Time was a strange thing on the river. If it wasn’t for the sun crossing the sky, Yu Chen would struggle to say it passed at all, the days on the water blending together in an endless moment.

  They’d traveled far, long since passing the pirate cove where they’d liberated the ship, going further than Yu Chen ever had before. He couldn’t be sure just how far, of course. Distance was a hard thing to judge when your only frame of reference was the sight of endless water, broken only by the occasional sight of a distant island or marine creature breaching the surface.

  Well, more than occasional. After all, the river was a rich ecosystem, brimming with life and vitality.

  Just beneath the surface, vast schools of iridescent fish darted about. Their scales, faintly glowing in hues of green, silver and gold, flashed like sparks as they turned, forming constellations that glittered across the yellow waters.

  All sorts of fish filled these waters, alongside more strange and wondrous creatures. Gelatinous beings would occasionally rise from below - translucent, unlike anything Yu Chen had ever seen before. Long tendrils trailed behind them like silk ribbons, glowing with a soft light that lit up the river at night.

  Most curious of all, they didn’t seem to swim, not in any way he recognized. Instead, they bobbed along the surface, content, pushed about by the current and waves.

  Yu Chen found the sight quite fascinating.

  There were other creatures in the river as well, ones he thought best left undisturbed. Once, he’d seen a massive form lurch up from the depths and break the surface, lifting an ancient tentacle that writhed with luminescent patterns as though nature itself had inscribed the beast.

  Thankfully, it had been far away, showing no interest in them, but the sight of the creature still humbled him.

  The river was unfathomable, and there was no telling what monsters lurked around the corner - or beneath the surface.

  It was a force all its own, a living thing in constant motion. A motion they resisted, pushing against the current as they fought their way upriver. It wasn’t an easy task, the spirit vessel burning through vast amounts of energy just to move them forward.

  For Yu Chen, however, the struggle only made every step of the journey all the more rewarding.

  They’d take turns refilling the mast every night, draining whatever energy they’d accumulated during the day. Yan Ziqi was more powerful, so he’d fill it himself, and the next day Yu Chen and Sun Yuan would do it together.

  It wasn’t much. The ship lost energy far faster than they could refill it, but it helped them offset their consumption, allowing them to travel further than otherwise possible.

  Yu Chen knew he could do more, if it became necessary. His breathing technique allowed him to refill his dantian with ridiculous ease.

  Yu Chen looked up, his thoughts fading as he watched a massive sturgeon breach the surface off in the distance. Nearly as large as the ship, it landed with a splash that sent plumes of water shooting high into the sky, rocking the spirit vessel back and forth.

  That small motion adjusted their course by an infinitesimal degree, too faint to notice. It was, however, just enough to ensure they’d meet a ship they would have otherwise never seen.

  Was it fate, or was it chance? That would be a curiously difficult thing for most to determine.

  A few hours later, Yu Chen saw it, right as the afternoon sun began its descent in the sky, on its way to rest somewhere off beyond the horizon.

  A tiny dot crested the waterline, so small that he didn’t spot it immediately. It grew rapidly in his vision, eventually resolving into the sight of a lavish spirit vessel drifting gracefully down the river.

  Yu Chen stared at the flag that hung from the mast, whipping about in the air. As the ship drew closer, he made out an image emblazoned on the blue silk - a white medicinal pill. Sharp runes inscribed on the vessel’s metallic hull flashed with a green light, and the ship abruptly changed course, bearing down upon them.

  The fragrant smell of medicinal herbs wafted across the river, tickling Yu Chen’s nose. To his surprise he noticed large bags full of them hanging from the rigging, drying in the warmth of the waning sun. Strange, luminous creatures he’d never seen before trailed in the ship’s wake, adding to the mystique of the alchemical vessel.

  “That vessel has Elder Ming’s mark, although I can’t say I recognize it.”

  He started, turning to see Yan Ziqi standing beside him, staring in interest at the vessel that was rapidly approaching.

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  Yu Chen turned back around, admiring the figurehead that thrust from the prow - a fiery bird with its wings folded back, an imperious gaze in its sharp eyes - when a shockingly powerful aura erupted from the vessel.

  Yu Chen’s face paled, and he fell to one knee, overwhelmed by the sheer force pressing down on him.

  Yan Ziqi cursed. It sounded so odd coming from the man’s lips that Yu Chen would have been surprised if he hadn’t been struggling to stand on his feet. Yan Ziqi’s legs were trembling too, but he maintained enough strength to leap forward, landing on the shoulder of the sleeping lady gracing their own vessel and injecting her with a jolt of qi.

  A shimmering shield billowed forth, rapidly expanding to cover the entire vessel.

  Yu Chen let out a sigh of relief as the pressure on him faded, and he found himself able to stand once again.

  He looked around as he stood, seeing the same concern he felt etched across the faces of the two other young men.

  “What do we-” Sun Yuan began saying, but he was cut off when a booming voice rang out across the river.

  “I have you now, you bastard! Come out little Zhu, come and face your death!”

  A plump man flew off of the other ship, soaring high into the air. His flamboyant robes billowed around him as he raised an arm, summoning a massive, crackling storm of green energy. It condensed as he threw it, slamming into their shield with a loud crack and exploding into a thousand glittering lights.

  “On second thought, I won’t kill you!” The fat man sneered as he floated higher into the sky. “That’s better than you deserve! Some simple Transmutation, and you can live out the rest of your days with a pair of raisins where your balls once were!”

  “After I crush your dantian of course!”

  Yu Chen's heart dropped as he watched the man raise his arm once again, summoning another wicked storm of energy.

  “We’re not pirates!” He shouted up desperately, at the same time Yan Ziqi yelled,

  “Pirate Zhu isn’t aboard!”

  The alchemist paused for a second, glaring down at them as they continued to shout.

  “Enough!” He said, letting out a cold snort as he threw another ball of energy down at them. This time faint cracks spiderwebbed across the shield as it exploded, and Yu Chen felt a burst of alarm as the mast dangerously dimmed.

  “I’m a student of Elder Ming’s!” Yan Ziqi called out desperately, and this, at last, seemed to catch the man’s attention.

  “En?” The rotund man said doubtfully. “Elder Ming? Is the old man aboard?”

  “No, he’s not on board, it’s just us!” Yu Chen shouted in frustration at the man floating in the air.

  A look of anger crossed the alchemist’s face, and he reared back once more.

  “Do you take me for a fool! Tell little Zhu to show himself at once, while he still has the balls to do so!”

  Sun Yuan let out a gasp beside him, and Yu Chen turned to see a look of recognition cross his face as he stared into the sky.

  “Stop, stop!” Sun Yuan shouted as he slapped the mast, causing the shield to dissipate.

  Yu Chen’s face paled as the force of the aura returned, once again dropping him to his knees. He let out a curse of disbelief, shocked at the sudden turn of events.

  “Uncle Tao, It’s me!” Sun Yuan called desperately, looking up into the air from where he’d also been pressed into the deck near the mast.

  The alchemist didn’t release his next attack as he glared down at them. His gaze scanned over the three of them before his eyes widened in recognition, the terrifying energy crackling above him slowly fading away.

  “Yuan’er?” The man called out in disbelief. Yu Chen didn’t have time to blink, before the man was upon the ship, standing beside them.

  His aura was even more oppressive up close, and Yu Chen had a better view of him.

  The man was truly large, his bulbous flesh pressing against the flamboyant robes he wore, but the shocking aura he emitted gave no doubts to his abilities. Each of his fleshy fingers were covered in rings encrusted with fat gemstones, and his round face was covered by a well styled beard and moustache, heavily oiled.

  To Yu Chen’s surprise he realized a parrot-like spirit beast sat crouched on one of his shoulders, letting out a sharp squawk as it noticed him observing it.

  The bird emitted a powerful aura of its own, although it’d been dwarfed by the alchemists at a distance.

  “Uncle Tao!” Sun Yuan said, his voice breaking as the older man swept him into a powerful hug that lifted him from his feet.

  “Ah, little Yuan’er, is that truly you?” The alchemist asked in disbelief as he stared down at the young man.

  “I always knew you could do it, my boy!” The fat man said as he grabbed Sun Yuan, crushing the young man against his chest.

  “But how did you manage to get your father’s ship back from that contemptible bastard?” He asked, setting him back on the ground.

  “I can’t take the credit, Uncle Tao.” Sun Yuan said, staring down at the deck in shame. “In truth it had nothing to do with me, I spent my days wallowing in misery, doing nothing of any purpose.”

  His fists clenched as he spoke, bitterness filling his voice as he expressed disgust at his own weakness.

  “It was my two friends here who did the deed, along with Elder Jiang. They’re the ones to thank.”

  Uncle Tao looked over, giving the two of them a considering glance before bending his large body into a deep bow.

  Shock crossed Yu Chen’s face, and he hurried to speak, unable to accept the deference of such a powerful expert.

  “It was nothing,” He began speaking, but the alchemist cut him off with a wave of his arm.

  “Say no more. I am indebted to you two for helping this nephew of mine. Tell me what you need and I, Lu Tao, will provide.”