Chapter 110: The Ship at Sea
This novel is translated and hosted only on bcatranslation.
Sailing on the open sea was a test of endurance. The endless expanse of water stretched in every direction, a monotonous and grueling landscape that wore down even the most seasoned sailors. But what kept everyone on edge was the constant, looming threat of sea beasts lurking beneath the waves. At any moment, one of these fearsome creatures could emerge from the depths, wreaking havoc with little warning.
At that moment, a small, seemingly insignificant raft glided smoothly over the ocean’s surface. Suddenly, a tentacle shot out from beneath the waves like a bolt of lightning.
Snap!
The fragile raft was obliterated in an instant, splintering into countless pieces. From the water’s depths emerged a colossal, eight-legged sea monster, its massive form towering ominously above the churning waves. The creature’s tentacles, lined with menacing suction cups, thrashed wildly in the air, creating a terrifying display of power.
Ji Han Zhou stood atop his flying sword, his expression focused as he deftly maneuvered around the beast. The sea monster’s gaze was locked on him, and half of its tentacles were lashing out, each strike accompanied by an ear-splitting boom that echoed across the ocean.
The tentacles moved with blinding speed, but Ji Han Zhou’s agility was unparalleled. He flitted through the air like a butterfly, effortlessly dodging the relentless onslaught. Yet, as two more tentacles erupted from the water, they sent massive waves crashing over him, momentarily obscuring his vision.
He narrowly avoided another strike and shouted, desperation edging his voice, “Senior Sister Yu Zhao, I can’t hold on much longer!”
“On my way!” Yu Zhao’s voice rang out clear and calm.
Instinctively, Ji Han Zhou glanced in her direction. To his astonishment, Yu Zhao had somehow positioned herself atop the sea monster’s head. She stood there, completely at ease, calmly lighting a small incense cake.
In seconds, a thick, sweet-smelling fragrance began to fill the air, tinged with a faint trace of alcohol. The change in the sea monster was immediate. Its wild thrashing slowed, and its once powerful movements became sluggish and disoriented.
Whoosh!
A column of black water shot into the sky before crashing back into the ocean. In the wake of the chaos, the surface of the sea was now littered with the floating bodies of various sea beasts that had been caught in the fray.
By now, the eight-legged sea monster had entirely forgotten about Ji Han Zhou. Its tentacles were now locked in a savage, self-destructive frenzy, tearing at each other with such ferocity that suction cups and severed limbs flew through the air, creating a gruesome spectacle.
Ji Han Zhou couldn’t help but marvel at the sight, his admiration for Yu Zhao’s skills only growing. “Senior Sister Yu Zhao’s illusions never fail to impress,” he muttered, still in awe.
“Let’s go. It won’t last much longer,” Yu Zhao said, her voice calm and composed. She was now standing serenely on a new raft she had summoned from thin air, gesturing for Ji Han Zhou to join her.
He nodded and leaped onto the raft without hesitation. Over the past few days, they had faced countless sea beast attacks together, and their teamwork had become so fluid that these encounters now felt almost routine.
As the raft set off once again, Ji Han Zhou stared out at the vast, endless ocean, a wave of melancholy washing over him. “Senior Sister Yu Zhao, how much longer do you think it’ll be before we find other people?”
Though he was glad to have Yu Zhao’s company, he had been away from the sect for far too long with no news to reassure him. Surely, the sect was worried about his absence, perhaps even assuming the worst. Moreover, the endless sea, with nothing but waves and the occasional sea beast, had long since lost its novelty. He yearned for solid ground beneath his feet, tired of their prolonged drift at sea.
Of course, he didn’t really expect Yu Zhao to know the answer; he just needed to voice his frustration.
But to his surprise, Yu Zhao replied with absolute certainty, “Right now.”
Before Ji Han Zhou could fully comprehend her words, the raft beneath him suddenly surged forward with alarming speed. He barely managed to keep his balance, almost tumbling off in the process.
“Senior Sister…” he began, but his words died on his lips.
Ahead of them, a tiny black dot was moving steadily across the sea, heading westward.
A ship!
There were people!
At last, they had encountered someone!
The people on the distant ship seemed to have noticed them as well, as the ship’s speed visibly slowed. Sensing an opportunity, Yu Zhao increased the raft’s pace, quickly closing the distance between them.
Within the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, the raft had come to a halt about ten meters from the ship.
Yu Zhao cupped her hands in a polite greeting. “Fellow Cultivators, my junior brother and I have unfortunately drifted here after an accident. We humbly request a ride, and we would be deeply grateful for your assistance.”
“You can board, but each of you must pay a fare of ten top-grade spirit stones, or we cannot accommodate you,” a burly middle-aged man with a bushy beard called out from the ship.
Ten top-grade spirit stones were enough to buy a hundred ships like theirs. It was clear the man was exploiting their desperate situation, demanding an outrageous fee because he knew they had no other choice.
To Yu Zhao and Ji Han Zhou, ten top-grade spirit stones were insignificant, but Yu Zhao knew it was wise to be cautious when traveling. She feigned irritation, haggling with the man for some time before reluctantly handing over the fare as if it were a great sacrifice.
She was the first to step aboard, subtly surveying her surroundings as she did so.
There were seven people on the ship: two women and five men, each grouping with a clear distinction. The burly man and a woman in her forties, who still had a certain charm, formed one pair. Another pair consisted of a middle-aged couple who seemed quite close. The remaining three men appeared to be brothers.
Notably, all seven were at the Golden Core stage, with the woman being the most advanced, at the late stage. The others were mostly in the middle stages.
Yu Zhao’s heart sank. It looked like they had boarded a pirate ship.
After Ji Han Zhou climbed aboard, he stood one step behind Yu Zhao, his eyes wary as he surveyed the others.
“No need to be nervous, the moment you boarded this ship, you became our guests. I, Boss Wu, will make sure you both reach the shore safely,” the burly man said with a broad grin, showing a mouthful of white teeth through his thick beard. He then gestured toward the charming woman, adding, “Let me introduce you. This is Lady Hua, a late-stage Golden Core cultivator. She has a particular fondness for handsome young men like yourself.”
Lady Hua covered her mouth and giggled, her laughter as light as petals fluttering in the wind. “Boss Wu, as if I’d be interested in a young, pretty boy like him when I have an old piece of cabbage like you,” she teased.
Boss Wu burst into hearty laughter, unfazed by her words. He continued the introductions, turning to the middle-aged couple. “This is Brother Zhao Xian and his partner, Wang Zhen. Their deep love and devotion to each other is something we all envy.”
Zhao Xian and Wang Zhen were not the talkative type. They simply nodded in acknowledgment.
“The three over there are the Long brothers: the tall one is Long One, the slightly shorter one is his second brother Long Two, and the rounder one is their younger brother Long Three.”
The Long brothers didn’t even bother to look up when they heard their names, completely ignoring the introduction.
“They’re a bit eccentric, so don’t mind them,” Boss Wu said nonchalantly, patting the side of the ship before laughing heartily. “As for me, I’m the captain of this ship. You can call me Boss Wu.”
This novel is translated and hosted only on bcatranslation.
Yu Zhao played along, “Boss Wu.”
Though it wasn’t yet clear why these people were together, it was evident that Boss Wu was the leader among them. Yu Zhao decided to humor him for now, hoping to gather some valuable information before any conflict arose.
Boss Wu seemed pleased with Yu Zhao’s quick adaptation, his bushy beard failing to hide his satisfaction.
“Boss Wu, my name is Yu Zhao, and this is my junior brother, Ji Han Zhou. We two siblings were stranded here after an unfortunate event. We’re grateful for your help,” Yu Zhao said politely.
“No need to thank me; when we’re out on the sea, we’re all friends. No need for formalities,” Boss Wu replied with a hearty laugh, waving off her thanks with a grand gesture.
If it weren’t for his earlier attempt at extortion, Yu Zhao might have believed he was a man of genuine goodwill. But his actions and words didn’t match up, and she knew she’d have to be on her guard around him.