When they had gone, they had traveled by boat. On the return journey, Zhang Yu enveloped everyone in Heartlight Seal, and in a single instant, they were back upon the shore.
The crowd cried out in amazement. Crossing such a vast distance in the blink of an eye was something they had never experienced in all their lives. They would have plenty to boast about when they returned.
Then someone looked back and exclaimed, "Look, the island is gone."
The man surnamed Lan turned to look as well. Finding that the island had vanished, he said with some melancholy, "It really is gone."
Zhang Yu said, "That island was never meant to be here. It stood only because of that object. Now that the object has been taken, it has naturally returned where it belonged. Like a kite in the sky, driven into dance by a fierce wind—once the tethering string snaps, it drifts away on its own."
The village elder had arranged for people to receive them by the sea. Upon hearing that everyone had returned, he immediately hurried over with others. The villagers also flocked over to watch the excitement, standing at a distance and pointing.
When the village elder arrived and saw that everyone was unharmed, he was relieved. "Cultivator, Clerk Hu, you returned quickly. I thought it would take at least two or three days."
The village elder's son said, "Father, what are you talking about? We stayed on that island for three days."
The village elder glared at him. "What three days? I only went back for two summer-hours. I think you've lost your wits."
The people behind the village elder all chimed in. "That's right, it's only been less than half a day." "Not necessarily. I heard that island was rather sinister. Don't tell