“Boss, you’ve been captain of the Cangyuan for almost ten years! How can you just step aside like this?”
“You saved my life, Boss! If they’re trying to drive you out, I, Liu San, won’t stand for it!”
“Damn right!”
“Why don’t we just toss him overboard to the fishes once we set sail? People die at sea all the time—no one would bat an eye!”
The crowd on the ship was whipped into a fury. In an instant, Li Fan had unmistakably become public enemy number one.
The stout man raised his hands, trying to “calm” them. “Easy, everyone, easy! I know you all think highly of me, Zhang Haobo, but the Cangyuan is Manager Zhao’s property. We’re all just men working for his coin. If Manager Zhao says it’s time for a change, what choice do I have?”
His words only poured oil on the flames of their fury.
The crewmen fixed their glares on Li Fan, their eyes burning with a murderous light.
Li Fan sneered coldly in his heart.
Zhang Haobo’s petty tricks hadn’t escaped his notice.
The flattery toward Li Fan was nothing more than a ploy to breed suspicion among the crew. His so-called defense was meant only to fan their resentment. And that act of helplessness and playing the victim was a clear bid to rally them against him.
A classic case of feigning compliance while plotting rebellion—waving the red flag to oppose the red flag itself.[1]
Child’s play. These were games Li Fan had long mastered.
Showing no fear, Li Fan stepped forward to face the seething crew, holding his chin high. His voice rang out clear and strong over the din. “If you doubt me, doesn’t that also mean you doubt Manager Zhao’s judgment? Our voyage is about to begin. Watch what I can do. I will not disappoint you.”
His firm and resonant voice cut through the angry muttering, silencing it.
The crew, taken aback by his imposing presence, found themselves momentarily cowed. No one stepped forward to challenge him.
Seizing the moment, Li Fan offered a curt “I take my leave” and turned, striding alone into the ship’s cabins without a backward glance.
The crew exchanged bewildered looks while Zhang Haobo’s face was dark with suppressed rage.
Muttered discussions broke out among the men.
“You think the guy might actually have some skill?”
“Maybe... it could be true. Manager Zhao has sharp eyes; he rarely misjudges a man.”
“He didn’t seem like some ordinary fellow to me.”
Meanwhile, Zhang Haobo seethed inwardly. He’ll find treasure on every voyage? I don’t believe it for a second! He’s just using connections to steal my position as captain! Does he think I’m a fool?
Well, he’s made his boasts. Let’s see how he plans to back them up!
Watching his men swayed so easily by a few words from Li Fan, his anger burned hotter.
“Set sail!” he roared. “We depart!”
The Cangyuan began to move, gliding out of the harbor without the need for wind or oar. Instead, the ship was propelled by a miniature array powered by spirit stones.
Over a hundred other ships also departed from Liuli Island, each heading for their designated fishing grounds.
Each ship was equipped with a spirit lure, a device that would emit a signal if Liuli Fish were detected in the nearby waters.
But the sea was vast, and the range of spirit lures was limited. Finding the general area where the fish schooled required a crew of experienced hands.
In most normal years, the movements of the Liuli Fish were predictable, making them relatively easy to catch. But in the event of a stormflood, the schools migrated, and all past experience became useless. It was like searching for a needle in an ocean, relying on nothing but pure luck.
And the Cangyuan’s luck seemed exceptionally poor.
More than half a month had passed. Aside from catching some ordinary fish and finding some common sea mineral deposits, they did not harvest anything significant.
Not only were the crew members all frowning with worry, but even Zhang Haobo grew anxious. After all, there was a punishment for coming in last place this time.
Compared to other jobs on the island, working as a crew member on the ship involved lower risks and greater rewards. No one wanted to lose such a job.
Based on the island’s rules, we must return within a month. With what little we’ve caught this time, it’s entirely possible that we’ll end up with the smallest harvest. We can only hope for a turnaround in the next few days. Immortal Master, grant us your protection.
Zhang Haobo gazed at the calm, deep sea, feeling helpless.
Just then, he heard footsteps approaching from behind.
Turning around, Zhang Haobo saw Li Fan walking toward him.
"Well, well. Finally showing your face? I was starting to think you'd died in there. The only reason I knew you hadn't was the food disappearing."
Since setting sail, Li Fan had stayed in his room, never interacting with anyone.
Zhang Haobo, already in a bad mood, had even less patience for him.
Li Fan paid no attention to his rudeness. Instead, he stared intently at the distant sea, his expression grave.
He stood there silently, saying nothing.
Zhang Haobo, unnerved by Li Fan’s strange behavior, followed his gaze but saw nothing unusual. The sea appeared perfectly normal.
Yet Li Fan’s expression grew even more solemn. Still, he remained silent.
A long time passed before Zhang Haobo finally couldn’t take it anymore and asked, “What are you looking at?”
Li Fan started. Then he turned back, glaring at him with annoyance.
“What are you trying to pull, acting all mysterious?!” Zhang Haobo felt a bit guilty but pressed on.
“I need a small boat!” Li Fan ignored his question as he turned away and said in a deep voice, “I see treasure!”
“What...” Zhang Haobo was momentarily confused.
But then it quickly dawned on him, and he exclaimed in disbelief, “You’re not joking, are you?!”
“Hurry, prepare a small boat for me. I see jewels deep beneath the sea. They’re gleaming with light, waiting for me to retrieve them,” Li Fan said solemnly.
Zhang Haobo was still hesitating when he heard Li Fan add another sentence.
“The opportunity is fleeting. The glow of the treasure is fading. I’m about to lose its location.”
Zhang Haobo immediately snapped to attention.
“Quick! Prepare a boat!”
The Cangyuan was equipped with several small boats, typically used for exploring narrow channels or probing dangerous, uncharted waters.
After the small boat was lowered and Li Fan rowed away alone, Zhang Haobo suddenly came to his senses.
He had no idea why he had been impulsive enough to believe Li Fan’s words. Seeing treasure buried deep beneath the sea? How was that possible?
Just as he was about to say something, he heard Li Fan’s distant shout.
“Don’t follow me! Wait for my signal!”
“Why?” Zhang Haobo couldn’t help but shout back.
“You’re too noisy! You’ll break my concentration!” Li Fan replied.
Zhang Haobo's eye twitched. But thinking back to Li Fan's earlier glare, he couldn’t shake the feeling he wasn't bluffing.
Time passed. Eventually, four full hours had gone by since Li Fan sailed off alone in the small boat.
“Could he have run off by himself?” one of the crewmen asked, staring anxiously in the direction Li Fan had disappeared.
“Don’t spout nonsense!” Zhang Haobo snapped at his subordinate. “How big is the sea? Where could he possibly go alone without any provisions?”
Just as he was about to say more, a red signal flare lit up the distant sky.
“Quick! Steer the ship over there!” Zhang Haobo immediately commanded.
The Cangyuan sped forward at full speed and soon reached the location of the signal. There stood Li Fan on the small boat, exhaustion written across his face.
“The treasure is right here!” he announced to the group.
Zhang Haobo and the others exchanged uncertain glances, unsure whether to believe him.
After a moment’s hesitation, Zhang Haobo gritted his teeth and declared fiercely, “Lower the nets!”
Amid the crew’s half-doubtful gazes, they began to pull up one chest, then another...
In the end, a full sixteen chests of gold, silver, and jewels were slowly hauled up from the depths.
1. 扛着红旗反红旗 (kángzhe hóngqí fǎn hóngqí) is a political idiom from Maoist-era China describing a particular form of deception and betrayal. It refers to someone who outwardly pretends to be a loyal believer in a cause, ideology, or party. Yet, he secretly works to undermine, sabotage, or attack that very same cause from within. It is the ultimate act of ideological treachery. ☜