The vessel Zhang Yang and the others were aboard was a relatively large cruise ship, spanning five decks. Zhang Yang and his companions occupied the fourth, which featured a cantilevered deck jutting outward. Standing there, feeling the cool breeze drift in from the river, was an experience of its own unique flavor.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, the entire landscape was bathed in a golden wash. The trees lining the banks, the fields and woods, cast an unusual, brilliant sheen of amber light, mirrored by the shimmering golden specks on the distant horizon. Nature’s beauty, at this moment, was revealed without reservation.
Standing at the bow, it wasn't just Long Feng; even Zhang Yang and Long Cheng felt their spirits lift and their minds clear. Even the two little ones, Lightning and Shadow, had quieted down considerably, keeping to one side for some hushed, playful interaction.
“Nothing is more beautiful than nature!”
Long Feng suddenly remarked. In that instant, his resolve to travel slowly back home was strengthened. Driving or flying back wouldn't allow him to savor scenery like this.
During this time, Long Feng sensed his inner energy circulating with greater speed, and his cultivation, already at the late stage of the Second Layer, felt increasingly solidified.
“My friend speaks truly—nothing is more beautiful than nature. It is just disheartening that nature is so often violated by man for the sake of immediate gain!”
From the other side of the deck, a young man in his mid-twenties approached. Long Feng’s eyes narrowed slightly.
They maintained a distance of about five or six meters from this newcomer—not too near, yet not far. However, the young man had responded to Long Feng’s quiet exclamation, spoken in a low voice that an ordinary person certainly couldn't have caught.
Zhang Yang heard it, only because he possessed preternaturally sharp hearing. Long Cheng also heard a sound, but he hadn't clearly discerned what Long Feng had said, despite being even closer to the young man than he was.
Not only Long Feng had noticed him; Zhang Yang was now paying close attention as well.
This man walked with incredibly light steps, landing without a sound.
An ordinary person would never have registered such details, but unfortunately for the young man, Zhang Yang and Long Feng were anything but ordinary, and even Long Cheng possessed internal energy.
Zhang Yang immediately identified him: an inner energy cultivator, and one with no small degree of attainment. This discovery greatly surprised Zhang Yang. Inner energy cultivators were rare. Those who achieved success were even rarer; even a massive family like the Longs boasted only a few dozen. To encounter one merely taking a boat ride was unexpected. Their luck these past two days seemed quite good.
“To interrupt others without invitation hardly seems the action of a gentleman!”
Long Feng said coldly. He hadn't deduced as much as Zhang Yang, but he guessed correctly. This person was likely an inner energy cultivator like them; his demeanor was clearly out of the ordinary, proving as much. Encountering a strange inner energy cultivator aboard a ship naturally put Long Feng on guard.
The young man paused slightly, then smiled, bowing slightly toward Long Feng. “If I have disturbed you, respected brother, that is my failing. I sincerely apologize and ask for your forbearance.”
As he bowed, he also performed a formal salute, and his words carried a peculiar formality that felt strangely out of place.
“Apologies are unnecessary. Who are you?” Long Feng replied slowly, his guard remaining firmly in place. Though their party was formidable, their necessary caution was undiminished.
“I am Li Changfeng. May I inquire after the esteemed names of my brothers?”
The young man bowed again, his speech carrying echoes of ancient style, yet he was dressed in a crisp, tailored Western suit, creating a jarring contrast.
Long Feng studied him for a moment before slowly uttering two words: “Long Feng!”
Li Changfeng’s eyes brightened slightly, and he looked up at Long Feng, smiling. “Your surname is Long? That is not a common surname, I find?”
“Whether it is common or rare hardly matters; it is merely a surname!” Long Feng murmured, observing him. Li Changfeng gave him an undefinable, unsettling feeling. Long Feng knew instinctively that this man was far from simple.
“A destined meeting across a thousand miles—and what names do these two other brothers bear?”
Li Changfeng asked with a smile, this time addressing Zhang Yang and Long Cheng. He lingered an extra moment on Zhang Yang. Among the three, Zhang Yang appeared the youngest, yet a flicker of apprehension crossed the depths of Li Changfeng’s eyes when he looked at him.
“Zhang Yang!”
“Long Cheng!”
Zhang Yang and Long Cheng stated their names in turn. Hearing that Long Cheng also carried the surname Long, Li Changfeng couldn't help but scrutinize Long Cheng a few more times before silently nodding once more.
“I presume you gentlemen have not yet dined? Would I be honored if I invited you to share supper with me?”
Li Changfeng continued. This man was certainly forward, inviting strangers to dine after only a few words. Unfortunately for him, Zhang Yang and his group were not young ladies whose hearts might be swayed by a touch of romance; they were all men.
“Thank you, but we will decline,” Long Feng replied softly. He sensed something amiss with this man, and toward a stranger who felt this unsettling, refusal was the only choice.
“Squeak squeak!”
“Chirp chirp!”
Lightning and Shadow suddenly cried out. They had been playing nearby but now scurried over.
Li Changfeng glanced at the two small creatures, initially paying them little mind. But after a few seconds, his eyes tightened suddenly, laced with a hint of horror.
“Fox-tailed Marten!”
Li Changfeng breathed the name out softly. His voice was low, inaudible to others on the deck, but Zhang Yang and Long Feng heard it perfectly clearly.
Under Li Changfeng’s gaze, Lightning abruptly stood bolt upright, staring directly at the man who had named its species. Under the creature’s intense scrutiny, Li Changfeng quickly felt a numbness spread through his body, his heartbeat accelerating uncontrollably. He felt like a frog pinned by a venomous snake, unable to move.
“Lightning!”
Zhang Yang called out softly. Lightning immediately leaped onto Zhang Yang’s shoulder, abandoning its fixed stare at Li Changfeng.
Once Lightning departed, Li Changfeng seemed to recover slightly. He gently wiped his brow; in that brief span, it was already slick with sweat. Lightning had exerted considerable pressure upon him. This reaction allowed Zhang Yang to gauge his strength: he was a mid-stage Second Layer inner energy cultivator. For someone his age, reaching mid-Second Layer was remarkable, marking him as a promising talent. However, he was vastly outmatched by Lightning’s level; Lightning was now a spirit beast capable of contending with late-stage Third Layer experts. Because the level gap was so wide, Li Changfeng felt that paralyzing sensation under Lightning’s gaze, similar to how Zhang Yang once felt when stared down by that Illusionary Mouse. Furthermore, Lightning was no ordinary spirit beast; it was a notoriously venomous creature.
Adjusting his clothing, Li Changfeng’s expression grew more serious. He performed another formal bow, this one imbued with deep solemnity.
“I am Li Changfeng of the Shu Mountain Li Family. You two Long brothers must be from the Long Family, yes?”
When Li Changfeng announced his lineage, both Zhang Yang and Long Feng were slightly taken aback, though they quickly relaxed. He was surnamed Li; possessing high skill at such a young age meant he must hail from an established family. Given their proximity to Mount Shu, him being from the Shu Mountain Li Family was not surprising. What they hadn't anticipated was meeting someone from the Li Family aboard this cruise ship.
Shu Mountain was actually the collective name for a vast mountain range; the Leshan where Zhang Yang and the others were headed, and the Emei Mountains further ahead, all belonged to the Shu Mountain range. The name "Shu Mountain" had long been preserved among these ancient families, though it was rarely used in the modern secular world.
The Li Family of Shu Mountain boasted a heritage spanning over fifteen hundred years. Their defining characteristic was that every member was a master of the Way of the Sword; the legends of the Shu Mountain Sword Cultivators originated with them. The Li Family’s millennium of legacy included many remarkable figures, most of whom lived in seclusion, known only within the inner energy cultivation circles, unknown to the mundane world. In the secular sphere, the Li Family’s most famous representative was Li Bai of the Tang Dynasty. Li Bai was indeed a descendant of the Li Family; though his internal energy cultivation was modest, his poetic brilliance earned him the title of the ‘Poet Immortal.’
As one of the Five Great Families whose lineage exceeded a thousand years, the tension surrounding Long Feng and Zhang Yang eased somewhat after Li Changfeng revealed his name. Being members of ancient families themselves, they shared a degree of common ground, lowering their defenses.
“I am indeed from the Long Family. May I ask why Brother Li finds himself upon this cruise ship?” Long Feng asked with a nod, his tone much softer now. The Li and Long families had experienced minor friction historically, but they were certainly not sworn enemies. In truth, all four ancient great families maintained some level of conflict; where there is opportunity for gain, there is a martial world, and where there is a martial world, conflict is inevitable.
“I was traveling leisurely home, not rushing, so I decided to take the boat upstream. I never expected to run into you two Long brothers, Brother Zhang, and... and your spirit beasts!”
Li Changfeng nodded with a wry smile, glancing nervously at Lightning as he spoke. He was keenly aware that these individuals and their spirit beast possessed strength far exceeding his own. If they wished him harm, he would be in serious trouble. He was already regretting his impulse to come over and make introductions.
“We are also heading home without urgency, enjoying the journey back,” Long Feng smiled. Li Changfeng shared that trait of unhurried travel for pleasure, which fostered a faint sense of recognition in Long Feng. Among inner energy cultivators, few chose this path; most were unwilling to waste time on such worldly pursuits.
“Is Brother Zhang also returning home?” Li Changfeng asked cautiously, noting that Lightning was currently nestled in Zhang Yang’s embrace.
“Zhang Yang is an honored guest invited by our Long Family. He is also the current successor of the Medical Saint lineage,” Long Feng stated with a slight smile, revealing Zhang Yang’s identity. The Medical Saint lineage was sparsely populated, but its continuous heritage predated even the Shu Mountain Li Family, being second only to the Long Family in longevity.
“The Medical Saint lineage?”
Li Changfeng was truly startled this time. He had long sensed Zhang Yang was exceptional but never imagined Zhang Yang also hailed from a distinguished family like themselves. Even if the Medical Saint Zhang Family lacked numerous members, their status as a thousand-year family was undeniable.
“So, Brother Zhang is from the Medical Saint lineage. My apologies for my lack of decorum. Since we are all fellow practitioners, and you have arrived in the region of Sichuan, it is only right that I play host. Come, let us retire to my cabin; I have some fine wines, and we can share a few cups!”
As he spoke, the sky had begun to darken, but the deck remained populated. The deck lights were bright, and many people had come out to appreciate the nocturnal river view and feel the cool evening breeze.
Long Feng glanced at Zhang Yang, who thought for a moment before giving a subtle nod. This time, he did not refuse.
The three of them rose together and followed Li Changfeng toward the interior of the ship. (To be continued)
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