Cultivating immortality in the seas, I created an immortal island of eternal life.

People always end up with what they fear most.

With such a generous reward, Gao Yao naturally knew that it was not simply a matter of taking people to his lodgings and giving them a few simple instructions.

Sure enough, the next morning, before dawn, the sky was already bright.

Manager Chen then sent someone to tell Gao Yao to take the two women to the fish market to officially report for duty and to show them around the market.

Despite his reluctance, Gao Yao had no choice but to agree and sailed to the reef island where Ye Ran was located.

The other party seemed to have gotten up very early and was already waiting on the shore.

In just one day, the dilapidated shack on the island had been transformed.

The gaps that let in drafts were carefully filled with seaweed mixed with mud, and the open space in front of the door was cleaned up spotlessly. There was even a path paved with gravel, which didn't seem like something that one person could have done in one night.

Ye Zi's side was much quieter.

She seemed startled when Gao Yao knocked on the door, and it took her a while to open it.

The shack remained almost unchanged, except that the ground had been simply swept.

She lowered her head and followed them onto the boat, sitting a little distance away from both of them.

The three of them sat down, and the small boat headed towards the fish market.

The sea was calm, with only the rhythmic sound of oars striking the water.

We walked in silence, and the outline of the dock was already visible in the morning mist.

Just as the sun climbed over the dock, fishing boats of all sizes crowded together, and fishermen shouted as they unloaded their cargo. The air was thick with the smell of water and fish.

Gao Yao led the two men through the crowd with practiced ease and into the fish market.

The place was bustling with noise, and the smell of sweat mixed with cheap tobacco made people dizzy.

Many fishermen, their dark upper bodies bare, lined up carrying fish baskets, waiting to pay taxes or sell their catch.

Ye Ran looked around, while Ye Zi was clearly not used to the noisy and crowded environment. She unconsciously moved closer to Gao Yao, but kept a slight distance.

The registration process is simple and quick.

It simply involves asking for names, referring to maps in the atlas, and finding the corresponding reef/island numbers and tax amounts.

"Alright." The disciple closed the booklet, his tone flat. "I've explained all the rules to you, haven't I? Be diligent, don't delay paying taxes, next!"

Just as Gao Yao was about to lead the two away, a commotion suddenly broke out in the group next to them.

An old fisherman, pale and thin, was holding a fish basket in his hands, pleading with his disciple who was in charge of collecting taxes.

"Please, Immortal Master, have mercy and grant me a few more days... The waves have been too high these past few days, and I haven't managed to catch anything worthwhile..."

The disciple frowned and impatiently tapped the table with the hardcover book in his hand, making a dull thud.

"Rules are rules! If you don't have spirit stones, use your catch; if that's not enough, figure out a way yourself!"

"If everyone pleaded like you, what would become of the sect's rules?"

The old fisherman's cloudy eyes were filled with despair. His lips trembled as he tried to say something more, but he was impatiently pushed aside by the people in line behind him.

Gao Yao silently looked away; this scene was all too familiar.

Once upon a time, he, like this old fisherman, was so worried about the heavy tax on Dinghai that he couldn't sleep at night, pacing back and forth outside the fish stall, helpless in the face of the meager catch and the cold tax figures.

The overwhelming fear and embarrassment still make my heart pound when I think about it now.

Fortunately, there is hope for the future, as people no longer need to struggle for a living thanks to Turtle Reef Island.

......

Once we left the fish market, the noise subsided a bit.

Gao Yao led the two men toward the market.

The market is located behind a relatively flat mudflat on the east side of the fish market. It consists of numerous simple sheds and stalls, and even straw mats laid directly on the ground, stretching as far as the eye can see.

It's more lively and noisier here than the fish market.

The sounds of bargaining, hawking, and children playing filled the air.

The air was filled with the salty smell of seafood, the bitterness of herbs, the aroma of cooking food, and the smell of livestock manure.

The various smells mingled together, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of a rural market day.

"Most of the transactions here are between fishermen," Gao Yao said, leading the way and avoiding the haphazardly piled debris on the ground. "The buying and selling are mostly ordinary catches, homemade tools, repair materials, and there is also barter."

The group didn't linger long, and as they passed through the chaotic, spontaneous trading area, the scene suddenly changed.

The ground was much cleaner, and a path paved with bluestone slabs appeared.

The sides are no longer filled with simple shacks and straw mats, but with relatively neat stalls, wooden houses or stone houses, and even a few four- or five-story buildings.

The pedestrians were also dressed much more respectably, and one could even see many outer disciples of immortal sects.

"This area is directly under the jurisdiction of the Immortal Sect," Gao Yao introduced in a low voice, his tone becoming more cautious. "The shops here are run by sects or their disciples, so the goods here are naturally incomparable to those outside."

Ye Ran's eyes lit up as she carefully examined the shops.

Ye Zi followed her gaze, but her eyes lacked the eagerness and inquiry that Ye Ran had. She quickly looked away and resumed her submissive demeanor.

"Come on, let me show you some places you might use in your daily lives."

Gao Yao didn't want to linger there, so he led the two to another area.

The shops here mainly sell low-grade spiritual rice and herbs, as well as basic pills and other cultivation consumables, and the prices are relatively affordable.

"Tall kid!"

A familiar voice suddenly came from behind him, and Gao Yao turned around.

Old Ma was seen hobbling over, leaning on a wooden cane.

He was wearing a clean gray cotton jacket today, with a smile on his face, and looked much better than a few days ago.

"Uncle Ma," Gao Yao hurriedly stepped forward, "What brings you to the market?"

"My legs aren't very strong, so fishing is difficult." Old Ma waved his hand, his tone relaxed. "Since I'm idle anyway, I just help out in the market by making connections and passing on messages, just to earn a living."

Gao Yao then noticed that Old Man Ma had a small wooden plaque hanging on his chest with the words "mediation" engraved on it.

Such a business does exist in the market. Some fishermen need to buy or sell things, inquire about information, or even find partners. If they are unable to do so on their own, they will seek help from these middlemen and receive a small fee after the matter is completed.

I just didn't expect that Old Man Ma would start doing this so quickly.

"This is Zhang Ma. Uncle Ma taught me how to find my way and how to fish before," Gao Yao introduced to Ye Ran and Ye Zi briefly.

Ye Ran nodded, which was considered a greeting.

Ye Zi shrank back timidly and whispered, "Hello, Uncle Ma."

Old Ma's gaze swept over the two women, lingering especially on Ye Zi's face for a moment. A flicker of surprise crossed his eyes before he regained his composure and said with a smile:

"You're quite something, young man. You've only been here a few days and you've already met such a beautiful girl."

Gao Yao said helplessly, "Uncle Ma, don't joke around. These are two newcomers. The manager asked me to show them around and familiarize them with the environment."

Old Man Ma suddenly realized, glanced at the two of them a few more times, and then pulled Gao Yao aside, lowering his voice.

"But seriously, you've finally made something of yourself. You have a job at the fish farm, and your fishing business is thriving. It's time to consider finding a partner to live with."

Gao Yao was both amused and exasperated: "Uncle Ma, you're really dedicated to being a matchmaker."

"Nonsense! What else would we eat?" Old Ma glared, then lowered his voice slyly.

"Originally, this old man was thinking of trying to set you up with someone. The daughter of Old Zhao at the east end of the market is quite nice; she's quick and efficient. But now that I see..."

He glanced at Ye Zi and lowered his voice even further: "This Miss Ye is first-rate in both looks and figure. Although she is a bit soft-hearted, she seems like someone who knows how to manage a household."

"If you're even slightly interested, this old man can help you sound them out..."

"Uncle Ma, really, there's no need." Gao Yao quickly waved his hand, "I'm too busy taking care of myself, how can I think about these things?"

Old Ma clicked his tongue, not forcing the issue, but his gaze shifted to Ye Ran, his brows furrowing almost imperceptibly. He muttered, "As for this Miss Lin, she's certainly straightforward, but it feels..."

He didn't finish his sentence, but Gao Yao understood what he meant.

Ye Ran was too conspicuous.

Her behavior, manner of speaking, and even the sharpness in her eyes stood out starkly against the docile and apathetic fishermen, like a speck of ink on a blank sheet of paper.

Old Man Ma, who had struggled at the bottom of society for many years, naturally sensed that something was wrong.

"Oh, by the way," Old Ma suddenly remembered something, his tone becoming more serious, "Young Gao, have you heard that things haven't been peaceful at sea lately?"

Gao Yao's expression turned serious: "What do you mean?"

"Two more incidents have occurred in the last few days," Old Ma said in a low voice.

"Several fishing boats from the north did not return overnight. The next day, the boats were only found on the rocky beach, and the people were gone."

"There's also a fisherman on the east side who said he saw a dark shadow underwater. He was so scared that he abandoned his boat and swam back. He's still running a fever and talking nonsense."

Gao Yao's heart sank: "Another demonic beast?"

"The Immortal Sect only said to keep fishermen away from the central sea area these days, but the Dinghai Tax is still there." Old Ma shook his head, his eyes filled with worry. "Sigh, this world..."

He sighed and patted Gao Yao on the shoulder: "Be careful yourself. Don't go out to sea at night, and try not to go too far during the day. You're all alone on the island; if something happens, there'll be no one to send a message."

"Thank you for the reminder, Uncle Ma." Gao Yao nodded, his eyes thoughtful.

He knew that Old Man Ma meant well; making a living at sea was always risky, but this series of recent events seemed far too frequent.

Is it a coincidence, or...?

Gao Yao dared not think too deeply about it.

"Alright, you guys go ahead with your work. This old man still has to go to the west end to deliver a message for someone." Old Ma limped away, leaning on his cane. Before leaving, he glanced at Ye Zi one last time and muttered a pity.

Gao Yao stood there, watching Old Man Ma's departing figure, his heart taut with even greater anxiety.

"Brother Gao?" Ye Ran's voice brought him back to reality. "Shall we go back to the inner area and take a look?"

Gao Yao snapped out of his thoughts and nodded: "Go."

After completing the loop, it was nearly noon.

Gao Yao led the two out of the market and back to the dock.

"Wait here, someone will come to arrange the boat shortly." Gao Yao looked at the two men, "I've told you almost everything that needs to be told, just be careful."

Ye Ran nodded, her expression earnest: "Thank you, Brother Gao."

Ye Zi replied softly, "Thank you, Brother Gao..."

Gao Yao said no more and turned to walk towards his small sampan, which was tied to the dock.

In any case, the job is done.

Ten low-grade spirit stones, plus the spirit fish in the pond, are enough for him to prepare for upgrading his cave dwelling.

The sampan cut through the seawater and slowly sailed towards Turtle Reef Island.

......