Chapter 782 - 142: Jian Beifang
"Regarding the sea, we must hold it in awe."
"But when faced with danger, to hell with awe!"
This logbook found in the captain’s cabin of the "Gray Sparrow" seems to have been written by its previous captain.
Between the lines of the diary, one can glimpse a bit of his character.
Turning to the second page of the logbook, the writer’s hand seems a bit lighter, the handwriting indicating fatigue.
"... What a damned sight, those corpses that climbed onto the ship from the sea just can’t seem to be killed."
"They resurrect over and over again, and despite our blades dulling from overuse, we can’t completely finish them off."
"Luckily, they still ended up dead."
"Because our ship sailed away from that ’zone’."
So, these monsters can’t be killed, unless the ship leaves the zone where they can resurrect indefinitely.
Once leaving the specific area, those endlessly resurrecting monsters lose their ability to revive and die completely.
This is the solution!
Shang Siteng’s eyes lit up upon reading this. She immediately closed the logbook and briefly explained the solution to Gongyang Jin.
As the first officer, Gongyang Jin can control the sailing of the "Gray Sparrow".
So, she sped up the "Gray Sparrow" to its maximum, burning the limited energy reserves to accelerate out of this sea area.
Meanwhile, Shang Siteng conveyed this message to Han Zhan, who was outside fighting with the fishman monsters.
By this time, Han Zhan and Feng Xiaozao were already leaning against the cabin door, having battled these endlessly resurrecting mutated fishmen for several rounds.
Hearing this news uplifted their spirits.
Finally, the mutated fishmen, repelled for the sixth time, were unable to resurrect again.
The "Gray Sparrow" successfully sailed away from the terrifying sea area with the ability to revive corpses!
Back in the cabin.
Han Zhan and Feng Xiaozao changed into fresh clothes, had a bowl of steaming egg fried rice, and took a painkiller.
Their physical condition improved significantly.
Gongyang Jin and Shang Siteng, along with the other girls, gathered around as well.
Looking out through the ship’s porthole, the sound of rain seemed to have diminished, back to a gentle drizzle.
Similarly, the wind and waves at sea gradually calmed down.
Danger appeared to be far behind them.
"It’s finally over." Li Lingzhen exhaled deeply.
Having the ability to create living beings, she had never felt so on edge before as she did today.
"Where’s that logbook? Let me see it again." After finishing his second bowl of fried rice, Han Zhan, looking more refreshed, spoke up.
Shang Siteng complied, taking out the logbook and handing it to Han Zhan, who began to peruse it slowly.
He too saw more records of similar encounters from the previous captain of the "Gray Sparrow".
Those must have been additional notes the captain added later.
Because the handwriting in later sections differed slightly, seeming more robust and forceful.
The handwriting suggested that the captain was in good spirits when penning those words.
"I never expected a chance encounter in my youth would hide such peril."
"From other knowledgeable scholars, I’ve learned more about this peculiar maritime event."
"It is called the ’Wraith Ocean Tomb Group.’ It’s said that only when a large number of living beings die in a short period can such a sea spectacle form. The exact reason is unknown, but some speculate it relates to the grievances of the deceased in life."
"I consider myself lucky because the range of the ’Wraith Ocean Tomb Group’ isn’t fixed. If it were any larger, the ship might not have been able to sail out."
"Looking back now, my young and naive self is vividly apparent, filling me with mixed emotions."
The record about the "Wraith Ocean Tomb Group" ends here.
Further on, this thick logbook begins to document numerous miscellaneous matters during the voyage.
This captain seems to have enjoyed writing extensively in his diary, detailing almost everything.
Thus, for later readers, useful and useless information requires further sorting.
Having gone through several ordeals, Han Zhan felt a bit weary at this moment.
He put the logbook down, temporarily giving up the idea of filtering useful information.
At that moment, Han Zhan noticed several small characters inscribed on the lower left corner of the logbook’s cover, which should be the name of the previous captain:
Jian Beifang.
...
A figure appeared on the dilapidated wooden dock.
He wore a wide-brimmed black hat with gold edging along the brim, with a lavish feather slanting at the back.
His dark brown leather coat, adorned with a row of metal buckles with intricate patterns, covered his entire body, completely shielding him from the drizzling rain.
He slightly raised the brim of his hat with his right hand, squinting at the black sea, with what seemed like a flame burning in his eyes.
"When will this rain ever stop?" In the distance, Seafarer Fan Pique’s voice sounded.
Just as he himself claimed, he was merely an ordinary seafarer, navigating through wind and rain.
And on the Water Planet, there is never a shortage of new adventurers.
"This rain..."
"Alright, Fan Pique, close your mouth," the somewhat burly man stretched his arms, lazily spoke.
Fan Pique seemed to pause slightly upon hearing the other’s voice.
Noticing his reaction, the corner of the burly man’s mouth curved up into a cryptic smile.
"Truly nostalgic."
"I miss this relentless rain, and I miss these perilous seas."
"Fan Pique, after all these centuries, I didn’t expect you’d still be serving as a seafarer. You sure are, goddamn, long-lived."
The man’s tone was teasing.
Fan Pique’s eyes filled with even more confusion.
His eight tentacles paddled the oars, and the small wooden boat finally arrived at the fixed point where new adventurers enter the Water Planet. He finally got a clear look at the other’s attire.
Fan Pique was startled, and his eight tentacles trembled simultaneously.
"It’s... it’s you?!"
"No, that’s impossible. Weren’t you long dead? Dead at the final great sea battle in the central sea area."
"How could you possibly still be alive!"
Fan Pique shouted in an agitated tone.
The man seemed to lower his head deliberately, allowing the wide-brimmed hat to obscure the upper half of his face.
Only showing the lower half of his face, upon hearing Fan Pique’s words, his smile widened and spread across his face.
"Nothing is impossible."
"With a bit of sacrifice, even one’s life can make a comeback, can’t it?"
As the words fell, he suddenly lifted his head, revealing his true appearance to Seafarer Fan Pique.
Fan Pique’s pupils constricted violently, and he instinctively shouted the man’s name:
"Jian, Bei, Fang!"
Jian Beifang was very pleased with Fan Pique’s reaction.
He spread his arms wide, facing the vast, dark sea.
"I have returned."