Courtyard Check-in: Starting with a Small World of Cultivation

Thursday, May 25th.

Chen Yu stood in the personnel department office of the research institute and took the business trip certificate stamped with a red seal. The female cadre adjusted her reading glasses and handed him an envelope: "This is the advance for travel expenses, a total of eighty yuan. Please count it. You can get reimbursed upon your return with the receipt."

"Thank you." Chen Yu counted and put the items away.

"And this too." The female cadre took out a brown paper bag from the drawer. "Keep the confidentiality guidelines with you at all times, and abide by them even when traveling on business. Don't go to places you shouldn't go, and don't contact people you shouldn't contact."

"I see."

After leaving the personnel department, Chen Yu went to Lin Zhenhua's office. Lin Zhenhua was looking at a lab report. Seeing him come in, he put down his glasses and asked, "Are all the formalities completed?"

"It's all done, Teacher Lin."

"Come, have a seat." Lin Zhenhua gestured to the chair opposite him. "I'll arrange the research group's work during your business trip. Besides marine geological surveys, also keep an eye on marine engineering materials during your trip to the South China Sea. Our institute may be expanding into this area in the future."

He opened a drawer and took out a notebook: "These are some notes I took during my early marine expeditions, about the effects of seawater corrosion and marine organism attachment on metallic materials. Take these with you and look at them on the road; they might be helpful."

Chen Yu took the notebook; the cover was worn, and the inside was filled with dense writing, hand-drawn charts, and photos. This gift was very precious.

"Thank you, Teacher Lin."

"Don't mention it." Lin Zhenhua paused. "Xiao Chen, the situation in the South China Sea... is complicated. I've heard it's been rather turbulent lately, so be careful in everything you do. If you encounter any difficulties, contact the station immediately."

These words were loaded with meaning. Chen Yu's heart skipped a beat. Did Lin Zhenhua know something? But he didn't ask any further questions, and simply nodded solemnly.

It was three o'clock in the afternoon when he returned to the courtyard. Qin Huairu was hanging clothes to dry in the yard. When she saw him return, she paused.

"Is everything done?"

"Yes, the train is the day after tomorrow morning."

Qin Huairu silently continued hanging the clothes, but Chen Yu noticed tears welling in her eyes. He walked over and took her hand: "Huairu..."

"I'm fine." Qin Huairu wiped her eyes. "I'll go pack your luggage."

Dinner was lavish, but the atmosphere was silent. Little Chen An seemed to sense something was amiss and kept crying. Qin Huairu held the child and soothed him, softly humming a nursery rhyme. Chen Yu watched this scene, a strong sense of reluctance welling up inside him.

After dinner, he went to the backyard and greeted Yi Zhonghai and Yan Bugui. The two old men gave him a lot of advice, and Yi Zhonghai even handed him a packet of tea: "Drink this on the road to keep yourself alert."

When passing by the Jia family's house, Jia Zhangshi, unusually, didn't roll her eyes. Instead, she said, "Be careful on the road." This surprised Chen Yu.

He Yuzhu was waiting for him at his doorstep and handed him a package of oil paper: "These are for the road, pancakes I made. They'll keep for a few days."

"Thank you, Brother Zhu."

"Don't mention it." He Yuzhu lowered his voice. "Xiao Chen, I had a strange dream last night... I dreamt that you were at sea, and the ship was surrounded by fog. I could hear a woman's laughter in the fog... This dream is bad luck. You must be careful."

Another dream! Chen Yu's heart skipped a beat. He Yuzhu and Qin Huairu had similar dreams; this was definitely not a coincidence.

"I'll remember that, Brother Zhu."

Back inside, Qin Huairu had almost finished packing. The travel bags were neatly packed, and every piece of clothing was folded squarely. She had even sewed a hidden pocket into the bag's inner compartment for Chen Yu to put important items.

"Take this with you." She took out a copper coin, tied with a red string. "It's a talisman my mother left me; it's been blessed."

Chen Yu took the copper coin. It was an ordinary old coin, but its surface had been worn smooth from years of wear. He could sense a faint trace of spiritual power on it—the concentrated power of the wearer's devout faith.

"I will wear it close to my body."

It was late at night, and the child was asleep. Chen Yu and Qin Huairu lay in bed, neither of them feeling sleepy.

"Chen Yu," Qin Huairu said softly, "do you remember the first time we met?"

"I remember, at Shichahai, you were wearing a floral top and had two long braids."

"Back then, I thought, this person seems reliable... and it turned out I wasn't wrong." Qin Huairu leaned on his shoulder. "So this time, you have to prove I wasn't wrong either, you must come back safely."

"I promise."

Friday, May 26th.

Chen Yu gave his final report to Yang Jianguo. Director Yang handed him a sealed document bag: "Inside are your letter of introduction, your ship ticket, and a letter to Comrade Wang Haiyang of the Guangzhou Ocean Bureau. He will arrange everything once you arrive in Guangzhou."

How many people are on board?

"There are twelve in total, including you," Yang Jianguo said. "Six researchers, four crew members, one cook, and one ship's doctor. The captain is Li Dahai, an old seaman who has been sailing the South China Sea route for twenty years. He only knows that you are a geological surveyor, and nothing else."

Chen Yu nodded. That's for the best; the simpler the identity, the safer it is.

"And this too." Yang Jianguo took a tin box from the drawer. "It's for emergencies. Inside is a signal pistol, three signal flares, a bottle of first aid medicine, and a waterproof map. Hopefully you won't need it."

"Thank you, Director Yang."

After leaving the government compound, Chen Yu went to the post office and sent a telegram to a friend in Tianjin to confirm that the matter concerning He Yushui's girlfriend's family had been settled. He then went to Xinhua Bookstore and bought a copy of "A Survey of Fishery Resources in the South China Sea"—his professional "cover" for himself.

In the afternoon, he entered the small world to do his final training and preparations.

Beside the spirit spring, several newly planted medicinal herbs were growing well. Chen Yu picked some mature herbs and refined two bottles of hemostatic powder. This time, he added the leaves of the Purple Gold Grass, making the medicine 30% more effective than before.

He had twelve Qi-Nourishing Pills left, and decided to take ten with him, leaving two behind just in case. He also checked the water-repelling bead, the sensing jade tablet, and the spiritual compass—all the key items.

Chen Yu had mastered the Wind Control Technique to perfection, enabling him to create a stable airflow around himself. After several trials, he discovered that this spell had special uses at sea—not only could it interfere with opponents, but it could also sense changes in wind direction and provide early weather warnings.

It was already late when Chen Yu left the small world. He handed the letter he had written home and the bankbook to Qin Huairu.

"Keep this safe."

Qin Huairu took it, her hands trembling slightly. She opened the bankbook, glanced at it, and tears streamed down her face: "So much money...you..."

"Spend it if you need to, don't be stingy." Chen Yu held her hand. "When I come back, we'll have our own house."

Qin Huairu threw herself into his arms, crying so hard she couldn't speak. Chen Yu held her, his heart filled with reluctance, but he had a mission to fulfill and had no choice but to go.

Saturday, May 27th.

Chen Yu woke up at four in the morning. He got up quietly, afraid of waking his wife and children. But Qin Huairu still woke up and got up with him, silently going to the kitchen to heat up the leftover porridge from last night and boil two eggs.

"I'll eat on the way." She packed the eggs and porridge into a lunchbox.

As dawn broke, Chen Yu left with his luggage. Qin Huairu, holding the child, saw him off at the gate, tears streaming down her face, but she bit her lip to keep from crying out loud.

"Let's go back, it's getting cold."

"Be careful on the road."

Chen Yu hugged her and the child, then turned and walked out of the alley. He walked a long way and looked back; Qin Huairu was still standing at the courtyard gate, the morning breeze ruffling her hair.

Who knows when we'll meet again after this parting?

At 10 a.m., Chen Yu boarded the train bound for Guangzhou. The hard sleeper carriage had six people per compartment, and his berth was the lower berth. His fellow passengers were two middle-aged men who looked like government officials and three young people dressed as students.

The train started moving, and Beijing gradually receded into the distance. Chen Yu leaned against the window, watching the familiar scenery rush past, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

"Comrade, going to Guangzhou on a business trip?" the middle-aged man in the lower bunk opposite him asked.

"Yes, I'm going to participate in a marine research project."

"Marine research? That means going to sea, right? The South China Sea isn't very peaceful right now." The middle-aged man lowered his voice. "I heard that foreign ships have been patrolling there a lot lately, and our coast guard vessels have increased their patrols."

Chen Yu's heart skipped a beat: "Who told you that?"

"I have a relative in the navy. He told me this a few days ago when he came home to visit." The middle-aged man shook his head. "These days, even the seas aren't peaceful."

Chen Yu didn't reply, but he kept the information in mind.

The train traveled south, and the scenery outside the window gradually changed from the plains of the north to the hills of the south. The climate also became increasingly humid and hot, so Chen Yu changed into a thin cloth shirt made by Qin Huairu.

On the morning of May 28, the train arrived at Guangzhou Station.

Chen Yu got off the train with his luggage, and a wave of heat hit him. May in Guangzhou was already like midsummer in Beijing, the air was humid and sultry, and the platform was crowded with people speaking various dialects.

Following Yang Jianguo's instructions, he found the person who came to pick him up at the station—a dark-skinned man in his thirties holding a sign that read "Welcome Comrade Chen Yu from Beijing".

"Comrade Chen Yu? I'm Wang Haiyang from the Ocean Bureau." The man shook hands warmly. "You must be tired from your journey! Come on, let's go to the guesthouse to rest first, and I'll take you to the dock this afternoon."

The guesthouse of the Guangzhou Ocean Bureau was a three-story building on the banks of the Pearl River. Wang Haiyang arranged a single room for Chen Yu; it was simple but clean.

"The ship departs at 3 p.m., so you still have time to rest," Wang Haiyang said. "By the way, here is your crew certificate and cabin card. You'll be staying in cabin two, berth number 3, a two-person room. Your roommate will be the ship's doctor, Lao Zhou."

Chen Yu took the documents: "Comrade Wang, the situation on the ship..."

"Don't worry, everything's arranged." Wang Haiyang patted him on the shoulder. "Captain Li Dahai is very experienced, and the crew members are all reliable. Your main task this time is geological surveying and collecting some seabed samples. There are technical personnel on board to guide you through the specific work."

At noon, Wang Haiyang treated Chen Yu to a meal at the guesthouse canteen. It was a simple meal of four dishes and a soup, but the food was delicious, especially the steamed sea bass, which Chen Yu, a northerner, praised highly.

"The seafood from the South China Sea is truly exceptional!" Wang Haiyang exclaimed with a smile. "When you arrive at Yongxing Island, you can try the freshly caught fish and shrimp—that's what you call truly fresh!"

At 2 p.m., Wang Haiyang drove Chen Yu to Huangpu Port.

The port was bustling with activity, with ships of all sizes constantly coming and going. Wang Haiyang pointed to a white-hulled, blue-striped ship in the distance and said, "That's the 'Xiangyanghong 03,' a 300-ton research vessel. Although it's not large, it's fully equipped."

There were already people waiting at the front of the ship. A man in his fifties, wearing a captain's uniform, walked over, shook hands with Wang Haiyang, and then looked at Chen Yu: "Comrade Chen Yu? I am Li Dahai, welcome aboard."

"Hello, Captain Li."

"Let's get on board, I'll take you to your cabin."

The ship wasn't large, but it was very clean and tidy. Li Dahai led Chen Yu down to the second floor and opened a cabin door: "This is your berth. Old Zhou has arrived; he went to the hospital to pick up his medicine and will be back later."

The cabin was small, with two bunk beds, a small table, and two lockers. Chen Yu's bunk was the lower one, and his luggage was already on the upper bunk.

"We'll set sail at 3 o'clock sharp," Li Dahai said. "There will be a brief safety meeting before departure, in the conference room. Just pack your things and get to the conference room before 3 o'clock."

Chen Yu put his luggage away and tidied it up briefly. He specifically placed important items such as the sensing jade pendant and water-repelling beads in a hidden pocket close to his body, and stuffed the other items into the locker.

At 2:50, the bell rang on the ship. Chen Yu went to the conference room, where seven or eight people were already seated.

Li Dahai stood at the front, and once everyone was assembled, he began to speak: "Comrades, welcome aboard the 'Xiangyanghong 03'. I am Captain Li Dahai. This South China Sea scientific expedition will last for one month, and its main tasks are marine geology and fisheries resource surveys."

He introduced the main personnel on board: the chief mate, second mate, chief engineer, cook, doctor Lao Zhou, and five research personnel—including Chen Yu.

"The sea is different from the land; discipline comes first," Li Dahai said sternly. "All actions must be carried out under command. No one may leave the ship without permission, go into the sea on their own, or contact unidentified vessels. Report any special circumstances immediately."

The safety meeting lasted half an hour, during which Li Dahai explained in detail the use of lifesaving equipment and emergency procedures. Chen Yu listened attentively while observing the people on the ship.

The researchers were all in their thirties or forties, and looked like they were frequent seafarers. The crew members had dark complexions and moved nimbly, clearly veteran sailors. The doctor, Old Zhou, was in his fifties, wore glasses, and didn't talk much.

At exactly three o'clock, the steam whistle sounded.

The "Xiangyanghong 03" slowly left the dock and entered the Pearl River channel. Chen Yu stood on the deck, watching the city of Guangzhou gradually recede into the distance, the river widening and eventually merging into the vast sea.

South China Sea, here he comes.

This was my first real voyage to sea, my first time facing a formidable foe from the cultivation world, and my first time participating in a mission that concerned the safety of the world.

Chen Yu gripped the railing tightly, the sea breeze caressing his face. He felt the jade pendant in his pocket warming slightly, pointing south.

The Southern Vermilion Bird Key lies deep within that azure expanse.

As evening approached, the ship had already entered the open sea. The seawater changed from a murky yellow to a clear blue, and the waves became much larger.

When Chen Yu returned to his cabin, his roommate, Old Zhou, was already back. He was a tall, thin middle-aged man who was organizing his medical kit.

"Comrade Chen Yu? I'm Zhou Mingyuan, the ship's doctor." Old Zhou extended his hand. "Let's look after each other on the journey."

"Hello, Dr. Zhou." Chen Yu shook hands with him.

"First time at sea?"

"first."

"You'll need to get used to it," Old Zhou chuckled. "The sea is different from land; you might get seasick at first. I have seasickness medicine here; just let me know if you need it."

Dinner was served in the dining hall. It was a simple meal of three dishes and a soup, but the portions were generous. The crew and researchers sat at two separate tables, with Chen Yu at the researchers' table.

"Is Comrade Chen Yu a geologist?" a bespectacled researcher asked.

"Yes, mainly marine geology."

"Then we have something in common," the man said with a smile. "I study seabed sediments, my surname is Zhao, Zhao Jianguo. This is Engineer Wang, who does marine chemistry, and this is Xiao Li, who does marine biology..."

Chen Yu greeted them one by one. These researchers were all very down-to-earth, and they spoke fluently and knowledgeably about their profession. Chen Yu had the nautical knowledge provided by the system and Lin Zhenhua's notes as a foundation, so he was able to chat with them for a while.

After dinner, Chen Yu went up to the deck for some fresh air. It was already dark, and the sea was pitch black, with only the ship's lights illuminating a small patch of the surface. The night sky was dotted with stars, much clearer than those seen in Beijing.

Li Dahai, in the driver's seat, saw Chen Yu and waved.

"Comrade Chen, are you not seasick?"

"fine."

"That's good." Li Dahai looked at the darkness ahead. "The night in the South China Sea is beautiful, but also dangerous. Look over there—" He pointed in a direction, "There are fishing lights, probably from fishing boats. But sometimes, fishing lights could be something else entirely."

Chen Yu looked in the direction he pointed and indeed saw several lights in the distance, rising and falling in the darkness.

"What does the captain mean?"

"The South China Sea is not peaceful." Li Dahai lowered his voice. "There's smuggling, illegal immigration, and... some other things that are hard to define. We're a research vessel, we don't cause trouble, but we still need to be careful."

Chen Yu nodded. Li Dahai's words confirmed his earlier suspicions—this voyage would not be peaceful.

When Chen Yu returned to the cabin, Lao Zhou was already asleep. Chen Yu quietly lay down, but couldn't fall asleep.

He quietly took out the sensing jade tablet and infused it with a wisp of spiritual energy. The jade tablet emitted a faint blue light, and the patterns on it pointed towards the southeast.

The Southern Vermilion Bird Key is in that direction.

Chen Yu then took out the spiritual compass. The pointer steadily pointed to magnetic north, but when he infused it with spiritual power, the pointer trembled slightly, as if it had sensed something.

The ship rocked slightly, and the rhythmic sound of waves lapping against the hull echoed through the air. Chen Yu closed his eyes to rest, extending his spiritual sense to perceive the surrounding fifty zhang radius.

The seawater, the fish, the ship, the crew's breathing... everything seemed normal.

But Chen Yu had a premonition: the calm wouldn't last long.

As night deepened, the ship continued its journey into the depths of the South China Sea.

Meanwhile, hundreds of miles away in another sea area, a black fishing boat was also sailing at night. A lean man stood at the bow, gazing northward with a sinister smile on his lips.

"The Seven Star Alliance has arrived... The show is about to begin."

Behind him, a woman's voice sounded softly: "Long San, don't be careless. Those few people from Xuanji are not easy to deal with."

"What's there to be afraid of?" Long San turned around and looked at the woman in the shadows. "With Rakshasa here, and with the home advantage at sea, no matter how many they come, they'll all die."

The woman chuckled softly, her laughter drifting in the night breeze like mist and illusion.

The night in the South China Sea grew even deeper.