Dragon Boat Secret Realm 21: The Canoe

The courtyard was simple, half vegetable fields, half roamed by chickens, ducks, and geese.

The low house had small windows, typical of a modestly prosperous farming household.

Sunlight warmed the air, a briny sea breeze blew, and the clucking and quacking of poultry fighting over feed filled the background.
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Su Qing was quietly astonished—this felt *too* real.

“I found you asleep in the haystack,” the woman said. “Were you looking for Xiao’e? Has that girl been dragging you around, exhausting you?”

The woman, about sixteen or seventeen, wore plain clothes, in the bloom of youth.

Even with average looks, she’d be called lovely at her age. But with clear brows, bright eyes, and a gentle smile framed by curved lashes, she was truly striking, her quiet charm captivating.

Before such a person, Su Qing softened her breathing, about to probe for details when a figure rushed in, voice arriving first. “Sister Kui, she’s here for me!”

The newcomer was a boisterous girl, around thirteen or fourteen.

Su Qing rarely called a girl “boisterous,” but it fit perfectly. The girl’s stiff hair, though braided, had rebellious strands sticking out, making her seem lively and untamed.

Her voice was rough, almost like a boy’s in puberty—a “duck voice.” One sleeve was rolled up, revealing a lean, muscled arm dusted with wood shavings, scattering as she moved.

The woman, Sister Kui, nearly fainted at the sight, her gentle face turning exasperated.

“Didn’t I braid your hair this morning? How’s it a mess again in half a day?”

She called the girl Xiao’e.

*Xiao’e?* Su Qing thought. *The name doesn’t quite match.*

Judging by their familiarity, Su Qing assumed she was close to them.

Unsure of her role, she decided to play along to gather information.

“What’s the big deal? I didn’t want braids or long hair—shaving it off would be better!” Xiao’e rubbed her head, worsening the mess, prompting Sister Kui to point at her. “Nonsense! You’ve got no trace of a lady’s grace.”

Xiao’e dodged, grabbed Su Qing, and stuck out her tongue at Sister Kui. “I’m not listening! You’re getting naggier—thinking of marriage?”

Su Qing, tugged along, noticed Xiao’e’s small frame belied strong hands, calloused from hard work.

Following Xiao’e, Su Qing figured she’d adapt to the situation.

Sister Kui, face red with frustration, chased a few steps before stomping. “Fine, I won’t cover for you next time you cause trouble!”

Xiao’e led Su Qing to the backyard, muttering, “Is it the Flower God Festival making Sister Kui so chatty? I know she means well, but can’t she stop fixating on my hair? It’s naturally like this!”

Su Qing, observing, asked, “She’s really good to you, huh? You two…”

She paused deliberately.

“Of course! We’re sisters—she’s good to me. What’re you on about?” Xiao’e’s eyes widened, realization dawning. “Oh, you’re saying we don’t look alike?”

She pouted. “Kui’s Kui, I’m me—why must we be the same? I can’t be a Flower God, but I’ll make my way!”

Some festivals had girls dress as deities; playing Flower God seemed plausible.

Xiao’e’s words revealed clues. Combined with the earlier mention of the Flower God Festival, Su Qing deduced Sister Kui was a key figure, likely playing the Flower God.

It suited her—Kui’s gentle beauty, adorned in fine robes, would shine as a Flower God.

Though unclear why she was here, Su Qing recalled Sword Sect teachings: high-level illusions like this felt real. The best move was to prepare a will to avoid dying unawares.

Or, write the will and find the illusion’s “eye”—an object, creature, or triggered condition—to escape.

Finding the eye was her way out to locate Tang Yueling. The Flower God Festival likely tied to it.

“I want to be a Flower God too,” Su Qing said vaguely, probing. “If only…”

Xiao’e scoffed. “Every three years, they pick ten Flower Gods, with age limits. With so many on the island, it’s impossible to choose!”

Xiao’e, talkative, spilled details quickly.

Su Qing learned she was in a fishing village on Falling Spring Island, surrounded by endless sea, no other paths. Residents were born and died here, never leaving. The island was their world.

Sister Kui and Xiao’e were daughters of a village carpenter, relatively well-off. Su Qing’s role was a farmer’s daughter, Xiao’e’s age, her friend. Unremarkable, easygoing, a background character.

Kui said Xiao’e often dragged Su Qing into mischief, promising to scold her if needed.

But Xiao’e was kind, caring for Su Qing despite her impulsiveness.

Spring, with melting snow and reviving life, was fishing season.

The island revered spring, holding the Flower God Festival every three years when spring flowers bloomed.

The festival honored the Flower God Empress, protector of girls’ safety and marriage, also called the Daughters’ Festival. Paper cuttings were released, and girls played freely.

Ten eligible women were chosen as Flower Gods, sailing away on small boats to the Empress’s side.

It was the only way off the island.

The story sounded normal until the part about going to the Empress’s side. Su Qing’s brow twitched.

Something felt off.

“What do they do with the Empress?” she asked.

“Learn immortal arts, of course,” Xiao’e said matter-of-factly. “The Empress knows all, can do all—her power is boundless, curing diseases, averting disasters.”

Su Qing pressed, “Do they return?”

“No. Immortal arts take a lifetime to learn even a little,” Xiao’e said, voice tinged with sadness over Kui’s selection.

“Have you seen the Empress?” Su Qing asked.

“Of course! Everyone here has,” Xiao’e replied. “She chooses the Flower Gods herself. She’s kind, sitting in the city to heal ailments doctors can’t. We kids watch her.”

A real figure—or god. From Xiao’e’s description, the Empress resembled a cultivator.

If the festival was a sect recruiting disciples, it made sense. Cultivators often severed mortal ties upon joining a sect, rarely reconnecting with the mundane world.

Sword Sect was lenient, yet disciples couldn’t see family for years, gradually cutting ties.

Still, Su Qing was skeptical. She needed to see this Empress—human, immortal, or ghost.

They chatted, mostly Su Qing extracting information.

Xiao’e, parched, realized time had passed. “Enough! The festival’s soon, and my canoe isn’t done!”

She lifted tattered mats in the backyard, revealing a canoe.

It was exquisitely crafted, with a curved hull and upturned ends, forming a graceful arc. The wood, mismatched in color, was clearly scavenged, yet skillfully arranged in a gradient, polished smooth.

Elegant apricot flower patterns adorned it, matching Kui’s role as the Apricot Flower God.

A work of art, it would be stunning on water.

Su Qing saw where Xiao’e’s calluses came from—she’d built it herself.

At such a young age, the effort was staggering.

“It’s beautiful,” Su Qing praised sincerely.

Xiao’e beamed, her wild hair puffing up. “Took me three months!”

She gestured animatedly. “It’s not just pretty—it’s fast in water.”

She spoke quickly but clearly, mind sharp. “Seen the village fish king’s boat? Yang Old Man’s, fastest, catching the most fish. I studied it—his bow and stern are unique. I copied them. This canoe will be the fastest in its batch!”

It was a gift for Sister Kui.

“When the Empress sees it, she’ll favor Kui,” Xiao’e said, excited yet wistful. “Learning immortal arts is great, but if Kui doesn’t want to stay, she can sail back to see me.”

“Later, I’ll build a faster boat and visit her!”

As an outsider, Su Qing saw their reluctance to part. “Can’t she skip being a Flower God? You’d stay together.”

“No way!” Xiao’e snapped. “How else to see the outside world? Kui’s going, and in three years, I’ll try too. If the Empress doesn’t pick me, I’ll sail out myself—no one’ll stop me.”

Su Qing caught a key phrase. “Outside world?”

“Don’t you believe there’s a bigger world out there?” Xiao’e asked.

Of course, Su Qing believed—the cultivation world was vast. But for Falling Spring Island’s residents, surrounded by isolating seas, the “outside” was unthinkable.

She answered cautiously, “I don’t know.”

“I know there is,” Xiao’e said, eyes gleaming with certainty. “I’ve seen it.”

When pressed, she clammed up, cheeks puffed, saying Su Qing wouldn’t believe her—it was like immortal arts.

After talking, Xiao’e got annoyed. “Enough! Time to work!”

She proudly circled the canoe with Su Qing, then asked, arms akimbo, “What do you think?”

“Absolutely perfect,” Su Qing said honestly.

Xiao’e’s grin widened, barely contained. “Don’t flatter me—look closer.”

Su Qing circled again, finding no flaws.

Xiao’e’s talent was terrifying for a thirteen-year-old. The design and craftsmanship were impeccable; the only critique was the mixed materials.

Unable to find faults, Su Qing said, “Still perfect.”

Though not fond of kids, Su Qing couldn’t resist lively, clever girls like Xiao’e.

Her praise made Xiao’e nearly bounce with joy.

“Okay, I get it,” Xiao’e said, grin unstoppable despite her attempt at seriousness. “But it’s missing something.”

“What?” Su Qing played along.

“A nameplate!” Xiao’e declared. “A boat this good needs a great name, one everyone at the festival will remember. Then my parents won’t yank my ears for not being ladylike.”

“Makes sense,” Su Qing nodded. “Need help?”

“No rice, no feast,” Xiao’e sighed. “This canoe took months of scavenging wood. I dug up roots, even used my dowry wood—got a beating for that! Now villagers guard their wood like I’m a thief. I don’t know where to find more for a nameplate.”
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She grinned slyly. “Actually, I know one place, but I’m scared to go alone—you come with me.”

“Where?”

Su Qing wondered if it was someone’s storehouse.

“Don’t tell anyone,” Xiao’e whispered, leaning close. “There’s a crazy, mute old lady at the village edge. People avoid her, thinking she’s bad luck. I got desperate and snuck into her yard, looking for branches or firewood.”

“Guess what?”

Su Qing blinked. “What?”

Xiao’e paused for effect. “There’s a tree under her well!”

The old lady, a solitary, eccentric widow, was shunned and lived alone.

Su Qing summarized, “So you want to steal from a crazy, mute elder?”

That was worse than raiding a storehouse!

“Steal? It’s borrowing!” Xiao’e said, guilty. “I won’t take it for free—I’ll leave grain and rice. If I get wood later, I’ll pay her back.”

Xiao’e was set, and Su Qing thought this old lady might be a key to the illusion’s eye.

With three days to the festival, they had to act fast. That afternoon, Su Qing and Xiao’e sneaked into the old lady’s yard.