The next morning, at Pier Number Three. A cool sea breeze, carrying a salty tang, whipped at the passersby's clothes.
Chen Changqing and Lin Wanqing boarded the Canghai Ship together. It wasn't the largest vessel here, but judging by how deep it sat in the water, it was clearly carrying a substantial cargo. The hull was made of high-quality ironwood, with a thick exterior and reinforced iron corners, evidently built to withstand storms.
The pier was bustling with activity: laborers hauling goods, supervisors directing operations, and all sorts of people preparing to set out to sea, creating a lively scene.
"Board the ship!" A loud command cut through the noise, like a gavel that snapped everyone to attention. The Foundation Establishment deacon in charge, Zhang Tao, finally appeared. He was around forty, with a face carved with sharp lines, and his eyes, sharp as a hawk's, conveyed the calmness and authority of someone who had weathered many storms.
His gaze lingered briefly on Chen Changqing and Lin Wanqing. Seemingly remembering something, he didn't say much, only briefly explaining the rules and precautions for the journey. His voice was not loud, but it carried an undeniable air of authority, causing the previously lax guards to straighten their backs.
Ten Qi Refining stage guards were lined up on either side of the deck, each wearing the Golden Shark Merchant Guild badge, but their different expressions showed that they weren't of one mind. Some were meek and subservient; others gathered in small groups, whispering and occasionally letting out suppressed chuckles, creating a subtle atmosphere.
Chen Changqing silently glanced around. He subtly activated the Karma Eye. In his vision, the karmic threads of these people were either faint or dense, tangled like a messy spiderweb. A few particularly thick, black threads pointed towards the distance, hinting that the journey would not be smooth. He even saw that the luck of one of the guards was fading, with a hint of impending bloodshed.
The cargo ship slowly left the harbor. The thick mooring ropes were untied, and the heavy anchor was raised by the winch. Under the sailors' control, the ship gradually moved away from the bustling pier, entering the vast, azure East Sea.
The initial voyage was smooth, with seagulls chasing and playing alongside the ship. However, about half a day into the journey, Zhang Tao suddenly ordered a change of course, choosing a secluded route not clearly marked on the sea charts. Judging by the map, this route was noticeably shorter, promising to save a considerable amount of time.
But Chen Changqing, relying on the continuous warnings of his Karma Eye, could clearly "see" that beneath the seemingly calm sea ahead, there were numerous reefs, like the fangs of a lurking beast, concealing great danger. Moreover, he also detected a faint fluctuation of a formation, as if it had been deliberately set up, adding to the eeriness.
He remained calm on the surface, but his mind was already racing, rapidly calculating. This path might be a secret move set up by the merchant guild to guard against pirates, using the treacherous terrain to shake off pursuers, but it could also contain other, unknown purposes. Was it a trap, a shortcut, or both?
"Steward Zhang," Chen Changqing pondered for a moment, then walked slowly to Zhang Tao at the bow of the ship, his gaze fixed on a patch of churning, choppy waves in the distance. "The currents in this area are unusual, and the water is slightly murky. There may be reefs. Should we consider going around?" His tone was mild, as if it were a casual suggestion.
Upon hearing this, Zhang Tao's sharp eyes immediately landed on Chen Changqing, filled with scrutiny. He had initially thought he was just a fledgling youth, making a wild guess. But seeing Chen Changqing's composure, his clear eyes devoid of any panic or flattery, and recalling Lin Wanqing's impressive display of strength during recruitment, as well as the subtle rapport between the two, he couldn't help but become more cautious.
Although he was a Foundation Establishment cultivator, he knew that some exceptionally gifted individuals did indeed have extraordinary talents in certain areas. He immediately released his spiritual sense for a careful investigation, and his expression changed slightly after a moment. That area of the sea was indeed as Chen Changqing had said; the energy fluctuations underwater were abnormal, and several large reefs were vaguely visible in his spiritual sense.
"Adjust the course, three degrees to the left, and bypass that area," Zhang Tao pondered for a moment, without asking how Chen Changqing knew, ultimately adopting his suggestion and decisively issuing the order. The ship's rudder turned, and under the control of the experienced sailors, the cargo ship drew an arc, narrowly avoiding the dangerous area.
In the subsequent part of the voyage, with Chen Changqing's seemingly "casual" reminders, they narrowly avoided several hidden reefs and dangerous whirlpools. Each time, Zhang Tao simply accepted the advice, then looked at Chen Changqing with a thoughtful gaze, his doubts not decreasing but gradually deepening, but also with a hint of inexplicable concern and an indescribable gravity.
This kid is not simple.
The voyage continued, and beneath the seemingly calm surface, danger lingered like a persistent parasite, following silently. When the cargo ship sailed into a vast, tranquil expanse of sea, the peace was suddenly shattered. The water churned violently, and then, a swarm of "Iron-Tooth Sharks," their bodies pitch black and their saw-like teeth gleaming with a cold light, surged from the depths like a black whirlwind, attacking the cargo ship.
These sea beasts had thick hides and astonishing defenses. Their teeth were incredibly sharp, easily tearing through ordinary steel. Moreover, they were numerous, with at least a hundred visible at a glance. The guards were immediately thrown into a flurry of activity. Blades clashed on the deck, and various talismans flew like they were free, with spiritual energy surging. However, due to their lack of coordination, their efforts yielded little result.
Several guards, unable to dodge in time, were bitten by the Iron-Tooth Sharks that leaped onto the deck. Their screams mingled with the sounds of clashing weapons, and the scene descended into chaos.
Zhang Tao saw this and let out a cold snort. His true essence surged within him, and a long blade, its blade shimmering with a brilliant azure light, appeared in his hand. With a flick of his wrist, several condensed blade auras shot forth, slicing through the air like cutting tofu. He accurately killed several of the largest and most ferocious Iron-Tooth Sharks, their blood instantly staining the sea red.
The formidable strength of a Foundation Establishment cultivator was on full display, and the display of power momentarily intimidated the remaining sea beasts, slowing their attack. Chen Changqing, however, was in the crowd, putting in a mediocre defensive effort. He only occasionally released a few harmless water blades, barely managing to drive back the Iron-Tooth Sharks that approached him. He appeared to be only capable of protecting himself.
Lin Wanqing was different. A hint of excitement from her first real battle flickered in her eyes. The Azure Frost Sword had already been drawn, and its blade danced through the shark swarm. Each strike pierced the Iron-Tooth Sharks' eyes or gills, their weak points. Her attacks were quite effective against these low-level sea beasts. In a short time, she had independently slain several, and although her performance was good, it was within the expected level for a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator. Zhang Tao didn't pay her much special attention, simply thinking she was a well-grounded disciple from a prestigious sect.
The battle lasted for the time it takes to burn an incense stick. With Zhang Tao's leadership and the combined efforts of the guards, the Iron-Tooth Shark swarm was finally repelled, leaving behind a chaotic deck and a heavy smell of blood. The cargo ship continued its journey, the atmosphere much more tense than before. Chen Changqing noticed that the sharp-chinned, monkey-faced guard whose ill fortune he had observed earlier was now clutching his injured arm, quietly complaining to his companion that Zhang Tao's chosen route was too dangerous, his words filled with discontent and fear.
"Damn it, if I'd known we'd take this cursed route, I wouldn't have taken this job!"
Another burly guard beside him, with a simple, honest face, seemed to be chiming in to comfort him, but in the gaps between his words, he exchanged a meaningful glance with the thin-faced, monkey-cheeked man.
Chen Changqing's eyes flashed with a barely perceptible understanding. It seemed that the Golden Shark Merchant Guild wasn't a monolith either.
Where there are people, there are factions; where there are interests, there are disputes.
The weather at sea was unpredictable, and it changed at a moment's notice. The originally clear sky was instantly covered by heavy leaden clouds within half an hour. The gale roared in without warning, stirring up a thousand piles of snow. Then, a torrential downpour of heavy rain began to fall, pattering on the deck. Giant waves like mountains followed one after another. The Canghai (Vast Sea) Ship lurched violently in the turbulent waves, and the hull groaned under the strain.
The sailors, experienced as they were, yelled and fought against the wind and waves at their posts, but human effort was exceptionally small in the face of the power of nature. Seeing a mountain-like wave, carrying the force of ten thousand jun, about to overturn the entire ship from the side, everyone on the ship turned pale, and even Zhang Tao's face became extremely serious.
At this critical moment, Chen Changqing stood by the ship's side, his back to the crowd, secretly channeling a barely perceptible amount of power from the Sea Stabilizing Pearl in his dantian. An invisible, gentle current of water quietly swirled beneath the ship, forming an invisible buffer.
When the giant wave crashed down, this gentle current skillfully guided and dissipated most of its impact. After a heart-stopping violent shake, the cargo ship miraculously stabilized its center of gravity. It was only pushed up by the wave before falling heavily, but it did not capsize.
As the ship steadied, Zhang Tao abruptly turned, his gaze like lightning, fixing once more on Chen Changqing's back. His eyes were filled with intense doubt, bewilderment, and even a hint of disbelief and shock. In that instant, he'd clearly felt a strange, gentle force intervene, stabilizing the ship. But that power was ethereal, elusive, impossible to trace to its source, and certainly not something a mere Qi Refining cultivator could wield.
Just how many secrets did this youth hide?
The storm came and went swiftly. After about fifteen minutes, the wind subsided, and the heavy rain lessened, but the sea did not calm. Instead, an almost impenetrable, eerie white mist rolled in. This mist, like solid cotton, enveloped the entire sea, reducing visibility to less than three feet. You couldn't even see your own hand. Even worse, the spiritual sense that cultivators relied upon for detection was severely isolated and suppressed within this strange mist, its range reduced to less than a tenth of its normal reach.
A sense of inexplicable oppression instantly fell upon everyone's hearts, and the atmosphere became eerie and tense. Silence descended on the ship, broken only by the gentle rocking of the hull on the water.
"Woo…wail…"
From somewhere, a faint and beautiful song began to drift. The sound was like a whisper from the distant horizon, yet it also seemed to murmur in your ear. With an indescribable allure, it seemed capable of captivating the soul, drawing people into a state of heedlessness. It made them feel drowsy, wanting only to sink forever into a gentle, sweet illusion.
Several guards, whose wills were already weak and who had just experienced the fright of the storm, began to look dazed. Smiles appeared on their faces, and their bodies began to sway uncontrollably. Saliva even trickled from their mouths.
Lin Wanqing frowned slightly. She possessed the Azure Frost Sword meridian, giving her a natural resistance and acute perception of such evil forces. This strange singing made her feel extremely uncomfortable, as if invisible threads were trying to burrow into her mind. She shouted, and the sword intent within her body moved on its own. A thread of icy, sharp, and peerless sword intent materialized, forming an invisible barrier around her. This instantly dispelled the seductive sounds around her, and also invigorated Chen Changqing, who had been maintaining a high level of vigilance.
"Senior Brother, something's wrong with that singing! There's something fishy!" Lin Wanqing lowered her voice, warning Chen Changqing beside her, her expression grave.
Chen Changqing nodded slightly. He, too, had noticed the eerie quality of the singing. The song is a cover, a way to bewitch them!
At that moment, within the dense fog, several blurry black shadows, like wraiths, silently approached the cargo ship. They didn't stir up a single breeze, nor did they make the slightest splash. They were completely absorbed into the heavy shadows and mist, silent and invisible, yet carrying a chilling, bone-chilling killing intent, instantly locking onto every living thing on the ship!
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