海遊記

A hermit who has long forgotten his own name abandons his mountain refuge after a tiger and a snake force him to sell his home and buy a small boat. Drifting downstream, he awakens on a lonely river island and soon meets an elderly pen‑seller called Guan Chengzi. The two strike a brotherly pact, sharing a pearl for a promise of safe passage, and set off together on the hermit’s modest vessel, eager to explore what lies beyond the river’s bend.

Their journey quickly turns surreal. A crimson mist blocks the waterway, a hidden gate appears in a stone wall, and a strange city of floating towers opens its doors to the bewildered travelers. As they barter their modest cargo for strange goods and navigate unfamiliar currents, they encounter hostile ships, firelight on the waves, and the ever‑present question of where home truly is. The tale blends folklore, mystery, and the restless urge to wander beyond the known horizon.