Chapter 379 - 364: A Human Heart Blooms in the Mortal World

Song Ciwan let the Big White Goose out into the morning sun.

After a long nap, the sky before the Big White Goose’s eyes had somehow turned from the dead of night to morning. It staggered on the ground, flapped its wings a few times, then turned its head to let out a bewildered "HONK HONK" at Song Ciwan.

Song Ciwan smiled, gently stroking the goose’s back to calm it. "Big White Goose, it’s morning," she said. "Did you get enough sleep?"

Big White Goose: "HONK HONK HONK! HAWNK HAWNK HAWNK!"

It flapped its wings and rolled around on the dewy morning grass. A few stray blades of grass stuck to its snow-white feathers. Though it couldn’t speak, it was as if to say: ’Am I the kind of goose who oversleeps? Hmph, don’t you underestimate a goose, Wanwan!’

It craned its neck, looking proud and full of spirit.

Its webbed feet padded along, its wings fanning gently. Every so often, it would turn its head and tug at the hem of Song Ciwan’s robe with its flat beak, urging her to move.

It was as if to say: ’Come on, Wanwan, hurry! See how perfect the sunlight is up ahead? Let’s charge!’

In its world, there were no illusions. As long as it was by Song Ciwan’s side, the path forward was real.

Song Ciwan found herself pulled into a run by the Big White Goose, heading toward the rising sun.

Given her speed, she had no need to run. With the ease of a casual stroll, she could cross dozens, even hundreds, of yards in an instant.

If she were to use the Space Crossing Technique, she could cover thirty li in a single step—

No, it wasn’t thirty li anymore.

Last night at the Xie banquet, Song Ciwan had not only gained a wealth of True Qi that filled the void in her Dantian, but she had also experienced an unexpected epiphany.

As a result, the range of her Spiritual Sense had expanded once more.

Song Ciwan had a feeling. She was certain that, if she wished, she could now cross a distance of sixty li in a single step.

Of course, for everyday travel, the sights along the way were part of the experience. Song Ciwan wouldn’t casually use a technique like Space Crossing unless it was necessary.

She let the Big White Goose pull her along, running with great strides toward the rising sun. She was like a mortal who had yet to begin Cultivation, measuring the vast wilderness with her own two feet, one step at a time.

The Big White Goose shouted excitedly: "HAWNK HAWNK HAWNK! HONK HONK HONK!"

"Big White Goose!" Song Ciwan called from behind, her laughter joining its cries to trail behind them on the road toward the rising sun.

However long the years might be, this moment of laughter was one to be remembered.

Through the open wilderness, across the riverbanks, and past the lush autumn reeds ahead.

In the distance, the silhouette of a city became visible to the naked eye, along with boats of all sizes bobbing on the waterways that spread out in every direction.

The Big White Goose stopped running and stood at the water’s edge, mesmerized by the sight.

’So this is what the world beyond Celestial Dragon Mountain looks like!’

The poor Big White Goose was just a domestic goose raised in a small town. It had always considered itself a land-dweller; how could it ever have seen such a vast and intricate world of water?

As Song Ciwan led the Big White Goose out from behind a patch of reeds to the bank of a small river, someone rowing a boat in the distance called out in a thick local accent, "Young lady, need a ride across the river?"

Big White Goose: "GACK GACK GACK! HAWNK HAWNK HAWNK!"

It was overjoyed, enthusiastically honking back at whatever anyone said or shouted.

Standing at the edge of this vast, interconnected waterway, the Big White Goose felt a strange stirring, a thrill in its very blood. It was as if some deep-seated instinct was awakening, surging, ready to sprout and grow.

’I’m a goose, and geese love water!’

Meanwhile, the boatwoman who’d asked Song Ciwan if she needed to cross was already pulling on her scull, the oar groaning rhythmically as she approached their side of the river.

As the boat neared, Song Ciwan saw that the person rowing at the prow was a middle-aged woman with a weathered face. She had a gray cloth wrapped around her head and wore the simple, honest smile of a villager. "Young lady, need to cross? I can take you to Huijiang City. It’s only five copper coins."

...

「Fengling County, Huijiang City.」

This was a small city built on the water. Though only a county seat, its extensive network of waterways made it a natural meeting point for travelers from all corners of the land. Over time, Huijiang City had become exceptionally prosperous.

Compared to the small town of Su Yang, where Song Ciwan had stayed before, Huijiang City was in a league of its own.

Its most distinctive feature was that waterways outnumbered roads in Huijiang City. Most of the city’s buildings were constructed over the water, and the paths leading into it were primarily canals and rivers.

The waterways crisscrossed in a complex maze. Without a local guide, a person could easily spend half a day circling on the water without ever finding the city entrance.

Song Ciwan and the Big White Goose boarded the boat. A chorus of voices, half-rueful and half-joking, immediately rose from the other boats lingering nearby. "There goes Hu Zi’s mother, snatching another fare! I swear, Aunt Wen, how are you so darn quick? You’re the fastest rower out of all of us!"

The boatwoman, whom they called "Aunt Wen," laughed and called back, "I was born with two extra hands, of course! How else would I be the fastest?"

Her quip instantly livened up the atmosphere on the water, and laughter echoed from the surrounding boats.

Aunt Wen hadn’t actually grown two extra hands, of course, but she was indeed exceptionally deft.

After Song Ciwan and the Big White Goose were on board, a small, delicate head peeked out from under the boat’s canopy.

Following the head, a small figure emerged from under the black canopy—a little girl who looked to be about eight or nine years old.

The girl greeted Song Ciwan in a soft, quiet voice. "Miss, you can sit here. It’ll take my mother about a quarter of an hour to row you to the city gate."

Song Ciwan subconsciously activated the Magical Treasure in her eyes, the Eye of Cyan Nether, sweeping her gaze over the woman and her daughter.