The beach roared with voices, cries of astonishment rising everywhere.
Fang Yun felt a slight ache in his head. Squinting, he surveyed his surroundings as he stood up. He was on the deck, surrounded by countless bubbles containing Literary Heart Fish.
The gunwales blocked his view of where he was, but hearing so many voices, Fang Yun realized he might have returned to the shore.
Fang Yun headed toward the dragon's head. After a few steps, he suddenly noticed how dark it was here. Light shone only along the distant horizon, much like the boundary between the Outer Sea and the Inner Sea.
Fang Yun looked up. Countless bubbles containing Literary Heart Fish floated above the Dragon Boat, while an enormous bubble hung highest of all. Inside it was a great white belly. Taking in the whole sight, he saw that it belonged to a giant whale ten li long.
The giant whale had lowered its head and was staring at Fang Yun in utter bewilderment.
In the giant whale's eyes, Fang Yun could almost see a string of interrogations: Who are you? Why did you bring me here? Do you believe I'll eat you?
Fang Yun vaguely guessed that the giant whale had simply been unlucky and the Sea of Learning had deemed it the Dragon Boat's catch. Smiling, he continued toward the dragon's head.
On the beach, tens of thousands of scholars surged toward the Dragon Boat together.
"Look! Void Sage Fang's Dragon Boat is back!"
"It's enormous! Twice as big as before! This is the first time I've heard of a Sea of Learning boat growing this long."
"There are far too many Literary Heart Fish bubbles up there! Did he fish every Literary Heart Fish out of the Sea of Learning?"
"That giant whale is a