Search, Part 1

Ci Tong Port.

One after another, twelve-masted merchant ships, lined up and ready for a long voyage, were lowering their anchors, hoisting their sails, and turning their rudders.

This caravan is a porcelain fleet heading to the Venice Kingdom, specifically to deliver porcelain from Great Ling to the Venice Kingdom in exchange for gold, silver, and gems.

One of the merchant ships.

Zhang Rongfang, wearing a cloak, gazed at the distant sea.

Behind him were many experts from the Thousand Stone Sect who accompanied him.

The total number of people in the Thousand Stone Sect is actually not large, and it is only a small branch within the Sensing Gate.

Apart from the Thousand Stone Sect leader Zuo Han, who is of above-average strength in the Sensing Gate, and another Protector is also decent, the rest of the people are basically not worth mentioning.

However, after receiving a large supply of resources and money from Zhang Rongfang, the Thousand Stone Sect began to recruit a large number of new disciples, and various pills were given out like water for free.

In just a few months, the entire sect has undergone a complete transformation.

Leaving aside the new disciples, many of the previous group of the Thousand Stone Sect experts were masters of Hard Skill.

With money, they donned full suits of armor, picked up heavy weapons, and became invincible battlefield meat grinders.

"Young master, we need to move quickly this time. We need to check five islands in total, and the journey will take at least six days. This does not include the time spent checking the islands, just the sailing itself."

The person in charge of this voyage was Lin Xiaochi, who had previously reported back to Zhang Rongfang.

He changed into a merchant's robe, concealing his Daoist Sect features. From a distance, he appeared amiable; his disguise was quite effective.

"It's alright, let's hurry up, which island do we go to first?" Zhang Rongfang asked.

"The first and closest one is Harvest Island," Lin Xiaochi replied. "Harvest Island is not big, with a population of about three thousand people. There are two markets where you can buy and sell local specialties."

"What about Snow Kui Island, the most suspicious one?" Zhang Rongfang didn't believe that a small island with only three thousand people could have the strength to plunder his treasure-hunting fleet.

"Snow Kui Island has even fewer people, only a little over a thousand, but there are many reefs around it, so large ships can't dock," Lin Xiaochi replied.

"What about the other islands? Which one has the largest population?" Zhang Rongfang frowned.

"The island with the most people should be Purple Whale Island. It's a fairly large island, but it's quite far away and deviates a lot from our planned route," Lin Xiaochi replied.

Zhang Rongfang pondered for a moment.

"In that case, let's go to Purple Whale Island first, conduct a concentrated search for the bounty, and once we've confirmed there's nothing there, then we can move on to other places."

After all, the island with the most people is bound to have the best information network.

"Understood." Lin Xiaochi nodded.

"Also, make sure you actually load some goods. Since you're going out to sea anyway, you might as well sell some goods on the side and earn some extra money," Zhang Rongfang reminded him.

"Understood, subordinate." Lin Xiaochi turned around and walked towards the ship's rudder, preparing to give instructions on the next route.

This large ship will not only use sails, but also oars, thus relying on human power.

"Young master."

At this moment, a master from the Thousand Stone Sect stepped forward and whispered.

"If it's Snow Kui Island in the Venice Kingdom, I do have some recollection of it."

This expert had a mustache, a strong build, and a bare chest with a hideous scar down his spine.

"Oh? Tell me about it?" Zhang Rongfang looked at the man, showing some interest.

"Yes. Ships frequently go missing near Snow Kui Island. I estimate that there is a long-standing pirate gang operating in the nearby waters."

Therefore, if we are looking for Treasure Hunting Team, I suggest we start by searching the area around Snow Kui Island.

The other islands are relatively safe, so there's no need to waste too much time going up there.

Zhang Rongfang pondered for a moment, then nodded in agreement.

"Alright, let's go to Snow Kui Island, the most suspicious island, first, to avoid leaking information and being discovered by the murderer so they can escape."

"Yes!" the people around him replied in unison.

Someone immediately went to find Lin Xiaochi at the ship's wheelhouse.

"What's your name?" Zhang Rongfang asked the Thousand Stone Sect expert who had spoken up to remind him.

"Ruyi name is Tian Ruyi," the man replied in a low voice.

"You seem to have been at sea quite often in the past?" Zhang Rongfang asked with a smile.

"Yes, I'm quite familiar with the dozen or so pirate groups in the nearby waters. For example, the Thorn Spear Pirate Gang, the Tarot Pirate Gang, the Sea King Pirate Gang, the Blood God Pirate Gang, and the Mijasha Pirate Gang." Tian Ruyi spoke of pirates as if she knew them all by heart.

He continued, somewhat embarrassed.

"Actually, I used to be a pirate. Later, I joined the Thousand Stone Sect and have been living on the surface ever since."

"Then tell me. How strong are the various factions among these pirates?" Zhang Rongfang asked in a low voice.

"The forces vary in strength, and there are also martial artists who Worship Gods, but they are all on a very small scale," Tian Ruyi replied.

Suddenly, an idea popped into Zhang Rongfang: "Small-scale Worship God." Perhaps, he could take this opportunity to explore the entire structure of Worship God, from the Statue to the Spirit Vein Spirit Guard.

I previously saw in the Secret Cache that a Worship God warrior who could completely destroy an entire sect by shattering the Core Statue.

So what does the Core Statue look like?

What dangerous reactions would occur if he shattered it? Zhang Rongfang had originally only intended to obtain the Main Herb himself, but upon learning of this situation, a new idea immediately came to mind.

Suddenly the ship shuddered slightly, slowly left the Dock, and sailed away into the distance with the wind blowing.

***In the early hours of the morning.

Snow Kui Island.

Zhou Xinlan carefully carried the freshly chopped firewood into the woodshed, and as usual, piled the firewood into the woodpile.

Outside, the sound of waves crashing against the shore rose and fell in waves, accompanied by the snoring of the Blood God Pirates.

Unconsciously, Zhou Xinlan thought of Cheng Luo's appearance during the day again.

For some reason, even though that scene was almost identical to before, he just couldn't forget it. It felt as if it had just happened.

At this moment, he still vividly remembered the expression on Cheng Luo's face and the emotions revealed in his eyes.

Do you want to leave here? Leave this island?

Before he knew it, Cheng Luo's voice echoed in his ears again.

Zhou Xinlan subconsciously glanced at the spot where Cheng Luo had been hiding; it was empty and there was nothing there.

A thought struck him, and he walked to another pile of firewood.

He peered into an abandoned vat behind the woodpile.

Sure enough, inside, there was a tightly wrapped black bundle.

This is Yu Xiang Coral, Treasure Medicine that Cheng Luo protected at all costs.

She said that this Treasure Medicine was the most important thing he left the island with.

Zhou Xinlan silently reached out and picked up the package, then looked it over and found it too conspicuous.

He quickly opened the bundle, revealing an exquisite Black Wood Box inside.

Upon opening the box again, at the very back, was a Yellow-Brown Coral that looked very much like an ordinary tree branch.

Zhou Xinlan up, weighed it in her hand, and found it to be quite heavy.

He tossed aside the box and its wrapping, picked up the coral, and stuffed it into his clothes.

Then turn around.

Call!!

Suddenly, a pair of huge eyes stared straight at him from behind.

That was a Ghost Mask Man!

He grinned, his eyes fixed greedily on Zhou Xinlan.

What were you looking for just now?

"Found a box, mine!" Zhou Xinlan was slightly sweaty, and his heart was pounding rapidly.

He quickly imitated the tone of voice used by the other Ghost Mask Man when they were snatching the treasure.

"This is none of your business," Zhou Xinlan added.

The Ghost Mask Man didn't say anything. He turned around and slowly left.

As Zhou Xinlan watched his departing figure, he suddenly realized that today was another day for the Blood God Pirates to go hunting, so there probably weren't many people on the island.

He couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

Having secret treasures is not a big deal on the island; everyone has some personal items to some extent.

Unless it's a fight to the death, they won't expose each other.

He was just worried that the Ghost Mask Man would secretly try to kill him later.

Moreover, if he were to be linked to Cheng Luo from before, he could be killed and eaten if there was even the slightest suspicion! Zhou Xinlan knew about the Blood God Pirates, and he also knew about the Ghost Mask Man.

So he knew he was in danger.

'I can't rely on others to take advantage of me; I have to find a way.'

At that moment, he had only one thought in his mind.

He didn't want to die. He wanted to get out, leave this place, and see the big world Cheng Luo had described, to see other places that were more prosperous and beautiful.

He didn't want to become one of the piles of bones discarded on the island.

After leaving the woodshed, Zhou Xinlan went to the kitchen as usual to prepare water for boiling and cooking rice.

But then he saw the Ghost Mask Man again.

He leaned against a pillar, staring at himself with a melancholy gaze.

"Hehe. You're very nervous," the Ghost Mask Man said nervously.

Zhou Xinlan ignored him and turned to walk towards the kitchen.

He had to think of a way to deliver the note when a fleet passed by. Although the Blood God Pirates were stationed on Snow Kui Island, they usually disguised themselves as islanders and never attacked ships that landed on the island.

They usually target areas further out in the surrounding waters.

Therefore, whenever a merchant ship passed by, it would come to the island to trade some things.

That will be his opportunity.

***A few days later.

Three merchant ships, arranged in a triangular pattern, slowly left three white lines on the sea.

Seabirds circled and called out above.

A large group of sea fish swam and gathered around the boat.

This merchant fleet, ostensibly a merchant convoy, actually had cannons mounted on the sides of each ship, allowing it to be converted into armed merchant vessels in the shortest possible time to repel any enemy.

At this moment, on the deck of the leading ship.

Zhang Rongfang, draped in a blue cloak that covered his entire body, gazed into the distance.

There is an irregularly shaped island there, slowly enlarging and approaching.

"That's Snow Kui Island," Lin Xiaochi explained from the side.

"The islanders who live on the island all worship a Sea God named Mingzi. They call themselves followers of the Snow Kui Sect. They are kind and hospitable. We can exchange goods here."

"Is the ship slowing down? Is it because there are many reefs near Snow Kui Island?" Zhang Rongfang remembered him mentioning that before.

"Yes. Large ships generally can't get close; we can only send small boats. I'm already making arrangements. I'll take some men over to negotiate in a bit. We can ask them if they've seen the Treasure Hunting Team's ships by offering a reward," Lin Xiaochi replied.

"Hmm. But if you just do it this way, even if you encounter the murderer, how will you identify them if they don't confess?" Zhang Rongfang continued to ask.

"There are so many people on the island, it's impossible that not a single one of them would refuse the bounty. Besides, we can also secretly send people to patrol the island," Lin Xiaochi replied.