The boundless, deep blue ocean. Waves surged again and again, crashing against the rocks with the roar of collapsing heavens, spattering snow-white foam.
This was the first time He Yiming truly saw the sea. Even just gazing from the dock filled him with a sense of exhilaration and ease.
Upon seeing the boundless ocean, his first thought was that it was vastly larger than the small lake beside the He Family Village.
If that lake was a beginner just starting their martial cultivation, then this sea was a Venerable One; the two were fundamentally incomparable.
He took a deep breath. The air here seemed different from the interior lands, possessing a distinct, oceanic fragrance.
After departing the Lingxiao Treasure Hall, following a month of travel, they finally arrived at the coastline under Chen Yulin’s guidance.
It was a rudimentary pier. Chen Yulin had prepared three large ships, with provisions for personnel, food, water, and medicine all thoroughly arranged, but He Yiming refused without hesitation.
He Yiming was setting out to travel and seek enlightenment, not to enjoy leisure; taking so many people along would surely hinder any real comprehension.
Thus, Chen Yulin reluctantly prepared a single small boat.
Though described as a small boat, it was still over seven zhang in length.
At this moment, Chen Yulin stood beside He Yiming, his face etched with worry. “Venerable He, why don’t we have a few disciples accompany you? We guarantee we won’t disturb your cultivation.”
A small boat over seven zhang long was not something one person could manage. More crucially, he had heard that this Elder He possessed absolutely no experience sailing at sea.
To let such a person venture out alone on this boat... the consequences...
Although He Yiming was a Venerable One, and the youngest ever to achieve that status, Chen Yulin still could not fathom the outcome.
He even doubted whether He Yiming could pilot the vessel out into the open sea.
He Yiming let out a hearty laugh. “What, you don’t trust me?”
Having spent the last month in his company, Chen Yulin realized that He Yiming was indeed vastly different from other Venerable Ones. At the very least, He Yiming did not treat him as someone easily dispensable. Although Chen Yulin knew this had much to do with He Yiming’s youth, he was still deeply moved.
At this, he gritted his teeth. “Venerable He, it’s not that I don’t trust you, but you have no experience at sea. The winds and waves on the ocean are unpredictable. If we truly encounter a storm, this boat simply cannot be kept afloat. Therefore, please allow this junior to pilot it for you.”
He Yiming felt the sincerity in his heart. He reached out and patted Chen Yulin’s shoulder. “Relax, I’m going out for tempering, not to commit suicide. You all should leave now.”
Chen Yulin sighed helplessly, finally daring not to defy He Yiming’s order. He retrieved the most detailed sea chart prepared beforehand, presenting it with both hands, then led his subordinates away to a distance.
After they had all departed, He Yiming pushed off slightly with his feet and moved like the wind onto the small boat.
The boat was over seven zhang long, but this short distance was something He Yiming could cross and return from in the blink of an eye.
However, looking up at the sail and the baffling array of equipment across the entire vessel, his head began to ache fiercely.
After a moment of hesitation, He Yiming first took out the silver ring and opened the spatial dimension, tucking inside the large package gifted by Jin Zhanyi.
Although he didn't particularly value the items, since Jin Zhanyi had gifted them, he naturally wouldn't discard them.
Afterward, he casually pulled out the tracker from his chest. “Brother Bai, can you really pilot a boat by yourself?”
Bai Lingba’s voice came through the tracker: “Of course. I have experience single-handedly operating a spaceship, and I understand the skills necessary for survival in all kinds of harsh environments, so you can completely relax.”
He Yiming let out a long breath. Since Bai Lingba said so, it must be true.
Although he didn't know what a spaceship was, he assumed it was a very large vessel. If Bai Lingba could pilot a massive ship alone, then controlling this small boat was certainly not an issue.
“Brother Bai, I’ve sent everyone away. You can come over now.” Saying this, He Yiming leaped up and returned to the shore.
Not long after, a person dashed from the distance—it was Bai Lingba, with Baozhu securely fastened to his chest, not even swaying slightly.
Bai Lingba moved incredibly fast; the time from appearing in He Yiming’s sight to arriving before him was but an instant.
He Yiming waved his hand. “Brother Bai, we can board the ship.”
Bai Lingba’s gaze swept around. “Where is the ship?”
He Yiming paused momentarily, blinking in surprise. He turned to look; the small boat was still docked firmly in place, completely unchanged. Yet, for some reason, Bai Lingba acted as if he couldn't see it.
“Brother Bai, the boat is right here,” He Yiming pointed out.
Bai Lingba’s eyes instantly shone like sunlight. After a pause, he asked, “What is this thing?”
He Yiming stumbled, nearly falling onto his rear end.
He shook his head, casting away the rare sliver of dizziness that surfaced in his mind.
“Brother Bai, this is a boat. Do you not even recognize what a boat is?”
He Yiming’s voice carried a hint of near-angry roar. A bad premonition was beginning to form in his heart.
How could someone who didn't know what a boat was possibly pilot one alone?
He regretted that through long association, he had grown accustomed to Bai Lingba’s omnipotence, only now realizing that there were things in this world Bai Lingba did not know.
Bai Lingba’s eyes flickered again. He seemed to recognize his mistake. “So this is a boat. I thought you had found a spaceship…”
A faint dark line seemed to appear above He Yiming’s head. “Brother Bai, I think we should call Chen Yulin and the others back.”
Bai Lingba rarely shook his head. “No need.”
“Then how do I sail?”
“I will do it.”
“You?” He Yiming drew out his voice, his tone thick with suspicion.
“I have located the origin of this vessel in my memory banks.” Bai Lingba regained his usual calm and confidence. “According to the records, this should be a form of water transport created before humans left their home planet. Its operation is very simple. If I can pilot a spaceship, this old relic is even less of a challenge.”
He Yiming looked at him half-believing, half-doubting. After a long moment, he finally decided: Bai Lingba had never disappointed him before. He should trust him at least this once.
The two men and one pig boarded the boat side-by-side. He Yiming followed behind Bai Lingba, watching him look around curiously, seemingly searching for something.
After a while, He Yiming couldn't bear it and asked, “Brother Bai, what are you looking for?”
“Cockpit, control panel.”
He Yiming was dumbfounded, his heart filled with suspicion. What kind of thing was this that he had never heard of?
After another moment, Bai Lingba finally stopped searching. “This boat is even older than I imagined.”
He Yiming carefully examined the hull. Although he couldn't say it was brand new, even with his keen eyesight, he could tell the boat was eight or nine tenths new.
Chen Yulin, under Hao Tong’s instructions, certainly did not dare to be negligent. He had chosen the best vessel among the suitable ships. A boat like this, which had weathered several voyages through rough seas, was actually much better than a brand-new one that hadn't even been tested in the water.
However, He Yiming was unaware of this. Looking at Bai Lingba’s serious expression, he was filled with surprise. Could this be a refurbished ship?
Bai Lingba suddenly walked over and asked, “What is this?”
He Yiming stared blankly in the direction of his finger and groaned, “That’s the sail.”
“What’s its use?”
“If we raise it, the boat will be pushed forward by the wind, right?”
“Understood. This is the propulsion system. Then what is this?”
“This… should be the anchor.”
“Function.”
“If you throw it down, it stops the boat.”
“Understood. This is the braking system. Then what is this?”
“This… should be the oars.”
“Function.”
“Nonsense, oars are for rowing, of course!”
“Understood. This is the backup propulsion system. Then what is this?”
“This… I don’t know either. Hey, what are you doing?”
“I want to test it. See what use this thing has.”
“…………”
He Yiming looked up, feeling that the future ahead was utterly dark…
※※※※
Two hours later, the boat had somehow managed to set off.
Although Bai Lingba was clearly operating such a craft for the first time, it had to be said that the fellow possessed some ability. After just two hours of fumbling exploration, he had actually succeeded in raising the sail and setting out to sea.
He Yiming went to the bow alone, Baozhu clinging tightly to his chest.
When Bai Lingba was experimenting and fumbling, the little creature seemed to realize Bai Lingba was somewhat unreliable, so it decisively left him and returned to He Yiming’s embrace.
Holding Baozhu, He Yiming and the little one stared for a long time. Once Bai Lingba successfully raised the sail, a feeling of shared plight spontaneously arose in both their hearts.
Entrusting this boat to Bai Lingba’s hands simply felt unsettling.
The sail overhead snapped in the sea breeze. He Yiming looked up, and a very uncomfortable sensation flooded his mind. He looked around cautiously for a while, then asked tentatively, “Brother Bai, don’t you feel something is off?”
“No, everything is normal.”
“But…” He Yiming hesitated, “Why do I feel like this boat isn't moving forward, but backward?”
Bai Lingba was silent for a moment, then said, “I understand. The wind direction has changed.”
He nimbly went to the mast and, without anyone seeing what he did, adjusted the large piece of canvas, turning its direction.
The loud noise seemed to become even more pronounced, but the vessel smoothly continued straight ahead.
He Yiming let out a long breath, a strong premonition gripping him: this trip to the Eastern Sea was likely to be fraught with peril.
Ps: Will the journey to the Eastern Sea be fraught with disaster? Hehe… Three more chapters tonight, requesting recommendation tickets and monthly tickets, thank you ^_^