89 Chapter 88: Return journey (2/2)

An awkward silence fell over us, when we figured out what he meant by the use of past tense. Qiang Zhe lowered his head apologetically.

”Sorry. I didn't mean…”

”I know. I don't blame you. And I've gotten over it.” Lao Ren waved his apologies away. ”I've been widowed for a long time now. Time heals all wounds.”

”But it leaves scars,” I muttered. Lao Ren glanced at me, surprised. Then he sighed.

”Perhaps, but it's not that bad. I still have my brother to accompany me.”

”What was that?” Lao Tou poked his head out of a window. ”Talking bad about me behind my back again?”

His statement brought out some laughter from the people on the deck, and eased the mood somewhat.

While snickering at Lao Tou's confusion, I turned back to stare in the direction of the bustling Great Zhou port. I would be so glad when I found my feet on top of dry land again. I had spent too much time out on sea.

I wonder how everyone is doing?

My heart fluttered a little as the memories of my friends and family flashed across my mind. It had been a couple of weeks since I had seen them, and while I called my family a few times per week – mostly to assure them that I was still alive – it would be great to see them in person. I also needed to catch up on current events after being away for so long.

Come to think of it, Qi Hong hasn't really responded much to my messages.

The combination of fantasy-like qi and technology had allowed me to receive a signal on my cellphone even out in the middle of the sea. The Void Ring proved to be the exception, but the whole area was jamming all sorts of things, not just electromagnetic signals, so that wan't unusual. That said, Tang Qi Hong gave the briefest of replies once I regained the signal upon leaving the Void Ring. Unlike my parents, who had a lot to say to me after a few days of not being able to contact me, she just acknowledged that I was safe before falling silent again.

I guessed she was busy. Surely she wasn't avoiding me just because I confessed to her the other time? I even brushed it off as a hypothesis rather than confirm that it was a real confesion. And the atmosphere between us wasn't so awkward before I left for this mission…

”It'll be your turn next, Brother Wu!”

”Huh? What?”

I snapped out of my thoughts and whirled around when Zi Xiao Ji spoke up. She was grinning at me from the side.

”You have to buy a ring and propose to Sister Qi Hong too!”

”Oh? What's this?”

Qiang Zhe scented blood and he quickly sidled over with a mischievous grin.

”Seems like you have a girl of your own, eh, kid?”

”I wish.” I sighed, feeling reluctant to tell them the truth. But I didn't want to deceive Zi Xiao Ji and ended up weaving a lie into a much bigger misunderstanding in future that would come and bite me in the ass. That was how all unnecessary drama was created. Through lies and deceit borne out of a desire to preserve my fragile ego. ”I got rejected.”

”Huh?!”

Zi Xiao Ji stared at me in astonishment, not sure if she believed what she was hearing. Qiang Zhe, on the other hand, looked as if he was stricken with guilt again. The poor guy…always bumbling into what seemed to be other people's misfortune.

”Are you sure?!”

”Qi Hong said something about needing to focus on being the next sect leader of the Nine-Tailed Fox Sect, and dealing with all the high expectations that Sect Leader and Elder Hai Mo placed on her. She doesn't want to lose to Liang Shao Yang, and wishes to pour all her heart and attention into that goal. As a result she has no intention of having a romantic relationship with any guy, at least at this point of time and in the near future.”

”No way…” Zi Xiao Ji placed her hand on her mouth.

”Well, that makes sense.” Zhao Shi stepped in with a sigh. ”There's no way Junior Tang will settle for just any man.” She glanced at me, her gaze defrosting. ”No offense.”

”None taken.”

”Okay…as I said, Junior Tang needs to find the right man. A guy with the appropriate strength, talent and status. Otherwise her position as the next sect leader will be threatened. Already it's under threat from the appearance of a second prodigy, Liang Shao Yang. Unless Junior Fei is able to somehow prove his potential, he wouldn't be fit to be Junior Tang's partner.”

”I'm sure Wu has proven himself more than capable of meeting those requirements.” As ever the optimist, Da Ge offered some encouragement. I smiled at him gratefully, but then shook my head.

”Thank you, but I have not. I'm still far from being worthy of anything or anybody. I'll have to continue working hard.”

”You can be a Blood Blade,” Da Ge pointed out. ”We'll definitely welcome you with open arms.”

”You certainly have proven yourself in combat,” Zhao Shi agreed. ”And your skills and experience far surpass the majority of those in the Blood Blades. We'll talk to Elder Zhao when we return to Tushan City. We'll get you a place in there. Who knows, you might be like Sect Mistress, being the martial half to Junior Tang's blacksmithing half.”

I raised both hands. ”Let's not get too ahead of ourselves shall we? There are still things I need to learn and do before I consider the Blood Blades.”

”Eh?” Da Ge looked slightly disappointed. ”We could really use your strength.”

”Eventually,” I assured him. ”Just not now. I still have a few blacksmithing and Spirit Engraving techniques I wish to learn before I go anywhere.”

”Oh!” Zi Xiao Ji's eyes lit up. ”That's great!” she sent a glance at her bodyguards, as if to tell them to stop pressuring me. She then turned back to me with a sweet smile. ”If it's about blacksmithing and Spirit Engraving, feel free to approach me for help or advice at any time!”

”I will.”

Not too long after that, we finally anchored ourselves at the jetty and disembarked. As usual, I proceeded to help the crew unload the seafood and Void Whale stuff from the cargo hold, bringing them into a lorry that would ferry the spoils of our catch into a warehouse.

Du Yan and the Iron Mountain Sect trio took the heads to the nearest branch of the authorities, promising to split the reward after they received it. Having fought alongside them against colossal sea monsters, there was no reason to distrust them.

As we loaded the Void Whale parts into another lorry, I reached for my bag in reflex. To my relief, my share of the Void Whale parts was still in there.

I couldn't help but recall the conversation that occurred just after we had slain the Void Whale. The crew was loading the carcass into the ship, helped immensely by the artificial ice ground that I had frozen over the surface of the sea.

Despite the solid footing, the ice was not without its dangers. The surface was slippery and the crewmen had to move slowly and carefuly to avoid slipping and falling on the ice. I could see them stumbling about, and to be fair, I would have suffered the same fate had I not trained in martial arts and learned footwork techniques.

As we loaded the carcass into the storage hold after several trips, I took the initiative to approach the others and make a request.

”Um, do you guys mind if I help myself to some parts of the Void Whale? I can subtract that from my share of the reward if…”

”What are you talking about?” Lao Ren scoffed. ”Take whatever you need. You've earned it.”

”Yes…and don't you worry about…your reward. Unless you're planning to…take more than five percent…I'm sure no one will miss…whatever amount you take.”

Mo Fa nodded in agreement.

”Yeah! In the first place, you're the one who killed it!” Qiang Zhe concurred fiercely. ”If anyone stops you from taking some Void Whale meat or whatever, I'll give him a good whack!”

”Thank you.”

I had bowed and thanked everyone for being so accommodating with my selfish request. Before I could proceed to grab whatever I needed, however, Zi Xiao Ji was curious for the reason why I wanted some Void Whale stuff.

”What do you need the Void Whale parts for?”

”I'm hoping to create a device similar in function to the spatial storage bags,” I had explained to her. ”I intend to one day create a tool where I can store my stuff inside without worrying about space and weight.”

”Ah! That makes sense!” Zi Xiao Ji had nodded enthusiastically. ”That's why you came along on this mission! The Void Whale parts are more important to you than the money!”

”That's right…sort of.” Then something occurred to me. ”Do you know how to forge and Spirit Engrave a spatial storage device?”

”Hmm…” Zi Xiao Ji had frowned sullenly. ”I'm afraid not. The only people who know are probably the elders. Especially Sect Leader and Elder Hai Mo…if you want to learn how to forge a spatial storage device, it's best to approach those elders.”

”That's exactly what Qi Hong is doing right now. I believe she's learning directly from First Elder Hai Mo.”

”Oh!” Zi Xiao Ji turned delighted, a mischievous smile spreading across her cute face. ”Then you've a chance…ahem, I mean then you can as her to teach you directly after she finishes learning from Elder Hai Mo!”

”I certainly will.” I nodded. That had been my original plan from the start. I was slightly disappointed that Zi Xiao Ji didn't know the techniques for it, or I could speed up the process. Too bad reality wasn't as convenient as fiction.

I had to take the long, hard way. Well, patience was necessary for success.

”You really like helping out, don't you?”

I broke out of my reminiscence, only to find Zhao Shi staring at me, her arms crossed. Sighing, she grabbed me and dragged me away from the docking crew.

”They're being paid for their labor. You're not.”

”But I feel bad…”

”Don't! You'll make the rest of us feel bad too!”

”…oh.”

”And besides, if you don't hurry, you'll miss the bus! You got a way home by yourself or something?”

”…oh.”

That was the decisive blow. Without any means of transport other than a five-hour trip by public commute, I would very much prefer not to miss the chartered bus. Checking my belongings one last time to ensure that the precious Void Whale material was still with me, I thn followed Zhao Shi to where Da Ge and Zi Xiao Ji were waiting.

”You're really a nice guy,” Da Ge told me with a smile.

”Aw…if Sister Qi Hong rejects you, she really doesn't know what she's missing.” Zi Xiao Ji was shaking her head bitterly. ”I need to talk some sense into her!”

”I would rather you don't…it might make things more awkward between us.”

”Junior Fei is right,” Zhao Shi told a dejected Zi Xiao Ji. ”We shouldn't meddle in the love affairs of other people. It'll only make them mad. And it's not as if you don't know how petty and stubborn Junior Tang can be.”

”Eh…”

”Don't worry,” I assured Zi Xiao Ji. ”I'll figure something out.”

”Yeah!” Da Ge chirped in good-naturedly. ”You'll make Junior Tang regret ever having dumped you!”

”Anyway,” I cut in hastly so that I could steer the subject away in a safer direction. Safer for my mental wellbeing, anyway. ”Where's the bus? Aren't we returning to Tushan?”

”Oh, before that, we're stopping by a restaurant along the way.”

”Eh?” I stared at Zi Xiao Ji blankly. She grinned.

”Have you already forgotten, silly? Qiang Zhe and Mo Fa are getting married! We're going to celebrate!”

”It's also a double celebration for accomplishing the mission and safely returning to shore!” Da Ge added gleefully.

”Yay!” Zhao Shi punched the air. ”I can't wait! I'm going to order the best wine the restaurant has!”

Oi, oi. Don't go spending all your money on wine so soon after the mission.

”Well, is everyone ready?”

Looking up, I caught sight of Qiang Zhe and Mo Fa approaching. Du Yan joined in not later, and even the two old men, Lao Ren and Lao Tou, were present. The only people absent were the Iron Mountain Sect trio, with Yi Shan insisting that they needed to return to their sect as quickly as possible after depositing the Smoker Pirates' heads at the closest police post.

Oh well. Not everyone wanted to join in, after all. I was feeling a little reluctant, but I wasn't anti-scoal to the point where I spurned such events. Besides, this might be the last time I saw Qiang Zhe and Mo Fa, and I wanted to send them off with good memories.

”Yup!”

”We sure are!”

”Let's go!”

As everyone chorused cheerfully, I smiled to myself and followed them into the chartered bus.

Hopefully this wouldn't be the last time our paths crossed, and Heavens willing, we might meet again in future.