North Snowfield is located at the northernmost part of the Sub-immortal Realm, while the Heavenly Illusion Sea is in the east. Gu Qingqing and the others were not on the same path as Si Lin’s group, and they split up to take action separately.
The Sub-immortal Realm is much larger than the Xuantian Continent. From Lingxi Sacred Land to the Extreme North Snowfield, even using the fastest flying artifact, it takes fifteen days, and it takes twenty days from Lingxi Sacred Land to the Heavenly Illusion Sea.
In order to save time, Gu Qingqing and the others traveled under starlight day and night. Even so, it took them more than twenty days to reach Tianhai City, the city closest to the Heavenly Illusion Sea.
Heavenly Illusion Sea, as one of the five major dangerous places of the Sub-immortal Realm, is also rich in resources. Inside, there are many sea-specific demon beasts, and the inner cores of these beasts, along with their fur, blood, and such, are very useful for alchemy or creating talisman.
In addition, there are also many spirit flowers and herbs inside, necessary for alchemy, so although it is a dangerous place, many people still come to the Heavenly Illusion Sea.
Tianhai City, as the closest city to the Heavenly Illusion Sea, is also very prosperous. All kinds of cultivation resources are abundant here.
Not everyone in the Sub-immortal Realm knows how to swim. Those who wish to enter the Heavenly Illusion Sea must buy the unique elixir of Tianhai City—the Water Avoidance Pill.
By taking the Water Avoidance Pill, one can stay in the sea for up to four hours, which is enough for adventurers to accomplish many tasks.
Having reached the Heavenly Illusion Sea, Gu Qingqing and her group no longer rushed. They hadn’t rested properly for days to make it here.
Upon arriving in Tianhai City, they first found the best inn in the city, washed up, and took a good sleep, waking up in the evening.
Even at night, Tianhai City is very lively, as some demon beasts are only active during the night, so there are often boats sailing out to sea at night.
Gu Qingqing and her group needed to gather some information about the merfolk in Tianhai City first.
They did not have dinner at the inn but instead left and wandered around the city.
Finding a bustling restaurant, Gu Qingqing and her team of four entered, ordered several signature dishes, and listened to the conversations around them while waiting for their food.
"Have you heard? Recently, when Jiang Family’s people went to catch demon beasts in the sea, they encountered some strange incidents," a man sitting to the front left of Gu Qingqing’s group put down his wine cup, glanced to the side, and whispered to his companion.
"What strange incidents?" His companion, another man in black attire, looked at him with little interest.
"You know, those rare demon beasts come out at night, so Jiang’s boat usually sails at night. Everything used to be fine, and their yields were impressive, making people envious. But recently, when Jiang’s boat went out, they returned with nothing," the man paused, seeing his companion’s eyes focused on him with a trace of pride, he continued, "I have a friend in the Jiang Family, he said those who went out to sea mentioned hearing a very peculiar song."
"Hah, what’s so weird about a song?" The man in black snorted, poured himself a drink, and lost interest again.
"There’s nothing strange about the song; the problem is after hearing it, they remember nothing, and by morning, the boat is back at shore, and they don’t even know how they returned, and every time a person is missing from the boat." Seeing his friend no longer curious, the man quickly added mysteriously.
Upon hearing this, Gu Qingqing and Jun Wu exchanged a glance, paused their hand movements, and listened unobtrusively to the conversation.
"What do you mean? What do you mean they remember nothing?" The man in black was surprised and puzzled. "Could that song really have some kind of magic power? Causing amnesia?"
"You’re right, the song indeed has magic power," seeing his friend interested again, the man became enthusiastic, took a sip of wine, and continued, "My friend said they encountered something. You know the legends of our Heavenly Illusion Sea, they might have met the mythical creature from those legends."
"The mythical creature?" The man in black repeated his words, suddenly widened his eyes, and looked at him incredulously, "You mean, they encountered... merfolk?"
He deliberately lowered his voice as he spoke to avoid attracting attention. Still, Gu Qingqing and her companions, who had been listening in, naturally caught his words and exchanged a quick look.
The speaking man, satisfied with the expression of the man in black, nodded and whispered, "Yes, only the legendary merfolk have such abilities. Otherwise, wouldn’t the Jiang family’s capable adventurers detect an ordinary Illusion Beast?"
"But isn’t it said that merfolk only exist in legends? How could they..." The man in black left his sentence unfinished, but his meaning was clear to both of them.
"Legends are spread by word of mouth, how can you be sure they’re not true?" the speaking man gave the man in black a knowing look, stuffed a mouthful of food into his mouth, appearing quite content.