Longevity with a Turtle

Chapter 98: Chapter 94: Premeditation, Shocking Change

Fumin Residence, Courtyard Two.

Yun Huizhen sat in the Grandmaster’s Chair in the main hall, a report in her hand. A smile touched her lips as she casually passed it to Yu Daniu, who was seated in the place of honor to her left.

”Daniu, you can finally rest easy.”

The report was simple, containing news from Yu Daniu’s hometown.

His younger brother had become a prominent figure in the Mortal World of Bixia Town, and his younger sister had married a young master from a Qi Refining Family in Bixia Town and was deeply cherished.

His parents were both still alive and well, enjoying their later years in town.

Although the intelligence was more than ten years old, giving it to Yu Daniu now was the best way to put his mind at ease.

It proved that the Yu Family’s steady rise had nothing to do with him becoming a Steward of the Yun Family or breaking through to the Eighth-Layer Qi Refining.

This was all thanks to Yun Huizhen’s devotion as their daughter-in-law.

”Huizhen, thank you.” Holding the report, Yu Daniu felt an indescribable weight, and his heart swelled with gratitude for his wife.

”We’ve been married for ages, what’s with all the formality?”

Yun Huizhen said with a smile.

Now in her fifties, distinct crow’s feet appeared at the corners of Yun Huizhen’s eyes when she smiled.

”Huizhen, they are mortals. They’re in their seventies now, nearing the end of their lives. I...”

”Daniu.”

Yun Huizhen knew what Yu Daniu wanted to say, and she fully supported him seeing his parents one last time.

However, having grown up in the Immortal Race, she knew all too well that the next two years were a critical time for Yu Daniu’s promotion to Elder.

For a man who had married into the family to become a clan Elder—a member of the highest decision-making body—was a near-impossible feat.

Moreover, her branch was not the sole power in the Yun Family; there were three other branches, as well as the Patriarch’s own line.

Therefore, at a time like this, Yu Daniu could not afford to give anyone any leverage against him.

Not even the slightest unfavorable situation could be allowed to arise.

”Don’t worry. If anything should happen to your parents, I will have Xiaoniu go in your stead to fulfill your filial duties.”

Yun Huizhen thought for a moment; this was the only comfort she could offer Yu Daniu.

Even sending Yun Xiaoniu carried a great risk.

”Alright.”

Yu Daniu took a deep breath and slowly closed his eyes.

Just then, Yun Xiaoniu strode in and said bluntly, ”Father, Mother, Cousin Suxin was right. The cloaked and masked person who went to the Jingyue Treasure Pavilion to sell Spirit Talismans must have been Uncle.”

He had gone to the Zone A No.6 Water Area and found only an empty boat; there was no sign of Chen Jianghe.

Furthermore, the Little Cyan Fish in the water area were left to roam freely.

Yu Daniu stood up and took out the farewell letter Chen Jianghe had given him from his Storage Pouch. The words were sincere, each one expressing his reluctance to part.

”Why didn’t Big Brother say goodbye to me in person?” Yu Daniu sighed, dejected.

Yun Huizhen grasped Yu Daniu’s large, sturdy hand.

”Big Brother was afraid that if you two met, it would only deepen the pain of parting.”

”Besides, this is only a temporary separation. Didn’t Big Brother say in his letter that he’ll contact you once he’s settled? You’ll be able to meet again in the future.”

Hearing Yun Huizhen’s comfort, Yu Daniu nodded but still walked out of the house. He stared in the direction of the Zone A No.6 Water Area, silent for a long time.

”Mother, I feel like Uncle was afraid of seeing Father, and us. The last few times I went to look for him, he had a ’secluded cultivation’ sign up on his boat.”

---

「Xingyue River.」

A tributary of the seventy-thousand-li Tongtian River, it was the largest river within the territory of Jingyue Lake, stretching for a thousand li.

It connected to the Youxian River outside the borders of Jingyue Lake and led directly to the Qinghe Marketplace.

A three-story riverboat, thirty zhang long and eight zhang wide, cut through the winds on the Xingyue River. A large banner emblazoned with the character ’Yue’ flew high above it.

This was the large vessel heading for the Qinghe Marketplace.

A total of seventy-four Cultivators were on board: twelve Early-Stage Qi Refining Cultivators, forty-nine Mid-Stage Qi Refining Cultivators, and thirteen Late-Stage Qi Refining Cultivators.

Their decks were assigned according to their Cultivation level.

Early-Stage Qi Refining was on the first deck, Mid-Stage on the second, and Late-Stage on the third.

However, Late-Stage Cultivators could bring Early- and Mid-Stage Qi Refining Cultivators up to the third deck.

The boatmen were in the hold at the bottom of the ship.

There were thirty-six boatmen in total, all of them mortals. Not a single one was a Cultivator.

They had no fear of encountering Tribulation Cultivators, as the Spirit Stones had already been paid at Port No.1. Moreover, the broker gang had paid the boatmen a hefty sum.

For this trip, it wouldn’t matter even if they ran into Tribulation Cultivators.

A single trip like this earned the boatmen almost a lifetime’s worth of silver. If they made it back, it was pure profit.

As for the boat?

It could be rebuilt for three thousand taels of silver. If it was lost, it was lost.

Compared to the profits to be made, it wasn’t even a drop in the bucket.

Therefore, the Yun Family must be behind this broker gang. Otherwise, such a wildly profitable business could never survive in Jingyue Lake.

Chen Jianghe sat by his room’s window, watching the river scenery flash by and the gradually appearing signs of civilization.

’That must be Daniu’s hometown, Bixia Town.’

When he boarded, the captain had informed them that no meals would be provided on the ship; passengers had to arrange their own food.

The journey spanned a total of two thousand three hundred li. If all went smoothly, they would reach the Qinghe Marketplace in ten days.

If things didn’t go smoothly...

The boat would be destroyed, the boatmen would perish, and the Cultivators would scatter and flee.

However, this trip probably wouldn’t be dangerous. There were thirteen Late-Stage Qi Refining Cultivators on board, including two Ninth-Layer Qi Refining Great Cultivators.

With a lineup like this, ordinary Tribulation Cultivators wouldn’t dare approach.

Even a Tribulation Cultivator gang would have to weigh their own strength and consider whether they could handle such a big score.