Chapter 107: A Futile Endeavor

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Ji Han Zhou exhaled deeply.

After sitting motionless on the rocky reef for several days, his body felt stiff as stone. Thankfully, the tough days were finally over.

Rejuvenated, he turned to Yu Zhao with a determined look. “Senior Sister Yu, just tell me what to do. I’ll follow your lead.”

Yu Zhao raised an eyebrow, feeling as though Ji Han Zhou had been eagerly waiting for this moment.

“This island is surrounded by the sea with no way to determine our direction,” Yu Zhao began. “If we act rashly, there’s a high chance we’ll lose ourselves in the depths of the Southern Abyss. My plan is to craft multiple rafts. Using them to travel across the sea will save us energy and provide us with a place to rest.”

Of course, traveling on rafts was not without risks. A single swing of a sea beast’s tail could easily shatter the fragile crafts into pieces. Yet, with their limited resources, rafts were the most practical waterborne transport Yu Zhao could devise.

Ji Han Zhou didn’t hesitate for a second. He spun on his heel and sprinted into the island’s forest, shouting, “I’ll chop some wood!”

Building the rafts wasn’t complicated. With their combined effort, the two managed to construct dozens of them in less than an hour.

“Let’s set off.”

The rafts were launched, and Yu Zhao and Ji Han Zhou leapt aboard. Powered by spiritual energy, the rafts swayed gently as they drifted away from the island into the unknown.

Standing atop the bamboo rafts, Yu Zhao and Ji Han Zhou gazed out at the endless expanse of sea. Though they faced uncertainty, their expressions showed neither hesitation nor fear—only unwavering determination and hope.

Cultivation was, after all, a path that defied the natural order. Those who hesitated or feared could never aspire to immortality.

…

Eastern Southern Abyss City
In a modest courtyard, Little Red was up before dawn.

She chopped firewood and boiled water. After lighting the firewood, she grabbed a bucket and headed to the well at the end of the street to fetch water. Once the water jar was filled to the brim, she rushed to the front street to buy breakfast for her three younger brothers, without taking a moment’s rest.

When she returned home, her three brothers were still sound asleep in their respective rooms.

Little Red set the food on the stove and glanced at the empty money box, her brows furrowed tightly.

Back when she worked as a guide, earning five lower-grade spirit stones a day made her jubilant. But since moving into this house, five spirit stones barely covered their daily expenses.

The nearby children came from wealthy families, so her brothers always demanded the best of everything to avoid being bullied. As a result, her spirit stones disappeared like water through a sieve.

She was broke now.

However, Little Red wasn’t too anxious yet. She still had six upper-grade spirit stones left with Grandpa Cha. The problem was, she had let slip about Grandpa Cha last time, so she hadn’t dared visit him since.

Now, with no other option, she had to go to Fragrant Tea House.

Tiptoeing, she carefully closed the door behind her.

On the way, she kept rehearsing what to say to Grandpa Cha to avoid making him angry.

She hadn’t followed his advice and had returned home without permission. Surely, Grandpa Cha would be disappointed. But she couldn’t abandon her brothers. If she sincerely apologized, perhaps he would forgive her.

Lost in thought, she soon arrived at the Fragrant Tea House.

Raising her head, she froze.

Before her was not the fragrant, bustling three-story teahouse she had expected, but a desolate ruin.

Little Red’s mind went blank. Her body felt cold and weak as she collapsed to the ground.

How could this be…

How could this have happened?

She suddenly thought of something and stumbled to her feet. Running to the wine shop next to the Fragrant Tea House, she grabbed one of the shop’s attendants, her voice hoarse with desperation.

“What happened to the Fragrant Tea House? Where are the people from the tea house? Where’s Grandpa Cha? Where did they go?”

The attendant was startled and pushed Little Red roughly to the ground.

“Crazy woman! Get lost! Don’t come near me!”

“Please, I’m begging you! Tell me what happened to Grandpa Cha and the others! Please!”

Tears welled up in Little Red’s eyes as she cried and banged her head on the ground in front of the attendant.

Nearby passersby began casting curious and judgmental glances their way.

Feeling awkward under their gaze, the attendant pulled Little Red up. “Stop shouting! I’ll tell you!”

Little Red bit her lip, her tearful eyes full of pleading.

The attendant let out a heavy sigh. “I don’t know who the Fragrant Tea House people offended, but a group of men came a few days ago and smashed the place to ruins.”

Little Red’s vision darkened, and she almost fainted.

The attendant quickly grabbed her arm. “Don’t panic. None of them were killed. Only the tea master responsible for brewing tea had his arm cut off before they were all thrown out of the city. They’ve probably fled somewhere else by now.”

Hearing the first part, Little Red’s heart lifted slightly, but the latter revelation struck her like a hammer. She collapsed to her knees.

Grandpa Cha was gone.
And so were her six upper-grade spirit stones.

What was she supposed to do to take care of her three brothers?

Little Red stumbled home in a daze, only to find her three brothers lounging at the table, their bellies round and full as they hummed contentedly.

She went into the kitchen and, sure enough, the breakfast she had bought was completely gone—there wasn’t even a scrap left for her.

Pressing a hand to her empty stomach, she said nothing, her mind preoccupied with what she could feed her brothers for lunch.

Suddenly, voices came from the main hall, calling for her.

Little Red rushed in.

Little Mao sat with his legs crossed, speaking bossily. “For lunch, I want the Eight Treasures Wontons from the main street.”

“I want roast goose!”

“Meat pies! Meat pies!”

The youngest, Little Xi, grabbed a pair of chopsticks and banged them against his empty bowl, bouncing with excitement.

Little Red hesitated, her face filled with worry. “We’re out of spirit stones. Let’s have something simple for lunch. Once I earn more money, I’ll get you wontons and roast goose, okay?”

“No spirit stones? What about that middle-grade one? You spent it all?”

Little Mao jumped up angrily, clenching his fists.

The other two glared at her with dissatisfaction.

“It wasn’t me,” Little Red stammered, shaking her head quickly. She started counting their expenses on her fingers. “The rent for this house cost 60 lower-grade spirit stones. Then I bought you new clothes, new shoes, and fresh food…”

“Stop making excuses! It’s just because you’re useless!” Little Mao interrupted, his face full of disdain. “Didn’t you say some elder gave you a fortune of spirit stones to thank you? Where are they? Did you hide them somewhere?”

“No, I didn’t hide them!” Little Red shook her head frantically. “I left the spirit stones with Grandpa Cha…”

“Then go get them!” Little Dou shouted.

“Grandpa Cha is gone. I can’t find him,” Little Red replied, lowering her head. Tears streamed down her face.

Grandpa Cha knew how much she needed those spirit stones. Why hadn’t he returned them before leaving?

Or… did Grandpa Cha take the six upper-grade spirit stones for himself and abandon her?

“You’re so stupid! How could you give the spirit stones to someone else? Now look what’s happened—you’ve been cheated! What use are you? You might as well die!”

“Are you brainless? Handing over the spirit stones like that!”

“You’re a bad person! I’ll hit you! Beat you! Give me back my spirit stones!”

Small fists pounded against Little Red’s body. She couldn’t hold back her sobs any longer, crying louder than ever.

It was all her fault for being too naive, trusting others so easily, and losing the spirit stones.

The past few days had felt like a fleeting dream. Now that the dream was over, they’d have to slink back to their miserable life in the southern part of the city.

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