Journey to Qiongzhou (Prologue): The sea breeze was gentle...

Qiongzhou Strait.

This vital sea route connecting the mainland to Qiongzhou Island stretches 160 li from east to west and nearly 80 li from north to south, its boundless sea surface shimmering in the warm morning light.

At this moment, a private cruise ship is sailing through the strait with the force of cutting through the wind and waves, stirring up waves along the way.

"The sea breeze is gentle..." Phoebe stood on the deck, the sea breeze blowing against her face, while her fair hand gently held the sun hat on her head to prevent it from being blown away by the sea breeze.

"Phoebe Chibi?"

A familiar voice suddenly rang out on the deck. Phoebe turned around, and the sea breeze playfully lifted the hem of her dress.

"Ah, Rover," Phoebe said with a smile. "Why don't you come up on deck for some fresh air too?"

"Sitting here is just sitting anyway, why not come up to the deck and keep the pretty girl company while she enjoys the breeze?" Xiao Ling grinned and strolled leisurely to Phoebe's side.

"Calling her 'pretty girl' is a bit too much..." Phoebe was clearly defenseless against such straightforward praise, and her face flushed instantly.

After chatting for a bit, the two stood side by side on the deck, the sea breeze blowing directly across their faces, making them feel refreshed.

"What is everyone doing in the cabin right now?" After a while, Phoebe's sweet voice began to ask about the others.

"They're all doing their own thing. There's still quite a while before we reach the shore, so they're just killing time," Xiao Ling said with a smile. "But Phoebe, you went straight to the deck not long after boarding. Were you reminded of the scenery?"

"Perhaps that's true. Every time I smell the sea breeze, I'm reminded of the time we spent fishing together in the Lirio Archipelago."

"That was indeed an unforgettable time." Xiao Ling's smile was somewhat stiff.

(Don't worry about how unforgettable it is.)

"But you know what, this boat is really good. It's stable and fast. It's just tough on Encore. She wasn't very good at boating during her time in Hangzhou." Xiao Ling smiled helplessly.

"This cruise ship doesn't rock and sway like the rowboats in Hangzhou, so I think Little Encore's condition should be better than before," Phoebe said with a gentle smile. "If anything does happen, I also know some emergency treatments for seasickness."

"Did you study this specifically? That's impressive Phoebe Chibi."

"No, I knew a little bit back in Rinascita, and I've also learned about this world. While it can't cure everything, it can at least make people who are seasick feel better."

"Hmm~ Phoebe Chibi is really reliable."

"My name is Phoebe!!"

The perspective shifts to inside the ship's cabin.

Qingxiao sat quietly on the sofa taking a nap, occasionally glancing at the lively Lahai-Roi Squad on the other side before looking away.

After a while, as if she had developed a craving for food, she gently raised her delicate hand, picked up a piece of mung bean cake, and prepared to put it in her mouth.

Then, with a whoosh, the mung bean cake that was just about to be eaten vanished right before Qingxiao's eyes.

Qingxiao stared blankly at her empty left hand for a moment, then sighed softly and turned her gaze to the culprit.

"If you want some pastries, you can help yourself." She looked coldly at the habitual scoundrel, "This is the fifth time you've snatched pastries from me since we boarded the ship."

"Oh dear, Sword Immortal, please calm down! I didn't mean to," Heartfox pleaded pitifully, now that she was being questioned. "These pastries were just so delicious, I couldn't resist!"

"If you want to eat, the pastries are right in front of you. Why do you insist on taking them from my hands?"

"It's my fault for blaming you, Sword Immortal. Oh well, I'm not as handsome as the Charioteer, and I can't win the favor of a cold and aloof sword immortal like you."

Qingxiao suddenly felt a headache coming on. Every time she tried to reason with this fox, she would dodge the question and steer the conversation away from the original topic.

"... Fine, whatever makes you happy." Qingxiao sighed, giving up on pursuing the matter of Heartfox stealing food.

Seeing Qingxiao's helpless expression, Heartfox couldn't help but reveal a victorious smile.

"Hmm? What are those little girls playing?"

She was still basking in her recent victory when she inadvertently noticed that Lynae and her friends across the table were playing Dou Dizhu (a popular Chinese card game). Curious, she asked Qingxiao, who was sitting next to her, about it.

"I don't know. If you're curious, you can go and see for yourself." Qingxiao finished speaking and then closed her eyes to rest again.

No time like the present; this fox spirit has always loved to join in the fun. Lynae and the others are having so much fun, how could she not get involved?

"Speaking of which, what are you planning to do at the beach?" After playing a single card, Lynae asked the other two about their plans.

"I've heard there are many seabirds in Qiongzhou. Of course, I'll make sure to document these little guys when I get there." After answering Lynae's question, Sigrika glanced at her hand and played one card. "I'll play this one!"

"Huh? My turn?" Dania, who was dozing off, suddenly woke up, drew a card and played it without even looking at her hand, before answering Lynae's question, "I don't really have anything in particular I want to do. I'm happy as long as we're all together and having fun."

"Of course, it's fun when everyone's together," Lynae said with a bright smile. "Hey, I'm betting on the King!"

Dania and Sigrika both shook their heads, signaling Lynae to continue playing her card.

"You don't want any of them? Then I'm leaving!" Lynae played her last hand of cards in one go, "Straight, I won!"

Dania and Sigrika glanced at Lynae's last hand of cards and couldn't help but stare at her with looks of utter disbelief.

"Uh, is there a problem?" Lynae asked weakly, feeling insecure under their gazes.

"Your hand doesn't make a straight. The top card is an eight. Where's the straight of three, four, five, six, and eight?" Dania said with a dark expression.

"Hey? I clearly see three, four, five, six, and seven. How can this be?"

"But just like Yaya, all I see are three, four, five, six, and eight." Sigrika once again endorsed Dania.

"Really? Let me see?"

Lynae took back her hand, and at first glance, she found that there was nothing wrong with her hand; it was just three, four, five, six, and seven.

Then, she played her card and noticed that the top seven immediately turned into an eight.

"Holy crap! There's a traitor! Game over!" Lynae exclaimed, pointing at the deck of cards on the table with a look of utter disbelief. "When it was in my hand, it was three, four, five, six, seven, but after I played it, the top seven became an eight!"

"What's going on...?" Dania was completely confused.

After watching from the sidelines, Roccia sighed and then snapped her fingers. Now all three of them could see that Lynae's last hand was a proper straight.

"It really is three, four, five, six, seven..." Sigrika exclaimed in surprise, "Then what Yaya and I saw just now..."

"Heartfox, games are only fun if they're fair and just, okay?"

The three little ones at the card table immediately followed Roccia's gaze and found Heartfox standing behind them, watching them with a beaming smile.

"Rules are rigid, but people are flexible," Heartfox chuckled. "If we strictly adhered to the rules, this game would be far too boring."

"But that's how the rules are designed! Isn't exchanging cards using Resonance Ability a piece of cake for us?" Lynae retorted. "The game is fun precisely because everyone follows the rules!"

"Hmm, that makes sense. I also have a fun game here; I wonder if you gentlemen would do me the honor of participating."

"Good!"

In this atmosphere, the ship gradually approached the shore as time passed.

Their journey to Qiongzhou is about to begin.