"What happened?"

Chen Tang also noticed that Ye Yushi hasn’t been quite right lately, seemingly burdened with heavy thoughts.

Ye Yushi said, "I mentioned to you before about writing him a letter, inviting him to preside over the Martial Arts Assembly."

Chen Tang knew that the "him" Ye Yushi referred to was Ye Xuan.

"What’s wrong?"

Chen Tang asked again.

Ye Yushi was silent for a moment, then said, "It’s been two months, and there’s been no reply. He probably won’t be coming to this Martial Arts Assembly."

She was previously quite confident that she could invite Ye Xuan over.

Unexpectedly, the letter was like a stone dropped into the sea, vanishing without a trace.

On one hand, she knew that without Ye Xuan stepping in, trying to get an explanation from Drunken Immortal Tower at the Martial Arts Assembly would most likely end in nothing.

On the other hand, she felt somewhat despondent and disappointed.

Due to her mother, although they were father and daughter, their relationship was very distant.

From childhood to adulthood, she had never asked Ye Xuan for anything.

This time, she thought he would agree, but it seems she was mistaken in her feelings.

Chen Tang saw through Ye Yushi’s thoughts and gently comforted, "The distance from here to Sword Pavilion is far, and letters might have encountered accidental delays."

"Besides, Ye Xuan might not be at Sword Pavilion and possibly hasn’t seen the letter in time, hence unable to reply."

Ye Xuan had previously talked to him.

According to his observation, Ye Xuan felt deeply guilty towards Ye Yushi and wished to mend their father-daughter relationship.

Ye Yushi asking him to show up would surely prompt him to agree.

The lack of a reply now suggests that something went wrong.

"Perhaps."

Ye Yushi still felt downcast.

Chen Tang said, "Without Sword Pavilion’s presence in this Martial Arts Assembly and Ye Xuan’s authority, things from before might as well be forgotten, and I’ll just keep wearing this mask for now, without taking it off."

He indeed had little interest in the Martial Arts Assembly.

Drunken Immortal Tower’s influence was too great, and he was too weak to contend.

He was heading to the Martial Arts Assembly primarily due to prior arrangements with Ah Li.

Song Wu, Ah Li, and Mo Ming went to Peach Blossom Valley and then vanished without any news.

He still had some concerns in his heart.

Even though Ah Li was adept in Ghost Concealment, she couldn’t interact well with others. Coupled with her Eastern Barbarians identity, would she face bullying in Peach Blossom Valley?

Did Ah Li’s mute illness get cured?

Chen Tang couldn’t find the location of Peach Blossom Valley and had no place to inquire.

He could only wait for the Martial Arts Assembly to see if he might encounter Ah Li there.

Riding horses, they traveled for nearly a day before reaching the ferry by evening.

They temporarily lodged the horses at the river ferry, spending a night by the river.

The next morning, everyone gathered by the river.

Before sleeping last night, Chen Tang meditated at his lodging, practicing Visualization Method while breathing.

Since mastering the "Vajra Unbreakable Technique," earlier bottlenecks had begun to loosen.

During his time at Da Kong Temple, he already opened the Seven Apertures.

In the two months of cultivation at Ba Mountain Sword Sect, he began to unblock the two Yin Apertures in the lower body, reaching Fourth Grade Extreme Realm!

It won’t be long before he steps into Third Grade!

In the dead of night during visualization, he again entered that mystical state, suddenly sensing being watched!

Yet, the opponent’s location was impossible to pinpoint.

Was it a Dongyi Race Hermit, or some other expert?

Just after leaving Ba Mountain Sword Sect, someone was already watching him—had his identity been exposed?

Or was someone targeting Ba Mountain Sword Sect?

A few days earlier, disciples of Ba Mountain Sword Sect hired a passenger ship here, waiting at the ferry.

A few boatmen sat nearby, chatting casually.

Each was sturdy, wearing straw hats, dressed lightly despite the cold, sun-darkened skin.

Chen Tang’s gaze briefly rested on them, scrutinizing.

These boatmen evidently possessed martial skills.

Yet, the exact cultivation was indiscernible.

"Brother Guo, what’s their background?"

Chen Tang asked seemingly casually.

Following Chen Tang’s gaze, Guo Heng pondered for a moment and guessed Chen Tang’s thoughts, saying, "They are brothers from the Boat Gang, living by the river, our hired ship belongs to them."

"Boat Gang brothers row boats and transport goods all year, doing laborious work and also practicing martial arts, Brother Chen needn’t worry."

Chen Tang asked again, "Do you know these few?"

"I don’t."

Guo Heng replied, "Boat Gang is the largest gang on the river, with numerous brothers, it’s hard to know them all."

After a pause, Guo Heng looked at Chen Tang, asking, "Did Brother Chen notice anything?"

"Not really."

Chen Tang shook his head, "Be cautious on the journey."

He indeed detected no faults.

However, last night’s feeling of being watched kept him on alert.

Their conversation was overheard by several Ba Mountain Sword Sect disciples nearby.

They glanced over at Chen Tang, silently shaking heads and smirking.

"He’s said to have great skills, but without a reputation, it seems he hasn’t ventured into Jianghu, and today proves so."

"Yes, he hasn’t seen Boat Gang brothers."

"Typical for Jianghu newcomers, thinking everyone means harm to them, getting alarmed easily."

Several disciples whispered among themselves afar.

Guo Heng slightly frowned.

Such backbiting was inappropriate.

With what he knew of Chen Tang, even with those disciples speaking softly, he was certain Chen Tang could hear.

Noticing Chen Tang’s unmoved demeanor, Guo Heng chose not to comment.

Everyone boarded the ship, and once everyone was aboard, the boatmen took off, heading downstream straight to Jingzhou.

The ship sailed for half a day, nearing noon.

Several from Ba Mountain Sword Sect gathered around a table, pulling out food and drinks from their baggage.

Just then, a tantalizing aroma wafted from the bow, stoking appetites.

"Smells delicious!"

"Smells like stewed fish."

"I heard knife fish from Xiajiang are exceptionally tasty in winter, yet never had the chance to try them."

Many disciples ran toward the bow following the fragrance.

They soon returned.

Someone excitedly reported, "Brothers from the Boat Gang caught a net of knife fish and are stewing them over there, with tofu—it smells delectable!"

"Let’s buy some to try!"

Everyone called out, their eyes turning to Sect Leader Jian Qiuchi, expressing a question.

Jian Qiuchi, not wanting to disappoint, slightly smiled, "Boat Gang brothers often travel the river, cooking fish is a specialty, tasting their fare sounds good."

Disciples cheered heartily.

Chen Tang suddenly felt inspired and joined the others circling the bow.

The boatmen were indeed stewing fish, freshly caught knife fish.

They set up a small stove at the bow, heated a pot with oil, first fried the knife fish on both sides, then poured boiling water over them. Moments later, a pot of creamy soup emerged—skillfully done.

At this point, tofu chunks were added to stew, a worldly delight far more appealing than the dry rations in their packs.