Qinghuang's Helplessness, Her Nephew's Folly, Li Xian's Move, Exploring the Sea and Entering the Depths

Wei Chu, the nephew of Princess Wei Qinghuang of Commandery Princess Anyang, was appointed as the "Sea Affairs Officer" of Jade City through Wei Qinghuang's efforts. This was a position with a "Mud Face Mud Body" persona, in charge of managing the port's entry and exit from the sea.

Jade City faces the sea to the east, and its commerce is thriving. The ships on the sea are incredibly diverse, including pirate ships, ships from various factions, fishing boats, escort ships, official ships, and merchant ships. Jade City places great importance on the defense of its sea city. All ships that wish to dock in Jade City must report to the "East Sea Office" and state their purpose. The "East Sea Office" will then consider and approve the request, and set a limit on the duration of the stay.

Jade City is a bustling trading hub, and each day a boat is moored in the alley requires a hefty fee. If a boat cannot leave within the allotted time, the mooring fee increases daily. Local fishing boats in Jade City must register before setting sail and are subject to strict control. The "Sea Affairs Officer," though holding a minor post, is in charge of maritime affairs and enjoys generous treatment. Various factions, merchants, and individuals strive to curry favor with him for a smooth voyage. If delays force them to moor for longer periods, they offer gifts to smooth things over. The Sea Affairs Officer then earns a cut and, through his duties, gains knowledge of various factions and groups. The livelihoods of a powerful sect, the very foundation upon which it stands, encompass martial arts, commerce, regulations, reputation, and connections—it is truly incredibly complex. Newcomers to the martial world often only see the sect's swagger and power, but they don't understand why it can be so powerful. A sect may know only how to suppress the weak and oppress others with force, but it doesn't understand the intricate and complex logic behind its operations. Wei Qinghuang truly cherishes and loves her nephew. Although Wei Chu is an exceptional talent, with considerable strength and foundation, relying solely on passion is unlikely to help her achieve anything, let alone offer her any assistance.

Therefore, Wei Qinghuang carefully selected the position of "Sea Affairs Officer" to train Wei Chu for several years, so that he would be more proficient in navigating the martial world or managing Lineage affairs.

Unfortunately, Wei Chu, new to Jade City, was arrogant and conceited, unaware of Wei Chu's hidden motives. He assumed "Sea Affairs Officer Zhenglang" was extremely idle, his martial arts skills and ambitions having no opportunity to be displayed. Furthermore, his lack of promotion only fueled his disinterest. He was completely unaware that Sea Affairs Officer's "Clay-Bodied Clay-Faced Rank" were far superior to ordinary "Clay-Bodied Bronze-Faced Rank"! After Wu Gan's grand birthday banquet, Wei Qinghuang visited Wei Chu. The aunt and nephew, having not seen each other for a long time, were naturally very warm and friendly. Wei Chu was overjoyed, words failing him, but during their conversation at the banquet, he learned that Wei Qinghuang actually held "Li Xian" in high regard!

Wei Chu secretly noted it down and pressed for details, learning that Li Xian was now Gold-Seeking Guard) and had recently been promoted very quickly. He immediately thought, "Ah! That Li Xian is just a peasant, but according to my aunt, he can be of great help to her in the future. As for me, I'm just frustrated and unsuccessful, only clinging to this so-called Sea Affairs Officer. Humph, my aunt really underestimates me. Does she think I'm inferior to that Li Xian?"

That day, after seeing Wei Qinghuang off, I was burning with anger, thinking, "I must make my aunt look at me with new eyes! I know my aunt won't mistreat me, but if I follow her arrangements, she'll never think highly of me. Even if I were a pig, she could raise me up. I need to break her prejudice. Luckily, I'm a Sea Affairs Officer, and I'm quite familiar with several of the ' Sea-Calming Guard.' These Sea-Calming Guard are one of the Thirty-Two True Guards of Jade City. They patrol the sea and stabilize the waves, riding strange beasts, much more imposing than me, a mere Sea Affairs Officer."

"And as far as I know... promotions in the Sea-Calming Guard are very rapid, mainly based on accumulating military merits. My martial arts skills can only be fully utilized in such an environment. My aunt is worried about my safety, which is why she is unwilling to agree. But I am no longer a child, and if I want to break through prejudice, I must do things that she doesn't expect! Aunt... your nephew will definitely make you look at me with awe!"

That night, in a moment of impulsiveness, Wei Chu prepared a banquet, inviting Han Shan and Liu Qingbiao, two officers from Sea-Calming Guard, to his residence to inquire about various matters concerning Sea-Calming Guard. Han Shan and Liu Qingbiao were both startled upon hearing this, and instead advised Wei Chu against his reckless actions, explaining that Wei Chu Sea-Calming Guard faced a vast and turbulent sea, offering both the exhilaration of soaring through the waters and the terror of a bottomless abyss. Han Shan and Liu Qingbiao, on the other hand, envied Wei Chu, saying they would gladly exchange positions. However, Wei Chu, his blood boiling, paid no heed. He took their polite advice as mere perfunctory concern, focusing solely on the magnificent sea and its myriad wonders, his mind completely absorbed in these descriptions, paying no attention to the "bottomless abyss" and the "pitch-black" depths of the waters. His mind was in turmoil, struggling to weigh the pros and cons. Young and impetuous, he was prone to frivolity, focusing only on immediate gains and failing to consider long-term prospects. Although Wei Chu came from a noble family, his path in martial arts and literature had been carefully arranged by his Lineage since childhood, giving him a broad and impressive perspective, but he lacked a thorough understanding of the intricacies of affairs. Han Shan and Liu Qingbiao, seeing Wei Chu's resolute decision, could not dissuade him. However, the selection process for the Sea-Calming Guard was notoriously rigorous, directly under the command of "Heavenly Pivot," placing great emphasis on background and identity; any falsification would render the candidate unfit. Wei Chu, determined to try, asked Han Shan and Liu Qingbiao to help him make connections, introducing him to "Zhang Hai Hou; Bai Yilie," a high-ranking official in the Sea-Calming Guard, "Xu Shaoqian Gold-Seeking Guard; Central Lang General Xu Shaoqian," and "Artifact Guard; Yin Qi Jiang Gong Kuai"...

Bai Yilie saw that Wei Chu was a young hero, Intent-Qi and ambition, and greatly admired him. He immediately agreed to spend several days thoroughly investigating Wei Chu's background. Wei Chu waited anxiously, feeling uncertain. Fortunately, Wei Qinghuang doted on Wei Chu and made his identity flawless, spending countless sums of money, so that no flaws could be found!

After passing the first test, Bai Yilie arranged the "Three Sea-Calming Trials." Only by passing this stage could one become Sea-Calming Guard and one of the Thirty-Two True Guards. These "Three Sea-Calming Trials" were extremely dangerous, with the highest mortality rate among the Thirty-Two True Guards!

When Wei Qinghuang learned of this, she kept cursing Wei Chu for being a short-sighted fool who wasted all her efforts. But after venting her anger, she couldn't help but feel sorry for him because he was still her nephew. So she had no choice but to pave the way for him.

Wei Qinghuang naturally did not want Wei Chu to die in the "Three Sea-Calming Trials". Fortunately, although Wei Chu was frivolous, he had real skills. Despite the danger, he still passed the Three Sea-Calming Trials smoothly and became a member of the Sea-Calming Guard ".

Wei Qinghuang felt utterly helpless and wrote a letter to her nephew, informing him that although she had a wide network of connections in Jade City, she had very little involvement with the Thirty-Two True Guards and could no longer help Wei Chu in every way. As for Wei Chu's advancement to the Sea-Calming Guard, it would depend on Wei Chu himself.

Upon hearing this, Wei Chu immediately replied. His letter was brimming with confidence, clearly expressing his desire for revenge. Wei Qinghuang was both amused and annoyed, scolding, "This kid's path has been too smooth; he insists on seeking hardship. How could he know that his path has been paved from the moment he was born? His aunt had already arranged everything for him on the road to Jade City. But he just had to choose a different path."

As soon as Wei Chu entered Sea-Calming Tower, he immediately sensed the difference. The Sea-Calming Guard generally had dark skin, and the army valued strength and ability the most. Wei Chu had fair skin and, although he had a heroic air, was looked down upon by the other guards. They all laughed at him.

Wei Chu had never received such treatment before. Even when he entered Jade City, he was a respectable "Sea Affairs Officer," greeted with smiles and hailed as "Handsome Hai Lang" by martial arts sects, merchants from all over the country, and so on. Yet, upon entering the military camp for the first time, he was scorned as a "Little White" and a "spineless coward"... and so on.

How could they tolerate this? Wei Chu immediately took action to teach them a lesson. The ordinary Sea-Calming Guard were no match for him and were taught a lesson. It was indeed a deterrent, but in the army, without military merit, relying solely on martial arts skills and bravery would hardly win the hearts and minds of the people.

Although the sarcastic and abusive remarks were few, they led to alienation and estrangement. Furthermore, because Wei Chu had acted too harshly that day, severely injuring and rendering unconscious the two who had made sarcastic remarks, their tragic end drew considerable dissatisfaction from the Sea-Calming Guard. Although they were weaker, their sarcastic remarks were deserved. However, one side consisted of fellow officers on duty, while the other was a complete newcomer. The Sea-Calming Guard naturally sided with their colleague, harboring resentment and discontent over Wei Chu's excessive force.

Before long, a stronger Sea-Calming Guard found Wei Chu and wanted to teach him a lesson. Wei Chu thought to himself, "Fine, do they really think I, Wei Chu, am a pushover? This time I'll use all my might to break their spirit and prevent a hundred more!" He attacked in anger, displaying even greater ruthlessness, injuring the Sea-Calming Guard even more severely, breaking his bones and damaging his internal organs. Although he was intimidated again, he failed to win over the others. Instead, he continued to attack, creating a rift between himself and the other Sea-Calming Guard.

Before he could even throw a punch, he was already trapped. Although Wei Chu sensed something was wrong, his arrogance and disdain for bowing his head prevented him from doing anything, so he simply ignored him. Han Shan and Liu Qingbiao tried to mediate, but Wei Chu refused, displaying his pride. Han Shan and Liu Qingbiao were displeased, thinking, "This Wei Chu is so tactless. Although their initial sarcastic remarks were inappropriate, why did you have to go to such lengths and put on such an arrogant act? Humph, we're trying to mediate so you won't have an easy time later, and you greet us with such coldness. With such arrogance, why should we bother with you?" Thus, they turned their backs on him.

Although Wei Chu knew it was inappropriate, he didn't know how to deal with it. He could only let it be. In fact, he was quite capable. If he used his abilities properly, he could win people's hearts. Even without military merit, he could still earn people's admiration. This act of making an enemy of the entire army was a manifestation of "having strength but no means".

Before long, trouble struck again. How could Sea-Calming Guard allow a newcomer to overshadow them? Moreover, this newcomer was ignorant of his place and had aroused resentment among the people, who were determined to destroy his prestige. Sea-Calming Guard was full of talented and extraordinary people who boasted of their superior abilities and volunteered to thwart his prestige, defeat him, and establish their own prestige.

However, Wei Chu's strength was indeed not weak! He had not used his full strength in his previous attacks. Few people in Sea-Calming Guard dared to claim victory based on strength alone, so he cleverly changed the situation, turning the sword and spear martial arts competition into a contest of "Sea-Shark Racing".

Use your strengths to suppress your weaknesses.

Wei Chu thought to himself, "Hmph! Riding a shark is no different from riding a horse. Even if there are differences, with my martial arts skills, how could I not subdue a shark? What do I have to be afraid of? Watch me defeat you all again this time, and then what will you have to say!" So he readily agreed.

The next day, on the shore of the East Sea, all the Sea-Calming Guard gathered to organize a grand "shark race". Wei Chu was alone, while a dozen or so Sea-Calming Guard participated, competing to see who could ride the shark the fastest.

Starting from "East Reef," the race will circle "Three Sages Island" and "Dream-Embracing Island" three times each, then return. The fastest racer wins, and the slowest loses. Before the race, a Sea-Calming Guard proposed a wager: if he wins, Wei Chu must kneel and apologize. Upon hearing this, Wei Chu was enraged and said, "Fine! If you win, I'll kowtow to each of you. If I win, you'll all crawl between my legs!"

As you can imagine, the atmosphere was terrifying upon hearing this. The Sea-Calming Guard exchanged glances and glared angrily at Wei Chu. Wei Chu taken up his post Sea-Calming Guard and had never even ridden a "Sea Shark" before, yet he dared to make such a boastful statement, which was truly extremely arrogant.

Both sides are ready to start the shark race!

Sea-Calming Guard mainly roams the sea. The sea is boundless, and although light-footed skills are useful, they are difficult to cross. However, the "shark beast" in the sea is fast and has excellent positioning skills, which can serve as a "Horse Beast".

However, the shark beast was unruly and difficult to subdue. Wei Chu felt a pang of regret as soon as he sat on the shark-driving vehicle, realizing he had been too arrogant. This shark beast was over ten feet long and quite heavy, with a "fish pestle" in its mouth, from which ropes extended. The shark driver controlled the shark beast's direction by pulling the ropes.

At first glance, Wei Chu thought it was no different from riding a horse. He squeezed the horse's belly, and the horse accelerated; he pulled the reins, and the horse turned. He squeezed his legs tightly, but the shark beast did not move forward. Instead, it thrashed wildly in pain, its fish tail flapping wildly in all directions, stirring up huge waves.

Wei Chu was stunned and frantically tugged at the reins. But the shark became even more frenzied, tearing and biting wildly. Sometimes it would dive into the sea, and sometimes it would leap out of the water. Meanwhile, the Sea-Calming Guard had already driven the shark out of the reef and disappeared into the distance as black dots, while Wei Chu still spinning in place.

Liu Qingbiao couldn't bear to watch and told Wei Chu the secret to riding the shark. Upon hearing this, Wei Chu finally grasped the technique and rode the shark away. However, the shark was extremely powerful and difficult to turn. Wei Chu to the left and then to the right, constantly deviating from the course.

And as he chased away the shark, the seawater was stirred up, soaking his clothes. Wei Chu's dream of sailing the sea freely and drifting with the wind vanished, replaced by utter disarray. The splashing water obscured his vision, making it impossible to see anything in front of him or where he was going...

Before long, the shark-like beast crashed into a protruding reef. It howled in pain and its speed decreased significantly. Wei Chu panicked even more, gritting his teeth and forcing himself to keep going. After traveling another half mile, the shark-like beast crashed into the reef again.

Seeing that the shark beast was badly injured, Wei Chu knew that if it hit the rocks again, it would be unable to swim and would surely lose the contest. So he slowed down and swam slowly through the rocky reef forest.

Suddenly, a dozen or so black dots appeared on the distant sea. Wei Chu spurred his shark closer and saw that they were the Sea-Calming Guard. They had been waiting on purpose, just to mock him. As Wei Chu approached, they said, "Hahaha, this fellow has gotten himself into such a sorry state after Reef Forest." "A young master like you should just find a quiet job in the city and live a peaceful life. Why come here looking for our attention? Hahaha, no way." "I don't recall having a young master with the surname Wei in our city, do I? Hahaha, what kind of young master is he?" "Alright, let's not talk about him anymore. This little girl has teary eyes and is about to cry." "We've waited for him for so long, that's more than enough. Let's go, brothers!"

Having said that, they each drove the sharks away. Seeing the elegant figures of the Sea-Calming Guard, several of them stood up and rode on the backs of the sharks. They roamed freely in the sea. Several of them crouched down, drove the sharks into the sea, and then suddenly leaped out of the water.

Wei Chu clenched his fists, his whole body tense. But the shark beast was already covered in blood and seriously injured. His shark-driving skills were very rudimentary, and he could hardly increase his speed. Compared with the other Sea-Calming Guard, he was inferior in every way.

He possessed unparalleled martial arts skills, yet had nowhere to use them. Given this situation, the outcome was obvious. Wei Chu, thinking of the "bet," turned ashen-faced and dared not approach the shore to fulfill his obligation. He remained in the sea for a long time.

He thought to himself, "How could I, a member of the dignified Wei Clan clan, actually kneel down? Humph, do these Common Citizen deserve my worship? I'll stay in the sea a little longer, wait until they leave, then I'll go ashore and never mention this matter again."

The sea breeze was bleak, and the night was bitterly cold. Wei Chu thought back to his early days in Sea-Calming Guard, when he had suffered repeated defeats. Today, he had lost the bet and felt extremely frustrated, his heart heavy with sorrow. He was extremely unwilling to face the situation. But as darkness fell, the sea became increasingly terrifying, as if demons were brewing beneath the surface.

Wei Chu, secretly uneasy, hurried towards the shore. But as he approached, a bonfire suddenly lit up the bank, and the Sea-Calming Guard, who hadn't left, remained waiting. Wei Chu, both ashamed and furious, gritted his teeth, leaped ashore, and roared, "What do you want?!"

Zheng Quan, the Sea-Calming Guard, shouted, "Regardless of what happens, it's still Young Master Wei's bet. I hope you'll fulfill it first."

The Sea-Calming Guard started to jeer and laugh. Wei Chu was determined to deny it, saying, "What bet? I don't know anything about it!"

Han Shan said, "Brother Wei, I used to think of you as someone important, a dignified Sea Affairs Officer. But today's events have made me underestimate you!" Wei Chu was greatly defeated and heartbroken, but he became even more hysterical, sneering, "You Common Citizen, I've never considered you a friend. Do I need your respect?"

Liu Qingbiao angrily retorted, "Fine! You're the kind of person I rarely see! You absolutely refuse to honor the bet, aren't you?!"

Wei Chu thought to himself, "As a member of the dignified Wei Clan family, I cannot kneel. But from today onwards, I, Wei Chu, will become... a man of broken promises... Would my aunt like such a nephew? I have already broken my promise; how dare I call myself a hero? But if I kneel now, what hero in this world kneels? Does my aunt respect me? She will likely be angry with me and ruin the Wei Family's reputation." He was filled with extreme regret and remained silent.

Zheng Quan shouted, "We, the Sea-Calming Guard, have never been looked down upon like this before. This brat is defecating and pissing on our heads, utterly arrogant! Let's all go and teach him a lesson!"

Han Shan and Liu Qingbiao said, "We brothers misjudged this fellow and mistook him for a hero. We'll lead the charge, and the rest of you will follow!" They immediately formed a battle formation.

While Wei Chu was still in a daze, an iron net was laid out. Two Sea-Calming Guard, known as "Chisha," dragged him into the sea. Wei Chu knew he was in trouble, but he felt the seawater enveloping him and the iron net covering his body, leaving him unable to resist. Moreover, the Sea-Calming Guard' "Chisha" were extremely fast and agile. Wei Chu had no way to resist them.

Suddenly, a whistle blew.

The commotion on the sea gradually subsided, and Wei Chu was dragged out of the water. Upon seeing the arrival of Bai Yilie, Bai Yilie "Marquis of Sea-Calming Guard," the farce was stopped and the matter was suppressed. Wei Chu, Liu Qingbiao, Han Shan, Zheng Quan, and others were all punished.

After this incident, Wei Chu was deeply frustrated and disappointed. The story spread, and everyone called him "Fool" because he was "a treacherous scoundrel," untrustworthy, and like a grandson. Hence the nickname "Fool."

This title was utterly humiliating. Wei Chu would attack every time he heard it. But the Sea-Calming Guard would always join forces to deal with him. Although Wei Chu was strong, he could not gain any advantage and was instead subjected to a barrage of insults.

But this matter is something I'm ashamed to discuss with outsiders, and I'm even more afraid it will reach my aunt's ears.

But how could Wei Qinghuang not know? When she heard about this, she was furious, helpless, angry, and frustrated. A dignified son of the Wei Family was being called "Fool" (a derogatory term for a child). And Wei Chu's actions were indeed untrustworthy, arrogant, and conceited, truly befitting the name "Fool."

He then pretended not to know.

Wei Chu had endured several days of torment, his heart heavy with unbearable suffocation. He felt deeply resentful of Sea-Calming Guard, but if he were to leave now, others would likely think he had deserted, making it difficult for him to face anyone again. So he stubbornly persevered and continued to serve.

One day... Sea-Calming Guard suddenly received a great mission. It is said that a tomb in the deep sea of the East China East Sea has appeared, and Sea-Calming Guard need to be dispatched to explore the tomb. Upon hearing this, all the Sea-Calming Guard turned pale and none dared to accept the mission.

Historically, the Sea-Calming Guard to explore the secrets of the sea and delve into the Sea Tomb have been extremely dangerous. They are often fraught with peril, but if they successfully emerge from the Sea Tomb, it is a great achievement that earns them admiration.

Wei Chu was feeling stifled and wanted to shed the nickname "Fool." Upon hearing about this mission, he immediately thought, "If I can find the Sea Tomb, wouldn't that be a perfect way to clear my name and make everyone look at me with new respect? Although this matter is dangerous, it is a timely help for me." Thinking of the humiliation he had suffered recently, he finally had a chance to vent his anger and volunteered to take on the task.

Upon hearing this, the Sea-Calming Guard immediately began to mock him: "You Fool, what are you doing causing trouble? Do you even know what this means?" "Heh heh, if we really threw you into the Sea Tomb, you'd probably be scared out of your wits." "Go away, stop showing off. Go find a woman's belly and have a good cry." Wei Chu sneered, "You cowards wouldn't dare, but how do you know I wouldn't? Even if the Sea Tomb is a death sentence, I'll still charge in and show you. But then, who will be the Fool is another story."

Upon hearing this, and seeing that Wei Chu was indeed fearless, the Sea-Calming Guard reluctantly said, "At least you, Fool, have some guts."

Wei Chu sneered, determined to seize this opportunity to change his situation and reputation! Wei Qinghuang soon learned of this and immediately wrote a letter, urging Wei Chu to refuse, citing illness as the reason for his resignation, and absolutely not to actually enter the Sea Tomb!

In her letter, she subtly suggested that the search for the Sea Tomb might involve a power struggle deep within Jade City, and that it would be best for Wei Chu not to participate. However, Wei Chu failed to grasp the deeper meaning and, driven by Intent-Qi, believed that even his "aunt" did not believe him and that entering the Sea Tomb was imperative. He immediately drafted a letter and sent it back. This move, however, alarmed Wei Qinghuang, who berated him as a fool and immediately spent money to resolve the situation.

They wanted to bring Wei Chu back.

However, Wei Chu was determined, and because he was in the Sea-Calming Guard, Wei Qinghuang's reach was limited. This matter was likely to involve a deeper struggle, requiring careful consideration. Suddenly, it was discovered that the search for the Sea Tomb involved the Truth-Inspecting Guard and the Gold-Seeking Guard. Rumor had it that several Crimson List criminals from the western part of the city had fled to the nearby sea and then vanished without a trace. The discovery of the Sea Tomb today suggested that the criminals had escaped into Sea Tomb, thus disappearing without a trace. Therefore, this search for the Sea Tomb would likely involve the Gold-Seeking Guard and the Sea-Calming Guard working together, with the Truth-Inspecting Guard the investigation.

Wei Qinghuang knew that there were other forces vying for power deep within Jade City. So she sent a letter to Li Xian, briefly informing him of the matter and ordering arrangements to protect her nephew. In truth, her nephew, surnamed Wei, had been trained in the martial arts of a great clan since childhood and did not need anyone else's care. But when she received Li Xian's reply, which said, "Leave this matter to me, Commandery Princess, rest assured," she felt greatly relieved, believing that with Li Xian's help, her nephew would be safe.

Wei Qinghuang raised an eyebrow slightly. If this matter succeeded, she would reward her handsomely. The Sea Tomb matter had been brewing for several days, and all preparations were in place.

Now, on this day...

East of Jade City, Sea-Calming Tower of Sea-Calming Guard, is the day when the "Truth-Inspecting Guard," "Gold-Seeking Guard," and "Sea-Calming Guard" meet and join forces.

Sea-Calming Guard was the host, and celebratory cannons were set off to welcome them. Wei Chu knew that his aunt had arranged for "Li Xian" to help him, and although he felt resentful, he was happy to accept it. He knew that the people of Sea-Calming Guard were unruly, and there was a secret competition among the Thirty-Two True Guards. When Li Xian arrived, although it was a cooperation, he would inevitably be compared to him and would probably suffer.

Wei Chu glanced at the guards, thinking, "Hmph, my aunt asked you to help me, which means she tacitly agrees. You're more capable than me. Let's see if these Sea-Calming Guard, who won't submit to me, will submit to you."

Suddenly, a loud noise was heard.

A young man rode a magnificent horse with a blue mane, head held high and chest puffed out, gracefully approaching. Before he even arrived, his presence was already felt!

(Seeking monthly votes at the beginning of the month!)