Fellow Daoist

Ji Yuan had never forgotten his agreement with Qiu Qianhai.

When Qiu Qianhai had taken responsibility and left Autumn Rain Island, they had agreed that when he returned next time, he would place a seashell at Ji Yuan's doorstep.

Then they would meet on Autumn Rain Island.

Since last autumn, ever since that day, every time Ji Yuan returned home, he would first check whether there was a seashell outside his door.

Unfortunately, he had never seen one.

Now, after waiting from last autumn until this spring, he finally saw a seashell at his doorstep... Qiu Qianhai had returned.

Ji Yuan let out a long breath.

No matter what, it was good that he had returned.

Before leaving, Ji Yuan pushed open the door and entered the house. He first checked the situation inside and, after confirming there was nothing wrong, collected the Spirit Eggs and Spirit Soil that had accumulated over the past two days before departing.

He had turned off the effect of the [Pigsty].

There was no helping it. The Blood Essence it produced was far too outrageous. With himself away from home, Ji Yuan did not dare leave this building effect active. However, the [Chicken Coop] was much better.

The Black Wind Boat sliced through the water.

Ji Yuan only vaguely remembered the location of Autumn Rain Island, but that did not matter. Once he reached that area, he would surely be able to find it.

Half a day later, after circling around for a long while, Ji Yuan finally saw the familiar little island. He steered the boat ashore, and by the time he jumped onto land, he had already stored the Black Wind Boat in his Storage Bag.

Standing on the soft sand by the shore, Ji Yuan surveyed his surroundings with a trace of wariness.

Because... he had not found Qiu Qianhai.

Something was not right. If Qiu Qianhai were really here, he should have come out to meet him long ago.

Ji Yuan formed a hand seal with one hand and summoned the Dragon Armor Shield.

The tortoise shell spun around him, granting Ji Yuan a fleeting sense of security as he slowly walked deeper into the island.

Fresh shoots had grown in the surrounding Reed Marsh. Hiding a person in there would not be difficult.

After stepping inside, he called softly, "Old Hai?"

Calling Qiu Qianhai by name was too conspicuous. If someone else heard it, that would only bring trouble.

"Old Hai?"

Autumn Rain Island was not large. After calling several times without receiving a response, Ji Yuan knew Qiu Qianhai was no longer on the island... Could something have happened?

Ji Yuan quickened his pace and ran from one end of the island to the other.

Sure enough, several deep furrows remained in the sand by the shore, already filled with lake water that had flowed in.

Not only that, but the nearby reeds even bore faint scorch marks.

Someone had fought here!

Ji Yuan carefully examined the surroundings. The traces of the battle were still fairly fresh, meaning it had taken place not long ago.

Qiu Qianhai had waited here for him, only to be discovered and forced into a fight?

That was Ji Yuan's first thought.

Then where was he now?

Unable to find anyone on the island, Ji Yuan brought out the Black Wind Boat again and circled Autumn Rain Island several times. Finding nothing, he guided the boat beneath the water.

He searched carefully several times, yet found nothing at all.

In that case, only one possibility remained.

Of the two sides that had fought, one had fled for its life, while the other had given chase.

But where had they gone?

Trying to find one person in the vast Cloud-Rain Marsh was no different from fishing a needle out of the sea.

Unable to find him, Ji Yuan did not leave. Instead, he chose to keep vigil through the night on a nearby small island, but he still failed to discover the slightest abnormality.

Qiu Qianhai did not return, nor did anyone else come to Autumn Rain Island.

Left with no choice, Ji Yuan could only return to Zengtou City first.

Qiu Qianhai had once been quite a prominent figure in Zengtou City. Some had even called him "Second Han Feiyu."

If he had returned and been seen, someone would surely be discussing him in Zengtou City.

This time, Ji Yuan did not even return home. He went straight into the city.

Most of the shops lining both sides of the street were makeshift stalls, selling Talismans, Cultivation Pills, or all sorts of miscellaneous goods. There were also quite a few fishermen coming and going.

Ji Yuan deliberately slowed his pace and listened to their conversations.

Yet unfortunately, even after walking through two streets, he did not hear the slightest news related to Qiu Qianhai.

With no other choice, he wandered to a secluded courtyard and reached out to knock on its gate.

"Knock, knock, knock—"

After waiting a moment, footsteps sounded from within. Accompanied by a creak, a middle-aged man with graying hair and uneven eyes poked his head out.

"You're looking for... come in."

As usual, Lame Li had intended to ask whom Ji Yuan was looking for before saying they were not there and sending him away. But after clearly seeing Ji Yuan's face, he invited him inside and even served tea.

When Ji Yuan had come last time, Lame Li had seen through his cultivation. He had merely been at the Fourth Layer of Qi Refining.

But now, he was already at the same Sixth Layer of Qi Refining as Lame Li.

In barely half a year, his cultivation had advanced so greatly... Lame Li could not help taking him seriously.

Ji Yuan did not drink the tea. Instead, he directly told him the truth.

Lame Li was first stunned, then hurriedly asked, "Where is he, then? How is he? Is he all right?"

An uncle was an uncle after all. The moment he heard that Qiu Qianhai had returned, Lame Li immediately lost his usual composure.

"I didn't see him."

Ji Yuan shook his head, pondered for a moment, and only then said, "Last year, he and I agreed to meet at a certain place after he returned. I went there, but I didn't see him. However, traces of a battle had been left at the scene."

The moment Lame Li heard this, he understood. He immediately rose and said, "I'll go out and ask around."

"I'll go too."

"Don't. I'm his uncle, and the Qin Household knows that as well. No one will suspect me if I ask around. But if you do, someone with ulterior motives may set their sights on you. Just wait here for me."

Lame Li analyzed the situation with a calm expression.

After saying that, he left in swift strides. His movements were so nimble that there was not the slightest trace of his earlier limping gait.

So he was an old fox hiding his claws too... Ji Yuan did not go out again. Instead, he took out an introductory copy of the True Explanation of the Alchemy Dao and began reading it carefully.

When traveling the world, the more skills one had, the less likely they were to weigh one down.

Especially when buildings could be upgraded.

It was not until noon that Lame Li returned, his expression somewhat grim. "I didn't hear anyone mention him. I reckon he either killed that person, or he's still fleeing."

"You should go back and wait. If he returns, he won't come looking for me, but he'll definitely come looking for you."

"Alright."

By now, Ji Yuan had no other options. He could only do as Lame Li said.

"Uncle Li, if you hear anything, remember to let me know too."

Ji Yuan then told Lame Li where he lived before finally leaving.

Perhaps because he was worried about Qiu Qianhai, Ji Yuan found it difficult to calm down and cultivate after returning home. With no other choice, he entered the [Dao Comprehension Chamber] and tried to comprehend the second layer of the Surging Waves Sword Art.

After all, the [Dao Comprehension Chamber]'s inherent effect was calming the mind and gathering qi.

Three days passed in succession before Ji Yuan finally received a message from Lame Li. Someone had reportedly seen Qiu Qianhai in Cloud-Rain Marsh, but there was no indication where exactly, nor were there any more specific details.

Helpless, Ji Yuan could only go out and ask around himself.

But the results were no different from what Lame Li had said.

Just as Ji Yuan was preparing to return, he unexpectedly saw Lu Wan.

Compared to her former lively self, she now seemed exceptionally aloof. No matter whom she encountered, she merely gave them an indifferent glance.

Ji Yuan remembered what she had said last time and did not go up to greet her.

The two merely nodded at each other from afar, and that counted as a greeting.

That night.

Lin Hu, who had returned from selling fish at the Fish Pen, knocked on Ji Yuan's courtyard gate. After entering, he carefully pulled a letter from his clothes and lowered his voice as he said:

"Brother Ji, Lu Wan asked me to give this to you."