Chapter (15): Towards the Other Side of the Sea
While waiting for their food, the group discussed where would be most suitable to inquire about the cities of Yique and Jiuye.
The innkeeper had known since the early morning that the terrifying scream had come from these young masters' room, but since their door had remained bolted all day, he hadn't found an opportunity to ask. Now, arriving with their meal, he overheard the names of the cities. He could guess that this group was quite wealthy, yet he couldn't fathom why they would choose to rent the cheapest, most basic rooms in a small establishment like his. Seeing a potential windfall from these youngsters, he spoke up.
"Oh... are you young masters looking for information on these cities?"
The group turned as one to stare at him. Chen Zhao arched an eyebrow.
"Does the innkeeper know of them?"
The innkeeper was middle-aged, an elder compared to Chen Zhao, yet Chen Zhao's tone was far from humble. He had been raised as a young master of immense wealth. While he might humble himself for the sake of his cultivation path, that courtesy did not extend to ordinary commoners.
The innkeeper, however, didn't mind in the least. He rubbed his hands together with a greedy grin, prompting Chen Zhao to toss a small pouch containing about twenty silver pieces onto the table.
The innkeeper snatched it up immediately and peered inside. He felt a twinge of disappointment that it wasn't gold, but given how these young masters had rented such cheap rooms, he figured that while they were rich, they weren't inclined to waste money. Fearing he might lose even the silver, he decided not to haggle.
In Ran City, even the cheapest rooms in an inn as small as his cost a silver piece a night; getting twenty silver pieces for free was a satisfying haul.
Tucking the pouch into his sleeve, he said with a wide smile, "Young masters, you've asked the right person. I know nothing of Yique, but I can tell you about Jiuye. Jiuye is very far from these lands, which is why it doesn't appear on your maps. The maps only go as far as the sea. Most people in this city have likely never even heard of it. Jiuye lies on the other side of the ocean."
Though the group's faces remained stoic, they all breathed a secret sigh of relief. They didn't fear the distance; they only feared wandering blindly in the wrong direction.
Chen Zhao, the only one speaking for the group, narrowed his eyes and asked, "Are you sure this isn't a lie?"
The innkeeper believed without a doubt that these young masters were capable of snatching the money back by force. He hurried to explain.
"Young masters, I may love money, but I do not deal in lies. Jiuye is my grandfather's hometown. I don't know exactly why he crossed the sea to settle here, but he used to tell me stories about how his home, Jiuye, was on the far shore. However, I only know it's across the sea; I don't know how far across. What I can tell you is that if you want to cross the ocean, you need to head to the Port City. From YRan City, it will take you about a month and a half if you ride hard. If you're slow, it could take two months."
Chen Zhao weighed the man's words. Thinking Chen Zhao still doubted him, the innkeeper added, "People in Ran City won't know Jiuye, but the folk in the Port City might. If you don't believe me, you can check for yourselves when you get there. My grandfather passed away three years ago, so I can't bring him to you. Do you need me to swear an oath?"
Chen Zhao raised a hand to stop the man from swearing and dismissed him from the room. It was almost laughable—what good would it do them if he swore on his life? They didn't regret the twenty silver pieces, but they loathed the idea of wasting the time and energy a wrong turn would cost. They had to be certain.
While eating, Chen Zhao pulled out the map they had bought in Ran City and located the Port City. Estimating the route, he confirmed it would likely take about a month and a half, just as the innkeeper said. He turned to the others.
"Everyone, don't rest just yet after eating. Su Min and I will head into the city to verify if Jiuye truly lies across the sea. The rest of you, prepare everything we need for the journey. If the innkeeper's words hold true, we leave for the Port City at first light tomorrow."
No one disagreed. They still had a night's rest ahead of them. Even if Chen Zhao had ordered an immediate departure, they wouldn't have refused. Ultimately, they needed a leader like him, and that meant following his decisions.
By the time they finally rested, the night was not yet deep. Yan Tangtang had ended up on the floor of Chen Zhao's room. She glanced at Chen Zhao, who had fallen asleep easily on the bed, and rolled her eyes. Does she really not look like a girl? she wondered. Do these people really believe she's a boy without even checking? Chen Zhao was supposed to be clever—how could he not have the slightest inkling?
Did she truly look that much like a boy?
Yan Tangtang suspected that even if she announced she was a girl, they wouldn't believe her unless they stripped her clothes to check. Forget it, she thought, staying like this is for the best.
Before long, Yan Tangtang drifted off. However, it felt like she hadn't been asleep for more than a moment when she was jolted awake by a kick from Chen Zhao.
The kick wasn't forceful, but it was enough to wake her. Chen Zhao had hopped off the bed and seemingly kicked her in the waist just as he was passing by. Yan Tangtang sat up, clutching her waist and staring at Chen Zhao with wide eyes. Her lips trembled as she struggled to suppress the urge to scream.
You actually kicked a sleeping girl in the waist? What a vulgar brat!
At that moment, Yan Tangtang had a burning desire to admit she was a girl just so she could slap him for his rudeness.
Seeing no movement, Chen Zhao turned back. Thinking the "little brat" was just dazed from lack of sleep, he snapped, "Aren't you getting up yet? If you're fantasizing that we'll wait for you after everyone else is ready, forget it. I'll leave you behind! Move it!"
In the end, Yan Tangtang forced herself to calm down and get ready. She couldn't afford to pick a fight with Chen Zhao if she wanted to stay with the group.
After a quick breakfast at the inn, they set out for the Port City. They planned to bypass the smaller towns along the way and head directly for their destination.
Though Yan Tangtang didn't fall ill again, her small frame struggled under the strain of the journey, leaving her perpetually wilted. Consequently, she became a constant target for Chen Zhao's mockery.
During their nightly rests, the other four would often refine their skills through cultivation and sparring. Since they lacked masters or formal manuals to guide them, they could only rely on helping one another.
During these times, Yan Tangtang would handle the game they had hunted and roast the meat. In her spare moments, she would watch their sparring from a distance or practice riding her horse alone.
The days blurred past in this fashion until, on the eleventh day of the second month of their journey, they finally arrived at the Port City.