After seeing off Yan Xingxiao and his group, Chai Xiaomi and the rest of the main party were finally about to board the ship heading to Youquan Town.
Originally, they planned to take a merchant vessel—first, because it was faster for transporting goods, and second, because such ships mostly carried ordinary folk, making them relatively low-key and unobtrusive.
As they arrived at the dock, they overheard a few dockworkers resting and chatting nearby.
"Did you hear? Another pleasure boat got hit by sea bandits the day before yesterday. Those nobles on board were scared out of their wits. The bandits stripped them of all their gold and valuables, but let them go in one piece."
"And they still dare to head for Youquan Town? That place is crawling with evil spirits. Isn't that just asking for trouble?"
"Pfft, what do you know! Youquan Town is on an island in the sea, and its snowy scenery is unparalleled. Those idle aristocrats—poets, scholars, young ladies and gentlemen—are mostly bored out of their minds. They love to compose poetry and paint under the snow, acting all refined. Besides, Qianwu Town is sweltering like a steam oven, so they're going there to escape the heat."
"Escape the heat? Only our Qianwu Town is this scorching at this time of year. But now that you mention it, it has been much cooler these past few days. Almost like the climate is finally returning to normal..."
A white cat perched on a mooring bollard at the dock, its ears twitching slightly as it absorbed every word of the gossip.
It turned its head and exchanged a knowing glance with Jiang Zhiyu. A silent understanding passed between them.
"How about we take the pleasure boat?" the white cat suggested to the group. "If we do run into some reckless sea bandits along the way, we might as well lend a hand."
Song Yueyao nodded in agreement, fully endorsing the idea.
The white cat then looked to Wu Li, wanting to hear his opinion.
Little Miss Xiaomi was easy to please—food was all she needed—so as long as Wu Li agreed, the matter would be settled.
But Wu Li shot the cat a cool, indifferent glance and let out a disdainful snort. "I have no interest in poking my nose into other people's business. If you want to take the pleasure boat, go ahead. Rice and I are only taking the merchant vessel. Those people knew full well it wasn't safe and still insisted on going. If the sea bandits rob them, they brought it on themselves."
As if deliberately trying to spite the white cat, a smirk curled at the corner of his lips. "If they die, they deserve it."
No sooner had the words left his mouth than a flash of regret struck Wu Li. He had spoken too hastily, without filtering himself.
He instinctively turned to look at the girl beside him, relieved to find her lost in her own world, oblivious to his careless remark.
Chai Xiaomi's eyes were wide open, bright as stars, fixed on the pleasure boat moored at the dock.
It was an ornate vessel—carved beams and painted rafters, vermilion lacquer traced with intricate gold patterns. A three-story pavilion stood majestically on the water, looking from a distance like a floating palace, dazzling and imposing.
In her heart, she let out a silent wow: This is practically a Royal Caribbean cruise ship—ancient edition!
Chai Xiaomi was so absorbed in the sight that she missed the little exchange that had just taken place beside her. When she snapped back to reality, she timidly looked at the others and pointed at the magnificent boat, her eyes brimming with undisguised excitement. "Can we... take that ship?"
Song Yueyao, Jiang Zhiyu, and the white cat unanimously nodded in near-perfect synchrony.
Chai Xiaomi's eyes curved into crescents. She then scooted over to Wu Li, gently tugged at his arm, and looked up at him with a soft, sweet voice. "Li Li, what about you?"
Wu Li cleared his throat awkwardly, his gaze drifting toward the pleasure boat before flitting back to land on her sparkling eyes.
"Let's take the pleasure boat," he said. "I think the pleasure boat is good, too."
What a load of nonsense, he silently grumbled. He hated crowded places the most. That ship had five decks, packed with people from top to bottom. Cargo ships were much better—they carried goods, with barely any crew on board, quiet and peaceful.
But what could he do?
He couldn't help it if someone liked it.
Oh, whatever.
He only wanted to be with her, and nowhere else mattered.
White Cat: "..."
Jiang Zhiyu: "..."
Song Yueyao: "..."
No one could match him when it came to changing his face—utterly unbeatable.
On the ship, they were busy hoisting the sails, still doing a series of preparations before departure. A wide plank was set against the massive hull, extending from the dock to the deck, and the honored guests were boarding one by one.
A deckhand mentioned that there were still a few moments before departure. If anyone had forgotten something, there was still time to go back and retrieve it.
That remark seemed to remind Chai Xiaomi of something.
Her eyes flickered, and she suddenly said, "Li Li, I just remembered there's something I left back at the Phantom Sound Pavilion. I'm going to get it—be right back!"
"What is it?" he asked instinctively. He had personally packed all the luggage, even remembering to toss in the half-bag of malt candy she had hidden under her pillow. What could she have possibly left behind?
But he still said, "Tell me where it is, and I'll go fetch it for you."
"No need, no need. I'll go myself." Chai Xiaomi had already picked up her skirt, and after taking two steps, she turned back, raised her index finger, and shook it seriously, warning, "Don't follow me, okay? You need to stay with Master now!"
Thinking about what White Cat had told her, she was absolutely beaming inside.
In the original story, White Cat and Wu Li had a mutual dislike for each other. But now, White Cat had actually taken Wu Li as a disciple, and even more shocking—Wu Li had agreed! This meant the storyline was moving in a good direction.
White Cat chimed in leisurely, "Xiaomi's right. A man should have his own business. Who spends all day frantically clinging to his wife?"
"Besides, the dock is just one street away from the Phantom Sound Pavilion. She's not a three-year-old—she won't get lost. Why are you so tense?"
"I've cultivated the Dao for many years. I may not have been through worldly entanglements myself, but I've seen no fewer than a thousand pining fools. Let me teach you a lesson today: handling a marriage is just like alchemy. If the fire's too strong, the elixir burns; if the fire's too gentle, it won't solidify. You need a slow simmer—sometimes close, sometimes far; sometimes hot, sometimes cold."
"What a load of nonsense," Wu Li grumbled in his mind. "Can't understand it."
White Cat took a deep breath and silently chanted: Calm down, calm down, calm down... This kid was nothing like Jiang Zhiyu—he wouldn't be won over with soft words.
Wu Li paid him no more attention. His gaze followed the distant figure running away until she vanished around the street corner.
The dress she was wearing today—the hem seemed a bit long.
He wondered if she might trip while running.
His brows furrowed slightly. He was about to take a step to follow when Song Yueyao's voice drifted over unhurriedly:
"Alchemist Ji means that two people should keep some distance between them. If they stick together every single moment—"
She paused, casting a meaningful look at Jiang Zhiyu, "—it starts to feel cloying."
Cloying?
Wu Li stopped in his tracks.
He stood there, expressionless, staring at the empty street corner for a while.
Then he let out a faint "tch."
...Who was frantically clinging, anyway?
He certainly wasn't.
“Jiang Zhiyu, I think what your master said is right—cling too much, and it gets annoying.” Song Yueyao tugged at the bundle on her shoulder and shoved away the head that kept trying to lean against her. “Stop pretending! We haven’t even gotten on the boat yet, so don’t play seasick with me!”
