The Empress's First Running Dog

Chapter 658 Two Women Competing for Favor
The omens of the banyan tree instilled a sense of urgency in everyone, and Zhao Du'an and the Old Celestial Master quickly finalized the corresponding arrangements for the next operation.

The next day, early morning.

Inside the Zhao residence, Zhao Du'an pushed open the bedroom door and walked along the corridor to the dining room, where the women of the household were already waiting at the table.

Breakfast was plentiful, but Zhao Du'an seemed somewhat absent-minded.

Yu Jinhua held her rice bowl, shoveling rice into her mouth in small bites. The beautiful woman's bright eyes would occasionally glance at her stepson, as if she wanted to say something but hesitated.

Zhao Pan'er was speechless at the sight, and the girl broke the silence first:

"Brother, Mother has something to ask you."

"Hmm?" Zhao Du'an looked up at his stepmother and asked curiously, "What is it?"

You Jinhua gave her daughter a reproachful glare before blushing and waving her hand shyly.

"It's nothing, it's nothing, it's just..."

She seemed to be brimming with gossip:
"I heard from Madam Dong that the Liao people of the Southwest were driven back by Eldest Brother?!"

Zhao Pan also put down her chopsticks, pricked up her ears, her eyes shining, and almost assumed a posture of resting her chin on her hand to listen to a story:
"Brother, please tell me about it."

Zhao Du'an was both amused and exasperated, thinking to himself that he had thought it was something serious.

Yesterday, after he informed Grand Tutor Dong of the outcome of the border war, the news had clearly spread.

Yu Jinhua only heard this gossip yesterday evening. As a housewife, she pays close attention to any "achievements" of her son.

Unfortunately, Zhao Du'an got home very late last night, so he had to wait until the early morning to ask.

After Zhao Du'an picked and chose the parts he could talk about, he told them to the two women. The mother and daughter were so excited that they didn't even want to eat anymore. They got up in a hurry and went to find some familiar women to brag about it.

As for their concerns about Dalang's safety, the mother and daughter were relieved to learn that Zhang Yanyi would be there to protect him.

Zhao Du'an watched the two women from his home sway away, chuckled to himself, then quickly composed himself, his eyes revealing a heavy expression.

A huge crisis was imminent, yet very few people in the entire capital sensed the approaching danger.

“For mortals, isn’t ignorance a kind of happiness?” Zhao Du’an murmured softly.

He got up, changed into casual clothes, stepped out of the mansion, and after thinking for a moment, headed to Pear Blossom Hall first.

……

Inside the Tianshi Mansion.

Under a banyan tree that is half withered and yellow.

When Zhao Du'an arrived, Zhang Yan was already waiting, and several disciples were standing beside the old Celestial Master.

Behind Zhao Du'an, on the left and right, were Tuoba Weizhi and Jiyue respectively.

"Are we going together this time?" Zhao Du'an looked at the priests, expressing his doubt.

Zhang Yan shook his head and said:

"This time, only I and Jin Jian will accompany you. Yu Xiu and Han Zhao will set off for Xiping Road to support the battlefield."

The female Taoist nun stepped forward, carrying a small bundle on her back, as if to say goodbye.
"With our master going there, there's no use for my junior brother and me. Now that the situation is deteriorating, we might as well head to Xiping where we can make a greater contribution."

Han Zhao grinned, then scratched his head with a hint of regret.
“I would like to go with you, but Master disagrees.”

Zhao Du'an nodded. Clearly, the changes in the banyan tree had also increased the pressure on the priests. He thought for a moment, then raised his hand and grabbed, revealing seven flying swords in his palm.

He stacked them together, handed them to Yuxiu, and said earnestly:

"Although you specialize in flying swords, it would be a waste for me to keep these on my person, so I will give them to the priest, which may be of some help on the battlefield."

These seven flying swords were seized by him during a battle with the Taoist experts of the Kuangfu Society on the coastal road.

Yu Xiu did not refuse and accepted it with both hands: "Thank you."

Zhao Du'an flipped his hand again, and a large bow appeared in his palm—the Taibu Bow. He handed this divine weapon to Han Zhao and smiled:
"I see that Brother Han is skilled in martial arts, wind manipulation, and aerial combat. This bow and arrow has been gathering dust in my hands, so I will give it to Brother Han today."

"Me too?" Han Zhao was taken aback, surprised by Zhao Du'an's generosity. After learning about the bow's capabilities, his eyes suddenly lit up.

This thing is perfect for him. With the magic of the Wind God, he can reap the rewards of those who risk their lives with just an arrow. It's a match made in heaven.

Han Zhao wasn't one to be pretentious; he immediately reached out and took it, saying solemnly:
"I have no way to repay you except to kill a few more bald monks on the Xiping battlefield."

Zhao Du'an laughed heartily.

At this moment, Gongshu Tianyuan couldn't hold back any longer and couldn't help but complain:
"Master, what about me? Should I go to the East Sea or go to the battlefield? I'm fine with either!"

Zhang Yanyi delivered a ruthless blow: "You stay here and guard the house; don't go anywhere."

Gongshu Tianyuan was as if he had lost his parents, while Jin Jian yawned and chuckled beside him, saying, "Better to die than my friend."

Then the young priestess stared intently at Zhao Du'an, like a puppy waiting to be fed:

"What about mine...?"

Zhao Du'an said speechlessly, "You're not going to the battlefield, what kind of gift do you want? I don't have any."

Jin Jian's smile vanished... Gongshu Tianyuan laughed loudly.

"Alright, it's getting late, let's go."

Zhang Yan sighed, interrupting his disciples' banter.

With a wave of his hand, a burst of blue light erupted from his sleeve, engulfing the group heading to the East Sea.

……

Outside the main hall of the Imperial Ancestral Temple.

The blue light surged, spitting out the team members one by one.

Zhang Yan and Jin Jian, master and apprentice, became familiar with each other after a few encounters, their demeanor natural.

However, it was the first time that Tuoba Weizhi and Jiyue had come here, and both women looked around curiously.

Zhao Du'an made a hand seal, opening the secret passage, and the group went down the steps into the underground chamber.

On the road.

Zhao Du'an turned his head and glanced at Ji Yue, who was following closely behind him, looking timid and socially awkward, and smiled gently:
"Are you ready?"

A female ghost in red with black hair flowing down her shoulders... The sorceress clenched her hands together, showing her inner unease. Upon hearing this, she nodded vigorously, her pure white eyes revealing a hint of expectation and trepidation.

go home……

What a distant word.

Yesterday, after leaving the Celestial Master's Mansion, Zhao Du'an found Ji Yue and explained the next steps to her.

The explanation wasn't very specific; it was only mentioned that they needed to go to the East Sea to find an item and that they needed to bring Ji Yue, a "local," along.

Ji Yue tossed and turned all night, lying in the well at the imperial court, gazing at the moon, unable to sleep.

Over the past few years, she had almost given up the idea of ​​going home.

After learning more about the situation, Zhao Du'an roughly figured out why Ji Yue had come to the State of Yu.

According to the records in the case file, it was during a voyage of the Yu Kingdom that the fleet encountered Ji Yue and was being chased by people from the Thousand Islands of the East Sea. The two sides then had an unexpected encounter and a chaotic battle ensued.

The soldiers of Yu State repelled the pursuers and captured Ji Yue as a "prisoner." Because Ji Yue had killed many soldiers, she was later imprisoned in Houhu and served as a "door god."

At that time, Zhao Du'an was unaware of the deeper background information.

For example, why was Ji Yue being hunted down? What was her background?

It wasn't until this trip to the Thousand Islands in the East China Sea that he learned all this, and it was quite a tragic story:
The so-called Thousand Islands of the East China Sea is a collective name for a scattered archipelago outside the territory of the Yu Kingdom, which is occupied by some unruly foreign people.

Tracing back to the past, it is related to the fact that many years ago, inland sorcerers were keen to occupy islands in the sea and build cave dwellings.

To build the cave dwelling, some ordinary people needed to be recruited to do odd jobs and be supported, and thus the first batch of native inhabitants came into being.

Furthermore, due to abundant marine resources and a small population in the Thousand Islands, the number of sorcerers is extremely high.

And the vast majority of them are believers in water gods and sea gods.

The deity ruling over the Thousand Islands of the East China Sea is the "Sea God," holding a similar status to the Great Laba Festival, and similarly not listed among the officially recognized gods within the Yu Kingdom. Every year, the ocean experiences a period of frequent severe weather events such as tsunamis and typhoons…

To Zhao Du'an, a science student, it was just normal climate change, influenced by atmospheric circulation and such...

But things get interesting in this world because of the sea god's existence.

According to Jiyue, during periods of ocean turmoil, the sea god enters a state of rage and indiscriminately attacks any life on the sea surface.

This disrupts local order.

For this reason, the inhabitants of the Thousand Islands have maintained a tradition of worshipping the sea god for thousands of years.

which is:
A lottery was held to select beautiful virgins of a certain age to be sacrificed to the sea god as concubines.

Jiyue was chosen as a sacrifice that year.

This was tantamount to annihilation for her. Ji Yue was already a cultivator at that time, and in order to avoid being used as a sacrifice, she resolutely fled. During her escape, she advanced in level while fighting with her pursuers...

Then came the story of encountering a fleet from the State of Yu that was out at sea to gather resources, and being captured.

"Don't worry, we're just going to retrieve something that rightfully belongs to the Yu Kingdom. We won't disturb your homeland."

Zhao Du'an thought for a moment and gave her a promise.

Unexpectedly, Ji Yue raised her head and said in a very serious tone:

“I have had no home since they forced me to be a sacrifice and killed my parents who protected me.”

Zhao Du'an was taken aback.

For no apparent reason, he suddenly understood why Ji Yue was a little socially anxious... A girl abandoned by her hometown, orphaned, and without a home, was captured as prey and taken to a strange dynasty... and imprisoned at the bottom of a cold lake... Social anxiety was just her way of protecting herself.

Come to think of it...aren't I just like her?
A stranger from the familiar Earth, arriving in the Kingdom of Yu?
Zhao Du'an suddenly raised his hand and ruffled Ji Yue's wet, long hair, which resembled Sadako's, and smiled:
"In that case, sir, I'll take this opportunity to avenge you on my voyage. Heh heh, those who dare to bully my men are asking for trouble!"

Ji Yue was stunned, her white eyes gleaming.

At this moment, the group reached the deepest secret chamber, where three large doors lined up side by side once again appeared before them.

The heavy, mysterious golden gate in the center instantly attracted everyone's attention.

Tuoba Weizhi's dark face showed a look of bewilderment, and a blurry little figure appeared between his brows, as if his soul was about to break out of his body.

On the golden gate, one of the grooves is surrounded by a faint glow.

"It seems she is indeed one of the keys." The old master nodded, a strange light appearing in his narrow eyes.

Zhao Du'an was relieved and stopped Tuoba Weizhi, who was being led towards the golden gate:

"Now is not the time."

The little figure between Tuoba Weizhi's brows sank back into her body. Her dark eyes regained their rationality, she nodded, and took a step back.
"This servant will obey my master's will."

Ji Yue glanced at her and thought to herself, "Is she really that obsequious? My master's newly acquired subordinate is so fawning."

A faint sense of crisis rose in the little socially anxious man's heart... Hmph, vixen.

"Alright, Master Zhang, let's begin."

Zhao Du'an coughed and looked at Zhang Yanyi seriously.

The latter nodded and walked towards the azure blue gate on the right.

……

……

At dawn, a thin mist hangs over the East China Sea.

A brilliant sunrise pierced through the thin mist, separating the sky from the sea in the distance.

Above the azure sky, seabirds glide leisurely, skimming the deep blue, boundless ocean surface as they soar freely.

Suddenly, several feet above the sea, the air abruptly rippled outwards.

A large, azure gate appeared out of thin air, as if it were formed from seawater. The next moment, several figures emerged from the water one after another!

"Fuck!"

The moment Zhao Du'an stepped out, he lost his footing and stumbled downwards.

As a martial artist, he could briefly float in the air while fighting, but he needed to use leverage. The vast ocean was not a suitable place for him to perform.

"Owner!"

"Lord be careful!"

Tuoba Weizhi and Jiyue grabbed Zhao Du'an's arm, one on each side, without any difference in timing.

Ji Yue pressed her free hand downwards, and the sea surface rose with a rumble, freezing into an ice layer that caught the falling master and servant.

Just as Zhao Du'an regained his footing, a petite figure fell down from above with a "whoosh," nearly riding on his neck, but Zhao Du'an nimbly dodged it.

Jin Jian fell onto the ice with a thud, her glasses nearly flying off her nose.

The young priestess hurriedly got up, holding her glasses with one hand and pulling out her staff to support herself... the main theme was her frantic and disorganized state.

The old Celestial Master was the last to walk out of the door.

Zhang Yanyi, with his hands behind his back, his black priest's robe fluttering slightly in the wind, strolled leisurely down with a smile, a stark contrast to the disheveled group of people.

"Hehe, um, it really is on the open sea." Zhang Yan clicked his tongue in amazement.

"Old Zhang, you're showing off again, is that fun?" Zhao Du'an thought to himself.

Looking up, all that comes into view is the endless sea, greatly extending the field of vision compared to the land.

Only a few dark dots could be vaguely seen in the distance, and it was not yet certain whether they were islands or reefs, nor were any ships in sight.

"Wait...where did we fall?"

Zhao Du'an had a headache. He took out a nautical chart from his pocket and unfolded it.

On the map, the islands are roughly arranged in an irregular "ring" shape, like a period at the bottom of a circle.

At the center of the ring, the core body of water surrounded by the islands is called the "Silent Sea," and it also has a more common nickname:
"East China Sea Eye"

It is said to be the abode of the sea god, a forbidden area at sea.

At this moment, Zhao Du'an felt an overwhelming longing for Yu Xiu's compass.

“We are on the north side of the archipelago,”

Ji Yue spoke softly. The sorceress gazed at the southern sea, the salty wind blowing her black hair aside to reveal her pale face. She murmured:
“I can sense that the sea god is over there.”

She paused, then met everyone's gaze and explained:

“Only outsiders at sea need nautical charts and compasses. We who live at sea have always relied on the sea god to determine our direction.”

It's roughly similar to determining north and south by the position of the sun?
Zhao Du'an praised:

"Alright! Then you'll be my compass."

Ji Yue's eyes crinkled into crescent moons as she glanced triumphantly at Tuoba Wei.

A hint of bewilderment flickered across the shrine maiden's usually aloof face; she longed to ask, "What are you looking at...?"

"However, how will we travel?" Zhao Du'an asked the old master.

Zhang Yan said irritably:
"Don't even think about having me carry you around. The closer we get to the Sea God, the more my magic power is suppressed. How can I waste it on traveling?"

After saying that, the old man stroked his beard and changed the subject:
"However, I naturally expected this."

With a flick of his wide sleeve, Zhao Du'an saw an exquisite wooden sailboat model fly out of his sleeve, expand and grow in the blink of an eye, becoming a single-masted sailboat large enough to accommodate ten people.

The ship crashed into the sea with a loud bang.

After a brief bumpy ride, it calmed down on its own.

The sails on the ship adjusted themselves as if they were alive, as if operated by a ghost.

(End of this chapter)