Chapter 439 - 5: Cloud River Ancient Road
Before that, Yue Jinghua paused for a moment.
According to the records on the Mercenary Branch’s map and Chi Xi’s memories from his early years around the Xuan Beast Ridge area, Shuijiao Peak is surrounded by water on three sides, which allows access via air, water, and land.
However, to pass through by land, one must first traverse Wood Puppet Peak and Golden Horn Peak, two of the sacred mountains.
Wood Puppet Peak is an endless forest sea, while Golden Horn Peak is inhabited by a myriad of land Dark Beasts.
Both places are treacherous. Even just circling around the base of the mountains is extremely dangerous.
It is simply impractical to go straight to Shuijiao Peak by land, leaving only air and water as possible routes.
Remembering the encounter at Fire Phoenix Peak, Yue Jinghua immediately rejected the idea of traveling by air, leaving the water route as the only option.
Speaking of the water route, Chi Xi had an idea.
"When I was a mercenary, I once went near Shuijiao Peak to catch the plump saw-toothed mandarin fish. There’s an ancient road built because of the war, known as the Cloud River Ancient Road, where one can hire a boatman to pass through."
After hearing this, Yue Jinghua thought to himself, with Shuijiao Peak surrounded by water on three sides, there must be one side with fewer water beasts and lax in defenses. Compared to land and air routes, the water route seemed to be the safest method. Besides, when Lady Qingyan entrusted the task, she only mentioned finding a secret path leading smoothly to Shuijiao Peak. In other words, as long as one sets foot on Shuijiao Peak, the mission is deemed complete.
At that time, even if Lady Qingyan had any objections, he would just knock her out and carry her back. The Mercenary Branch couldn’t complain about anything.
"We’ll take the water route; we’ll change course to the Cloud River Ancient Road to enter Shuijiao Peak," Yue Jinghua made up his mind.
Hearing the decision to head straight to Shuijiao Peak by water, Lady Qingyan, who was resting beside them, flashed a look of understanding in her eyes, but she quickly concealed it.
"We’ll find the old boatman at the Ancient Yun River Crossing that Aunty mentioned first and cross the river tomorrow," Yue Jinghua said, looking forward.
In front of them lay a stretch of golden, thorn reeds with leaves as sharp as needle tips. Beside the thorn reed swamp flowed a wide river more than several dozen meters wide, carrying rolling yellow sandy water.
This river is named Cloud River, stretching for more than nine hundred miles. Every winter, the Cloud River is covered with ice and snow. Come spring, as the ice and snow melt, the river transforms into a raging dragon, surging eastward. The fragments of ice slam into the banks and boulders, instantly turning into powder, mimicking a thunderous stampede and an endless sea of clouds, hence the name Cloud River.
The Cloud River Ancient Road is a historically renowned water pathway, built in earlier times by the Dragon War Empire during their expeditions against outlying water tribes. In recent years, with few conflicts on the continent, the ancient crossing has fallen into disuse.
Following Chi Xi’s instructions, they walked for about seven or eight miles. Along the way, Yue Jinghua casually threw several parrot snails into the river. Once the water flushed them away, the parrot snails would quickly disperse throughout the basin, helping to scout out the most suitable channel for sailing.
Before long, Yue Jinghua and his companions indeed found an old dilapidated crossing.
At the crossing lived an elderly boatman with a few decrepit ferries at his disposal.
After arriving, Yue Jinghua and the others explained their intentions, and the old boatman responded with both shaking and nodding of his head.
Nodding meant he agreed to the plan to rent a boat from him, while shaking his head meant he refused to ferry the four of them.
No one to ferry the boat, then how can we cross the Ancient Yun River Road?
The Ancient Yun River Road stretches for hundreds of miles and has been known as the "Water Maze" since ancient times. The river is rapid, with deep sands and hidden undercurrents beneath the water, along with numerous rocks.
In some places, deadly water plants have taken over, and without an experienced navigator to help ferry the boat, it would be manageable during the day when visibility is good, but come night, with fierce winds and high waves, an uncontrolled boat would easily be struck and left with a large gaping hole.
Yue Jinghua pleaded repeatedly and offered a hefty sum of Gold Coins to hire help, but the old navigator simply refused to go down the river.
Upon further inquiry, it turned out that the old navigator believed the Water Merfolk Peak area to be inhabited by a Water God, and rashly entering the waters could disturb the deity, bringing disaster that could cost one’s life upon return.
While the group was troubled, Chi Xi laughed and said, "No problem. I’ve also navigated the Ancient Yun River Road several times in the early years. Though twenty years have passed, and people and things have changed a lot, the flow of the river is likely still unchanged. If we pick a sturdy boat, I can take the helm."
Thus, the old navigator led Yue Jinghua and the others into the decrepit boathouse at the crossing.
Several boats were laid out in the boathouse; while the boathouse itself was run-down, the boats preserved there were in fairly good shape and of various types.
There was the single-person canoe, which could only fit the stance of two feet, the New Moon Boat with both ends curved like the crescent moon, and even a Turtle Ship that was said to have been left by the Imperial Navy.
The bigger ones were too large, the smaller ones not safe enough. Yue Jinghua wandered amongst numerous boats, hesitating, when her eyes suddenly caught sight of a boat.
It was an ordinary-looking medium-sized boat, not as big, nor as sturdy as the Turtle Ships used by the navy, and it seemed like the kind of fishing boat used by fishermen going to sea.
But this fishing boat had one unique feature: there was a Dark Array at both the bow and the stern.
The one at the bow fortified the hull, while the one at the stern had an Acceleration Array to make the boat glide faster. The two arrays at the forefront and the rear made this boat stand out from the rest. Without hesitation, Yue Jinghua paid a hundred Gold Coins and rented the boat for two days.
Originally planning to depart on the next day, Yue Jinghua was advised by the old navigator that due to the grand astronomical tide, the Yun River would have a rising tide and reverse flow during the day and a falling tide and forward flow at night. To reach Water Merfolk Peak as soon as possible, the best strategy was to set out at night — by the following evening, they would be able to reach the shallows near Water Merfolk Peak.
Yue Jinghua had already received intel from the Parrot Snail, confirming that indeed it was the case, and the distribution of Water Element Dark Beasts throughout the Cloud River Basin was also approximately reflected back.
The Yun River has nine turns and ten bends, among which the safest is the western tributary, with the fewest forks and almost no Water Element Dark Beasts. Therefore, after Yue Jinghua made some preparations and inspected the ship, they launched into the river and headed west along the waterway, taking advantage of the evening light before dusk set in.
Lady Qingyan became notably quieter after embarking on the waterway. She stood alone at the bow of the boat, looking out into the misty night at the ancient riverbanks, seemingly lost in thought.
"After we enter the Ancient Yun River Road, we need to be cautious and vigilant. I’ll keep watch at night, and you two will take turns during the day. There are several types of formidable Water Element Dark Beasts in the Cloud River area..."
Yue Jinghua quickly briefed Weiwei and Chi Xi, who were both surprised as they listened, finding Yue Jinghua’s response far from that of a novice mercenary.
"We’re almost there," Lady Qingyan suddenly said, as if talking to herself yet also informing Yue Jinghua and the others.
Yue Jinghua looked over and saw Lady Qingyan’s lean figure standing at the bow, her black dress fluttering in the wind.
For some reason, a sense of ominous foreboding rose in her heart.