None of Them Could Swim!

These three words resonated deeply, carrying a strange weight.

A deeper silence instantly fell over the carriage.

The next moment, Dugu Yan and Hu Liena's pretty faces flushed red, and even Ye Lingling's cool and jade-like ears were quietly tinged with a light pink.

They all understood the unyielding force in Lin Xia's words; it wasn't disdain, but rather a... almost domineering protectiveness or possessiveness?

This made the three women feel as if they had been gently tickled by a feather, a strange and indescribable flutter in their hearts.

"Oh..."

Dugu Yan responded softly, her voice no longer languid, but instead carrying a hint of barely Frisk shyness and obedience.

Hu Liena pursed her red lips and didn't refute anymore, but her fox-like eyes shimmered, and it was unclear what she was thinking.

Ye Lingling simply put on a veil, completely blocking out the view from the outside.

The three women boarded the carriage together.

Sure enough, once the three stunning beauties had completely disappeared into the carriage, the number of eyes on Lin Xia and her group on the street decreased by more than half.

Although Lin Xia and her two companions stood out among the men in terms of appearance and demeanor, they ultimately wouldn't attract the same sensational attention as stunningly beautiful women. The group also quickened its pace considerably.

They found a hotel that looked fairly clean and tidy in the western part of Vast Sea City, near the inner harbor area – the "Sea Tide Inn".

The hotel is of medium size, with a stone and wood structure and a distinct seaside architectural style. The windows are large and well-ventilated, and the air is filled with a faint smell of sun-dried wood mixed with the sea breeze.

After settling the carriages and luggage, the group was divided into several adjacent superior rooms.

After a quick wash and a short rest, the fatigue from the Pokémon Journeys subsided somewhat, but the heavy feeling brought by the tragedy in Qingshui Village and the ferocity of the Wolf Bandit, as well as the unknown of facing the vast sea, still lingered in everyone's minds.

Lin Xia gathered her friends in her slightly larger room.

The room was simply furnished with a wooden table and a few chairs. Opening the window revealed rows of rooftops in the distance and the faintly visible horizon further away.

I went out for a walk.

Lin Xia stood by the window, her back to everyone, and spoke in a calm voice, breaking the silence in the room.

He turned around and glanced at his companions.

"I bought some essentials for going to sea: fresh water, long-lasting dry food, emergency medicine, and several thick waterproof cloaks. Most importantly,"

He paused.

I've rented a boat.

Everyone perked up and all eyes were on him.

"The boat isn't very big, but it's sturdy enough. The owner is an experienced sea dog who's been in this area for over twenty years. I've already paid the deposit and instructed him to prepare for the voyage."

Lin Xia walked to the table and sat down.

"The ship owner said he needed a day to prepare, inspect the vessel, replenish supplies, and recruit the necessary crew. So, we'll set sail early the day after tomorrow."

He looked around, his gaze becoming exceptionally serious, and threw out a seemingly simple yet extremely crucial question.

"Before we set sail, there's something I need to ask everyone."

He leaned forward slightly, his gaze sweeping over Xie Yue, Yan, Hu Liena, Dugu Yan, Ye Lingling one by one, and asked, word by word:

"Which of you can swim?"

The moment the question was asked, the air in the room seemed to freeze instantly.

For the first time, Xie Yue's usually calm and Sharpness face showed obvious surprise and... embarrassment.

He subconsciously straightened his back, his lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but in the end he just slightly looked away, his eyes revealing a hint of barely Frisk embarrassment.

As the leader of the Golden Generation and a genius Soul Master specializing in agility-based attacks, he is as swift as Gui Mei on land, but the word "swimming" clearly touches upon a blind spot in his knowledge.

He grew up in Spirit City, where training grounds, forests, and mountains were his main habitats. Water?

At most, it's a bathtub for soaking after training.

Yan's reaction was much more direct.

His angular, fiery face flushed instantly, as if something sore spot had been touched, and he retorted gruffly:

"Swimming? Are you kidding me! My Martial Soul is the Flame Lord! Fire! Understand? Fire and water are mortal enemies! I'd be lucky if I didn't sink to the bottom after jumping into the water! Swimming?"

He waved his fists, as if trying to dispel the idea that made him extremely uncomfortable, but a hint of instinctive fear of the unknown depths also flashed in the depths of his eyes.

Hu Liena blinked her captivating fox-like eyes, her long eyelashes fluttering a few times, and an expression that was a mixture of innocence and forced composure appeared on her face.

"Uh... well..."

She drew out her words, her fingers unconsciously twirling a strand of red hair.

"Spirit City... it seems like there's nowhere to learn this? The fountain pool in the Pope Hall is quite beautiful... but wouldn't you get arrested if you jumped in to swim?"

She tried to mask it with a joke, but her slightly flickering eyes betrayed her unfamiliarity with water and a hint of hidden unease.

Dugu Yan, on the other hand, appeared relatively calm. She crossed her arms and leaned against the wall, her dark green skirt outlining her graceful curves. She curled her lip, with a hint of queenly disdain.

"Swimming? Ha, my Martial Soul is a snake, of course snakes can swim. But..."

She changed the subject, her tone carrying a hint of helplessness and disdain.

"The problem is, I can't do that! Martial Soul is Martial Soul, and a person is a person. Do you expect me to wriggle around in the water like a snake?"

She rolled her eyes gracefully, clearly feeling that this skill was detrimental to her image.

Ye Lingling remained quietly seated in the corner, like a solitary orchid in a secluded valley.

Faced with Lin Xia's questioning gaze, she simply shook her head gently and slowly.

Her silvery-white hair swayed slightly with her movements.

Her eyes were clear and calm, without embarrassment or explanation, as if she were stating a very simple fact.

Won't.

The Nine Heart Begonia Soul Master focuses on healing, and the world underwater is equally unfamiliar territory to her.

Seeing her companions looking at each other blankly, their faces filled with expressions of "I don't know," "I haven't learned this," and "It's not suitable," Lin Xia was also stunned.

His lips twitched, finally settling into a bitter laugh filled with deep helplessness and absurdity, and he slapped his forehead heavily with his hand.

"No way... nobody... doesn't know how to do this?!"

A deeper silence fell over the room, broken only by the faint sound of the ocean waves outside the window, as if mocking the first and most basic problem facing these Land Soul Masters who were about to conquer the sea.

The power emanating from the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud was still flowing through his body, but facing this boundless blue, without the ability to swim, even the strongest power seemed somewhat... unreliable.

Looking at the faces before her—some embarrassed, some annoyed, some feigning composure, and some indifferent calm— Lin Xia took a deep breath, momentarily at a loss for words!