VIP Volume Chapter 033: Waves Without Wind

As if the heavens themselves had cracked open, a torrential downpour finally descended, synchronizing with the relentless surge of monstrous waves—disaster was steadily closing in on the fishing vessel!

Two figures, nimble as wildcats, approached Ye Xiaoxuan on the deck, each seizing one of his arms and swiftly dragging him into the cockpit.

"Are you trying to get yourself killed?" Hua Lingluo's face was flushed with anger, itching to kick him. Beside her, Wen Xiaoyu was equally furious, shouting, "With such a storm, you still run out onto the deck? Do you have a death wish? Can you even swim?"

In the mere moments it took the three to go back and forth, their clothes were already drenched through, a testament to the raging storm outside and its overwhelming force.

Ye Xiaoxuan paid no mind to the women's complaints; his gaze remained fixed on the window, muttering under his breath, "Storm? Have you ever seen a storm with rain but no wind?"

"That's right!" The captain slapped his bald head, calling out as he looked outside, "I knew this downpour and these waves were odd, but couldn't quite figure out what was wrong. Now I get it—there's no wind!"

The first mate, watching the approaching waves, shook his head and sighed, "I've been at sea for over twenty years and never seen such strange waves! Without wind, you can't ride the current. This time, we've got a bit of a problem on our hands!"

It had to be said, these men were seasoned sailors, long accustomed to storms and tempests. Faced with roaring waves, not a trace of fear showed on their faces.

Seeing everyone chatting and laughing, Hua Lingluo and Wen Xiaoyu found their fear of the waves outside fading.

Wen Xiaoyu walked to Ye Xiaoxuan’s side, gazing at the raging waves, and asked, "Is this what you call windless waves?"

Ye Xiaoxuan’s voice trembled slightly, but his eyes shone with excitement as he stared out the window, nodding, "Waves without wind, soon there will be light in the night without lamps. Great Immortal Lake is nothing like you imagine—many think themselves clever, but in the end, most become water ghosts."

The ship rocked violently, like tofu tossed in a boiling cauldron, always on the verge of breaking apart.

Wen Xiaoyu clung to an iron pillar, her face pale as death. Ye Xiaoxuan’s ominous words made her legs go weak.

Hua Lingluo raised her foot and kicked Ye Xiaoxuan, scolding, "What are you muttering like some witch? Hurry back to the rear cabin!"

Ye Xiaoxuan suddenly sprang before her, quick as lightning, grabbing her arm. With his right hand, he pulled Wen Xiaoyu into his embrace.

The two women tried to struggle, but Ye Xiaoxuan, without giving them a chance, pushed them to the rear cabin door, turning to shout at everyone, "You two, get to the cabin! And the rest of you—every last one, go to the rear cabin! Staying here is useless; I sense its presence, it's powerful. If you stay, you’ll only die in vain!"

Everyone stared at him as if he were mad. The captain walked over, patted his shoulder, and chuckled, "What's wrong, kid? Scared? I've seen my share of storms, and this one doesn't even make me blink."

The chief engineer shot him a disdainful glance, saying, "Clearly, this boat can weather a few hours more. I doubt the waves will last that long."

The first mate took a swig of liquor and laughed, "Obviously, the boy's lost his mind! You all go back, leave this to us!"

Ye Xiaoxuan frowned, wanting to say more, when a huge wave struck the ship with a bang, forcing the bow down.

A strange sense of danger welled up in Ye Xiaoxuan’s heart. He wrapped his arms around the wavering Wen Xiaoyu and shouted to Hua Lingluo, "Hold onto the wheel!"

Instinctively, Hua Lingluo gripped the wheel on the rear cabin door. At that moment, the entire vessel seemed lifted by a giant hand, raised high and then thrown down hard.

With this abrupt lift and drop, everything inside the ship bounced as if on a spring bed, soaring up before crashing down again.

Ye Xiaoxuan held Wen Xiaoyu tightly, was flung over two meters high, his head striking the steel ceiling with a dull thud. As he fell, he twisted in midair, landing back-first on a pile of thick steel cables.

Even with the protection of the Dragon Mark armor, Ye Xiaoxuan felt dizzy from the blows, his back aching as though struck by a hammer, his breath coming short and shallow. He groped for Wen Xiaoyu in his arms, asking, "Are you alright?"

Wen Xiaoyu blushed, hugging Ye Xiaoxuan tightly. In that moment, she felt as though even if the sky collapsed, she would not fear it.

If Ye Xiaoxuan hadn’t shielded her just now, she would at best be bleeding from a head wound.

Feeling Ye Xiaoxuan’s hands gently probing her face and shoulders, Wen Xiaoyu realized he was checking for injuries rather than taking liberties. Her heart softened, a sweet warmth spreading within. Looking at Ye Xiaoxuan, her gaze was no longer filled with annoyance as before. She replied softly, "I'm fine. What about you?"

Ye Xiaoxuan shook his head, pulled her close with one hand, and grabbed a cable with the other. He shouted to Hua Lingluo at the cabin door, "Find a way to steady yourself, open the door, get back to your bunks—it’s safer there!"

Hua Lingluo gripped the wheel with both hands, tossed about like a butterfly by the ship's pitching; opening the door was out of the question, even standing still took all her strength.

She stood at least five foot seven but weighed barely ninety pounds. Her figure usually drew attention, but here, on a ship nearly overturned by giant waves, she seemed as light and helpless as a leaf, unable to stand.

It must be said, the captain and his crew’s experience was impressive; even such violent shaking couldn’t pry them from their posts.

The chief engineer, his face grim, barked orders: "Hard to port! Full speed ahead, cut through the waves!"

Under his command, the fishing vessel fought through the giant wave zone, racing beneath the water curtain raised by the surging waves, escaping through the narrow gaps. Their calm and coordination were truly admirable.

Feeling the hull settle a bit, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Ye Xiaoxuan seized the moment, dragging Wen Xiaoyu up, rushing to the rear cabin, opening the door, and shoving the two women inside. He called out quickly, "Lie down! Put on life jackets, just in case!"

Wen Xiaoyu held onto the cabin door, worried, "What about you? Why aren’t you coming? Haven’t the waves passed already?"

"Stop talking!" Ye Xiaoxuan interrupted her roughly, impatient. "If windless waves were so easily dealt with, they wouldn’t be Great Immortal Lake’s trump card! I have to warn the crew—what’s coming next is the real danger." He pushed Wen Xiaoyu’s arm and closed the door.

"Foolhardy idiot!" Hua Lingluo cursed, "He thinks he’s someone special, trying to warn the captain? He’s nothing but a useless brat!"

Wen Xiaoyu glared at her, displeased. "Sister Hua, do you still think he’s useless now?"