Chapter 573: Chapter 557: Sea Changkong
“Is your bone injury healed?”
Back in the room, San Niang earnestly sat cross-legged to heal; she couldn’t let anyone discover she was soaking wet.
Zhao Changhe, toweling off his hair nearby, asked casually.
San Niang responded irritably, “Can’t a person heal in peace without someone pacing around and talking so much? You’re flinging wet hair everywhere, you’ve gotten me all wet…”
Zhao Changhe glanced over, You’re not wet though…
He looked further down, wondering, Could it be her period?
San Niang covered herself in embarrassment, “What are you looking at?”
“Cough.” Zhao Changhe cleared his throat, “I was asking about your bone injury.”
“It hasn’t completely healed yet. If I exert too much force, it still pains me slightly. It doesn’t affect normal conditions, but vigorous fighting would definitely be a drag,” San Niang explained, then curiously added, “Why? Think your skills have improved and you want to challenge me?”
Zhao Changhe replied, “We’ve run out of medicine. I didn’t think about it these past few days, but I just asked Lai Qi, and they have medicine on board…”
San Niang paused, realizing, Oh right…
Zhao Changhe fetched a bottle of medicine and sat beside her, “I’ve checked it out, and the medicine still works. Want me to apply some more? With a big battle coming, we should recover as much as we can.”
“Oh.” San Niang very willingly undid her clothing, “Go ahead.”
Zhao Changhe naturally sat next to her, picked up some ointment, and started applying.
Unlike initially when he “accidentally on purpose” brushed past the southern hemisphere, this time, he boldly touched around that area openly, and San Niang just glared at him, “Be serious, or I’ll smother you!”
“…” Zhao Changhe focused on applying the medicine, seriously keeping his head down.
San Niang couldn’t help but laugh and gave him a hearty smack before letting him reluctantly look up.
The sailors and crew couldn’t hear what was going on inside these past few days; the scene was really quite commonplace. Every night, the two of them would sleep clothed and wake up together, no different from before with Chichi.
Intimacy had become so routine that all the appropriate and inappropriate places have long since been touched.
Several times upon waking, Zhao Changhe found his face buried in San Niang’s bosom, comfortably curled up, and San Niang, rather than getting angry and hitting him, would press down and tease him like playing with a small pig.
At night, it seemed they’d forgotten about any morning disputes and continued to sleep huddled together.
If being cast away on the island was a matter of emergency, where being naked and holding each other was forgivable and forgettable, then these past few days really had no explanation.
Hearts moved are hearts moved. Liking is just liking.
Now applying medicine felt like his left hand touching his right hand.
Zhao Changhe, while applying the ointment, felt a sigh within his heart, glanced downward, then curiously returned to the previous topic, “Hey, seriously though, do you girls get periods?”
Guigui didn’t think the question was out of line at all and was equally curious, “What’s that? My mother doesn’t have sisters, and Ying Wu’s side all have brothers.”
“… Referring to menstruation,” Zhao Changhe asked naturally, “We’ve been together this long and it hasn’t come up…”
“Is that all?” San Niang lazily responded, “I stopped having periods when my Body Refining reached the Second Layer Secret Treasure Level…”
Zhao Changhe, curious, asked, “Is that what is called Chopping Red Dragon?”
“Maybe?” San Niang uncertainly said, “I’ve also heard it might affect fertility, but with no precedent, I’m not sure. Maybe you should ask Zhu… oh, you mean pig.”
She sneakily glanced at Zhao Changhe, saw he was still focused on applying medicine, apparently not catching the misunderstanding, and sighed in relief, continuing, “I heard Yue Hongling also reached the Second Layer Secret Treasure, and she not only uses Inner Breath, but also refined her body with the sword, should be similar, why don’t you try with Yue Hongling to see if you can have kids?”
Zhao Changhe boldly hugged her, “Why not try with you?”
San Niang’s eyes twinkled, half smiling, “You really want to try with me?”
“I do,” Zhao Changhe said straightforwardly. “I think about it every day.”
San Niang looked skyward, “Alright, we’ll try later.”
Zhao Changhe was taken aback, “Huh?”
San Niang sighed, “When we get back, I’ll let the Azure Dragon Hall specializing in medicine take a look, see if there’s a treatment for your unspoken issues, don’t worry, I won’t tell Chichi.”
Zhao Changhe: “?”
San Niang touched his face sympathetically, “Poor thing, you must have been holding it in these past few days. Don’t worry, big sister doesn’t mind.”
Zhao Changhe: “???”
“Knock, knock~” The door was knocked upon, and Lai Qi’s voice came from outside, “The two of you, we just estimated a moment ago that we should arrive at Dong’an Island tonight.”
All thoughts were driven from Zhao Changhe’s mind as he exclaimed in surprise, “So soon? Wasn’t it supposed to be a seven-day journey? Today is only the fourth day, so we’ll arrive in five days?”
Lai Qi explained, “It was the Alliance Army who scheduled the gathering for seven days. Plus, since we were unfamiliar with the sea area we encountered you two in, we needed to estimate some variables, which is why we added some extra days to ensure we’d arrive on time. But this stretch has been calm, and we’re very familiar with this area now, we can be sure we’ll arrive earlier tonight.”
“This is…” Zhao Changhe thought to himself that it was fortunate he hadn’t been lazy these days. He had fully grasped the Xuanwu Fist just today, and he might face battle tonight.
It wasn’t just about learning a new style of boxing. It was an acknowledgment that his understanding of and connection to the sea had begun. His grasp and control over power deepened, bringing him a step closer to the Third Layer Secret Treasure, and overall, his strength had significantly leaped forward.
He was closer to mastering “Control”. Ultimately, each step now was in pursuit of mastery, and once all was clear, he would reach the realm of the God Demon.
“The issue now is, do we need to stay put during the night and wait till daytime to join the meeting?” Lai Qi was saying, “After all, we are an alliance of different nations. Arriving at night might lead to unnecessary misunderstandings, hence I came to ask the Venerable one’s opinion.”
The two inside the room exchanged a look, feeling a momentary reluctance to engage with mundane matters. They immediately knew this mindset was improper and, sighing, spoke in unison, “Just go straight in, no need to stay. We will disguise ourselves as your crew members, and you keep quiet.”
Lai Qi agreed, retreating with a peculiar expression.
Such an unusually long statement, perfectly synchronized—it was magically bizarre.
Inside, the two also felt the magic in the synchrony of their words, marveling at the similarity in their thought processes. They exchanged smiles.
Zhao Changhe handed a good bandage to San Niang to wrap up, chuckling, “I used to think that the more resources we had, the farther we’d be from the deserted island, the farther I’d be from you… It turns out we’re still so close, so there are no regrets.”
He paused, then stood up, “If we don’t have the capability, then so be it…”
Indeed, that was rather good. Otherwise, who knows whether it was love or desire.
But these past days had made everything crystal clear.
San Niang closed her eyes, tightly focusing on healing the last remnants of her injuries, speaking no more.
…
The night was pitch black, and the wind was high.
The Javanese fleet arrived at Dong’an Island.
The security concerns Lai Qi harbored didn’t materialize, as they were, aside from Penglai, the earliest to arrive. The sea around the island was still rather empty with not many ships, but the island itself was bright with lights, filled with Penglai officers merrymaking inside.
A patrolling ship from Penglai graciously led the Alliance Army ashore, welcoming them to the island, “General Lai, our General has been awaiting you inside the camp.”
Representing his nation with dignity, though anxious about the military presence of Penglai, Lai Qi maintained a restrained nod, “Lead the way.”
Zhao Changhe and San Niang, having slightly disguised themselves, donned Javanese military uniforms and followed behind Lai Qi. Turning his head, Lai Qi remarked, “These are my trusted aides. May they enter as well?”
The opposing commander, showing no disdain, respectfully gave permission, “Of course. Please follow me…”
Clearly, Dong’an Island was a military harbor belonging to Penglai, featuring supply and entertainment facilities akin to those on Taiping Island, officially managed by Penglai.
Following Lai Qi, San Niang remained silent and tense, while Zhao Changhe was internally taken aback.
Observing the Javanese navy that could easily be obliterated by two people made him initially underestimate their maritime strength. However, seeing Penglai’s military harbor revealed their substantial power.
Though their ships weren’t as robust as those of the Tang family and were slightly superior to the pirates, their number of ships was greater, and their troops were well-organized, fully equipped, and plentiful. Merely on the surface, they were indeed stronger than the pirates and completely overwhelmed the minor nations like Java.
He guessed that not confronting the pirates directly was probably due to the potential heavy casualties and the geographical advantages held by the pirates. Seeking an alliance seemed more about using them as cannon fodder for reconnaissance and clearing minefields.
“General Lai has arrived? Please come in,” invited a hearty voice from a tavern. “I haven’t seen General Lai for many years; I wonder if he still possesses his heroic bearing.”
Ascending the stairs, a spacious hall unfolded before them, filled with officers in the midst of a feast, notably without the company of women.
Sitting grandly at the main seat was a middle-aged man from Great Han, with a hearty smile and a resonant, robust voice.
One of Hai Pinglan’s foster sons, one of the staunchest pursuers of San Niang back in the day, now the commander of Penglai in this operation, Hai Changkong.
The Chaotic World Book did not reflect maritime heroes, yet there certainly were formidable ones. The pirates were led by Hai Qianfan, a Second Layer Secret Treasure strength; the counterpart sent to confront Hai Qianfan would naturally be nearly as powerful.
He was likely also a Second Layer Secret Treasure.