Shennong Dao Master
Chapter 600 - 1: Return Home in Glory (Da Zhang Combined)_6

Chapter 600: Chapter 1: Return Home in Glory (Da Zhang Combined)_6

This matter was no longer of concern to Li Yan Cheng.

"How long have they been waiting?" Li Yan Cheng asked.

"They arrived at the East Prefecture Building Ship Department at 04:45, and now it is 5:15 AM," Zhang Zheng said.

"When was the most recent seventh-tier ship headed to Dayuan Prefecture scheduled to depart?"

"Ship number 773, estimated to depart at the end of Chen hour," Zhang Zheng said, his position at the Tower Ship Department was akin to that of a sky station, primarily facilitating officials but also maximizing the value of the ships.

Especially for seventh-tier ships, which needed a certain number of passengers and goods to justify departure, otherwise, wouldn’t it be a waste of resources?

"Promptly notify the other officials and merchants scheduled for ship number 773 to board at 5:45 AM," Li Yan Cheng ordered. "If they are not there by 5:45 AM, let them wait for the next ship."

"Yes," Zhang Zheng promptly carried out the task.

...

In the East Prefecture Tower Ship Department, Zhao Xing and two others, who had been waiting in the bamboo building, were suddenly moved to the more upscale ’VIP area’—the Yunhai Building.

This place was originally intended for fifth-rank officials and above, as both their daily and formal attire featured embroidery of clouds and the sea.

"Mr. Zhao, please prepare yourself, ship number 773 is scheduled to depart at 5:45 AM," Zhang Zheng, accompanied by others, approached Zhao Xing.

"5:45 AM?" Zhao Xing was startled. "Wasn’t it supposed to be during Chen hour?"

"Due to changes in the Heavenly Time," Zhang Zheng smiled, "the departure time of the Tower Ship was moved up; such is common."

Changes in the Heavenly Time, my foot, it was purely Zhang Zheng acting under Li Yan Cheng’s instructions, aiming to please Zhao Xing with this arrangement.

On a seventh-tier ship, what fear is there for any Heavenly Time?

Even if it flew in the Gang Wind, it would not be frightened at all.

Furthermore, changes in the Heavenly Time in Prefecture City were generally minimal.

But who decides any change in Heavenly Time if not the Tower Ship Department?

Seeing Zhang Zheng in his fifth-rank court dress, Zhao Xing guessed the likely reason.

Well then, the words from his teacher Lao Liu need not even be relayed by him; they had already made the arrangements on their own.

The Tower Ship Department was regulated by Lao Liu; it was only natural for them to court his favor.

"May I know your honorable name, sir?" Zhao Xing inquired.

"My surname is Zhang, given name Zheng, styled Yuan Chun," Zhang Zheng smiled, "My superior is Lord Li Yan Cheng."

Zhao Xing bowed: "Many thanks to Mr. Li, many thanks to Mr. Zhang."

"Marquis Yuan Rang is too modest."

...

Arriving at 5:15 AM and departing at 5:45 AM.

All twenty-three Flying Boats were loaded onto ship number 773.

As dawn broke, the Tower Ship took off towards Dayuan Prefecture.

Perhaps instructed out of concern that Mr. Zhao was homesick, the journey which originally required thirty-two hours was completed in just fifteen, arriving at Dayuan Prefecture’s Tower Ship Department.

Upon disembarking, it was revealed that the flight path had been changed to the shortest one available and the seventh-tier ship’s speed was maximized, thus cutting the time in half.

"Having a teacher is indeed beneficial," Long Xiao couldn’t help but remark, "you didn’t even ask for anything, yet you enjoyed all the benefits."

"You can take Zhao Xing as your teacher," Chen Shijie suggested, "then you’ll become a disciple of Lao Liu. When managing Tower Ships in the future, you can say ’my grandteacher Lao Liu.’

"Hahaha, precisely, precisely," Zhao Xing laughed, "come now, my good disciple, quickly pay homage; no need for gifts, just kowtow three times."

"Stop it, you guys!" Long Xiao pushed the two of them away.

...

Upon their arrival at Dayuan Prefecture, they had essentially come back home.

But while the city of the Prefecture was in the east, Nanyang County was in the south.

The terrain of the Prefecture was vast; if Zhao Xing steered the Qilin Flying Boat himself and flew at full speed, his hometown Gucheng would be just a little over two hours away.

However, with Zhao Xing’s twenty fully loaded cargo Flying Boats, quick traveling was not an option.

The grassman avatar piloting them estimated around four to five hours for the journey.

Shi Dezheng, a fourth-rank official of Dayuan Prefecture’s Tower Ship Department, similarly acted as Li Yan Cheng had.

He arranged for a Sixth-rank Tower Ship to transport Zhao Xing to Nanyang County.

Zhao Xing could hardly refuse, given the intense enthusiasm of the other party, and Shi Dezheng’s personal involvement.

"Marquis Yuan Rang, you have returned in glory and established great merit for your homeland; your homeland should indeed acknowledge this,"

"How could I overlook this?"

"Otherwise, wouldn’t others say that our Dayuan Prefecture neglects its meritorious warriors?"

"This Tower Ship has been lying idle for too long; this is a good opportunity to test its function."

"Marquis Yuan Rang, you are not troubling us but assisting the Tower Ship Department; please do not decline."

"In that case, I gratefully accept Lord Shi’s kindness,"

"Of course," Shi Dezheng said with a smile, "please, Marquis Yuan Rang."

Shi Dezheng’s speech left Long Xiao utterly dumbfounded.

Alright, it was clear that Shi Dezheng was showing goodwill by solving Zhao Xing’s travel needs.

But spoken from his mouth, it sounded as though Zhao Xing was the one helping the Tower Ship Department.

Coming up with such a reason as testing the ship’s function was why you deserved to be a fourth-rank official!

What Long Xiao didn’t know was that Shi Dezheng had still held back a bit.

Since this was a domestic transport and the journey was not long, it was not suitable to make too grand a display, or else they would have had to arrange a seventh-tier for Mr. Zhao to travel in.

But even a grade lower, it was a high-quality Sixth-rank.

Additionally, this ship, named the Xia Guang Ship, had a very flashy effect: it would paint the surrounding clouds with a rainbow glow when it broke through the cloud layer.

Setting aside the speed, the cool and colorful display was maxed out.

Shi Dezheng deeply understood the motive established by the three kings.

How could returning in silk clothing be enough?

Even the clouds on the route home for Marquis Yuan Rang needed to be impressive!

Zhao Xing and the others boarded this high-quality Sixth-rank Tower Ship.