Abandoned Woman Busy Farming-Chapter 2360 - 2359: Bai’s White Hair of the Merfolk
Old Ding looked at Bai Ruozhu and asked, "Bai girl, be honest, you’re not actually heading to Fusang Country, are you?"
Fang Luo, standing nearby, slightly changed his expression. Fortunately, he managed to keep his composure, pretending he hadn’t heard anything, and quietly glanced at Bai Ruozhu.
Bai Ruozhu smiled and said, "You’re mistaken, we really are going to Fusang Country."
"I’ve been on the boat for many years, and I’ve never seen the Imperial Court send people to a Commerce Association and arrange so many high-ranking officers, nor have I ever seen such an expert lineup like yours. It doesn’t seem as simple as just a trade mission." Old Ding said with a smile.
"I’m not trying to pry into your secrets, it’s just that I’m uneasy; it would be a pity if I missed something."
At that moment, Bai Ruozhu hesitated. She sympathized with Old Ding’s situation and also respected this poor old man; however, having known him only for a few days, she didn’t feel confident in sharing their secrets with him.
But soon, Bai Ruozhu changed her mind. The vast sea and Fusang could be found, but merfolk were hard to track. They needed a guide familiar with the sea, and finding Old Ding seemed much more reliable than relying on someone like Zheng Xin.
"We are indeed heading to Fusang Country. A friend of mine went missing, and the last trace of her was on a merchant ship bound for Fusang Country. I hope to gather information about her there."
Bai Ruozhu paused for a moment, "Additionally, I also want to find the island where the merfolk live."
Old Ding’s face changed instantly, "Merfolk..."
Fang Luo watched him closely, unsure why he showed such an expression.
"No, no, that’s not possible!" Old Ding shook his head urgently.
Bai Ruozhu and Fang Luo looked at him in surprise; why was he so strongly opposed?
"I don’t know why you’re looking for merfolk, but we seafarers know that seeing merfolk leads to disaster!"
Old Ding spoke so quickly in his anxiety, "Those who have seen merfolk at sea all drown with no remains left. There were once ships that tried to capture merfolk, and the entire ships overturned."
"It’s rumored that merfolk possess great strength. Provoking them and overturning a ship is normal, but I’m not seeking to capture merfolk, just visiting on behalf of the Jiuli Clan, so I shouldn’t anger them." Bai Ruozhu had to explain when she saw his strong reaction.
Old Ding was startled, "Jiuli Clan? Are you a Jiuli clansperson?"
Bai Ruozhu nodded slightly, "So, Old Ding, please don’t worry too much. We just need to find the merfolk."
"But it’s too dangerous. Everyone who has seen merfolk at sea has died. Once the merfolk sing, those who see them will walk into the sea on their own and can’t survive. You’re still young; you absolutely can’t take that risk." Old Ding urged anxiously.
Bai Ruozhu thought this sounded just like the legends of sea sirens, where sailors would get lost at sea upon hearing their song, unknowingly walking into the sea.
"These are probably mostly legends. Merfolk have visited Danliang Country, and they couldn’t possibly have killed everyone who saw them, right?" Fang Luo said a bit displeased.
Bai Ruozhu hastily motioned to him with her eyes, fearing that he might arouse Old Ding’s suspicions.
"It’s different. The sea is the merfolk’s territory; they don’t allow others to approach them. But if they go to the land, they will follow our rules and hide like ordinary people." Old Ding explained.
Bai Ruozhu remained silent this time. She previously thought what Old Ding said were just rumors, but now his words seemed grounded. Perhaps she had underestimated the merfolk; they were not as friendly as those who ventured into the human world, and maybe they didn’t welcome any guests at sea?
"Bai girl, think carefully; don’t take risks." Old Ding advised again.
Bai Ruozhu quickly smiled at him and said, "We still have to find someone in Fusang Country first. We can talk about this later, and besides, I may not even find the merfolk."
Old Ding sighed and said no more. Bai Ruozhu then advised him to rest well before leaving the room.
After a while, Fang Luo found her, with a heavy expression, saying, "What he said was all hearsay; you don’t have to believe it. At least my father wasn’t like that."
Bai Ruozhu nodded at him, "Did your father ever mention how he came to Danliang Country? Did he mention his clansmen?"
"Because of the Yueqiu Tribe leader, I was sent to live with a kind mother-in-law at a young age. My father came to pick me up before he passed, instructing me to take care of my mother, and then he left."
Fang Luo’s eyes reddened as he spoke, "But I didn’t get to bury him. They say merfolk are meant to die in the sea; otherwise, there would be big trouble."
"What trouble?" Bai Ruozhu just realized Fang Qing didn’t die in front of Fang Luo.
"He didn’t explain in detail. When he left, I saw some gray hairs at his temples, but he wasn’t even thirty yet; how could he suddenly have gray hair?"
Fang Luo said, suddenly undoing his hair and pulling out a small strand, with a bitter smile, "It’s happening to me too."
Bai Ruozhu looked at him in surprise; the strand wasn’t entirely gray, but from the roots, it had turned white for over three inches.
"You..."
"Don’t comfort me. It’s my fate to live, or not live, but at least I got to see the world." Fang Luo seemed to speak without regret, but Bai Ruozhu still saw unwillingness and longing in his eyes.
"Regarding the merfolk, don’t argue with Old Ding for now. I don’t fully believe it either, but don’t have too much faith in the merfolk, or why didn’t your father instruct you to seek his clansmen before he left?" Bai Ruozhu said.
Fang Luo hesitated, opened his mouth, but didn’t know what to say.
"Let’s go back, don’t overthink it. Once we find them, everything will be clear." Bai Ruozhu sighed quietly.
As Fang Luo left, Jiang Yichun came out from a room on the side.
"I saw everything." His voice was somewhat deep, "At least I haven’t grown gray hair yet, so don’t worry too much."
Bai Ruozhu pulled him back to the room, told him Old Ding’s words, and Jiang Yichun didn’t respond for a long time.
His impression of the merfolk wasn’t as good as Fang Luo’s. His mother was taken by the merfolk, and his father was intimidated into despair for many years, showing how intense their methods were.
"If the merfolk don’t want the outside world to discover their hiding place or secrets, it’s normal for them to kill anyone who sees them." Jiang Yichun said.
Bai Ruozhu nodded, "I have the Golden Feather of the Jiuli Clan; they’ll give some face to the Jiuli Clan, so there won’t be any problems."
Jiang Yichun nodded, but he felt an uneasy premonition. He didn’t think the merfolk were friendly clansmen; otherwise, why didn’t they take him when they took his mother?
In the following two days, Old Ding spent time teaching the five of them daily. Some among them had high comprehension and understanding, while others were particularly diligent, constantly learning and observing. There were no particularly dull-witted ones; otherwise, they wouldn’t have privately learned knowledge about navigation.
On the third day, they finally saw Luili Island.
