Ch. 78 – Parting

It could be said that three days was a long time, but it was also just the blink of an eye.

Today was their third day in North Sea City, and logically speaking, they should depart the city today and return to their respective sects.

So as Feng Ye packed his bag, he thought nothing of it.

He’d come with empty hands, and he would leave with empty hands.

He had found nothing this time: no Jianmu seed, and no spiritual plants. It was truly just like a spring outing.

Knock knock.

Before Feng Ye could respond, the person knocking on the door shouted through it: “Shixiong, our sect’s ship will be docked at the eastern market dock around lunchtime today, and then we’ll set off. Cao Zirui and I are going to use this half day for shopping, and we can meet for lunch. Don’t forget, Shixiong!”

“Got it,” Feng Ye replied.

A burst of footsteps could be heard hurrying away from the door. It seemed that Fang Yang and his friend were in a rush to get to the market.

Feng Ye shook his head helplessly. Fang Yang was always full of endless enthusiasm, whether in cultivation or shopping.

After two days of shopping, Feng Ye had lost interest in North Sea City, and mostly ignored those products that were new or unheard of to Fang Yang.

Only the fortune-telling shop the day before had been somewhat interesting, although it had obviously been a setup specially prepared for him by Hao Chen, who had been gone for a day after being called away by Old Crab Nine the day before.

Even though the crab with the fake beard had concealed his cultivation level, Feng Ye could still tell at a glance that his strength was roughly equivalent to a Nascent Soul stage human.

A Nascent Soul cultivator wasn’t just some commonplace weed that could be found everywhere. The only Nascent Soul stage crab in North Sea City was its nominal owner, Proprietor Crab.

And who else had the ability to command Proprietor Crab and instigate him to stick on a fake beard, other than their so-called ‘Honored Lord?’ 

There was no telling who or what had prompted this fish Hao Chen to come up with such a roundabout method to warn him.

Hao Chen had likely discovered the danger hidden behind the Jianmu incident, which led to this situation.

Speaking of which, although it was unknown why this fish appeared in Lingxiao Sword Sect and ended up at his side, Hao Chen had never quite understood the situation. He knew nothing about Jianmu, and became involved in the matter purely by chance.

Yesterday, the crab had told Feng Ye that he wouldn’t be able to fathom what he would encounter at the end of his quest. But that statement wasn’t true – it was Hao Chen who lacked that knowledge.

Although Feng Ye couldn’t clearly say who it was working behind the scenes, he had a vague prediction, as well as an estimation of his opponent’s strength.

He still vividly remembered the fright his dream had given him; the other party was definitely not someone to be underestimated.

Feng Ye was already prepared. No matter how powerful the enemy was, he was determined to track him down.

It was just that…..he didn’t know what decision Hao Chen had come to after receiving his answer yesterday.

Hao Chen was different from him. It was imperative that Feng Ye investigate the Jianmu matter, but there was actually no need for Hao Chen to further his involvement. He was the Lord of the North Sea, and the location where Jianmu penetrated into the heavens was thousands of li away from his domain.

In fact, very few of the gods in heaven were warm-hearted. Most of them kept their distance in peacetime, and minded their own business when there was trouble.

Feng Ye was already surprised that Hao Chen would warn him of the danger. This fish was actually so loyal? 

But this was probably where their association ended. How long had they known each other? It had been less than half a month at most, so the warning was just for the sake of brotherhood. Going any further would be too much.

The best strategy was to extract oneself from the muddy water in a timely manner, which was also consistent with the fish’s character. Perhaps the reason Feng Ye hadn’t seen him since yesterday was because the fish had already departed.

The more Feng Ye pondered, the more possible this seemed. He couldn’t help but let out a sigh. Although Hao Chen pestered him constantly and was a bit annoying, he felt a sudden sense of loneliness at the thought that Hao Chen had left without a word.

Feng Ye glanced around the empty room again. Fang Yang had also run off with Cao Zirui, so he was truly alone.

But there was nothing strange about that. It was just his life reverting back to its original state. The excitement couldn’t last forever, and traveling alone was the norm.

Feng Ye folded the bedding and sorted his clothes, then prepared to leave.

Knock knock.

Who would come knocking on his door? Perhaps Fang Yang had returned again. Feng Ye opened the door and was taken aback by who had arrived. 

Hao Chen was very adept at seizing opportunities. Taking advantage of Feng Ye’s brief daze, he squeezed past him into the room without saying a word, holding a plate in his hands.

He placed breakfast on the table and then commented on Feng Ye’s room very familiarly: “Fellow Daoist Feng Ye is so tidy. Your bedding is folded neatly.”

Feng Ye belatedly came to his senses and turned around to look at Hao Chen, who had broken into his room as if he owned it. He didn’t speak immediately, but went and sat down next to Hao Chen in silence.

Seeing this, Hao Chen attentively picked up the breakfast he had delivered and handed it to Feng Ye, saying: “Has Fellow Daoist Feng Ye not eaten yet? I brought it up for you specially from downstairs. Why aren’t you eating? Would you like me to feed you?”

Without giving Feng Ye a chance to speak, he blew on a spoonful of seafood porridge and brought it to Feng Ye’s mouth.

Feng Ye: “……”

He pushed away Hao Chen’s hand holding the spoon and refused: “No need, I can do it myself.”

“Awwww.” It was only one word, but Hao Chen dragged it out with all-encompassing regret.

Feng Ye: “……” What is there to regret about this?

This fish’s thought patterns were becoming increasingly difficult to understand.

In order to prevent Hao Chen from trying again, Feng Ye pushed the breakfast tray far away. It was time to discuss serious business.

“You…..” Although he had already turned the words over in his mind several times, when he gave voice to them, it was as if he had just learned how to speak. “Why are you back?”

He’d assumed that this fish had already escaped.

Hao Chen smacked the table when he heard this, and Feng Ye stared at his folding fan for a few seconds. The mini fan that had shrunk after he severed it was gone, and what Hao Chen held at present was a fan of normal length.

Hao Chen was in high spirits. He had been waiting for this!

He had wanted to tell his made-up story the day before, describing the hardships he had endured after being wrongly arrested in Feng Ye’s place – in order to gain some benefits.

But who would have thought that Fang Yang would interrupt them? And he had taken Feng Ye shopping for clothes afterward, so he never had the time.

Now that Feng Ye had posed this question, Hao Chen’s interpretation of it was completely different from Feng Ye’s meaning. Feng Ye was asking why Hao Chen hadn’t left since this situation was so dangerous, while Hao Chen understood it as him asking how he’d gotten away after being arrested the day before.

Hao Chen finally had his chance, and naturally wouldn’t let it go to waste. He recounted the story he’d made up before and added some new content on the spot: “Ai, I had to spend an entire night explaining things to those arrogant crabs before I was finally cleared of all charges. An entire night of tossing and turning!”

“Fellow Daoist Feng Ye.” Hao Chen looked at him and sighed, “I took the blame for you, so you must make it up to me.”

Feng Ye, after hearing the whole story: “…..” What does this have to do with anything, ah?

He realized that this fish had probably misunderstood. It seemed that Hao Chen was unaware that he already knew his identity, and had even fabricated such a story in order to come here and gain his sympathy. 

What kind of punishment could Hao Chen have endured? Would those crabs dare to interrogate him? He was probably served delicious fish and meat dishes.

But since Hao Chen was unaware, Feng Ye had no intention of notifying him. He simply went along with Hao Chen’s words and said: “Thank you for your hard work, Fellow Daoist Hao Chen.”

Hao Chen, who was happily waiting for Feng Ye’s compensation, waited for a long time. Seeing that Feng Ye had no intention of making it up to him aside from his words, he couldn’t help but look upon the other man with dissatisfaction.

Feng Ye lowered his head and drank his porridge, pretending not to see.

No matter how lively a person sang, there was nothing one could do if the audience didn’t respond. Hao Chen could only give up on the idea of taking liberties with the other person by calling in this debt.

“Oh, right.” Hao Chen suddenly changed the subject and let out a performative sigh: “All good things must come to an end. After today, you and I will return to our respective sects.”

Feng Ye paused as he drank, but quickly recovered as if nothing had happened.

It turned out that Hao Chen hadn’t left, but had come to say goodbye before leaving.

Feng Ye set the empty porridge bowl on the table. As he stared at the bottom of the empty porcelain bowl, he inexplicably felt that his heart was empty as well. 

But very quickly, he convinced himself that this was actually a good thing.

Hao Chen staying wouldn’t be of any help to him at all, and would actually be a hindrance. Feng Ye also didn’t want anyone else to get involved in the Jianmu matter, so it was really the ideal choice for Hao Chen to leave. 

His only regret had been that he didn’t get to say goodbye properly.

After all, they were still acquaintances. Although the reason for their acquaintance was somewhat mysterious, and they had created numerous obstacles for each other blatantly and in secret, all grudges were resolved with a smile. Feng Ye more or less classified Hao Chen as a friend.

Since Hao Chen hadn’t left without a word, and had in fact come back to speak to him, Hao Chen probably regarded him as a friend as well. 

At this thought, Feng Ye smiled with some relief. He turned to Hao Chen and asked: “When is Fellow Daoist Hao Chen leaving?”

Hao Chen fanned himself, taking a moment to think: “Right away. Our sect will set off in an hour.”

Only one hour left, Feng Ye thought.

There was no telling when they would see each other again, and it was possible that they would never meet again in this life.

Of course, Hao Chen wasn’t returning to Tiangong Pavilion. He would go back to his North Sea, in the farthest northern reaches of heaven, so far away that Feng Ye had never crossed such a distance.

But at the moment of their parting, Feng Ye suddenly ran out of words and began to make up lies without thinking. When it came to serious goodbyes, he didn’t know what to say.

After hesitating for a long moment, he finally said five words: “With luck, we’ll meet again.”

When he saw Feng Ye holding himself back for so long, Hao Chen had thought he would say something other than these five dry words.

He shook his head in disappointment: “Fellow Daoist Feng Ye’s goodbye is too perfunctory. I even secretly prepared a big gift.”

As he spoke, he took a folded garment from his storage bag.

Hao Chen shook the robes out in front of him as if displaying a treasure. Gesturing toward Feng Ye’s 50,000 spirit stone robes and then toward the set in his hands, he deliberately asked: “Do you see the difference, Fellow Daoist Feng Ye?”

“This is…..” Feng Ye was a little surprised. When he compared the feeling of the two sets of clothing, the one in Hao Chen’s hands was actually softer than the one he was wearing.

The shop owner had said that it was mermaid-woven silk, and that the higher their level of cultivation, the more valuable it was. This nine-hundred-year-old garment he was wearing was already the finest quality that was circulated outside. The clothes made of over one thousand-year-old mermaid silk were as valuable as a heaven-grade magic weapon, and were rarely circulated outside, with most of the supply going to the Lord of the North Sea.

Who was this exact smug fat fish in front of him. 

Hao Chen regarded Feng Ye’s dark blue robes with disdain. How could he give him such a shabby gift? If he was going to give him something, it had to be the best.

Yesterday, he had specifically taken Feng Ye to look at the clothing store in order to make clear to him the preciousness of the over one thousand-year-old mermaid silk in his hands.

Otherwise, if he gave someone a pearl and they took it as a marble, wouldn’t there be no end to his grievances?

He had begun preparing this gift the very first night he met with Prime Minister Turtle. The style was of his own design, and he had discussed it with Prime Minister Turtle all night long.

When he went shopping the day before, the original plan was just to browse without buying anything. Just after making clear to Feng Ye how precious over one thousand-year-old mermaid silk was, he would take out this gift he had just received today, which had been rushed here overnight along with his new fan. 

As for asking the store owner for a discount, that was just for the purpose of teasing Feng Ye. He hadn’t expected such an accident to happen. It didn’t matter that he had to leave for something, but that self-satisfied shop owner just had to give away the clothes!

The more Hao Chen thought about it, the angrier he became. In the end, he couldn’t bear it and personally took the crabs to smash up the store.

Of course, he didn’t mention any of this, but simply smiled and said: “These robes are made of thousand-year-old mermaid silk. I spent a lot of effort to obtain them.”

As he spoke, he reached for Feng Ye’s belt: “Those dark blue robes don’t really suit you. I think these black ones are better, let me help you change into them.”

Feng Ye tightened his belt with one hand and took Hao Chen’s grasping hand with the other, saying repeatedly: “No need!”

Hao Chen held the rejected clothes and donned a tearful expression: “Is Fellow Daoist Feng Ye unwilling to accept this parting gift?”

“This…..” Feng Ye hesitated. Although this thousand-year-old mermaid silk was precious, it wasn’t so precious that he dared not accept it. But he hadn’t prepared a gift, and to receive a gift without giving one in return was a bit awkward.

However…..this was also an opportunity.

Feng Ye suddenly reached out and took the robes from Hao Chen’s hands. Then he stretched out his other hand under Hao Chen’s puzzled gaze, explaining: “Where’s your little fan?”

Hao Chen was somewhat baffled. He took the mini fan from his sleeve, having forgotten about it when he purchased a new one, asking doubtfully: “What do you want this for?”

Feng Ye immediately snatched the mini fan away and explained: “I’ll give you a new one.”

Although Hao Chen was puzzled over Feng Ye’s reasoning for taking his mini fan away, he couldn’t help but smile when he heard these subsequent words. His fan was made from his own tail feathers – what could Feng Ye hope to replace it with?

But…..didn’t this mean Feng Ye was giving him a gift? The gift may be small, but the sentiment behind it was great. Overjoyed, Hao Chen decided that no matter what kind of worthless fan Feng Ye gave him, he would praise it to the sky.

A moment later, under Hao Chen’s relentless badgering, Feng Ye changed into the robes he had given him. As for the dark blue ones…..they were viciously destroyed by Hao Chen.

Fifty thousand spirit stones were wasted in the blink of an eye, but neither of them had major regrets.

Hao Chen looked with satisfaction at Feng Ye in the robes he had designed himself. He felt they were like a sign board declaring that this person belonged to him.

Of course, he wisely didn’t speak these silent thoughts out loud. If he did, Feng Ye would likely change back into his original tattered robes. Hao Chen had already suffered a loss in the Floating Island Secret Realm, and had since learned his lesson.

The two of them had dithered for a long while, and when they calculated the time, they realized that nearly a shichen had passed. It was time for Hao Chen to leave.

Feng Ye had originally wanted to see Hao Chen off, but the other declined: “Your sect is gathering at the eastern pier, and ours at the west. If you send me there personally, you may not be able to catch up to them.”

So Feng Ye didn’t see him off, but before Hao Chen departed, he made a promise to him while looking at the mini fan in his hand: “In the future, I’ll personally bring you a new fan.”

He would give it to him personally in the North Sea. This was also a promise that they would meet again.

Hao Chen smiled upon hearing this. Although he didn’t know what Feng Ye meant, he clasped his new fan and said: “Then I’ll be waiting for you.”

Then, he opened his folding fan and left in a leisurely manner.

Feng Ye watched until Hao Chen’s figure completely vanished from sight.

Hao Chen never looked back. He just departed without hesitation, very free and easy.

Feng Ye shook his head with a smile, feeling that he himself wasn’t as free and easy as this fish. Suppressing the sadness of parting, he turned and headed toward the eastern pier.

He also unfolded the mini fan in his hand and waved it like Hao Chen did. In any case, they would meet again. One day, he would make the long journey across the North Sea and return the favor in person.

He didn’t know if it was because of the breeze created by this small fan, but this really helped to dispel a lot of his sorrow.

Feng Ye’s pace became increasingly brisk as he recalled everything that had happened since he met Hao Chen. The memories surged like waves, turbulent for a while before slowly easing up.

When he arrived at the pier, the large ship was already there waiting. Fang Yang stood atop it, waving at Feng Ye.

Feng Ye smiled back. He completely accepted the fact of his and Hao Chen’s separation and tossed all of his regret and sorrow into the sea.

Had it ended like this, it would have been a perfect farewell.

After boarding the ship, Feng Ye maintained his blank expression for a full quarter of a shichen.

Then, he stared at Hao Chen, who was seated next to Fang Yang and Cao Zirui as he regaled them with the tale of his adventure when he was arrested by the crabs. A large # appeared on Feng Ye’s forehead.

Perhaps due to the sharpness of Feng Ye’s gaze, Hao Chen found it a little difficult to continue. He said to Fang Yang and Cao Zirui, “To be continued,” and then approached Feng Ye with an apologetic smile: “Please don’t be so angry, Fellow Daoist Feng Ye. I didn’t expect this either.”

Hao Chen spread his hands and said: “As soon as I boarded the ship, the sect leader told me to get off. He said that Tiangong Pavilion lost rank because of me getting zero points, and he doesn’t want to see me for a while. So I had no choice but to seek refuge with Fellow Daoist Feng Ye.”

Feng Ye remained unmoved. He had already seen through to Hao Chen’s true face.

This fish did it on purpose!

He deliberately put on a show and acted out a farewell drama, and after cheating enough sorrow out of him, he’d come back to deliver the final blow. Feng Ye was so angry that he wanted to personally kick this fish off the ship, but his last shred of rationality kept him from taking action. 

Hao Chen also realized that he had gone a bit too far, and quickly offered tea and water as an apology.

But Feng Ye crossed his arms and ignored him. No matter how Hao Chen apologized, it was fruitless, and the situation remained deadlocked.

All of a sudden, the ship rocked.

The sails unfurled, flapping in the wind.

The ship was about to set sail.

When he realized this, Feng Ye temporarily let go of his grudge.

He turned to Hao Chen – who was fanning him – and asked seriously: “You’re really not leaving?”

Hao Chen gave it some genuine thought, then maintained a serious expression as he winked at Feng Ye: “Wherever Fellow Daoist Feng Ye is, I will be there as well.”

Feng Ye held his forehead and completely gave up communicating with Hao Chen.

And while Feng Ye was holding his forehead, Hao Chen smiled where he couldn’t see.

He actually knew what Feng Ye was asking, and was cognizant of the fact that Feng Ye probably knew his true identity.

But he had still decided to stay.

Although confronting Yinglong would bring great danger to the North Sea…..he couldn’t just leave Feng Ye by himself.

Yinglong had sought out Xue Ren. It was unknown what their plans were, but Feng Ye returning to Lingxiao Sword Sect would undoubtedly be very dangerous, since Xue Ren was returning too.

It followed that Yinglong would likely accompany him.

With Hao Chen there, he could at least deal with Yinglong when the time came.

He still hadn’t decided if he would fight Yinglong directly, but in any case…..he would take it one step at a time.

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Chapter 77 << Table of Contents >> Chapter 79