Wind and rain battered the sea, and the ship struggled onward, battling death every minute, every second.
Rolling waves crashed against the ship. The storm had already lasted three days.
The crew's faith was on the verge of collapse. Some prayed; others struggled in agony.
Rumble...
The captain held the helm steady with all his strength, enduring the violent discomfort brought on by the storm while his eyes kept straying uncontrollably toward the black tempest ahead.
"Everyone, hold on tight! Don't panic!!"
The captain roared.
Panicking now would do nothing but hasten their deaths.
The wind howled. Ropes and chains flew overhead, threatening their lives at any moment.
Rumble-!!
The distant tempest was closing in on the ship at a speed visible to the naked eye, its roar growing ever more piercing.
There was no doubt that when this tempest reached the ship,
this vessel, which seemed like a behemoth to human eyes, would be mercilessly ground to dust.
The next moment, an invisible current seemed to spread outward, suppressing that savage force.
The dark clouds dispersed, and the tempest at their center swiftly subsided.
Like a fierce beast that had been soothed,
"The storm's gone! The storm's gone!"
The captain froze for a few seconds, then roared in excitement.
The people aboard let out excited shouts.
"We survived!! We survived!"
Some lay on the deck and wept bitterly, celebrating their escape from death.
"Hahaha, I'm not dead! I'm not dead!"
"..."
Sunlight spilled onto their cheeks again. That warmth was beyond words.
They shouted in excitement, so much so that they failed to notice a little boat slowly approaching them.
The little boat's owner called out, but they ignored him too.
So Li Ping'an raised his voice and called several more times.
Only then did the captain notice him.