Zi Zhenzhu took the letter, folded it, and tucked it into her sleeve.
"All right, I'll mail it for you once we reach Coral Island."
"Thank you, Sister Zi Zhenzhu."
The ship sailed for three days.
During those three days, Jiang Lan leaned over the rail to fish every day, occasionally jumping into the sea for a swim. Doro splashed around in the water with him, her white, dumpling-like body looking even rounder when soaked. From a distance, she looked like a white buoy.
Zhu Zhuyun never entered the water. She stood on deck practicing from morning until night, refining the palm techniques and footwork Jiang Lan had taught her over and over. The sailors found it novel at first, but eventually grew used to it and would even bring her a bowl of water when she finished.
On the evening of the third day, the outline of Coral Island appeared on the horizon.
Jiang Lan stood at the bow, watching the familiar island draw closer in the dusk. Plenty of ships lay in the harbor, their masts rising like a forest and their flags snapping in the evening breeze. Buildings climbed the hillside in tiers, their white stone walls glowing a warm orange in the sunset.
By the time the Zi Zhenzhu docked, the sky had darkened.
Jiang Lan jumped off the ship and ran along the stone-paved pier toward the island. Doro and Zhu Zhuyun followed behind him. Zi Zhenzhu told the sailors to stay aboard and unload the cargo, then followed them herself.
Coral Island was livelier than it had been a few months ago. Several new shops had opened beside the pier, and the main street bustled with pedestrians. The cries of vendors selling flatbread, seafood, and Sea Soul Beast materials mingled together.
As Jiang Lan