3031 Lost

The old man was briefly taken aback before responding kindly, “We make our living fishing, and we typically stay along the river.”

“We never dare venture into the river’s center. There’s constant lightning both day and night, and it’s not a place for ordinary folks to take unnecessary risks.”

Qiao Mu was momentarily stupefied and inquired softly, “So, how far is this from your Little Li Village?”

Niuniu grinned brightly. “It’s just an hour’s boat ride away. We’ll be there soon.”

“And how far is this from the river’s center?”

“A celestial’s treasure ship would take at least half a day to get there. A small boat like ours might not even reach in two days,” Niuniu explained. “But it’s quite a distance—no less than 1,000 miles.”

Qiao Mu was left dumbfounded, struggling to react for a while.

She had drifted over 1,000 miles overnight? Without feeling a thing?

She pondered in a daze, ‘No wonder I haven’t seen Mo Lian, Duan Yue, and the others yet. I must have drifted so swiftly that they couldn’t catch up!’

But she hadn’t noticed at all, and she didn’t realize she had gone so far.

Qiao Mu felt a twinge of embarrassment. She gazed back at the vast expanse of water and inquired, “Sis Niuniu, am I guaranteed to pass by your village on the way from the Spring River to Red River Canyon?”

“Absolutely!” Niuniu nodded energetically. “We have to go through it. The immortals in this area can’t fly.”

Qiao Mu nodded and probed further, “Why not?”

“Heh, the elders say that there are river immortals who protect the inhabitants here.”

“The Spring City Sacrificial Ritual, with offerings of the living and sacrificial animals thrown into the river, has only been feeding a giant water snake for many years,” Qiao Mu said with a hint of exasperation. She realized they probably didn’t know the true story, so she proceeded to recount all the details she had witnessed and heard on her journey to Niuniu.

Niuniu listened with fascination, regarding it as an intriguing fantasy story. “Little sister, your group is truly incredible.”

The old man sighed, saying, “So all those sacrifices made by Spring City ended up feeding a fierce beast. It’s truly beyond words.”

Indeed, the sacrifices offered by Spring City over the years had merely been sustenance for a ferocious creature.

“Sister, our Little Li Village is just up ahead.”

Qiao Mu nodded, convinced that Little Li Village was the only path to Red River Canyon. She decided to wait patiently for Mo Lian and the others in the village, even if it meant resting for a while.

The old man guided the boat with his bamboo pole and docked it. As they disembarked, Qiao Mu noticed that despite its small size, the village was bustling with people coming and going.

“Niuniu and Grandpa are back!” A plump woman greeted them with a smile, her curious eyes lingering on Qiao Mu.

“Hey, Aunt Fu.”

“Who is this little lady?” Aunt Fu, the woman, looked at Qiao Mu with curiosity, unable to resist asking. The main reason was that the young girl appeared extraordinarily delicate. No one in the surrounding villages had seen such a refined little girl, which drew more than a few curious gazes.

Niuniu pulled Qiao Mu closer with a smile and said, “She’s a relative, Aunt Fu. Let’s hurry home. Make way, hehe.”

Aunt Fu spat in the direction where they had departed, her eyes darting around. The young lady was exceptionally attractive, and Aunt Fu couldn’t help but wonder about her origins. If she didn’t have any significant background…

Aunt Fu looked up and was almost taken aback.

A purple figure silently arrived in front of her.

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