Chapter 98: Dense Water Pass
He reached his hand into the river water, but couldn't touch the woman's face.
"Why are you still here? Are you still trying to protect me..."
Qin Mu wept, but no matter how he tried, he couldn't grasp the woman in the water. When he stopped, the woman in the water also stopped, but it was as if they were separated by an entire world, unable to touch each other.
"Are you my family?"
"What happened?"
"Why did you bring me to escape? To flee to the Village of Cripples?"
"Did you stay here to see me?"
...
His questions could no longer be answered by the woman in the water. She could only gaze at him wistfully, her eyes seeming to hold affection and relief.
Feng Xiuyun had driven the tower ship over with her magical power, intending to strike at the female corpse in the water, but when she saw Qin Mu kneeling on the water's surface, she paused and held back.
The female corpse in the water looked at the youth from the Village of Cripples. Fourteen years ago, she had drifted here. The current had slowed, and she hadn't been carried away by the river but had sunk to the bottom.
A lingering obsession kept her in the water, waiting silently. She knew that when Qin Mu passed by on the tower ship, the familiar jade pendant would awaken her obsession, compelling her to float beneath the water and gaze at the youth on the ship through his reflection.
"Look, I've grown up. I survived..."
Qin Mu looked at the woman in the water, tears in his eyes, a smile forming on his face. He said softly, "You can rest easy now. I will search for my origins, find my homeland, uncover your past, and forever remember your name..."
The woman in the water seemed to show a faint smile, then slowly sank into the deep water, gradually fading and disappearing.
Qin Mu knelt on the river's surface in a daze. After a long time, he finally stood up. He felt that he had truly grown up, no longer the naive, bewildered boy he once was.
He returned to the tower ship, and the mist gradually dispersed from the river.
As the woman beneath the river vanished, the mist also disappeared. The river became clear again. Looking into the distance, a majestic fortress stood astride the Surging River. This fortress was actually formed by countless ships joined together, creating a massive camp garrisoned by thousands upon thousands of troops!
Iron chains locked the river, leaving a single waterway in the middle. Through this waterway, one could sail out of Dense Water Pass and enter the territory of the Yan Kingdom.
"Young master, this is Dense Water Pass."
Feng Xiuyun urged the giant beasts pulling the ship to bring the tower vessel into the waterway and said, "The city center is where the Vision Mirror is located. Those are all my people there, so you can rest assured, young master."
Qin Mu looked around and saw that Dense Water Pass was heavily fortified with strong troops. Warhorses galloped between the ships at great speed. There was almost no gap between the ships; they were locked together with mortise and tenon joints, making them less like ships and more like an incredibly complex structure.
If the mortise and tenon joints were disengaged, the ships could revert to their original form and set sail at any time.
"The one who built this place is a master craftsman!" Qin Mu praised.
Feng Xiuyun chuckled and said, "Young master, Dense Water Pass was designed and built by the master of the Artisan Hall of our sect."
Qin Mu's heart stirred, and he admired it even more.
Now he finally understood why the Yan Kingdom's Imperial Preceptor was determined to subdue the Heavenly Demon Sect. The Heavenly Demon Sect's strength might not match the Yan Kingdom's army, but they had all kinds of skilled artisans. Three hundred and sixty trades, three hundred and sixty halls, deeply rooted among the common people.
The tower ship arrived in the city. Ahead, some merchant ships were waiting for inspection, forming a long queue in the waterway. Feng Xiuyun steered the tower ship into a water alley, docked it, and led Qin Mu ashore.
Fox Ling'er quickly followed, hopping onto the bundle on Qin Mu's back in a few steps and burrowing inside, leaving only her little head sticking out, curiously looking around.
"Young master, that's the Vision Mirror over there."
Qin Mu looked in the direction she pointed and saw a flying bridge spanning the waterway. In the middle of the bridge stood a bright, gleaming mirror, facing the waterway. Anyone passing through the waterway would be reflected by this mirror.
Every passing merchant ship had to stop under the bridge, and everyone had to be illuminated by the Vision Mirror.
However, Qin Mu had already gone ashore, bypassing the Vision Mirror, so naturally, he didn't have to worry about being discovered by it.
Dense Water Pass had sentries every three steps and defenses every ten steps, with very strict inspections. Fortunately, with Feng Xiuyun leading the way, they encountered no checks along the way.
She led him to the merchant district in the city and said, "Young master, stay in the city for now. Tomorrow, a merchant caravan will leave Dense Water Pass, and the dock gates will open. You can depart with the caravan."
She hesitated for a moment and then said, "The Yan Kingdom has been unsettled lately. It might not be safe for you to travel alone, young master. It's best to go with a caravan."
Qin Mu was surprised. "Unsettled?"
The girl looked around cautiously, leaned close to Qin Mu's ear, and said, "Some powerful figures within the kingdom heard that the Yan Kingdom's Imperial Preceptor had invaded the Great Ruins in force but suffered a defeat. So they took the opportunity to ambush the Imperial Preceptor on the road. It's said that the Imperial Preceptor was severely wounded and nearly died. This news spread, causing panic. Some sects that don't obey the court's rule took the chance to rebel—some seized territory, others grabbed land, and there are many bandits..."
The hair at her temple brushed against the youth's collar, tickling him. Qin Mu's ear was also tickled by her breath.
When Feng Xiuyun noticed his earlobe turning red, she realized she had been too intimate and quickly moved a little farther away from him.
This youth was the future Holy Lord, a revered figure. How could she be so frivolous with him?
"One more thing."
Feng Xiuyun composed herself, looked Qin Mu up and down, and said with a smile, "Young master, you need to change your clothes. The Yan Kingdom isn't the Great Ruins. There's no need to wear such sturdy clothes."
Qin Mu's clothes were sewn from animal hide. Granny Si, tired of him constantly tearing his clothes during his daily training and fights, had dressed him in animal hide since he was a child. Although they were hide clothes, the material was excellent.
Qin Mu's clothes were made from the fur of a Snow Cloud Mink, a rare beast. The fur was removed, leaving only the lining. Worn in winter and summer alike, they were comfortable, but the style, though good, wasn't very attractive.
After Qin Mu learned to make his own clothes, he also used Snow Cloud Mink hide. All his clothes were self-made. If he used ordinary silk or cloth, his daily training and fights with Blind and Butcher would tear them apart in a day.
"Sister, do you know where I can find good fabric?" Qin Mu asked.
Feng Xiuyun led him to a fabric shop and walked in with him to browse. After a look around, Qin Mu didn't find any fabric he liked. He called the shopkeeper over and asked, "Does your shop have this kind of fabric?"
He took out the sweatband that Ling Yuxiu had given him. The fabric shop owner was startled when he saw it and quickly shook his head, saying, "This is woven from Heavenly Fragrance Silk. It's a tribute item, only for the imperial family. How could my humble little shop have such top-grade goods?"
Feng Xiuyun laughed and said, "Qu Xiangzhu, this is the young master."
The fabric shop owner was shocked and immediately bowed to pay his respects. Qin Mu helped him up and said, "This is Dense Water Pass, with many eyes and ears. No need for formalities."
The shop owner, Qu Xiangzhu, smiled and said, "Your subordinate didn't recognize the young master and was remiss. Please wait a moment, young master."
He quickly walked to the fabric shop's warehouse and soon returned with a bolt of cloth. "Young master, although Heavenly Fragrance Silk is a tribute item for the imperial family, there are fabrics that are no less inferior. This bolt is the treasure of my shop, called Golden Silkworm Silk. Our sect's Gu Hall is skilled in raising Gu insects. The Hundred Poison Golden Silkworm Gu, when cultivated into a Six-Winged Golden Silkworm, is extremely poisonous. After the Hundred Poison Six-Winged Golden Silkworm matures, it spins silk that is incredibly tough, impervious to blades, fire, and water, and immune to all poisons. This bolt of cloth was given to me by the master of the Gu Hall to sell. Please take a look, young master."
Qin Mu gently stroked the fabric. It was as smooth as silk, with a slight coolness. The fabric was a light gold color with peculiar patterns. He pulled at it but couldn't tear it at all. He let out an admiring sound, very satisfied, and asked, "How much?"
Qu Xiangzhu quickly shook his head and said, "How dare I take the young master's money? This is a gift from your subordinate and the master of the Gu Hall!"
Qin Mu smiled and said, "If you won't take it, I can't not give it. Ling'er, find the money pouch."
Fox Ling'er had been hiding in the bundle on his back, only her little head showing. Hearing this, she quickly burrowed into the bundle and soon emerged with a money pouch. Qin Mu said, "These are Dragon Coins. They probably can't be used in the Yan Kingdom. I'll give them all to you."
Qu Xiangzhu had no choice but to take the money pouch and said, "The Yan Kingdom uses Da Feng Coins, which are indeed different from the coins in the Great Ruins. This pouch has several thousand coins. Your subordinate will exchange some Da Feng Coins for you, young master. You might need them on the road."
Qin Mu thought for a moment and nodded. "Thank you for your trouble. How do I cut this Golden Silkworm Silk fabric?"
Qu Xiangzhu smiled and said, "Ordinary spirit weapons can't cut this fabric. My shop has a Dragon Tooth Scissors that can barely manage it. Please wait a moment, young master."
He went to the front hall, took out three incense sticks, and lit them. The front hall had a small shrine, and enshrined in the shrine was actually a pair of scissors.
Qu Xiangzhu bowed to the scissors, then carefully took them down and handed them to Qin Mu, saying, "This is a gift from your subordinate to the young master, a small token of respect..."
Qin Mu was amused and exasperated. "Xiangzhu, I won't accept your scissors... Oh? What fine scissors!"
He showed a look of surprise. The scissors felt as if they were made of warm jade, very smooth. When his primal energy infused them, they felt like an extension of his body, without any hindrance. Moreover, he could sense a terrifying energy hidden within the scissors, stirring restlessly!
This power was extremely formidable and very fierce.
He tried cutting a corner of the fabric, and the incredibly tough Golden Silkworm Silk cloth was cut with a crisp sound. Although it took some effort, the sharpness of the scissors was evident.
"Truly fine scissors," Qin Mu praised again.
Qu Xiangzhu brought out a needle and thread. The thread was also made of Hundred Poison Golden Silkworm Silk.
Swish—
Qin Mu waved his hand, and his primal energy burst forth. The entire bolt of fabric floated in the air, hanging down. Then, using his energy to control the scissors, he cut the fabric. At the same time, the needle that Qu Xiangzhu had brought was lifted by his primal energy, automatically threading itself and sewing the cut fabric in mid-air.
This display was very eye-catching. People who had come into the shop to browse for fabric stopped to watch.
Before long, Qin Mu put away the scissors and needle. A set of clothes gently fell down. The first piece was a cross-collared deep robe with narrow sleeves and trimmed edges at the collar. The second was a belt. The third was an inner shirt. The fourth was a pair of inner trousers.
Qu Xiangzhu raised his hand. "Young master, please go inside to change."
Qin Mu walked into the inner room. Qu Xiangzhu and Feng Xiuyun stood outside waiting. Feng Xiuyun frowned and muttered, "Did the young master learn tailoring from the Holy Mother? How is this something a young holy lord should do?"
Qu Xiangzhu said, "The young master's tailoring is already at the level of a master..."
Feng Xiuyun sneered, "You're flattering him shamelessly, and I find it despicable. This Hundred Poison Golden Silkworm Silk fabric is extremely precious. It takes several thousand golden silkworms to weave a single bolt like this, and you've given it to the young holy lord. The silk from a single Hundred Poison Golden Silkworm Gu is worth about as much as this pouch of Dragon Coins. This set of clothes the young master has made is priceless..."
The inner room door opened, and Qin Mu walked out. Both of them were dazzled. The people in the fabric shop also looked over, silently admiring what a handsome youth he was.