Chapter 157: Freedom, Return Swiftly

Moreover, while this Character of Return possesses the ability for short-distance teleportation, it must be inscribed with a clear mind and a tranquil spirit. Furthermore, the destination of the teleportation cannot be controlled, and it may sometimes be effective and sometimes fail.

At this moment, the Dragon King walked over, smiled slightly, and said, "The Scholar of Literature has successfully cultivated another inscribed spell. Congratulations."

Chu Youcai nodded and said, "Thanks to the generous gift of the Dragon King, I was able to achieve this."

"Many people in the Dragon Palace have seen ancient inscription books, but only you have achieved success. This shows that true success lies in seizing opportunity." The Saint Sea Dragon King smiled and said, "I see that the new character you just cast carries the intent of return. I am afraid you are about to leave?"

Chu Youcai nodded with a serious expression and said, "Now that the Scripture Pavilion is about to open, I must rush there as soon as possible."

The Saint Sea Dragon King said, "In that case, I will not detain you any longer. Whenever you wish to use the Heaven-Overturning Seal, I can help you activate it at any time."

Chu Youcai was overjoyed and said, "Thank you, Dragon King, for such great hospitality."

"In the future, the heavens and the earth will undergo great changes, and heroes will emerge from all sides of the realm. Perhaps the Dragon Palace will need your help in the future as well." The Dragon King sighed unusually.

Chu Youcai nodded and said, "I have received great grace from the Dragon King. If the Dragon Palace faces danger in the future, I will shatter my body and bones in return."

The Dragon King nodded, his gaze looking past Chu Youcai, as if gazing into a very distant place, silent and still.

***

That very day, the Dragon King activated the Heaven-Overturning Seal for Chu Youcai, teleporting him back to the town where the Rakshasa Sea Market was accessed.

After the Heaven-Overturning Seal was activated, the Third Prince of the East Ocean went to the Dragon Princess's bedchamber and said, "Fourth Sister, the activation of the Heaven-Overturning Seal just now was extremely magnificent. Why didn't you go take a look? Young Master Chu is, after all, the Scholar of Literature in the Dragon Palace, and I noticed that you have been quite fond of his poetry these past few days, reciting his 'Tide Watching' over and over again."

Hearing this, the Dragon Princess put down the collection of poetry in her hand, shook her head, and said, "What was there to look at? Having just become a Master of Letters, I suppose he is full of high aspirations and soaring spirit?"

The Third Prince of the East Ocean shook his head and said, "Not really. He has been in rigorous seclusion cultivation every day these past few days and didn't speak many words with me. If I had to cultivate like that, I would have been stifled to death long ago."

Then he said, "It is rather strange, though. A while ago, he frequently went to the beach to practice, and he even muttered to me once that he felt a sense of apology toward a mermaid. Mermaid clans only appear in the South Sea; we don't have them here. How bizarre."

The Dragon Princess was startled.

Her heart suddenly experienced a gentle ripple—a ripple so light and faint that even she herself did not notice it.

***

After the Third Prince of the East Ocean left, feeling restless and uneasy, she secretly slipped out of the Dragon Palace, stepped upon the sea water, and made her way to the shore.

The coastline was calm and waveless, with neither human figures nor footprints.

The Fourth Dragon Princess walked gently along the shore for a distance, and suddenly discovered a small pile of sand not far away, which appeared to have been heaped up only recently.

At that moment, a wave of ocean tide washed ashore, pushing the sand pile apart, and a number of Purple Gold and Snow Jade papers fell out from within.

Upon them were impressively inscribed seven or eight "Return" characters, every single one radiating countless rays of light, seemingly capable of invoking the power of the heavens and earth at any moment.

At this sight, the Dragon Princess stood frozen in astonishment.

She even noticed that on the very first piece of Purple Gold and Snow Jade paper, it was written: "To the Mermaid Maiden: Freedom, return swiftly."

At this moment, as the Dragon Princess clutched these writings, waves of warmth welled up in her heart.

How long had it been since she last felt such a warm and tender sensation?

These seven or eight "Return" characters—had it been an ordinary inscription master, it would have taken them over ten days to write them out, and his mental energy must have been utterly exhausted.

The Dragon Princess noticed that the handwriting on them had become somewhat blurred, and the power within seemed to be fading as well. Yet, for some reason, she was unwilling to use these "Return" spells at this moment, holding them tightly in her hands instead.

Her usually aloof and indifferent expression bloomed with a smile.

Thank you. I will remember "Freedom, return swiftly."

***

Chu Youcai quickly arrived at the entrance town of the Rakshasa Sea Market via the Heaven-Overturning Seal.

Before leaving, the Dragon King had bestowed upon him the Dragon-Whisker Brush and the Purple Gold and Snow Jade papers. Knowing that these treasures were extremely precious, and considering the countless difficulties that awaited him at the Scripture Pavilion, Chu Youcai ultimately accepted them.

Upon entering the town, he hurried to the inn where he had previously stayed, only to find that the inn was completely deserted. When he asked the innkeeper's assistant, the assistant replied that several veiled women had taken a carriage to the Scripture Pavilion late last night.

"It seems I have arrived a step too late."

Chu Youcai was about to hasten in the direction of the Scripture Pavilion when another inn assistant walked up to him and said, "Young Master Chu, Shopkeeper Sun invites you to see him."

Chu Youcai was startled for a moment, then remembered Sun Yunian. Following the assistant to a room within the inn, he saw Sun Yunian wearing an expression of anxiety. Upon seeing Chu Youcai, Sun Yunian let out a sigh of relief and said, "Young Master Chu, we have finally waited for you."

Chu Youcai asked, "Where are Cuixian and the others now?"

"Because they were worried about you, I arranged a carriage to send them off yesterday. Since you have arrived rather late, even if you ride at breakneck speed, the trials at the Scripture Pavilion might have already begun by the time you reach it," Sun Yunian said. "I have a Crimson Cloud Horse, an exceptionally magnificent steed. Young Master Chu might still be able to catch up."

He pointed to a fierce horse in the stable, its entire body blazing red like a drifting cloud.

Chu Youcai immediately said, "Then I must trouble Shopkeeper Sun."

Sun Yunian then drew a golden jade box from his embrace and said, "Young Master Chu, nearly a month has passed, and this item is now returned intact. Inside is also the final payment for renting the treasure last time. I hope we will have opportunities for cooperation again in the future."

Chu Youcai opened the golden jade box and found the Illusory Gold Bell resting inside. It looked brand new, clearly having been meticulously maintained, and beside it lay thirty million taels of silver. He took them immediately and said, "Many thanks."

He then walked over to the stable and rebuked the Crimson Cloud Horse with a sharp command. The rampantly fierce steed actually docilely lowered its body, allowing Chu Youcai to mount it.

Sun Yunian watched in a daze from the side. One had to know that this Crimson Cloud Horse was intensely volatile; even someone skilled in horsemanship would require the time it takes to brew a cup of tea to tame it. He never expected that a single reprimand from Chu Youcai would suffice.

Naturally, he could not know that Chu Youcai had just emerged from the Dragon Palace and carried the faint aura of a dragon upon his person. How could an ordinary steed dare to harbor any thought of resistance?

Without delay, Chu Youcai spurred his horse to gallop and charged straight out of the inn.

He flew forward at a gallop, roaring through the city streets, yet passing through dense crowds without disturbing a single person. Such a miraculous sight caught the eye of a boy from the Inscription Mansion.

In that instant, recognizing Chu Youcai, the boy was overjoyed and shouted, "Young Master!" Thinking of his arduous wait day after day, he had finally found this young master. Yet in a mere flash, Chu Youcai rode past on horseback, and there was simply no way the boy could catch up.

Overcome with frustration for a moment, he then looked in the direction toward which Chu Youcai's horse had galloped, and a sudden realization struck him—could this young master be rushing to the Scripture Pavilion?

Without hesitation, he immediately deployed the "Sound-Transmission Inscription" prepared by the Inscription Mansion. Instantly, a streak of purple Qi soared into the sky and sped toward the east. That direction was precisely where his master, Ma Ji, and the King of Relief Carvings were headed.