Jiang Wang gripped the fishing line formed from the Nine Chapters Jade Disk and kept rising, rising.
He passed through raging winds and blizzards, the shattered rocks of Fu Mountain, and violent lightning.
At last, he crashed into a vast expanse of dark clouds.
Wang Changji, thin-shouldered and lightly clad, sat at the edge of the black clouds, with wind, thunder, and snowstorm as his backdrop.
Holding that warm, lustrous fishing rod, he leisurely reeled in the line.
"I brought my friends along too." Jiang Wang released the fishing line and walked forward as he spoke. "I don't know exactly what you need to do, but I thought perhaps they could lend a bit more strength."
When they met again, both men were considerably more at ease.
"Nothing could be better." With a sweep of his hand, Wang Changji put away rod and line, then rose to his feet and nodded to Yue Tiannu and Zuo Guangshu. "I was discourteous earlier. I hope the two of you will forgive me."
Yue Tiannu pressed her palms together in salute. "I should be the one thanking you, benefactor. Thank you for that blow to the head that rang like a bell, clearing away my confusion in an instant."
Wang Changji merely gave a slight nod, considering the pleasantries concluded.
Zuo Guangshu curiously sized up this friend of Brother Jiang's and said, "I too should offer my thanks. This frog at the bottom of a well had long been content with himself; you have shown me that beyond the heavens lie further heavens."
Wang Changji said casually, "With Jiang Wang here, there are not many heavens beyond heaven."
That was, of course, an extraordinarily high appraisal!
Even Yue Tiannu's eyes flashed with surprise. She understood Wang Changji's realm better than most, and felt