Having money makes everything easier, even in this icy and snowy landscape, someone still delivered food and drinks.
The price is just a barrel of dried fish.
For Liu Shiyi and others, who have harvested bountifully, it’s nothing worth mentioning.
And just as people were drinking and feasting, Liu Shiyi secretly ordered someone to send today’s news out.
Even if he was expelled from the team by Kong Xiangdong, years of accumulated connections aren’t easily erased overnight.
So before long, all of Kong Xiangdong’s men knew about Liu Shiyi and his team’s gains today.
When they heard that the dried fish they harvested in just one day was worth as much as what they had collected in over a month, even the most composed Sea Gatherers couldn’t sit still.
They didn’t dare to openly discuss it, fearing it would reach Kong Xiangdong’s ears.
But private discussions were inevitable.
"It’s really enviable. One day’s yield is worth a month’s before, what kind of concept is that?" someone lamented.
"In my opinion, we should have gone to the seaside long ago. Anyway, we’re missing out on free money, and it’s a missed opportunity. If you regret it later, it’ll be too late."
"Hush, the leader said there’s danger by the sea, don’t you value your life?"
"Nonsense, is going to sea not dangerous? No need to act noble; if we are doing this, we have already pinned our heads to our belts, so why fear any danger!"
These resentful words began to spread privately. Although they tried hard to avoid Kong Xiangdong hearing them, he sensed it immediately.
"Your subordinates are complaining about you privately," Yang Zhan said with some schadenfreude.
Kong Xiangdong didn’t mind at all. He said while drinking, "Let them complain. Can I stop others from talking?"
"Aren’t you afraid your men will be unable to resist the temptation and secretly sneak away?" Kong Xiangdong’s calm surprised Yang Zhan, so he asked.
"Hehe, anyway, I’ve done my best. If they insist on courting death, I can’t help it!"
"Besides, it’s just a few more days. Once winter begins, I don’t believe these people can continue acting recklessly," Kong Xiangdong said confidently.
Yang Zhan also believed this. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have left the profitable seaside business to follow Kong Xiangdong to the Great Snow Mountain.
But he wasn’t clear on what exactly would change in the Wuyang Sea, so he couldn’t resist asking.
"So, what do you mean will happen then to the Wuyang Sea?"
Kong Xiangdong’s response was surprisingly similar to Zhao Ya’s, "I don’t know, and I don’t want to know, but it won’t be anything good for sure."
In the following days, the output of the Wuyang Sea increased by the day, which made these Sea Gatherers even more crazy.
Although a very few people sensed the danger and quickly retreated with their gains, most of the Sea Gatherers were lost in the fantasy of getting rich overnight, oblivious to any danger.
And just as Yang Zhan said, some of Kong Xiangdong’s men finally couldn’t resist the temptation and secretly escaped from the camp to join Liu Shiyi’s team.
Kong Xiangdong didn’t stop this at all, adopting a laissez-faire attitude.
Thus, time spun around until it arrived at the first day of winter.
Kong Xiangdong tore off the old calendar early in the morning, then studied the new almanac in a daze.
The almanac was simple, mentioning the seasonal turn to winter and other auspicious and inauspicious signs.
This was one of the essentials for every Sea Gatherer leader.
At this moment, at the bottom of the calendar, there were a few bold red words.
Do not engage in other matters; nothing should be pursued today.
Kong Xiangdong took a deep breath, not ordering his men to scout the sea as usual, but donned a cloak himself and left the camp.
With a whistle, the Free-Loading Bird leader soon arrived.
Kong Xiangdong first took out some jerky as a bribe, then climbed onto its back.
The next moment, this Free-Loading Bird leader soared up, quickly flying to the seaside.
Although it was early, there was already a large crowd of Sea Gatherers by the sea.
Kong Xiangdong lay on the giant bird’s back, looking down and recognizing many familiar faces.
Among them were Liu Shiyi and others.
These people didn’t know there were eyes watching them from the sky, all intently watching the distant Wuyang Sea.
Finally.
The tide began to recede, and these people couldn’t wait to rush to the exposed seabed.
It was no different from before.
Today’s seafood was even richer than usual.
But just as these Sea Gatherers were delighted with their finds, Kong Xiangdong noticed something was off.
Because it was too quiet.
Even after low tide, the Wuyang Sea was still turbulent, never as calm as it was now.
Moreover, the pervasive mist kept surging.
This was not a good sign.
At least the Free-Loading Bird leader sensed the danger and kept flying farther.
If Kong Xiangdong hadn’t been on its back, placating it, it would have flown away long ago.
But even with constant reassurance, the Free-Loading Bird leader remained restless.
Finally.
The surging mist suddenly burst like a pierced soap bubble, rapidly spreading towards the Sea Gatherers.
These Sea Gatherers finally sensed something was wrong, looking up in horror.
"It’s bad, the mist is surging up!"
"Run fast!"
As Sea Gatherers, they knew the dangers of surging mist and all raced frantically for the shore.
Some quick-witted ones even dropped what they were holding to run faster.
But some, reluctant to abandon their gains, ran with all their might, soon got exhausted, and it was too late to let go.
The mist mercilessly engulfed them.
"Ahhhhh!"
"Help!"
"I don’t want to die!"
These terrified screams echoed by the Wuyang Sea, but quickly ceased, swallowed by the mist.
This terrifying scene scared the other Sea Gatherers out of their wits, wishing they had more legs, wildly fleeing for the shore.
Liu Shiyi was naturally among them.
He had planned to do one last big haul before leaving the Northern Realm Snowfield to enjoy life elsewhere.
But who would have thought that the last haul would lead to trouble?
The surging mist left Liu Shiyi at a loss.
Though he’d followed Kong Xiangdong for years, he was mostly in the rear commanding and had never faced such danger firsthand.
On survival instinct, he ran with the crowd.
But as he ran, he felt there were fewer people behind him.
Looking back, he saw a horrific scene.
A Sea Gatherer who had followed him for years was being ensnared by the mist.
The mist turned into rope-like tentacles, binding the man’s limbs, infiltrating his mouth and nose.
The man couldn’t even struggle or scream, but his extremely twisted face showed his agony.
Then he was dragged into the mist, disappearing.
Liu Shiyi felt his blood run cold, his arms and legs not responding, stumbling forward desperately.
Just then, an extremely piercing whistle sounded above.
Everyone, whether they had reached the shore or were still on the seabed, froze and looked up, their faces showing immense terror upon seeing it clearly.
In the distance, Kong Xiangdong’s pupils shrank to pinpoints.
Because from within the surging mist emerged the huge bow of a ship.