Chapter 212

Chapter 212: Trouble beyond an ordinary person’s resolution

In fact, there was no need for Shui Lingluo’s shout—the other three had already seen it too. A few kilometers directly ahead of the ship’s path lay an area of ocean completely shrouded in darkness.

This expanse, though seemingly connected to the same vast waters they were sailing, appeared as if someone had deliberately draped over it a layer of pitch-black yet oddly transparent fabric.

Through this ‘fabric,’ they could glimpse towering layers of black storm clouds overhead in that area. Not just ordinary dark clouds, but an unnervingly viscous black that seemed thick enough to drip liquid. Within these clouds, countless silver lightning serpents frantically twisted, slithered, and coalesced into a massive silver dragon that would then crash down with a thunderous flash, sending chills down the spine just to witness it.

But that wasn’t the worst part. Through the dark shroud, they observed the sea beneath whipped into a frenzy by howling winds. Towering, chaotic waves surged like scenes from the apocalypse!

Lou Yun attempted to probe the area with his spiritual sense. But the moment it touched the boundary of that region, it vanished without a trace. This made it clear that the energies within the storm zone were in a state of violent, chaotic madness, impossible for spiritual sense to penetrate.

Though everyone had initially dismissed Cai San Gong’s words as mere exaggeration meant to frighten them, actually witnessing this place dubbed the ‘Sea of Death’ made them realize he hadn’t spoken a single falsehood. This place was genuinely terrifying!

Shui Lingluo was the first to react, swallowing hard before whispering, "I’m a little scared. I think it’ll be safer below deck."

Lou Yun himself didn’t feel fear. In fact, a part of him was intensely curious to experience the storm’s power. Yet the thought of his unfinished responsibilities held him back; risking himself here was unwise. If an accident truly befell him, he wouldn’t even have a place to complain afterwards.

Lou Yun then glanced at Wen Hou and Tie Sha. If they insisted on staying on deck to witness the storm’s might, he would naturally stay alongside them. After all, they were here to help him; he couldn’t let them come to any harm.

Wen Hou offered a slight smile. "I have no interest in that either. Staying in the cabin is fine. This section can’t be too long anyway. We can come back out once we’re through."

Wen Hou’s words naturally reflected Tie Sha’s sentiment too. With all four now in agreement, they decided to retreat below deck and wait out the passage through the storm sea.

Seeing the ship draw inexorably closer to the stormy darkness, Lou Yun stood up. "Alright, let’s go below."

The four rose and filed, one by one, towards the deck entrance. Just as they reached it, the hatch opened from within, revealing Cai San Gong’s face.

"Ah, you’re here! I was just about to call for you!"

Cai San Gong had been genuinely worried that these youngsters, fearless like newborn calves encountering a tiger, might stubbornly insist on ‘experiencing’ the storm sea firsthand. Relieved to see them clearly heading below, his worries lessened considerably.

The four descended into the cabin. Hardly had the hatch closed behind them when the ship lurched violently. Caught off guard, they stumbled into each other before hastily summoning their Weapon Spirit Power to steady themselves and avoid a more undignified tumble.

Cai San Gong, far more experienced, kept a firm grip on a handrail and stood unfazed. Watching their momentary scramble, he chuckled. "That wasn’t even the storm zone. Just a wave toss from the outer edge. Hurry, get to your cabins quickly! Once we truly enter that sea, the rocking will be a hundred times worse than that!"

Shui Lingluo stuck her tongue out slightly. "That really was scary!"

They quickened their pace towards their designated berths. Along the cramped corridors, they saw crewmembers dashing urgently about, yet each wore an expression of calm focus. As Cai San Gong had implied, their frequent passages through these waters had endowed them with the experience to stay busy but not confused.

Soon, Cai San Gong led them to their individual cabins. Concerned that Shui Lingluo might be frightened alone, he specially found a companion for her – the wife of a crewmember, addressed respectfully as Elder Sister.

Cai San Gong repeatedly urged all four not to leave their rooms before receiving his explicit notification, and especially never to go back on deck. Naturally, they agreed with firm nods.

Just as Cai San Gong was about to leave, the sound of frantic, running footsteps echoed down the corridor. The steps halted abruptly outside Lou Yun’s cabin door, which stood open. Trying to speak, the figure gasped too hard from the sprint to form words.

It was the young man Lou Yun had earlier helped carry cargo. Rising with a puzzled frown, Lou Yun asked, "Little brother, what’s wrong? Catch your breath and speak slowly, don’t rush."

Finally managing to draw breath a little more steadily, the youth stammered, "The… the Captain… asks… he asks for your help!"

"Help?" Lou Yun was startled, pressing urgently, "What kind of help? Where is the Captain? Never mind explaining, just take me there now!"

Lou Yun understood that given Captain Zhao Zhanpeng’s character, seeking help in these circumstances meant an extremely critical problem, one beyond an ordinary person’s ability to solve. Combined with the imminent entry into the storm zone, every second was precious; wasting time was unthinkable.

The youth understood this too. Without another word, he spun around and sprinted back the way he came. Lou Yun followed closely. Over his shoulder, he called back to the others urgently, "Stay put here! I’ll return quickly!"

His words were futile. Wen Hou and Tie Sha, nearly as swift as Lou Yun, were already rushing out. Wen Hou added cheerfully, "We can lend a hand too!"

Shui Lingluo also made to follow and help, but the Elder Sister in her cabin firmly held her back. "Sister, you absolutely must not go! It’s far too dangerous above now."

Since Lou Yun couldn’t deter Wen Hou and Tie Sha, he absolutely needed Shui Lingluo to stay safe. "Miss Shui, you remain here! What if they also need your help later? Someone must stay behind!"

Cai San Gong planted himself squarely in Shui Lingluo’s doorway, shouting to Lou Yun’s retreating back, "Quickly go, and come back quickly!"

"Yes!" Lou Yun yelled back, increasing his speed as he followed the youth, Wen Hou and Tie Sha close behind in the narrow passage.

The ship’s rocking intensified noticeably. Lou Yun and the two men had no choice but to begin channeling Spiritual Energy to keep themselves steady as the deck pitched beneath their feet.

The four of them eventually reached the stern area and emerged onto the open deck.

Lou Yun blinked against a sudden dimness. Looking up, he saw the sky choked with dark, swirling storm clouds. Gone was the previous sunshine stretching to the horizon. Beside the oppressive cloud cover, howling, icy winds lashed at the ship while immense waves crashed thunderously ("Bang! Bang! Bang!") against the hull, making it shudder violently as though it might shatter at any moment.

A group of crew huddled at the stern, including Zhao Zhanpeng. His clothes were already drenched, but he bellowed commands, "Hold steady! Stick to the Main Ship’s route! Do NOT deviate!"

The tossing and pitching on the deck was now ferocious. Lou Yun, Wen Hou, and Tie Sha struggled to move, their bodies pitching wildly with every shift of the ship. Only by anchoring themselves with surges of powerful Spiritual Energy could they ‘nail’ themselves to the planks and force their way towards the stern gathering.

The youth reached Zhao Zhanpeng first, shouting that Lou Yun and the others were here. Zhao Zhanpeng spun around, saw Lou Yun, and grasped his arms tightly, his voice loud over the howling wind, "My apologies! By rights, I shouldn’t have called you out at a time like this! But we’re completely stuck! We have no other recourse!"

Lou Yun waved off the apology. "Captain Zhao, no formality now! Tell me, what help do you need?"

Zhao Zhanpeng pointed desperately behind their vessel to the four Auxiliary Ships trailing in their wake. "All five ships! We’re connected underwater by ropes. This keeps the Auxiliaries together with the Main Ship in the storm, so the waves don’t scatter us! But somehow… they’ve snapped! We’re moments from entering the storm sea! If we don’t reconnect those ropes before that… the four Auxiliaries won’t follow my Main Ship’s navigated path… They’ll never make it through this sea!"

Lou Yun nodded, understanding the gravity. He leaned over to peer into the churning water below. The once clear azure water had turned into a dark, chaotic gray-black sludge, with occasional violent whirlpools roiling just below the surface. Its true depth was impossible to gauge.

Thinking quickly, Lou Yun proposed, "Rather than jumping into that water to find the broken ends and try reconnecting them… wouldn’t it be faster to just get a new rope across to those Auxiliary Ships?"

Zhao Zhanpeng nodded vigorously. "Our thoughts exactly! We have the replacement rope ready! But… we lack the sheer strength needed to heave the end over to their decks! That’s why I need your help!"

Lou Yun estimated the gap between them and the nearest Auxiliary Ship – about twenty meters across the churning water.

"Got it. Leave it to me."

Immediately, three sailors lugged the thick, coiled stump of the massive rope end towards Lou Yun. Lou Yun couldn’t help a slight jolt of surprise seeing it. Its sheer thickness was staggering – easily requiring two men to encircle it fully with their arms. The diameter was unquestionably over two meters. Considering the massive size of the ships involved, such thickness was necessary; anything less wouldn’t hold them together against the sea’s fury. Its weight, naturally, was immense. Worse, after prolonged battering by waves, the rope had soaked up vast amounts of seawater, adding enormously to its weight, making it sodden and incredibly heavy.

Lou Yun slid his hands underneath the end of the massive rope, intending to give it a try. He took a deep breath, braced himself, and with a powerful grunt, heaved upwards with all his might.

The rope didn’t move.

Not even a fraction of an inch.