Chapter 687: How Did She Pilot a Small Boat Here Alone?

A flicker of embarrassment crossed Huo Feng’s face.

"Miss, we’ll trust you." After some thought, Jiang Chenyi decided to believe the young woman before them.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yue immediately shouted to the crew behind her, "Turn the ship around! We’re heading back!"

At these words, Huo Liran grabbed Huo Feng with both hands, shaking her head frantically and letting out muffled sounds. ’Mmph, mmph!’

"Brother Jiang, Miss Jiang, you can’t be so reckless. This matter requires more discussion." Huo Feng didn’t dare to trust so easily.

"Brother Huo, if we keep sailing blindly across this vast ocean, we’re all going to die. Trusting her might be our only way out." ’I’d rather believe this young woman than Mr. Tu,’ Jiang Chenyi thought.

Huo Tu couldn’t speak, but a single look was all it took for his followers to understand. They immediately moved to block the members of the Jiang family.

"The Huo family is in charge of this ship! I dare any of you to try anything," the follower, Ma Liu, said as he and the others drew their swords.

"If it wasn’t for the Huo family, we wouldn’t even be lost! If you want to die, fine, but don’t drag this entire ship down with you!" Jiang Yue snapped.

"Mmph... it’s our Huo family’s ship, we decide..." After a few muffled sounds, Huo Liran suddenly realized she could speak. She turned to look at Huo Tu. "Second Uncle."

Huo Tu froze. He opened his mouth and made a sound—he could speak again, too.

"This ship belongs to the Huo family, so we decide its course! If the Jiang family objects, you’re welcome to jump overboard and swim back!" Having regained his voice, Huo Tu immediately strode forward to intimidate the restive Jiang family members.

"Mr. Tu, while this ship may belong to the Huo family, our two families are partners on this voyage. That means the Jiang family holds half of the command rights," Jiang Chenyi said. "It was your refusal to listen to reason that got us lost. Since the Huo family has proven incapable, it’s time for the Jiang family to take command." Without waiting for Mr. Tu to respond, he turned and ordered, "Tell the helmsman to turn about!"

"Who dares?!" Huo Tu snarled, drawing a large saber. "I’d like to see anyone try!" His face was a mask of ferocity.

Huo Tu was already an ugly man, his face crisscrossed with scars. His ferocious expression made him truly terrifying.

"If you want to start something, Mr. Tu, the Jiang family is more than ready to oblige." Jiang Chenyi was completely unafraid.

"Second Uncle! Brother Jiang! Stop arguing!" Huo Feng exclaimed, stepping between them. "The young lady is gone."

Both Huo Tu and Jiang Chenyi froze. They turned to look out at the sea and saw that her boat was already a great distance away.

"Men! Turn us around and chase her!" Huo Tu commanded. "Her boat must have food and fresh water." They had been adrift for a month; after finally encountering someone, he absolutely refused to let her escape.

At Huo Tu’s command, the large ship slowly began to turn around.

"Brother Jiang, my second uncle has a bad temper. I hope you’ll forgive him." Huo Feng walked over and patted his shoulder. "But don’t you think there’s something suspicious about that girl?"

"What’s suspicious about someone sailing by? Brother Huo, if Mr. Tu continues to act like a pirate, I will not stand idly by." ’The Jiang family cannot afford such a disgrace,’ he thought.

"Brother Jiang, rest assured. I’ll do my best to talk some sense into my second uncle and stop him from doing anything rash. The Huo family is a reputable one; if word got out that we resorted to robbery for food and water, we would be utterly disgraced." Huo Feng paused before adding, "Besides, it looked like that girl was alone on her boat, apart from some little white, fluffy thing. The waves are so treacherous out here. How could she possibly pilot such a small boat by herself?"

"It’s not that unusual for someone who’s lived by the sea their whole life to know how to handle a boat." ’Jiang Chenyi was indeed a bit curious, but this voyage had given him a clear read on Huo Feng. The man wasn’t bad, but he wasn’t someone you could truly be close to.’

And so, there were some things he had no desire to discuss with him further.