Shen Le drifted along without his feet touching the ground, carried by the wind. From the first pale light of dawn on the horizon until the morning sun rose, he floated onward until a swaying expanse of reeds finally appeared before him.
Shen Le could not help floating a little higher, straining to see into the distance. It was winter, and vast stretches of the reed marsh had already withered yellow, revealing murky waterways.
A small boat moved slowly back and forth across the water, now advancing, now stopping. Though it was winter, with the waters low and the fish deep below, the person aboard still cast his net diligently, only to sigh at the mere few little fish caught in the net when he hauled it up with all his strength.
Farther inland, the distant land lay beneath a hazy gray mist. It was impossible to tell whether the morning fog had yet to disperse or cooking smoke had already begun to rise. Bathed in the red sunlight, it presented a scene of peaceful leisure.
After some thought, Shen Le activated his Spirit Eye and gazed into the distance. Neither the waterways nor the reed marsh, nor even the land farther away, gave him any particular sense of discomfort:
This Gaoji Marsh seemed to be managed fairly well?
"Daoist! Daoist Mingde!"
Someone below raised his voice in a shout. Shen Le looked down and saw Dou Jiande waving vigorously at him. After waving twice, he pointed to one side.
"Here! The pier is this way! The boat that came to pick us up is here!"
They had turned a Gaoji Marsh into something like Liangshan Marsh, complete with a dedicated external pier. Did they have a reception inn too...? Shen Le muttered as he floated down.
Following Dou Jiande