CHAPTER 672: CHAPTER 129: SETTING SAIL

"Yu Dan’s father died earlier while out at sea on the Bruce Blue Fishing Boat. His mother couldn’t withstand the shock and fell severely ill; she’s still bedridden. There are also younger siblings at home, and he, being the eldest child, is diligent in his efforts, picking up small fish by the seaside to sell at the fish market every day. Recently, in order to raise money for his mother’s medical expenses, his small fish stall was inexplicably closed by the Sea Defense Army. With no income, the child had no choice but to pick colorful shells at the seashore," an informed fisherman told Yue Jinghua and the others.

The child had expressed his desire to dive underwater to collect colorful shell pearls, and from the direction he swam, it seemed he was headed to Treasure Mother Reef, an area offshore that abounds with Pearl Mother Shells.

Upon hearing this, Shalman’s face alternated between red and white, with a hint of regret in her eyes. Although her demeanor is somewhat haughty, she has a good heart. Learning about the child’s pitiful background, she felt even more self-reproach, "I... I didn’t know about the child..."

"Don’t blame yourself. Hurry up and report the situation to the Sea Defense Army and get Long Rui over here as well. It’s getting late; not to mention going out to sea, even finding someone at sea will be inconvenient," Yue Jinghua rubbed her temples.

For some reason, she felt a special responsibility for this child.

Perhaps it was because that night, she witnessed in person the crew on the Bruce Blue being devoured by a Sea Beast, yet she was powerless to intervene.

After Captain Ya Lei and others arrived and listened to what had happened, their expressions grew grave.

Faced with Yue Jinghua’s request to dispatch a ship, General Yalai took a moment to think before he declined: "At this hour, it is not appropriate to dispatch a ship. Even if the child is found, the return to the port would encounter unpredictable dangers."

"Are you suggesting we just ignore the child? It’s clear you are using excuses because the child has no adults at home," Shalman voiced her strong opinion against the local military’s stance. She felt partly responsible for the child’s situation and was eager to bring him back.

"Please understand the defensive capabilities of the port. Tonight coincides with the eighteenth, a period of astronomical tide at Fandi Port, where not only the sea but even the port itself is prone to Sea Beast breaches. We also have our difficulties," Captain Ya Lei explained as the child’s figure had already disappeared from the sea surface when he arrived.

Astronomical tide refers to the situation when sea water ferociously rises and violently falls. During an astronomical tide period, even fishing boats usually have to stay docked at the port to guard against heading to sea.

A Sea Beast breach is a specific term used by the local Sea Defense Army when a Sea Beast rampage occurs at Fandi Port.

Breach refers to when the Sea Beasts from the inner, middle, and outer water layers of Fandi Port at the Low-Middle Stage line up in formation, creating an unstoppable tide bolstered in three layers, wave after wave, furiously battering the sea defense line.

Ya Lei’s older brother, the previous captain of the Sea Defense Army, Yanuo, died during a Sea Beast breach on the second day of an astronomical tide.

As the sky gradually darkened and the sea water ceaselessly washed up the beach then receded, leaving multiple traces of water lines on the sand.

"If they won’t go, we will. I’m not an Imperial Soldier, I don’t need to comply with your arrangements," Shalman grew stubborn, and Long Rui and others had also arrived. Even if the Sea Defense Army refused to go to sea, they could use the Lake King Dragon to dive their way out.

Yue Jinghua waved her hand, signaling Shalman to not act impulsively, "Captain Ya Lei, since the Sea Defense Army cannot join us out at sea, could you please afford us a small favor and lend us a Sea and Air Ship?"

Although the Lake King Dragon is the king of aquatic realms, neither the Sub-Asian Dragon itself nor Long Rui, who controls it, have experience navigating underwater in the sea. They can easily lose their way at sea.

But if they have the navigation markers available on the Sea and Air Ship, their voyage would undoubtedly become much smoother.

"The Sea and Air Ship is Imperial property and cannot be lent out. If anything goes wrong, neither you nor I can bear the consequences," Captain Ya Lei hesitated, and if it were not for the special status of Yue Jinghua and her companions, he would have flatly refused.

"If something goes wrong, I’ll compensate you. That child only ventured to sea recklessly because no adult was supervising, and the crime does not merit death," Ji Yun and Qing Zizhu strode over. As Qing Zizhu spoke, he glanced at Chi Xi.

Chi Xi opened her mouth, swallowed back her words, feeling relieved yet bitterly sad inside.

Her child’s heart still held onto the incidents of the past.

"General Ya Lei, rest assured, this person here is the Young Master of Yanyue Chamber of Commerce, one of the Imperial-appointed trade associations. If he has promised, not only a Sea and Air Ship, even ten wouldn’t be a problem," having the unrestrained nature of a dandy can be beneficial, at least in terms of spending money, Ji Yun and Qing Zizhu did not even blink an eye.

"Ten ships? Yue Jinghua, you really dare to ask, you are the richest here," Qing Zizhu in his earlier excitement also spoke impulsively, recalling his own childhood at seven or eight years old, often alone without a mother, he blurted it out without thinking, but Yue Jinghua intercepted his words.

The two had earlier been wary of Yue Jinghua, but having associated with her over time, they had come to understand her temper and their speech had grown more unrestrained.

Their quarreling did not elicit any aversion from Ya Lei.

On the contrary, he fell silent, viewing this group of dandies from the Imperial City, although they were dressed lavishly and spoke proudly, they were genuinely concerned about the local fishermen at this moment.

They carried the sharp edge of Imperial Nobles, yet at this moment, it was this very edge that could potentially save a living life.

They may not be qualified Imperial Soldiers, but they undoubtedly are good children of the Empire.

After undergoing a painful internal struggle, Captain Ya Lei came to terms with it.

As the Captain of the Sea Defense Army, he himself wished to go out to sea, but unfortunately, he had military duties and could not act impulsively.

The military discipline of the Empire had bound all his fervor and spirit; he must consider the overall sea defense situation of the harbor.

After some discussion, Yue Jinghua and others finally borrowed a Sea and Air Ship from the Sea Defense Army.

Captain Ya Lei also lent them a Helmsman, and several fishermen from the beach volunteered to board the ship, accompanying them to Treasure Mother Reef to search for Yu Dan.

Upon hearing that the soldiers from Imperial City were going to sea to save a child, laborers at the port and visitors from nearby inns surged forward eagerly.

With the Lake King Dragon at the front and the Bat Dragon soaring above, several young people fully prepared stood at the bow.

"We’re sailing off," a strong shout was heard,

The sail, about as tall as a two-story building, billowed with strength, moving into the sea and splintering the glorious sunset waters into a series of shattered silhouettes.

In the distance, the Treasure Mother Reef loomed like a ghostly shadow, wavering through the gleaming water ripples.