This time, the young people represented the stance of the Thirteen Misty Islands. They were also the first toll of the bell announcing their return to the mainland.
Red Beard barely knew the Thirteen Misty Islands. Before this, he had never met anyone from there—or if he had, they had not said so, and he had been none the wiser. He had never set foot on the islands, either. This was his first time venturing so far into the Misty Sea.
His one impression was that the people of the Thirteen Misty Islands were far more guileless than he had imagined.
The Sea Ship Ye Qinglan had newly arranged was larger, more luxurious, and sturdier, better suited to the weather deep in the Misty Sea. It was not cheap, of course. For convenience, Ye Qinglan bought it outright. It still needed some simple modifications and outfitting. Money was no issue, but that would delay them two days.
The islands were small, with little to see beyond basic facilities. Most activity clustered around the ports, and almost all trade took place aboard Sea Ships. There was not much to explore on the islands themselves, but the sailors said the ports had plenty of curious little boats. Locals lived aboard these small houseboats rather than on the islands, and they came alongside larger ships to sell fresh food and odd little trinkets they had collected.
The boats before Ye Chuqi, for instance, had fresh pastries and seafood straight from the pot. She did not know what they had put in it, but it tasted extraordinarily fresh. Their Sea Ship had its own cook, using seafood freshly caught from the sea, yet somehow his cooking could not match that flavor.
The owner of one little boat did not mind explaining. Smiling, he said,