Dark clouds blanketed the sky. Boats rose and fell with the waves along the shore, a dimly lit town behind them and a thousand miles of blue water ahead.
Raindrops pattered densely against the canopy. A bean-sized flame glowed at the bow, and Niao Niao stood beneath the lantern, gazing at the rolling waves and chirping. From the looks of it, the bird was reciting-eastward flows the mighty river, its waves washing away all the great and gallant Niao Niaos of ages past...
Onshore, Ye Jingtang carried the black-cloth-wrapped Dragon-Mingling Spear, the Mount Jun Saber, and the other weapons into the cabin, then returned to shore and opened an umbrella.
"Are you sure you're all right?"
"Hmm?"
Perfected Person Xuanji leaned against a little rain shelter by the lake, her cheeks flushed. She looked barely able to stand.
"What could possibly be wrong with me? I'm a peerless master, sixth under heaven..."
?
Seeing how drunk she was, Ye Jingtang rather regretted bringing Perfected Person Xuanji along. Never mind protecting him on the journey-he would thank heaven and earth if she could look after herself without needing his care.
As Perfected Person Xuanji swayed toward him, Ye Jingtang raised a hand to steady her, afraid she might tumble into the water.
"Careful..."
But before he could touch her arm, Perfected Person Xuanji flicked her wrist, seized his hand with thunderous speed, and held it up before her. She turned toward him, her drunken, hazy eyes carrying a hint of danger.
"What? Planning something improper while a girl's drunk?"
Ye Jingtang had nothing to say. He felt that Perfected Person Xuanji really had drunk herself silly. Rather than argue, he held the umbrella and gestured.
"All right, all right. I won't hold your arm. Watch your step. Don't fall in."
"Hmph."