Chapter 783 - 143: Dog Paddling
The storm in the second half of the night became a bit more restless.
Fortunately, as long as no monsters board the ship, storms of this magnitude do not pose a threat to the "Gray Sparrow".
When the dark sea water surged and hit the hull of the "Gray Sparrow", the surface of the ship, made of deep sea cold cypress wood, shimmered with a faint ripple, invisibly neutralizing the impact of the waves.
With the lights out, the "Gray Sparrow" was completely silent, blending into the black night of the Water Planet, drifting quietly over the ocean.
Nothing happened that night.
The next day, Han Zhan woke up from his dream and stretched lazily.
Opening the character panel, the Hunger Value had dropped back to 50 points, Health Value was restored to 80 points, and the Spiritual Value, after a night of rest, had recovered to 90 points.
The other Contracted Spirit Girls were the same.
It seems that the best way to recover Spiritual Value is indeed sleep.
However, looking at a table of steaming fried rice with eggs, everyone’s appetite wasn’t particularly strong.
"There’s no way around it, we only have these ingredients; I can’t conjure up other foods for you. Or, do you want rice balls?"
Xia Youwei said helplessly.
The others shook their heads like rattles.
"It seems finding more ingredients is a matter of urgency." Shang Siteng sighed and said.
"Maybe, we could fish for some ingredients from the sea?" Li Lingzhen suggested at this time.
"Not very feasible, what if we catch a monster like yesterday?" Gongyang Jin, recalling yesterday’s situation, instinctively shook his head.
Speaking of yesterday’s situation, after everyone finished breakfast and went up to the deck, the mutated fishmen were nowhere to be seen.
The rain could wash away the blood, but where did those shattered flesh blocks and bone debris go?
"Maybe, we really could."
Han Zhan looked at the purified deck and said thoughtfully:
"Don’t forget, as the captain of the ’Gray Sparrow’, I have a buff effect."
"Reduces the influence of the Evil Curse by 99%."
At first, Han Zhan thought that the so-called Evil Curse was the ship’s own curse.
But after reading Jian Beifang’s sailing diary, he realized that the so-called Evil Curse might come from the ocean beneath their ship.
"Being able to eliminate 99% of the Evil Curse proves that the issue of the Evil Curse can be resolved."
"With only 1% of the Evil Curse left, if we can come up with other methods, maybe we can truly solve this problem."
After listening to Han Zhan’s words, the other girls also nodded slightly, deep in thought.
"Hmm!"
At that moment, Jiang Lingling suddenly exclaimed, pointing her finger towards the sea not far away.
The sea during the morning had usual visibility, and coupled with the drizzle, the scene was not very clear.
But following Jiang Lingling’s direction, everyone saw what made her exclaim.
It seemed to be... a dog?
"Its fur is golden, and from its size, it seems to be... a Golden Retriever?"
"What is it doing? Paddling in the water? Oh my, it’s paddling so fast."
"It seems to be swimming towards us, what should we do?"
The last sentence was directed at Han Zhan.
As the captain of the "Gray Sparrow", the decision was his to make.
Han Zhan thought briefly.
He diverted his gaze and pointed in the opposite direction, saying calmly, "Set sail."
"Are we really not going to save it?" Nuannuan asked, unable to bear the sight of the Golden Retriever still paddling frantically.
"Dogs are not common species on the Water Planet; it’s strange for it to appear here in the first place."
"Moreover, with the Evil Curse present in the sea, don’t let our sympathy lead us to harm ourselves."
Han Zhan explained his reasoning.
No one raised any objections again; shortly after, the "Gray Sparrow" reignited its energy, turned its bow, and swiftly sailed away from the area.
The Big Golden Fur, still desperately paddling, watched the "Gray Sparrow" as it turned and left. In its eyes, there seemed to be an expression akin to a dog’s bewildered stare?
...
"Fan Pique, how has the Water Planet been for these centuries?"
Jian Beifang lay leisurely in the small wooden boat, his broad-brimmed hat covering most of his face.
Raindrops trickled off the brim and into his collar, but he didn’t mind.
His black boots propped up casually on the edge of the boat, he asked in a slow, languid tone.
"Nothing much has changed."
Seafarer Fan Pique, his eight tentacles paddling the oars vigorously, replied.
"The battles in the Central Sea Area have persisted for a century without resolution."
"The adventurers of these centuries have not made any waves."
"And the rain, it never stopped."
At this point, he paused.
The eyes on his octopus head turned to look at Jian Beifang, lying there.
"But you’re back."
"Perhaps this stagnant water will see a turnaround."
Jian Beifang didn’t respond immediately,
his face hidden under the wide-brimmed hat, one couldn’t tell what he was contemplating, or perhaps he had fallen asleep.
It was unclear how much time passed,
when a faint "hmm" sounded from beneath the black hat.
The small wooden boat rocked on the sea, from night to dawn, and they finally arrived at the first stop for new adventurers, Yilamut Port.
"We’ve arrived."
"Speaking of which, that ’Gray Sparrow’ has been docked here all along, wonder if it’s waiting for its next captain."
"It’s just that no one would have guessed, the one it’s waiting for would be..."
Seafarer Fan Pique’s words suddenly stopped.
Not hearing any sound, Jian Beifang sat up on the small boat, removing the wide-brimmed hat from his face.
"What’s wrong? Why did you stop talking?"
He asked while raising his head to look at the port that should have stood for a century, Yilamut Port.
Immediately, the previously relaxed look on Jian Beifang’s face turned to one of shock.
His pupils contracted as he opened his mouth.
"Did you... paddle to the wrong place while traveling at night?"
"How is that possible! I’ve been paddling for hundreds of years, how could I get the location wrong?" Fan Pique said excitedly.
"Then, where’s Yilamut Port?"
Jian Beifang’s eyelids twitched abruptly.
"Where did the massive Yilamut Port go?"
"I... I... I don’t know."
Fan Pique’s tone was also filled with confusion.
He couldn’t understand how, in just one day, the replenishment port that was perfectly fine could simply vanish like this?
More importantly, the "Gray Sparrow" that had been docked at the port for a century was gone too?!
Thinking of this, Fan Pique cautiously glanced at Jian Beifang, worried he might direct his anger at him.
Fortunately, Jian Beifang’s expression remained relatively calm.
He wrinkled his nose, taking a sniff.
"There’s a faint smell of gunpowder, probably from something that happened yesterday."
"Someone attacked Yilamut Port, and then destroyed it."
Jian Beifang gazed thoughtfully at the now-ruined Yilamut Port.