Chapter 378: On the Canglan River
"Is this the direction to Lin Winter City?" Tang San asked as he and the Fifth Elder led a detachment of elite soldiers down the main road, following faint traces of a carriage that had left Tian Dou City. Studying the shallow marks in the ground, Tang San's eyes glinted with a flash of violet.
The Purple Demon Eye's Guizi level allowed him to clearly spot even the faintest details, even in the darkness. Lin Winter was just a small, frigid town to the north—an unlikely place to flee to. Tang San questioned whether he might be on the wrong trail.
Examining the wheel tracks with a frown, Tang San crouched down, running his fingers over the prints left in the soil.
"Something wrong?" the Fifth Elder inquired.
Tang San brushed some soil from his fingers, a note of uncertainty in his voice.
"The tracks here… seem a little shallower."
The Fifth Elder's expression grew serious. He understood what Tang San was implying: if the tracks were lighter, then the carriage may have offloaded some of its weight, possibly meaning those they pursued had left the vehicle.
Extending his spirit power in a broad sweep, he scanned the area, stirring the trees with an eerie wind that silenced even the insects around them. A long moment later, the Fifth Elder frowned, speaking in a low voice,
"Are you sure? I can't sense anything unusual here."
Dai Yao had meticulously erased any trace of himself and Qian Renxue upon disembarking, ensuring they left no trail for anyone to follow. Though the Fifth Elder was powerful, he found no clues in the dense darkness.
Tang San looked out over the dim forest with a flash of determination. On the beaten ground of the main road, where countless carriage tracks lay upon one another, the faint evidence was barely perceptible. His statement that the carriage they pursued had left lighter tracks was more intuition than certainty.
Biting his lip, he said in a resolute tone,
"We continue to Lin Winter."
Nearby cities had already received orders to lock down and detain anyone suspicious. Besides, the Third and Fourth Elders guarded the eastern and western routes, laying a nearly impenetrable net. The Shura Emperor would find no escape.
With Tang San's orders, the troops moved forward in an imposing column toward Lin Winter City.
At dawn, on a rugged trail,
The sun was beginning to rise over the mountaintop, casting a pale light as Dai Yao drove their carriage along the narrow, bumpy path. Looking toward the sunrise, he squinted, asking,
"We're almost there—how are you holding up?"
Lifting the curtain to check on Qian Renxue, who still appeared in her disguise as Xue Qinghe, Dai Yao saw her pale, sweat-soaked face as she leaned weakly against the carriage's frame. Hearing his question, Qian Renxue forced a faint smile, sitting up with effort.
"If we keep up on roads like this, I may not be able to hold on much longer."
The journey had taken a toll she had never anticipated, with her injuries going untended as they fled through the night. She had endured each rough, jarring moment, understanding that they couldn't afford to stop, and gritted her teeth. Above all, she refused to show her weakness before Dai Yao.
Years ago, she'd yearned for her mother's love, longing for a smile from Bibi Dong. Instead, she was met with a gaze as cold as ice. She had pleaded, even wept, but nothing could soften Bibi Dong's heart. The helplessness of that young self was something she despised, and now, though she placed her fate in Dai Yao's hands, she told herself she was no longer that powerless child.
With a quiet glance, Dai Yao could see through Qian Renxue's efforts. Her injuries had worsened, but there was no choice to stop. Earlier, he'd noticed a few patrol soldiers along their path—no doubt searching for something.
"So quick to mobilize. If they're patrolling even such remote trails, we can expect the next town's inspection to be even more stringent," he murmured, then let out a small, cold smile.
"But I'd like to see just how they intend to track us!"
With a glance at the brightening sky, Dai Yao added,
"Hopefully, Yan Yan and Rong Rong managed to leave Tian Dou City safely as well…"
He had avoided involving the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan or the Qinglian Sect to ensure they wouldn't face repercussions from Tian Dou's wrath. As far as the empire knew, he had nearly toppled the royal family, and any association with those factions would risk exposing his Shura Emperor identity.
The carriage continued its journey, rounding a bend in the path to reveal a vast river valley. Two steep mountains flanked the water, their sheer rock faces carved from white and brown stone. Between them ran a ribbon of deep blue, shimmering under the newly risen sun like a trail of crushed gold.
"We've arrived." Dai Yao reined in the horses, halting the carriage at the edge of the mountain trail that overlooked the river. He looked upon the scene with a rare, genuine smile.
Hearing him, Qian Renxue forced herself up, lifting the curtain to behold the breathtaking view. In her sheltered palace life, she'd rarely seen such unspoiled beauty. The sight, coupled with the cool, misty breeze, seemed to soothe her pain.
"Is this…?" she asked in awe.
"This is the Canglan River," Dai Yao explained. "The largest river in Tian Dou's eastern lands, feeding countless tributaries and the fertile Lima Plains. I can share our route now that we're here—our plan is to travel by boat to the open sea, and from there, we'll skirt the continent's coastline southward."
"We'll eventually land near Wuhun City. It'll take longer, but once we're at sea, they'll be hard-pressed to track us. It's far safer than a land route."
Qian Renxue immediately grasped his strategy. With river travel, Tian Dou's soldiers would struggle to pursue them, and the farther they got from the capital, the looser the empire's control over the local forces. She looked at Dai Yao, clearly impressed. While it wasn't the fastest plan, it was by far the safest—and right now, safety meant everything.
Dai Yao's expression grew serious.
"Of course, before reaching the sea, we have a long journey downriver. Though the river checkpoints are fewer than on land, we'll still need to proceed cautiously. If we're detected, it won't be easy to escape." Qian Renxue nodded, her face equally solemn.
Carefully maneuvering the carriage down the steep and winding path to the river, Dai Yao finally brought it to a stop by the bank two quarters of an hour later.
The river surged and swelled.
A few scattered boats floated in the early morning current, while smoke rose from small huts perched along the mountainside. Fishermen offloaded their catch from the early hours, piling it on the shore. One rugged man, wiping sweat from his brow, gave a friendly nod to an older man nearby who was polishing his boat, as he had done every day for decades without once setting out to sea. Playfully, the younger fisherman teased:
"Old Huang, still polishing that boat? You never set sail—what's the point in making it shine like that?" one of the fishermen called out teasingly.
The man named Old Huang, whose face was weathered with deep lines carved by time, kept polishing his boat, chuckling warmly.
"You wouldn't understand, Old Li," he replied.
Old Li just shook his head and laughed, leaving the conversation there. It had been over a decade since Old Huang had appeared in their town, quietly settling down. He was a decent guy, but with one odd quirk: despite owning a good boat, he never took it out. Instead, he spent every day maintaining it with care. None of them understood why, and Old Huang never offered an answer.
Just then, the sound of approaching hooves echoed from the nearby path.
The men turned to look, spotting a carriage that soon came into view. Startled, they exchanged suspicious glances. This was an isolated area, and they rarely saw strangers here, apart from the occasional Wuhun Hall Soul Master who came once a year to awaken spirits.
"Whoa—" Dai Yao pulled the carriage to a stop and, noticing the group of curious onlookers, focused on Old Huang, who was busy polishing his boat. Smiling, he called out,
"My boat's still ready, isn't it?"
The group froze, all eyes shifting to Old Huang in surprise. Old Huang, staring at Dai Yao, had to steady his trembling lips before he managed to stammer,
"Sir… is it really you?"
His companions looked at him, puzzled. This familiar man now seemed strangely foreign—had Old Huang been polishing that boat all these years just for this visitor?
Dai Yao nodded at the man with a faint smile. He'd arranged for Old Huang to prepare his escape route years ago.
"Yes, it's me. Is the boat ready? I need to depart immediately."
Suppressing his excitement, Old Huang replied,
"Yes, sir! Everything is ready, from bedding to provisions. You can leave whenever you wish."
Dai Yao nodded and opened the carriage door, helping Qian Renxue out. Though her face was smeared with blood and exhaustion, she exuded an undeniable air of nobility that made the fishermen hesitate to ask questions.
Qian Renxue gave the group a passing glance before letting Dai Yao help her onto the boat. As she settled, Dai Yao turned back to Old Huang.
"Take care of these horses and the carriage. Once you're done, you're free from this assignment."
Old Huang nodded, his face bright with emotion.
Before leaving, Dai Yao cast a discreet glance at a man named Old Li, who gave an almost imperceptible nod in return.
With curious glances trailing them, Dai Yao took up an oar and began to row, finally setting the boat, which had been anchored onshore for over a decade, into the water.
The boat was modest—about ten meters long and two meters wide, typical of a fishing vessel. A wooden beam divided the boat's interior, with a front compartment for storing goods and catches, and a rear compartment with a simple wooden bed for resting. Despite its age, Old Huang's meticulous care had kept the boat clean and fresh, with no musty scent.
Dai Yao rowed them into the river's center, then stepped into the cabin to hoist the sail. As the mountain breeze filled the canvas, the boat creaked forward, following the river's current eastward.
Lying on the wooden bed in the cabin, Qian Renxue felt a small measure of peace. The night's endless jolting had drained her strength, and now, finally able to close her eyes, she could hardly keep them open as weariness overtook her. Trying to stay awake, she looked over at Dai Yao, who was securing the sail, and asked,
"That man back there—was he the one you arranged to be here ten years ago? And what was that look you gave the other one about?"
Despite her exhaustion, Qian Renxue had noticed Dai Yao's subtle glance toward Old Li and was curious about the meaning behind it.
Dai Yao was tying off a rope when he looked back, a bit surprised. He hadn't expected Qian Renxue, injured as she was, to catch such a minor detail. With a nod, he explained,
"Yes. Old Huang was my inside man here, assigned to keep a boat ready. As for Old Li, he was sent to keep an eye on Old Huang."
"Think about it: this mission required decades of hidden work. Once I activated this plan, it would mean Wuhun Hall was losing influence in Tian Dou Empire. I couldn't be certain Old Huang would still be loyal after all that time. Old Li was my insurance, to ensure Old Huang hadn't betrayed me. I confirmed that just now when I boarded."
"If Old Huang had betrayed us, we'd have had to leave immediately and switch to a backup plan. Fortunately, he stayed loyal."
"Now that we're finally safe, you should rest. When you wake up, change into some simpler clothes so you can blend in if we run into any inspection parties."
Qian Renxue looked at Dai Yao in disbelief. He had planned all of this ten years ago? She wondered how many more contingencies he might have in place. Giving him a complex look, she nodded faintly before letting her exhaustion pull her into sleep.
Watching her drift off, Dai Yao sighed softly, retrieving a blanket from the forward compartment. Old Huang had done a good job; the blanket, well-preserved, carried a faint scent of sun-warmed fabric. Returning to the cabin, he gently laid it over Qian Renxue, who, sensing something in her sleep, jerked awake and sat up, her eyes wary.
Seeing him holding the blanket, she hesitated, her gaze softening as she mumbled,
"Thank you."
Dai Yao was slightly taken aback, but he nodded, laying the blanket over her shoulders as she settled back down. Leaving her to sleep, he exited the cabin, changed into the plain clothes of a commoner, and took the rudder.
With his weathered bronze skin, Dai Yao looked the part of a simple fisherman, except for his golden hair, which stood out in stark contrast. The breeze tightened the sail with a low hum, and the boat glided smoothly down the river's currents toward the east.
The boat cut silently through the water, carrying them toward the unknown, with the gentle murmur of the river as their only company.
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