Fellow Disciples

Strictly speaking, this was Ji Yuan's first proper voyage since crossing over.

Usually, he only traveled back and forth to Zengtou City.

The last time he had ventured deep into Cloud-Rain Marsh, he had been with Qiu Qianhai... At that thought, Ji Yuan could not help recalling his old friend.

It had already been four or five months since Qiu Qianhai left Zengtou City.

During this time, Ji Yuan had secretly inquired about his whereabouts in Zengtou City. The bad news was that he found nothing; the good news was that he found nothing either.

At least that meant the Qin Household had no leads on him either.

As long as he had not been caught by the Qin Household, Ji Yuan felt that, given his ruthlessness, Qiu Qianhai would most likely survive.

The White Boat cleaved through the water at astonishing speed. Along the way, Ji Yuan encountered quite a few fishermen setting out on boats, but upon seeing that white streak flash past the lake's surface, they all slowed down.

Some even stopped outright, afraid that one careless move might offend this "senior."

To maintain his condition, apart from using Spirit Stones to power the Spirit Vessel, Ji Yuan kept a Spirit Stone in his hand at all times, ensuring that he remained at his peak whenever needed.

Sophora Island lived up to its name.

An enormous sophora tree grew there, an exceptional sight on the island. Passing cultivators often stopped here to rest, so it could barely be considered a peaceful region within Cloud-Rain Marsh.

Few people dared to fight here.

Two hours later, Ji Yuan landed on the island, then stored the White Boat in his Storage Bag.

Compared with before, his complexion was much more sallow, and his chin had grown a thick layer of stubble.

He had plainly transformed from a handsome young man into a rather mature middle-aged uncle.

After coming ashore, Ji Yuan headed straight beneath the sophora tree. By sheer coincidence, when he arrived, he found only a young female cultivator seated in its shade.

Her appearance was ordinary, but judging from the way she sat... she looked like a woman built for bearing children.

As for her cultivation, Ji Yuan saw through it at a glance. She was merely at the Third Layer of Qi Refining, nothing special.

When Ji Yuan arrived, she raised her head and glanced at him.

"Rotbone Flower?"

The female cultivator did not probe him in the slightest. She went straight to the point from the outset.

"Mm."

Ji Yuan's mind connected with the Whitewater Flying Sword inside his Storage Bag before he nodded.

Upon hearing that, the female cultivator relaxed slightly. Just as she was about to speak, two more Spirit Vessels landed by the shore.

"Let's talk somewhere else."

After saying that, Ji Yuan went to the other side of Sophora Island, right by the lake. If anything went wrong, he could board his vessel and flee at once.

The female cultivator followed him over.

"You have Rotbone Flowers?" Ji Yuan asked directly.

"Mm."

The female cultivator nodded faintly. Before Ji Yuan could ask another question, she reached into her clothing at her chest and took out a small Jade Box. Opening it, she revealed a flower resembling an impatiens blossom lying within. Its entire body was grayish-black, wisps of black smoke curling from it, while a moldy stench spread through the air.

"This is the Rotbone Flower Senior requires."

The female cultivator offered the Jade Box with both hands. Her boldness even took Ji Yuan by surprise.

Thus, he did not accept it. He merely watched the female cultivator before him in silence.

"It is only one flower. It certainly will not be enough for Senior, so consider it a deposit." The female cultivator smiled, her smile deeply mournful.

"A deposit? Then how do I obtain the rest?"

Ji Yuan was unmoved by her sorrowful smile and instead asked with a smile.

Seeing that Ji Yuan still would not take it, she could only put it away first. "This humble woman wishes to ask Senior to kill someone for me. If Senior can do it, I will naturally offer the remaining Rotbone Flowers with both hands."

"Who?"

This request was within Ji Yuan's expectations, so he was not surprised.

"Black Mist Island's Ghost Island Master."

The female cultivator spoke each word through gritted teeth.

Ghost Island Master... Ji Yuan frowned slightly. He had never heard of such a person.

"Which ward are you from?"

This trip to Sophora Island had already brought Ji Yuan close to Quiet Peace Ward. It was also considered a shared region among the many wards of Cloud-Rain Marsh.

"This humble woman is from Sophora Shade Ward."

Before Ji Yuan could press further, she continued, "The Ghost Island Master is from our Sophora Shade Ward as well. He is at the Fifth Layer of Qi Refinement, but because he occupies Black Mist Island, a place easy to defend and hard to attack, many people from our Sophora Shade Ward have no way to deal with him..."

As the female cultivator explained in detail, Ji Yuan finally understood what had happened.

The female cultivator was named Wei Caishan, a cultivator of Sophora Shade Ward.

Years ago, when her parents had gone out by vessel, they had merely passed near Black Mist Island when the Ghost Island Master killed them before robbing them.

According to Wei Caishan, the reason was that the Ghost Island Master had taken a liking to her mother's beauty... In short, it was the usual tale of a bandit cultivator murdering for plunder.

Wei Caishan had no hope of avenging them herself, so she could only place her hopes on others.

"The Ghost Island Master and I are both in the Middle Qi Refining Stage. If I go after him, I'll have to risk my life. A few Rotbone Flowers... aren't worth risking my life over."

Ji Yuan shook his head. "Put it away. Farewell."

With that, Ji Yuan turned to leave, but Wei Caishan hurriedly called after him again.

"Senior, Senior."

"What else is it?"

Ji Yuan turned around and asked with a frown.

Although Rotbone Flowers were precious, from what he could see, no one besides himself seemed to need them. That meant Wei Caishan could only come to him... When both sides needed something from the other, there was no reason for him to gamble with his life.

Ji Yuan could simply offer more Spirit Stones and have Wei Caishan hire someone else to act.

That was his true intention.

"If Senior is willing to help, then apart from these Rotbone Flowers... Senior may do anything he wishes to this humble woman." As Wei Caishan spoke, she lowered her head deeply, even the tips of her ears turning red. "Whenever Senior wishes is fine as well."

For a moment, Ji Yuan did not know what to say.

After a brief silence, he clasped his fists slightly. "Take care, Fellow Daoist."

His figure leaped up. As he landed upon the lake, the White Boat appeared on its own, carrying him away in a streak of white light.

"Sen—"

Wei Caishan seemed to want to call out again, but Ji Yuan was already nowhere to be seen.

She could only let out a long sigh.

Ji Yuan had left, but not completely. Once he had vanished from Wei Caishan's sight, he quickly went ashore behind a nearby island, concealed his aura, and silently observed her through the cover of the Reed Marsh.

Sophora Shade Ward lay near Blackwater Ward, quite far from here.

Ji Yuan reckoned that with Wei Caishan's strength, it was impossible for her to cross such a great distance just to meet him on Sophora Island. If that was the case, she most likely lived in nearby Quiet Peace Ward...

Ji Yuan wanted to follow her and see what exactly was going on.

From their earlier exchange, Ji Yuan did not quite believe Wei Caishan's story... Her words were riddled with holes, whether it was the matter of her parents or her claim of coming from Sophora Shade Ward.

After waiting only a short while, Ji Yuan watched Wei Caishan depart in a pitch-black Spirit Vessel.

An Early Qi Refining cultivator who had fallen on hard times from another ward could still afford a Spirit Vessel?

Interesting.

Ji Yuan summoned the White Boat and followed after her.

He trailed her from a distance. After the time it took to drink a cup of tea, he discovered that Wei Caishan was not heading toward nearby Quiet Peace Ward, but traveling directly north.

Something was off... Just as Ji Yuan considered turning back and leaving, he suddenly saw a pure-black Spirit Vessel burst out from a nearby island.

A tall man in black robes stood atop the Spirit Vessel. Looking at Ji Yuan, he cupped his fists slightly and said,

"Fellow Daoist, Rotbone Flowers... I have as many as you could want."

Ji Yuan stopped his Spirit Vessel and turned to look at Wei Caishan, who had already circled back. How could he not realize that he had still fallen into a trap?

With a thought, he summoned the Whitewater Flying Sword. His hands, hidden within his sleeves, each gripped a stack of Water Arrow Talismans.

Seeing that Ji Yuan remained silent, the black-robed man smiled faintly.

"Do not panic, Fellow Daoist. Since you know the secret of the Rotbone Flowers, we can be considered fellow disciples—fellow martial brothers."