Chapter Forty-Four: A Man Lights the Candle, a Ghost Blows... Eh, It's Out?

The sky had already darkened. Wang Cheng and Han Shushu met briefly and decided to set up camp on a nearby deserted island, postponing their operation until dawn. In order to wait for the auspicious day, the twentieth of the twelfth lunar month, when the waters would be at their firmest, they would need to stay here for at least ten days, so establishing a proper camp seemed most convenient.

Recently, Wang Cheng had recruited additional hands and equipment from the boat-dwelling folk; the number of boatmen aboard the Zhang Fushun was now over thirty, making it resemble a warship more than a fishing vessel. Combined, the two ships carried well over a hundred people, many of whom practiced the martial discipline of the Ninth Grade Home Pavilion. With their beast-hide tents prepared in advance, the work proceeded swiftly. Before long, a camp was erected, both convenient and defensible, as dusk gave way to night.

The night passed in silence. At the break of dawn, the boat-dwellers aboard the Zhang Fushun rose to cook and eat a hearty meal. Across the water, Han Shushu’s large vessel lowered three or four small boats, and the crews gathered above the site of the sunken ship.

Han Shushu and Wang Cheng shared a boat, anchoring at the southeast corner of the encirclement.

“Senior Brother Wang, the initiation ritual for our Sea Salvagers begins with collecting historical records and divining the location of sunken ships, and continues through organizing manpower to recover the treasure from the wreck. The most crucial step is the actual retrieval. The batch of salvaged porcelain I entrusted to Elder Shen was a task chosen by my uncle; he personally confirmed that the sunken ship here is well within our capabilities. If we follow procedure, there should be no issues. Do you want to come down and have a look?”

The young lady, with a mischievous glint in her eyes, invited Wang Cheng, who was awaiting promotion to the Court Steward, to dive with her.

“Of course! The sea is full of treasures, and among the Water Crew, four halls are most skilled at retrieving them: the White Watermen catch fish, the Treasure Divers identify jewels, the Pearl Maidens harvest pearls, and the Sea Salvagers recover ships. Today I’ll have the pleasure of witnessing your methods, Junior Sister Han.”

Wang Cheng had already planned to dive for sea urchins, so Han Shushu’s invitation suited him perfectly. Even suspecting that the sunken ship, chosen as the Sea Salvagers’ initiation, would be anything but ordinary, he agreed without hesitation.

“Then let Senior Brother Wang come with me to inspect the wreck. The others will stay above.”

With that, Han Shushu produced a whale-oil candle and set it at the prow. Having achieved the Pure Yang realm of Life Fire, her white heart-light flickered in her eyes, and the candle ignited by itself. She then covered it with a paper lantern to shield it from the sea breeze.

Under Wang Cheng’s gaze, the flame gradually shifted from orange to a ghastly green. He blurted out instinctively:

“They say Sea Salvagers are like tomb robbers at sea, eating from the same bowl as the Earth Masters and Gold Touch Commanders. Is this the legendary forbidden rule: ‘Man lights the candle, ghost blows it out’? Before starting, you light a candle in the southeast corner of the tomb chamber; if it suddenly extinguishes, it means the tomb owner has awoken, and you must leave immediately, or else… Hmm? It’s out already?!”

Wang Cheng hadn’t finished speaking, much less entered the water, when the candle extinguished itself. The people aboard peered through the water, seeming to see shadows around the wreck stir slightly; merely witnessing it sent a chill up their backs, making them uneasy.

Those whose birth signs were weak or whose luck was poor could vaguely make out upright figures moving in the darkness, turning to reveal sinister smiles directed at them.

Most of the boat-dwelling folk, experiencing such a scene for the first time, instinctively drew away from the ship’s sides.

Han Shushu, however, shed her timid demeanor and waved dismissively:

“It’s nothing, Senior Brother Wang, don’t be afraid. We Sea Salvagers are different from the Earth Masters; when recovering ships, we always clean out the entire vessel—those drowned alongside the ship never consent, not once. My uncle said that lighting the candle is just a gesture, following the founder’s tradition; if the items in the wreck aren’t worthy, then there’s no meaning to it.”

Wang Cheng was left speechless.

“The legendary River Rat had a point. But he had the power to forcibly suppress the drowned souls rotting on the seabed—do we?”

Without another word, Han Shushu took out a bone flute, seemingly fashioned from the wing bones of a bird, and blew it forcefully.

Peep—!

Her vessel, the Han Xingfa, was clearly no ordinary ship. Who knew which of the four great warding talismans it carried—Dragon Eyes, Tail Wings, Head Lion, or Mudskipper Extremity. Suddenly, it radiated a dazzling aura.

Wang Cheng saw the incense master burn offerings to the ship god, brilliant light flowing ever more intensely.

Among the four talismans, “Dragon Eyes” is one of the most distinctive features of a blessed ship. Usually carved from camphor wood, for every ten feet the keel lengthens, the Dragon Eyes increase by four inches. With the eyes pointing down, they symbolize the search for fish—used on fishing vessels. Facing forward, they signify navigating the way—used on merchant and warships.

Another blessed ship ornament is the “Tail Wings.” On the oval upper panel of the stern, an image of a standing, wing-spread seabird is painted, representing fearlessness in storms and swift speed. Water Crew officers often use the Spirit Bird for their carriages.

“Mudskipper Extremity” refers to mudskippers painted near the stern on both sides. Legend has it that when the treasure fleet sailed west, they entered a region called Soft Water Sea, where the buoyancy suddenly dropped and the stern sank. The crew prayed to the Sea Goddess for rescue, and two dragon mudskippers swam up, bracing the stern beams and allowing the fleet to pass safely. In gratitude, later generations painted two mudskippers under the stern beams and coated them with red lacquer. Water Crew officers often use the Great Dragon Mudskipper.

Finally, the Zhang Fushun possesses the “Head Lion Plate.” Common folk regard tigers or lions as kings of beasts, carving their heads on the prow to guard the sea and ward off evil. Water Crew officers’ ship prows feature auspicious beasts, most commonly the Suanni, one of the nine sons of the Dragon.

A piercing cry!

The brilliant light finally condensed upon the Tail Wings, and from them soared a massive golden seabird with a wingspan of over twenty feet.

Carrying the scent of incense, it circled above the sunken ship, its golden light growing brighter with each pass. It boldly illuminated the entire shadow-laden wreck beneath the sea.

The treasure within reflected the light—porcelain, still white as jade after more than two hundred years, glimmered in the seabed silt.

The rare artifact revealed its true nature:

Warding Artifact: Shadowless Screen (Treasure of the County)

Each day, it releases a seabird whose light penetrates any complex underwater terrain, leaving not the slightest shadow. It can reach depths of thirty fathoms, about the limit for ordinary swimmers. Like sunlight, it suppresses evil spirits underwater, greatly diminishing their power, rendering them barely able to move.

In terms of intrinsic value, the Tail Wings on the Han Xingfa may not match the Head Lion Plate Wang Cheng had acquired for the Zhang Fushun. Yet for a Sea Salvager, it is a divine tool—combining the power of a high-powered searchlight, shadowless lamp, and sunlight lamp, more practical than any warding artifact. Judging by appearances, Han Shushu’s ship surely carried more than one such item.

Wang Cheng glanced back at his own hard-won Head Lion Plate, unable to quell his longing.

“No matter how much a fishing vessel is modified, its potential remains limited. Blessed ships are seaworthy, have watertight compartments, and suit cargo or fishing duties, but as long-range warships and expedition vessels, they fall short. If only I could acquire a mainline warship with fore and aft decks, equipped with artillery—a real street prowler of the sea. Then even against mid-grade officers, I’d stand firm, perhaps able to strike back from afar. Not to mention acquiring a treasure ship like my father’s flagship, the Five Peaks Banner—even a merchantman armed with nine- and twelve-pounder cannons from the Franks would suffice for now.”

The Guide to Smooth Sailing says the emperor once summoned the finest shipwrights and, with the nation’s resources, built seven Heavenly Craft Treasure Ships, each a legend of the sea and the pinnacle of shipbuilding in the Middle Kingdom’s history. Sadly, all vanished mysteriously in the depths of the ocean during the seventh voyage west, one hundred thirty years ago, leaving only regret. If one day a Sea Salvager could recover a Heavenly Craft Treasure Ship from the sea, it would be enough to destroy several small nations.

“Senior Brother Wang, it’s time to dive!” Han Shushu called, pulling off her dress in one swift motion.