The Road South (Part One)

Within Jiujiang, Liuzhou.

The cargo ship drifted downstream with the current.

"Ugh..." Gongshu Jin leaned over the window and dry-heaved for a while, but only brought up a mouthful of sour fluid.

"Have some ginger soup. I had the cook make it just now." Gongshu Feng handed a waterskin to his younger brother.

He had never expected this clansman of his, with whom he shared no blood, to get seasick.

The ship they were riding was already a fine Lion Boat—broad and spacious, with cabins amidships where passengers could sleep. Yet even so, Gongshu Jin had vomited himself into a miserable state while passing through the rapids. By now, he had gone nearly two days without a proper meal.

Gongshu Jin took the waterskin and forced down a sip. Then he let out a long breath and slowly leaned back. "How much longer until we reach Jinxia City?"

"I asked the boatman. Huiyang City is not far ahead. Once we pass Huiyang, another day and a half at most will take us into Shenzhou." Gongshu Feng said, "There are sail-less Ice Boats in Shenzhou. I heard they travel several times faster than ordinary vessels. Once we switch to an Ice Boat, we can reach Jinxia in a day."

"Ice Boats?" Gongshu Jin frowned slightly. "It isn't winter now."

"That's what the boatman said. Even in the hottest months of July and August, those boats can race back and forth along the Jiujiang."

"Is that something the Mo Clan tinkered up too...?"

"I don't know. But Mechanism Art alone definitely cannot accomplish that." Gongshu Feng shrugged. "Whether it is true or false, everything will become clear once we reach Shenzhou."

Gongshu Jin nodded and said no more.

His gaze turned back toward the window.

Gongshu Feng naturally knew what his younger