Could there be something else going on here?
Zhou Zheng sat inside the carriage, pondering secretly.
At that moment, a commotion suddenly arose in the distance, followed by cheers of, "Hurry, the ship is coming!"
Zhou Zheng was taken aback upon hearing this and immediately looked up to see.
Just as expected.
On the distant sea, the vague silhouette of a gigantic ship appeared.
Zhou Zheng’s heart was slightly shaken.
Because while others might not know clearly, he recognized the gigantic ship immediately.
Isn’t this the high-end ocean-going ship produced by the Celestial Secret Sect?
Such ships are extremely expensive, usually only great sects can afford them.
The Great Cheng Garden Treasure Mountain that Zhou Zheng belonged to also has several, which only chief stewards are qualified to board.
Could it be that the sect has learned the news and sent someone here?
Then Zhou Zheng dismissed this thought because the situation at the dock had just occurred, how could the sect possibly know?
Then which great sect’s people have arrived in this Small World?
As he was filled with suspicion, the driver in front spoke softly, "Sir, should we go over and take a look?"
Zhou Zheng jolted back to reality and then said in a deep voice, "Let’s go."
As the liaison officer of the dock and the highest-ranking official sent by the sect here, if there really is a situation, he is obliged to come forward and resolve it.
Meanwhile, on the Black Ship, Zhao Ya looked at the water screen showing the dock coming closer, and the cheering crowd on it. He curiously asked, "Why are these people so excited?"
Shi Bolong replied lazily, "Who knows, maybe they think business has arrived."
As they spoke, the Black Ship was already slowly approaching the dock.
Before it fully stopped, a clamor was heard coming from the water screen, followed by a male voice.
"I am Zhou Zheng, a True Disciple from the Inner Sect of the Great Cheng Garden Treasure Mountain. May I ask where you are from?"
"Inner True Disciple?" Shi Bolong was slightly startled, then chuckled, "I really didn’t expect that the Great Cheng Garden Treasure Mountain values this world so much that it actually dispatched a True Disciple of the Inner Sect to guard it."
Zhao Ya didn’t dwell on it, simply asked solemnly, "How should we respond now?"
"I can’t hide my identity, once we disembark, this person from the Great Cheng Garden Treasure Mountain will recognize me, so just tell the truth."
At this point, Shi Bolong smiled at Zhao Ya, "I know what you’re thinking, wondering if my identity from the Wuyou Longevity Palace will bring unnecessary trouble and caution."
Zhao Ya remained silent.
"It seems you haven’t fully adapted to the rules of the outside world. In fact, my identity won’t cause trouble, but rather bring many benefits. As for your worries about the Demon Sect identity, that’s nonsense."
"This world respects strength above all, nobody cares about those things. Only those who pride themselves on being righteous, with nothing better to do, talk of good and evil. But they can’t make much of a storm."
"In fact, every sect must adhere to a set of tacitly understood rules, such as we of the Demon Sect can’t be too rampant, blatantly experimenting on living people, and those so-called righteous sects can’t annihilate us completely. Usually, both sides just exchange some verbal sparring or send Outer Disciples for duels."
"Only when a truly irreconcilable conflict of interest occurs do they get serious."
After hearing Shi Bolong’s explanation, Zhao Ya seemed to come to a realization.
It appears that in most cases, everyone is the same, regardless of being exalted Martial Artists or ordinary people struggling to survive in the mundane world; the core pursuit is merely interest.
Upon thinking carefully, it’s not surprising.
That’s how this Ten Thousand Realms can truly exist.
Otherwise, with such vast territories, so many sects, if every conflict of ideas led to fights to the death, this Ten Thousand Realms would’ve been destroyed countless times.
At least the superficial balance would not be possible to maintain.
At this moment, Shi Bolong pressed the communication button on the control panel.
"I am Shi Bolong, an immediate disciple seated before the Ghost Eye Venerable from the Wuyou Longevity Palace in the Pure Bright Realm. I am merely passing through and stopping to replenish supplies, with no other intentions."
There was a momentary silence on the other side, then the male voice spoke again.
"So it is a senior from Wuyou Longevity Palace visiting, on behalf of the Great Cheng Garden Treasure Mountain, I warmly welcome you. Would you like us to directly provide supplies, or is disembarking necessary?"
"Since we’ve come, naturally we wish to take in the local scenery, so we’re planning to disembark."
"Alright, I will make the arrangements!"
After the conversation ended, Shi Bolong grinned at Zhao Ya, obviously meaning, see, I was right.
"How do you plan to present yourself?" Zhao Ya couldn’t help asking when he heard Shi Bolong intended to disembark.
"Just as I am now, don’t worry. The reputation of our Wuyou Longevity Palace is known throughout the Ten Thousand Realms. The more I present myself this way, the less they’ll dare to act hastily, uncertain of reality."
"Besides, even if I wanted to hide on the ship and control a puppet to disembark, I suppose you wouldn’t agree."
"Of course not."
Despite having spent such a long time together, and although their relationship seemed quite harmonious on the surface, in truth, Zhao Ya never let down his guard nor eased his caution towards Shi Bolong.
No matter what, Zhao Ya would not allow him to operate outside of his control.
"Isn’t that resolved then? Let’s go. After drifting at sea for so long, I do miss the land a bit," Shi Bolong said with a smile.