After lingering in Tian Nan Prefecture City for another day and handling all their affairs, the Four Seas Trading Company's fleet finally set sail for home.
It was the end of the year. The Minor Cold solar term had passed, and the air was filled with a biting chill.
The leaden-gray sky hung low. Sparse snowflakes, like fine grains of salt, drifted silently down, leaving fleeting white spots on the surface of the sea before vanishing without a trace.
The frigid wind whipped up the waves and battered the hull, bringing a bone-piercing cold.
Chen Yuan stood at the bow, letting the cold wind brush his face. Snowflakes landed on his shoulders, only to be steamed into wisps of white vapor by the vigorous, searing qi and blood within him.
He watched the magnificent prefectural city gradually shrink and blur in his vision, then finally disappear below the horizon, yet his heart held little reluctance.
The prefectural city was fine, but it was not his homeland.
The fleet sailed out of the busy harbor and entered the waters of the Nan Cang River. After adjusting its course, it headed northeast toward Lin Hai County.
Wang Meng rubbed his hands and walked out of the cabin, white vapor puffing from his mouth. He came over to Chen Yuan and said, "We're finally going home. This prefectural city is nice, but it's not comfortable staying there. There are too many rules, and everything costs more. Lin Hai County is still more comfortable."
Sun Yun followed him out as well. She glanced north with her cool, clear eyes and said softly, "The New Year is almost here. It's time to go back."
Li Wei and Zhou Tai were confirming the route with the Boat Captain.
Zhou Tai looked at the gloomy sky and the sea, his brows drawing together slightly. "What cursed weather... I hope the journey goes smoothly and we can make it back before the Little New Year."
The fleet traveled along the coastline. At first, the voyage was fairly steady. Though the wind was bitterly cold, the sea remained relatively calm.
Most of them stayed inside the cabins to keep warm, only coming out occasionally to stretch their limbs.
Chen Yuan, however, trained with his saber on deck every day without fail.
The Cold Ripple Blade flashed and wheeled in his hands, its blade light icy and austere, perfectly matching the winter weather.
Snowflakes that came within three feet of the blade edge were shredded and evaporated by invisible force.
His comprehension of the Cold River Spirit Blade Saber Canon grew ever deeper, especially of the "Cold Silence" artistic conception. Practicing amid this frozen world brought twice the results with half the effort.
Watching Chen Yuan train so hard, Wang Meng could not help muttering to Sun Yun, "I truly admire Junior Brother Chen's drive. Forget becoming Top Scholar in this County Examination—even in the Prefecture Examination and Province Examination, he'll surely have a place in the future."
"Maybe one day, our Blackwater Martial Arts School will produce another martial arts grandmaster with a title like Master Zhao's 'Cold Abyss Saber'!"
Sun Yun nodded slightly. Her gaze settled on Chen Yuan's steady back, and a trace of imperceptible admiration flashed through her eyes. She said softly, "Heaven rewards diligence."
That day, the fleet reached the waters of Black Mountain Corner, which they had safely passed through before. The shores on both sides suddenly became steep cliffs, and the area was sparsely populated, with dense forests covering the land like a veil.
Everyone remained alert. After all, this was the lair of several fierce bands of River Bandits. Relying on the complicated waterways and perilous terrain, they plundered passing ships and were notorious for their viciousness.
Suddenly, several merchant ships that should have been heading north appeared ahead. They had turned their bows around and were now fleeing south in panic.
The ships' sails were torn and their masts damaged. Their hulls even bore enormous claw marks and deep dents from impacts. They had clearly been through a fierce battle.
"What happened?" Zhou Tai's expression tightened, and he immediately ordered someone to send a flag signal asking them.
On one of the ships opposite, a man with a face full of panic shouted back. His voice came in broken fragments, torn apart by the sea wind. "...Turn back quickly! The way ahead is blocked!"
"The Pinghai Division... the Pinghai Division has sealed off the sea! There are Demonic Beasts... so many Demonic Beasts are breaking through the cordon! Get away!"
The Pinghai Division had sealed off the sea? Demonic Beasts were breaking through the cordon?
Everyone's expression changed. The Pinghai Division was responsible for security across the Vast Sea and possessed immense authority, but it would not seal off the sea without good reason. Once it did, something major had surely happened. Yet this was not even the open sea—how could Demonic Beasts dare attack the defensive line?
Just then, faintly from the waters ahead came shrill screams and furious roars. They could even hear the whistling of crossbow bolts and the clash of weapons!
"Prepare for battle! Everyone, prepare for battle!"
Zhou Tai was an experienced man. He immediately roared at the top of his lungs and drew the saber from his waist.
At the same time, he shouted at the helmsman, "Turn us around at once!"
The sailors and escorts aboard the ship sprang into action as well. Heavy crossbows were strung and blades were drawn. In an instant, the atmosphere became taut to the breaking point.
Li Wei, Chen Yuan, and the others immediately came to the rail and focused on the direction of the sounds.
In the distance, several warships flying the Pinghai Division's dark-black dragon banners had formed a defensive circle. Ballistae and archers were desperately pouring a rain of arrows into the sea.
Beneath the surface, countless huge, twisted black shadows were charging the formation madly, as though gone berserk!
From time to time, enormous, hideous Demonic Beasts leaped from the water, trailing seawater and the stench of blood as they fearlessly pounced on the warships and engaged the soldiers aboard in savage combat.
The battle had clearly been going on for some time. Broken planks, debris, and bright-red blood floated across the sea. They could even see shattered corpses rising and falling with the waves...
"Not good! Stragglers are breaking through!" Wang Meng shouted in alarm, pointing toward the front side of the fleet.
"Looks like we can't avoid them." Li Wei's brows sank.
The Demonic Beasts, naturally, had no intention of avoiding them either. They charged straight toward the fleet.
As the distance closed, everyone could clearly see seven or eight Demonic Beasts shaped like enormous crocodiles. Thick, dark-green scales covered their bodies, and dagger-like fangs bristled inside their mouths.
Two of the black shadows radiated especially savage and violent auras. They were also noticeably larger, their scales darker—almost ink-green—and cruel bloodlust glittered in their eyes. They were unmistakably Second-Order Demonic Beasts, equivalent to martial artists of the Tendon Changing Realm.
The remaining five or six were First-Order Demonic Beasts, equivalent to the Skin Grinding Realm, but they were still far beyond the strength of ordinary martial artists.
"Not good! They're Black Scale Crocodiles!"
Zhou Tai's expression changed dramatically. Merchant ships had weak defenses and could never withstand the charge of so many Black Scale Crocodiles, especially the two Second-Order Black Scale Crocodiles. Their defenses were practically useless against them.
"Brother Li, you and I will deal with those two Second-Order beasts. We absolutely cannot let them get near the cargo ship." Zhou Tai made his decision at once and shouted at Li Wei.
"Good."
Li Wei nodded heavily without hesitation, his long saber already in hand.
"The rest of you, form a defensive formation and hold off those First-Order Demonic Beasts!"
Zhou Tai ordered the escorts and sailors aboard the ship, then turned to Chen Yuan and the other two. "The three of you, I'm counting on you! You must hold back those First-Order Demonic Beasts and buy us time."
"Rest assured, Chief Escort Zhou!" Wang Meng shouted. He clenched his fists, which gleamed with a metallic sheen.
Sun Yun silently nodded and drew her sword, its cold light flashing. With her other hand, she took out a specially made hand crossbow.
Chen Yuan said nothing. He merely tightened his grip on the Cold Ripple Blade, his eyes cold as a blade as he locked onto the rapidly approaching First-Order Demonic Beasts.
In the blink of an eye, the Demonic Beasts had already reached the front of the fleet.
Crash!
Water exploded!
Five or six vicious First-Order Black Scale Crocodiles used the force of the water to leap from the sea. Trailing a fishy, foul sea wind, they opened their cavernous jaws and pounced toward the ship's rail.
At the same time, the two larger Second-Order Crocodile Demons locked onto the positions of Zhou Tai and Li Wei, whose auras were the strongest. Like cannonballs fired from their barrels, they slammed toward them.
They had clearly sensed that these two posed the greatest threat and intended to eliminate them first.
"You vile beasts, die!"
Zhou Tai roared and met one of the Second-Order Crocodile Demons head-on. Li Wei also swung his long saber, its blade light streaming like a bolt of silk. The battle erupted in an instant.
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