CHAPTER 1025: CHAPTER 1023: GOING HOME

After a good night’s sleep, early the next day, Wufu awoke to the crisp chirping of birds. She stepped outside the door, stretched lazily, moved her limbs, and felt refreshed.

One by one, others also came out, greeting each other with smiles on their faces.

Once everyone was gathered, the old man with the white beard drifted out from who knows where, and Wufu cupped her hands towards him.

"Keep up on your own; if you fall behind, find your own way back." The white-bearded man snorted in slight irritation and, as soon as he finished speaking, lightly tipped his toes and glided forward.

"Xiao Qi, follow along." Wufu called Xiao Qi, and she too followed.

Everyone knew this was the shortcut Wufu had talked about, so those who could use Qinggong used Qinggong, and those who ran, ran. They all followed, as no one wanted to deal with poisonous insects and venomous creatures now that they had treasures in hand.

Thus, if someone were passing by at this time, they would see an old man in white, with flowing white hair and beard, drifting by like a deity, followed not far behind by a string of people running at speed.

Two Shichen Chinese Time later, Wufu and the others were panting as they stood by a river bank, and the white-bearded old man stroked his beard as he looked at the crowd.

"Not bad, you kept up."

How could they not keep up? Everyone had Qinggong, and perhaps the only one at a disadvantage was Wufu. She had neither Qinggong nor Inner Strength, yet even so, she did not fall behind because she had endurance.

"Old man, don’t tell me this is the shortcut." Wufu pointed at the river and said, "Coming down this river, there’s a whole bunch of crocodiles there!"

"As long as you follow the current downstream, if everything goes smoothly, this is the fastest way back to the periphery, believe it or not." The white-bearded man turned to leave, adding, "Oh right, ten jars of wine."

"I won’t be delivering it to the Cloud Realm." Wufu said.

The white-bearded old man sneered, "If you want to come to the Cloud Realm, someone will naturally bring it to Cloud Fort for me."

Wufu squinted slightly, was there indeed another shortcut to Cloud Tower?

The white-bearded old man seemed to see through her thoughts; even if there was, so what? Find it on your own skill!

Wufu nodded to Chi Yi and the others, "Make bamboo rafts."

"Yes."

The white-bearded man, hearing this, was about to leave but then decided to stay, crossing his arms and watching with interest as the group spread out, with some cutting bamboo, some chopping trees, and others finding vines.

Having had prior experience, they made these bamboo raft boats much faster, and within a little more than a Shichen Chinese Time, three bamboo rafts were already placed in the water.

The white-bearded old man snorted lightly, "No wonder you could make it to Cloud Tower." He sighed internally, feeling that the people Cloud Fort recruited these days were growing inferior. If they had talents like the people before him, how could Cloud Fort decline?

Oh well, it’s not something this old dying man can handle; he doesn’t have many years left to live.

He glanced around the group, his gaze pausing subtly on Yang Yibin at the end, flashing a hint of sharpness before quickly shifting away.

With a look of both regret and admiration, he took a deep, meaningful look at Wufu, then vanished from their sight without even a word of farewell.

"Young master." Chi Yi stepped forward to ask Wufu for instructions.

Wufu jumped onto a bamboo raft and said, "Follow the current downstream. Although that person said it’s a shortcut, don’t let your guard down. Once everyone is ready, let’s go."

She wanted to go home, too.

Upon hearing this, everyone boarded the bamboo rafts one after another.

Yang Yibin boarded last, carefully stepping onto the bamboo raft, feeling both shocked and doubtful inside.

The look the old man gave seemed as if he had discovered something, and his gaze was quite frightening. Yang Yibin clenched his fists tightly, hung his head low, and pressed his lips firmly together.