CHAPTER 59: ERROR

Ru Feifei was untouched by the bitterness of betrayal, unscarred by the pain of regressed memories. She was sunlight in a world preparing to drown in shadows.

"It is beautiful," Ling Yu admitted, her tone gentler. "But beauty hides teeth, Feifei. Don’t let the glitter of the waves blind you."

Ru Feifei tilted her head, puzzled. "You always sound like you’re expecting something terrible. We’re safe, Yu-jie. The Jiang siblings are here, so naturally, they have their guards here too, and that guy, He Xun, brought his people too. What could possibly go wrong?"

The innocent optimism in her friend’s words cut sharper than any blade.

But Ling Yu did not answer. What good would words do? Even if she explained, even if she poured out the horrors of her past life, Ru Feifei would not believe her. She would only laugh and brush it aside.

So Ling Yu smiled faintly instead, hiding the truth behind veils of calm. "Perhaps you’re right. I’m just simply too cautious and overly sensitive in a place that could get dangerous at any moment. Don’t mind me and enjoy."

Across the deck, Jiang Meng’s glaring eyes were following Ling Yu’s every movement. The emperor’s favored daughter was now leaned lazily against a column, her expression sculpted in disdain. Beside her lounged her brothers, their laughter echoing as they exchanged mocking comments at Ling Yu’s expense.

Not that Ling Yu paid any attention to that, she was more about the time that was passing at a 5x speed.

Because most of the future Hunters were gathered in a small place like this, the time was passing faster than it should.

The familiar translucent numbers flickered before her eyes, visible only to her.

The System’s voice followed after:

[Host, proximity to water-based environment has increased the probability of aquatic-class monster emergence in the First Wave by 68%. Recommend preparation for evasive combat strategy.

Warning: Environment disadvantage severe.]

Ling Yu’s heart tightened. So her fears were correct. The System rarely exaggerated.

"Tell me something I don’t know," she muttered under her breath, earning a curious glance from a passing student who assumed she was simply talking to herself.

[Host emotional stress levels detected. Would you like calming meditation guidance?]

She almost laughed. "No. Keep your hollow calm for someone else. I need my fear, because it helps me stay sharp and on track."

The System fell silent again. Only the ticking of its countdown remained, like a blade suspended over her neck.

The sun reached its peak, casting silver fire across the waves. Students raced along the deck, tossing hoops, gambling with dice, and teasing the crew for tricks with ropes and knots.

One of He Xun’s friends had gathered a crowd with his tales of hunting beasts in the western forests, his friends hanging on every word. The student’s laughter cut through the air like a bell, high and sharp, as they mocked and laughed at a clumsy guy who tripped on the planks.

All the while, Ling Yu’s eyes stayed drawn to the sea. Every ripple of water below made her think of scales glinting below. Every shadow reminded her of jaws opening wide enough to swallow men whole.

She knew it was not yet the time, but the paranoia of her past life gnawed at her. The ocean was too vast and too quiet.

It was like standing in a field of tall grass, knowing a predator was lurking around unseen.

Ru Feifei nudged her again. "Yu-jie, won’t you join us? You look like a worried grandmother."

Ling Yu forced a smile. "Later. You go enjoy yourself for now."

Ru Feifei pouted but shook her head, skipping off to join the others. She knew that Ling Yu was worried about a lot of things, so even if she wanted to know, she wouldn’t be of any help. Her laughter soon mingled with others around, while she was turning around and keeping an eye on Ling Yu from time to time.

Ling Yu’s eyes remained fixed on the waters, her hand unconsciously drifting to the hidden blade strapped beneath her sleeve. A futile weapon against what was to come, perhaps, but comfort all the same.

.

.

.

As evening fell, the air grew heavy with salt and damp. The sky painted itself in streaks of crimson and violet, the horizon a dying ember sinking into the sea. Lanterns were lit across the deck, their glow casting halos on the planks, their reflections wavering in the waters below. The students sang songs, voices slurred by wine, and the crew quietly maintained their course.

As night deepened, Ru Feifei returned to her side, yawning softly. "Yu-jie, tomorrow they’re holding a small banquet on deck. Can you believe it? Eating and drinking on the open sea like this... it feels like a dream."

Ling Yu gave her a faint, unreadable smile as she shook her head. "Yes. It’s like a dream indeed."

But inside, she knew the truth. It was a dream that could shatter in an instant. And tomorrow’s banquet might as well not see the light of day.

Above them, the stars burned clear, but below, the sea was raging with a storm of hunger biding its time.

[Remaining time: 23 hours]

The atmosphere on the sea was shifting slowly, even if there was supposed to be no storm or anything as such for the next two days.

Ling Yu was surprised by the news because the rift appeared before the time limit had even ended, and now they were going to face a monster that would appear from below their feet.

Some students saw the strange shift of water that was showing from far away from the ship, and they felt as if they were growing nearby each second.

The sea, which had seemed so tranquil just moments before, was now pulsing with an almost imperceptible tremor. The sunlight shimmered on the surface, casting fractured patterns that danced across the deck of the ship, yet the air was thick with an unnatural tension.