Three days had passed since Li Yuan spoke with the consciousness of the water about his journey toward land. As they had promised, the currents had guided him perfectly through the most efficient yet beautiful path. Each day brought new sights—increasingly varied coral reefs, more diverse marine life, and most interestingly, a gradual change in the quality of the water itself.
Li Yuan could feel the traces of human activity growing stronger in the water around him. Not pollution in a negative sense, but rather... life. The water carried the scent of wood from passing ships, the trace of cooking salt from coastal settlements, and even the remnants of emotions from humans who had come into contact with the sea—the joy of children playing on the beach, the longing of sailors far from home.
Today, Li Yuan decided to be more cautious with his passive effects. He drew back the radius of his Universal Wenjing Realm passive effect to only five centimeters from his body—very close, almost touching his skin. Within such a small radius, the effect functioned more like... an extra sense. When someone spoke directly to him or was very close, he could still hear the intention behind their words, but he would not intrude on the privacy of people further away.
Like a very sensitive hearing, Li Yuan reflected. I can hear the whispers intended for me, but I don't eavesdrop on other people's conversations.
He maintained his individual Understanding of Water within a one-meter radius—enough to communicate with the water around his body, to feel the changes in currents, and to maintain his connection with the medium that had been his friend all this time.
Li Yuan swam at a depth of ten meters, a position that gave him a clear view of the surface while still providing a sense of security from the depths. The morning sunlight filtered through with a golden color, creating beautiful moving patterns around him.
Then, as he followed a gentle bend in the current that was carrying him, Li Yuan saw something that made him stop flowing.
In the distance, emerging from the morning mist, the silhouette of land began to appear. Not a faint line like he had often seen during his journey—this was real land, with details becoming clearer as he got closer.
Li Yuan rose slowly to the surface, his head emerging from the water for the first time in days. The fresh air touched his face, bringing scents he hadn't smelled in a long time—the scent of soil, plants, and most strongly, the scent of human activity.
A port.
In front of him, about two kilometers away, lay a fairly large port. Even from this distance, Li Yuan could see wooden piers extending into the sea, ships of various sizes docked, and most interestingly—the small movements that indicated a bustling human activity.
What amazed him was the diversity of the ships he saw. There were ships with different designs, sails with varying colors and patterns, and even hull shapes that showed different shipbuilding traditions.
Three cultures, Li Yuan thought with a growing sense of anticipation. Through the small radius of his Wenjing Realm, he began to catch faint echoes of different intentions—not clear enough to understand details, but enough to sense... diversity.
Li Yuan submerged back to a depth of five meters and began to swim toward the port with a more deliberate speed. Every meter he traveled brought new information through the water that was increasingly rich with the traces of human activity.
The first thing he felt was a change in the quality of the water itself. The pure seawater was slowly mixing with water that had been in contact with port activity—not dirty, but rather... experienced. This water had witnessed trade, conversations, small conflicts, friendships, and the entire spectrum of human life.
Through his Understanding of Water, Li Yuan began to hear the stories this water carried. There were traces of laughter from children playing on the pier. There were remnants of tension from difficult trade negotiations. There was the warmth of reunions between families separated by a sea journey.
This water is like a living history book, Li Yuan thought with awe. Every drop carries a fragment of human life that has passed.
The closer he got to the port, the clearer the diversity he saw became. The different ships were not only in design, but also in their... aura. Through the water, Li Yuan could sense a difference in the way each ship interacted with the sea.
There were ships that moved with precision and discipline—likely belonging to the Kuatri race, with their regular and planned sailing traditions. There were larger and more majestic ships, with striking ornaments—probably belonging to the Luxen race who loved splendor. And there were ships that moved with a different, more organic and flowing rhythm—likely belonging to the Zuwa race who lived in harmony with nature.
Extraordinary, Li Yuan mused. Even the way they sail reflects their culture.
When the distance was only about five hundred meters, Li Yuan began to hear real sounds. Not through the Wenjing Realm, but physical sounds that traveled through the water and air—the shouts of port workers, the creak of swaying ships, the splash of water from oars and ropes.
What was interesting was how these sounds mixed in a chaotic yet lively harmony. Unlike the meditative silence of the sea, this was a symphony of human life in all its complexity.
Li Yuan stopped swimming and floated at a distance of about three hundred meters from the nearest pier. From this position, with his head occasionally popping to the surface, he could observe the port activity without being immediately seen.
The first thing he noticed was the physical diversity of the people working at the port. Some were slender with measured movements—a characteristic of the Kuatri race. Some were larger with a sturdy posture—likely the Luxen race. And there were those who moved with a more flowing rhythm, their darker skin glowing under the sunlight—the Zuwa race.
They are working together, Li Yuan observed with a feeling of awe. Three different races, working in one port. Whether this is a sign of peace or just... the practicality of commerce.
Through the small radius of his Wenjing Realm, Li Yuan began to pick up the individual intentions of those who were close enough. What surprised him was that even though they spoke different languages—he could hear at least three different languages being used—their basic intentions were quite universal: the desire to do a good job, worry about the weather, the hope of returning home to family.
Different languages, but the human heart... is relatively the same, Li Yuan reflected. Basic needs, basic hopes, basic fears—these are the threads that connect all races.
Li Yuan floated in silence for almost an hour, just observing and learning. He saw how the three races interacted—there were moments of small tension, especially in price negotiations, but there were also moments of spontaneous cooperation when faced with a difficult task.
What most interested him was how they overcame language barriers. Gestures, facial expressions, and body language became universal communication tools. And when communication was truly difficult, they found a way to understand each other through patience and good intention.
This is a valuable lesson, Li Yuan thought. True understanding goes beyond words. It comes from a sincere intention to understand each other.
As the sun began to rise higher, warming the water around Li Yuan's body, he felt something he hadn't felt in a long time: the excitement of anticipation. Not anxiety or fear, but the pure joy of new possibilities.
Forty-three days at sea have prepared me well, he reflected. I am no longer afraid of losing my inner peace in the complexity of human interaction. I am ready to share what I have learned, and ready to learn new things from them.
Li Yuan began to swim slowly toward the pier that seemed the least crowded. He didn't want to create a sensation with his sudden emergence from the sea. A subtle approach was better, letting the meeting happen naturally.
As he got closer, the water around him vibrated with a gentle message of farewell—the consciousness of the sea giving a final greeting to a student who had graduated from their phase of learning.
Thank you, old friend, Li Yuan said in his heart. What you have taught me will always be with me.
And the water replied with a vibration that carried a simple meaning: we will always be there when you need us. Water is everywhere, even on land.
With a sincere smile and a heart filled with gratitude and anticipation, Li Yuan began to swim toward a new chapter in his endless journey—a chapter where the wisdom of the sea would meet the complexity of human civilization.