Chapter 95: Heading North

Travelers at sea speak of the Isles of Immortals, yet through mist and rolling waves they are indeed hard to find.

Fang Yue stood on the deck in a robe of green cloth, letting the sea wind brush his face as he gazed in silence at the sapphire expanse beyond the bow.

This world, of course, had no true Isles of Immortals, but the lands beyond the seas were still wrapped in endless rumor.

Take the Eastern Sea, for instance. Far, far to the east, legend said there existed thirteen sea isles, where immortals dwelled, strange beasts roamed, and elixirs of immortality grew, along with all manner of bizarre and wondrous things.

Fang Yue was greatly intrigued by the thirteen overseas sea isles spoken of among mariners. If he ever had sufficient strength, he very much wanted to go and see them for himself.

For now, though, he was sailing north, bound for the northern reaches of Yunzhou.

In the north of Yunzhou there were five prefectures: Wild Goose South, Long Spring, Field Peace, Dragon Surge, and Heavenly Treasure.

That region lay close to the inland plains, with many mountains and hills. The people were fierce by nature, and martial arts were widespread.

Where there were many martial artists, there were naturally many sects and martial schools.

Some of the larger sects even occupied mountain strongholds of their own. Their disciples numbered in the thousands; they cleared fields, farmed the land, and maintained outside enterprises, making themselves largely self-sufficient.

After dealing with the matter of the ghost bride, Fang Yue had made arrangements in Fish Head Town and remained there for some time, confirming that the supernatural incident had been an isolated one, and that the ghosts in Peace County had not spread there.

Only then did he finally relax. Packing his belongings, he took a fishing boat to Seagull Harbor County near Fish Head Town, and from there transferred to a sea vessel headed north.

Fish Head Town had by then largely settled down. Its two businesses continued to supply Fang Yue with a steady stream of silver, while also bringing prosperity to the local area.

In addition, Fang Baoliang was able to handle the occasional stray ghost and keep Fish Head Town from suffering under supernatural troubles.

Still, before leaving, Fang Yue had gathered the few people currently in charge of affairs in Fish Head Town and given his instructions.

If the ghosts in the county town should spread there, or if any other irresistible crisis arose, then they were to abandon Fish Head Town as a foundation and relocate the entire town to a neighboring county or prefecture.

"Brother Fang, you are staring out at the sea so intently. Have you been inspired to compose a poem?"

A learned man in a scholar's robe stepped onto the deck and stood beside Fang Yue.

The scholar's surname was Wu, his given name was Xiang. He was a native of Seagull Harbor County and a student of the prefectural academy in White Spring Prefecture.

Having returned home to visit his family, he was now hurrying back to the academy to study, preparing for next autumn's provincial examination.

The others aboard the ship were either traders, peddlers, laborers, merchants, or sailors.

Proud of his status as a scholar, Wu Xiang was unwilling to mingle with such common folk. Seeing that Fang Yue was also a scholarly man in a green robe, and learning after a brief exchange that Fang Yue too was a scholar, he felt a little closer to him.

Fang Yue turned and said, "What inspiration for poetry? I could never compose verse, not like you, Brother Wu."

Wu Xiang loved writing poetry. Since boarding in Seagull Harbor County, he had already composed two poems, and insisted on reciting them to Fang Yue for appraisal.

What could Fang Yue do in such a chance meeting but praise him politely?

What had begun as nothing more than courteous words to smooth the moment over, however, only encouraged Wu Xiang further. He came to regard Fang Yue as a confidant, saying that no one else understood his poetry, and that only "Brother Fang" could grasp its true meaning.

This left Fang Yue utterly speechless. In truth, he had not even clearly caught what Wu Xiang had recited.

The two of them stood on the deck and looked out over the sea for a while, chatting idly.

Then Wu Xiang suddenly seemed to remember something and said, "Brother Fang, you are from Banshan County, are you not? Do you know about the pirate invasion of Peace County more than two months ago?"

Fang Yue had given Banshan County as his registered place of origin. Peace County had become a sensitive topic, and to avoid trouble he had transferred his household registration there.

Through products such as soap, the officials from top to bottom in Banshan County had already been thoroughly bought off by the silver coming out of Fish Head Town.

Of course, there were also a few minor officials who were envious of the soap business and wanted to seize its profits through trickery and force.

But the Fish Head Town of today had money, people, and resources. Those petty officials who did not know their place were taught some less savory lessons, and one by one they became obedient.

With bribery added to the mix, and monthly dividends paid out, there was naturally no complaint from the yamen officials in Banshan County.

So it had been no difficulty at all for Fang Yue to move his household registration there.

Outwardly, he now acted as a native of Banshan County.

When Wu Xiang suddenly brought up the pirate assault on Peace County, Fang Yue had no desire to discuss it at length. He answered vaguely, "I've heard a little. They say many people died; it was quite tragic."

Wu Xiang said, "Not merely many people. They say nearly the entire county town was slaughtered. Those damned pirates, and the court still did not send the naval forces to wipe them all out."

Wu Xiang sounded indignant, as though angry that the court was useless. His hometown, Seagull Harbor County, was near Peace County and was also a coastal county.

If the pirates had attacked Seagull Harbor County instead of Peace County, then the tragedy of Peace County would have befell his own home.

His parents and relatives were all back in his native place, so he could hardly help but feel a chill of fear when he thought of it.

This time he had specially returned from the prefectural academy to visit his family, because he was worried about them and wanted to see for himself that they were safe.

"Brother Wu, be careful not to speak lightly of the court in public," Fang Yue cut him off, bringing the topic to an end.

...

After a day and a night at sea, the vessel reached White Spring Prefecture.

Once ashore, Wu Xiang warmly invited Fang Yue to spend some time visiting the prefectural city.

Fang Yue thanked him politely and declined, saying that he had to transfer to another ship at once, bound for Baling County under Tianbao Prefecture, and continue his northern journey of study.

In truth, before setting out, he had used the Brass Mirror to spy on the movements of Tianyangzi and his disciple. He knew they were presently in the prefectural city of White Spring Prefecture.

Tianyangzi and his disciple had once tried to scheme against him and turn him into a puppet. Though they had failed, they had merely shifted their attention elsewhere.

But Fang Yue had never forgotten that grudge.

With Fang Yue's present strength, if he took advantage of the fact that they knew nothing of his true depth, and that the enemy was in the light while he lurked in shadow, he still had a very good chance of plotting against them.

Yet the law of the court had its own order. To kill someone in the city would bring endless trouble afterward.

Tianyangzi and his disciple had dared to run wild in Peace County only because they had been fishing in troubled waters amid the chaos of ghostly upheaval.

Here in the prefectural city, they would never dare to act recklessly, or White Cloud Palace would not spare them.

Naturally, Fang Yue did not dare behave lawlessly in the prefectural city either. Besides, with his current strength, dealing with Tianyangzi and his disciple still carried grave risk.

More than that, the prefectural city was Tianyangzi's old nest. Who knew whether he still had accomplices?

So before reaching the Innate Realm, Fang Yue had no intention of seeking revenge on Tianyangzi and his disciple for the time being.

In that case, it was best not to meet them face to face for now.

With this thought in mind, Fang Yue did not linger long in White Spring Prefecture. Soon he boarded a vessel departing White Spring for Baling County under Tianbao Prefecture.

Standing on the ship and watching the constant flow of boats and dockworkers at the harbor, Fang Yue felt a pang of admiration. As expected of the largest port in Yunzhou, White Spring Harbor was remarkably prosperous.

"Hm?"

Fang Yue suddenly gave a soft exclamation.

Just then he had seen a familiar figure disembark from a boat and hurry away.

If he had not mistaken the man, it should have been Li Changhe, a young clerk from the county yamen of Peace County.

Several months earlier, when Fang Yue had sought an audience with Magistrate Hu and had not brought an appointment card, it was Li Changhe who helped provide him with brush, ink, and paper.

"To think he is still alive."

Seeing an old acquaintance, Fang Yue felt quite pleased.

Unfortunately, Li Changhe left in haste and soon vanished from sight. Fang Yue could not even catch up to greet him.

At that moment the ship was about to set sail, and Fang Yue had no way to run ashore in search of him.

Besides, his relationship with Li Changhe was not especially deep. So he could only let the matter rest.