Chapter 787

Chu Yuan smiled and waved his hand: "Master is fine, you may go."

Watching his disciple walk away, he stood alone on the deck, head raised, watching the thin gray layer gradually thicken and move faster.

The wind over the sea suddenly picked up, the flags on the mast snapping loudly.

Chu Yuan half-closed his eyes, extended his right hand, began forming hand seals, murmuring softly, a faint green light appearing at his fingertips.

Not good!

He opened his eyes, lifted his leg, and ran toward Zhao Tieshan's cabin.

He had taken only a few steps when the wind suddenly stopped, all things falling still.

Chu Yuan stopped, looked up, and saw the previously calm clouds begin to slowly rotate, a massive vortex forming in the sky.

The next moment.

The violent wind slammed down from the center of the vortex above, instantly whipping up towering waves several zhang high on the previously calm sea.

The warship suddenly heeled, the deck tilting nearly half the ship's width; a few wooden barrels broke free of their ropes and rolled, striking the hull.

Chu Yuan gripped the rail tightly before steadying himself.

Zhao Tieshan and Lu Qi rushed out, supporting the cabin door.

Lu Qi's face full of shock: "What happened?"

Zhao Tieshan bellowed: "Take in the sails! Bring all sails down! Quick! Signalman, pass the order!"

Yes!

Lu Qi grabbed Chu Yuan: "National Preceptor, I'll escort you back!"

Zheng Wucheng covered his head and ran toward the rudder at the stern.

He had just been standing at the bow; when the ship tilted, he slammed his head into the rail.

At this moment he ignored the blood streaming from his forehead, ran to the rudder, and together with seven or eight sailors, he braced the rudder firmly.

The ship lurched sideways again, then was lifted high by a wave several zhang tall,

He shouted hoarsely: "Drop anchor! Quick! Drop all anchors! Stabilize the ship!"

Their orders were scattered by the storm, the rising and falling shouts blending into a din.

The signalman exerted all his strength to send flag signals, the mast violently shaking in the wind; a few sails not yet fully furled were torn to shreds by the wind and drifted onto the sea.

Xiao Yuanhang held the bulkhead with one hand and his daughter sliding down from the couch with the other.

Xiao Er clung tightly to him: "Prince!"

Raindrops pounded the deck with a patter, the downpour pouring.

The cabin door couldn't be shut; water immediately poured in through it.

Xiao Yuanhang handed his daughter to Xiao Er's arms: "Hold her, don't move!"

Xiao Feifei fell from the couch, its four tiny paws scrambling desperately on the sloping deck, yet it was tossed and rolled several times.

Tuan Tuan cried anxiously: "Xiao Feifei!"

Xiao Yuanhang snatched the white fur ball and stuffed it into his daughter's arms.

On the deck, Zhao Tieshan had already tied himself to the mast.

His eyes bloodshot, he stared fixedly at the warships tossed up and down by the waves on the sea: "General Zheng! You must hold fast!"

"Holding on!" Zheng Wucheng shouted back with all his strength.

He was already soaked through by seawater and rain, one sleeve torn half-open by the gale, his hands never releasing the wheel.

Zhang Wu'an staggered to his side, gripping the rail, and seized the wheel: "Let me help!"

Wave after wave crashed down, the warship tossing like a leaf in the swell.

When the ship was thrown onto a wave crest, the world became a white mist of water; when it fell into a trough, seawater from all directions seemed ready to swallow the vessel whole.

The vortex above spun faster and faster, faint lightning flickering within the clouds.

Everyone inside the cabin was tossed about with the ship's motion.

Xiao Ran wiped water from his face: "Chen Hao, my bed is soaked! Where am I supposed to sleep tonight!"

Chen Hao gave a wry smile: "You still want to sleep? If this wind and rain don't stop overnight, we might not make it back."

Xiao Ningxun's face turned pale: "Second brother, this wind is too strong; I don't know if the ship can hold."

Xiao Ningchen shook water from his hair: "Don't worry, our warship is sturdy!"

Feng Zhou clutched the box holding his precious drawings, muttering constantly: "This angle is fine; it can't be any larger! Tilt it a bit more and it won't hold!"

Chu Yuan returned to the cabin, several times trying to take out the turtle shell, but he could barely stand.

Lu Qi firmly gripped his arm: "National Preceptor, don't move! If you move again I won't be able to support you!"

In Kamakura City, Abe Taishin sat upright in his private chamber.

He quietly gazed at the fresh ink-jade tablet before him.

Its surface reflected a surging, angry sea.

Waves like mountains, rain pouring down.

Nothing could be seen on the sea, only the rolling waves continually rising and falling.

Abe Taishin wiped away a trace of blood from his lips, a faint smile appearing on his face.

He raised his hand and touched his right ear.

The wound dressing had been removed; the ear cavity was empty, its edges ragged.

"Immortal Envoy of Lie State." His voice hoarse: "Today is your day of death."

The wind and rain lasted over an hour, finally gradually easing.

Abe Taishin lowered his eyes to the talisman beside the ink-jade tablet; its vermilion markings had faded.

Maintaining such a massive storm consumed far more essence and blood than he had anticipated.

We must keep it going until the hurricane completely dissipates, or else today all our prior efforts will be wasted.

He gritted his teeth, spat a mouthful of essence blood onto the talisman, extended his finger, dipped it in the blood, and began redrawing.

Chu Yuan quickly took out the turtle shells, threw the three turtle shells into midair; they hovered steadily, slowly rotating.

Lu Qi didn't dare loosen his grip on his hand, eyes wide: 'National Preceptor?'

Chu Yuan didn't answer; a wisp of green light appeared at his fingertip.

He closed his eyes, murmuring incantations.

The three turtle shells spun faster and faster, and the green light at his fingertip grew brighter.

Suddenly, the green light burst forth through the shell surface, forming a pillar of light that shot straight to the heavens.

The next moment, the massive vortex in the sky was torn open by the light pillar.

Moonlight poured down from the rift, illuminating the sea where the warship lay.

The ship floated steadily on the moonlit sea.

Beyond the moonlight, huge waves still rolled, the downpour still poured, the gale still howled.

But all of this was like a painting mounted in a glass frame, unable to affect the warship in the slightest.

Zhao Tieshan stared for a moment, untied the rope binding him, walked to the ship's rail, eyes wide: 'What... what... what, can anyone tell me what's going on!?'

More and more people emerged from the cabin, staring dumbfounded at the wondrous sight before them.

In the quiet chamber, Abe Taiqin stared intently at the black jade tablet before him, letting out a long breath.

Good, this storm is greater than the last; it was not in vain that I expended so much essence blood.

He smiled satisfied: 'If we do this once more, not only the Immortal Envoy of the Flaming State, but even your war-god father will today fall into my hands.'

'Tomorrow morning, I will be the top onmyoji of the Eastern Ying! Who dares still mention my wounded right ear?'

'Even the General will have to look at my expression from now on.'