The large ship cut through the deep blue sea, waves rolling into fine white foam on both sides of the hull.
The salty, damp sea breeze poured into the cabin, causing the corners of the sea chart on the table to flutter slightly.
“Compared to the northern map bestowed by the Divine Lady, this sea chart is truly far too crude,” Shen Yu said as he rolled the chart back up. “If we want to train a navy in the future, this sea chart will definitely have to be redrawn.”
When he raised his eyes, they happened to meet Lu Sui's gaze.
“Fuyan, your complexion doesn't look good,” Lu Sui said, a hint of worry in his tone. “The moisture on the sea is heavy. Can your frail body handle it?”
Normally, delivering military supplies to the Zhenbei Army was a task Lu Sui could handle alone. However, when they went to the Fan family of Liaodong to borrow ships, the female head of the Fan family took a liking to Shen Yu and wanted him as a live-in son-in-law. This forced Shen Yu to take an alternative route, striking a deal with Young Mistress Fan to help her find her lover, who had left without saying goodbye.
Shen Yu picked up the teacup beside him and took a sip.
The tea was a health-preserving blend specially prepared by Lin Xun, designed to nourish the body, and he usually quite enjoyed drinking it.
After a moment, he set down the teacup. “Buyan, my illness has improved a lot. Physician Lin said that as long as I think less, worry less, and keep my mind and body at ease, I should be able to live for a few more years.”
Hearing this, Lu Sui's brow did not unfurl. “You know Physician Lin told you to think less, yet you still spend all day overthinking everything. You really don't take your own life seriously.”
The two had known each other since youth, studying together at the Imperial Academy. He, Shen Yu, and Pei Du had even lived and eaten together.
With just a casual movement, Lu Sui could read the hidden details.
For instance, when Shen Yu set down the teacup just now, his knuckles were slightly white, as if he had to exert quite a bit of effort just to steady his wrist.
This detail alone was enough to show that Shen Yu's current physical condition was absolutely not as good as he claimed.
Shen Yu looked at Lu Sui. “Buyan, I naturally want to follow Physician Lin's advice to think less and avoid anger.”
He paused, then added, “I can still manage to avoid anger, but as for thinking less... I'm afraid that is beyond me.”
Lu Sui sighed and said helplessly, “Anyone else would have gone home to recover long ago. Only you would keep taking on work like this. You were born to labor...”
Shen Yu changed the subject, interrupting his nagging. “What do you think of the situation in Wuling Prefecture?”
“General Shen and Zirang both mentioned in their letters that Wuling Prefecture is plagued by war and famine, with corpses of the starved littering the fields.” Lu Sui pondered for a moment before continuing, “The Divine Lady is staying in Wuling City. She likely saw the suffering of the commoners, felt pity, and intends to protect them through this crisis.”
“The Divine Lady always holds the common people in her heart,” Shen Yu's voice suddenly grew much softer. “I only wonder if Her repeated interventions in mortal karma will eventually bring severe consequences upon Herself.”
He had never forgotten what Luo Daoqing said about Nüwa Mending the Heavens. This matter had almost become a knot in his heart.
Lu Sui shook his head at Shen Yu. “The affairs of deities are not something we mortals can ever hope to comprehend.”
“Buyan, there are already ten thousand soldiers of the Zhenbei Army in Wuling City. Why don't we split into two groups? Once we arrive in Wuling Prefecture, Young Mistress Fan and I will head to Wuling City to help her find her missing lover. You and my younger sister, A'ying, can go reclaim the other cities in the prefecture.”
Shen Yu lowered his eyelashes, his voice cold.
“Wuling Prefecture is famous for its illusions. The commoners put all their effort into studying illusion arts, neglecting agriculture. They became accustomed to performing illusions to earn money and buy grain.”
“But in recent years, the south has been plagued by continuous war and natural disasters. Northern merchant ships are completely unwilling to risk coming south. Now, the commoners of Wuling Prefecture cannot buy even a handful of rice, even if they offer exorbitant prices.”
“And grain is the one thing we do not lack.”
Lu Sui understood the underlying meaning. “You mean I should enter the cities disguised as a grain merchant?”
Shen Yu nodded slightly.
“In this way, we can pacify Wuling Prefecture smoothly without shedding a single drop of blood, and present it to the Divine Lady.”
Hearing this, Lu Sui clicked his tongue.
“See? What did I say? When Sister A'ying said you have too many schemes up your sleeve, she didn't wrong you at all.”
Shen Yu unhurriedly raised his teacup, looking down at the tea leaves floating and sinking in the cup, his thoughts unknown.
“The Divine Lady delivers all living beings from suffering, holding up the heavens for the mortal realm. As Her believers, we should naturally think more about how to ease Her burdens, so She is less entangled in mortal karma and sins that might harm Her.”
Lu Sui did not notice that Shen Yu was somewhat absentminded, only finding that his words made a lot of sense.
“You just focus on delivering the grain and medicinal herbs to Wuling City. Leave the rest to me, Fuyan. You can rest easy.”
A look of determination burned in his eyes. “Within three months, I will surely make the Divine Lady's name known throughout Wuyang City and Linshui City in Wuling Prefecture...”
“Second Brother, something terrible has happened!”
Shen Ying's anxious voice echoed from outside the door.
Immediately after, a rapid-fire pounding on the door ensued.
Remarkably, the girl didn't just kick the door open this time.
Shen Yu and Lu Sui exchanged a glance.
Then, both of them stood up at the same time.
As soon as the door opened, they saw Shen Ying standing outside, her red robes fluttering wildly in the sea breeze.
Without stopping to explain to Shen Yu and Lu Sui, she grabbed Shen Yu's sleeve and spun around, dragging him toward the deck.
“Hurry, come with me!”
Shen Yu stumbled a couple of steps as Shen Ying yanked him. Before he could even ask a question, he was dragged through the passageway along the ship's side.
By the time he finally arrived on the crowded deck, his chest was heaving slightly, and fine sweat beaded on his forehead.
Shen Ying glanced back at him and frowned. “Second Brother, you really need to practice martial arts more. Panting after running just a few steps... how do you look like a child of a military family?”
Shen Yu bent over, catching his breath, clearly having not yet recovered.
Lu Sui, however, strolled up unhurriedly from behind, speaking up to rescue him. “Sister A'ying, your second brother has never had any talent for martial arts. You shouldn't expect the impossible from him.”
“You said something major happened just now. What is it?”
Shen Ying didn't think too much about it, raising her hand to point out at the sea.
“See for yourselves!”
Shen Yu straightened up and looked in the direction she was pointing.
Then, he froze completely in place.
Where the sea met the sky, rising above the hazy mist, stood magnificent, glowing pavilions and jade palaces.
With upturned eaves and glazed tiles reflecting the sunlight, tier upon tier of pavilions reached straight into the clouds, looking as if the Heavenly Palace itself had descended into the mortal world.
Rainbow bridges spanned between the palaces, white cranes circled the beams, and golden light poured down from the eaves, presenting a majestic and magnificent sight.
“Second Brother, you've read a lot of books, so you must know what this is, right?” Shen Ying asked, a trace of curiosity in her voice. “Is it a mirage?”
Before Shen Yu could say anything, Fan Miaozhen, who frequently went to sea, spoke with absolute certainty, “Miss Shen, this grand palace before us cannot possibly be a mirage.”
“A'ying, Young Mistress Fan is right,” Shen Yu said, his eyes burning as he stared at the temple, his voice hoarse. “This indeed is no mirage. It is the residence of the Divine Lady.”
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