A little past two in the afternoon, more than six hours after they had departed, a figure appeared in the exact spot they had just occupied.

This was a very old man, his hair bone-white, dressed in exceedingly plain greyish-white clothes. His face was a roadmap of wrinkles, looking like an aged farmer who had toiled his entire life only to face more labor in his twilight years.

"No boat? Walking?"

Standing where they had started, the old man exclaimed in surprise.

He scrutinized his surroundings carefully, then frowned deeply.

"Three people, but one has changed. Definitely not that outer disciple from the Long family. This person's internal energy is not low. Who could it be?"

The old man’s face was clouded with confusion. He was the very elder who had been tracking them all along.

That massive downpour had caused him to lose Zhang Yang's trail. Since Zhang Yang and his companions hadn't stopped along the way, the elder could only pursue from behind.

He hadn't seen Li Changfeng, nor had he boarded the cruise ship, so he was completely ignorant of the events aboard.

The elder was perplexed, but he could surmise it was either someone Zhang Yang had arranged to meet, or they had encountered a new practitioner of internal energy. Whichever possibility was true, it didn't matter to the elder; his only goal was to catch up to them.

Glancing at the almost imperceptible traces left on the scene, the elder nodded silently, and his body suddenly vanished.

In the next instant, he reappeared a great distance away.

If Zhang Yang had witnessed this scene, his mouth would have fallen open in shock. This elder’s speed was exponentially greater than theirs; even lightning could not compare.

A little past three in the afternoon, Zhang Yang was the first to arrive at the Anjiang Dock.

The Anjiang Dock was situated at the confluence of the Yangtze River and the Anjiang tributary—a fairly large terminal where cruise ships paused for a significant duration.

When Zhang Yang arrived, the cruise ship had not yet docked.

He was only accompanied by Lightning and Shadowless; Long Feng had long since disappeared from sight.

Long Feng’s speed was fast, certainly, but the gap in cultivation between him and Zhang Yang was substantial. Moreover, Zhang Yang possessed the cheat-like assistance of the Sacred Hand System, having already refined his body once.

Even if their internal energies were equal, Zhang Yang’s speed would not be inferior to Long Feng’s. The difference wasn't apparent over short distances, but over a long haul, it became strikingly obvious. Long Feng was still far behind on the road.

Finding a coffee shop near the dock, Zhang Yang sat inside to rest.

Wisps of white mist occasionally escaped his head, drawing curious glances from passersby. A friendly waitress handed Zhang Yang a towel, offering him something to wipe the sweat from his face.

The waitress could tell Zhang Yang had been engaged in violent exertion, but she could never have imagined he had arrived after sprinting over two hundred kilometers.

After drinking some water and quietly cultivating for a while to replenish his internal energy, Zhang Yang finally felt restored.

The toll of that long run had been immense. Had his internal energy not been so profound, he might not have made it at all.

More than an hour later, around five o'clock, Long Feng finally staggered breathlessly into the Anjiang Dock. Zhang Yang had been waiting for him and quickly ushered him into the same coffee shop where he had been resting.

Over the two-hundred-kilometer distance, Zhang Yang had beaten Long Feng by a full hour. The disparity in their performance over the long distance made it plainly obvious: Long Feng’s strength lagged far behind Zhang Yang’s.

"Water! Bring me more water!" Long Feng commanded the waitress, then collapsed onto a chair, too exhausted to move.

The effort of the run had truly drained him. Since his internal energy was lower than Zhang Yang's, he was utterly spent. Not only was white mist rising from his head, but his face was also flushed a deep red.

The waitress gave him a curious look but dutifully brought the water.

A large glass of water. Long Feng downed it in one gulp, consuming three full glasses before he began to feel somewhat steadier. He then calmed his mind to cultivate and recover his depleted internal energy.

It took a full half hour before he felt significantly better, and the mist stopped rising from his head.

"So, these two jars of Monkey Wine have been earned, right?"

Opening his eyes, Long Feng's first words were a smile. From the coffee shop, they could both see the cruise ship they had traveled on, now moored at the pier.

"Naturally. Li Changfeng is definitely going to bleed for this!" Zhang Yang smiled faintly. Two jars each meant four jars total. Now that Zhang Yang understood the preciousness of the Monkey Wine, he could guess that even for Li Changfeng, acquiring four jars wouldn't be easy.

"Hahaha, it’s good that he bleeds a little. If I take two jars of Monkey Wine back, the old diehards in the family will be ecstatic. They might even praise me a few times!" Long Feng laughed heartily, and his words were not without reason.

The four great families maintained contact, even intermarrying, but they were far from amicable. The Li family had a larger population than the Long family and constantly schemed to depose the Longs and establish themselves as the number one family domestically. Unfortunately, they were outnumbered in top masters and lacked the deep heritage of the Longs, forcing them to remain perpetually in second place. Being second didn't mean they were content; centuries of subtle skirmishes and maneuvers had occurred, but never anything that would cause them to truly sever ties—they were families that had endured for millennia. Because of this dynamic, when a junior surpassed someone from the rival family, the elders would be immensely pleased. Long Feng winning two jars of the rare Monkey Wine, regardless of its true worth, was a result that would bring great joy to the Long family elders.

"Zhang Yang, Senior, you’re finally back!"

As soon as Zhang Yang and Long Feng stepped onto the ship, Long Cheng hurried over, relief etched deeply onto his face. While moving around on the ship felt effortless, walking the two hundred-plus kilometers on foot was anything but easy. Even though Zhang Yang and Long Feng were masters, Long Cheng had worried that they might not keep pace or could become separated. When the ship neared the dock and he couldn't see them, he had even considered driving down to wait right there, refusing to be separated from Zhang Yang and Long Feng even if it meant skipping the ship entirely.

"It’s fine, running like that was quite refreshing!" Long Feng laughed. While the run was exhausting, it wasn't without benefits. The residual essence from the spiritual medicines he had been consuming was now fully utilized, pushing his internal energy to a new level—an unexpected bonus.

"Squeak squeak squeak!" "Chirp chirp chirp!"

Lightning and Shadowless were also chattering excitedly. The two little ones seemed far more relaxed. Running hard in the mountains for half a day was nothing compared to their usual routine; they had often run for a full day in the wilderness before. For them, this was a mere jaunt.

Dinner was served on the ship around seven, and only then did Li Changfeng arrive, looking utterly worn out. Normally, he could have arrived earlier, but today, having been thoroughly demoralized by Zhang Yang and Long Feng's performance, his spirit had flagged, and his strength hadn't been fully mobilized.

Upon boarding, Li Changfeng was so spent he couldn't even manage a word; he bolted straight back to his cabin to rest. It wasn't until more than an hour later, when the ship had already set sail again, that he emerged.

"Brother Zhang, Brother Long, my apologies for keeping you waiting!" Li Changfeng appeared somewhat sheepish. He had initiated the wager, and it was he who had lost so spectacularly. Seeing Zhang Yang and Long Feng sitting there as if nothing had happened, he instantly knew they had arrived long before him.

"Brother Li is too kind. Here is a Longevity Pill. While it won't replenish internal energy, it is beneficial for physical recovery!" Zhang Yang produced a pill and offered it to Li Changfeng. Having enjoyed the Monkey Wine yesterday, returning the favor tonight was only proper.

Sensing the subtle fragrance emanating from the Longevity Pill, Li Changfeng paused slightly before gratefully accepting it. He made no show of reluctance. Although the pill wasn't a spiritual medicine, it was certainly not detrimental to the body. Having just sprinted such a distance, ingesting it would aid his recovery, otherwise, he would have had to spend the entire evening regulating his own internal energy. He showed complete trust in Zhang Yang by swallowing the pill right there in front of them.

The moment the pill settled in his stomach, Li Changfeng felt a gentle warmth circulate within him. This warmth was subtle—imperceptible to a normal person—but unmistakable to internal energy practitioners like them. Before long, the fatigue from the long-distance run began to recede. A look of fresh surprise dawned on Li Changfeng's face.

"I have long heard that the medicinal arts of the Medical Saint lineage are unrivaled. Only by experiencing it firsthand can one truly appreciate its marvels!" Experiencing the change in his body firsthand, Li Changfeng couldn't help but sigh in admiration. The pill's speed of effect far exceeded his expectations; he had anticipated it would take time to show results.

"Brother Li overpraises me. Yesterday, Brother Li hosted us; tonight, Brother Li, you will join us for drinks, though we don't possess your top-tier Monkey Wine—just some ordinary spirits!" Zhang Yang smiled faintly and extended the invitation. Their liquor had been purchased moments ago by Long Cheng at a liquor store near the dock: bottles of Flying Fairy Moutai, the best available there. Long Cheng was a connoisseur; the shop initially tried to palm off fakes, but after Long Feng discovered the deception and subjected them to a brief scare, they were supplied with a case of genuine Flying Fairy Moutai. The wine might not compare to the Monkey Wine, but it was drinkable, and for the four of them, the primary purpose was companionship, not the quality of the drink itself.

"Very well, I will impose on you then. I lost this wager, and please rest assured, I will deliver the Monkey Wine with both hands once I return home!" Li Changfeng nodded, a slight grimace of pain crossing his features as he spoke. His personal stock was depleted, and now he had to request more from his family. He had truly stumbled this time, but he hadn't come away empty-handed. At least he had established relationships with Zhang Yang and Long Feng, both of whom he recognized as exceptionally promising individuals. Especially Zhang Yang, with his spirit beast Treasure Seeking Mouse and his lineage as a Medical Saint successor—cultivating a good rapport with him was essential.

All four men finished the case of Flying Fairy Moutai, growing happily drunk, which was a perfect state for rest.

The next day, Zhang Yang and Long Feng went out as usual at daybreak. This time, Li Changfeng was not as early as the day before; he emerged later than Zhang Yang and Long Feng. Among the three, his internal energy was the shallowest, and after such a long period of exertion, even with Zhang Yang's Longevity Pill assisting him, he required a substantial period of rest.

The group spent the day quietly enjoying the scenery as the ship sailed on. They also engaged in extensive conversation. As the direct heir of the Li family, Li Changfeng possessed remarkable insight, and much of what he shared provided significant inspiration to both Zhang Yang and Long Feng. Conversely, some of the concepts Zhang Yang and Long Feng discussed proved immensely beneficial to Li Changfeng. The exchange served as mutual aid, allowing all three to progress. (To be continued) RQ