Chapter 173: Chapter 118: Where Are You Running To?

Fang Shuwen had planned to ask Yu Yaoguang for a detailed explanation of the Fingering Technique’s intricacies on the way back.

Although the martial arts of Yuqing Pavilion certainly couldn’t be taught to outsiders, exchanging insights from Yu Yaoguang’s training experience would surely be of immense help to Fang Shuwen.

But it was too much to cover in a short period.

Fang Shuwen hadn’t forgotten about Miao Feichan, who was helping him keep an eye on the Vermilion Bird Hall Master. So, after arranging to meet with Yu Yaoguang later to discuss the Fingering Technique, he quickly retraced his steps to find Miao Feichan.

They had agreed earlier that Miao Feichan would leave a trail of markings.

This would allow Fang Shuwen to find her.

As it turned out, he searched for the entire night and still couldn’t find her...

If he hadn’t spotted the marks Miao Feichan left on trees or rocks every so often, Fang Shuwen would have started to wonder if he was going the wrong way and had lost her completely.

It wasn’t until noon the next day, when Fang Shuwen arrived at a place called Clear Water Town, that he finally spotted Miao Feichan sitting in a teahouse, leisurely sipping her tea.

Weather-beaten from a night on the road, he walked up to Miao Feichan and plopped down in the seat opposite her.

Miao Feichan didn’t even spare him a glance, her gaze fixed on a nearby pier.

"What’s so interesting about the pier?"

Fang Shuwen asked casually, pouring himself a cup of tea.

"There’s nothing wrong with the pier. The river is the issue."

Miao Feichan said quietly,

"There are three great rivers that run through the Five Domains.

"This Clear Water River is a tributary of a larger one. If you follow it eastward, you can reach the East Sea."

Fang Shuwen was taken aback.

"Is that old bastard trying to flee?"

"You must have scared him."

Miao Feichan glanced at Fang Shuwen. The man was covered in dust from his travels, and there were still bloodstains on his clothes.

"Then again, we can’t be certain he’s fleeing. He might just be planning to leave by water and go somewhere you can’t find him."

"Is he that desperate?"

Fang Shuwen was speechless.

’Such a coward, and he calls himself a Hall Master?’

"Still, if he really is running back to Undying Island, and I follow him quietly... could I find the Dragon Emperor Hall?"

"It’s worth a try."

Miao Feichan let out a soft laugh.

"But this boat is clearly not sturdy enough to brave the open ocean.

"If he’s really planning to head straight for this Dragon Emperor Hall of yours, he’ll definitely have to switch to a different vessel partway through.

"He’ll probably have to hijack one mid-journey.

"During that process, there’s a high chance he’ll discover you.

"Then again, considering how terrified he is of you, maybe you could just scare him a bit and he’d tell you where the Dragon Emperor Hall is."

Fang Shuwen stroked his chin.

’The odds of success don’t seem great,’ he thought.

’But it’s definitely worth a shot...’

"So he’s on that boat right now?"

"Yes, and it’s about to depart."

Miao Feichan said,

"If you hadn’t shown up, I was about to head back. I can leave a trail on land, but it’s much harder to leave markings when traveling by boat."

Fang Shuwen stood up abruptly. His eyes scanned the room and landed on a straw hat hanging on the teahouse wall.

He bought it from the owner, plopped it on his head, and said to Miao Feichan,

"Thank you for your help. I’m going to follow him and see what happens."

"...If you head out to sea, there’s no guarantee you’ll come back."

Miao Feichan arched an elegant eyebrow.

Fang Shuwen grinned.

"Worth a shot. If it doesn’t work, I’ll just have to torture the information out of him... But if I can follow him straight out to sea, it’ll save me a lot of trouble.

"And as for getting back, there’s always a way."

With that, he was off, moving swiftly toward the boat.

After a moment of silence, Miao Feichan also bought a straw hat from the owner. The man was bewildered. Why were so many people buying straw hats in the middle of winter?

Besides, those were his personal hats. He only had two, and now both had been sold. It was utterly baffling.

Fang Shuwen paid the boat master some silver and boarded.

The boat was bustling with people, and he couldn’t immediately spot the Vermilion Bird Hall Master. Still, he trusted that Miao Feichan wouldn’t have misled him.

Searching for him rashly wasn’t the best idea.

It could expose him... He simply found an empty spot in the crowd and sat down. A moment later, a pleasant fragrance wafted over. He turned his head and saw Miao Feichan, also wearing a straw hat, sitting beside him.

He was stunned.

"Why are you here too?"

"I was afraid you’d die at sea."

Miao Feichan scoffed.

"Who would I get my revenge on then?"

"...Why do you hold such a grudge?"

Fang Shuwen couldn’t help but laugh.

"What happened yesterday was just an accident."

"Whether it was an accident or not doesn’t matter!"

Miao Feichan shot him a vicious glare. The point was, in her entire life, she had never been wronged like that before.

"So how do you plan to get your revenge?"

Fang Shuwen asked.

"I haven’t decided yet."

Miao Feichan admitted frankly.

She desperately wanted revenge, but she didn’t know how.

Anything too extreme was out of the question, but anything too lenient wouldn’t be satisfying. It was a real dilemma.

Fang Shuwen was amused and was tempted to make a wisecrack, but after a moment’s thought, he decided against making such a flippant joke.

Instead, he asked,

"So, where is the Vermilion Bird Hall Master?"

"In one of the cabins."

Miao Feichan said in a low voice,

"You picked a good spot. Aside from the stern, you can see most of the boat from here. If he shows himself, you’re sure to spot him." 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

Hearing her say this, Fang Shuwen relaxed.

He’d been running all last night and all day today. He took the opportunity to get some much-needed rest.

The boat soon pushed off from the bank and began its journey east.