Chapter 453 463: City on the Sea

「Ten days later. Yihai Country, Yihai City.」

Wen Qingye stood aboard a small boat. He wore a Black Iron Mask that hid his face. A small canopy shielded him from the glaring sun, and a boatman leisurely rowed at the front, his movements exceptionally skilled.

Ahead lay a bustling, lively scene. The clamor seemed to shake the very heavens. The surroundings were filled with boats and waterways, but these rivers were like roads—extremely wide and crowded with countless vessels. An array of strange and magnificent sights of the sea city entered his view.

From several towering pavilions, women waved their handkerchiefs, laughing softly as they looked down. The scent of rouge drifted through the air, joined by the dull, heavy sounds from taverns and the fresh aroma wafting from teahouses.

Yihai Country was situated on a main channel of the Mingzhu Strait, making it a renowned city on the sea.

It was a picture of peace and prosperity, filled with song and dance.

"Boatman, is Feiyun Dock just ahead?" Wen Qingye asked with a smile.

"Feiyun Dock?" Hearing Wen Qingye's words, the boatman's expression turned to one of horror.

Wen Qingye's expression was hidden behind his Black Iron Mask, but his tone was nonchalant as he asked, "What's wrong? Is it not here?"

"No, no, no, no, Feiyun Dock is just ahead," the boatman said hastily. He then glanced at Wen Qingye and asked, "Sir, this must be your first time here, right?"

Wen Qingye nodded. "Yes, it is."

The boatman's face was etched with fear as he said, "Feiyun Dock hasn't been peaceful lately. No one knows who that Sect has offended, but now, people are only allowed to enter—not leave. Anyone who comes out becomes a corpse within the time it takes an incense stick to burn, their head hung on the southern city wall. So now, everyone in and around Feiyun Dock is in a state of panic, unable to live a single day in peace. Even we don't dare go too deep."

With his hands clasped behind his back, Wen Qingye gazed at the lively scenes on both sides and said with a smile, "Just drop me off at the bank over there. I can go by myself."

The boatman nodded in agreement. "Alright, but Sir, you must be careful."

A short while later, the boat reached a bank and slowly docked. This area was clearly more sparsely populated. The pedestrians on the road walked with extreme haste, their leisurely pace replaced by a sense of panic.

The boatman stretched out a finger and pointed ahead, saying nervously, "Sir, this is it. Follow this road and turn left, and you'll see Feiyun Dock."

"Thanks." Wen Qingye tossed him a Top-Grade Primordial Stone, then leaped onto the bank in a single bound.

Holding the Top-Grade Primordial Stone, the boatman was about to speak when he realized Wen Qingye was already walking into the distance. Overjoyed, he hastily pocketed the stone.

Wen Qingye stepped ashore. The area was lined with houses and pavilions of varying heights. Compared to the bustling traffic from before, this place seemed rather desolate, even oppressive.

A chill seemed to hang in the air, making one's heart clench.

He followed the boatman's directions, slowly walking toward Feiyun Dock.

Most of the people he saw were Martial Artists. Their expressions were extremely cold, and they seemed unfazed by Wen Qingye wearing a Black Iron Mask.

This place felt as if it had been through a catastrophe. It was sparsely populated, but when you compared it to the miles of prosperity and picturesque scenes of weeping willows and painted bridges you had just passed, the contrast would naturally strike fear into your heart.

Suddenly!

Wen Qingye felt a figure in front of him rushing over. He subconsciously enveloped his body in Primordial Qi, then reached out and steadied the person by the arm.

"Thank you, Sir! Thank you, Sir!"

He took a closer look. The person was a young man who had completely retracted his aura, making him appear to be an ordinary person. He was currently apologizing to Wen Qingye nonstop.

"It's nothing," Wen Qingye said, shaking his head with a smile.

The young man was exceedingly polite and only left after a while.

Wen Qingye's eyes narrowed slightly as he watched the departing youth. 'This person was clearly testing me,' he sneered inwardly. 'How could I not see it?'

At that thought, Wen Qingye's gaze shifted to a nearby pavilion for a second before he continued walking forward.

Inside the pavilion.

A woman peered gently through the bamboo window, looking down. She couldn't help but frown and say, "That person is heading to Feiyun Dock. Could he have noticed me just now?"

The woman was dressed in red robes, as vibrant as a flower. Her powdered face was graced with vermilion lips, her skin was like fine cream with a rosy blush, and her delicate beauty was like a pink peach blossom. Her every movement possessed the grace of a secluded orchid.

A peerless face and a city-toppling beauty—this was she.

"Red Venerable, you must be overthinking it. This person's cultivation is only at the Destruction Realm Third Heaven. How could he possibly discover you? You worry too much," a handsome man beside her said with a wave of his hand and a smile.

The man wore purple robes, and at his waist was a carving of a black-browed jade cymbidium—the exact insignia of a disciple from Thousand Nether Valley in the Eastern Profound Domain. Next to the flower were carved the two words 'Xiang Jing'. This man was indeed Xiang Jing, a Core Disciple of Thousand Nether Valley.

As for the woman, her identity was not so simple.

The woman's brows furrowed as she said, "This time, I don't want any accidents."

Xiang Jing gazed at the woman's cheek, forcibly suppressing the impulse in his heart. He then said with a smile, "Don't worry. With me here, there will absolutely be no accidents."

......

Wen Qingye looked at the small sea island ahead, which stood apart from its surroundings, and couldn't help but laugh. "This place is certainly different from the others. Building a Sect's headquarters within a city... I suppose it's not impossible."

Ahead, a river encircled the island, seemingly isolating it from the rest of the world. A wide stone bridge stood before Wen Qingye, upon which was carved its name: Feiyun Dock.

Wen Qingye walked directly onto the stone bridge. He met no resistance whatsoever, and the area was completely deserted.

Slowly, Wen Qingye walked into the interior of the small island. Main halls and pavilions stood in great numbers, with staggered, whitewashed walls of varying heights lending the place an extremely solemn air. At this moment, however, it was tinged with an air of desolation and a grim, murderous aura.

"Who are you?"

Just as he was about to enter Feiyun Dock proper, a voice reached his ears, and a figure appeared ahead. The figure gradually became distinct: a middle-aged woman with a cultivation at the First Level of the Destruction Realm. She held a longsword, watching Wen Qingye nervously.

Wen Qingye held up his hands and called out clearly, "You must be from Feiyun Dock. I'm a friend, not a foe. Don't be nervous."

Hearing his words, the middle-aged woman let out a small sigh of relief. She walked over slowly and looked at the masked Wen Qingye.

The middle-aged woman clasped her fist and said, "I am Qiu Xuan, an Elder of Feiyun Dock. Might I ask which master you are, young friend?"

In recent days, with the troubles befalling Feiyun Dock, they had naturally sent out calls for help to all allied Sects. Therefore, Qiu Xuan couldn't immediately determine Wen Qingye's identity.

"I'm from the northwest," Wen Qingye said with a faint smile. "It's enough that Elder Qiu Xuan understands. There's no need to say more."

When Qiu Xuan heard this, her heart trembled as if a thought had struck her, and she became ecstatic. "Of course, of course! Young friend, please, follow me inside."

Wen Qingye nodded and followed Qiu Xuan inside.