After Qi Yu and Yan Hua expressed their disdain for Chao Si Qing and Chen Xi, they resumed their study of the notices in their hands.
The treasure hunt maps marked on these notices varied in length.
The longer ones were about three days, and the shorter ones about one day. Neither was a particularly long journey.
“These two here are both treasure hunt routes that can be reached in one day. The rest are all three-day trips. If you ask me, it’s better to grab more of the shorter treasure hunt routes,” Qi Yu calculated. “The short treasure hunt routes can be reached in one day, so with the round trip, it's only two days. The longer ones take three days to reach, and with the round trip, that's six days.”
Si Qing looked at the notices. “Although the longer routes sound less cost-effective, what if the longer treasure hunt maps yield more? We can’t be sure. I’m worried that these notices will be snatched up by others as soon as we leave. So, let’s stay for now.”
Qi Yu thought that made sense and grunted, not objecting further.
Meanwhile, on the other side.
Just as Qi Yu and his group were preparing to depart, Sui You and his team had already reached the dock.
Sui You frowned deeply.
Before, they had always relied on their storage bags, so they hadn't thought about packing any travel essentials before reaching the dock mentioned on the notice. But upon arrival, they discovered that this secret realm seemed to restrict spiritual energy and magic.
As a result, none of their storage bags could be opened, and their magical powers couldn't be used freely. The only thing they could still utilize was the talisman that Qi Yu had given them.
Sui You was distressed.
Not being able to use spiritual energy wasn't a huge problem. The critical issue was that their storage bags contained copper coins, gold, silver, and spirit stones.
Without being able to access these valuable items, how would they obtain defensive items?
Especially since they would feel hungry and tired once their spiritual energy and magic were restricted.
Without money, where would they exchange for food and water?
Sui You felt miserable just thinking about these things.
It was pitiful that he, a Feng Jun who had lived for so many years, was now worried about money for the first time.
Little Chang Ge looked up at Sui You. “Brother Sui You, aren’t we going on the boat?”
She pointed with her little finger at the people carrying their baggage and walking onto the boat. “They’re all going.”
Wang Lan Qing stood by with her hands on her hips and sighed. “Lord Sui You, why don’t we find a way to earn some money at a nearby tavern and then go?”
Chi Shang Ming chimed in. “It seems those taverns help sell wine. I asked before, and they said it’s three gold coins a day.”
Chi Shang Ming thought for a moment. “I don’t know how much three gold coins can buy, but we have three people here, so it should be enough, right?”
“And me,” Little Chang Ge raised her hand. Although she didn’t understand anything, she wanted to participate. “I want to participate too.”
“Oh, right, you too,” Wang Lan Qing rubbed Little Chang Ge’s face with a headache. “What about this little one? If the three of us go to the tavern to earn money, who will take care of her?”
Little Chang Ge looked up at the three of them.
Her big eyes sparkled.
Sui You looked at Little Chang Ge, his eyes lit up as if he had suddenly remembered something. He turned and borrowed some paper and a brush from the tavern, wrote a few large characters on them, and handed them to Little Chang Ge.
“How about we play a game?”
Little Chang Ge looked at Sui You, her small hands clutching her skirt. “What game?”
“I’ll take you in later. Then you can sit at a table by yourself and practice drawing these characters until you’re proficient, okay?” Sui You handed Little Chang Ge the papers with the large characters he had just written.
Little Chang Ge hummed and looked down at the large characters. “What are these…”
“This is the game we’ll play later, but you have to practice them first. Try to draw them out, okay?” Sui You squeezed Little Chang Ge’s fingers. “Dip your index finger in water and draw these characters until you’re familiar with them. Aren’t you good at drawing?”
Wang Lan Qing and Chi Shang Ming exchanged glances, both utterly confused.
Sui You didn’t seem to know Little Chang Ge that well, so how would he know she was good at drawing?
Although they couldn’t figure out this question, it was clear that Sui You was right. Little Chang Ge loved drawing very much. Upon hearing him say that, she immediately agreed and hugged the papers with the large characters as if they were treasures.
After that.
About an hour later.
Sui You and his group successfully found work selling wine at a tavern near the dock.
Each person received three gold coins, and they were also provided with dinner.
Sui You calculated the time.
Since they were paid in advance, they could now use the three gold coins to exchange for some water and food, as well as some defensive tools. After the exchange, they would put them away. Around evening, when it got dark, they would switch shifts with the next waiter.
Then they could board the boat and set off to find the treasure.
They wouldn’t waste any time.
Sui You made all the arrangements and used the advance payment of gold coins to exchange for four bamboo tubes of water, five flatbreads, some candy, fruit, and tools like daggers.
Each person received a portion of these items, all hung in their bags.
Little Chang Ge sat in the corner, dipping her fingers in water to draw the large characters, and also helping to watch the bags.
During this time, Wang Lan Qing watched Little Chang Ge dip her warm index finger in water and trace the large characters on each paper on the table. She couldn’t help but ask Sui You, “Why didn’t you just tell her to learn to write, but instead told her to draw?”
Wang Lan Qing had been thinking about it while working and couldn’t figure it out.
Wouldn’t it be more appropriate to say writing?
Because this was writing, not drawing, and there was a difference.
“At Little Chang Ge’s age, how could she understand that?” Sui You raised an eyebrow. “If you want her to learn music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, you first need to make her interested. Otherwise, what do you think enlightenment is? Is it just teaching people that at the beginning, their nature is good?”
Wang Lan Qing was stunned.
“Everyone has things they like and dislike,” Sui You said in a low voice. “My enlightenment, apart from the necessary learning for activating ancestral memories, everything else depends on talent and personal preference.”
Chi Shang Ming glanced at Little Chang Ge’s “drawing skills.” He had initially thought she was just doodling, but he never expected that the large characters drawn with water on the table, although copied from the paper, were all exquisite.
“…She’s got some talent,” Chi Shang Ming couldn’t help but exclaim.
Sui You looked at Little Chang Ge and said to Wang Lan Qing in a low voice, “This child is no ordinary person. The first time I held her, I could clearly feel a very powerful force within her, but it was completely different from ours.”
Wang Lan Qing looked at Little Chang Ge, her expression thoughtful.
“Although I don’t know what that force is, it’s not a bad thing. If cultivated properly over time…” Sui You sighed softly. “She should achieve something remarkable.”