"Huala la..."
The sails fluttered fiercely. The warship cleaved through the waves.
Since the day the Wine Sword Immortal was forced to retreat by the Empress, there had been no further obstacles, and Zhao Douan’s fleet sailed smoothly without hindrance.
On this day, they finally arrived in the vicinity of Daluo Island.
Inside the cabin.
Zhao Douan gently knocked on the door of the compartnt with the back of his hand. Seeing no movent inside, he pushed open the sliding cabin door, revealing a small room.
Inside the room, the Empress sat cross-legged in a white dress with a red silk ribbon around her waist. The mask on her face fit perfectly, seemingly oblivious to his presence as he entered.
"Your Majesty?" Zhao Douan called softly. Confirming that there was no response, he stealthily approached, facing the Empress’s physical form, pondered for a mont, then slowly reached out his hand.
A mont later.
The soul of Xu Zhenguan returned her gaze, there was a brief daze, apparently, her Divine Soul had just returned to her body from the Capital.
Zhao Douan put on a smile, respectfully saying, "Welco, Your Majesty, upon your arrival."
The Empress stared at him with a hint of annoyance behind the mask on her face. "I told you to awaken , not in this manner."
"Huh?" Zhao Douan feigned confusion. "Did Your Majesty not say that as long as I touched your physical body, you would be aware of it even from afar in the Capital and thus return?"
After speaking, he pretended to have a sudden realization, smacking his head. "Got it, next ti I’ll just pinch your feet, will that be alright?"
The Empress: "..."
Staring at the mischievously smiling Zhao Douan, she couldn’t really get angry, more concerned with maintaining her imperial dignity.
She turned her head, supporting her forehead, and sighed, "Fine, do as you will."
Then she stood up, stretched a bit, and said lazily, "Thankfully, there’s nothing much going on in the Capital right now. So? Have we arrived?"
Zhao Douan nodded, putting away his frivolous deanor. "We’re about to dock."
...
Shortly after, Zhao Douan and the "Tributor" exited the cabin one after the other, and upon stepping onto the deck, they were t with the sound of bustling noises.
On the wide river surface, the enormous island once in the distance now lood close at hand. From a high vantage point, they could see a slightly deserted dock.
At this mont, Tang Ping was directing soldiers to lower the sails slowly and steer the ship towards the dock.
So soldiers released the "gangplank" from the ship.
Subsequently, under Zhao Douan’s leadership, a large group disembarked from the warship and stepped onto the dock in grand fashion.
There they saw a group of people already waiting, but they were not from Prince Chen’s Mansion. Instead, it was a group of locals dressed in silk garnts, led by a skinny middle-aged man reeking of comrce, who was the first to greet them with a bow, "Commoner Guo Zhun, under the orders of Prince Huai, here to welco the governor."
This Guo Zhun was a local wealthy rchant on Daluo Island and also a person from Huai’an Prince Mansion.
Since the news of Prince Huai’s submission to the court had spread, there was no need to conceal it. This rchant nad Guo Zhun brought his family and entourage, nearly a hundred people, to greet them ceremoniously.
Zhao Douan nodded in satisfaction, instructing Tang Ping to lead the remaining soldiers from the Divine chanism Camp to continue guarding the dock, using the warship as a camp for rest, and to also receive the rest of the large detachnt from the Divine chanism Camp.
He took only a few dozen elite soldiers, and together with Jin Jian and others, under Guo Zhun’s enthusiastic guidance, rode a carriage away from the dock towards the central area of Daluo Island, heading to Guo Zhun’s mansion.
On the way, traveling at a leisurely pace, Zhao Douan shared the carriage with the Empress, lifting the curtain to admire the scenery outside.
Upon entering Daluo Island, the climate was noticeably moist and warm, as if returning to spring and sumr. The closer they got to the island’s center, the more prosperous the surroundings beca, with several streets lined with shops and many rchants and pedestrians bustling about.
"Amidst the chaos and ravages of war, there is still such a tranquil place," Zhao Douan marveled with astonishnt.
For months, he had traveled to various places, be it Linfeng, the Huai River, Yunfu... even the Capital, all were shrouded in gloom and tension. Yet on Daluo Island, it was serene and peaceful, as if the wars outside did not exist.
Xu Zhenguan replied softly, "Although Prince Chen rebelled, he has sealed off the Coastal area for nearly a year, unexpectedly protecting this region’s common people... It indeed reflects his nature."
Zhao Douan calmly stated, "If Prince Chen is wise and follows Prince Huai’s example of surrendering, that would be the best outco. If he remains obstinate, I will have no choice but to shatter this peace myself."
Xu Zhenguan did not disagree but changed the topic with a jest, "Do you know why this place is called Daluo Island?"
Zhao Douan pondered, "I do not."
Xu Zhenguan smiled and explained, "The most famous feature of this place is ’Yutou Mountain.’ Beneath Yutou Mountain lies Dongxuan Lake. It is said that Dongxuan Lake once reflected the abode of the Divine on Daluo Mountain. Hence the na Daluo Island. However, I have never visited here, only heard it ntioned many tis during the palace lessons. If they say the first peak of Jiancheng Road is ’Luo Mountain,’ then the area within the Marine Road, rich with nature’s spiritual energy, should be ’Yutou Mountain.’
Shouldn’t it be Qingshan? Ah, those crude martial artists don’t concern themselves with geomancy, never mind... Zhao Douan thought cynically, his gaze traversing the carriage window, finally catching sight of the towering ’Yutou Mountain’ in the distance.
Initially, he admired it as a scenic view, but gradually, as the carriage moved and the angle shifted, Zhao Douan, staring at the mountain resembling a giant "stead bun," was taken aback.
"What’s wrong?" the Empress asked suspiciously.
"No way... It can’t be... This is so bizarre," Zhao Douan appeared as if he had seen a ghost. eting the Empress’s eyes, he explained, "Wasn’t it at Yansuo Lake where I killed Master Gu Huo again? From his mories, I saw another one of his treasure vaults, seemingly... right here."
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