Donggang Chen Clan

Unless Chen Fangjie was not in East Port, if he failed to come greet them, it would be a blatant slight against the Wang Clan.

Given the deep marital ties between their two clans, such discourtesy would never happen.

Sure enough, after Wang Dinghai replied with flag signals, the other ship swiftly drew close. At its bow stood a handsome, valiant young man clad in fitted martial attire.

With Wang Shouzhe's keen eyesight, he recognized the young man from afar. It was Chen Fangjie, the Young Clan Leader of the Donggang Chen Clan. After becoming engaged to Wang Shouzhe's full-blooded elder sister, Wang Luoyi, last year, he had visited the Wang Clan.

When Wang Dingyue had died, Chen Fangjie had also come on behalf of the Chen Clan to offer condolences. However, since the two had not yet formally married, etiquette prevented him from wearing mourning hemp and keeping vigil.

Chen Fangjie had evidently spotted Wang Shouzhe as well. Smiling, he kicked off the gunwale with one foot and shot through the air like an arrow loosed from the bow. After turning a somersault in midair, he landed firmly on the deck.

With a smile, he cupped his hands and complained, "Shouzhe, you were coming to East Port, yet you didn't notify me several days in advance. I could have sent a ship to pick you up directly."

"Greetings, Brother Chen." Wang Shouzhe returned the salute with cupped hands. "The itinerary was decided too hastily. Please forgive me, Brother Chen."

That was right—this Chen Fangjie was his future brother-in-law. But until the marriage was formally completed, he could not address him carelessly.

As they spoke, Wang Shouzhe quietly assessed him. Compared to last year, the one-year-older Chen Fangjie had gained several degrees of heroic bearing. Even with Wang Shouzhe's strength, he could only vaguely discern Chen Fangjie's cultivation.

Clearly, Chen Fangjie had reached the Seventh Layer of the Qi Refining Realm at such a young age, and not merely as a recent entrant to the seventh layer. He was already considered an exceptionally outstanding young talent, and on the surface, he was no less impressive than Wang Shouzhe.

Yet Wang Shouzhe felt entirely calm and confident. Chen Fangjie's overall level was, at most, comparable to Wang Shouzhe before his transmigration. As for the current Wang Shouzhe, he had ample confidence that by Chen Fangjie's age, his cultivation would surpass Chen Fangjie's by a wide margin.

At the same time, Chen Fangjie was quietly appraising Wang Shouzhe as well, and inwardly he was greatly surprised. Previously, when he had looked at Wang Shouzhe, he had merely felt that the youth was talented and diligent in cultivation, though his overall bearing was still somewhat immature and needed tempering.

But in so short a time, he found that Wang Shouzhe had transformed, whether in temperament or bearing, with every gesture and movement. More startling still, Wang Shouzhe's aura faintly pressured him. He must not be far from breaking through to the Seventh Layer of the Qi Refining Realm.

An eighteen-year-old at the Seventh Layer of the Qi Refining Realm!

Even throughout the entire Changning Guard region, that would rank among the very best and be exceedingly rare. Back then, Chen Fangjie himself had only reached the Seventh Layer of the Qi Refining Realm at nineteen. This future brother-in-law was likely no simple fellow.

At that thought, Chen Fangjie's warmth grew stronger. "Shouzhe, what are you saying? Why should there be such distance between us? Once you have met my father, I'll take you around Chen Port for some fun, just to help you unwind."

"Brother Chen, under ordinary circumstances, I would not refuse." Wang Shouzhe said with a smile. "But after visiting Uncle, I must make a trip to Baidao Guard."

Though he too was a Clan Leader, Chen Dewei, the Chen Clan Leader, was his sister's future father-in-law and thus an elder. Since Wang Shouzhe was passing through, he had to pay him a visit both by sentiment and by propriety.

"Baidao Guard." Chen Fangjie's expression turned slightly grave. "You did mention it in the letter you sent earlier. But Shouzhe, I must remind you: Baidao Guard is a remote island city. Longzuo Prefecture's influence there is relatively weak, and all manner of dragons and snakes are mixed together there. It is nothing like our orderly Changning Guard."

"Brother Chen, I understand." Wang Shouzhe answered solemnly. "It is simply that I must trouble the Chen Clan to arrange the route for this journey."

Continuing down the An River, once they passed the Trumpet Mouth, they would enter the East Sea.

The ship Sixth Uncle Wang Dinghai had borrowed posed no great problem sailing on the An River. But if it entered the sea, it would be far too inadequate. Seagoing vessels not only had to be large and stable, but also needed excellent resistance to storms and boatmen experienced in navigation.

In short, the unfathomable sea was not so easily traversed, especially the sea of this fantastical world.

"It is not much trouble." Chen Fangjie hesitated slightly. "I believe you know that our Chen Clan's merchant ships travel to Baidao Guard once every month. However, they mostly transport various goods. Aside from the boatmen's quarters, there are more than ten passenger cabins reserved for guests, though the conditions are rather simple overall. If you truly wish to go, I can squeeze out a few places. We can depart this afternoon and arrive at Baidao Guard by the morning after tomorrow. But our ship can only dock at Baidao Guard for five days."

A seagoing ship represented an enormous investment, and every voyage cost a great deal. The round-trip route, tides, and weather all had to be calculated and estimated.

Naturally, Wang Shouzhe would not be so impolite as to ask the Chen Clan to send out a ship solely for him. He immediately said that he could fully accept the arrangement and asked Chen Fangjie to arrange three guest cabins.

Now that the itinerary had been settled, Chen Fangjie naturally did not make unnecessary fuss and agreed.

Afterward, guided by the receiving boat, Sixth Uncle Wang Dinghai's ship docked. Ancestor Longyan and the others temporarily remained aboard, while Wang Shouzhe accompanied Chen Fangjie to pay a proper visit to Chen Dewei, the current Clan Leader of the Chen Clan.

Chen Dewei naturally received Wang Shouzhe with all due courtesy and expressed his gratitude to the Wang Clan for notifying them in advance about the Honey Insect plague. The Chen Clan's main business was not agriculture, and the family had only two small farms totaling three or four thousand mu. With advance warning, their overall losses would not be too severe.

Meanwhile, Chen Fangjie swiftly helped Wang Shouzhe arrange the voyage and introduced several Chen Clan members joining the trip to Wang Shouzhe, instructing them to take good care of Wang Shouzhe's group.

Because Wang Shouzhe declined his offer to escort them aboard, Chen Fangjie stuffed a small booklet into Wang Shouzhe's hands before he left. It recorded the various factions and intelligence of Baidao Guard.

Not long afterward, at East Port's deepwater harbor, Wang Shouzhe's party discreetly boarded the seagoing ship named Junyao. The vessel was named after the Chen Clan's Ancestor Junyao, enough to deter certain petty scoundrels from harboring improper thoughts.

After boarding, a Chen Clan member named Chen Fanghua courteously led them to their cabins.

Chen Fanghua was the clan cousin of Young Clan Leader Chen Fangjie. At only twenty-five, he was already at the high stage of the Fifth Layer of the Qi Refining Realm, an elite among the Chen Clan's younger generation.

The three guest cabins were connected, and one of them was even a superior room reserved for distinguished guests.

For Chen Fangjie to free up a superior room in such haste clearly showed how highly he regarded Wang Shouzhe and how he spared no effort in handling the matter.

"Brother Chen, thank you." Wang Shouzhe cupped his hands toward Chen Fanghua, who had led the way. "For the journey ahead, I hope Brother Chen will look after us."

"Of course, of course." Chen Fanghua hurriedly returned the salute. "You are honored guests of the Young Clan Leader, which makes you honored guests of our Chen Clan. Please make yourselves at home. If you need anything, call for me at any time."

With that, he took his leave. The ship was about to depart, and this was the busiest time.

Not wishing to make the matter known to everyone, Wang Shouzhe had asked Chen Fangjie to keep his identity confidential. Thus, the Chen Clan members aboard only knew that he was an honored guest of the Young Clan Leader.

Once there was no one else around.

Wang Shouzhe finally cupped his hands toward Ancestor Longyan. "Ancestor, I have wronged you by making you travel on a cargo merchant ship." If they chartered an entire vessel, setting aside the cost, the matter would not be nearly so simple or straightforward.

"It is no matter. Shouzhe, your arrangements are very proper." Ancestor Longyan said calmly, neither pleased nor displeased. "For this trip to Baidao Guard, the safest course is to go swiftly and return swiftly, without a sound."

"Fourth Aunt, please trouble yourself to help Ancestor rest first." Wang Shouzhe then said to Xu Zhirou. "This journey will take over twenty hours. Do not let Ancestor become exhausted."

"Rest assured, Shouzhe. I will certainly take good care of Ancestor." Fourth Aunt Xu Zhirou answered solemnly, then supported Ancestor Longyan into the superior room.

The superior room was divided into an inner and outer chamber, allowing distinguished guests and their attendants to rest separately.

Just as Wang Lici was about to trot in after them, Wang Shouzhe called her to a stop. "Eldest girl, come with me first. There are some things I need to tell you."

"Yes, Fourth Uncle."

Wang Lici's heart trembled. Did I make another mistake? She immediately followed him into the neighboring room as though her parents had died.

Seeing that expression on her face, Wang Shouzhe flicked her forehead irritably. "What kind of expression is that? I'm your Fourth Uncle, not some man-eating demon."

Wang Lici hurriedly changed her expression, forcing out a guilty, ingratiating dry laugh.