Fei Xu''s corpse tore through the curtain of rain and crashed onto the deck.


    The water in the puddles on the ground grew darker with blood.


    Xie Yuanying and the crew had no time to catch their breath.


    Boom! Boom!


    Several thick, dragon-like bolts of blue-purple lightning apanied by thunderous roars split the heavens!


    The shes of light pierced the dark, overcast sky, illuminating the pale, terrified faces below.


    They looked toward the river.


    The ghost fish that had been attacking the defensive array had stopped. One by one, the fish, with their eerily human-like faces, floated silently on the turbulent surface of the river, bowing their heads in submission. They covered the river, so densely packed that from a distance, it looked like a river of floating corpses.


    Jian Huan knew something was wrong. She had sensed it earlier—Fei Xu and Xu Yang were waiting for something beneath the river.


    She nced at Xie Yuanying and the others, then decisively said to Shen Jizhi, "You hold them off for now. I’ll teleport the ship away ande back to help you."


    "Alright."


    Shen Jizhi nodded, his figure flickering in and out of the rain as he headed toward the center of the river where the ghost fish were bowing.


    Hidden in the mist, his snow-white sword ready, he waited patiently, focused.


    Jian Huan quicklynded on the deck.


    Xie Yuanying stumbled toward her. Unable to speak without his tongue, he gestured anxiously.


    Jian Huan pulled out a pre-prepared teleportation talisman and began affixing it to the array she had set up earlier. She exined to Xie Yuanying, "I remember your ship was headed to Cangyuan City. But Cangyuan is too far; my teleportation array can’t reach that distance. However, I’ll get you out of this dangerous area. Once you’re out, head toward Cangyuan. Don’t return to Ningzhang for a while. Wait for my instructions, understood?"


    Xie Yuanying nodded hurriedly, "Mhm, mhm, mhm."


    "Also," Jian Huan’s gaze swept toward Liu Hu, her eyes sharp, "the five thousand spirit stones you promised Liu Hu? Give him just one. As for the ghost fish corpses we confiscated, hold onto them for us. We’lle collect themter. And keep an eye on Liu Hu—don’t let him leave!"


    How dare he steal her ghost fish while she was fighting? That man had some nerve!


    The wind and rain whipped around them. Xie Yuanying shivered from the cold, wiping the rain from his face. He carefully memorized Jian Huan’s instructions and nodded.


    As Jian Huan worked on the teleportation array, she kept an eye on themotion in the river.


    The rain poured down, and in the area where the fish were bowing, whirlpools began to form.


    The whirlpools spun faster and faster, growingrger and more violent. A faint but oppressive aura emanated from beneath the whirlpools, making Jian Huan’s heart tighten.


    The rivers,kes, and seas of the Nine Provinces were countless, and the Zhang River was just a small one. Yet, beneath it, there was a monster with powerparable to a Nascent Soul cultivator?


    With thest teleportation talisman in ce, Jian Huan leaped into the air, hovering above the ship.


    She formed a series of hand seals, and eighteen streams of golden-green spiritual energy rose from the ship, converging at her fingertips.


    She closed her eyes, using the vitality of her Golden Core to sense the green mountains on both sides of the river hundreds of miles away, setting the teleportation point.


    "Go," Jian Huan whispered, opening her eyes. A surge of Golden Core-level spiritual energy erupted from her dantian.


    The ship rocked violently, and the people on board were thrown off bnce.


    A rift in space opened, and the ship was about to leave this ce.


    But in that instant, a tremendous suction force erupted from the rapidly spinning whirlpool, swallowing the ship and everyone on it in one gulp.


    It happened so fast that no one could react.


    Beneath the whirlpool, the massive Ghost Fish King closed its wide mouth and let out a soft burp.


    It flicked its tail and dove to the bottom of the river, leaving the area to find its master.


    The ghost fish followed, disappearing into the depths.


    The wind passed without a trace, and the area returned to calm.


    "Ah!"


    "Ah—"


    "Ahhhhhhhhh!"


    Screams erupted as the ship plummeted into the darkness, the people on board unable to control their cries.


    The teleportation array, which had consumed a great deal of spiritual energy, was erased, and Jian Huan suffered some internal injuries.


    She fell backward, her consciousness blurring.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Only when an arm wrapped around her waist, slowing her descent, did she snap back to reality.


    It was Shen Jizhi.


    "Open your mouth," the young man’s cool voice instructed as a pill was pressed against her pale lips.


    The familiar presence and voice made the dazed Jian Huanply without hesitation. She opened her mouth.


    Shen Jizhi ced three Spirit Recovery Pills inside.


    Jian Huan swallowed them one by one, and her spiritual energy began to recover.


    Shen Jizhi held Jian Huan in his arms and nced down at the ship below. "That whirlpool was its mouth. I wanted to warn you, but it was toote."


    "Even if you had warned me, it wouldn’t have mattered. That monster is strong," Jian Huan frowned, breaking free from Shen Jizhi’s embrace and standing steadily on his sword. She looked around, her eyes taking in the ck, fleshy walls. "Are we inside the monster’s body?"


    "Yes," Shen Jizhi nced down again and handed Jian Huan her sword. "Can you fly on your own now?"


    "Probably," Jian Huan took the sword, feeling the spiritual energy in her dantian beginning to recover. She shot him a sidelong nce. "What, as your creditor, I can’t stand on your sword for a bit?"


    "It’s not that. You can stand on it if you want," Shen Jizhi said calmly, pointing downward. "But the ship has been falling for a while now…"


    "Then hurry up and catch it! Why are you standing here talking to me?" Jian Huan’s head cleared as if she’d been punched. She jumped off Shen Jizhi’s sword onto her own silver de and urged, "Go, go! My ghost fish corpses are still on that ship!"


    Shen Jizhi: "..."


    Shen Jizhi: "I’m going."


    With that, Shen Jizhi’s snow-white sword shed, and he shot downward like a meteor, chasing after the ship.


    The screams grew louder as Shen Jizhi spotted the ship.


    It was tilting to the right, and the people on board clung to anything they could to keep from falling off.


    He appeared beneath the ship, supporting it with one hand. A five-colored spiritual shield formed, stabilizing the vessel.


    The ship’s descent slowed, and the people on board breathed a sigh of relief.


    Not long after Shen Jizhi steadied the ship, Jian Huan arrived in a hurry.


    She stepped onto the tilted deck and forcefully pushed it back into ce.


    The ship righted itself, and the people on board released their grips, lying on the deck like fish out of water, gasping for air.


    The dark, fleshy walls soon came to an end.


    At the bottom was a slippery, dirty wall of flesh, its folds resembling rolling sand dunes.


    There was no exit in this fleshy chamber. The ck cavity they had fallen through was now blocked by another wall of flesh.


    The internal structure of this monster was different from that of ordinary animals. In any case, Jian Huan and the others were trapped here.


    The fleshy chamber was mostly empty, as if it had been cleaned beforehand. But in some corners, there were fragments of the ship’s wood and scattered jewels and cargo.


    Jian Huan first scouted the "terrain," picking up a piece of shattered Hetian jade along the way. Then she directed Shen Jizhi to ce the ship on a rtively t area.


    With nowhere else to go, everyone could only rest here.


    Xie Yuanying couldn’t speak.


    Jian Huan wasn’t a healer.


    Shen Jizhi, having been injured often, had learned some basic external wound treatment from Medicine Granny. But he was powerless to help with a missing tongue. They would have to wait until they got out to introduce Xie Yuanying to a proper healer.


    However, Xie Yuanying could write.


    He took paper and pen, found a literate servant, and began organizing the ship’s affairs.


    For example, checking if all the crew members were still present and if anyone was injured.


    Or assessing whether the cargo had been damaged and to what extent, and so on.


    While Xie Yuanying was busy, Jian Huan and Shen Jizhi divided the ten thousand spirit stones from Fei Xu’s body and went to collect items scattered in the fleshy chamber.


    They gathered the fallen ghost fish corpses and the scattered gemstones that had been left behind earlier. As for Xie Yuanying’s lost cargo, they left it alone—it wasn’t theirs to take, so Xie Yuanying’s people could collect it themselves.


    Earlier, Shen Jizhi had picked up a few ghost fish that Jian Huan had killed on the ship.


    But since he had given her three Spirit Recovery Pills, which were roughly equivalent in value, Jian Huan didn’t ask for the corpses.


    "Aren’t you going to treat the wound on your back first?" Shen Jizhi looked at Jian Huan, his brow slightly furrowed.


    "No," Jian Huan replied. During the fight, Fei Xu had stabbed her in the back, but the injury wasn’t severe, and the bleeding had already stopped. To her, such a wound was like a small cut on a finger—hardly worth using a bandage for. "It’ll heal on its own in a few days. Why bother treating it? You’ve asked me this three times now. What’s going on with you? How have you be so naggy after two years apart?"


    "..." Shen Jizhi, "I’m not nagging."


    Jian Huan: "What is that?"


    Shen Jizhi chuckled lightly: "My eyesight isn’t great."


    Jian Huan: "?"


    "Alright, enough with the banter. Let’s get down to business." Jian Huan tossed the ghost fish that had fallen onto the fleshy mound into a cloth bag and shared her thoughts with Shen Jizhi. "It seems this fish demon is nning to transport our entire ship somewhere to sell us off. The goods will be resold, and as for the people, they’ll either be fed amnesia pills and sold as ves or worse. That’s why the demon hasn’t killed us—we still have value to it."


    "Mm." Shen Jizhi calmed himself and dug out a golden leaf from the crevices of the fleshy mound. "This demon must be someone’s contracted beast."


    Unlike humans, demons don’t have such a strong desire for wealth. They prefer to eat humans, but this fish demon hasn’t devoured them, only trapped them here. It must be acting under someone’s orders.


    "Do you have any ideas?" Jian Huan looked at Shen Jizhi. "The fish is still swimming. When it slows down, we’ll likely be close to our destination. We need to figure out a n."


    Shen Jizhi carefully put away the golden leaf, nced around, and leaned in close to Jian Huan, whispering a few words into her ear.


    Jian Huan suppressed the tingling itch on her ear and, after listening, eximed in a hushed voice, "Why do you carry living-dead insects with you?!"


    "Some fierce beast materials are hard to preserve. If they die, their value drops significantly over time," Shen Jizhi exined calmly. "So I don’t kill them outright. Instead, I feed them living-dead insects and store them in my Mustard Seed Pouch."


    Jian Huan was silent for a moment, then looked at hisposed face and said seriously, "Don’t you think that’s a bit cruel?"


    Shen Jizhi tilted his head, his gaze resting on Jian Huan’s face. "I think being poor is crueler."


    Jian Huan: "...Fair enough."


    While Jian Huan and Shen Jizhi were picking up items on the fleshy mound, Taoist Liu Hu was also busy collecting.


    Liu Hu had emptied his bag and was gleefully gathering whatever he could find.


    The others on the ship were too afraid of the fleshy mound toe down, but Liu Hu wasn’t scared. He thought the mound was quite safe.


    After all, those two youngsters were down there picking things up too!


    Once he had gathered enough, Liu Hu returned to the ship with his bag stuffed full.


    He walked down the dimly lit corridor, humming a tune and sipping wine, his beard swaying with each step as he enjoyed himself.


    Just as he was five steps away from his room, he suddenly stopped.


    The candles in the corridor were relit, casting an eerie glow that illuminated two figures leaning against his door.


    The girl was idly drawing circles on the ground with her foot. Hearing the noise, she looked up, her eyes ncing at the bulging bag before giving Liu Hu a bright smile. "Well, well, Taoist Liu, you’ve had quite the haul, haven’t you?"


    Liu Hu chuckled awkwardly. "Not bad, not bad. But it’s nothingpared to what you two have gathered. You’ve got more, you’ve got more..."


    As he spoke, he subtly began to back away, ready to make a run for it.


    The candlelight flickered, and the masked youth in ck shed forward, his snow-white sword unsheathed and blocking Liu Hu’s path.


    Liu Hu gulped and turned around.


    Behind him, Jian Huan was walking closer, her silver sword swaying in her hand. She smiled lightly and asked, "Taoist Liu, do you think it’s right to take the ghost fish corpses that your saviors risked their lives to kill?"


    "Of course not! Absolutely not!" Liu Hu quickly shrunk back, reacting swiftly. He set down his bag and pulled out three smaller ghost fish corpses, handing them to Jian Huan. "Little girl, you must have misunderstood. I wasn’t collecting these for myself. I was gathering them for you! I was just about to bring them to you!"


    Jian Huan took the fish. "Is that so? Well, thank you, Taoist Liu."


    "Not at all, no need for thanks. We’re all on the same side, no need for formalities." Liu Hu quickly packed up his bag and held it close. "After such a fierce battle, you must be exhausted. Go rest. I’m tired too—getting old, my back and legs ache." He rubbed his back and skillfully tried to slip past Jian Huan and into his room.


    But Jian Huan grabbed his bag and yanked him back.


    Liu Hu’s smile was more like a grimace. "Little girl, is there something else?"


    Jian Huan’s tone was meaningful. "Taoist Liu, do you not n to leave? Are you nning to stay here and let nature take its course? Or do you have a way out on your own, without our help?"


    Liu Hu: "..."


    A momentter, Jian Huan and Shen Jizhi left, satisfied.


    Liu Hu hugged his now-empty bag, sighed deeply, and took a swig of wine in frustration.


    Jian Huan and Shen Jizhi divided the spoils equally and returned to their respective rooms.


    Although Shen Jizhi still owed her money, he preferred to pay her back all at once rather than in small installments. It was easier for him to keep track that way. Otherwise, every small payment would require both parties to sign and seal a receipt, which was too much hassle.


    Jian Huan had no objections.


    First, she currently had over a hundred thousand spirit stones and wasn’t short on money.


    Second,pared to receiving a few thousand spirit stones at a time, she much preferred a lump sum of a hundred thousand. It was more satisfying!


    Jian Huan was tired, but she didn’t go straight to bed. Instead, she forced herself to draw some talismans.


    Neither she nor Shen Jizhi knew when the fish demon would stop, so she needed to prepare some talismans just in case.


    It was always better to be overprepared than underprepared.


    After drawing a few of each type, Jian Huan rubbed her neck and flopped onto the bed, wriggling around as usual to find afortable position.


    But she identally brushed against the wound on her back, causing her face to contort in pain.


    Jian Huan sat up, tugged at her clothes, and twisted her head to look.


    The lightly scabbed sword wound had been reopened, and fresh blood was seeping out.


    Forget it, she’d just sleep on her stomach tonight.


    By tomorrow, the wound should be mostly healed.


    But then, something urred to her.


    Blood?


    Before the ship had run into trouble, she had been asking Elder Yu Qing about demonic possession.


    This was the perfect opportunity to test Shen Jizhi.


    Based on their teamwork in battle, Jian Huan thought he was still normal. But what if he had been possessed by a demon? If she caught it early, maybe she could still save him!


    Without hesitation, Jian Huan immediately went to Shen Jizhi’s room.


    Shen Jizhi was in the middle of forging equipment.


    Even when he wasn’t at the Equipment Forging Hall, he set a daily quota for himself.


    Although he had already paid off his debts, including hers, he still wanted to save more money.


    After hearing Jian Huan’s request, Shen Jizhi set down his tools and asked, "Didn’t you say I talk too much?"


    Jian Huan leaned against the table and tly denied it. "Who said that? You’re such a man of few words—who would call you talkative?"


    Shen Jizhi smirked. "I don’t know. Someone who doesn’t understand anything said it."


    Jian Huan’s words caught in her throat. She pursed her lips, silently cursing him, but on the surface, she pretended not to hear. "So, are you going to help me or not?"


    Shen Jizhi nodded and took out the medicinal powder he needed for treating wounds from his Mustard Seed Pouch.


    Jian Huan curiously picked up the powder and, after a moment of thought, asked seriously, "Are you going to charge me for the medicine?"


    Shen Jizhi’s hand, which was holding the bandages, paused. He looked up, his gaze meeting her lively eyes. After a moment of consideration, he said slowly, "This bottle of powder was bought from Medicine Granny for a hundred spirit stones. It can be used about twenty times. I’ll charge you five spirit stones?"


    Jian Huan: "..."


    Jian Huan’s sword wound wasn’t actually serious. Given time, it would heal on its own without affecting her ability to move around.


    She had onlye to test whether Shen Jizhi had a thirst for blood or any signs of demonic possession.


    And now he wanted to charge her five spirit stones!


    Jian Huan turned to leave. "Forget it. I’ll let it heal on its own."


    Shen Jizhi wasn’t surprised. He reached out and urately grabbed her wrist, saying calmly, "Since you don’t charge me interest, I’ll waive the fee for the medicine."


    "That’s more like it!" Jian Huan immediately brightened up and walked over to the bed, taking off her shoes and climbing onto it. "A creditor as kind as me is one in a million. How could you have the nerve to charge me for medicine just now?"


    Shen Jizhi: "..."


    Jian Huan wasn’t the least bit shy. She pulled the nket over herself and fumbled around under the covers.


    Back in the little cabin, during the first few times, she would wait until Shen Jizhi was out before changing her clothes. Butter, she found it too much of a hassle and just did it under the covers.


    After all, Shen Jizhi always closed his eyes on his own. He was more concerned about identally seeing her change than she was.


    As if seeing her would mean he had to take responsibility or something.


    It really wasn’t a big deal. She was still wearing a bellyband, which was like a modern tank top. It wasn’t like she was naked.


    She really missed the days in the modern world when she and her friends would wear tank tops and go bargain hunting during summer sales.


    Jian Huan took off her clothes, leaving only her bellyband and white pants on.


    She held her clothes in front of her, tugging the nket down to her ribs, exposing her back.


    Shen Jizhi stood by the table, his gaze instinctively drifting toward the bed.


    The girl’s back was pale and slender, her shoulder des like the wings of a butterfly, faintly visible through the swaying, watery-pink bed curtains.


    After a moment, when Shen Jizhi still hadn’t moved, Jian Huan propped herself up slightly, tilting her head in confusion. “Shen Jizhi, hurry up. Let’s get this done so we can rest. I’m tired.”


    She did sound tired, her voice trailing off with a hint of drowsiness, soft and almost like she was coaxing him.


    Shen Jizhi remained where he was.


    He lowered his eyes, pursed his lips, and meticulously cleaned his fingers, using a cleansing spell over and over.


    The candlelight flickered in the room, casting shadows over him, and Jian Huan couldn’t quite make out his expression.