Help them! Save them!

Inside the cave, all the dusty-looking people listened to the voice coming from the token.

"Boss."

"Boss."

Everyone spoke, but no one said what they were going to say next.

Xia Song, who had buried his head in his knees, raised his head and squeezed out a hoarse, indistinct voice:

"Sword Token?"

Some carried lanterns, others unfolded maps; their coordination was so seamless, requiring no prior communication. Xia Yi stood before the map, searching among the dense dots for the special one, diligently trying to decipher the small characters written on it.

"Found it. It's here. Ash City is two and a half days away from here."

“Boss, you can’t calculate it like that,” a seasoned adventurer said. “Three days is the shortest distance. If you want to take the safe route, it’s best to follow the Plague Vine. That way, the Plague Vine can drive away all the dangers. But the Plague Vine doesn’t travel in a straight line. It will take a day and a half to stop when it’s closest to Ash City. Then it will take another two and a half days to cross all the dangerous places. If you want to go around them, it will take several times longer.”

“We can’t save them. That place is too dangerous. We can’t even protect ourselves.”

After listening, Xia Yi did not reply. He turned his head to look at the people resting in the cave.

"Sword Pavilion cultivators, step forward."

“Even the Black Jade Horse has its limits and can be damaged. There are places where it can’t go,” the person next to Xia Yi continued to advise.

"Old Ma, you're in charge of looking after the adventurers here. Once everyone's gathered, we'll retreat from the old Song Dynasty the way we came," Xia Yi said to the man beside him.

"Are you out of your mind?! Boss, do you think I don't want to go to Ash City?! My brother's there!" the man called Old Ma roared. "You're going to your death!"

"Not necessarily. What if we take this route?" Xia Yi pointed to a larger word, which depicted a city on the map.

“Seren City? Are you crazy?” Old Ma asked incredulously when he saw the name of the city. “Even the most desperate and crazy outlaws hiding in the former Song Dynasty only dare to pass through that city!”

“I’m not crazy. I’ve been there, and I’m 50% confident I can get through safely,” Xia Yi said. “But it’s too dangerous there. Only I can go alone. Cultivators who haven’t reached the Qi Realm would be a burden.”

"Wait a minute!" Xia Song stood up. "Why? Why are we risking our lives for that Ash City? Do you even know anyone from Ash City?"

“I don’t know them,” Xia Yi said, putting away the map. “But they are Song people.”

These words silenced Xia Song for a moment.

"Even if it's the right thing to do, why should I ask you to do it?" Xia Song asked again.

Xia Yi didn't reply to him. After confirming the route, he went to find his black jade horse.

"Stop right there!" Xia Song roared.

“Because that is the right thing to do,” Xia Yi replied from his horse, Mo Yu.

He then spurred his horse and galloped off.

...

Under the sunlight, the armed merchant ship "Lily".

The gaunt old man in white stood at the bow of the boat, his withered and aged hand brushing over the hilt of the sword before gripping it again.

Beside him was a bucket whose purpose was unknown.

The sails are raised on the Song River.

From the lookout tower, someone shouted:

"We'll reach the ancient Song Dynasty just ahead!"

The deathly gray fog and the sunlight here seemed to form two different worlds, and they were heading from the light into the fog.

Captain Zhao, a man in his forties with a weathered face, approached the old man and respectfully inquired:

"Senior Sword, how should we proceed?"

"Entering the mist at noon is the best time, because the water monsters at the entrance will be much more docile and won't attack us."

The old man's voice was strong and resonant, like a great bell in an ancient temple:

"go ahead."

"Just move forward at your fastest speed, and leave the rest to me."

Captain Zhao hesitated upon hearing this, but ultimately chose to believe the old man before him:

"yes!"

"Lily, full speed ahead!"

Lily, full speed ahead.

This ordinary merchant ship plunged headlong into the fog.

As soon as you enter the deathly gray mist, a cold wind blows in your face.

The wind chilled all the sailors, leaving them feeling weak all over.

Then, a light appeared.

That feeling vanished instantly.

Some sailors looked toward the source of the light and discovered that it was the light from the old man drawing his sword.

The sword had been stained with strange, dark red and black blood at some point.

The old man took out a white cloth, wiped the sword, threw the cloth into the bucket of water next to him, and put the sword back into its sheath without saying a word.

Lily, full speed ahead.

Captain Zhao, who was at the helm, was not at ease. The monster at the entrance of the fog was just a weak monster. The truly terrifying one was "Shadow Harbor" at the entrance of the channel!

The dangers of Shadow Harbor are known to every captain who sails the Song River!

Captain Zhao figured there was no point in worrying, so he said to the boatswain beside him, "We've reached the former Song Dynasty. Take down that blue flag that's hanging there!"

"Hang up the Song Dynasty's banner and sword-sign flag!"

The boatswain beside him said, "Captain, it's already hooked up."

Captain Zhao looked up when he heard this.

He saw the two flags and became excited and happy.

Songhe River, it has been so many years since any Song Dynasty naval warships have crossed it!

"Remind Senior Sword that Shadow Harbor is just ahead, and tell him to get ready," Captain Zhao instructed the sailor beside him, suppressing his excitement.

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