Chapter 793: FISH LEAPS (2/2, Request Subscription)

These boats can sail a certain distance on the Han Jiang, but cannot go far—once they pass a bit beyond the shore and reach slightly deeper waters, they sink without exception.

Their only purpose is to retrieve Weirds from the shallow areas of the Han Jiang for research; crossing the river is utterly impossible.

Fang Yue's eyes lit up.

"So if we're in danger, we just hop onto a Han Jiang Giant Boat and dive into the river—then we're invincible!"

Tian Ruichi stared at Fang Yue, wide-eyed: "Brother Ye, you're deluded—this is the Han Jiang! Even Rain-level experts dare not step half a step beyond its edge! We're safe now, but only for now. Waterways are taboo in Qing Guo not because only one Han Jiang Giant Boat can cross it, but because the Han Jiang is so perilous no one dares speak of it! Even sitting on this giant boat, we face countless latent dangers—and each one could bury us in the river's depths!"

Some even whisper… the Han Jiang is a Transcendence-level Weird!

Transcendence-level Weird?!

Fang Yue's pupils contracted.

It was a term he'd encountered not long after entering the game.

But as his strength grew, the gap between him and such beings seemed to grow ever wider.

Like a child climbing a mountain, thinking the summit is nothing special.

Only when he truly sets out, reaches the mid-slope, does he realize how magnificent and utterly unattainable that distant peak truly is!

Transcendence-level—a terrifying existence Fang Yue still cannot fathom in any concrete terms.

Perhaps one day… when I step into Immortality, I might glimpse even a fraction of such beings.

For now, it remains as illusory as moonlight on water—vague, unreal, without substance.

"I've assigned men to guard the boat day and night; if danger arises, they'll alert us immediately. Brother Ye, don't worry about vigilance."

As if sensing Fang Yue's mood, Tian Ruichi patted his shoulder.

In his mind, Fang Yue had already done enough—helping him through such a grave crisis, and now injured besides. The rest was his responsibility.

But this was the Han Jiang—a presence even Rain-level experts feared deeply. Even with utmost caution, they could only passively await danger's arrival.

"Give the Helmsman more Ghost Stones—we must leave the Han Jiang as fast as possible. Only when we reach Qingcheng Wharf will we be truly safe!" Tian Ruichi ordered.

"We've already given too much. At this rate, we'll run out in half a day," Jing Yan said, spreading his hands helplessly.

Half a day—based on our prior progress, that's only crossed one-third of the Han Jiang. What then? Everything beyond is a question.

"One step at a time. Let's have the Helmsman take us to the farthest point he can reach," Tian Ruichi said without hesitation.

Jing Yan opened his mouth to speak, but Fang Yue raised a hand to stop him, shaking his head slightly.

"Brother Tian, leave the Han Jiang boat to your judgment."

The Helmsman honored the Heaven Sword's reputation by sailing with a Heaven Sword disciple—he wouldn't likely let us come to harm.

Taking Jing Yan below deck, Fang Yue saw Zhenqing drawing something on a table.

Fang Yue glanced at it, frowning slightly—he couldn't understand it.

The paper was covered in crooked, chaotic strokes—seeming to hold some connection or logic, yet upon closer inspection, made no sense at all.

"Zhenqing, what are you drawing?"

"A nautical chart!"

"A nautical chart? You understand this?"

Fang Yue looked out the window—at the endless Han Jiang—and looked utterly baffled.

"Wind direction, current speed, the sun's setting position… all these help me build data. Also, Tian Ruichi told me many details—I can barely sketch a rough version… But Brother Ye, look here."

Zhenqing pulled Fang Yue over and pointed at two diagonal lines on the chart.

"Brother Ye, what do you think these are?"

"... Lines?"

"... Well, lines are correct… but I mean, these are the intended course lines. They should be straight—but now, we've deviated."

"Deviation? Unlikely. Did you miscalculate? The Helmsman controls the entire ship—he's crossed Hanjiang Wharf for years. He wouldn't make a mistake."

"Brother Ye, I'm not confident either. But based on all known data, we've definitely deviated. We're still in the early stage—if we continue, we'll likely reach land here."

As she spoke, Zhenqing tapped twice on a small black dot in the upper-left corner of the chart.

"... Just tell me what place it is—no need to point."

"It's the main base of the Flame Sect—their mountain gate!"

Fang Yue froze.

"The Flame Sect? What's the connection between the Han Jiang Giant Boat and the Flame Sect? Why would we deviate to their mountain gate?"

"I don't know."

Jing Yan glanced toward the cabin entrance and lowered his voice: "Brother Ye, Tian Ruichi might be suspicious. You don't know—he was the first to board. We have no idea if he gave the Helmsman any Golden Stones. We didn't even understand the boat's mechanism back then. When you showed up, we panicked—our attention was entirely off him. By the time we regained our senses, the boat had already set sail, and our destination was unknown."

"Impossible! Why would that kid Tian Ruichi harm us?" Jing Yan slammed his hand on the table, unable to bear it.

Zhenqing raised an eyebrow: "I didn't say he wants to harm us. I'm just warning Brother Ye to be cautious."

"That's the same as saying Tian Ruichi is suspicious…"

"I only trust data."

"Your data isn't accurate!"

Zhenqing's face darkened: "I'll prove it's precise. You, with your intellect, should've noticed the anomaly around the same time I did—but you refuse to learn even basic navigation knowledge."

"I… I didn't have the conditions. I'd never seen this before!"

"Everyone has a phone now. How is it impossible to download some reference material offline?"

Jing Yan's face flushed: "I just didn't have the conditions! Stop nagging me!"

Jing Yan glared at Zhenqing, then stormed out, muttering: "What level of strength does it take to get a phone from that female demon? Preferably one with internet…"

Fang Yue paused, glanced at the confused Zhenqing, then at Jing Yan's retreating back, and whispered: "Could he be henpecked?"

"Strange—I never heard he's married."

"Then he's got a girlfriend. If she controls his phone, she's got serious control. Is Jing Yan really that outstanding in real life?"

"I don't know..." Qingchen shook her head. "He rarely talks about real-life matters."

Fang Yue shrugged. Everyone had secrets, just like the matter of the alliance — he rarely brought it up with people like Jing Yan.

But this matter, he'd have to tell them sooner or later; he just needed the right moment.

Fang Yue was still thinking when suddenly a black shadow flashed before his eyes, tracing a graceful arc, leaping in through the cabin window and landing on the blueprint.

Fang Yue and Qingchen froze for a beat, then looked down — to their astonishment, that black shadow was actually a fish, an ugly fish covered in blood-red little eyes!

Before the two of them could collect themselves...

Plop!

Plop!

Plop plop plop!!

One after another, hideous-looking strange fish frantically leapt through the cabin window into the cabin, as if scrambling to be first.

Only then did the two of them snap back to their senses. Their faces changed drastically, and exchanging a glance, they both bolted outside.

"Something's wrong, you guys hurry—"

Fang Yue had just rushed onto the deck and opened his mouth to speak when he was instantly stunned by the scene before him and fell silent.

(End of chapter)