Three days later, Misty-Wave City.
Spring rain had turned the earth a dark blue-black. Laden with traveling peddlers, a ferry slowly emerged from the mist over the river and eased toward the crowded wharf.
On the second floor of the Boat Tower, Coal Ball, transformed into a Reed-Flower Chicken, stood on the windowsill, tirelessly tapping the window with little claws.
Tap, tap, tap...
A faint feminine fragrance filled the room. The tables, chairs, and stools, once neatly arranged, were now somewhat disordered. A black skirt and a water-blue dress hung over the folding screen, barely touched for three days, while shoes, stockings, and Dharma Artifacts lay scattered across the floor.
Behind the bed curtains, Xie Jinhuan leaned against a pillow and breathed out softly, feeling that time had passed so quickly.
Lin Wanyi lay rather weakly against his chest, her cheek buried against his shoulder, half asleep.
With nothing to do during the three-day voyage, Xie Jinhuan had spent all his time practicing. The big and little Bespectacled Girls got along quite harmoniously, taking turns going back to handle the hall's affairs and keeping everything in perfect order. The only drawback was that Chu Wanyi was unfamiliar with her assets and had something of a tendency to stand up and stomp on the accelerator. Had Sister Bu not had a foundation in the Martial Dao, even she would not have been able to take it.
Nangong Ye, meanwhile, had not dared trade places with his disciple and go back to practice. After it went on and on without end, he now lay collapsed beside them, unwilling to move.
Noticing that Coal Ball was about to rebel, Xie Jinhuan patted Bespectacled Girl's back and sat up.
"We're here."
"Oh..."
Lin Wanyi sat up groggily and, out of habit, cradled his head