The blue and green light that had pressed in on him vanished. Wang Chongyang opened his eyes to find himself out of the waves and back on a bed in a ship's cabin, though it was a different vessel. He sat up and looked around. This cabin was more spacious than the one on Shu Tianbao's ship. He got out of bed and walked, feeling a bit unsteady, perhaps from being in the sea for so long. He bumped into a table and chair, nearly falling. Wang Chongyang steadied himself on a chair and heard footsteps approaching from outside the door. Soon, the door opened, and Sun Bole, his hair still damp, entered.
"…Is everyone else alright?" Wang Chongyang asked. Sun Bole replied, "The boatman's couple and the five deckhands have all been recovered." Wang Chongyang immediately asked, "What about her and the dog boy?" Sun Bole said wearily, "We just went into the water again, but still no sign of them." In his desperation, Wang Chongyang blurted out, "Don't lie, how could they be missing!" Sun Bole's temper flared instantly. "Fine! Let's say I lied." He left in anger.
Wang Chongyang quietly left the cabin and crept around the ship, searching thoroughly. He confirmed that she and the dog boy were nowhere to be found. Gazing at the sky before dawn, he saw wisps of dark clouds faintly appearing. Where could you be hiding? He regretted not inquiring about the weather before setting sail! He regretted recklessly climbing the main mast and not staying by your side! He regretted not cutting off his affections earlier, wasting your precious youth. He regretted so much…
Wang Chongyang hid in his room all day, afraid of being seen in his dispirited state, and even more afraid of encountering Sun Bole and his men. When the Shu Tianbao couple came to inquire after him, Wang Chongyang asked about Lin Chaoying's situation. Tao Sanniang, seeing his despair when he heard they were lost after being rescued, suppressed her own sorrow and did not stay long.
"Our fleet has been conducting covert patrols and surveillance. We cannot get too close to the Jin Kingdom's activities in the East Sea, so we can only send a small boat tomorrow night to take you ashore at Dengzhou." Seeing Wang Chongyang hesitating to speak, Sun Bole continued, "I have already given the order for the fleet to continue searching for Chaoying and the other. Don't worry, five years ago, when she was tracking your movements, she also fell into the sea and was in danger, but fortunately, she was saved in the end." Wang Chongyang looked ashamed and shifted his face slightly to the side. Sun Bole added, "We have a base in Dengzhou. You can stay there and await news of Chaoying, and to plan your next move." Shu Tianbao planned to visit a friend in Ninghai, Shandong, before returning to Jinzhou, so Sun Bole arranged for two small boats. Wang Chongyang, Shu Tianbao and his wife, and Xu Guang took one of them, with Rong Kuan sent to accompany them.
Wang Chongyang suspected this was to guard against Shu Tianbao and the other two. However, he saw Rong Kuan burning incense and brewing tea, creating a pleasant atmosphere. Even the usually taciturn Xu Guang spoke more. After discussing Daoist scriptures, Wang Chongyang changed the topic to medicine. Tao Sanniang, understanding his intention, stated plainly, "Don't worry, before Miss Lin fell into the sea, her martial power had recovered at least eighty percent. Speaking of which, their internal energy cultivation is too harsh! By extinguishing Yang to achieve Yin, their true qi would be slightly out of control, first suffering from the cold, and then the heat would backlash, disrupting the meridians." Xu Guang interjected, "In the Later Tang dynasty, there was a demonic figure who, relying on the extreme cold and barren lands of the far north and an ice jade cave hundreds of feet below, practiced a peerless, extremely cold, and extremely Yin evil art." The small boat docked at a desolate beach west of Dengzhou. After exchanging farewells, Shu Tianbao and the others headed north to Shandong, while Rong Kuan accompanied Wang Chongyang back east to Dengzhou.
The rendezvous point in Dengzhou was one of Changsun Zhenlong's incense and medicine shops.
Two days after arriving, it was the Qixi Festival. Although not as lively as Suzhou or Hangzhou, colorful banners were displayed, and the market offered over a hundred types of goods. Small vendors set up stalls that extended into the alleys. Wang Chongyang bathed and changed, then went to the backyard. He lit "Spring Message" incense powder mixed with cloves and costus. As he watched the swirling smoke rise, the Milky Way was clear, and the magpie bridge connected the two stars gazing at each other. He murmured wistfully, "Where? Where? Where?" After a long while, he turned back to his room and saw Rong Kuan standing in the arched gateway of the courtyard wall.
"Venerable Chongyang," Rong Kuan said, having adopted the title after seeing Wang Chongyang's favorable reception of Shu Tianbao's address. "The shop owner has gifted some Qiaoguo and Xiangzhou wine, which I have brought specifically for you to celebrate the festival." Though they sat at old wooden tables and chairs amidst drying fruit and medicinal herbs, enjoying the wine on such a fine night, Wang Chongyang thought that if she were here, they might have shared intimate whispers. "How is this wine?" Rong Kuan asked, pouring more. Wang Chongyang replied, "It's smooth and potent." Rong Kuan said, "'Zhōujǐn Hall' is quite famous among Xiangzhou wines." Wang Chongyang was taken aback. "Xiangzhou's 'Zhōujǐn Hall' was the residence of the three-dynasty virtuous prime minister, Han Qi." He placed his cup heavily on the table. Glancing at the plate, which held "Qiaoguo" made of flour and honey in various designs, with a pair of "Fruit Generals" shaped like door gods in armor prominently displayed, he was overcome with emotion. Suddenly, hearing Rong Kuan chuckle softly, he casually said, "These fruit offerings are truly exquisitely crafted. I couldn't help but look a few more times."
Rong Kuan said, "It was a misunderstanding. I laughed because I am honored to be celebrating the festival with the 'First Person to Defend Chuzhou with Righteousness.'" Wang Chongyang smiled, recalling the past. "In those days, when the Jin invaders were annihilated, the Chuzhou righteous army struggled to survive. Marshal Han could not bear to see his efforts destroyed and publicly called for support from all sides. Driven by righteous indignation, I was the first to respond, unexpectedly receiving this undeserved title from fellow martial artists…" Rong Kuan said, "At that time, the rescue of the nearly annihilated Chuzhou righteous army was mocked by all as 'a mantis trying to stop a chariot.' To rush to help those in need, to do what others would not, is truly worthy of praise. It is rare to find those who can bear the responsibility of 'a common man's duty' today." Wang Chongyang nodded in agreement, a surge of heroic spirit filling his chest.
The next day, Meng Hanguang visited. Wang Chongyang met him for tea at the wooden tables and chairs amidst the drying racks. Wang Chongyang asked, "Brother Ren, what brings you here?" Meng Hanguang replied, "Currently, we, along with our brothers from the Wei Wu Alliance in the Huai and Liang regions, are assisting Song civilians in the Henan Prefecture area to escape back to Song territory, to avoid suffering under the Jin ruler's iron hooves. I am here to procure supplies and to obtain the latest information and deployments. And you, elder brother, why are you here?" Wang Chongyang replied, "While returning from Jinzhou, we encountered danger at sea. Fortunately, Sun Bole rescued us and escorted us here to safety." Meng Hanguang asked, "What are your plans?" Wang Chongyang hesitated slightly. Meng Hanguang continued, "The common people are also in dire straits and urgently need assistance from renowned and capable individuals like yourself!" Saying this, he stood up and clasped his hands in a deep bow. Recalling past events and people in his dreams last night, he awoke with a deep sense of regret. The current situation of his former comrades, presented with such emotion, made it difficult to refuse. Thinking that Sun Bole would inform him if her whereabouts were ever discovered, he agreed.
After the Jin ruler Liang relocated the capital to Bianjing in July, he intensified the conscription of men for military service and abducted civilian women for his pleasure, treating the Song civilians with even greater severity. Wang Chongyang, Meng Hanguang, and others helped Song civilians living in Xuzhou and Xuxian to flee to Xiangyang, totaling over a hundred households along the way. In late September, they returned to Xuzhou and rescued over fifty households in the surrounding areas. As the Jin forces had advanced south in four routes, blocking the westward escape path, they had no choice but to head south through Jiankang Prefecture to Sun Bole's stronghold in Taizhou. The warm afternoon sun in mid-winter was so pleasant it soothed both body and mind. Meng Hanguang blurted out, "Compared to the heat and humidity of July and August when we went to Xiangyang, with all the wind and rain, it's much more comfortable now." Glancing at Wang Chongyang's back, he sighed inwardly, wondering when he would forget that demoness. Every day after sunset, he would unconsciously glance back at his shadow. This new strange habit, despite repeated attempts to correct it, was both irritating and pitiable! He gently patted Wang Chongyang's right shoulder. Wang Chongyang said, "Northerners fear heat. Now that the north wind is blowing fiercely, it is a prime opportunity for the Jin thieves to cross the river." Meng Hanguang shared his concern, "Wanyan Liang was ambushed by his cousins and usurped power in his homeland. I fear he might make a desperate gamble to seize the Song territory and counterattack from here."
Last month, Wanyan You rebelled in Liaodong. It is heard that the demon general Mao Ya and the Dark Swordsman played significant roles… Could she have joined him? Impossible! She is no longer a member of the Magic Peaks, and besides, I believe in her feelings for me… However, her grandmother lost favor due to Wanyan Liang's defection, so she might seek revenge on him now… As long as she is still alive, I will always believe there is a chance to see her again.
At this moment, a contingent bearing the banner "By Imperial Decree to Reward the Army" approached from behind. Wang Chongyang, concerned, ran to the elderly and weak following behind, protecting them and urging them to walk on the side of the road to make way for the approaching contingent and avoid harm.
Over two hundred people followed from the Xu and Hai provinces. Although they split into three groups upon entering Song territory, Wang Chongyang led seventy-three. It was inconvenient and expensive to stay in inns, so they camped and picnicked along the way. Wang Chongyang, Meng Hanguang, Sun Yuan, and four male followers went to a shop in a small town ahead to buy food. From a distance, they saw the contingent stopped at an inn. A young official, clean-featured and scholarly in appearance, strode towards Wang Chongyang and said, "I am Cen Heyou, a staff member of the Supervisory Office for Jianghuai Military Affairs. My superior, Prefect Yu, has ordered me to summon you for an audience if you pass by." Wang Chongyang was displeased by the man's arrogance but feared that refusing would cause trouble and delay their journey. He surmised that this Yu was merely curious and would only ask a few questions. Seeing that dusk was approaching, he asked Meng Hanguang to lead the others to attend to their business first, and then he followed Cen Heyou upstairs.
Looking up the staircase to the landing, he saw a man of imposing stature and heroic countenance, looking down expectantly. Upon meeting, he cupped his hands in greeting and introduced himself, saying, "My surname is Yu and my given name is Yunwen. I saw you escorting the elderly and young on the road and wondered if you were refugees fleeing the war?" His tone was sincere, prompting Wang Chongyang to speak frankly, "This humble one's surname is Wang, given name Shixiong, and Daoist name Chongyang. I am assisting Song civilians from the Hai and Xu regions to escape disaster in Taizhou."
"Ah, so you are the 'First Person to Defend Chuzhou with Righteousness.' It is a great honor, a great honor indeed." Yu Yunwen bowed again, then inquired in detail about the situation and difficulties of rescuing Song civilians in Jin territory. Hearing Wang Chongyang's account, his reactions and responses were to the point, without any superfluous words. The two talked until evening without realizing it. When Meng Hanguang and the others returned after completing their business, Yu Yunwen personally escorted Wang Chongyang downstairs.
At that moment, Sun Yuan's shouts could be heard from outside the building, followed by someone shouting, "The Yangwu Gang is operating here, clear out, miscellaneous people." After Chong and Wu established their own factions, Sun Bole annexed their territory in the western Huaihe region. However, as it was once their stronghold, their influence remained, and the two factions frequently clashed. Sun Yuan had only visited this place a couple of times before falling out with them.