Chapter 645 - 275: The Dark Sea’s Way of Hospitality

Chapter 645: Chapter 275: The Dark Sea’s Way of Hospitality

"The weather seems a little off. If it starts to rain, it’s likely to be a heavy one."

Fang Shuwen nodded and looked ahead.

Once Cheng Bali took the helm, he began steering toward the depths of the Dark Sea. The way forward was an oppressive, inky blackness, as if they were crossing from the world of the living into the realm of ghosts.

The once-steady ship gradually began to pitch and roll.

The undercurrents and whirlpools in the water were pulling at the ship.

They were still on the periphery; the deeper they went, the more pronounced this effect would become.

Fang Shuwen glanced back. Zuo Xuan’s message had been relayed, and all the ships had formed a single line, following in their wake.

Even so, the fleet still looked magnificent, its momentum unbroken.

Fang Shuwen walked to the bow, watching the waves churn on the sea’s surface in silence.

Two hours passed in the blink of an eye.

The fleet had now entered a region of whirlpools and reefs.

All sorts of debris littered the surface of the sea: splintered planks from ships wrecked upon the reefs, scattered bones, and the mangled remains of corpses, all bobbing in the eddies of the whirlpools.

The ship shuddered violently, swaying from side to side. The sails had been furled. Unlike the outer regions, there was wind here.

But the wind here was unpredictable, gusting from all sides.

It was nearly impossible to harness the wind for sailing.

In fact, the capricious gusts were more likely to drive them straight onto a hidden reef.

Yet, even with no wind to rely on and no one at the oars, the ships still advanced. Though their speed couldn’t compare to when they were riding the wind and breaking the waves, it wasn’t much slower either.

Fang Shuwen noticed that Cheng Bali wasn’t tense at all as he helmed the ship.

He seemed to be simply going with the flow, turning the rudder only to steer clear of the whirlpools.

This made Fang Shuwen curious.

"How exactly do you judge which path to take?"

Cheng Bali glanced at Fang Shuwen and hesitated for a moment before speaking.

"Truth be told, there’s no ’correct’ path in the Dark Sea Territory. If I had to put it simply, you just go with the flow..."

"Tell me more."

Fang Shuwen was curious.

Seeing Fang Shuwen’s pleasant expression, Cheng Bali grew a little bolder and explained in a low voice,

"The Dark Sea Territory is a vast, circular area.

"The surrounding reefs and whirlpools are grouped into sections. Depending on the tide, these sections can be divided into two types: ’inward’ and ’outward’."

"And how do you tell the difference?"

"...You watch the waves. If they’re pushing you outward, that’s an ’outward’ current.

"If they’re helping you move inward, that’s an ’inward’ one."

Cheng Bali continued,

"All you have to do is follow the undercurrent and avoid the whirlpools.

"As for the reefs, you won’t hit them unless you panic and start yanking the rudder randomly."

"It’s that simple?"

Fang Shuwen was taken aback.

Cheng Bali gave a wry smile.

"It is that simple. But it’s easier said than done. The moment some people enter the region of whirlpools and reefs, they lose their nerve.

"They get especially terrified when the ship starts moving quickly.

"In that state, the more they struggle, the more chaotic things get. They end up either crashing on the reefs or getting sucked into a whirlpool.

"Naturally, it means certain death."

Fang Shuwen nodded. Two hours prior, just after they had entered this chaotic region of whirlpools and reefs, two of the large ships had run aground.

Fortunately, they had come with plenty of people and ships this time.

The crews were redistributed among the other vessels, so there were few casualties.

Eventually, the other crews must have figured out the trick, as the rest of the journey had been much smoother.

He couldn’t help but marvel internally. ’This Dark Sea Territory is truly wondrous.’

’It’s a glimpse into the magnificent wonders of nature.’

Fang Shuwen even felt as if this place were a natural Array.

’Trying to force your way through without understanding its principles would only lead to your ship’s destruction and your own death.

’But if you follow its rules, you can pass through unharmed.’

"Tell me, what’s the Dark Sea Interior like?"

Seeing that Cheng Bali had calmed down, Fang Shuwen asked casually.

Cheng Bali didn’t hide anything. He was in too deep to turn back now.

"There’s nothing that special inside, just three islands.

"They’re controlled by three people: Li Qiuyu, the ’Raging Heavenly Demon’; Xie Shiyi, the ’Blood Shadow Heavenly Demon’; and Lin Xiaoyan, the ’Blissful Heavenly Demon’.

"Each of the three islands has its own Water Stockade, and together they’re known as the Dark Sea Three Demon Stockades.

"The three groups act as one. They have a fleet of seven hundred... pirate ships of various sizes, known as the ’Seven Hundred Aquatic Fiends’.

"My ship was one of them.

"But not everyone on the three islands belongs to the Dark Sea Three Demon Stockades.

"While everyone is under their jurisdiction, many unaffiliated mercenaries and lone experts also make a living there.

"The Three Demon Stockades have few rules. Might makes right; everything is decided by one’s Martial Arts."

Fang Shuwen frowned slightly.

"Are there any ordinary civilians on the islands?"

Cheng Bali shook his head.

"No. Ordinary people can’t survive in the Three Demon Stockades.

"They’re easily captured by those who cultivate Demon Techniques and used as materials for their training—skinned alive and deboned.

"That’s why in the Three Demon Stockades, even a common errand boy at an inn is no ordinary person."

"That’s good."

Fang Shuwen nodded gently.

Cheng Bali froze. ’What does he mean, "That’s good"?’

’What’s good about any of that?’

’A place where even a common errand boy would kill you without batting an eye... isn’t that the definition of treacherous?’

But then he thought about the identity of the man before him, and about the experts following in their wake. Suddenly, Cheng Bali’s heart began to pound. THUMP, THUMP.

A horrifying possibility occurred to him, but seeing Fang Shuwen’s calm expression, he told himself he was probably overthinking it.

’No one could be that crazy.’