The south was much further away than Li Yue had imagined—much, much further. It was like a journey that would never reach its end, and she was always somewhere in the middle.
She had already begun to imagine when she would arrive in the south, but every time she thought of it, she felt a wave of trepidation. She felt that simply being on the road was good enough. However, judging by the letters Clo had sent these past few days, the girl's joy practically leaped off the page, completely undisguised.
Li Yue was helpless against her and could only write back in earnest.
I miss you too, dear Clo.
Though there was always a strange, inexplicable fluttering in her heart, she ultimately suppressed it.
The ship finally docked at a small island in the middle of the vast ocean. By opening up sea and land routes, developing tourism, and providing supply services for ships, the people here had slowly become wealthy.
I am referring to the people currently living here—those who were driven out do not count.
She followed the crowd off the ship. In the vast sea of people, she was completely unobtrusive. This seemed like a good thing for her; after all, she was someone who hated trouble and strange looks.
The food on the ship was decent. Perhaps because most of her fellow passengers were wealthy gentry, they could often eat fresh fruit and meat during the voyage instead of canned food. There was not only fresh water but also alcohol and even an exclusive restaurant.
Li Yue had a room with a private lounge that Helen had booked for her. Li Yue did not have many requirements for her living environment. During her final days heading toward the Death Abyss, she had consumed almost no food and had not rested for even a single second.
Perhaps because they were nearing the south, the climate had grown much warmer. Even the wind blowing from the sea carried a stronger scent of the ocean, and for some reason, Li Yue could feel a hint of tenderness in it.
Maybe it was because her mood was relatively good. Such feelings had become rare for her. She felt as though her sense of self had faded significantly, yet she also felt as though she had never changed—she even felt inexplicably better.
She shook her head gently, choosing not to think about the shards of God's remains that were now closely linked together. She turned her gaze toward the small town. Elegant waiters were soliciting customers in the area closest to the dock. Upon closer inspection, she realized that the establishments near the mooring were either restaurants or supermarkets.
But it made sense. Most ships could only provide canned goods with a heavy metallic taste. Not only was the flavor poor, but their quality and safety could not be fully guaranteed.
She found a random shop and sat down. The shop seemed to specialize in grilled meats. Although the food was rustic and bold, it was particularly to her liking. After all, she could adjust the heat herself and decide the doneness of the beef. While Li Yue did not like raw food, she also lacked interest in meat that was fully well-done.
A preparation that preserved the meat's original flavor as much as possible was what she currently preferred.
She sat alone, eating at a leisurely pace. The ship would set sail in over an hour. During this time, passengers could enjoy the local delicacies while the ship completed various trades of goods—a win-win situation.
Suddenly, she sensed several presences. She looked up slightly, her black eyes turning a dull grey. Among the living things she perceived, there were a few "special" people who were different, as well as an extremely unique object.
“Three... Mages?” She frowned slightly, her eyes inadvertently glancing at the three individuals. However, the other party seemed completely unaware. They sat eating in silence, listening to a man dressed quite wealthily sitting beside them as he talked eloquently.
“These are... trainee-level magic users, the rank after apprentice...” Li Yue continued eating without a change in expression, though in an instant, dozens of ways to kill them had already flashed through her mind.
“They must be protecting their employer and his things.” Li Yue memorized the presences of these three people. This way, even in a crowd, she could locate them instantly.
She finished her grilled meat slowly and methodically. She did not feel full, but she did not feel hungry either. For her, that was enough. On her way back to the ship, she saw the wealthy man and his guards again. They were walking with broad strides, seemingly about to board the ship with her.
“It is normal for passengers to board midway through a voyage.” Li Yue frowned. “But why do I have... a bad premonition?”
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