Meanwhile, in the West Courtyard servants' quarters, Chen Lingxi sank into the Divine Chamber and unleashed the Sight-Roaming Divine Ability.
After reaching the Qi Circulation Third Floor, the Divine Chamber's range had expanded to two thousand zhang in both length and width. It was no longer limited to the Baosu Marquis Residence and one or two nearby streets.
His consciousness drifted out beyond the marquis residence's high walls with that wisp of smoke, crossed the densely packed rooftops and eaves, swept over the western city's docks and long streets, and descended straight toward the surface of the Yuan River.
It was late spring, when the river had just begun to rise and its misty waters stretched boundlessly.
There were no few boats traveling upon the river. Deep-draft merchant ships carried cargo, black-canopied ferries swayed gently as they carried passengers, and several gold-painted pleasure barges lay moored by the shore, faint music of strings and pipes drifting from them.
Yet Chen Lingxi's viewpoint stopped on one of the moving vessels.
That ship was several sizes larger than an ordinary pleasure barge. Its hull was lacquered a somber dark vermilion, its cabin doors shut tight, with bronze bells hanging from its four corners—yet when the river wind passed, they made not a sound.
Only one person stood upon the deck at its prow.
Lin Suri.
With his hands clasped behind his back, he stood beside the rail, his black brocade robe stirring faintly in the river wind.
His exceptionally pale face remained calm and unreadable. Beneath brows like distant mountains, eyes as deep as ancient wells gazed out over the vast, mist-shrouded river, as though he were lost in thought.
Borrowing Lin Suri's perspective, Chen Lingxi took in the entire riverside scene.
In the twilight, the river gleamed with a bluish-gray light.