“Captain.”
“Fairy Yang.” After scrambling to his feet and setting aside his fishing pole, the erstwhile captain bowed low. “Your quarters are ready.”
“Prepare space for these five. They are new outer sect members. I wish to leave as soon as possible,” Fa Yuan said as she blew past the captain to walk into the ship.
“Of course, Fairy Yang,” the captain said before whistling loudly to alert his people.
The other sailors scrambled onto the boat or up from what they were working, guiding the horses into the hold while rigging the sails and oars for sailing. In the meantime, the captain was shouting at a nearby tug, who began maneuvering to draw out the ship. During the entire process, Wu Ying and the nobles stood to the side, out of the way. In a few minutes, the initial chaos had resolved and a short sailor came up to the group.
“Captain says you’re staying with us? Only have one room free,” the sailor said and looked the group over. Having made a judgment of their various social statuses, the sailor gestured to the group of four nobles. “Come. I’ll show you the room.”
“Wait. Four of us to a room!” Yin Xue said, his eyes wide. “That—”
“Only three rooms. One for Elder Yang, one captain, one yours,” the sailor said, his face flat. “Cook gave up room too.”
There was a long pause as the group realized they had displaced the cook. That dire warning was enough to make even the spoiled Yin Xue pause as he contemplated the horrors of an angry cook. Protesting further could result in the worst possible revenge—bad food!
“We’re coming,” one of the nobles said.
Wu Ying sighed, watching the group head off, then frowned, considering where he could store his bag.
“Over there,” a sailor said, pointing. “Cupboards. Mark your bag. Don’t touch anyone else’s.”
Nodding in gratitude, Wu Ying made his way over to put away his bag. After a moment, the villager grimaced and went to see if there was anything he could do. Spending all day working in the field meant that standing around and watching someone else work made him feel somewhat useless. However, the ex-farmer was sent to the bow of the ship, out of way of the sailors who did their best in the failing light.
“I wonder if it’s dangerous?” Wu Ying muttered. As night encroached on the town, lanterns were lit on the boats, revealing their forms and locations. Even the small tug had a pair of lanterns on it, the hard-working rowers pulling as they guided the ship out.
“Not as much as you think,” a sailor said to Wu Ying, making him jump. Beside him, the sailor idly held an axe. At Wu Ying’s concerned look, he chuckled. “For the tug rope. In case we need to part with them quickly.”
“Oh.”
“No one would be foolish enough to attack Fairy Yang. Or a boat of the Verdant Green Waters Sect,” the sailor said proudly, nodding toward the simple flag that flew above their ship. “As for danger, the port is so busy that leaving and entering the city at night is common. Once we reach the deeper channel in the river, we will break out the oars and row upriver.”
“Not sail?” Wu Ying said, glancing at where the sails were still furled.
“Wind going wrong way,” the sailor said, snorting at the peasant. “Later in the evening, the wind will change and we’ll lower the sails.”
“Ah,” Wu Ying said.
Curious, the ex-farmer fell into a languid conversation with the sailor, who was happy to explain the ways of the river. Their conversation was only broken briefly when the pair coiled the rope when it was released by the tug and the ship surged ahead as the rowers got to work. In that time, Wu Ying learned that the boat they were on had been specially designated for Fairy Yang and their potential recruits. During other times, the captain and his crew would run messages, pick up smaller packages, and wait for other Elders for the sect. It was a good life for all involved, since the sailors managed to see their land-bound families often, the upkeep of the boat was taken care of by the sect, and nearly a quarter of the time, they did nothing but wait.
Wu Ying waved goodbye to his new friend as he went to receive his dinner. As for the sailor, he continued to hold a wooden pole as he scanned for potential debris ahead of them. With the pole stationed at the front of the ship, the sailor would have only a little time to push away any obstacles. It was no wonder that the Captain had chosen one of the higher-leveled Body Cleansers to do the job.
For the next four days, life for Wu Ying was rather indolent. Fairy Yang spent most of her time in her cabin, cultivating. The four nobles imposed on the sailors, indulging in long tea sessions while discussing the finer points of life and cultivation. As for himself, Wu Ying chose to follow Fa Yuan’s example, taking a turn on the oars while practicing the moving cultivation method. Learning to channel his chi through his body, to slowly cleanse his meridians even when he was undertaking regular, simple tasks like these was still a challenge, but it came with certain side benefits.
“Wu Ying, have another bowl. You are still too skinny!” the sailors called, teasing him.
Wu Ying could not help but chuckle, accepting both their good-natured ribbing and a third serving of food. The fare provided was simple, consisting mostly of fish, fresh vegetables, and heapings of rice. Still, with the liberal application of garlic, ginger, wild onions, and soya sauce, combined with a dash of exercise, it was as good a meal as any Wu Ying had ever eaten.
“If you are kicked out of the sect, you should join us,” a bushy-eyebrowed sailor said.
“Yes. We could use another strong Body Cleanser,” added another.
“Idiots,” a third said. “If he is kicked out of the sect, do you think they will let him work here? No. My cousin could use you on his boat.”
“That drunk? He’ll be lucky to keep sailing till the next eight moon! No. My sister-in-law’s brother has a twelve-foot ship, newly bought, that is much better!”
“Don’t listen to these scum,” Er Gu, the captain butted in, snorting at his crew good-naturedly. “They know nothing but boats. If you are kicked out, you best leave the county. Better to leave the province. Hanshu down south has a big port. You could certainly find work there.”
The captain’s sober reminder made Wu Ying freeze. For the first time, he realized that his choices had consequences that reached further than he had thought. In the back of his mind, he’d always considered that he could just return home if he failed. But the captain’s words were a sober reminder that while the Verdant Green Waters Sect was overall a good sect, it would not likely be a good idea to continue living in an area they controlled. If nothing more than to avoid the loss of face and mocking that would inevitably result from such a banishment.
“Eh, now you’ve said the wrong thing again, Captain!” the sailors scolded their boss before slapping Wu Ying on the shoulder, rousing the teenager from his thoughts.
“Forget it. You won’t fail. Don’t think we’ve not noticed you cultivating every time you can in the evenings. A dedicated student like you will definitely do well,” the sailors said even as they pushed more food onto his bowl.
Wu Ying could only smile helplessly and consume his meal until he was too full to eat. But their words once again woke the worry in his chest. What neither Elder had informed Wu Ying about when they recruited him was the way membership in the outer sect was handled. Wu Ying had known that all members of the outer sect had an opportunity, via a test, each year to join the inner sect. What Wu Ying had learned from the sailors was that outer sect members who failed miserably in the test or were in the lowest portion of those tested would be kicked out. This ensured that the Verdant Green Waters Sect always had a place for new, promising candidates.