Chapter 54: Skilled Storyteller
Xia Wushuang’s trial ended in advance, because he had lost his combat ability and his best fishers had been knocked out. It was impossible to rob other people with those level-five fishers.
At this moment, Han Fei said to He Xiaoyu in frustration, “We can’t sail so many boats back!”
He Xiaoyu said, “Nobody will dare to rob you again when they see so many boats.”
Han Fei asked, “He Xiaoyu, do you think we are first place now?”
He Xiaoyu said, “You are the first place; I’m probably behind the hundredth.”
He Xiaoyu regretted that the battle had ended before she joined it. As a result, she felt ashamed to ask Han Fei to give several boats to her.
Han Fei said, “That doesn’t sound right. I think my points are excessive. I’ll give you one... maybe two boats, so that you can make it to the top hundred.”
He Xiaoyu’s eyes glittered. “Do you mean it?”
Delighted, she went to pick the boats and exclaimed now and then.
Han Fei said, “You can take however many green turtles and yellow fish you want, but not the blade fish.”
He Xiaoyu: “...”
It was already dusk. The gigantic sun was hanging about the surface of the ocean so closely as if they could walk into it if they took a step ahead.
Sitting on the deck and watching the sun, Han Fei murmured, “Too bad that there is no alcohol or cigarettes.”
“What are cigarettes?”
He Xiaoyu finished picking and was confident he’d make it to the top hundred. She did not want to reach top three, nor was she capable of doing so.
Han Fei asked, “Has it ever occurred to you what a beautiful world we are in?”
He Xiaoyu said, “Are we? My father said that the bottom of the ocean was much more beautiful, and that I couldn’t imagine the plethora of colors there. I wish I could see them someday!”
Han Fei glanced at her. “Why don’t you learn to appreciate the gigantic sun for a start?”
“What’s good about the sun?”
Han Fei smiled. “Have you ever wondered why the sun is so huge? Isn’t it marvelous to you? What’s holding such an enormous object? What’s preventing it from crashing into us?”
He Xiaoyu eyed Han Fei as if he were an idiot. “The Sea God, of course! The Sea God captured the most brilliant star in the darkness, and it turned into the sun!”
Han Fei: “...”
Han Fei said, “Hehe. I don’t believe any of that crap.”
He Xiaoyu said, “Do not speak ill of the Sea God. It was the Sea God who created the ocean, brought the light, and gave us all the wonders in the world.”
Han Fei asked, “He Xiaoyu, have you ever seen a rainbow?”
He Xiaoyu: “???”
Han Fei grabbed a bottle of water and said, “Look at the sky and behold.”
He had a mouthful of water and spewed it out to the sky.
“Pu... Pu... Pu... Pu...”
He Xiaoyu looked at Han Fei in shock and sympathy. He seemed to be deranged. He was not turning back into the Han Fei a month ago, was he?
“Ahhhhh!”
Suddenly, He Xiaoyu looked at the mist in shock and rubbed her eyes. Her mouth was hanging open.
“Ahhhhhhh...”
Han Fei said, “Be quiet. Why are you yelling?”
He Xiaoyu pulled Han Fei and pointed at the sky. “The Seven-Colored Divine Light... The Seven-Colored Divine Light that leads to the Sea God’s realm...”
Han Fei said, “Shut up. Ignorance is truly scary.”
Han Fei waved his hand and said when the rainbow was gone, “It’s called a rainbow. It’s caused by the optical dispersion and reflection when the sunlight reaches water drops that are approximately spheres... Forget it, you can’t understand it anyway.”
He Xiaoyu looked at Han Fei with her full interest. “No, it’s the Seven-Colored Divine Light. Han Fei, did you meet the Sea God at the bottom of the ocean a month ago?”
Han Fei said, “I met many a sea conch.”
He Xiaoyu wanted to ask more, but Han Fei interrupted her and said, “Look, a boat is coming.”
The Fishing Trial would be over soon. All the boats that passed by had fled in a hurry when they saw Han Fei’s fleet. However, a few boats were coming straight at them.
Han Fei and He Xiaoyu were both curious. Who was so bold?
Han Fei asked, “Are you ready to rob?”
He Xiaoyu replied, “Yes!”
As the boats approached, Han Fei saw Tang Ge, and Tang Ge saw Han Fei.
He Xiaoyu hopped and waved her hand. “Tang Ge, we’re here!”
Tang Ge was astounded to see Han Fei’s boats. “Han Fei, what... has happened?”
Han Fei said, “Oh! They’re my loot.”
Tang Ge: “???”
Tang Ge raised his head in disbelief. I’m only away for less than a month, and you are capable of looting so many boats in the Fishing Trial?
He Xiaoyu said enviously, “It’s all because of the treasures you left for him, Tang Ge. How much good stuff did you give him? He’s already capable of killing an inspector after a month.”
“Did I leave many things... Wait, what? An inspector? Who killed an inspector?”
Han Fei was of a mind to stuff He Xiaoyu the Blabbermouth into the fish cabin. She had exposed all his secrets the moment they met.
Holding Tang Ge’s neck, Han Fei whispered to him, “Don’t be surprised. I had other fortuitous incidents. I spent five days on the ocean when you were not home. During the five days, I met a white-bearded old man who insisted on teaching an art to me...”
There was a lot of information in Han Fei’s confession, but Tang Ge ignored the details and asked, “Who tried to kill you?”
Han Fei said, “Haha! It wasn’t a problem for me at all. Don’t leak the secret, though. I told other people that I advanced fast because of the treasures you gave me.”
Tang Ge nodded and said, “Okay. It’s best not to attract too much attention. However, killing an inspector is a big thing. Why did you...”
Han Fei said, “He should be a traitor among the inspectors who worked for the Tigers. I only knocked him into the ocean when he was not prepared before a Snakebelt slithered through him. So, I didn’t actually kill him.”
Tang Ge was shocked. “You fell into the ocean? Were you hurt?”
Han Fei said, “As you can see, I’m absolutely fine.”
Tang Ge said gloomily, “The Tigers are truly bold. Rest assured. I’ll teach them a lesson after we’re back.”
Han Fei said, not thinking that it was a big deal, “Forget it. Let me take care of it... Right, will you be home tonight? I’ll teach you the technique if you are.”
Fang Ze shook his head in the fog. A white-bearded old man? Battle technique? Could there be any great expert in Heavenly Water Village? It was indeed a miracle that the young man became a level-seven fisher from a level-two fisher, but in the city, there were people who grew from a regular fisher into a Hidden Fisher overnight. That was more splendid than the description of any word.
Han Fei said unhurriedly, “Let me tell you, the name of the battle technique is the Incomplete Monograph on 108 Ways of Body Conditioning...”
“Say what?”
All of them were shocked when Fang Ze appeared out of nowhere.
Overwhelmed, He Xiaoyu said, “M-Master Angel.”
Han Fei was much better than He Xiaoyu, but he also pretended to be surprised. “Greetings, Master Angel.”
Fang Ze nodded and asked solemnly, “What’s the name of the technique you talked about?”
Han Fei said, “The Incomplete Monograph on 108 Ways of Body Conditioning.”
Fang Ze said, “Tell me in detail how you met the old man.”
Han Fei began making things up. “I was cultivating that night and felt that I was on the verge of a breakthrough, but something was always missing. Then, a white-bearded old man emerged out of thin air and told me that my body qualities were too bad. He then pressed his hand on my forehead, and I learned the technique.”
Fang Ze mumbled, “Knowledge Pouring, and a top body-polishing method... You met a Venerable-level expert. You’re truly unbelievably lucky, boy!”
Han Fei asked foolishly, “How strong is a Venerable-level expert? Is he stronger than you, Master Angel?”
Fang Ze chuckled. “For someone like you, it’s best not to learn such things. All you need to know is that Venerables are the best experts in the ocean. Right, did you mention that the art was incomplete?”
Han Fei said, “It includes 108 movements. Doing them is hard, but it’s quite effective.”
Fang Ze said, “Of course... Tang Ge, we’ll spend a few more days in Heavenly Water Village. You have to learn the Incomplete Monograph on 108 Ways of Body Conditioning.”
Tang Ge hesitated. “Well... The Venerable taught Han Fei the technique. Is it appropriate for me to learn it?”
Fang Ze said, “It doesn’t matter. The Venerable only taught him the basics, so he was not the Venerable’s disciple. If he had the full technique, we would have to keep ourselves away from it.”
Fang Ze then observed Han Fei, wondering why the Venerable guided a common fisher. Did the guy have any potential that he didn’t notice?