No one would be stupid enough to reject protection nowadays. With the lack of mercenaries and soldiers in the middle of the salty seas, just having a small handful of cultivators would bring them that much more comfort. With his amiable nature, it was hardly a negotiation before they were ready to abduct Ling Da Chuanli onboard their ship right then and there. Good-looking, kind and soft-spoken, polite and scholarly. Jiang Tengyi sat aside and studied a sword script, allowing his friend to work his magic, more than used to this type of outcome. When Da Chuanli rejoined him at his table, there was visible disappointment in the eyes of the merchant who owned the vessel they were currently settled on.
"Did he want to introduce his daughter to you too?" Da Chuanli sent him a playful look while fiddling with Chi around his wrist, once again stressing out the little snake who was restlessly trying to detach herself and jump overboard for a swim. "A niece, said to be the most beautiful of their hometown, the perfect wife." Jiang Tengyi smiled at his joke, shaking his head faintly. "You have to watch out, one day you'll receive retribution for seducing someone you can't get rid of as easily." Not really caring about this, Da Chuanli responded carelessly and settled the anxious Chi down by patting her head hard twice.
"He said that there was another group of people aboard other than us, a noble." This caught Jiang Tengyi's interest, he honestly looked up from his book waiting for him to continue. Da Chuanli didn't disappoint him, seemingly uncaring of the other passengers and only saying this to pass the word on to his companion. "Though he couldn't see their face, the person seemed to be of high status and had an intimidating guard with them at all times, as well as a single maid servant. They are staying in the room across from ours, but other than the maid servant, the noble hardly leaves their chambers."
Brows furrowing, Jiang Tengyi set down his manual, knowing Da Chuanli wouldn't have mentioned this matter to him if it wasn't important or of interest. "A man or woman?" Resisting the urge to lean on his arm out on deck with people walking back and forth busily, Da Chuanli taps the table twice. However, he said out loud for others to hear, "A young man."
~
Leaning upon his elbow upon the table, the young man in question, took the bowl handed to him by his "guard". "It will ease the immediate effects of the bone shifting pill long enough for you to sleep well at night." The person's voice was effeminate, however, the "guard" stood rigidly with a flat chest and broad shoulders. Long black hair had been pulled into a tight braid. So even if he spoke a word or two, others wouldn't be able to doubt him as a male. Pair with a sharp pair of bronze eyes and straight nose, the man couldn't be considered ugly, but also not handsome. Merely a face belonging to the masses, if not for his strict posture and the sword hanging by his waist.
The young master didn't doubt them, downing the bowl gracefully, not letting a single drop go to waste behind his sleeve. Taking the bowl from them, the guard then quietly placed the bowl onto the tray to be taken away by the "maid" waiting for them on the side. Before taking the tray to leave, the "maid" quietly asked the guard, not hiding their concern. "My Lady, will you be taking the elixir as well?" In response, Chao Bai shifted her now eloquent brown gaze upon the short young woman, who had merely equipped a skin mask and cosmetics unlike herself and their companion. She moved her gaze back to Erlang, whose subtle huffing had finally quieted down as his suffocated insides settled into a tolerable silence. Letting the aching depart without another sound.
Buckling the sword tighter to her belt and checking the condition of her current equipment, Chao Bai shook her head to Erlang's question. Answering just as softly, as if fearing to disturb the patient trying to stay upright in his seat to the best of his abilities despite his condition. Her expression unchanging, "It is not right for the head to rest if the neck is crooked, till we reunite with the Yilin on land I will keep watch alone at night." It was the most she would be saying to her, so Erlang knowing better than to insist. Lowered her upper body respectfully before leaving the room obediently without a word of protest. Somewhat out of it because of the bone shifting pill, but also knowing he had burdened them.
Hou Yi grit his teeth, shameful of his lack of ability. "Apologies, my lady, if I were stronger..." Chao Bai quietly replaces the protection array around their cabin and the two young men's resting quarters, cutting him off without resentment or burden. "It is normal for physical cultivators like you to react more sensitively to any spiritual or body tampering than others. As acting commander, it was I who failed in thinking ahead and put you in this current state. Your only duty now is to save your strength should the young masters need it during the other two's absence." Fixing her rather beautiful red jade kirin tassel hanging from the temporary jian sword, Chao Bai didn't spare his feelings or comfort him. Only stating the facts as they currently were.
"... Understood, my lady." Saying so, Hou Yi really couldn't hold on any longer, his head falling nearly crashing onto the table if not for the arm he had rested it upon earlier. Side eyeing him for a second, only when she was sure he had fallen asleep did she step out of the room. Leaning outside the room with her eyes shut, seemingly simple yet dangerous looking as his body refused to move even an inch from his place outside his young master's quarters. Even if they didn't hurt as much as they did before, it still burned her eyes each time she peered at others for longer than a minute. She had scanned every single inch of the ship, and besides the three of them and the two young masters, there wasn't so much as a smidgen of notable spiritual energy aboard with them.
The few knick-knacks she was sure belonged to the merchant she had inspected secretly didn't have any life-threatening curses or spells hidden on them so she could dismiss them for now. When Erlang returned, Chao Bai murmured into her ear something which the woman nodded seriously to before entering the room. Leaving Chao Bai to guard outside alone once more. As the end of her skirt was shut behind the door. The guard turned to peer at the young man standing at the end of the corridor staring at him with a light smile. Who knows if it was on purpose or not, but when the guard met the young man's gaze dressed in the complete opposite color of himself.
His whole body glowed with breathtaking silver light, like the physical manifestation of heaven itself. Omnipotent, glorious, terrifying. If he prayed for the stars to fall onto the land, the mortals could only look up in despair. If he prayed for peace and tranquility, the heavens would grant him the strength to obtain it. It was only now, only in the present, would she be able to hide from his indifferent scrutiny, as he had yet to mature entirely. Moving his gaze away first, the guard dismisses him after a few seconds of observation. Only then did Da Chuanli actually enter the corridor, as if he wanted to show he meant no harm.
Chao Bai feigned disinterest and leaned the back of her head on the wall to recover her spiritual power. Even a fool could tell from his attitude that the other man didn't put Da Chuanli into his eyes at all. But this made Da Chuanli only more interested in what gave the other so much confidence to guard the corridor with his eyes shut. So, with the mischievous smile of an experienced fox, he didn't call the other person out and entered their room still wearing that same warm expression. Thinking that was the end of that, Chao Bai opened her eyes and stared at the door in front of her for a good long time.
Her thoughts unknown to all but herself. A jangle of metal, leather shoes shuffling on the wood boards, light yet mentally heavy boots wordlessly left the door he had been supposedly guarding. His black hair casting its own shadow under the lantern, before melding into one with the slithering figure around the corner they left in. For once, that corridor became empty of all occupants as the tides of night crashed upon them. Signifying an end to the sun's short-lived reign. The creatures of night slink closer and closer to the surface they originally hid from, not knowing they, too, were being stalked by a greater predator.
When Da Chuanli returned to the deck, it was much quieter than the afternoon, only a few ship hands crossed their line of sight. Unlike what most extravagant nobles loved to do, lighting the ship like a beacon in the night. The merchant was an experienced hand and orders all lanterns be extinguished. It was so dark, only the experienced sea hands and staff would be able to navigate well without accidentally falling and being left overboard. Thus prompting inexperienced and clumsy fools to hide away, like the merchant and his servant did as soon as the last lantern went out, and he was unable to convince the two young men to do the same.
Up on the crow's nest, a man seriously observed the stars and looked out for any unfamiliar or suspicious objects out at sea. Even a simple lump in the distance would require him to look a few more times before confirming it was just an odd wave. Even if it were eerie, to the two gentleman it was quite an inspiring sight. Never having seen such a wide expansion over nothing but water and the occasional peeks from the moonlight flicking on the surface of the sea. Jiang Tengyi found himself subconsciously drawn to this beautiful painting, standing not too close yet not too far from the edge. Just in case, Da Chuanli also followed him from behind, close enough to help steady him if he needed it.
Jiang Tengyi mumbled somewhat incoherently, "It looks like Junior sister." "Hmm?" Snapping out of his mild daze, Jiang Tengyi shook his head, appearing hesitant as he glances over at Da Chuanli. "No, it's nothing." Even if he had any suspicions, Da Chuanli made no comment nor dug further into his strange behavior, making Jiang Tengyi even more uneasy. As he said this, in the middle of their brief interaction, Da Chuanli whipped his head to the edge of the ship sharply. His hand on the handle of his sword not far behind him Jiang Tengyi's expression hardens and he did the same just as scales of grey gathered towards the surface of the water. *BOOM!! "SERPENT!!!!" Screams and shouts quickly erupted throughout the entire ship.
The sailers were pale and staggered upon impact with the beast. Jiang Tengyi and Da Chuanli's expression were solomn as they each held the side of the ship to steady their footing. Like the flick of a light the the lanterns all lit up in an instant and even as the mortals were frightened and pale in the face. They were veterns of the sea, hurriedly rushing to the bow and taking action in the way they knew best. "Pick up speed! All spare hands retreive your weapons! Gather the oil!" "They want to set the sea on fire." Jiang Tengyi was grim as the large beast only just then fully submerged it's enormous body back into the deep dark depths.
As a sea hand was just about to toss the first barrel Jiang Tengyi reached out hurriedly "Wait-!" As he called out a shadow dark as knight, blade reflecting the moonlight, wearing a flame colored jade flew out first. Holding his breath, Jiang Tengyi only had time to stop the panicked and confused sailor before reaching out again to try and stop that shadow. "Stay here and help reinforce the barrier." It was Da Chuanli this time who followed close behind the shadow that dove into the water. Making a sound of mild frustration, Jiang Tengyi didn't dwell long at the ledge and took over the chaos with the authorioty of a proper cultivator and young master.
Jumping in after someone makes you a hero?! Though he knew the capability of his friend, still, the water is the serpents domain. Not his. Anxious to stop the foolish sailors who intended to trap both men under the sea with the beast he couldn't do anything but salvage the disordily situation above. Below, with a thin layer of spiritual energy surrounding him Da Chuanli hear the rumbles and muted cry of an anguish beast. A few meters deep, a fierce battle was taking place where others couldn't see even suprising Da Chuanli who came down with intentions of being a possible ally. After all, if the ship was destroyed and the barrier broke would not he and Jiang Tengyi also be at the mercy of the rampant beast?
A man of black and red danced fluidly in the water, treating it as air. At first, Da Chuanli genuinely had the intentions to help. But now, seeing the flash of steel and purple blood clouding the already dark abyss further like ink being thrown without discrimination around them. He stopped and just watched from above with a focused gaze. The serpent seemed infuried by the man who moved as easily as himself below within the open waters. Jian sword dancing with the same resilience as a brush, occasionally only that handsome eye catching red jade on his waist was the only thing one could see in the darkness.
Meeting the serpents swing head on, Da Chuanli could feel the water pressure threaten to wash him far away. And yet that man, finger lightly brushing the spine of his sword before slicing thrice, cutting through that veil of deadly pressure not even moving an inch from his original placement. Da Chuanli only saw flicks of sword light in the dark and heard the serpent roar once more as a similar pattern appeared on it's lower body leaking more purple ink. That man stilled, watching the serpent make a fool of itself without changing expression, never aknowledging the audience above them.
While the serpent was still in agony glaring with bloodshot eyes, the man advanced, the aura around him ominious. "Not knowing the boundary between land and heaven, yet you dare come out constantly after being warned once. Should I applaud you for your luck in successfully drawing me out?" The serpent screamed at him, seemingly understanding yet lost in it's fury refused to listen anymore. The guard's gaze remained distant even then, so, flexing his wrist, the man's voice dipped deeper filled with real indifference as his sword rose with true killing intent this time. "So be it, perhaps even tonight, it was dictated by fate that I put your greivances to rest with my own two hands."
Like a ribbon rushing to the floor after falling from the shelf, fluid, swift, and at the end of it's decent, a pair of sharp scissors. The furious rage filled beast finally swallowed the man in red making Da Chuanli blink with suprise and tense up. However, he relaxed moments later, as, just as expected from within a streak of bright light glowed brighter and brighter. Streaks of deep gashes of light swiftly appeared underneath their scales. Sword energy as oppresive as their owner erupted from the belly of the beast forcing Da Chuanli to surface or else he would have been caught in the crossfire.
Landing aboard the ship with not a hair out of place, he stared down at the dark waters below with a subtle glint in his eyes. The ship gave a long mourn and rattled as the entire ship nearly flips with a jet blast of water like an upsidedown waterfall slamming into them. Terrified exclamations filled the ship once more, however, only Da Chuanli remained calm amidst the panic. Spotting him was easy in the crowd, seeing he had surfaced unharmed Jiang Tengyi hurriedly returned to his friends side with worry. "Are you injuried? Why did you come up so suddenly? Was it too dangerous even for you?"
"Dangerous? If I were not confident I wouldn't have gone down in the first place. We have no need to interfere, someone else who has something to protect on board has already resolved the issue." Wiping the contemplation within his heart, Da Chuanli shot his friend a fleeting smile which set Jiang Tengyi at ease as well. Knowing that if it were a serious situation Da Chuanli would hardly be sitting still like now and have time to speak with elongated sentences. As he was about to question him on what happened, below, a familiar shadow made it's way to the surface landing heavily on the bow of the ship.
His presence, so powerful even the mortals held their breath and peered at him on edge not daring to make a peep. Accurately finding the frantic and terrified merchant in the crowd surrounded by his own people. A loud yet smooth flowing voice escaped the guard who had long sheathed his blade slowly making his way down the bow keeping an eloquent balance as if he were just walking on solid land and not a still rocking boat. "My young master is resting." With his gaze directed on the intimidating master, the merchant nearly choked before he stiffly nodded fearfully in reply. Not daring to think of provoking this god of war who had randomly made his way onto his boat despite appearing so harmless before.
I had thought the two young cultivators would be the most powerful people aboard. Who knew where this common deity decended from?! Who cares if he was speaking disrespectfully, a man capable of dispatching a beast as large as his boat in less than an incense worth of time was also worthy of making him bow his head in revere!! Said deity didn't spare him another glance as if he had no thoughts other than his young master's comfort level. Heart and sight uncomfortable. Chao Bai was still cosplaying an unhurried manner as she retraced her steps to slip back into the corridors of the upper echeleons. Staggering as soon as the door was within sight, Erlang hurriedly caught the heavy footed spiritual beast nearly swallowing her own tongue.
Just one arm, Erlang could feel the cold sweat coating the other's entire body and shivers the moment she came incontact. Not daring to utter a single word with the two young masters aboard, the woman brought Chao Bai inside while biting her bottom lip anxiously. Only within the safety of their cabin did Erlang hurry to lay Chao Bai upon the bedding and strip her down removing the sweat soaked clothing. Expertly taking out her medication from her pouch, she fed the floral smelling wine into the pale lips of the other carefully. However, even semi conscious, once she had a sip or two of the detox elixir her eyes snapped back open.
Her hand snaking to the vial ruthlessly, a croak of firm refusal despite Erlang's concern "No more." "My Lady!" Sitting up croakedly while pulling fresh clothes from her pouch Chao Bai coughs softly scaring Erlang into action. Without letting the woman move anymore than nessisary, Erlang swiftly washed her down before dressing her up appropriately again. Still the same plain black clothing and red jade, but this time, the man appeared more exhausted than in the morn. But even if they used a cleansing spell, it wasn't long before her black locks clung to her forehead and the back of her neck again. Knowing Erlang was apprehensive about her condition, Chao Bai rests her forehead upon her knee.
"He followed after my spiritual essence, whether we hid or not, he would have found me." Although she couldn't see the young woman's face, Erlang's heart ached faintly for this outsider of their sect. Even if they hadn't interacted much, it was enough to see the sincerity and serenity she showed towards their people all these years. "There will be more than just he, abandoned by the clan, feral, tortured by their mere existence in a world who scorns them. He was not the first, and he will not be the last." Tightening her robes, when she raised her head Chao Bai had already composed herself anew. Holding her sleeve to stop her actions of leaving the cabin, Erlang was genuinely distressed by her hidden burdens.
"My Lady it is not your responsibility to deal with these rampant spiritual beast, let the royals handle their subjects and the lords to remedy their poison." Hearing this, Chao Bai nearly sent her a sarcastic smile out of self spite yet managed to hold herself back. Her heart bitter. "I am not afraid of the ocean."