Chapter 439: Died Young

"All right." Cang Li also shrugged indifferently.

Soon, Yuan Yao managed to conquer a hundred and three target characters in one go, successfully raising their Awakening Value to 50.

And they smoothly boarded the ship.

According to the rules, each person must pay ten Low-Grade Spirit Stones as the fare to cross the sea.

After Yuan Yao and Cang Li paid the exact amount, the two leisurely began to admire the boundless ocean vista before them.

The seawater was azure, the sea surface sparkled with glimmering light, and occasionally wavelets rolled up, lapping against the shore.

For Yuan Yao, this sight was truly her first ever.

Because she had never seen the sea before.

Yuan Yao furrowed her brows slightly and said to Cang Li, "This sea breeze blows in, carrying a fishy salty taste."

Cang Li explained, "Because the seawater is salty."

Yuan Yao suddenly understood and nodded, "Oh."

At that moment, the cultivators on deck began discussing the Fusang Island and the Fusang Festival.

"I heard the Young Lord of the Xiahou from the Third Continent has also come."

"Is the Eldest Miss of Fusang Island engaged to the Xiahou Young Lord?"

"Yes! It's said they were betrothed even before birth! And the Xiahou Young Lord is two days younger than the Fusang Eldest Miss."

"I heard that Xiahou Rui's health is poor, constantly ill, vomiting blood after just a few steps. Does the Fusang Island Master really intend to let his eldest daughter become Dao companions with Xiahou Rui?"

"By the way, have you seen the Fusang Eldest Miss?"

"No. It's said she left Fusang Island at age seven to cultivate in another sect."

Upon hearing this, Yuan Yao and Cang Li exchanged a glance, each seeing a hint of bewilderment in the other's eyes.

Cang Li grabbed one person and asked, "What is the Fusang Eldest Miss's name?"

"It seems…" the person hesitated, thought carefully, "Maybe Xiao Ling'er?"

Yuan Yao questioned doubtfully, "Seems? Don't you know the Fusang Eldest Miss's name?"

The person replied, "I haven't seen the Fusang Eldest Miss myself, and information about her is scarce. I'm only repeating hearsay."

Cang Li said to that person, "Thanks."

"No need."

After that person left, Yuan Yao and Cang Li exchanged a glance.

Yuan Yao: "Xiao Ling'er? It seems not the Second Senior Sister."

Cang Li clasped his hands together, solemnly saying, "How could the Second Senior Sister possibly have a marriage engagement with someone else? Moreover, that person is a sickly weakling. Given our Second Senior Sister's temperament, if she were truly the Fusang Eldest Miss, when she got angry and whipped that weakling, wouldn't she directly snap his life away?"

Yuan Yao said, "They have a proper name; don't call them a weakling."

"Patron Yuan's advice is noted; I'll remember it," Cang Li followed her words.

About half an hour later.

Yuan Yao spotted in the distance a huge island faintly emerging, the whole island veiled in a thin layer of spiritual mist, faintly visible, resembling a fairyland, not seeming of the mortal world.

She asked excitedly, "Third Senior Brother, have you been to Fusang Island?"

"No."

Soon the ship reached the shore of Fusang Island.

Yuan Yao lifted her gaze and saw that the island's shore was planted with a profusion of multicolored, splendid flowers, so beautiful it defied description, as if a naturally formed scroll lay before her eyes.

She stepped onto the snow‑white sand; the fine grains were soft and delicate, and with each step she left a string of deep and shallow footprints on the beach.

Moreover, scattered along the shore were many shells of various shapes and brilliant colors.

Seeing this beautiful scene, Yuan Yao's mood improved considerably.

And just then——

A woman who looked about thirty or forty years old walked slowly toward her and Cang Li.

The woman had an elegant bearing, a gentle soft smile on her face, and she asked softly, "May I ask if you two are Young Master Cang Li and Miss Yuan Yao?"

"Yes." Cang Li replied.

"Our Miss sent me to receive you and bring you into the island city," the woman smiled, "Our Miss is Xiao Lingwei."

"Second Senior Sister!" Yuan Yao exclaimed excitedly; she hadn't seen the Second Senior Sister and the others in a long time.

Cang Li and Yuan Yao also didn't fully believe her, but both chose to follow her into the island city.

Along the way, Yuan Yao turned her head to the woman and asked, "May I know how to address you?"

The woman smiled, "Just call me Xiao Xiu."

Yuan Yao said, "Older sister Xiao Xiu, do all the people of Fusang Island bear the surname Xiao?"

Xiao Xiu, hearing her address her that way, was a bit stunned, then couldn't help laughing and replied, "Most people on Fusang Island have the surname Xiao."

Yuan Yao: "Older sister Xiao Xiu, how many children does the Fusang Island Master have?"

Upon hearing that, Xiao Xiu's expression paused.

She quickly regained her composure and said, "The Fusang Island Master and his lady have one daughter and two sons: the Eldest Miss, the Second Young Master, and the Third Young Master. But……"

Xiao Xiu lowered her eyes, concealing the sorrow in them.

Seeing Xiao Xiu reveal a sorrowful expression, Yuan Yao, not understanding why, was tugged on the sleeve by Cang Li beside her.

Xiao Xiu lifted her gaze and said, "The Second Young Master died young."

Yuan Yao froze.

She hurriedly said, "I'm sorry……"

Xiao Xiu interrupted her, "Miss Yuan, there's no need to feel sorry."

Afterward, Yuan Yao dared not ask further.

And Xiao Xiu then told them about the Fusang Second Young Master: "The Second Young Master is named Xiao Lingjing; if he were still alive, he would be sixteen this year. Since childhood he looked as exquisite as carved jade, extremely likable. At three years old he fell ill and died."

"That year was the most painful time for our island lord and his lady."

After a pause, Xiao Xiu continued: "Our Third Young Master is named Xiao Lingchao; he is thirteen this year and now resides within the island city."

Yuan Yao felt somewhat complicated and asked: "And what about your Eldest Miss?"

Xiao Xiu was slightly startled, smiling without speaking.

Yuan Yao felt a strange sensation, sensing that Xiao Xiu's smile held a deeper meaning.

She instantly wondered whether her own Second Senior Sister might be the Fusang Eldest Miss, though that Eldest Miss's name was Xiao Ling'er.

At that moment, Cang Li laughed and said: "Second Senior Sister is the Fusang Eldest Miss."

Upon hearing this, Yuan Yao tilted her head to look at Cang Li.

All she saw was Cang Li looking toward Xiao Xiu.

Xiao Xiu smiled, not denying it.

Yuan Yao startled: "Third Senior Brother, did you already know this?"

"I only just found out now." Cang Li let out a light sigh; if he hadn't probed Xiao Xiu's attitude, he would probably still be in the dark.

Xiao Xiu explained: "I didn't know the Eldest Miss hadn't mentioned her identity to you, so I dared not presume to reveal her status to you."

Cang Li pressed his palms together and bowed slightly: "What you did is right."

After learning that Second Senior Sister was the Fusang Eldest Miss, Yuan Yao's curiosity about Fusang Island grew, for this was her Second Senior Sister's hometown.