Chapter 29

Inside the quiet cabin of the ironclad ship, Yao Yue Ru found Yao Yue Ting sitting in meditation, her emotions so tangled that she blurted out news that should have been exciting; she couldn't even clarify her own mindset when delivering that important news, wondering why she felt a hint of helplessness and bewilderment, why she felt this way.

"Yue Ru, how did you hear this news from him?" Yao Yue Ting looked at her identical twin sister, a complex expression appearing on her usually cold face.

"I asked! Yue Ting, what should I do?" Yao Yue Ru's face showed some anxiety, wondering why she felt that way.

"But the problem is, how could you ask such a question? And he would even tell you that we are sisters, that we have a spiritual connection, I can sense it, your emotions are in turmoil." Yao Yue Ting's face was complex and unfathomable; why could Yue Ru ask and voice this question, while she herself could not?

"Yue Ting, your inner heart……" Yao Yue Ru gazed at her fellow sister with her double pupils.

"Exactly, my emotions are also in turmoil; I don't know if it's because I'm following you or because of myself." Yao Yue Ting nodded, her expression complex, her heart inexplicably chaotic, feeling somewhat inexplicable.

"Then what should we do?" Yao Yue Ru looked at her emotionally complex fellow sister, feeling a bit anxious, she couldn't even figure out why her own heart was in turmoil.

"If we want to know what to do, we need to find the root of our turmoil." Yao Yue Ting drew a slight breath, restoring her cool expression.

"The source of our turmoil is that guy, exactly, it's the guy himself, not the news he gave, nor the treasure." Yao Yue Ru frowned slightly, thought for a moment, then firmly nodded: the news of the Heaven-Earth Pouch and the pouch itself are not the cause of my turmoil.

"Then, if we follow his words, send him to Giant Whale Island and bring the news back to the sect, what will become of us and him in the future?" Yao Yue Ting calmly analyzed the continuation of events.

"I don't know, we probably won't meet again. If that treasure is on Giant Whale Island, then the island is no less than a dragon's pool and tiger's den; even if he has nothing to do, whether we obtain the treasure or not, our future encounters…… Yue Ting, do you mean I've fallen for him?" Yao Yue Ru felt sudden disappointment, then sudden worry, then sudden hesitation, her heart jumping like a cat whose tail has been stepped on, then she shook her head repeatedly, wondering how this could be possible.

"This is impossible; we've only known him for a few days, this is impossible."

"Have you forgotten the poem Mother recited? 'When golden wind and jade dew meet……'" Yao Yue Ting looked at her jumping sister with her double pupils, her gaze sinking.

"It surpasses countless human encounters, you…… no, we don't have the feeling of golden wind and jade dew with him; our first meeting was actually preparing to duel him, using him as a whetstone." Yao Yue Ru recited the poem line by line, but then shook her head.

"That's just an exaggerated description in the poem, but love, when it comes suddenly, is merely a casual glance in a crowd, perhaps becoming a lifelong memory; Mother said so." Yao Yue Ting looked through the cabin with her double pupils, a hint of longing.

"But, but what should we do?" Yao Yue Ru asked, looking at her sister's vacant stare.

"We have two options: one is to send him to Giant Whale Island and then return to report to Mother; the other is to send him to Giant Whale Island and then follow him onto the island." Yao Yue Ting withdrew her gaze, staring fixedly at her identical fellow sister.

"As for the island…… what do you want to do?" Yao Yue Ru looked at her fellow sister with a fixed gaze; her first thought was that even if Giant Whale Island lacked the Heaven-Earth Pouch, it was no benevolent place, she shouldn't get involved in such danger, she should promptly send the news back to the Jade Pond Sect, but she couldn't make the decision—if she sent Zhou Shuo alone to the island and then left, perhaps next time……

"Do you remember the last two lines of the poem inscribed on the painting of Drunken Leaning on the Balustrade in Mother's chamber?"

"The belt gradually loosens, I do not regret; for her I grow thin and weary. Yue Ting, you have already……" Yao Yue Ru's eyes showed shock; she had actually become emotionally involved to this extent.

"Pah, what are you daydreaming about? I think feelings depend entirely on the word 'fate'—if fate comes, we respond; if it goes, we stay still. I'm just experiencing life; don't forget why we came out this time, and even if there is something…… it's not that fast!" Yao Yue Ting looked at her astonished sister, her cool face flushing; she first spat, then explained earnestly, but felt a bit embarrassed—feelings don't develop that quickly, it's merely a hint of liking.

"Ah, Yue Ting, hearing your words, I feel suddenly enlightened!" Yao Yue Ru felt no embarrassment, as if parting clouds to see the blue sky; yes! This outing is for training, we might as well go to Giant Whale Island to scout the news; as for that guy, there's no need to worry—women will eventually have affection for the opposite sex.

"I've long told you to read more books." Yao Yue Ting looked at her suddenly enlightened sister, unable to keep from showing a relieved smile.

Compared to the relieved twins, Zhou Shuo was a bit unable to let go.

"What are you saying?" Zhou Shuo looked at the island in the distance; after confirmation by the Jade Pond Sect personnel on the ship, he had arrived at Giant Whale Island, but he hadn't expected that Yao Yue Ru and Yao Yue Ting would both go onto the island instead of retreating to stay safe and sending people back home to seize the treasure.

"What, we helped you keep the secret temporarily, aren't you happy?" Yao Yue Ru looked at Zhou Shuo's stunned expression, couldn't help but lift her chin—what expression is this!

"You also said it's temporary." Zhou Shuo looked at Yao Yue Ru's proud expression, then glanced at Yao Yue Ting's cool but evasive gaze—what should I say! Deep down he was quite pleased; the sisters' favorability toward him had unknowingly become quite high; although they weren't devoid of treasure‑seeking intent, they ultimately had no inclination to kill him to silence him; this favorability exists to a degree, but being with them seems not conducive to obtaining the treasure.

Faced with one‑third of the Present Tathagata Sutra and the younger sister's favor, Zhou Shuo, guaranteeing with his age, is absolutely inclined to win the younger sister's favor; moreover, in this situation, refusing to bring the sisters onto the island would surely arouse suspicion, but he had considered this scenario—anyway, the hiding place of that one‑third of the Present Tathagata Sutra is secret, so there is still a chance to succeed.

"So, what are you planning to do now? Are you familiar with this place?" Yao Yue Ru looked at Zhou Shuo's contemplative face, couldn't help but show a refreshing smile, with no concealment.

"Not familiar, I was thinking, since you've come, could I borrow your strength?" Zhou Shuo gazed toward the distant iron‑clad ship bearing Jade Pond Sect people; actually bringing these two sisters along wouldn't be bad—it could provide some help.

"Can you tell me everything you know?" Yao Yue Ting looked at Zhou Shuo's gaze, gathered courage and asked.

"There are pirates on this island, and among them a leader called Huangmei Renfo; he might have it on him, I don't know much other information!" Zhou Shuo looked at the girl whose expression remained constantly cool, though her gaze met his and then withdrew; he felt surprised, yet he reported the information he had prepared in advance, all the necessary groundwork already done.

"Huangmei Renfo, I understand." Yao Yue Ting withdrew her gaze that might have met Zhou Shuo's, lowered her eyes to think for a moment; such important information as the Heaven-Earth Pouch, it's normal for him not to know much—Huangmei Renfo, this person is likely a Buddhist disciple from the Great Chan Temple, so the Heaven-Earth Pouch might truly be on this island, and it's highly possible it hasn't been discovered yet.

"What are you planning to do?" Yao Yue Ru looked at her sister lowering her eyes in thought, and asked.

"I plan to send my soul out to have a look inside." Yao Yue Ting instantly made up her mind; the soul comes and leaves without trace, first go in to scout.

"I'll go with you too." Zhou Shuo expressed without hesitation.

"Can you also project your soul far away?" Yao Yue Ru expressed doubt; Zhou Shuo had said he was a Dao arts 'expert', but she no longer guarded against him as before, yet a Dao arts expert sometimes indeed carries substantial weight.

"My soul can possess a body." Zhou Shuo looked at the doubtful little girl, instantly feeling a bit displeased.

"Possession? How did you cultivate that?" Yao Yue Ru showed slight surprise; having cultivated martial arts to half‑step Martial Saint, soul cultivation to possession—someone with no sect, no school, who has learned a mishmash of techniques reaching this level—could his talent be too great!

"What do you mean 'how to cultivate'? Of course it's just like this!" Zhou Shuo spread his hands; how else should cultivation be done? He can travel between three worlds, so his cultivation speed naturally surpasses ordinary people; even so, he still can't compare to the freak Hong Yi, but it's no big problem—his mother paved the way, and there are also the endorsements of the ancient philosophers; his capital here far exceeds his own.

"If that's the case, then let's go out together, leaving our bodies here for Yue Ting to look after, and attach our souls to seabirds to go inspect the island!" Yao Yue Ting's cool face flushed slightly as she spoke.

"No problem." Zhou Shuo made an 'OK' gesture, while Yao Yue Ru wrinkled her jade nose, pushed her sister, making Yao Yue Ting's face redder.

"You go beneath the boat to project your souls; I'll have someone move the ship temporarily away from here to avoid running aground and to guard against surprise attacks." Yao Yue Ru looked at her red‑faced sister, pursed her lips, and made the arrangement.

"Brother Zhou, please follow me." Yao Yue Ting's crystal‑like pretty face was red; she glared at her twin sister once, then led Zhou Shuo.

"You really need to keep an eye on them." Zhou Shuo looked at the twin sisters' exchanging expressions, couldn't help but remind Yao Yue Ru; frankly, he was a bit uneasy, after all, once the soul projects, the body becomes extremely fragile.

"If you're afraid of dying, you can stay behind." Yao Yue Ru looked at Zhou Shuo reminding her, felt a bit angry and resentful; even though she knows cultivators care about their bodies and knows one must guard against others, her inner displeasure remains.

"We're going anyway." Zhou Shuo looked at the frank girl who was angry from suspicion, not annoyed, he followed Yao Yue Ting with a grin into the cabin, preparing to project his soul together with her to roam Giant Whale Island and explore the situation of the island.