However long the joy lasted, parting had to come.
Yuan Jun did not try to persuade him to stay again. She merely instructed the Sea-Patrolling Yaksha to make certain Jiang Yang reached land safely.
Riding the water beast, Jiang Yang left the Water Palace and rose steadily from the dark depths of the sea.
The journey was neither short nor long. Jiang Yang had little patience for songs and dances, so he dismissed his attendants, closed his eyes, and began cultivating by himself.
Time slipped swiftly past. When he opened his eyes again, it was because a Clam Maiden had awakened him.
He raised his brows and looked around. A ferocious Yaksha more than ten feet tall was waiting cautiously outside the hall.
His face was indigo blue, his hair cinnabar red. He had a huge mouth with protruding fangs and eyes like bronze bells. Holding a sharp fork, he said respectfully:
"Your Highness, after several days of travel, we have reached the coast. The Softshell Turtle Beast is too enormous to go ashore. Please forgive us."
"No matter."
Jiang Yang rose from his seat as he answered and walked out of the Traveling Palace.
They had left the shadowy Water Palace behind. Outside, daylight now shone brilliantly, and he could make out the coastline and scattered islands in the distance.
The enormous Softshell Turtle Beast could swim no farther. Any closer, and it would run aground on the beach. Jiang Yang nodded, turned back, and said:
"This is far enough."
He glanced at the burly Yaksha, then asked:
"May I ask your name, patrol envoy?"
The Yaksha stepped forward and bowed, opening his great mouth to reply:
"My humble name hardly deserves mention, lest it sully your noble ears. Your Highness may simply call me Fen Shuier."
Jiang Yang