Wei Yanchi spoke softly to Zhang Ninde.
"I remember. I remember our third senior brother."
Zhang Ninde paused, then smiled and shook his head.
The two were about to say more when the entire ship lurched violently, nearly throwing them to the floor.
The captain and first mate frantically worked the ship's controls, turning back to shout, "Find somewhere to take cover! A wave's coming! Hurry! The wind's too strong!"
The ship was by no means small, but against the vast ocean, it was little more than a child's toy, tossed about by nature. As it rose and fell with the waves, the people inside were jolted around as though undergoing some kind of astronaut training.
Xie De had not yet returned to his room. The jolt loosened his grip, and Coal Ball jumped to the floor. Reacting quickly, he braced himself against the ship with one hand and caught the rambling Daoist Liu with the other.
Coal Ball bounded straight toward the front and hissed into the sea wind.
"Oof." With his support, Daoist Liu straightened his back and stood upright. Stroking his long beard, the old man planted himself firmly, still vigorous despite his age. "These waves really are something, Mr. 39. I doubt we can turn back now. Just look at how strong the wind is."
Xie De said expressionlessly, "And you think we can move forward?"
Xie De had his right hand clamped tightly around the window frame. He, too, stood firmly, his body not swaying in the slightest. Outside the cabin window, he saw towering waves battering the hull. The shaking inside was enough to churn everyone's brains into a smooth mixture, and it was making his stomach feel uneasy.
*In conditions like these, wouldn't stubbornly pressing ahead get us swallowed by the waves without