Chu Chaoyan and Chang Jianyi pursued the direction Shen Feng had flown. In the corridor, Zhang Xixi and Chang Haojie were asleep, leaning against the wall. Both youths were in their developmental stages and, after staying up for most of the night, were utterly exhausted and had fallen asleep. They had no idea what had just happened, and the sonic boom had failed to wake them.
Meanwhile, Shen Feng, caught by the gale, found his body instantly out of control. Although the gale surrounding him was summoned by himself, he now had little command over it. It seemed that his hasty evolution had led to a deterioration in his control over his abilities. Simply put, he had forcibly elevated his realm without sufficient cultivation to manage it.
When Chu Chaoyan and Chang Jianyi arrived at the garden, they saw the little dragon, Long, learning to walk. Du Xinshi stood by with a benevolent expression, watching. Little Dragon was holding onto the artificial rockery, taking steps one by one. Compared to ordinary children, he was a bit late in learning to walk.
"Sister Du, have you seen Shen Feng?" Chu Chaoyan asked urgently.
Du Xinshi pointed towards the artificial lake in the distance and said to the two, "I saw the City Lord fly over there just now. I don't know how he's doing now. You should go and check."
Chu Chaoyan and Chang Jianyi hurried towards the artificial lake and found Shen Feng standing on the water, his hands clasped in front of his chest and a calm expression on his face. The lake water beneath his feet was slightly depressed but did not submerge him. Shen Feng, after all, was a man weighing over a hundred pounds, yet he stood on the water without sinking, indicating he was using his abilities to maintain his position.
Upon seeing his two wives arrive, Shen Feng proudly declared, "Did you see that just now? I can already fly into the sky with my own power. I plan to call this move 'Wind Sweeping Clouds.' What do you think?"
Chu Chaoyan found Shen Feng's words amusing. Shen Feng couldn't even control the direction or speed of his flight. From her perspective, wasn't he just being swept up by the gale? Did that qualify as flying?
At this moment, Chu Chaoyan couldn't help but want to expose him, but Chang Jianyi gently tugged her sleeve and whispered, "Give him some face. Don't expose him. He likes to show off. If you embarrass him now, he'll be deeply hurt."
Chu Chaoyan nodded, abandoning the idea of exposing Shen Feng. Instead, she asked, "Then what do you plan to name this move where you're standing on the water?"
Shen Feng hadn't thought about this yet. His previous ambition was to fly into the sky with his own power. Now that his dream of flying was dashed, he could unexpectedly stand on the water, feeling light and as if he were in a state of weightlessness.
"As for standing on the water, let's keep it simple. Call it 'Water Walking.' Isn't that reasonable?" Shen Feng no longer bothered with subtlety and casually named his newly developed moves.
"Why not call it Lingbo Weibu?" Chu Chaoyan, however, thought of a more pleasant name and immediately offered her suggestion.
Upon hearing this phrase, Shen Feng became displeased. This term was originally used to describe women, seemingly depicting the goddess Luo. The most famous lines were probably "Faintly like light clouds obscuring the moon, drifting like a flowing wind and returning snow." He was a grown man; how could he use a term that described women as the name of a skill?
Therefore, Shen Feng directly stated, "It's called 'Water Walking.' Simple is better. What Lingbo Weibu, it's like describing me as a woman!"
Chu Chaoyan was helpless. She hadn't expected Shen Feng to be so stubborn in such a peculiar matter. She had genuinely wanted to help Shen Feng think of a suitable skill name, but Shen Feng was insistent.
Shen Feng then slowly walked from the lake to the shore and said, "Currently, my method of flying is still somewhat inadequate, so when I depart, I will bring a paraglider. Moreover, on the sea, I can stand on the water, which greatly increases my self-preservation ability. You can rest assured."
Chang Jianyi nodded in agreement with Shen Feng's view, but she still had some concerns. She said, "Since there are many dangers at sea, you should bring more people with you. Bringing only Guo Pinming is too few helpers. Try to bring more ability users; it will be easier to look out for each other on the way."
Shen Feng pondered for a moment and said, "This matter can be discussed. Also, in this war, Cao Fuli and Lu Kaiyang performed very well. I plan to reward them both with ability potions. What do you think?"
Ability potions were very precious. Shen Feng dared not keep them in the laboratory and instead let Chang Jianyi keep them. When rewarding others, Shen Feng and Chang Jianyi would always be present, as these were things that money couldn't buy. Becoming an ability user was equivalent to ascending to heaven, and money could no longer measure it.
"Then bestow them as soon as possible. Speaking of which, Cao Fuli is also the president of the Mercenary Guild. This time he undertook the task of transporting supplies. Even without merit, he has labor. He can be rewarded with an ability potion. As for Lu Kaiyang, I feel his contribution isn't significant enough, but as long as he is loyal to you, that's enough," Chang Jianyi said calmly.
Chu Chaoyan was very curious about what Shen Feng's evolution to the sixth stage was like. Yesterday evening, over two hundred liters of evolution base were sent. The evolution bases were like small mountains. Had Shen Feng really eaten so much evolution base?
Speaking of this, Shen Feng felt uncomfortable all over. Last night, Shen Feng couldn't remember how much evolution base he had consumed. In short, he repeatedly thought about the process of putting the evolution base into his mouth, and he felt numb. The evolution base was quickly digested after being consumed. Fortunately, otherwise, even if Shen Feng had ten stomachs, he wouldn't have been able to hold so much evolution base.
Just eating the evolution base took Shen Feng two hours. After that, Shen Feng entered the state of evolution. When he woke up at dawn, he had undergone a complete transformation, possessing greater strength and speed, and his control over his abilities had become more adept.
Chu Chaoyan really wanted to accompany Shen Feng on missions. She recalled that no matter where Shen Feng went, Chu Chaoyan had always been by his side, having gone through life and death together many times. Now, however, she had to stay behind in Yuzhou, and this feeling was unbearable.
But Chu Chaoyan knew that it was useless to say anything. Chang Jianyi was close to giving birth, and under these circumstances, she could only stay in Yuzhou to look after things. Although Chang Haojie was their own person, he was too young and lacked prestige. The others were unreliable. Besides her, there was no other suitable candidate.
"I'll prepare these few days, pack the necessary equipment, and try to return as soon as possible. Yuzhou matters will be left to you!" Shen Feng said with a hint of helplessness.
Chang Jianyi smiled, walked behind Chu Chaoyan, and pushed her directly into Shen Feng's arms. Shen Feng caught her.
"I'll go to the kitchen to prepare breakfast. You two can have your private chat," Chang Jianyi then left the garden, taking Du Xinshi and Little Dragon with her. She left Shen Feng and Chu Chaoyan with private space, which touched Shen Feng deeply.
Leaning in Shen Feng's arms, Chu Chaoyan lowered her head and said, "Actually, I really want to be by your side, no matter where it is, no matter where we're going, I want to be with you always. I know I can't just stay at home waiting for you to come back. Only by following behind you and watching your back can I feel at ease."
Shen Feng was also helpless. He knew Chu Chaoyan's personality. No matter where he went, Chu Chaoyan would follow. Back then, in the mist of Fish Town and in the cave within the Taihang Mountains, Chu Chaoyan had accompanied him. She was different from the senior sister, who would silently guard at home. Therefore, no matter where Shen Feng went, he could always find a home. Shen Feng could only promise Chu Chaoyan's desire.
"After I return from the sea, and after the senior sister gives birth, I will take you with me wherever I go. I promise!" Shen Feng said firmly.
Hearing Shen Feng's promise, Chu Chaoyan could only nod.
...
In the hotel, the people from the Ability Administration were still leisurely enjoying their lives. Ke Yiming and a few others played cards and mahjong all day, Li Keyi read books, while Yue Hengyi was almost turning into a stone statue, going to the rooftop every day to look down, hoping to find Qin Ke Wei's trace.
However, Qin Ke Wei never appeared near the hotel. It seemed she had learned of Yue Hengyi's whereabouts. She had plenty of food coupons gifted by Shen Feng, so she didn't need to worry about small matters like eating and lodging. Someone saw Qin Ke Wei outside the city, but when Yue Hengyi pursued her according to instructions, he found nothing.
At this point, Yue Hengyi could only place his hope on Li Keyi, hoping that Li Keyi could inquire about the true answer. Even if she refused, it would be better than avoiding the topic.
Under these circumstances, someone from the Wind God Palace delivered a message to the people of the Ability Administration: "Depart in three days, head directly to Hainan Island, and then, we will set sail together on a warship."
Upon hearing this news, Li Keyi couldn't help but ask, "How many people will your City Lord bring with him? Can you tell me?"
"I'm sorry, no comment," the messenger quickly shook his head, clearly unwilling to disclose this information.
Li Keyi thought for a moment, then put down "Dream of the Red Chamber" in her hand, picked up an apple, and walked out. As she walked, she said, "Since that's the case, I should also attend to business. Little Yue, you just wait for the answer!"
After saying this, Li Keyi immediately became invisible, disappearing into thin air. Footprints appeared on the carpet, clearly indicating that Li Keyi had used her abilities to leave the hotel.
Seeing Li Keyi's actions, Yue Hengyi was relieved. Since Li Keyi could become invisible with her abilities, she should be able to find Qin Ke Wei now, right?
Li Keyi, while biting into an apple, left Yuzhou City. She felt that since Qin Ke Wei was trying to avoid Yue Hengyi, the most logical thing for her to do was to leave the city and likely hide outside. In this situation, searching outside the city would be the most appropriate approach.
The city and the outside were completely different worlds. The streets in the city were clean, and people maintained public facilities daily. Although the people in the city were not dressed in bright attire, they were at least clean. Outside the city, it was different. The people outside were basically mercenaries and their families. They lived in crowded streets, which were noisy. Children had no place to go to school and played in the streets all day.
Li Keyi thought for a moment and left these crowded areas. In her opinion, Qin Ke Wei would likely find a quiet place. When one's mind is in turmoil, one should stay in a quiet place to think calmly, rather than in a bustling area, as this would only deepen the inner distress.
Finally, Li Keyi found Qin Ke Wei by the Yangtze River. Qin Ke Wei held half a loaf of bread, with a bottle of soda beside her, and was sitting on a rock. Many people passed by but paid no attention.
Li Keyi quietly approached Qin Ke Wei, but accidentally stepped on a loose stone, making a slight sound: "Tap."
Such a faint sound was enough to alert Qin Ke Wei. She instantly turned around and questioned sternly, "Who is it? Stop lurking around!"