Daily life of a cultivation judge

Hearing an unfamiliar voice, Yang Qing turned around and saw a handsome man with deep blue hair that was held together with what looked to be a white and blue feather calmly walk down the stairs. He looked to be in his early forties and had an easygoing aura about him. Sensing his cultivation base, it wasn't all too difficult for Yang Qing to guess his identity.

The man in question had a fourth stage palace realm cultivation and in the Bluefin spine-tailed swift there was only one person who had such strength and Duan Ting's next words served to prove his guess right.

"Founder Bai Chen.." Duan Ting said as he stood up, his gaze and demeanor clearly showing his deep respect for the man.

"Duan Ting.." said the man with a carefree smile on his face. He came to a stop when he was in front of Yang Qing.

"Daoist Yang Qing, I am Bai Chen, the owner of this little establishment. I hope you did not find our services to be lacking.."

"No, no, not at all. I even told Daoist Duan Ting here how the Gold Earth Bank did not lie in its appraisal of your services.."

Bai Chen's eyes flickered slightly when he heard Yang Qing call Duan Ting fellow daoist, who was just as surprised. It was widely accepted that only those of the same realm could address each other. It was rare for a palace realm expert to call a core formation expert a Daoist, even when they had a close relationship.

Quickly camouflaging his surprise, Bai Chen placed his right arm over his chest as a way of showing his appreciation for Yang Qing's complement. It was a sign commonly used by rogue cultivators, though even in the Order they were those who could be found using it because of the symbolic meaning behind it. A hand over the chest was interpreted to mean 'I will remember the favor you have done for me and keep it in my heart.' It was used in place where words need not be said.

"So these are the places you will be going to?" Bai Chen said as he picked up the map on the table.

"Yes,"

"Are you in a hurry to reach those places? If you are, we can shorten the trip to two and a half days.."

"I am in a hurry but not so much. I just hope to make it in good time but also enjoy the trip. I think Duan Ting's timeline of four days is okay for me.."

Bai Chen nodded as he handed the map back to Yang Qing as he turned his head to Duan Ting.

"Are there any customers looking to head in that direction that are still on standby? Rather than keep them pending, waiting for the next ferry, they could go with me.."

"But sir the six ferries.." Duan Ting asked with a doubtful expression.

Bai Chen laughed as he said,

"The bluefin has been completed.."

"It has?" Duan Ting said with a look of surprise and excitement. He wasn't the only one excited, as Bai Chen wore the same look, like a kid who had just gotten a toy he really wanted.

"Bluefin? Do they have a new ferry?"

As if reading his thoughts, Bai Chen said,

"You're in luck fellow daoist Yang Qing. You get to be one of the first customers to be ferried with our new ship, the Bluefin.."

"I am honored.." answered Yang Qing with a smile of his own, infected by the cheerful and excited atmosphere in the area.

He somehow felt that they were not excited just because they had another ferry. He could tell there was more sentiment to it.

Bai Chen made a few arrangements with Duan Ting who left his desk and headed to one of the courtyards owned by the escort agency. For those waiting for their assigned ferry to arrive, they could wait there free of charge which Yang Qing appreciated as it showed the commitment of the Bluefin spine-tailed swift agency toward the comfort of its customers.

Bai Chen guided Yang Qing to a secluded space at the back of the building. Yang Qing noticed some fluctuations evidence that a blue grade array and monarch grade treasure were in the area. The blue-white feather holding Bai Chen's hair together released a gentle blue glow and the grassland and the trees that Yang Qing was seeing faded away to reveal a 200-meter ship built in the shape of a bluefin spine-tailed swift.

"Beautiful.." Yang Qing inadvertently muttered as he stared at the ship.

The level of detail and craftsmanship on the ship was clear for even a blind man to see. The ship looked like a real live replica of the bluefin spine-tailed swift. The spirit bird was famous for its speed and was a bird that closely resembled a kunpeng in terms of abilities as it could travel in water and air with the same level of proficiency.

It had a silk dark blue body, two pairs of wings, and one pair of blue fins. It was a master of both the wind and water dao, which helped in its maneuverability on both air and sea in terms of speed, camouflage, and endurance. It wasn't the most powerful but it was all rounded in when it came to survivability. Yang Qing had always admired the bird, and the ship before him had perfectly captured its soul and grace.

Yang Qing tore his attention off the ship when he sensed a slight fluctuation coming from Bai Chen's body. When he turned to look at him he saw a look of melancholy and appreciation in his eyes.

"Can I ask you something? It's okay to not give a response if you're not able to.." said Yang Qing.

"Is it about the name?" asked Bai Chen reigning his emotions in, wearing his carefree smile from before.

"Yes.." said Yang Qing as he nodded his head.

"It doesn't seem like you chose the name of your escort agency at random..." he added.

"You're right.." Bai Chen said as he cast a warm gaze toward the ship before him.

"The relationship between spirit beasts and humans is a complicated one with both sides trying to kill each other more often than not.

However, that is not the case for me. I was adopted and raised by one. I am alive today because a bluefin spine-tailed swift showed kindness to a baby unwanted by his parents and the world, and accepted him as one of her own, dedicating everything she ever had and was to him..." Bai Chen said before pausing slightly.

"Even her life.."