The little boat drew closer to the fleet, and soon someone spotted them.
Someone recognized Li Ping'an as the man in blue robes who had saved them from the Dragon Lord that day.
Soon, Zhong Guotao came hurrying over.
At the sight of Li Ping'an, his face, too, filled with delighted surprise.
"To think I would meet you again, Mr. Li."
"What a coincidence indeed. How did you find this place, Lord Zhong?"
Zhong Guotao said, "After hearing your advice that day, we took a long detour to avoid that Dragon Lord.
"Who knew we would stumble upon this island by sheer accident?
"The people here truly are as wondrous as the storytellers say.
"They are covered in feathers, and every single one of them can even fly!"
Zhong Guotao looked thrilled.
"Is that so?" Li Ping'an nodded calmly and looked into the distance.
In the distance, above the island.
People of the Featherfolk Nation had spread their wings and flown into the air, holding bows and arrows as they watched them warily.
Their wings grew from their backs, and feathers covered their entire bodies.
From afar, they looked like a great flock of birds gathered there.
"It seems they are not particularly pleased by your arrival."
Zhong Guotao said, "That is only natural. I have already sent someone to negotiate. Fortunately, they also speak the Mandarin of the Nine Provinces."
A while later, an official came to report.
He said that the people of the Featherfolk Nation had agreed to trade supplies with them, but would not allow them onto the island.
Zhong Guotao then went in person to negotiate with the people of the Featherfolk Nation again.
Someone who could make decisions seemed to have arrived on the Featherfolk Nation's side as well.
They talked from early morning