After being chosen by the Ice Queen

The morning air was fresh after the rain, carrying the salty, briny scent of the sea. After two days of rapid travel, Gu Yan finally arrived at Wanghai Town, marked on the map.

Built close to an arc-shaped bay, the town consists mostly of low stone or wooden houses, with dark marks on the walls from wind and rain. Many roofs are weighed down with heavy stones to prevent them from being blown off by the sea. The town is small, with a main street winding through it, lined with various shops: fishing tackle shops, ship repair shops, simple taverns, and seafood trading companies.

Although it was early morning, the town was already quite lively. Bare-chested laborers carried crates and shouted as they headed towards the dock, while dark-skinned fishermen squatted by the roadside mending torn nets, and merchants with accents from various regions haggled over prices.

What's striking is the increase in the number of martial arts practitioners with swords and knives, exuding a sharp and capable aura, as well as some men who, though dressed in civilian clothes, carry the air of soldiers. Jinbao's information from last night was correct; Wanghai Town indeed had many unfamiliar faces.

Gu Yan blended into the crowd. He had changed into a common local gray-brown outfit, which he then wrapped again in thick oilcloth, making it look like a long, narrow piece of luggage. Jinbao nestled in his arms, only her small eyes peeking out as she observed him.

A cacophony of voices and shouts drifted from the direction of the dock. Several sailboats of varying sizes were moored beside the wooden pier, loading and unloading cargo. The largest was a three-masted sailing ship, its hull drafting quite deep, clearly preparing for a long voyage. Gu Yan's goal was to find a vessel willing to venture into the depths of the East China Sea, at least reaching a transit point like Shattered Star Island.

He first entered Chen's Boat Shop, which looked quite old. The old owner behind the counter was puffing on his pipe, and he raised his eyelids slightly: "Sir, would you like to rent a boat or take a ride?"

"Take a boat eastward to the Shattered Star Island area," Gu Yan said.

The old shopkeeper exhaled a smoke ring and said slowly, "Shattered Star Island? That's not exactly close. There haven't been many ships heading east these past few days."

Why?

"The seas aren't very peaceful," the old shopkeeper tapped his pipe. "The old boatmen all say that the old fog to the east has been churning a lot lately, with many strange noises coming from it. Several boats that regularly sail to Shattered Star Island have either postponed their voyages or demanded higher prices to leave. If you're in a hurry, you should go to the dock and ask Boss Liu of the Sea Wolf. His boat is big, and he's quite daring, but his price... hehe." He quoted a price that would make ordinary people gasp.

Gu Yan's expression remained unchanged. Money wasn't his primary concern; as a World Traveler, he carried some gold and gems in his storage space, which were also accepted in this world. What he cared more about was security and reliability.

He thanked the old shopkeeper and headed towards the dock. The closer he got to the sea, the stronger the atmosphere, a mixture of freedom and danger, became. Waves crashed against the rocks, and seagulls cried out and circled. On the dock, a group of people were gathered around the three-masted sailing ship, the Sea Wolf, seemingly arguing.

A burly man with a full beard, a robust build, and wearing a leather vest stood beside the gangplank, his voice booming: "...It's not that I'm raising the price! It's just that this trip is too risky! That area east of Shattered Star Island is fucking weird right now! Add another 30%, not a penny less! Take it or leave it!"

Several passengers who looked like merchants had grim expressions and were whispering among themselves. There were also some martial arts practitioners carrying weapons, who stood silently to the side, clearly also weighing their options.

Gu Yan observed from the periphery of the crowd. This Boss Liu exuded a strong aura of menace, but his eyes were relatively clear. The ship was well-maintained, and the sailors moved nimbly, clearly indicating they frequently sailed the open seas. There might be risks, but they also seemed to possess experience and skill.

Just as he was about to go forward to inquire about the price, a commotion suddenly broke out at the other end of the dock.

A group of about ten people escorted a small blue cloth sedan chair and walked straight toward the Seawolf. These people were dressed in uniform dark blue close-fitting clothes, with standard long swords at their waists. Their steps were neat, their eyes were sharp, and their movements subtly showed signs of military formation. The most eye-catching was the middle-aged man at the head, with a cold face, high temples, and a black iron plaque hanging at his waist with the character "令" (command) engraved on it.

"They're from the imperial court!" "They look like... the Imperial Guard?" "Why are they joining in the fun?"

The crowd murmured amongst themselves, automatically parting to make way. When Boss Liu saw the group, especially the black iron token, his fierce expression twitched, and his arrogance subsided considerably. He clasped his hands in a fist and palm salute: "My lord, what brings you here?"

The cold, middle-aged man's gaze swept over Boss Liu and the Sea Wolf, his voice calm yet carrying an undeniable authority: "By order of the Emperor, this ship is to be requisitioned for official business in the East China Sea. All irrelevant personnel on board must be removed immediately. The court will compensate for the fare at market price."

These words caused an uproar at the dock. The merchants who had been haggling turned pale but dared not utter a sound. The wandering swordsmen exchanged glances, some showing resentment, others fear.

Old Liu's face turned pale and then red, clearly showing his extreme reluctance. Those who sail the seas dread being conscripted by the government, especially for such ambiguous official duties, as it often meant immense trouble and risk, and the so-called market compensation was always significantly discounted.

"Sir...this, this humble boat has already received passengers and collected deposits, this..." Old Liu tried to struggle.

"Disobeying orders?" The cold-faced middle-aged man narrowed his eyes and placed his hand on the hilt of his sword. The dozen or so guards behind him also stepped forward at the same time, and a murderous aura spread out.

Sweat beaded on Liu Laoda's forehead; he knew this matter couldn't be resolved peacefully. He gritted his teeth, about to give in.

"Wait a minute."

A clear voice rang out. Everyone turned to look, and saw a young man dressed as a scholar in a blue robe, leisurely walking out from the back of the crowd, fanning himself with a paper fan. He appeared to be about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, with handsome features, a smile playing on his lips, but his eyes were deep and unfathomable. Behind him followed two silent attendants, their auras solid and clearly not ordinary fighters.

"Commander Zhao, why the anger?" The scholar in the blue robe approached and smiled at the stern-faced middle-aged man. "It's not easy for Captain Liu to sail the seas. The court has requisitioned him, so naturally we must be considerate of the people's plight. How about this: I will pay for this voyage on his behalf, adding 50% to the price Captain Liu just mentioned. Consider it a way to calm the captain and all the passengers down." As he spoke, his gaze seemingly unintentionally swept over the crowd at the dock, lingering on Gu Yan for a barely perceptible moment.

Gu Yan's heart skipped a beat. This person's appearance was abrupt, and although he seemed to be coming to the rescue, his true intentions were unclear. More importantly, that glance he had just given Gu Yan the feeling that he had been seen through. This person was definitely not an ordinary scholar.

Commander Zhao looked at the scholar in the blue robe, his brows furrowing slightly, as if he recognized him. His tone softened: "So it's Mr. Murong. This matter is a strict order from above, I'm afraid..."

"Commander Zhao, rest assured," Mr. Murong said with a slight smile, closing his folding fan. "I have no intention of obstructing official business. On the contrary, I am quite curious about the affairs of the East Sea and would like to hitch a ride to see for myself. I will cover all expenses. As for the other passengers on board..." He looked at Boss Liu and the merchants and江湖客 (jianghu figures), "If they wish to travel together, the fare will be waived; if they wish to disembark, they will be compensated double. Commander Zhao, is this acceptable? It preserves the dignity of the court without damaging public morale."

These words were perfectly worded, giving Commander Zhao a way out, appeasing the ship owner and passengers, and also indicating his intention to travel with the ship. Commander Zhao stared at him for a moment, seemingly weighing his options, before finally nodding slowly: "Since Mr. Murong has spoken, then we will do as you say. But everything on board will be under my command."

"Of course." Mr. Murong smiled and nodded.

The situation reversed instantly. Old Liu breathed a sigh of relief. Although he was still conscripted, with Mr. Murong's intervention, at least he wouldn't suffer financially, and the risk seemed to have been mitigated. The merchants exchanged glances; the temptation of a free boat ride was great, but the thought of the imperial court traveling with this mysterious Mr. Murong made them uneasy. A few江湖客 (jianghu travelers) were decisive; two stepped forward directly to express their willingness to travel, while the rest took their compensation and left.

Gu Yan stood still, quickly weighing his options. This sudden turn of events had disrupted his plans. Being on the same ship as the Imperial Guards and this unfathomable Mr. Murong would undoubtedly increase the risk of exposure and getting caught up in trouble. On the other hand, the Sea Wolf was currently the fastest and most likely ship to reach the East China Sea, and its imperial backing might actually be a form of protection. More importantly, Mr. Murong seemed to be paying attention to him…

"Boss, what do we do?" Jinbao asked softly in his arms. "That guy in the blue clothes, he seemed to glance at you just now. I felt like he was... weird."

Gu Yan remained silent for a moment before making his decision. He needed to get to the East China Sea as soon as possible and couldn't afford to linger here. Risks were present, but they weren't necessarily insurmountable.

He stepped forward and said to Liu Laoda, "Ship owner, I am also willing to accompany you to Shattered Star Island."

Boss Liu glanced at him, noticing his ordinary clothes and the long bundle he carried, making him look like a lone wanderer. He didn't ask any further questions and nodded, "Alright, get on the boat. Find a place to stay and don't cause trouble."

Mr. Murong's gaze fell on Gu Yan again, his smile gentle: "Is this gentleman also going to the East Sea to seek opportunities?"

Gu Yan clasped his hands in a fist salute: "Just traveling."

"Hehe, it's fate that we meet. I am Murong Zizhan, a humble scholar. May I ask your name, sir?"

"Gu Yan."

"Brother Gu," Murong Zizhan's smile deepened, "the sea is rough and the journey is lonely. You can find Brother Gu to play a game of chess or chat about local customs and experiences."

Gu Yan neither agreed nor disagreed, but nodded and walked directly towards the springboard.

Upon boarding the Seawolf, the ship gently rocked with the waves. On deck, sailors were already busily making final preparations for departure. Imperial guards occupied an area of ​​the foredeck, their expressions wary. Murong Zizhan and his two attendants stood near the superstructure, leisurely gazing at the sea view. Several wandering swordsmen and merchants were scattered along the ship's sides, their expressions varied.

Gu Yan found a relatively quiet corner near the stern of the ship and sat down, placing the package beside him. A faint pulse emanated from the package, as if sensing the impending sea voyage. Jinbao, nestled in his arms, peeked out, gazing at the increasingly distant dock and the gradually opening sea, his small eyes filled with excitement, but also a hint of fear of the unknown ocean.

The sea breeze grew stronger, filling the sails to the brim.

"Weigh anchor—!"

With Liu Laoda's roar, the heavy anchor was pulled up by the winch. The "Sea Wolf" slowly left the dock, adjusted its course, and headed towards the vast expanse where the water and sky met in the east.

The waves surged, and seagulls followed.

Gu Yan glanced back at the gradually shrinking land and Wanghai Town. The turmoil on land was temporarily left behind, while ahead lay an even more unpredictable deep blue.

Murong Zizhan had somehow reached the stern and stood beside him, gazing at the same sea. He said softly, "Brother Gu, do you know that the East Sea is far larger than people imagine? Beneath the mist, there are not only treacherous reefs and monsters, but also lost history, broken traditions, and... the possibility of a path to another world."

Gu Yan was startled, but his expression remained calm: "Mr. Murong seems to know a great deal about the East China Sea."

"I know a little," Murong Zizhan said, gently waving his folding fan, his gaze distant. "Read ten thousand books and travel ten thousand miles. Some roads, when walked alone, are inevitably lonely. Brother Gu, what do you think?"

Gu Yan did not answer, but just looked at the gray-white clouds that were gradually gathering on the horizon.

Is that the direction of "Mist Reef"?

(Draft)