Night fell.
The ferry left the harbor and was soon wrapped in misty rain, leaving only a faint glimpse of the lingering lights along the riverbank.
Soybean-sized raindrops battered the deck. Xie Jinhuan folded his Oil-Paper Umbrella beneath the Boat Tower's eaves, while Bu Yuehua straightened her skirt a little and asked:
"What did you and Zisu go off to do just now? Why were you being so secretive, looking at me like you had something to say but couldn't...?"
Xie Jinhuan had run into the eldest senior sister of the Azure Nether Sword Manor. He certainly wouldn't be able to keep a straight face when he next saw Senior Sister Hua, but he didn't go into detail yet, merely slipping an arm around Bu Yuehua's shoulders as they headed back:
"We'll talk in the room. Anyway, something interesting happened."
Seeing this, Bu Yuehua asked no more and went upstairs carrying the Reed-Flower Chicken, which had eaten and drunk its fill before promptly falling asleep.
The ferry ran directly to Misty-Wave City without stopping along the way, a journey of roughly three days. It was practically packed to bursting, with most of the ordinary travelers crammed onto the deck or into the corridors. There were even itinerant performers singing and telling stories beneath the eaves.
Nangong Ye had originally intended to book three rooms, but Xie Jinhuan was kindhearted. Although he no longer lacked travel funds, he had booked only one room to leave accommodation for fellow cultivators.
Now, Xie Jinhuan walked through the corridor and pushed open the door. Lamplight illuminated the fairly small room, where the table, chairs, and stools had all been neatly arranged.
Dressed in a black skirt, Big Ice Lump sat cross-legged in meditation on the bed. The bedding had been replaced with clean sheets