Yet, for many who dwelled inland, this experience of riding the wind and cleaving the waves was hardly an enjoyable one. For a great many, it was sheer torment.

Xu Xian, his face ashen, looked at the food before him and felt utterly unable to eat. Huang Rongrong spent a long time offering comfort before she managed to coax him into taking a tiny bite.

“Is this how it will be… for a whole month?” Even the largest ship at sea was no more than a tiny skiff once far from shore. It was tolerable in fair weather, but with even the slightest swell, the vessel would pitch and toss on the waves—an experience utterly exhilarating for a certain type of person.

Of course, that last sentiment was strictly for those with particular tastes. For the majority, there was nothing remotely entertaining about it.

“Where is Senior Brother?”

Having barely settled his stomach, Xu Xian found that after only a few mouthfuls, a wave of nausea rolled through him. Anything he ate seemed destined to be quickly thrown up. Having been at sea for three or four days, he had barely managed to eat anything each day, only to throw it all up again. By the time there was nothing left to expel, he would still retch uncontrollably.

Huang Rongrong, tending to the utterly wilted Xu Xian, replied, “The Sect Leader and Senior Sister Ning are watching the sea from the bow! The Sect Leader said he wanted Senior Sister Ning to see what the true ocean is like!”

“Truly amazing…” With that, his head lolled, and he promptly passed out. The turmoil of the past few days had robbed him of sleep, and he was on the verge of collapse. It was less falling asleep than his body instinctively realizing the danger and shutting down entirely.

Huang Rongrong tidied up and left the cabin, only to see Ye Wen and Ning Ruxue standing at the bow. Hua Yi stood a short distance behind them, while that insufferable pest Xuanyuan Wudi kept glancing over toward Ye Wen—or perhaps, more accurately, toward Hua Yi.

“Impossible! That fellow must be trying to fool me! How could such a beauty merely be a maidservant? He isn’t like me! To treat such an exquisite woman with such disregard, what merits does he possess to warrant such a position?”

Despite his careful scrutiny over the past few days, Hua Yi’s deportment, the way she walked, stood, and even ate, showed no difference from that of a mere maid.

Simply put, wherever Ye Wen went, Hua Yi could only follow behind. If Ye Wen ate, she served him; if Ye Wen rested, she massaged him; if Ye Wen sat, she could only stand quietly beside him.

“It makes no sense! How could such a stunning woman debase herself like this?”

He pondered endlessly, while Ye Wen, on the other hand, was equally vexed.

This confounded Xuanyuan Wudi was simply too irritating. Furthermore, unlike that hot-tempered Long Batian, this fellow refused to provoke trouble proactively. Even if Ye Wen wanted to lose his temper and get rid of the nuisance, he couldn't.

“Could it be that after I dealt with Long Batian in a single move, he harbors some apprehension toward me?”

After much thought, this seemed the most plausible explanation. Otherwise, he truly could not fathom why such a person would endure this long without making any noteworthy move.

But since Xuanyuan Wudi dared not cross him, Ye Wen had no desire to engage the man either. After all, this fellow was clearly blessed with fortune; if he truly opposed him only to find himself struggling against an antagonist as resilient as an immortal cockroach, the outcome would be disastrous.

“I hope I’m not merely a stepping stone for some protagonist character!”

The great ship sliced through the waves, maintaining a straight line due east. Over these past few days, Ye Wen had lost track of how far they had traveled. He only knew that if anyone fell into the sea, they would surely drown long before reaching shore. Moreover, the color of the water was growing deeper, and the waves were getting higher.

Standing at the bow, Ye Wen could feel the very ground beneath his feet rising and falling. If not for the fact that the people gathered at the prow were all masters of high martial arts, they would have surely been thrown overboard.

Ning Ruxue stood with him for a while before admitting, feeling a bit dizzy, “Senior Brother, is the sea always like this on a large ship?”

Ye Wen nodded. “Indeed!” He inwardly mused, My past life’s amusement park rides—the Pirate Ship, the Flume Ride, the Roller Coasters—weren’t entirely wasted after all; at least my resistance to motion sickness is slightly better now!

Given his current high cultivation level, this degree of rocking didn't cause him significant discomfort.

However, looking back, even Hua Yi was slightly frowning, and the pampered Xu Xian had already collapsed. His disciples, too, had been confined to their bunks these past few days, faring no better.

Just then, Nangong Tinghai emerged. Their eyes met, and both let out a shared sigh. They realized the peril of this journey far exceeded their initial estimations.

“My Nangong Family has long resided in the south, and we are accustomed to sailing, but out on this great ocean, many of my disciples feel unwell!” Nangong Tinghai didn't need to inquire about Ye Wen’s Shu Shan Sect; he could deduce the situation from his own followers. Considering the state of the other vessels, the circumstances were likely much the same.

Ye Wen also sighed deeply. “But what can be done? We certainly can’t turn back now, can we?”

Turning back was out of the question. Success in the Jianghu hinges on reputation. The call to encircle and destroy the Demonic Cult had already been sounded. To retreat before even sighting their stronghold would instantly turn them into the laughingstock of the entire martial world.

“The only way forward is to take one step at a time and see what happens!” As they spoke, Xuanyuan Wudi, who had been standing nearby, suddenly sidled up, adopting an air of arrogance. “What is there to fear? That Demonic Cult is nothing but a flock of overconfident chickens! Once this great hero arrives, they’ll obediently drop their weapons and beg for mercy!” He punctuated this with a couple of cold snorts. “If anyone insists on being stubborn, I shall personally deal with them!”

Upon hearing these words, Nangong Tinghai and Ye Wen exchanged glances before sighing in unison again. At this point, they couldn’t be bothered to hide their feelings from this man; in truth, it made little difference whether they invited trouble or not.

Xuanyuan Wudi spouted on for a while, but seeing that neither man paid him any heed, even though his mighty frame was trembling from the effort, neither offered him the slightest bow of deference.

It was only the chorus of flattery from the bevy of beautiful wives and concubines trailing behind him that saved him from complete embarrassment.

Similar scenes were unfolding on the other great ships.

Zen Master Huixin of the Chan Sect and True Man Tianyi of the Tiandao Sect were both deeply worried about the current situation. None of them had anticipated the sheer might of the ocean, capable of routing the elite of the Righteous Path forces without a single blow struck.

Under the current conditions, forget fighting the Demonic Cult; once they reached land, at least half the company wouldn’t even be able to stand steadily.

True Man Tianyi and Zen Master Huixin were not military generals, nor were they experts in naval warfare. Naturally, they had failed to consider these factors and had underestimated the debilitating effects of protracted travel by water. Now, both men began summoning their fellow comrades aboard their respective ships to discuss how to handle the crisis.

However, endless debate yielded no conclusion. They had no choice but to anchor the fleet. The assembled sect leaders and masters gathered on one of the larger vessels to devise a plan before proceeding further.

Eventually, Dongfang Yi, the one among them most familiar with the sea, offered a suggestion: they should first locate a small island on the nautical charts to temporarily settle, rest, and recuperate before continuing. Otherwise, continuing like this, with the constant rocking, would prove fatal.

“It seems that is all we can do now!” Dongfang Yi’s proposal was adopted. The fleet adjusted its course, no longer aiming solely for the Demonic Cult’s stronghold but maneuvering according to the marked locations of islands on the chart.

When Ye Wen heard this plan, he merely muttered, “Should have done this ages ago!” Ning Ruxue, hearing him, quietly asked, “Senior Brother, since you thought of it already, why didn't you speak up sooner?” Her question left Ye Wen momentarily speechless, resulting in his junior sister teasing him: “So, Senior Brother is just engaging in hindsight!”

After the course correction, three more days passed before they sighted the nearest island. As soon as everyone landed, they collapsed onto the sand, no one wishing to move an inch more. They were simply overwhelmed by the profound happiness of standing on ground that wasn’t shaking.

Ye Wen happened to be standing next to True Man Tianyi. The True Man frowned, his expression growing grim as he surveyed the sprawling, disorganized mass of people on the beach. After a moment, he could only utter a heavy sigh. “A miscalculation... a colossal miscalculation! This old Daoist and the old monk were too careless!” Seeing True Man Tianyi berate himself so severely, Ye Wen offered a casual consolation: “Honored Sir, please do not be so hard on yourself. After all, we who dwell on land have no true knowledge of the dangers and hardships of seafaring! Fortunately, we discovered it before it was too late; as long as we find a suitable place to rest, we should not return empty-handed!” As he spoke, he reviewed the details of the sea chart in his mind, looking for an appropriate island that was also extremely close to the Demonic Cult’s main base, intended as their final resting spot.

With his cultivation deepening, his spiritual clarity was unparalleled, and his memory far superior to before. Though he had only glanced at the chart a few times, he had memorized its contents. After a moment of thought, he recalled that there were many islands surrounding the Demonic Cult’s location; choosing any one of them for a final rest wouldn't be impossible. Then, with a minor adjustment, they would only need half a day’s sail to storm the Demonic Cult’s position—half a day should be enough time for everyone to retain their combat effectiveness.

He shared his thoughts with True Man Tianyi, who strongly agreed. Finally, the Daoist remarked, “I never expected Martial Brother Ye to possess some aptitude for military maneuvering and formation planning. This old Daoist was truly mistaken!”

Martial Brother Ye waved his hand dismissively. “What military maneuvering? It’s just some idle thinking! It’s nowhere near the level of a true commander!”

True Man Tianyi took this as Ye Wen being humble, unaware that Ye Wen genuinely did not consider himself talented in that area. Although he had played many strategy games and read countless military novels in his previous life, none of that could be taken as reality. The little he knew was insignificant compared to a genuine expert.

However, for the current heroes of the Righteous Path, even that tiny fraction was sufficient. These people were all rugged Jianghu figures; even if they were martial elites, their specialization lay solely in the Way of Combat. They mostly knew the what of military strategy but not the why. After a group discussion yielded no coherent plan, it fell to Ye Wen to articulate his ideas in detail, even adding further refinements.

“We must select an island as a base camp. We cannot simply charge in; that would be like sending sheep into a tiger's maw! Beyond resting well and regaining strength, we must dispatch some experts in small boats to scout the vicinity of the Demonic Cult’s island to ascertain their true strength! We need to map out the Demonic Cult’s defensive measures.”

Hearing this, some individuals disagreed, thinking the Shu Shan Sect Leader was being overly cautious. What was the need for scouting? It was better to charge in and fight immediately.

Ye Wen couldn't be bothered to address people whose brains were clearly missing a vital connection. He merely offered his own explanation: “Since the Demonic Cult has established this as their home base, their defenses must be impregnable! Furthermore, since the Cult views the current Imperial Court as its greatest potential enemy, they would certainly have prepared defenses against a sudden attack by the Imperial Navy. If the Demonic Cult deals with our large ships using methods designed for naval warships…”

Ordinary people wouldn't grasp the difference, not understanding the distinction between their transport vessels and official naval warships. Only Dongfang Yi felt a chill run down his spine, thinking, A grave error! We almost played the game of an egg crashing against a rock! While others were ignorant, he knew: these great ships were merely large merchant vessels, usually used for cargo transport. Although capable of long voyages, they mostly sailed in coastal waters.

Moreover, the maritime borders of the Shang Dynasty were extremely stable, and pirates were rare. While these large ships were sizable and could withstand some rough weather, they were nowhere near as robust as the true warships used by the state for military campaigns. Warships were built for combat, naturally requiring extreme sturdiness. If the Demonic Cult treated their merchant ships as if they were facing official warships—

“Then the Demonic Cult… wouldn’t they possess some powerful siege weaponry?”

Although this world had not yet entered the Industrial Age, whatever was relied upon in warfare tended toward similar principles. Cannons might not have been invented, but trebuchets and repeating crossbows certainly existed. If the Demonic Cult possessed such things, wouldn't they become live targets if they charged in blindly?

“That is possible, and the probability is rather high!” Ye Wen’s statement caused the complexions of several knowledgeable elders to turn incredibly grim. They had eagerly decided to move against the Demonic Cult, only to be forced to halt midway for rest, and only now did they realize how insufficient their preparations were.

Seeing the assembled company finally snap back to reality and grasp the magnitude of the complication, Ye Wen could only sigh: “Jianghu vagrants, Jianghu vagrants—this term is truly accurate!”

If Ye Wen hadn't lived for over twenty years in a world exploding with information, his knowledge wouldn't surpass that of those old men. But these elders had either spent their lives vying for supremacy in the Jianghu or managing their own small territories; their thinking was naturally limited, so such a situation was not unexpected.

As for the Imperial Court using the heroes of the Righteous Path to eliminate the Demonic Cult, Ye Wen now even suspected the Court was using the Demonic Cult to eliminate these so-called pillars of righteousness.

Or perhaps, the Court had other arrangements? If the heroes of the Righteous Path were defeated, would the Court then dispatch its own forces to conquer them?

Ye Wen could only speculate on these matters, unable to ascertain the truth. After conferring with the various sect leaders for a while, they finally decided to follow Ye Wen’s suggestion: chart a new course, advance while resting intermittently until they reached the vicinity of the Demonic Cult, and then seek refuge on an island that was neither too close nor too far. After that… they would act according to circumstances.

Ye Wen had only spoken those four words aloud. In reality, he was considering that if the Demonic Cult’s main headquarters was structured like a fortress, then retreat would be the only option.

Of course, if the assembled heroes insisted on attacking, he had already formulated some countermeasures, but such methods were best kept hidden until everyone else was at a dead end. If he revealed them immediately, it would only make him seem unremarkable, and these people likely wouldn't appreciate it.

Returning to the resting place of his own Shu Shan disciples, Ye Wen surveyed the surroundings. To the left rested the Yu Dong Sect, and on the other side were the Nangong Family members. The closer allied factions were naturally grouped together, currently gathering firewood to start cooking.

When Ye Wen returned, Hua Yi was staring blankly at the boiling water in a pot, holding a mushroom—which looked freshly picked—in one hand, and some other unidentifiable item in the other, hesitating.

“What are you pondering?”

Hua Yi was startled by Ye Wen’s voice and hastily threw everything in her hands into the pot, then looked up, blinking her eyes innocently. “Making soup!”

“Making soup…” A vein throbbed on Ye Wen’s forehead. He had clearly seen her staring blankly at the boiling water just moments ago. If he hadn't called out, she probably would have remained squatting there, unsure of what to do.

He walked over, peered into the pot, and asked, “What is this?”

“Shiitake mushrooms!” Hua Yi poked a few with a spoon, pointing to one that was bright crimson with specks of pure white. “Isn’t it pretty? And it smells fragrant too—it must taste delicious!”

Ye Wen’s look of exasperation deepened, a thin sheen of sweat forming on his brow. He took the spoon and flipped the contents twice. “Where did you get these mushrooms?”

“Your humble servant went to pick them! There are so many in the woods over there! And they come in every color! Your humble servant took a long time choosing this handful of the prettiest ones…”

“…” Ye Wen first made the sign of the cross over his chest, then pressed his palms together, concluding with a low Daoist salute. “Hua Yi, when we return, your master will find time to thoroughly tutor you on general knowledge!”

“Ah?”

Ye Wen looked at Hua Yi’s innocent expression and remembered that before she met him, this woman had lived a life even more carefree than a princess. Such behavior was hardly surprising.

He was just about to tell her that the brighter and prettier a mushroom, the more likely it was to be poisonous, when Xuanyuan Wudi suddenly appeared from who knew where. He immediately tried to ingratiate himself with Hua Yi. “Miss, are you brewing soup? How can a celestial being such as yourself perform such menial tasks?” As he bent down, a cloud of hot vapor washed over him, stinging his eyes, yet the aroma was incredibly tempting.

“So fragrant! Miss, you are not only beautiful as a heavenly fairy but also skilled in the culinary arts! I wonder if I might have a taste?” Without waiting for Hua Yi’s reply, he fished out a bowl, blew on it a few times, and downed it in a few gulps.

Ye Wen watched coldly from the side, suppressing the words he was about to say. Only after the man finished the entire bowl did Ye Wen remark, “Great Hero Xuanyuan is indeed bold. To drink down a bowl of poisoned mushroom soup so readily, I, Ye Wen, am deeply impressed!”

“Huh? Poisonous?” Upon hearing Ye Wen’s words, Xuanyuan Wudi’s expression shifted abruptly, and he quickly pressed, “What kind of poison is it?”

Ye Wen looked down into the pot. “Judging by the quantity and variety of mushrooms in this pot, the affliction you’ve suffered is undoubtedly a complex botanical poison!”

“……”

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