Chapter 425: Dark Chess

The Mask of the Comedy King stuck on Zhang Lisheng’s forehead did not let the Wizard Li tribal Conqueror’s terrifyingly fierce aura caused by his disappointment to leak out at all, allowing Hanoo, who was staring faraway at the quiet sea, to be unaware of anything as he continued to add, “Well, it’s not that I’m entirely unfamiliar with it. After all, all voyages related to the Hellfire sea region would represent a lucrative profit, be it the ocean trade across continents, or carry out illegal trades with the natives on the Hellfire Archipelago, or to loot their precious local specialties. The problem is that the Hellfire sea region is just too, too, too dangerous! Nobody has ever drawn a complete nautical chart before. Besides, we’ve drifted onto this island after experiencing a storm, so we do not understand where we actually are now… Ah, forget it, the more frustrating it is, the more I talk about it. I’ll tell you some good news, lest you jump into the sea and commit suicide. First, you don’t have to worry about food and freshwater. Most of the sailors from Kattaman City State are good fishermen, and they can turn the sea into a granary as long as they have a strong fishing line and a hook. Second, the reason Captain Anduki can become the captain is mainly that he has mastered the Water Purifying Spell. For this reason, as long as we still have him, the sea will become our reservoir. Also, even though we don’t have a nautical chart, nor knowing specifically where this island is, fortunately, we have an excellent navigator. He has studied in the Institute of Navigation for five years on astronomical knowledge and has lived at sea for a whole 25 years. He has adequate knowledge of the ocean currents, distributions of fish schools and reefs, and the rule of where the sea monsters were hiding, so he is at least 20% confident in taking the ship back safely to Venis City.”

“And that navigator is you, Hanoo? You’ve mentioned so many favorable conditions, but why do you only have 20% confidence in letting me escape to your city-state alive?” Zhang Lisheng raised his head and asked with a wry smile.

“This is already a very high risk, young man. It already requires twice the blessing from God!” Hanoo became silent for a while before answering in a deep voice. “I hope the ship they find is good enough. It especially needs to have strong sails…”

The instant the navigator’s words left his mouth, as though God immediately gave a blessing, a sailor ran up to him excitedly and said, “Sir Hanoo, the Captain has already picked the ship. An intact ship of two stories and six masts. Other than that, the cabin is a little low, and the wood is a little old, there’s nothing else that is wrong with it.”

“Is that so? Wow, it really is a blessing from the Gods!” Hanoo nodded and ignored Zhang Lisheng, proceeding to walk towards the wooden ship parked in the harbor all by himself.

“Even though 20% is low, five 20% would be equal to 100% already. It’s not like I can’t catch five navigators from that Venis City anyway…”

At the berth on the wooden ship that they picked, the sailors pulled up the miscellaneous items the women found onto the deck using cables and then used the ropes to tie the women’s waist before pulling them up one by one.

“Hanoo, can you climb up with your old arms and legs?” Standing outside the ship and looking up at the ship’s side that was about ten meters high, Zhang Lisheng walked up to Hanoo, who had come to a stop, and casually asked.

“I’m only 45 years old, not an old man yet. I can even climb up an ocean-going ship that has a hundred-meter long mast, let alone the ship’s side of this small wooden ship. An outsider like you, on the other hand, shouldn’t force yourself instead. Having strong strength means nothing so watch out and don’t fall to your death!” Upon hearing the word ‘old,’ Hanoo seemed to be immediately infuriated as he replied with a grave expression.

“Hanoo, you don’t have this profession called ‘wushu master’ in your country so perhaps you don’t know that not only do we have great strength…” Zhang Lisheng did not get angry but chuckled instead. With a flash of his body, he leaped up high like a monkey. As though his palm had some suction power, he gently held onto the wooden ship for support and then landed silently on the deck.

The sailors in the surrounding felt something flash across their eyes and the next instant, Zhang Lisheng was already standing beside them. At once, astonishment crept upon their faces. At this moment, they finally remembered that this young man no longer had any use now, but he had saved their lives recently. He was a strong person who could win against the barbaric Hellfire tribesman with just both of his fists, so there was a hint of admiration and respect in their eyes when they looked at him.

Even Anduki could not help but study Zhang Lisheng from top to bottom solemnly before making a remark, “Leaping over the height of thirty feet has already exceeded the limits that the human body can reach. Mr. Lisheng, looks like you must have really mastered some very magical powers. If we’re unlucky enough to encounter any dangerous monsters at sea, I hope you can help.”

“Captain Anduki, there’s only one power that a wushu master had mastered, which is ‘Qi’!” Just like how Zhang Lisheng’s strength had increased several times compared to before after he absorbed the monkey king beast’s soul, he could also gradually use some invisible force in his human state after absorbing the Eye Beast King’s soul.

It was a good time for him to hoodwink them now, so the young man stretched his body and an invisible repulsion immediately pushed the sailors beside him away gently. Then, he put both of his palms together and said, “We use ‘Qi’ to penetrate our body to defend against a strong enemy and save our comrade. When we come across danger in this time of trouble, of course, I won’t just stand idly by the side doing nothing.”

In a civilization that had sorcery and power, this inconceivable, incredible power would create a commotion. The sailors that Zhang Lisheng’s invisible force pushed away immediately exclaimed in surprise one after another.

“I-I moved! My dear Lord! Some invisible force pushed me away just now! This is amazing!”

“Is this mana? So we’re actually saved by a warlock? No wonder… No wonder…”

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“Even though we don’t have a weapon, we can at least fight against ordinary sea monsters now! This is too great…”

At once, they forgot that they still had the task of pulling the women on board.

It was only until Anduki had scolded them in time that they did not delay much time. In the end, before the sun rose in the east, they finally raised the sail.

Looking at how the canvas was smoothly pulled up the mast by the rope with the help of the pulley, Anduki, whose waist was bent in the steering cabin turning the rudder with one hand, muttered subconsciously in worry, “What an advanced sail equipment! Even the craftsmanship of the best shipyards in the Kattaman City State could not beat this. The weaving of the sails is also unbelievably tenacious and light. The cabins are built according to the small body size of the Hellfire people and by abandoning such a good ship in the old port, it only goes to show that the Hellfire people on this island have mastered extremely superb shipbuilding skills. They made the ships we saw when we just walked out of the jungle just now and not stolen.”

“There’s nothing strange about this, Captain. These Hellfire tribesmen live in a jungle that has countless pieces of solid wood that can be used as keels. The silk shot out by those big spiders rode by those warriors should be able to weave a strong solid canvas. They’re the blessed sons of this island and they have unique conditions for shipbuilding. As long as they master some simple techniques…”

“Hanoo, you don’t get what I said. Just think about it! If it’s just for the sake of fishing, why would the Hellfire tribesmen build such huge ships with the length of a thousand feet? They need not sail far to fish! Just like you said, they’re the blessed sons of the island…”

“You mean… T-They’re building the ships to make an expedition to the Kattaman City State?!”

“Well, it’s impossible for an island so far away to make an expedition to the Kattaman City State, but they can become powerful pirates who rob commercial fleets and plunder coastal city-states. Our Venis City would definitely bear the brunt!”

“That’s right! you’re right, Captain! Just how far can a storm wash us to, anyway? This island must not be too far from our city-state! This is troublesome now…”

Next to the lookout window of the short but not narrow steering cabin, Zhang Lisheng heard the discussion filled with the imaginary fear between Anduki and Hanoo and could not help but chime in, not knowing whether to laugh or cry, “Captain Anduki, Hanoo, can we please stop debating whether the reason the midgets built these ships are for fishing or pirating or something else for the time being? The ship has already left the port, and we have already begun our fleeing at sea. Isn’t it better for us to take care of our own lives first?”

“Don’t worry, Zhang Lisheng. There are no reefs nor sea monsters within the 30 miles of all the islands of Hellfire sea regions. There are only abundant fish schools for, the Hellfire tribesmen are the beloved sons of the island!” Hanoo looked at the sun that was gradually revealing its sunlight at the east and said in a low voice.

“Is it so? Looks like I know nothing about the ocean at all. In that case, I’ll just keep my mouth shut and go to the deck to see whether the sailors have managed to catch anything or not. After the long night yesterday, I’m completely starving!” Zhang Lisheng was stunned for a while before spreading his arms and bent his waist as he walked out of the steering cabin.

The outdoor air was refreshing. The seabirds that had just left their nests hovered around the boat, shrieking loudly as they were competing for the organs of the marine fishes dug out by the sailors.

The young man walked to the side of the ship and looked at the catch that had already filled half of the bucket beside the sailors’ feet. He crouched down and took out the fattest scaleless big fish and skinned it directly, before stripping its flesh off and putting it into his mouth. Extending his head out, he looked into the sea and could see the fish swimming in the sea. “Looks like Navigator Hanoo was right. There’s indeed many fish around the Hellfire Archipelago.”

“Mr. Li Sheng, the Hellfire tribesmen are the beloved sons of the island. Actually, they can just rely on fishing to fill their stomachs and live carefree lives basking under the sun and under a tree. Unfortunately, the brutal nature of these barbarians made them reluctant to live such a heavenly life!” A sailor closest to Zhang Lisheng saw the young man coming up to him so he immediately tried to fawn over him. “You like eating big harfey fish? I’ll change my bait and catch another one for you. By the time you’re full, we won’t have to be afraid anymore if we encounter any sea monster!”

With life-saving gratitude as the minor reason and the ‘Qi’ made up by Zhang Lisheng as the major reason, Zhang Lisheng had already obtained a relatively high position among the refugees.

“This fish is called big harfey fish? It’s really delicious! It has some sweetness in it…” Upon hearing the sailor’s fawning, the young man nodded and looked at the island that was gradually getting far away before casually remarking.

At this time, his gaze continued to look forward and crossed over the heavy waterway and landed on a huge port, as he could see that there were already three 200-meter-long steel ships that were already ready to go.

In front of the lookout window of the iron ship leading the troops, a young aborigine that was wearing a blue short robe weaved from wood fiber to cover his nether regions with two colorful feathers on his head, was watching ahead through a telescope carved out from a log with two pieces of clear glass inlaid inside while shouting his commands, “With the rights given by the god of Wizard Li, I order, ignite the steam turbine!”