The youth must be engaged early, for how can the years of youth last long? Chapter 104: Returning to the Water Camp

Bai Qingzhou stood on the spirit boat's railing, gazing far into the distance as the scenery rushed past him below. Upon his return to Shuijing Market this time, his mind churned with countless thoughts. Last time, it had been during Xuan Yang Sect's glorious prime, when the entire sect had shone brilliantly in the arena tournament. Now, with their sect leader dead and their prestige in shambles, he let out a soft sigh and shook his head helplessly before turning back toward the guest hall.

The hall held far fewer cultivators than usual, with seats previously eight or seven tenths occupied now reduced to only four or five tenths. Bai Qingzhou found nothing strange in the sight, for he knew the true reason: cultivators across the entire Wuji Alliance were steadily dwindling. Driven by the great power realignment in the Longhu Mountain region, countless loose cultivators and sects had flocked there in search of resources. Chaos now reigned, with factions clashing against local forces over customs, culture, and ideology, leading to endless conflict. Some cultivators from Longhu Mountain, weary of strife and drawn to peace, had even slipped quietly into the Wuji Alliance's territory. The two sides were slowly intersecting and merging.

Back in the hall, Bai Qingzhou chose a seat, closed his eyes to rest, and waited for the destination. The vast distance meant the spirit boat stopped once midway at the ferry dock. Without disembarking, he paid the fee with a spirit stone and resumed waiting inside for takeoff. Moments later, the vessel lifted off again. After nearly five hours of flight, they finally reached Shuijing Market.

Stepping out of the cabin, Bai Qingzhou arrived at the ferry dock. This was his first visit. The moment he looked, he noticed the stark difference from Luogu Ferry. Here, the place teemed with life, stalls set up everywhere selling goods and food, much like a true market, with even ordinary mortals lending a hand in sales. He clicked his tongue in amazement. Shuijing Market truly lived up to its reputation as the Wuji Alliance's most prosperous hub, its dock busier than any other.

Yet upon reflection, he understood why so many mortals crowded the area. Shuijing Market strictly barred ordinary mortals from entry; the entire cultivation district belonged only to cultivators. Those seeking profit could only set up stalls at the docks. Bai Qingzhou watched the lively scene unfold, then wandered among the stalls, buying appealing items that proved affordable, acting much like a charitable boy.

After two incense sticks' worth of wandering, he mounted the Xianfeng Sculpture and flew into the market. Shuijing Market perched atop a towering mountain peak, encircled by the grand protective array that sealed the summit without a single gap. Having witnessed the Longhu Sect's formation, Bai Qingzhou now understood its nature. Seeing it here, he realized Shuijing Market was easy to defend but difficult to assault, for the height demanded multitasking—manipulating flying artifacts while breaching the array, far more complex than ground assaults.

Steering through the white mist, he beheld the market. Its overall area far exceeded Luogu Market, the whole place appearing ancient, majestic, and imposing. Though many cultivators had already departed for Longhu Mountain, the district remained crowded and bustling. Bai Qingzhou retracted the artifact and walked in on foot. Shops, he recalled, lay distributed across the southwest sector; he headed there first.

The shops sold medicinal herbs, with business far surpassing Luogu Market yet still struggling. After careful thought, he decided the place should change to a beast meat shop to bolster the sect's income. Following the recent war, spirit stones had grown plentiful, making such a shift feasible. As he walked, he soon found his own sect's shop, but the sight stunned him. The Hundred Herbs Hall signboard lay shattered on the ground, door panels rotten, leftover dishes dangling, and the entrance strewn with rotten eggs. An overwhelming stench drifted out, nauseating and unbearable.

"What is this?" Bai Qingzhou cried, shocked. Who had attacked the shop? Panic rising, he pinched his nose and knocked despite the odor. Knock knock! From within came the crash of tables and chairs and a young man's furious roar. "You bastards still dare to come!" The tone dripped with rage. A pop sounded, and the door opened. A boy of fifteen or sixteen emerged, fierce of face and bearing, clutching a stool. Yet when he saw Bai Qingzhou, his expression froze, and he set the stool aside, stammering, "Bai Shixiong... is it you?"

"Bai Shixiong?" Bai Qingzhou was likewise stunned. He had not expected Fan Tianhe here. Glancing at the stool and the lingering stench, he demanded angrily, "What are you doing?" "Uh... Shixiong, there is a reason for this," Fan Tianhe replied hesitantly. "Then why not tell me quickly!" Bai Qingzhou barked. "Shixiong, please come in, it's stinky here..." Fan Tianhe stepped aside. Bai Qingzhou entered reluctantly. Fan Tianhe shut the door behind him.

The interior was not as filthy as the outside, yet still unpresentable: shelves pushed to the sides, stools and tables missing limbs, thick with dust, looking shabby. Bai Qingzhou sat on a clean chair and looked up at the standing Fan Tianhe. "Why are you here?" Fan Tianhe replied with confusion, "I've always been here." "When did you arrive? I didn't know." "After Shixiong Xie was called to the front lines, Elder Chen sent me here. It's been several months." Hearing this, Bai Qingzhou recalled that previously Xie Zhongjian had been responsible for the shop. Later, during the assault on Longhu Mountain, Shixiong Xie had gone with him, so it had passed to Fan Tianhe. No wonder he had not seen Fan on the mountain; the young man had guarded the shop here all along.

Bai Qingzhou suddenly remembered something and asked, "Then who is the person in charge of Huoying Market?" "It is Meng Li, Meng Shijie," Fan Tianhe answered honestly. "So that's it..." Bai Qingzhou nodded, understanding why he had not seen Meng Li on his return. He turned to the nervous Fan Tianhe and frowned. "Tell me, why is the entrance so dirty and messy? Why are the shop's tables and chairs damaged? Why so much dust inside? Why closed in broad daylight? What exactly is going on?"