BWOOOM!

The cruise ship's horn blared as Qin Heng's private vessel departed the dock, leaving the two tearful boys far behind. It was a fully automated cruise ship, controlled by microcomputers and requiring no manual piloting.

Qin Heng, accompanied by Qu Linglong, Chu Qixi, and Wei Anqi, had just enjoyed a sumptuous meal in the dining room. After relaxing and enjoying themselves in the entertainment room for a while, they went to the observation deck on the top level. From there, they had a clear view of the scenery on both riverbanks.

Tianhai had been China's most bustling city for a century. The night view of The Bund and the Oriental Pearl were contemporary marvels, drawing countless visitors to the Huangpu River annually. Consequently, many cruise ships were often overcrowded, diminishing the overall experience.

Qu Linglong walked beside Qin Heng, her heart filled with joy as she surveyed the scenery. Her fair, jade-like arms wrapped around his, and she laughed, "Thank you, Qin Heng."

"This is my first time on a cruise with so few people," Chu Qixi remarked, standing on the deck. She observed the spacious surroundings and neatly arranged tables and chairs, then smiled. "And it's a luxury version too! It must be great to be rich. Young Master Qin, how should we address you? Or perhaps, Master Qin?"

She was leaning on the deck railing now, the hem of her cheongsam fluttering in the wind, outlining her perfectly curved figure, her smooth, jade-like long legs clearly visible.

"Just call me Qin Heng," Qin Heng replied with a smile. "For those with whom I have no quarrel, addressing each other directly by name, without regard for status, reflects the equality of all beings."

"The equality of all beings… Honestly, I never imagined I'd have such an opportunity. You're quite different from the wealthy young masters I envisioned," Wei Anqi said, a gentle smile on her beautiful face as she looked at Qin Heng with interest.

"What did you imagine a wealthy young master to be like?" Qin Heng asked with a smile, turning his gaze to Wei Anqi.

This young woman was youthful, with striking looks and an excellent figure. Most importantly, her mind was mature yet untainted by worldliness. She knew how to protect herself and assess situations, making her a truly exceptional young woman.

"The 'Epigraph in Praise of My Humble Abode' states: 'Among those who laugh and converse are great scholars; their associations exclude the unlettered.' This was how great scholars of antiquity chose their friends," Wei Anqi said, her smile warm and her eyes sparkling as she looked at Qin Heng.

"I always imagined that wealthy young masters like you would only associate with other affluent scions, putting on airs in front of ordinary people. I never expected you to be so approachable, completely without arrogance," she added.

"Hahaha!" Qin Heng laughed, approaching Wei Anqi. Facing the breeze from the Huangpu River, which carried a faint, pleasant scent, he smiled and said, "To me, it makes no difference whether one possesses a vast family fortune or not a penny to their name; that's not my criterion for making friends."

"Such thinking, on the contrary, reveals an extreme arrogance," Wei Anqi said with a sly smile, lightly twirling a strand of her hair. "You're no ordinary person. I'm not referring to your wealth or status, but to your magnanimity and presence.

"You are proud, but your pride isn't rooted in your family or status. When you spoke of demonstrating the equality of all beings, were you comparing yourself to the Buddha?" she asked.

"You're very clever, but you're mistaken about one thing. Sakyamuni is not qualified to be compared with me," Qin Heng stated, his gaze filled with approval as he looked at Wei Anqi. He then raised a finger and lightly touched her forehead. "This is a gift for you," he smiled, "It can save you from dire perils. This is the grace of an Immortal; remember to cherish it."

Having said this, he leaped from the deck railing, jumping straight into the rolling waves of the Huangpu River!

Qu Linglong and Chu Qixi, standing nearby, were stunned and then screamed in alarm.

"Qin Heng! What are you doing!!"

"Qin Heng, you're crazy! An Qi, stop him!"

But Wei Anqi stood still as if she hadn't heard a thing, staring bewilderedly at the river, as if she had witnessed something unbelievable.

Qu Linglong and Chu Qixi, seeing Qin Heng jump from the ship, panicked and rushed over.

Then, like Wei Anqi, they too were rooted to the spot, stunned.

Qin Heng was actually standing on the rolling waves of the Huangpu River. He walked on the surface as if it were solid ground, his hands clasped behind his back, leisurely strolling on the water.

His feet seemed to be enveloped by an invisible force that parted the water, allowing him to hover above the surface.

Walking on water as if on solid ground!?

Like an immortal, a deity!

Before long, Qin Heng disappeared into the misty vapor and the darkness of the night over the Huangpu River, leaving no trace behind.

It took Wei Anqi a long moment to regain her senses. She touched her forehead where Qin Heng had touched her, feeling a sense of clarity, her thoughts flowing more freely. "He truly is like an immortal," she murmured.

Chu Qixi also looked dazed. Gazing in the direction Qin Heng had departed, she said softly, "Linglong, your friend is too incredible! Legend says that Patriarch Bodhidharma crossed the river on a single reed, but he just walked across the water. It's simply a miracle!"

Qu Linglong also stared at the river, her expression a mixture of emotions.

DING!

Suddenly, a WeChat notification sounded. Qu Linglong opened her phone and found a message from Qin Heng.

"The cruise has bedrooms, bathrooms, and washrooms. You can rest on board. I've scheduled its return to port for 8 a.m. tomorrow. The staff are also arranged, so don't worry. Have fun."

When Wei Anqi and Chu Qixi saw the message, they suddenly felt that Qin Heng, who had seemed like a deity or an immortal to them, now possessed a more human touch.

Qin Heng... he's truly unfathomable, Qu Linglong thought, clutching her phone, a smile playing on her lips. The complex emotions that had clouded her expression vanished.

「...」

Stepping through the misty vapor clinging to the Huangpu River and over its rolling waves, Qin Heng returned to the shore, intending to head home. He hadn't planned to spend the night on the cruise.

After all, Qin Yun was waiting for him at home. Since it was the weekend, that little rascal would definitely stay up late and demand he stay up with her. If he didn't return tonight, there would likely be an uproar at home tomorrow. He cared deeply for his younger sister and wouldn't neglect spending time with her for anyone else.

However, just at that moment, a red BMW pulled up in front of Qin Heng. The window rolled down, revealing a pretty young woman with wavy, curled hair.

"Excuse me, are you interested in a ride? I can give you a lift," she said.

Qin Heng looked at the woman, momentarily taken aback. Then, he opened the passenger door, sat down, and smiled, "Did you come looking for me specifically?"

He didn't know the woman, though he had seen her before: earlier, while jogging to school one morning, he had used a steel pipe to flip a luxury sports car she was driving, in order to save someone. Furthermore, Qin Heng had also spotted her on the group cruise earlier.