Watching them leave, Xu Xiaoyan muttered, "What the hell is going on?"
Shi Hao looked at her, smiling but saying nothing. Xu Xiaoyan turned her head to look at him, threateningly: "What are you laughing at with such a murderous look on your face?"
Shi Hao asked: "Since you are smiling, why is your face full of murderous intent?"
Xu Xiaoyan took out a small mirror from her bosom and pointed it at him: "Look for yourself."
Shi Hao looked at the moonlight while keeping a smile on his face... As expected, it was a murderous smile.
It would be better not to smile at all. When he smiled, it felt like he wanted to kill someone. If Xu Xiaoyan hadn't known that this was the facial stiffness caused by the evil shadow disguise technique, she would have turned around and ran away.
Shi Hao said: "Let's go and meet up with Yuetan Master and the others first."
The two left side by side, each canceling their evil shadow disguise on the way.
Shi Hao turned his head to look at Xu Xiaoyan. She was no longer pretending to be ugly. Her face was like an oval, with rosy cheeks, almond-shaped face, and a cherry mouth. She was delicate and beautiful.
They flew over the mountains and fields shrouded in moonlight. The autumn wind at night was like a knife, scraping on the skin, which was particularly sharp.
Shi Hao hesitated for a moment and asked, "Xiaoyan, before the last Hongqiu meeting, have you ever seen mushrooms?"
Xu Xiaoyan turned her head in surprise and looked at him: "Why are you asking this?"
Shi Hao said: "Just asking."
Xu Xiaoyan shook her head and said, "I've never seen him before... What's wrong?" She looked at him with a puzzled look.
Shi Hao said: "Nothing... nothing!"
Xu Xiaoyan became even more curious, so she took a quick step, turned her back to him, stepped back, and looked at him with her face tilted: "What do you mean nothing? Then why are you asking? What's wrong with Xianggu? What does she have to do with me? Why are you asking me if I have seen her before? Why..."
"Stop saying why!" Shi Hao grabbed her slender little hand, moved sideways, and forced her to turn back, "Let's go."
Her hands were as cold as water, and they were held in his palms, which made people feel pity. Shi Hao grabbed her hands, covered them with both hands, and blew on them for her.
This overly caring behavior made the girl blush, and she slapped him hard with her other hand: "What are you doing? Aren't you afraid that your little lover named Du will see you and chop you with a sword?"
Shi Hao thought, isn't she here
When we arrived at the woods ten miles east of Qiantang Town, we did not see Yue Yaotai, Huan Tingting and Xianggu who were supposed to be there.
After a while, Yueyaotai and the other three people flew over from a distance and met the two of them in the forest.
Xu Xiaoyan called out in a low voice: "Aunt Yue, Aunt Ting!"
Yue Yaotai nodded slightly and didn't say much.
Shi Hao asked: "Why did you arrive even later?"
Yueyaotai said: "I met a master from the Six Gates. It took me some time to get rid of him. I am a little late."
Shi Hao asked in surprise, "A master from the Six Gates?" He knew that Yueyaotai, like Shalingshan, had both advanced to the fourth level. Although they had just entered the fourth level, with the help of the Evil Lotus Sect's various strange tricks and skills, they should not be easily entangled.
Yueyaotai said, "That man is one of the four great detectives of the Six Gates, the 'Eastern Palace Detective' Bei Lingyu. He is a fourth-rank expert in charge of one side of the Six Gates. I didn't expect him to appear in Qiantang Town. If I had met him a month or two earlier, I'm afraid I would have had a hard time escaping."
Shi Hao pondered and said, "One of the four great detectives of the Six Gates... Could it be that he is also here to hunt down Lin Jing's family?"
Yue Yaotai shook his head and said, "Although capturing Lin Jing's family will help deter the anti-barbarian forces in various places, if Bei Lingyu takes action for this, it would be like killing a chicken with a sledgehammer. I think he must have other important matters. Even if he participates in the pursuit of Lin Jing's family, it is just a side job."
Shi Hao said: "Well, no matter what, we will go to Sanjian Peak to get the sea chart first, and then leave Qiantang River.
Several people left together. On the way, Xu Xiaoyan kept looking at the mushrooms. Shi Hao asked that question just now, but he didn't explain anything clearly, which made her more concerned.
Xianggu saw her looking at him from time to time, so he looked back at her from time to time.
So the two of them just looked at each other like this.
Chapter 233 Above the East China Sea
A group of five people climbed up the Three Peaks.
In the Taoist temple dedicated to Wang Lingguan, there are three hawks and dogs of the Six Gates.
Last night the Six Gates set up a trap here, but because of Shi Hao's interference, the mortal they wanted to capture escaped.
Although the Six Gates still sent people to guard here, they did not think that the criminal would come back, so they did not leave many people here.
They quickly took care of the three men.
They came to a rockery in the backyard of the Taoist temple and, according to Taoist Zhong's instructions, turned the two mechanisms in the peak of the rockery. Soon, the stone pavilion next to it moved away, and a tunnel appeared.
Yueyaotai asked Huan Tingting to stay here while they entered the tunnel.
Inside was a secret room, where they found the sea chart and the water-repellent pill that Taoist Zhong had mentioned. They also found a booklet in a secret compartment that contained instructions for entering the Crystal Palace.
Spreading out the sea map, Shi Hao found the Huahu Island marked on the sea map: "According to what Elder Zhong said, there is a secret path leading to the Crystal Palace on this island." He raised his head and looked towards Yueyao Terrace: "Is this the path that the altar master took back then?"
Yue Yaotai shook his head and said, "There should be several ways to get to the Crystal Palace, and everyone who knows will not tell others. Because the Crystal Palace contains many immortal materials that are not available in the outside world, and sometimes you can find pearls worth thousands of gold, so everyone regards it as a treasure."
"I went there with others before, but we went from the sea, using some special instruments to dive underwater and follow a current into the Crystal Palace. The process was quite complicated and dangerous."
Shi Hao asked in confusion: "Why would the altar master risk his life to enter the Crystal Palace? Could it be that there are some materials needed for the magic sect ritual that can only be found in the Crystal Palace?"
Yueyaotai said calmly, "That's not the case. It's just that there is a kind of fish in the Crystal Palace that can cure diseases when combined with black plums. I had nothing to do at the time, so I went to look for it."
Xu Xiaoyan was shocked and raised her head: "Aunt Yue..."
Yue Yaotai said slowly, "I just happened to be on my way to the East China Sea for something, and I stopped by the Crystal Palace. It wasn't because you were sick at the time."
Shi Hao murmured, "Henggong fish... In the Shenyi Jing, it is said that there is a Henggong fish, which is shaped like a carp but red. It cannot be stabbed, and it will not die if boiled. But if it is boiled with two black plums, it will die. Eating it can cure evil diseases. I thought it was just a legend recorded in strange stories. I didn't expect that there really is such a fish?"
He added: "Although we have obtained the sea chart, Mr. Zhong is injured and cannot go out to sea. Where can we find ships and sailors now?"
Yueyaotai said: "That's fine. I can certainly get ships and sailors. The ships are good, but what's lacking is this sea map."
Shi Hao smiled and said, "In that case, I'll trouble you, Master."
Yueyaotai said: "Young Master, there is no need to be so polite. This is what I should do."
Shi Hao and others left here overnight and arrived in Zhenjiang the next day.
Although there were many barbarian soldiers and warriors from the Six Gates patrolling along the way, they had returned to their original appearance at this moment and were not noticed.
Although Yueyaotai faced off against the "Dongque Detective King" Bei Lingyu last night, he also used the Evil Shadow Disguise Technique at that time.
Zhenjiang is the "sea gate" of the Yangtze River, that is, the estuary of the Yangtze River.
They stayed in Zhenjiang for a day. Yue Yaotai accompanied the young master and did not leave, but asked Huan Tingting to take care of things secretly.
On the afternoon of the second day, they went to the dock, and Huan Tingting had already prepared a boat and was waiting for them at the dock.
Among the sea-going ships, the performance of the Fujian ship was quite good. It had a pointed bow, a wide stern, upturned ends, and an impact device on the bow. It could be used as a merchant ship or a warship. It was known for "riding the wind like a car crushing a mantis."
There was a middle-aged woman on board, called "Auntie Fu", and six young girls acting as sailors.
These six girls were obviously warriors of certain rank. Two of them were dressed in black, and the other four were wearing cloth skirts. They were all inner disciples secretly trained in Yuelian Tower.
The six disciples were taciturn and only followed Aunt Fu's orders, ignoring everything else.
A few days ago, Shi Hao, who was getting along with Sha Lingshan, Meihua Niangzi, Taohua Niangzi and others, always felt that the atmosphere in Yuelian Tower was quite depressing.
These obedient and rule-abiding female disciples of Yuelian Tower were carefully selected and were outstanding in appearance among their peers.
"Has Yuelian Tower always been like this?" Shi Hao pulled Xu Xiaoyan aside.
Xu Xiaoyan muttered, "It has always been like this. It's not because Aunt Yue is strict that she manages Yuelian Tower like this, but since Yuelian Tower was founded, the sect's rules have been like this, passed down from generation to generation, and the entire atmosphere has become like this.
"That's why, even though they treated me very well, I still couldn't stay in Yuelian Tower."
Shi Hao thought that her personality was indeed incompatible with Yuelian Tower.
Given Xiaoyan's personality, she would probably get along better with Sister Sha, Madam Meihua, and Madam Taohua.
Having said that, these female disciples have been in Yuelian Tower since they were young, and growing up in such an atmosphere, it is difficult for them not to be affected. When they gradually master the magic skills and start to rise to power, it is inevitable that they will bring this repressive atmosphere to the next generation.
On the contrary, Xiaoyan has lived in Yuelian Tower for six or seven years, and it is a miracle that she has not become like them.
He thought to himself that the integration of the three sects should not remain on the surface. Someday, Yuelian Tower and Jinghua Shuiyue Pavilion should communicate with each other.
When he was with Sha Lingshan and the others, he felt casual and comfortable.
He always felt very restrained when he was with the girls from Yuelian Tower, especially the six female disciples, who usually didn't talk, but just walked around him with their heads down, without a smile or any complaints. As a time traveler, he felt uncomfortable just by looking at them.
However, the atmosphere of Yuelian Tower was not formed in a day or two. Although he is the young master, it is not appropriate for him to interfere directly at the moment.
I wonder what the atmosphere is like in the Black Lotus Realm? He wondered in his heart.
As for the Black Lotus Realm, he has only dealt with Long Niu so far. She seemed okay, unlike Huan Tingting, who gave people a cold and icy feeling at first glance.
Of course, Long Niu was born short, and with her handicap, she had no chance of becoming an inner disciple of Yuelian Tower.
The Fu ship left the dock, braved the wind and waves, and went out to sea.
Many fruits and snacks were prepared on the boat. When nothing to do, Shi Hao would sit on the deck with Xiaoyan and Xianggu, eating and chatting.
Neither Shi Hao nor Yue Yaotai mentioned the matter of Penglian Mirage to Xu Xiaoyan... On this point, they were surprisingly in tacit agreement.
As for the mushrooms, as long as no one mentioned the "Holy Building", she seemed to have completely forgotten about it.
On that day, the Fu ship was sailing on the sea. Today, the wind is calm and the sea is blue. In the distance, the sea and the sky are one color.
The sky and the sea seem to be connected together. Looking around, you can see a vast expanse of space. This feeling can't be found anywhere else.
At noon, a fleet suddenly came from the other side. There were more than a dozen ships in the fleet, each of which was larger than their Fu ships. Six of them had no cabins, but were equipped with giant wooden armor.
Those wooden armors looked quite peculiar. Each one was like a building, retracted and placed on the deck, which was spectacular.
Yueyaotai floated over and whispered, "That's the fleet of the Sea Shark Gang."
A ship spotted them and sailed towards them.
Aunt Fu did not dare to delay and ordered the six female disciples to start sailing.
There were many warriors on the warship, and the leader was a man in a brocade robe carrying a big sword on his back, roaring at them: "Stop right there."
Yueyaotai said: "Let's go!"
The Fu ship began to speed up and turn away from the fleet. The warship chased for a while and began to load the stone cannon on the ship, but because it was still too far away, it did not fire the stone bullets.
Seeing that it was about to stray far away from its own team, it slowly stopped, and after a while, it turned back.
"I wonder where they are going?" Shi Hao pondered, "It looks like they are going to launch a naval battle against some force on the sea."
Xu Xiaoyan snorted: "The Sea Shark Gang is the lackey of the Barbarian Court. They have always bullied others and acted as accomplices to the tiger. Judging from their battle, I'm afraid it's not a good thing."
Yueyaotai came over and said, "Fortunately, we are far away. Our ship is pretty good, but if we really have a naval battle with them, I'm afraid we won't be able to hold out for long."
She shook her head and said, "With the support of the Barbarian Court, the Sea Shark Gang has become the dominant force in the lower reaches of the Changhe River. Some of the chambers of commerce that we secretly control have also been suppressed to the point where they can hardly survive."
Xu Xiaoyan turned her head to look at Yueyaotai. The sea breeze was quite strong. As she walked towards Yueyaotai, the most eye-catching thing was the curves of her chest lapels swaying gently, even though she had obviously wrapped them tightly.
Turning his head to look at the young man next to him, he saw that he was also somewhat unable to look away.
So I quietly kicked him to make him pay more attention.
Shi Hao couldn't help it either... The wind was too strong.
Among the three masters, Yueyaotai is indeed the most outstanding. The key is that its curves are quite beautiful and not the kind of big and useless thing.
Shi Hao turned around and looked out at the sea: "It looks like we should be able to reach Huahu Island by evening."
Xu Xiaoyan also looked into the distance. Since entering the East China Sea, she has been staying on the deck all the time, looking around the sea, trying to find something in this vast, blue world.
But this is like looking for a needle in a haystack, and it is difficult to find anything.
Shi Hao wanted to help her, but he couldn't. He looked at Xianggu, who was still eating all kinds of snacks without a care in the world, and then continued to fiddle with her bottles and jars.
Among them, only Xianggu may know the exact location of the Sea Mirage.
But unless he was sure that Xiaoyan's sister was really in there, he didn't intend to mention this to Xiaoyan.
In this way, the Fuchuan continued to sail forward, and in the evening when the sun was setting, it finally arrived at Huahu Island.
Chapter 234 Crystal Palace: Bottom of the Flower Coral!
Huahu Island is a coral island.
Although the island is big, it is a deserted island. From a distance, it looks like a flower, which is probably the origin of the name "Huahu Island".
The lucky ship stopped at the side of Huahu Island. Shi Hao, Yue Yaotai, Huan Tingting, Xu Xiaoyan, and Xianggu flew ashore with some dry food and various necessities.
The half moon was reflected on the sea, and the water was like fish scales, stretched out long and swaying with the waves.
The place where they landed was covered with crushed coral sand and coral mud.