Chapter 100

It was already the third watch of the night. The sail at the bow of the boat had long been lowered by Jousai Sozen, but the violent waves around them were like giant hands, one after another, slamming into their boat, as if eager to shatter this sturdy little vessel into pieces. Although the boat managed to escape from the waves each time, the situation was dire. The entire boat seemed like a leaf in the wind, drifting aimlessly with the waves. It was only thanks to Jousai Sozen's superb boat-handling skills that they hadn't been capsized.

"Damn it!" Jousai Sozen was almost knocked off the boat by a wave, and in his anger, he even cursed in his native language, but this did nothing to alleviate his burden.

After the intense battle earlier, Jousai Sozen's strength was already greatly depleted. Now, he was desperately trying to control the boat, leaving him no time to rest. He was now utterly exhausted, gritting his teeth to keep going. Zhou Chong and Xie Lingyun in the cabin knew nothing about handling a boat, and if they were to take over, the boat would likely capsize in no time. This made Jousai Sozen secretly regret not having Xie's family send a skilled boat handler with him.

Hearing Jousai Sozen's curses from outside, Zhou Chong and Xie Lingyun, who had calmed down, were also very worried. All three were on this small boat, and if it capsized, they would likely all die in the storm. So now, they silently prayed in their hearts, hoping that Jousai Sozen would hold on, at least until he could steer the boat to a safe place.

However, Zhou Chong and Xie Lingyun were clearly not devout believers. Their last-minute prayers had no effect. The storm outside only grew more violent, and Jousai Sozen was increasingly struggling. Several times, huge waves almost capsized the boat, and even the cabin was filled with deep water. Zhou Chong and Xie Lingyun's legs were submerged in the cold seawater.

Worse still, the boat was tossed up and down like a toy by the waves. Despite their efforts to stabilize themselves, Zhou Chong and Xie Lingyun still rolled around in the cabin, ending up with bruised and swollen faces and dizziness from seasickness.

In this situation, Zhou Chong and Xie Lingyun, without realizing it, clung tightly to each other. The cabin was small, and they were being tossed around, so they instinctively grabbed onto something to stabilize themselves. Being together, with their backs pressed against the cabin, made it easier to stay in place.

"Zhou Chong, are we going to die?" Xie Lingyun asked weakly, her eyes half-closed. She was already seasick, and being tossed around by the waves made it even worse, leaving her feeling drowsy and disoriented.

"Maybe," Zhou Chong replied softly. He was also in a bad state. His foot had been twisted in the cabin, and the cold seawater made it hurt even more. He wasn't sure if he had broken a bone, but the pain kept his mind clear.

"If... if we survive, will you... will you still hate me?" Xie Lingyun, on the verge of fainting, suddenly opened her eyes and looked at Zhou Chong weakly. Although she had little sailing experience, the current situation made it clear that they were unlikely to escape a watery grave. But at this moment, she suddenly wanted to know Zhou Chong's thoughts.

Zhou Chong was surprised by Xie Lingyun's question. He looked at her pale face and said expressionlessly, "I hate it when people lie to me, especially when it's a beautiful woman."

"Hehe, this is the first time you've called me beautiful!" Xie Lingyun smiled weakly, but then her expression turned bitter. "I know you can't forgive me, and I know you see me as a heartless woman, but... but..."

Tears streamed down Xie Lingyun's closed eyes, as if she had some deep secret. Zhou Chong was also surprised, never expecting her to talk about this at such a critical moment.

After shedding a few tears, Xie Lingyun opened her eyes and looked at Zhou Chong again. Zhou Chong noticed that her usual sharpness was gone, replaced by weakness and helplessness.

"Zhou Chong, since we're about to die, do you want to hear a secret?" Xie Lingyun said, tears still streaming down her face.

"What secret?" Zhou Chong asked casually. The storm outside was growing more violent, and even he, who was usually resilient, felt a sense of despair. He also felt a bit self-deprecating, having drowned in the sea in his previous life and now facing the same fate. It seemed he was destined to have a bad relationship with the sea.

"You might not believe this, but our Xie family has long been allied with the Hong family. Hong Feiyun's husband is my cousin, Zheng Longhai. And the person supporting both our families is someone you would never imagine!" Xie Lingyun's face showed a hint of relief as she spoke.

"Who is it?" Zhou Chong was surprised that the two dominant merchant families in Shuangyu Port had been allies all along, and that they were supported by the same person. If true, this person must be incredibly powerful.

Xie Lingyun didn't directly answer Zhou Chong's question but smiled and said, "Our Xie family, like your Zhou family, is not originally from Songjiang. We migrated from elsewhere. Your Zhou family came from the north, while our Xie family came from Yuyao in the south. Yuyao is a place of talent and learning, and many officials in our Ming dynasty are from Yuyao. Among them, there is a very famous person, who is also my clan uncle. Now, do you know who it is?"

"Your clan uncle?" Zhou Chong pondered, realizing that the person must be a high-ranking official from Yuyao.

"Crack!" As Zhou Chong was thinking, the boat suddenly shook violently. The cabin wall cracked, and a foot-long fissure appeared. The wind and seawater rushed in through the crack, drenching Zhou Chong and Xie Lingyun in an instant.

Zhou Chong and Xie Lingyun, who had already accepted their fate, only glanced at the damage calmly. In the face of such overwhelming force, their intelligence and talents were useless. Death seemed to be their only destiny. Now, they just wanted to enjoy their last moments before death.

"It's so cold!" Xie Lingyun shivered and snuggled closer to Zhou Chong, who also held her tightly. With their clothes soaked, hugging each other provided warmth and a sense of security. In the face of death, past grievances were insignificant.

"Who is this person?" Zhou Chong thought for a long time but had to give up. If it were the old Zhou Chong, he might have guessed, but the current Zhou Chong knew little about the scholars of the Ming dynasty and couldn't figure it out.

Seeing Zhou Chong's confusion, Xie Lingyun, shivering from the cold, suddenly looked up and gave him a mischievous smile. "Isn't Lord Zhou known for his extensive knowledge and talent? How could you not guess this simple question?"

"You... tell me who this person is!" Zhou Chong, frustrated, slapped her firm buttocks, which felt good despite the wet clothes.

But Xie Lingyun, having accepted her fate, showed a playful side. She didn't answer Zhou Chong's question but smiled weakly and said, "I won't tell you. If you want to know, you'll have to hold me tightly until the end. That way, even in death, we can walk the path to the underworld together, and I'll tell you then!"

"You..." Zhou Chong was at a loss. Xie Lingyun had nothing to fear, so he could do nothing to force her. In the end, he could only laugh bitterly and say, "You win, but you must wait for me on the path to the underworld. Don't run off without me!"

"Cough, cough... Why should I wait for you? Are you so sure you'll die before me?" Xie Lingyun coughed, having swallowed some seawater, and said discontentedly.

"Fine, I'll die first, but you'll have to carry my body." Zhou Chong said indifferently.

"I... I don't want you to die!" Xie Lingyun suddenly said something contradictory, hugging Zhou Chong tightly, tears streaming down her face.

Meanwhile, Jousai Sozen, who was controlling the boat at the stern, was finally exhausted. Worse, the rudder compartment had been destroyed by the violent waves, leaving him completely exposed to the storm. Although he clung to the rudder, the cold seawater was freezing him, and he was about to give up.

As if misfortune never comes alone, just as Jousai Sozen was about to be swept away by the sea, a huge wave lifted the boat several meters high and then dropped it with a loud crash. The boat hit a reef and shattered into pieces, and Zhou Chong and Xie Lingyun, still hugging each other, were thrown into the water.

"Damn it, if I knew I was going to die, I should have taken care of this Xie family girl first. Now, I've let Zhou Chong, that bastard, off the hook!" This was Jousai Sozen's last thought before he fell into the cold sea and disappeared without a trace. (To be continued)