Chapter 454: Chapter 455: Mountain Town Rumors!
The farther Yang Yan went, the more people he encountered.
The noise of the crowd grew louder, becoming quite noisy.
His gaze remained steady, not paying attention to these people, but instead finding the harbor where boats were supposed to dock along the Inner Sea coast.
At the spot where boats should have been docked, he only saw a flag fluttering in the wind, with no boats or a single boatman in sight.
Yang Yan casually grabbed a young man passing by, who appeared to be around twenty years old.
"Are there no boats docking here today?" he asked.
The young man shook his head.
"There are boats docking, but most of them, which should have been docking here,
were taken by the Qinghe Gang master, who manages these ships, to welcome Zhou Ruxian, Fairy Zhou.
The remaining commercial ships passing by, or local boatmen’s ships,
were also rented by some admirers of Zhou Ruxian to pick her up," he said excitedly and with a hint of madness.
Yang Yan furrowed his brows slightly.
"Is Zhou Ruxian really so beautiful?"
*She actually managed to draw so many people to welcome her!*
When he mentioned Zhou Ruxian, the young man’s face showed excitement and a slightly crazy look of admiration.
"Of course, she’s not just beautiful.
Even a fairy from the heavens might not be her equal!
If only I could kiss her once. No!
Even if I could just see her, I would be willing to die.
Unfortunately, to board a ship and catch a glimpse of Fairy Zhou,
without ten thousand taels of gold or a noble status, there’s no chance of getting on board.
The most regrettable thing!
I am a martial artist,
but not a genius!
If I were a genius, I could be on the Dragon Ascension List.
With that Dragon Card, I could be on the boat too.
Yet... I have none of these!" He looked utterly dejected.
Yang Yan’s expression shifted slightly.
"Apart from here, is there anywhere else with a boat that can take people away?
Either today or maybe shortly?"
"What is causing you to leave in haste today?
Are you also an admirer of Zhou Ruxian, Fairy Zhou?
Are you planning to rent a boat to find her?" the young man asked.
"No, I was going to continue my journey to the West Continent."
The young man’s face was filled with amazement.
"You’re leaving? You really intend to leave?
Zhou Ruxian, Fairy Zhou is arriving, and you’re actually leaving?" the young man said in disbelief.
"Is it because you have no money and feel so inferior, thinking you can’t meet Fairy Zhou, that you’re sadly leaving?
Actually, there’s no need to be like this!
Even if you can’t board the ship, on shore,
through the black reflections in the windows, you can see her graceful and enchanting dancing figure.
I do so every year!
If I don’t feel inferior, you shouldn’t either!"
Yang Yan was speechless for a moment.
*He even lacked the interest to meet her, let alone anything else!*
"No, I have important matters to attend to."
Only then did the young man relax.
"So you have important matters, no wonder you want to leave even when Fairy Zhou arrives."
He thought for a moment.
"If you truly wish to leave, you might try checking with the Qinghe Gang.
They are the ship managers in East Field City, also a locally rooted sect within the city.
Although their master is an admirer of Zhou Ruxian, who has taken all the docking ships to receive her,
the Qinghe Gang remains a large sect; they might have some boats left," the young man suggested.
"Where is the Qinghe Gang located?"
The young man turned around and pointed westward.
"There!" he said, turning back, only to find Yang Yan’s shadow had vanished. "Where did he go, so fast?"
When Yang Yan arrived at the Qinghe Gang, he discovered only a few people were present inside.
He encountered some disciples of the Qinghe Gang at the entrance, who were engaging in endless debates.
"This time the Domineering God Hammer Yong Hai, is sure to win without suspense!" said one disciple.
"The Wandering Dragon Divine Step Zhou Qing might not necessarily lose; if he can dodge Yong Hai’s God Hammer attacks, he has a chance to win!" argued another disciple.
"Heh, I suppose you haven’t seen Yong Hai’s ultimate hammer technique.
Mad Demon Hammer Technique!
Once unleashed, even he fears it!
If Zhou Qing could dodge it, he wouldn’t be ranked lower than Yong Hai."
"What if Zhou Qing prevents Yong Hai from using his full force? Besides, when Yong Hai uses the Mad Demon Hammer Technique, he loses consciousness.
An unconscious Yong Hai couldn’t even know who he’s hitting.
By that time, Zhou Qing’s footwork makes it easy to dodge!
If he can’t hit Zhou Qing, no matter how powerful Yong Hai’s hammer technique is, it’s useless!"
As another disciple was about to offer a rebuttal,
Yang Yan stood in front of them, his shadow enveloping the pair.
"Do you have any boats here?"
This time he was straightforward, not wanting any trouble, so he released a slight emperorship aura.
Instantly, it subdued the Qinghe Gang disciples, leaving them trembling.
"No, none at all.
They’ve all been taken by our master to form a massive fleet,
to welcome Zhou Ruxian, Fairy Zhou," replied the disciple immediately.
"Not even a single boat left? Not even a small one?"
"No, oh wait! There are still a few broken small wooden boats. Where do you want to go? Is it far?
If it’s not far, you can take them.
If it’s too far, it’s best not to use them.
Best to travel with the merchant ships or fleets.
Because not far from the city is a gathering place of river bandits.
Small boats can be overturned by them easily, resulting in death," he warned.
*River bandits?* Yang Yan felt fearless.
"Do you know where the Mountain Town is?"
The disciple didn’t give it much thought.
"Are you referring to the place where Emperor Shu Wen once taught?"
"Correct."
The Qinghe Gang disciple scratched his head.
"Since the Mountain Town is a place where the Great Emperor taught, everyone in this area knows about it.
I keep hearing about it from boatmen coming from the ships.
Years ago, all passing martial artists would visit, for luck, to see if they could attain anything.
But still, to this day, no one has had any good fortune there; instead, many martial artists stayed,
only to disappear without a trace!
No sightings of life or death, very eerie indeed.
Nowadays, fewer martial artists venture there, and most only do so during the day.
The villagers living there have long since moved out.
The Mountain Town has become a deserted wasteland.
There are frequent rumors that Demon Path people are capturing souls there, cultivating demon magic!
Wait, you don’t plan on going there, do you?"
"I am going there to take a boat."
"I think you’d better wait for a merchant ship or until our master returns, to borrow a large ship for your departure.
Because the distance from here to Mountain Town is approximately ten thousand miles.
It’s in the western region of the Inner Sea, named the Black Gate region of Beizhou.
Ordinary ships might break apart given that long sea route.
Along the way lies the northern region of the Inner Sea, being close to Beizhou,
where Demons from the Evil Demon Path are abundant, it’s riddled with danger.
Not to mention the rumors I mentioned earlier about Mountain Town!
The dangers there are much deeper; it’s best to travel with company."
Yang Yan responded without hesitation.
"No problem, bring me the boat."
"Yes." The Qinghe Gang disciple no longer urged him to reconsider and went to fetch the boat.
Shortly after, the disciple brought the boat.
They helped him place it in the Inner Sea, and Yang Yan pulled out a gold ingot.
The disciple quickly waved his hand.
"Keep the money for your journey and spend it wisely. Safe travels!"
Yang Yan raised an eyebrow, as they refused the gold.
*It seemed the journey ahead was perilous and unusual.*
He cared not, boarding the boat to depart.
Suddenly, the disciples of the Qinghe Gang looked excitedly toward the distance, shouting loudly.
"The master is back, the master is back!"
Standing on the boat, Yang Yan looked over and saw a fleet of large ships approaching from afar.
Behind those ships, there was a flower boat being pulled by a large demon beast lurking in the Inner Sea.
The flower boat was exquisitely decorated, like a pavilion on the water!
"Gurgle..."
At this moment, the demon beast pulling the flower boat leaped out of the water, splashing water everywhere.
Under the sunlight, the water droplets formed a colorful rainbow, making the flower boat appear celestial.
"It’s the fish dragon reared by Fairy Zhou, and Fairy Zhou has already been brought back by our master.".
Yang Yan only glanced once before sitting down and rowing away.
*What does Fairy Zhou or Ma Xianzi have to do with him at all?*
However, at that moment, a maid-like figure emerged from the flower boat, looking down to directly address Yang Yan, who was sailing away.
"The gentleman leaving on the boat, please wait a moment!"