Chapter 56: Isn't This Just Child's Play?
Under the guidance of Princess Ji, dozens of people slowly boarded the Red Beauty Barge.
Apart from the dozen or so cultivators clad in red armor, there were also seven or eight maidservants and several servants in attendance.
Walking at the very front of the procession was a palace-dressed young matron. She did not possess the noble air of royal blood that Princess Ji carried, nor did she have any overbearing or haughty demeanor about her.
Instead, she gave off an impression of delicate grace and gentle refinement. Between her brows, there lingered a trace of melancholy and sorrow. Following closely beside her was a young boy of fifteen or sixteen years of age.
The youth seemed extremely shy and fearful of strangers. Throughout the journey, he remained tightly pressed behind his mother, not daring to cast a single glance at anyone around him.
As soon as the palace-dressed matron boarded the ship, she bowed respectfully toward Chen Xuan and Zhao Youqian, saying:
"Ji Lingxiu pays her respects to the two Immortal Masters. My deepest gratitude to the two Immortal Masters for agreeing to ferry my son and me on this journey."
"Mm."
Chen Xuan merely responded with a faint acknowledgment before continuing to enjoy his tea with Zhao Youqian, completely unaffected by the arrival of this group of people.
The palace-dressed matron immediately led her people into the ship's cabin.
Before long, the Red Beauty Barge exchanged its flag for one bearing the emblem of a Golden Crow, and slowly sailed away from the dock.
By evening, the cultivators aboard the ship began preparing meals and lighting cooking fires.
An appetizing aroma that stirred one's hunger instantly permeated throughout the entire Red Beauty Barge.
Not long after, the Little Princess emerged to invite Chen Xuan and Zhao Youqian.
"The two Immortal Masters, the evening meal will be ready soon. Please join us for dinner."
"There is no need. We are more accustomed to dining out here."
Chen Xuan declined without giving it any thought at all.
"In that case, I shall have someone prepare a separate meal for the two of you."
The Little Princess seemed to have anticipated their wishes, having already arranged for an extra table of food to be prepared.
In just a few moments, a sumptuous feast with mouth-watering aromas was arranged at the bow of the ship.
Lu Zinen stood to one side and asked, "I wonder if the two Immortal Masters require anything else. I will immediately arrange for someone to attend to it."
Chen Xuan said indifferently, "There is no need. You may sit and eat with us as well. I happen to have some matters I wish to inquire about."
"This humble one would not dare."
Lu Zinen hurriedly stepped aside to stand at attention.
"I told you to sit, so sit. What is with all this nonsense?"
Zhao Youqian spoke with a hint of displeasure in his tone.
"Yes!"
Lu Zinen immediately seated himself at the edge of the dining table.
"Tell us, what exactly is this Enfeoffment Ceremony about?"
Chen Xuan did not know what had transpired in Jinyang City, but heading there blindly without any information was clearly not a wise choice.
"Are the two Immortal Masters not going to attend the Enfeoffment Ceremony?"
Lu Zinen asked with some surprise. The cultivators heading to Jinyang City were all basically going for the Enfeoffment Ceremony. To think there were exceptions was unexpected.
"What is there to attend at an Enfeoffment Ceremony? It is incredibly boring."
Zhao Youqian spoke with the tone of a seasoned veteran who had seen it all.
However, in Lu Zinen's mind, Zhao Youqian's stature instantly grew much taller.
Having navigated the official circles for many years, he could distinguish truth from falsehood with a single listen. He could confirm that what this Immortal Master Chao said was no lie.
Lu Zinen secretly glanced in the direction of the ship's cabin and lowered his voice:
"This matter must be told starting from three days ago. The father of the Nineteenth Princess, Old Ancestor Hongyun, flew back to Jinyang City on his sword.
In the capital, there is a rule forbidding cultivators from flying through the air, and this applies even to the royal clan.
Old Ancestor Hongyun's action clearly violated the laws of the State of Jin. Soon, he was surrounded by experts of the Jin royal clan.
But no one could have imagined that this action would enrage Old Ancestor Hongyun. In his fury, he injured all of the experts who had confronted him.
The appearance of high-ranking cultivators taking action in the capital alarmed the Lord of Jin. Just when everyone thought Old Ancestor Hongyun was about to be captured by the Lord of Jin...
Old Ancestor Hongyun struck and repelled the Lord of Jin with a single move, and even proclaimed to the ancestral grounds of Jin that he wished to be enfeoffed as a King. The result was that two generations of Lords of Jin joined forces to attack the Old Ancestor.
Unexpectedly, Old Ancestor Hongyun produced a broken sword and cleanly defeated both Lords of Jin before entering the ancestral grounds. No one knows what transpired within the ancestral grounds.
But that very night, news spread that Old Ancestor Hongyun was about to be enfeoffed as King, and this news was transmitted to the surrounding nations and the Daluo Holy Sect.
The enfeoffment would take place in half a month. Counting the time, that would be twelve days from now."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Youqian glanced at Chen Xuan: "Brother Chen, don't you think the title Old Ancestor Hongyun sounds particularly familiar? As if we've heard it somewhere before?"
Chen Xuan replied in exasperation, "That is a disciple I just took in. You, as his martial uncle, are far too careless with details."
Swish!
Zhao Youqian opened his folding fan and waved it gently:
"So it really is him. But I was so preoccupied with Brother Leng's situation that I completely forgot about your taking a disciple. Did you pick a sword for him?"
"Mm."
Chen Xuan nodded: "A broken sword."
"In that case, this martial nephew of mine has some genuine ability."
Zhao Youqian spoke with casual indifference, as if commenting on something utterly trivial.
When Lu Zinen heard these words, his legs nearly gave way from fright. These two Immortal Masters were surely boasting too outrageously. That was Old Ancestor Hongyun, the foremost expert in the State of Jin!
"Two Immortal Masters, it would be best not to speak such words in the future. They could invite great trouble."
Chen Xuan merely smiled and paid no attention to the man. He raised his wine cup and continued drinking with Zhao Youqian.
At this moment, Lu Zinen's heart was filled with trepidation. He desperately wished to find an excuse to leave, but the Little Princess had entrusted him with attending to these two Immortal Masters.
If he failed to satisfy them, they might seek retribution against him later.
Yet the words they spoke were all matters that could cost one's life. If others overheard, he might be arrested as an accomplice.
To leave meant death. To stay also meant death.
Why has Old Lu always been so unfortunate?
...
The night passed without incident.
Chen Xuan's party and the palace-dressed matron's group remained clearly separated, neither disturbing the other.
As they drew closer to Jinyang City, the Tongtian River became increasingly congested, and the Red Beauty Barge's speed slowed accordingly.
Furthermore, there were checkpoints along the way, and even with the Little Princess aboard, they were still delayed for some time.
Originally, the journey to Jinyang would have taken seven days, but now it seemed they would have to remain on the ship for two or three additional days.
Having stayed on the ship for several days, Chen Xuan was beginning to feel somewhat bored.
One day, Zhao Youqian handed a fishing rod to Chen Xuan.
"Brother Chen, since we have nothing better to do, let us go fishing."
"Alright."
Chen Xuan did not refuse. He accepted the fishing rod, baited the hook, cast the line into the Tongtian River, and then sat there quietly waiting for the fish to bite.
There were not many forms of entertainment available on the ship.
Furthermore, with Chen Xuan and Zhao Youqian fishing from the deck, naturally they attracted the attention of many onlookers.
The Little Princess led the youth who had been following the palace-dressed matron that day, and they came to stand quietly beside Chen Xuan, watching him.
"Jing'er, will they be able to catch any fish? I read in books that when fishing, one must remain still, otherwise the fish will be startled away."
Young people are naturally full of curiosity. Though the youth was shy around strangers, he could not help but ask a question.
The Little Princess smiled gently: "Uncle Xiao, the two Immortal Masters are no ordinary people. If they believe they can catch fish, then they certainly will be able to."
Before her words had even faded away.
The fishing rod in Chen Xuan's hand moved, and the youth exclaimed in surprise: "A fish has taken the bait!"
Splash!
Chen Xuan pulled on the rod, and soon a fish over four feet in length came into everyone's view.
The fish's entire body shimmered with silver light, and its tail was tinged with a hint of red.
With a gentle flick from Chen Xuan, the fish landed on the deck, flopping and thrashing about.
"This is a Silver Dragon Carp!"
Lu Zinen, standing to one side, exclaimed with a face full of astonishment.
"Is it famous?"
The Little Princess asked with curiosity.
Lu Zinen explained: "Of course! Although this Silver Dragon Carp is not of the demon race, it possesses the strength of the Dao Foundation Realm. It is extremely fast in the water. Even cultivators at the True Destiny Realm would have difficulty catching one, let alone fishing for one."
Splash!
Zhao Youqian also pulled his fishing rod and caught another Silver Dragon Carp, though it was not as large as the one Chen Xuan had caught, measuring only three feet in length.
This sight left everyone completely dumbfounded.
"Two Immortal Masters, how did you manage to catch these Silver Dragon Carps?"
Lu Zinen asked subconsciously, but he quickly realized he had spoken too much and hurriedly covered his mouth with his hand.
How could Immortal Masters possibly share such secrets with the likes of them?
Chen Xuan smiled and said: "Is this not simply something anyone with hands can do?"
Everyone present was stunned. His words made it sound as if they did not possess hands.
Zhao Youqian added indifferently: "The prerequisite is that you must use a Fusion Realm sea demon as bait."
"..."
The crowd fell silent once more.
Lu Zinen muttered to himself: "I really should not have asked."
Chen Xuan smiled and paid no attention to everyone's astonishment. He removed the hooks from the mouths of both fish, then picked up the three-foot Silver Dragon Carp and held it out toward the youth.
"As thanks for the fine meal you provided earlier, I give you this fish as a token of gratitude."
The youth looked at the large fish, then glanced at the Little Princess beside him: "Jing'er, may I accept it?"
"Since the Immortal Master has bestowed it upon you, Uncle, you should accept it."
The Little Princess did not know why Immortal Master Chen had chosen to give a fish to her cousin, but she encouraged him to accept it nonetheless.
"Thank you, Immortal Master."
The youth spoke politely, then hugged the fish and ran into the ship's cabin...
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