"Hm?"
Lin Daiyu was about to say something more to Tanchun when she suddenly heard a faint commotion coming from the edge of the dock ahead.
Then everyone's spirits lifted, and they craned their necks to look. Daiyu quickly cut off her "whisper" with Tanchun and turned to follow the crowd's gaze toward the rolling sea of clouds on the horizon.
Soon—
From far across the horizon came the faint sound of drums and music.
Then a flower boat hung with colorful silk slowly approached. Several red-robed immortal officials and palace maids stood aboard. They stopped before the dock, disembarked, and spoke briefly with Jia Zheng, Jia She, and the others, who had been waiting for them for some time. Then they hurriedly sailed away.
Right after that, more than a dozen celestial ships approached in formation, crowded with golden-armored heavenly soldiers holding long halberds. They cut an imposing figure.
Next, more immortal officials and maidens disembarked from the ships and exchanged documents with Jia Zheng and the others, saying a few words as if confirming some ritual procedures.
Then those celestial ships departed as well.
The golden-armored soldiers, however, stayed behind. They began maintaining order on the dock, scolding and driving away some members of the Jia family from their positions.
About half an hour later, the sound of drums and music suddenly grew clearer.
At last—
Pairs of escorting celestial ships appeared on the distant horizon. They were small and exquisite, with dragon banners raised high and pheasant-feather fans fluttering in the wind. Behind them came a fleet bearing gilded incense burners, where imperial incense smoldered, its fragrant wisps drifting away on the breeze.
More ceremonial vessels followed, their decks lined with attendants. There were the seven-phoenix golden parasols, golden melons, battle-axes, skyward-pointing staffs, and all the other