Mortal: Traveling Between Two Realms with Mei Ning to Pick Up Trash

When they returned to Haifeng Residence, Mei Ning and Mei Feng were having dinner in the lobby.

"You're back?" Mei Feng asked, his mouth full of a pork rib. "Why are you so late today? Come on, come on, the food's getting cold."

Zhou Yu sat down at the table.

"I'll be delayed on the way," he said, then picked up a piece of food with his chopsticks.

Mei Ning glanced at Zhou Yu.

After finishing their meal, the three of them went upstairs.

Zhou Yu followed behind Mei Ning and Mei Feng, hesitated for a moment, and said, "I have something to tell you."

The three of them went into the room and sat down.

"What is it?" Mei Feng asked.

"I might not be able to go back with you," Zhou Yu said hesitantly.

"Huh?" Mei Feng exclaimed, standing up. "Brother Zhou, what's the matter?"

Mei Ning also frowned slightly as she looked at Zhou Yu.

"I want to stay in Tianxing City a little longer. As you know, I have the permanent residence ring given to me by Miaoyin Sect. I want to gather some resources here before going back," Zhou Yu said.

Mei Ning and Mei Feng looked at each other, neither of them saying a word.

There was a long silence.

Mei Ningcai then said, "Since you've already made up your mind, I won't say anything more. Just be careful and come back soon."

Mei Feng nodded to the side.

Zhou Yu smiled and said, "Of course, I'm just collecting some cultivation materials. I'll return to Suihan Island as soon as I have enough."

"Sigh." Mei Feng shook his head. "Brother Zhou, take good care of yourself. I hope you come back soon."

"Of course, I'll see you off tomorrow," Zhou Yu said.

Mei Ning nodded.

They then went back to their rooms.

Zhou Yu lay in bed, knowing that he would truly be alone after tomorrow, and that he should be careful in everything he did.

Zhou Yu took out the calligraphy brush again and hesitated for a moment.

We still don't have enough cards to play, maybe we should go in again and take another look.

I thought about it for a while.

Zhou Yu checked the doors and windows and set up a simple isolation array. He had learned it from Mei Feng on the ship. It was just a basic array, but it was enough to give him peace of mind.

It's like drawing a line across the ground.

The crack opened.

The light was still dim and gray. Zhou Yu tightened his grip on the long sword, took a deep breath, and stepped inside.

The spiritual power vanished instantly.

This time, Zhou Yu was prepared and adapted much better.

The location of that ferocious beast last time was at least a mile away, which means I can explore within this range, but I shouldn't go too far, no more than thirty steps.

His gaze swept across the ground. He had found the Immortal Binding Net here last time, and there might be something else nearby.

The ground was a mixture of broken rocks and mud. Zhou Yu squatted down and used the tip of his knife to clear away a piece of gravel, but there was nothing there.

After walking a few more steps, I kicked something hard. I bent down to look and saw that it was a metal fragment, but I couldn't tell what it was.

Zhou Yu still kept the item, thinking he might be able to sell it for some money.

He walked a few more steps and then stopped.

Not far ahead, something was half-buried in the soil, grayish and hard to see unless you looked closely.

Zhou Yu walked over, squatted down, and dug around in the dirt.

A small bottle.

I don't know what was inside, but I took it out and opened it again, then put it away as well.

However, there seemed to be something else in the spot where they had just dug, so Zhou Yu gently swept away the dust.

A talisman?

Could it be something like a talisman?

There is a small sword drawn on it.

Zhou Yu also put it away, looked ahead, and realized that they were just a short distance from where the giant beast was, so they couldn't go any further.

Zhou Yu turned around and quickly returned to the rift.

The moment he returned to his room, his spiritual energy returned, and Zhou Yu let out a breath.

After closing the crack, I plopped down on the edge of the bed.

I took out the metal fragments and examined them over and over, but I still couldn't figure out what they were. I channeled my spiritual energy into them, but there was no reaction.

Could it be a fragment of some kind of magical artifact?

Set the fragments aside and take out the small jade bottle.

Gently open it, and a faint medicinal fragrance wafts out.

Zhou Yu poured the contents of his hand into his palm, and three pills rolled out. He didn't recognize them, but they smelled like medicine, so they shouldn't be poison.

Zhou Yu sighed inwardly. It seemed he needed to find some time to read some books; he didn't recognize any of the things he encountered.

Finally, I took a look at the talisman, slightly channeled some spiritual power into it, and a message entered my mind.

Splitting Light Sword Shadow Talisman Treasure.

Once activated, it transforms into three sword beams, each capable of attacking three targets.

However, it seems to have been damaged as well, and it's unclear how much power it still possesses.

Zhou Yu put everything into his storage bag; the trip had been quite fruitful.

He put the battle flags away and went back to bed.

Mei Feng's snoring came from next door, which calmed Zhou Yu down a little.

I'll send them off tomorrow.

Then, one person faced Tianxing City.

……

The next day.

Zhou Yu got up as soon as it was light.

However, Mei Ning and Mei Feng got up even earlier and had already packed their things.

"Up so early?" Zhou Yu walked over.

Mei Ning looked up and asked, "Did you sleep well?"

"...It's alright," Zhou Yu said.

The three of them went downstairs, checked out of their room, and the landlady happily saw them to the door.

We arrived at the dock.

The spirit boat was moored nearby. Mei Feng jumped aboard first, then turned to Zhou Yu and extended his hand, "Want to come in and sit down?"

Zhou Yu shook his head. "No, let's just deliver it here."

Mei Feng didn't press the matter. After a two-second silence, he stood by the ship's railing and patted Zhou Yu on the shoulder.

"Zhou Yu, take care." Mei Feng's voice was soft.

"Um."

Mei Ning's eyes flickered, and she stepped forward.

He walked very slowly, seemingly hesitant. When he reached Zhou Yu, he looked down at his toes and finally said only one sentence.

Come back soon.

Zhou Yu looked at Mei Ning with a complicated expression.

From the very first day I arrived in this world, it was Mei Ning who took care of me, helped me find a place to stay, explained the common knowledge of the cultivation world, and even corrected my habit of smacking my lips while eating.

We have to part ways now.

Zhou Yu didn't know where he got the courage, but he stepped forward and gently hugged Mei Ning, just loosely, without using any force.

Mei Ning stiffened slightly, tensing up a bit, but did not push him away.

"Okay." Zhou Yu released his grip, took a step back, and looked into Mei Ning's eyes.

Mei Ning didn't say anything more, turned around and boarded the spirit boat.

Mei Feng remained silent.

But he narrowed his eyes, his gaze sweeping over Zhou Yu. His eyes weren't fierce, but they weren't friendly either.

Zhou Yu felt uneasy under his gaze and forced a smile.

Mei Feng showed no expression, simply grunted in response, and walked to the stern of the ship.

The spirit boat slowly departed from the shore.

Mei Feng stood at the stern and waved to Zhou Yu, while Mei Ning stood to the side, her eyes fixed on him.

Zhou Yu stood on the dock, watching the spirit boat sail further and further away until it became a small dot on the sea.

Finally, until even that little dot disappeared.

"Let's go," Zhou Yu muttered to himself before turning and walking into the city.

Go deliver the goods first.

Then you just have to wait four days.

……

For the next three days, Zhou Yu's life returned to normal.

In the morning, he picked up and delivered goods, collected spirit stones, and returned to the inn to cultivate in the afternoon. He also bought several books about elixirs and rare treasures from the market, a thick stack that would keep him occupied for a long time.

However, these three days of reading were not in vain.

I now know what the pills in the first bottle were, besides the one that was suspected to be the Heaven-Mending Pill.

Dust-reducing pill.

Zhou Yu stared at it for a long time, confirming it several times before he believed it.

The top-tier pills needed to break through to the Golden Core stage are now readily available. I already possess the Foundation Establishment Pill and the Dust Reduction Pill, and with my Heavenly Spiritual Root, breaking through to the Golden Core stage is only a matter of time.

There was also the elixir I found at the inn.

Three Qi-Gathering Pills.

These are pills suitable for Foundation Establishment cultivators to increase their cultivation level.

After taking stock of my current assets: six Dust-Reducing Pills, three Qi-Harmony Pills, three (suspected) Heaven-Mending Pills, the Splitting Light Sword Shadow Talisman, an unknown fragment, a knife, the Immortal-Binding Net, and the "Canglang Jue".

However, he still lacked offensive methods, only having the Splitting Light Sword Shadow Talisman Treasure, the attack methods inherent in the "Canglang Technique", and that knife.

The Canglang Technique is a water-attribute martial art, which excels at escaping but is less effective in offensive combat.

The knife hasn't reacted much so far; it's nothing special except for its sharpness.

Let's see if there are any changes after we reach the Foundation Establishment stage.

Zhou Yu checked the items and then closed his eyes.

Tomorrow will be the fourth day.

……

Fourth day.

Zhou Yu did not go to pick up the goods as usual. He had already told the middle-aged man yesterday that he had something to do today.

Zhou Yu sat on the edge of the bed and checked all the things he needed to bring.

He stood up, pushed open the door, and went out.

In the morning, the streets of Tianxing City were only occupied by a few vendors carrying loads and early risers.

According to the address given by the woman, it wasn't inside Tianxing City, but on an island a hundred miles outside the city.

Zhou Yu stepped out of the city gate, took out his flying sword, and ascended into the air.

The sea breeze blew in his face. He flew low, skimming the surface of the sea, trying to make himself as inconspicuous as possible.

About 15 minutes later, an island appeared ahead.

Zhou Yu sheathed his flying sword and landed on the edge of the island. Just as he stood firm, a rough voice came from behind the reef.

"You're here?"

A burly middle-aged man stepped out, an axe hanging from his waist. He had no identification markings and it was impossible to tell which faction he belonged to. His strength was at the Foundation Establishment stage.

"Greetings, senior." Zhou Yu's expression shifted slightly as he cupped his hands in greeting.

"Did Elder Wan send you?"

"Um."

The middle-aged man didn't say much, turned around and walked behind the rocks.

"Come with me."

Zhou Yu followed behind, and after going around a few rocks, the view suddenly opened up. There was a relatively flat area in front of them, where seven or eight people had already arrived and were gathered in twos and threes.

Zhou Yu quickly scanned the area.

They all seemed to be independent cultivators? It was impossible to tell whether they belonged to a sect or a faction. Apart from the middle-aged man, there was also an old man in a gray robe who was also at the Foundation Establishment stage. Most of the others were at the late Qi Refining stage, and there were also some at the mid-Qi Refining stage.

Hearing the commotion, the old man in the gray robe glanced at Zhou Yu.

"Is everyone here?" the old man asked in a hoarse voice.

The middle-aged man nodded.

"Everyone's here, Elder Yan."

Elder Yan nodded and stood up, and the others gathered around.

"You all know what we're up to today," Elder Yan said in a low voice. "A shipment of goods is going to pass by sea. The ship isn't big, and there aren't many guards—just one Foundation Establishment cultivator and the rest are Qi Refining cultivators. Our task is simple: stop them, rob them, and get out of there."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the crowd.

"Be swift when you act, leave no survivors."

Zhou Yu stood at the back of the crowd, expressionless.

"How much longer until we arrive?" the middle-aged man asked.

"Soon," Elder Yan squinted at the sky, "around noon."

The sea was empty, with only a few seabirds flying around.

As the sun slowly rose higher, the light on the sea became brighter and brighter, making one's eyes sting. Zhou Yu squinted, his gaze sweeping back and forth across the line where the sea met the sky.

Time passed little by little.

Zhou Yu's gaze never left the sea.

"They're here."

The middle-aged man suddenly spoke, stood up, and squinted at the distance.

Zhou Yu followed his gaze.

Where the sea meets the sky, a small black dot appeared. The dot grew larger and clearer, revealing itself to be a spirit boat. It was small and slow, with several figures standing at the bow, their forms indistinct and difficult to discern.

But the flag reads—Wonderful Sound Gate!