Chapter 71: Setting Sail!

"You need not restrain them; let them run freely. Perhaps something good has attracted them!" Gervas said.

Upon hearing this, the knights exchanged glances and immediately ceased controlling their horses!

Roar, roar, roar!

Once freed from restraint, the Fire-Horses hesitated no longer; after a long neigh, they all rushed into the canyon.

Gervas also spurred his horse to follow alongside the Fire-Horses.

Not long after, the Fire-Horses reached the middle of the canyon and slowed down, then a patch of crimson grass came into everyone's view.

These crimson grasslands were distributed quite distinctively, as if someone standing on a cliff had splashed down paint, with more than a dozen areas of varying sizes surrounding it.

The largest had a diameter of forty to fifty meters, while even the smallest reached five or six meters.

The Fire-Horses had already begun to feast heartily on these crimson grass patches.

Lei Meng and others, sitting atop the Fire-Horses, were very puzzled by these grass patches and all turned their gaze toward Gervas.

"Do not worry; this is Dragon-Blood Grass!"

"What? My lord, is this the legendary Dragon-Blood Grass?" Lei Meng exclaimed in surprise.

"Correct; last time we found Dragon-Blood Stones, and this time Dragon-Blood Grass. They should belong to the same giant dragon!" Gervas nodded.

Lei Meng suddenly understood. "No wonder my Wolf-Chaser is so unusually excited. The allure of Dragon-Blood Grass for creatures containing giant dragon bloodlines is simply higher than that of Night-Flower Grass!"

"Knight Commander Lei Meng, what effects does this Dragon-Blood Grass have?" Knight Mi Gen and others stood nearby, extremely curious.

"This Dragon-Blood Grass can help all beasts or low-level magical beasts containing dragon blood elevate their bloodlines and strengthen their power, such as the Fire-Horses, and they might even break through to become magical beasts!"

"Helping Fire-Horses break through into magical beasts? This effect is too good!" Knight Mi Gen and others' eyes sparkled; after all, the Fire-Horses were their mounts now, and riding a magical beast would make them laugh in their dreams.

However, Lei Meng also reacted. "My lord, this Dragon-Blood Grass is too precious. Should we not make them stop?!"

"It does not matter. I originally intended to use Dragon-Blood Grass to feed them. There is quite a lot around here; letting them eat some now is enough to leave seeds!"

Thus, after letting several Fire-Horses eat happily and freely, Gervas ordered the collection and packing of over a hundred square meters of Dragon-Blood Grass to take away.

Although leaving them here, sealing both entrances and letting them develop freely, would also be good.

But Dragon-Blood Grass is far rarer than Night-Flower Grass; it can be encountered but not sought.

Therefore, to be safe, Gervas had to take some up by the roots to cultivate around the castle.

When the convoy returned to Wheat Town, the ten-meter-long Fire-Swallowing Python on the carriage naturally drew another round of cheers from the townsfolk.

But who could blame them? These magical beasts all looked hideous and truly frightening. Even though the townsfolk were "well-traveled," they still found it fresh each time and marveled at the Lord's great achievements.

Following custom, the Fire-Swallowing Python's corpse was left in the town for a half-hour parade, while Gervas hurried back to the castle.

Immediately upon returning to the castle, Old John came to report on the Storm.

Indeed, just as Gervas had previously thought, the intelligence system's maritime report had a basis.

According to the servant sent to inquire, the Storm had actually been repaired yesterday at dusk.

Originally, Old Jack had planned to send someone to the castle this morning to notify the Lord of this happy news.

But unexpectedly, Gervas had sent someone to inquire first.

"My lord, Old Jack says that now, as long as the Storm is put back into the water, it can be trial-sailed at any time!"

"Excellent! Then I will immediately lead people to Seaside Village!" Gervas was very satisfied.

At this moment, thinking of the Dragon-Blood Grass he had brought back, he said, "Old John, I brought back a batch of Dragon-Blood Grass today. Help arrange for people to plant them. Remember, they must be fenced off so the Fire-Horses cannot destroy them, and they must be irrigated with Swan Lake spring water!"

"My lord, if that is the case, then I suggest planting these Dragon-Blood Grass in the abandoned farm on the east side of the castle."

"Currently, Storm Domain has few livestock. Large pasture areas of the farm are abandoned, but they have complete wooden fences that can better isolate the Fire-Horses and livestock!"

Gervas also recalled that pasture; currently, only a few cattle and sheep were kept there, all exchanged from the Tulip Caravan last time.

Compared to the abandoned farm capable of raising thousands of livestock, a few dozen cattle and sheep were merely a drop in the bucket.

"Very well, Old John, I leave all of this to your arrangement!"

Having safely entrusted the Dragon-Blood Grass to Old John, Gervas led the knights and fifty guards straight to Seaside Village.

"Greetings, My Lord!"

"Rise, Old Jack. The servants reported that the Storm is ready to launch at any time. Is that so?"

"Yes, My Lord!"

"Excellent, Old Jack. Then let us go to the coast together!"

Taking Old Jack along, as well as two elders from the village, Gervas and his party headed straight for the seashore.

These two elders had once been fishermen and knew the simplest sailboat operations.

Although they were now advanced in age and having them operate directly would be somewhat difficult, having them provide instruction was still possible.

Of course, this was also because the Storm was a single-masted sloop; if it were a two-masted or three-masted sloop, it would obviously require truly experienced sailors.

Arriving at the seashore, the Storm stood on the sandy ground.

Gervas inspected it up close; the previous holes were now completely intact.

"Then prepare to launch!"

This world also had the tradition of "breaking champagne."

Of course, this world had no champagne; clay pots were used instead.

The meaning was the same: "Smash the clay pot in advance so that in the future, one never needs to stuff a last will into a clay pot and treat it as a message in a bottle!"

With a crack, as the clay pot shattered, "Launch!"

Then, under the reverse pulling of more than fifty guards, the Storm used rolling logs to slowly slide down the coastal slope.

Splash! The Storm successfully entered the water.

The dozen or so people who had boarded earlier immediately operated the sea vessel toward the rocky coast nearby.

Today the weather was fair and sunny, and the rocky coast happened to be only slightly lower than the ship's gunwale; thus, by simply placing wooden planks, the rest could board directly.

"Everyone, board the ship!"

Immediately, seven knights and fifty guards all boarded.

Since it was a merchant vessel, even though it was overloaded by double, it did not feel crowded.

"Old Jack!"

"My lord, your humble servant is here!"

"I now appoint you captain of the Storm, responsible for steering and giving orders!" Old Jack, besides knowing how to repair ships, also understood how to sail them.

"Yes, my lord!"

Old Jack excitedly walked to the stern rudder and shouted, "Raise the sails! Set sail!"

Rustle-rustle!

Under the instruction of two other old fishermen, four guards slowly lowered the sea sails.

The sea breeze blew, the sails immediately swelled, the hull creaked and groaned, and then the coastline began to slowly recede; the ship, moved!

"We're setting sail!"