After receiving the news and clarifying the situation, Chen Chuan immediately checked out of his room and went to the magistrate's residence. The magistrate warmly led him to a private pier.
A sailboat was docked there, and the boatman was a dark-skinned, sturdy man with wrinkles all over his face. He looked like an old man, but his physical condition suggested he was probably not even forty years old.
According to the magistrate's introduction, this boatman was originally a resident of Radiant Mist Island. Although his family had moved to Flourishing Luo Island, he was very familiar with the situation there, so there was no need to worry.
Chen Chuan thought the boatman seemed a little unwilling, but also seemed to be very afraid of the magistrate, so he appeared somewhat reluctant.
He smiled and walked onto the boat, sitting down inside.
The magistrate took off his hat, waved to him, and wished him a pleasant journey.
He nodded in return.
Since he was a tourist from out of town, he was mentally prepared to be ripped off and had already thought of ways to handle it, but the other party didn't play any tricks.
In fact, it was common for residents and officials of various islands to rip off tourists. It would be strange if they didn't, but this magistrate didn't dare to do it in front of him.
This magistrate had been in his position for a long time and had seen many travelers, so he was discerning. Chen Chuan looked like a powerful Martial Artist at first glance.He might dare to rip off ordinary people, but if he dared to rip off a Martial Artist, he might end up with his whole family killed the next day.
This wasn't just talk; his predecessor had died that way. So he learned from this lesson and tried not to offend Martial Artists if he could avoid it, especially since Chen Chuan had also paid him.
The sailboat went out to sea in a leisurely manner. At this moment, a chirp came from the sky, and Zhao Ming followed from above.
After the boat had been out for more than half an hour, Flourishing Luo Island behind them had become smaller in the distance. Suddenly, the sea water shook violently, and the sailboat swayed. The boatman was startled and immediately prostrated himself on the deck, chanting "Erlu, Erlu."
Chen Chuan had been on Flourishing Luo Island for the past few days and knew that "Erlu" was the name of the legendary sea monster. However, it was strange that this boatman didn't chant the name of the goddess but instead prayed to the sea monster.
The tremor in the sea came very abruptly and didn't seem like an earthquake. The wind at sea was also normal...
Under the sea?
He glanced a few times, thoughtfully.
Only a few minutes later, the strange sea condition stopped. The boatman stood up, still muttering to himself. After a while, he wiped his sweat and continued to sail forward.
There were many reefs and small islands near Flourishing Luo Island, and many ships were coming and going. At this moment, Chen Chuan saw many sailboats and rowing boats circling around a small island, as if looking for something.
He asked, "What are they doing?"
The boatman answered in broken Da Shun language, "Salvaging a ring."
Chen Chuan asked again and learned that a traveler had dropped a wedding anniversary ring in the sea and offered 50,000 Jianzhi Coins to whoever salvaged it, so most people came to try their luck.
50,000 was a considerable sum. Not to mention here, it wasn't a small amount even in Central City. No wonder it attracted so many people. He smiled and asked the boatman, "Have you tried it?"
The boatman shook his head and said faintly, "The goddess has never favored me in over twenty years." After that, he didn't say much.
The boat left around five in the morning, and by ten o'clock, they saw a volcanic island in the sea.
The boatman pointed ahead, "Radiant Mist Island."
Chen Chuan stood up and looked into the distance. He saw a cone-shaped crater, and heavy mist rising from the island. From a distance, it looked like a volcanic eruption, no wonder the locals were unwilling to come here.
And that was his destination.
The boatman saw him standing there steadily, as if the swaying of the boat had no impact on him. A trace of awe appeared in his eyes. Around twelve o'clock, the boat finally approached the island.
He could now clearly see the situation on the island. The seawater outside was very clear, and under the dazzling sunlight, he could see the colorful coral below. The outer area of the cone-shaped crater was full of lush vegetation.
After getting closer, the boatman lowered the sail and switched to rowing, finally docking on a beach mixed with sand and rocks.
Seeing this, Chen Chuan took out a stack of Jianzhi Coins and handed them to the boatman, saying, "Thank you. I'll be staying here for a while. You can go back now."
The boatman was stunned, obviously not expecting Chen Chuan to pay him for the job arranged by the magistrate. A sincere smile appeared on his face. He thought for a moment and said, "Guest, you can follow the road paved with white pebbles. If there is no road, follow the signs, and you can find the people on the island. They will give you directions."
Chen Chuan thanked him again, jumped off the boat, and stepped onto the beach. The wind blowing from the island was strong and carried a coolness from the distant forest, making him feel very comfortable.
He glanced around and found the white pebble road about one kilometer away.
He didn't rush to go there but made a gesture and waited for a while. The sound of flapping wings came, and Zhao Ming descended from the sky, landing in front of him and approaching.
He reached out and touched it, took out a nutrition paste from his pocket, peeled it open, and fed it to Zhao Ming. At the same time, he took out a special kettle and gave it some water. After resting for a while, Zhao Ming flapped its wings again and flew into the sky.
He also ate a few nutrition pastes here himself, replenished some water, and then walked in that direction, seeing the sign that the boatman mentioned.
It was a sign made of polished broken bones tied together, with the pointed end indicating a direction. The road ahead extended forward, deep into the forest.
He picked up the Snow Emperor Blade and walked in the direction indicated. The pebble road under his feet was intermittent, sometimes there and sometimes not, but according to the signs that kept appearing, he never deviated from the direction.
After walking about seven or eight kilometers, a grass corridor appeared, and a young man with a bare upper body, beautiful muscles, and dark, shiny skin walked out.
He held a stick painted with colorful oil paint, looked at him, and said in fluent Da Shun language, "Sir, this is private territory ahead. If you are here to tour the island, you can go that way..." He pointed a direction with the stick, "There is a village there that can accommodate you."
Chen Chuan said, "I'm here to see Talu."
This Talu is a member of the Purist Faction, the successor of the Singular Flow Pavilion of the Twenty-One Pavilions in the Outer Ocean Islands. According to the regulations of the Great Alliance, if an old-time heritage lineage has not produced a Martial Artist for three consecutive generations, that is, sixty years, then this heritage lineage will no longer be recognized by the Great Alliance.
The Martial Combat resources it inherits, involving the Third Limit and above, need to be handed over to the Great Alliance, of course, the Great Alliance will give corresponding monetary or material compensation.
This rule was later inherited by the governments and companies of various countries.
However, as early as more than a hundred years ago, before the establishment of the Great Alliance, the Singular Flow Pavilion lineage had no Martial Artists. According to the lineage's own statement, it was because the Fissure inherited from old times had disappeared, and all Martial Artists could no longer inherit the profound secrets of the pavilion.
But in fact, this was not the case. This Fissure did not really disappear, but only moved its position, leading to the demise of the entire Martial Combat pavilion. However, in a twist of fate, this Fissure was finally found by a persistent successor. This person was Talu's master, who later joined the Purist Faction and voluntarily supplied the Fissure to those in the Purist Faction who were worth cultivating.
The young man became wary when he heard him mention Talu, "Do you know Talu?"
Chen Chuan said, "Please tell her that Mr. Zhuan sent me."
The young man looked at him, whistled, and waited for a while. A thin and small, but very agile young man ran over. He pointed at Chen Chuan and said something in a low voice in a native language. The young man nodded, and disappeared into the forest very quickly.
Chen Chuan waited here for about ten minutes. An old man with a headband and wearing loose cloth clothes walked out. The young man immediately bowed, "Apa."
The old man walked up to Chen Chuan, clasped his fists, and said politely in fluent Da Shun language, "Does the guest know Mr. Zhuan? May I ask for some proof?"
Chen Chuan took out the Pig-nosed Dragon from his pocket. Upon seeing it, the old man's expression instantly became extremely respectful, and he bowed, saying, "Guest, please follow me." Saying this, he took a step to the side, making a gesture of invitation.
Chen Chuan nodded and followed the old man. After crossing a small stream, they walked along a gently sloping mountain road, and after only a few hundred meters, they arrived at an open area.
Here were many ancient buildings made of piled stones. They were probably quite old, with the paint on them almost completely peeled off. Some places that were obviously decorated with perforations were also only left with incomplete and rotten wood, but the original exquisiteness could still be seen from the patterned stone bricks on the ground and some eroded stone carvings.
In the open space in front of the building, there was a tall woman, about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, with a healthy figure and a rosy face. She was very attractive.
She was wearing a white practice suit, with bronze-colored skin, and her eyes under her thick eyebrows were particularly bright. At this moment, she was teaching a group of young people, including many young men and children.
This should be Talu.
Talu is just a title. Every generation that inherits the Singular Flow Pavilion's heritage will abandon their original name and use this name.
Chen Chuan didn't rush to disturb her, but came to the shaded corridor next to her and stood there. The old man brought him coconut juice and local melons and fruits. He thanked him and took them.
After waiting for half an hour, Talu finished teaching. At this time, she faced her thumbs towards each other, then joined her palms together, making a clear, loud sound. Everyone also responded by making this gesture, shouting a sound, bowing to her, and then dispersing.
After Talu waited for them to leave, she walked towards Chen Chuan.