Journey to the West: Treasure Vase of the Great Dao

"So we're smugglers now?" Liu Qingyun asked.

These words made Lu Yu somewhat embarrassed. Looking at his disciple, he earnestly said, "We are legitimate travelers, different from those people."

Seeing the proud expression on Lu Yu's face, Liu Qingyun felt there was something wrong with his teacher's statement, but he hesitated to ask.

"Why worry so much? Just enjoy your time in the Celestial River. Your martial uncle once roamed these waters," Lu Yu said with a light pat on Liu Qingyun's shoulder and a smile.

Liu Qingyun had only recently found out he had a martial uncle, who apparently wasn't human but a monkey. His teacher had said that if one day they encountered a powerful enemy, they could try mentioning his martial uncle's name, and it might just work. To be honest, the title 'Great Sage Equalling Heaven' did sound very imposing.

"Could it be that my martial uncle raises horses in the Heavenly Court?" Liu Qingyun silently pondered, but with such a domineering title as the Great Sage Equalling Heaven, it didn't seem likely. He was full of doubts, but his teacher did not elaborate on his martial uncle's deeds.

In fact, it wasn't that Lu Yu didn't want to explain, but rather he didn't know how to break it to his disciple that the Great Sage Equalling Heaven was now suppressed under the Five Elements Mountain by the Buddha Ancestor. Suddenly, he felt as if he and the monkey were on opposing sides, especially since the Heavenly Court still represented orthodoxy in the current world.

Liu Qingyun followed his teacher closely, filled with doubts and curiosity as he observed the passing figures around the Celestial River.

Each of these figures used their mana to conceal their faces, acting surreptitiously as if they feared being recognized. Upon seeing Lu Yu and his disciple, they hurried away, reluctant to linger.

Unlike Lu Yu and his disciple, who walked leisurely along the Celestial River, taking an interested look at their surroundings, they didn't seem like they were there to secretly refine magical treasures but rather as if they were on an outing, giving others the impression that they were brazen like no others.

However, Lu Yu and his disciple were completely oblivious to their own conspicuous behavior, continuing with their steady pace.

It was at this moment that they heard someone shouting, "Run! The Celestial River Naval Forces are coming."

Like a rock causing ripples in the water, the previously quiet Celestial River was suddenly teeming with many shadows, each one racing away with their magical treasures in a panicked frenzy.

"What are you waiting for, run! If the Naval Forces catch you, if you don't die, you'll be skinned," someone kindly reminded Lu Yu and his disciple, only to notice that the master and disciple remained unmoved. Stomping their feet, they stopped being nosy and bolted into the distance.

Liu Qingyun glanced inquiringly at Lu Yu, contemplating whether they needed to flee, but he noticed his teacher remained calm and composed, unaffected by the appearance of the Celestial River Naval Forces, which caused him to gradually relax as well.

At that moment, Lu Yu was staring dumbfounded at the frantic crowd, finding the situation amusingly similar to street vendors scurrying at the sight of city management in his previous life. Could it be that the Celestial River Naval Forces were the city management of the Heavenly Court, and that his second martial brother was their chief? With this thought, a smile crept onto Lu Yu's lips.

After a while, a large ship came sailing on the vast and boundless surface of the Celestial River. The three-story tall ship, a behemoth in the waters, cut through the waves with an unstoppable force, approaching Lu Yu and his disciple and sending up a tremendous surge that engulfed them both.

However, just as the giant waves were about to hit their faces, an invisible barrier seemed to rise in front of them, instantly blocking the water.

Above on the tall ship, ranks of soldiers from the Celestial River Naval Forces stood densely, all widening their eyes as they looked down at the small figures of the master and disciple below.

"Who is this Scholar who's turned up, so arrogant, not even knowing to step aside when seeing our Celestial River Naval Forces,"

"Truly audacious. Doesn't even bother to inquire about our reputation, daring to stand so brazenly before us."

"Must be new around here, unaware of the rules, looking utterly foolish."

"But this Scholar does have an impressive air about him, very much like those civil officials in the Heavenly Court." Someone commented on Lu Yu.

"Hmph! I despise these people the most, always acting as if their eyes are fixed on the sky, giving us the cold shoulder whenever they see us." This was someone who seemingly had some unpleasant memories triggered by Lu Yu's Scholarly appearance.

"What's all the noise for?" A commanding voice emanated from the battleship, accompanied by a General clad in Golden Armor. He had a robust figure with a square face and a resolute expression. He might not be described as handsome, but he certainly had an imposing presence. He was no other than the Marshal Canopy, the guard of the Celestial River Naval Forces.

"Reporting to the Marshal, there are two stowaways in front of the battleship, who seem oblivious to getting out of the way. The subordinates are discussing them," The Celestial River Naval Forces quickly reported the situation to Marshal Canopy.

"Who are they, so reckless?" Marshal Canopy furrowed his brows and asked in a very unfriendly tone.

"Unsure, Sir. They look like a master and his disciple, with the one in front dressed as a Scholar." His subordinate, knowing well the Marshal's recent sour mood, didn't dare to show the slightest negligence and hurriedly answered.

"Scholar?" Marshal Canopy held Scholars in high regard, given that he had good relations with people like the Grand Supreme Elderly Lord in the Heavenly Court.
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"Since they've chosen to be so foolhardy, go tie them up and throw them in the dungeon for a while," Marshal Canopy said nonchalantly, thereby sealing the fate of Master and Disciple Lu Yu.

So, the Celestial River Naval Forces descended from the battleship, moving mightily towards Lu Yu and his companion. In their minds, Master and Disciple Lu Yu should have been scared out of their wits at this show of force.

Yet as they got closer, they realized there wasn't a trace of fear on either of their faces; the Scholar-dressed individual even had a smile, taking in their appearance with interest.

"Where do these stowaways think they're from, not surrendering immediately, to avoid the pain of flesh and blood?" yelled the Celestial River Naval Forces.

"Qingyun, it's been a while since you last took action, how about you go and warm up a bit, see if your martial skills have deteriorated," Lu Yu said to Liu Qingyun with a smile.

Liu Qingyun had been itching to try himself already; he walked the same path of Battle Immortal as the Monkey, Yang Jian, which was all about nurturing through battle. He had just been worried about causing trouble and thereby suppressing his desire to fight. He swallowed hard and asked Lu Yu, "Sir, are you sure this is alright?"

After all, they were opposing the Celestial River Naval Forces of the Heavenly Court. Would fighting them not provoke the wrath of the Heavenly Court, which would complicate matters?

Lu Yu simply reassured, "No worry."

The Celestial River Naval Forces weren't directly under the Jade Emperor's command, and his Supreme Majesty had been wanting to reclaim the naval authority for more than a day or two. It was unlikely that the Celestial River Naval Forces would want to expose their internal issues. Moreover, the current Lu Yu wasn't someone without background.

He was close friends with the Monkey, acquainted with Yang Jian and Nezha, and seemingly had connections with the Underworld, let alone his mysterious master. Unless their interests were harmed, even the Supreme Majesty would turn a blind eye if he came to know.