Chapter 788: A Banquet at Abe Hall to Celebrate Victory

In the cabin, Xiao Er placed Xiao Feifei on the floor.

The little fellow shook off the water vigorously, and droplets splashed onto Xiao Er's face.

Xiao Er was startled, and Tuan Tuan giggled.

Xiao Yuanhang handed his daughter to Xiao Er: "I'll go out to take a look first; you stay here and don't move."

"Yes."

Tuan Tuan hurriedly shouted, "Dad, be careful!"

Xiao Yuanhang, feeling tender, patted his daughter's soaked hair: "Find a dry piece of clothing from the chest, wipe her, and don't let her catch a cold."

"Alright."

Xiao Yuanhang strode out.

Xiao Ningchen and Xiao Ningxun had just emerged from the cabin and hurriedly called after him, "Father!"

Xiao Ran and Chen Hao peeked out and walked out.

Feng Zhou shoved the chest in his arms to the foot of the bed, propped it with a stool, and stuck his head out of the cabin.

Zheng Wucheng released the helm, stepped toward the rail, and stood shoulder to shoulder with Zhao Tieshan.

Zhao Tieshan asked, "General Zheng, does this sea region often experience such severe wind and rain?"

Zheng Wucheng replied, "It's a typhoon; they do occur often, but one as big as today is my first encounter."

"So this is a typhoon!" Xiao Ran exclaimed, "I only ever saw it in books before; it's truly amazing."

Xiao Ningxun looked up at the sky; moonlight poured from the center of the huge vortex overhead, like a pupil in an eye.

He lowered his gaze and stared at the roaring waves around them, "Where are we?"

Lu Qi came over, "Then we have to ask the National Preceptor."

"National Preceptor?" Xiao Yuanhang looked at him upon hearing that.

Lu Qi nodded, "The National Preceptor is performing a ritual in the cabin."

Xiao Ningxun understood a few points, "Could it be that this typhoon wasn't naturally formed, but related to an onmyoji from the East Sea?"

"Stay here; I'll go take a look," Xiao Yuanhang said, then turned toward Chu Yuan's cabin.

He had only taken a few steps when Tuan Tuan's voice came from behind.

"Dad!" Xiao Er came over, holding Tuan Tuan who was wrapped in a large robe.

Xiao Yuanhang halted, took his daughter from Xiao Er's arms, and asked, "Are you cold?"

"Not cold!" Tuan Tuan clutched his father's neck, glanced ahead, "Dad, are you going to see Master? I want to go too."

"Alright, Dad will take you together."

Xiao Yuanhang moved quietly to the outside of Chu Yuan's cabin, gently pushed the door open, and peered inside.

Chu Yuan's complexion had turned pale as he stared intently at the three rotating turtle shells.

Seeing him also damp, Tuan Tuan called softly, "Master! Are you cold?"

Chu Yuan felt a warmth in his heart—my little disciple really knows how to care for Master.

He curled the corner of his mouth, shook his head, "No problem, no need to worry."

Tuan Tuan blinked, "Master, can you speak?"

"I can."

"The great wind and rain outside can't get me! Master, did you do this?"

Chu Yuan smiled and nodded.

"Wow!" Tuan Tuan, face full of admiration, "Master, you're so awesome!"

"National…" Xiao Yuanhang began, but stopped.

Chu Yuan said, "Prince, feel free to ask any question; it does not interfere with this humble Taoist's spellcasting."

Xiao Yuanhang then asked, "Is tonight's wind and rain caused by an onmyoji?"

Chu Yuan nodded, "Yes, but not entirely."

"If it were a true typhoon, it would be the power of heaven and earth; even though this humble Taoist's magical power reaches the heavens, I could not contend with it."

"But today's storm is not of natural origin."

"Someone used the wind to forcefully trigger it, intending to bury our navy at the bottom of the sea."

Chu Yuan lightly tapped the turtle shell with his fingertip: "I, this humble Taoist, borrow strength and release it, break into the eye of the storm, and conceal all our warships within it."

"Where the moonlight shines now is the eye of the storm; therefore, although the outer tempest continues, our warships are no longer in danger."

"Thank you, National Preceptor." Xiao Yuanhang turned his head toward the moonlight, paused, and said, "So, if it were a true typhoon, even the National Preceptor would be powerless?"

Chu Yuan nodded, "The power of heaven and earth cannot be resisted; only techniques that are forcefully induced by human will have a flaw."

Xiao Yuanhang nodded.

Tuan Tuan tugged hard at the dry robe on his body with both hands, "Dad, give this to Master; I can go back and get another."

"Alright," Xiao Yuanhang helped his daughter remove the robe, stepped lightly inside, draped it over Chu Yuan, and said, "National Preceptor, take care, don't catch a cold."

Chu Yuan smiled and nodded.

"National Preceptor, thank you for your effort; we won't disturb you further," he said, then Xiao Yuanhang, holding his daughter, turned and walked out.

Back on the deck, the darkness was thick and the deck was packed with people.

The water soldiers had all come out.

They looked at the towering waves and the raging storm all around, yet the sea surrounding them was eerily calm, each with a startled expression on their face:

"Heaven! I've been sailing the sea all my life and have never seen anything like this!"

"It must be the gods' blessing!"

"Yes! Surely the gods have manifested!"

The Korean water troops even knelt down outright and bowed to the heavens.

Tuan Tuan pursed her mouth and said, "It's not a deity! It's my Master!"

Xiao Yuanhang smiled and said, "Governor Zhao, issue the order: the whole army rests, and brew ginger soup for everyone to drink."

Yes!

The storm lasted the entire night, not ceasing completely until the next morning.

After breakfast, everyone gathered in Xiao Yuanhang's cabin.

Xiao Yuanhang looked at Zheng Wucheng and asked, "General Zheng, are typhoons common here?"

Zheng Wucheng clasped his fists and replied, "Yes, Prince."

"Typhoons are frequent in the East Sea. Fishermen have an old saying: 'Better to meet a dragon at sea than return to port and collide with a typhoon.'"

He paused briefly and said, "Like yesterday's, they are not common, yet not rare either."

"In my experience, I've seen it five or six times; once, a fleet of thirty ships was reduced to a single vessel."

Xiao Yuanhang fell silent for a moment, then said, "So typhoons are indeed a frequent natural disaster here."

"If so," Xiao Ningxun frowned, "the yin‑yang master could harness the typhoon's power last night, and could do so again tomorrow."

"Our warships anchored in these waters are like a sword hanging, ready to fall at any moment."

"Last night we were fortunate that the National Preceptor protected us, but what about tomorrow? The day after? There is no logic in defending for a thousand days."

Xiao Ran hummed, "That won't do; if this goes on day after day, I won't even have a dry piece of clothing left!"

A spark flashed in Xiao Yuanhang's eyes: "Issue the order to steam full speed toward the East Sea coast; when the distance is right, fire all heavy cannons and blast the shore defenses to pieces!"

"Yes!" Zhao Tieshan and Zheng Wucheng shouted in unison, rose, and walked out.

Xiao Ningxun sighed and nodded, "It can only be done this way."

At the same moment, inside the council chamber of the Kamakura Castle General's residence.

Anbei Taixin's face turned ashen as he reported to Yuan Guangyi, "General, last night I used the typhoon's force to sink all of the fierce nation's warships."

Tengyuan Liangxin heard this and exclaimed joyfully, "Really?"

Anbei Taixin looked at him and asked, "What, Lord Tengyuan, you don't believe it?"

Tengyuan Liangxin hurriedly replied, "I wouldn't dare; I just have some doubts—doesn't the Immortal Envoy of the fierce nation have…?"

"A typhoon struck suddenly at night," Anbei Taixin cut him off bluntly, "Even if it's Lord Tengyuan's warships, how much chance is there to evade it?"

"Even the Immortal Envoy of that nation, with its sky‑piercing ability, would likely be too late to employ."

Tengyuan Liangxin smiled and said nothing more.

Yuan Guangyi nodded slightly, "Indeed, you are the Yin‑Yang Bureau chief of the East Sea."

He then clapped his hands and laughed, "To annihilate the enemy without a single soldier, Lord Anbei deserves the chief credit!"

"At the hour of the Rooster today, everyone gathers at the Flying Cloud Pavilion; I, the General, will host a banquet to celebrate Lord Anbei's victory."

Anbei Taixin fell to his hands and said, "Thank you, General!"