My explanation was… none. When people encounter unexplainable phenomena, they conjure their own explanation because they need to make sense of the world around them. If I tried to lie, I’d only increase the likelihood of being suspected. Thus, my strategy was to be ignorant and answer questions with my own questions.
“How ya doin’, Boss. What brings you here?” I rubbed my face into a new expression.
“I just woke up… I forgot something, so I came to fetch it. How about you?” Boss’ frown told me she wasn’t happy. “Who is going to take care of you if you hurt yourself again? What did you come here for?”
I reached into my shirt to fetch a pocket knife I had prepared. “I forgot my knife for pork shoulders on the boat.”
Boss snatched the knife from me and hurled it into the lake: “Where would you find a pork shoulder to eat here in the wilderness?!”
My knife! That really is my knife for eating pork shoulders! I still have two braised pork shoulders in soy sauce in my bag that I pinched from the kitchen last night! Guess I should be grateful Boss hasn’t called my bluff, though.
“I saw you head out when I came to, while Xiao Han was in conversation with people from Wutong Jin Yuxuan. Did you call them over?”
“I don’t know… I just remember being fed something and then felt rejuvenated. I got hungry after waking up, so I stumbled out to find a knife.”
“I see. To summarise, somebody nursed you back to full health, well, good enough to walk on your own, while I was asleep.” Boss bobbed her head and eventually let a smile bloom on her lips. “Glad you’re well.”
“Thanks for taking care of me, Boss.”
“Well, it was the one who fed you the pill who saved your life. We are indebted to Wutong Jin Yuxuan.”
“Uhm, uhm.”
“From here on out, we’ll be walking a tightrope between life and death, so brace yourself. Don’t play stupid pranks like that again. You are not to let someone hack you as a constable of Liu Shan Men. Am I clear?”
Imagine a knife being able to cut so gently that it felt good. Imagine a cold blade cutting warmth into you. I don’t know why, but that was image I envisioned.
I nodded.
“Let’s get going.”
Boss front tucked off the boat, while I quickly slipped Wugufengdeng into my shirt before following suit – minus the somersault. We got lost once we were in the forest, though. Sure, the climate and scenery resembled Dragonroot Island, but Boss didn’t get much of a chance to explore the island.
“Where did the cavern go? Where is Xiao Han?” Boss questioned after a search. “Why does this island… seem different to before? The topography is a tad different and doesn’t give off the same dangerous vibe.” Boss then looked my way as if to say, “It’s like we’re on a different island. What’s your opinion, Feizhen?”
Because it is a different island! Your eyes are too discerning! Teach me how you can distinguish with just a few glances!
Boss folded her arms to think and then said, “Our cavern was by the shore, yet there’s nobody around. They must’ve gone with Wutong Jin Yuxuan or… run into an enemy and had to leave so that we wouldn’t be imperilled.”
Wugufengdeng led me here, but I don’t know what to do next. Although he can help me locate Second, how do I explain all this to Boss? Given there are no Refining Divine Convention participants on this island, Boss is going to catch on sooner or later.
“Feizhen, stay alert.”
“Huh?”
“Someone is coming.”
“Huh? Must be someone passing by?”
“I don’t think so. They’re armed and not friendly.”
Huh? Aren’t we on a different island? What’s with you nuisances?! Wugufengdeng, we need to have a word in private. Did you just take me to another dock of Dragonroot Island?!
That suspicion soon proved itself false when there around a dozen of armed swordsmen in black confronted us. Their uniform gear and internal style made it clear they were disciples of the same discipline. Unless a sect bought out Dragonroot Island, they couldn’t have that many members of their sect there.
“Which… sect are they with? Banding together is ridiculous.”
Goodness me, they clearly aren’t here to challenge us. They’re here to apprehend us.
Noticing the “Whale God” text etched onto their swords, I figured we had to be on Whale God Island, which was where Luo Sword Manor’s big cauldron that they passed down in the clan was located – according to Black and White Reflection, issue five hundred and twenty. The cauldron’s presence was also why the island was the biggest island among Taihu Sword Island and the most heavily guarded. Whale God Island, therefore, was the island they manufactured their best weapons. The reason few tourists visited the island that was under the jurisdiction of Sun Character Worship despite it being the second place recommended to check out amongst Luo Clan’s lands was due to it also being the most dangerous place to explore.
It shouldn’t be surprising that Luo Sword Manor heavily guarded their workshop even prior to forming their business contract with the imperial court given their background. Luo Ming went and buried aforementioned their heirloom cauldron deep down in the ground for the heat and something else. I would hedge my fortune on us having to fight more guards here than competitors on Dragonroot Island.
The guards had no desire to talk, not that I could blame them when I trespassed into an out-of-bounds area. In the same vein, it was pointless for me to try and reason with them.
“Oi, weaklings should bugger off,” Boss warned. I stood there and waited for the group to step aside, prompting Boss to suddenly kick me backwards. “You deaf?”
How was I supposed to know you were talking about me when you said, “Weaklings?!”
They weren’t exactly dangerous opponents, but there certainly were a lot of them. Should we take too long to dispatch them, we’d run out of energy and afford their reinforcements time; it’d be no different to fighting an army solo.
“I’ll make it snappy.” Boss grinned jovially. “This is an opportunity for me to test my new moves.”
