Chapter 74: Vast and Majestic

He picked up his oil-paper umbrella and satchel. Looking at the fishing rod nearby, he found it inconvenient to carry, yet it seemed a real pity to discard. After much hesitation, Ji Yuan decided to only take the fishing line and hook, leaving the emerald green bamboo rod by the pond.

He looked once more at the clear pond. Although it could only produce one Silver Aperture fish per year, it was still quite wondrous.

"Next time, I, Ji, must get one of these fish to make soup and see how it truly tastes!"

Murmuring to himself, Ji Yuan stepped away from the pond's edge.

At this moment, Old Birch Mountain was shrouded in a thick fog, with visibility limited to five meters. However, this had no effect on Ji Yuan. On the contrary, since it was virtually impossible for mountain travelers to move freely, Ji Yuan's pace quickened considerably.

Occasionally, he would dart forward, using branches and cliff faces for leverage, or he would advance freely with the most elegant and comfortable Drifting Dragon movement technique. His body sometimes swayed as if gently rocked or slightly tipsy, and in an instant, he covered a large stretch of rugged mountain path.

As he traveled, besides reviewing some aspects of the Qi Cultivation Manual, Ji Yuan also pondered the changes and functions of the three chess pieces.

These three chess pieces originated from: Lu Shan Jun's initial step towards the Dao; the moment the red fox was released, received its name, and bowed in reverence; and the morning Master Yin read the farewell poem Ji Yuan had given him.

To the people of this world, this would naturally be profound. However, if Ji Yuan applied the speculative information he had encountered online in his previous life, it wasn't hard to realize that at their core, these three time periods had a significant impact on the three individuals or demons involved.

Lu Shan Jun and the little fox were relatively easy to understand. The only one that seemed a bit odd was Master Yin, but Ji Yuan knew Yin Zhaoxian's character very well. It was highly probable that the letter had ignited Yin Zhaoxian's aspirations, perhaps significant enough to change the course of his future life.

Thus, it seemed the creation of the chess pieces must have some meaning related to destiny.

One can believe in fate but should not fully surrender to it. Destiny may exist, but it is not necessarily unchangeable.

During this time, Ji Yuan had also met many people, from the distant Young Master Jiu to the recent Wei Wuwei. None of them generated chess pieces. Perhaps their impact wasn't significant enough, or perhaps they simply didn't possess the "potential to become a chess piece."

"So why did Lu Shan Jun's original chess piece turn black?" Ji Yuan murmured to himself, recalling the dark evil creature in the well from before. It was his finger's heavy blow that led to the evil creature's demise and changed the piece's color.

'Was it because of its Yin and water properties that the piece turned black? Or was it due to malevolent energy, or something else? Did this affect Lu Shan Jun, or did it seem to affect me more…'

Thinking this, Ji Yuan waved his left sleeve. A large expanse of white mist, roughly three meters in radius, quickly gathered. Instantly, it converged into a smooth, crystalline water ball in Ji Yuan's left palm.

'My water manipulation skill is indeed stronger than my fire manipulation!'

Previously, the greatest function of the three chess pieces for Ji Yuan was to assist in gathering spiritual energy for his Qi Guidance manual. However, the three pieces' reaction to "stealing" the inner elixir just now triggered deeper thoughts in Ji Yuan.

Ji Yuan had once thought that while the pieces could gather spiritual energy, they didn't seem to genuinely absorb it. Now, it seemed they were more eager for the Elixir Qi cultivated through practice.

'Elixir Qi, Elixir Qi, the chess pieces consume Qi. Especially this precious first wisp of Elixir Qi. Does it affect me more, or does it also affect the people symbolized by the chess pieces?'

"Ah! I should brush my teeth and wash up first…"

Ji Yuan chuckled self-deprecatingly. What complicated thoughts was he, a mere small figure, pondering? He reached out and broke off a section of a vine branch. Aided by the water ball in his left hand, he began rinsing his mouth and brushing his teeth as he walked. Finally, another water ball splashed onto his face, and he rubbed it with both hands.

Just as Ji Yuan emerged from Old Birch Mountain, the sun had risen higher, and with the sunlight, the mountain fog gradually dissipated.

Ji Yuan cast a water-repelling spell. His damp clothes immediately seemed to emanate mist in the sunlight, surrounding him. If anyone had happened to see him, he would have appeared ethereal, like an immortal.

To the south of the mountain pass lay a village, primarily inhabited by boatmen and fishermen. Following the dirt road outside the mountain path, there was a medium-sized ferry terminal and dock. The Little Shun River was already sparkling under the morning sun.

Since it was still early, there were virtually no people crossing the mountain from Jiudaokou County. Many boats, large and small, were docked at their berths. However, a large boat, presumably heading to Jiudaokou, had just arrived, with people disembarking. Boatmen were busy loading and unloading goods, and several donkey and horse carts, laden with cargo, were parked at the dock.

Though it wasn't yet the peak bustling hour, signs of activity were already present.

Although the Little Shun River had the character "Little" in its name, it was not actually a small river. Its width varied between twenty and thirty zhang (60 to 100 meters). It flowed southeast directly to the Chunmu River and was a crucial component of Jiudaokou County's water transport routes.

Ji Yuan, munching on the leftover biscuit from before, arrived at the ferry dock at a normal walking pace. Ignoring the large vessels, he walked directly towards a small passenger boat with a sail. An old man, past fifty, and a dark-skinned young man, who appeared to be his son, were cleaning and tidying the deck.

"Boatman, do you take passengers to Chunhui Prefecture?" Ji Yuan's clear and strong voice carried over, drawing the attention of the two busy people on the boat, who looked towards the shore. A person wearing a wide-sleeved gray robe, carrying a satchel and an umbrella, stood at the dock. He looked like a scholar, but his hairstyle didn't quite match. At first glance, he appeared to be in his thirties or forties, but looking closer, he could also pass for younger. This made the old boatman unsure of the visitor's actual age.

The old man walked to the bow of the boat and said to Ji Yuan, "Of course, we go there. Sir, are you traveling alone or do you have companions? Do you wish to charter the boat, or can you wait for other passengers to travel with you?"

Ji Yuan thought for a moment before asking, "I am alone. What are the fares for chartering the boat versus waiting for other passengers?"

"If you charter the boat," the boatman replied, "this season, the journey to Chunhui Prefecture by water has favorable winds. You can arrive in just three days. The cost, of course, would be solely borne by you, sir. It amounts to one string and two hundred cash."

One string and two hundred cash, which is one thousand two hundred cash—that's over one tael of silver. Ji Yuan frowned; the price was a bit steep.

"If you wait for other passengers to travel with you," the boatman continued, "Sir, you would need to wait here for a moment. I will put up a sign for soliciting passengers, stating Chunhui Prefecture. You can also look for others who wish to travel there yourself. The boat fare would be split equally, or you could pay a bit more if you wish, as long as it's agreed upon. Please rest assured, sir, there are still quite a few people going to Chunhui Prefecture every day. It's just that my boat is small; it can carry a maximum of ten people, otherwise, there won't be enough space to rest at night."

Ji Yuan looked at the boat. It was about three zhang long, one zhang wide in the middle, with a mast erected in the center. Only the rear section had a black canopy covering; this was likely where passengers could shelter from rain and rest.

"Hmm, thank you for your time, boatman. Please allow me to inquire about prices elsewhere!"

"Please, sir, feel free," the boatman said, "But our boat's price is already very fair!"

The boatman said this and continued cleaning the cabin with the young man on board. He seemed quite confident.

As expected, Ji Yuan circled around for a while and eventually returned here. It wasn't that there were no cheaper boats, but considering the required travel time, cleanliness, and comfort, this one truly was the most suitable.

Seeing him return, the old boatman smiled. "So, sir, have you made up your mind?"

"Yes, boatman," Ji Yuan replied, "We'll wait for half a day; if there are other passengers, that would be best. If no one else comes, then I will charter the boat."

"Excellent, excellent, sir, whatever you decide!" the boatman exclaimed. "For the three-day journey, meals on board will include fresh fish, with no extra charge!"

His tone became much more respectful now. People indeed traveled to Chunhui Prefecture every day, but they all preferred larger passenger ships. Their small boat didn't get much substantial business, and Ji Yuan, precisely, disliked the noise of large boats.

After putting up the sign for passengers going to Chunhui Prefecture, Ji Yuan didn't try to solicit customers. Instead, he simply sat at the bow of the boat and read, displaying an attitude of complete indifference as to whether people came or not.

Furthermore, Ji Yuan told the boatman to set the fare at 120 cash per person. Ji Yuan would cover the remaining portion. It wasn't Ji Yuan showing off, but rather that an equal split truly wasn't appropriate, as people could pay less and squeeze onto a larger boat if they wished.

By midday, only six people had arrived in total: two scholars traveling together, an old man and his grandson, and two others unrelated to each other—a burly man with a full beard and a thin middle-aged man.

The boatman only stated the fare was 120 cash, without mentioning that Ji Yuan would cover the rest of the fare. This was also something Ji Yuan had requested beforehand.

Seeing that the passengers mostly didn't greet each other, Ji Yuan remained motionless from beginning to end, but he heard all their voices. In this era, it was still uncommon for women to travel.

By noon, the boatman specifically came to ask Ji Yuan for his approval. Only after receiving his nod did he untie the ropes and start the boat, propelling it with the large sculling oar at the stern, steering it southeast along the Little Shun River.

The old boatman, while sculling and following the rhythm of his strokes, sang a loud fishing song in a rich voice. Its rhythm rose and fell with particular charm.

"Fishing boat, oh~~~~ raise the oar, oh~~~~ fisherman, oh~~~~ carefree~~~~"

Ji Yuan, who had remained at the bow, engrossed in his book, also smiled knowingly upon hearing the song. He turned his head to look towards the stern. While the old man sang, the indistinct aura around him seemed slightly different than before.

Looking up at the sky, Ji Yuan spoke with feeling, "The human body's aura, too, is like celestial phenomena, ever-changing!"