Qian Ye did not respond to the captain’s words. However, after reviewing the navigation map, he knew that the original high-speed ship’s range indeed could not reach the Neutral Grounds. After all, a journey is never in a straight line. The current vessel, though old, was specifically designed for long-distance land-to-land voyages and reaching the Neutral Grounds was no issue.
Qian Ye left the control room, descended a level, and arrived outside a cabin, knocking on the door. The old man nicknamed “Master” resided here. The originally cramped cabin was now filled with several large boxes, leaving almost no space to stand. The boxes contained tools that the old man insisted on keeping close, so they were piled up inside, leaving Qian Ye no choice but to remain standing.
“What do you think of this ship?”
“Not bad.”
The Master’s response surprised Qian Ye; he could not see any merit in this nearly two-hundred-year-old relic.
“This ship has been entirely refitted in all crucial areas, and its main structure has been reinforced multiple times. I have also inspected the engine, and there is still considerable power left. Even if we add another layer of armor, it can still run very fast.”
“Run very fast?” Qian Ye was skeptical.
“At least 50% faster!” the old man answered confidently.
In Qian Ye’s eyes, even a 50% increase in the current snail’s pace would not be much. However, the old man continued, “Do not underestimate it. This speed means that even with additional armor, it will still outpace most cargo and civilian ships. In the void, pursuits can last for days, and even a slight speed advantage can make a huge difference.”
As Qian Ye listened, he realized this ship was likely a pirate vessel, though the captain might have given up that life, perhaps only temporarily until they reached the Neutral Grounds. But Qian Ye did not care about this; he only wanted to be safely delivered to his destination.
As they conversed, a sudden commotion erupted outside, followed by a loud thud, as if something heavy had fallen, and then the entire ship shook.
Qian Ye’s face changed slightly, and he immediately rushed out. Only one person on the ship could cause such a ruckus—Zhu Ji.
He flashed past, reaching the ship’s stern in a few steps. There, he saw a large dent in the bulkhead, with a young crew member embedded in the center, barely alive. Zhu Ji stood nearby, tearing down the cabin door. The doors were made of double-layered steel plates with soundproof and fire-resistant layers. Yet, in Zhu Ji’s small hands, they tore as easily as soft dough.
It was clear that Zhu Ji was looking for something suitable to smash the young man to pieces. Although she could tear him apart herself, she seemed to have a strong aversion to dirtying her hands.
Zhu Ji tore off the cabin door with a few swift movements, then raised it over her head, preparing to smash it down on the young man.
Qian Ye intercepted her, blocking the door with his hand. However, his hand trembled slightly, revealing the immense force behind Zhu Ji’s throw. If not for Qian Ye’s intervention, the strike would not only dismember the young man but also puncture several cabin walls, possibly even breaching the outer hull of the airship.
The disturbance aboard the ship naturally caught the attention of the bearded captain, who hurriedly arrived, just a moment behind Qian Ye. Seeing the captain, the young man instantly perked up, trembling as he cried, “Boss, save me! She’s trying to kill me!”
Qian Ye dropped the cabin door and asked softly, “Zhu Ji, what happened?”
Zhu Ji replied, “He made Sister angry.” However, she could not clearly explain what exactly he had done, only that he had entered Ye Tuong’s room.
But that was enough. Qian Ye turned to Red Pipe, saying calmly, “You have some nerve, daring to make a move on my woman.”
Under Qian Ye’s gaze, the captain’s pipe trembled. However, he said, “My men have always been disciplined. This boy has been with me for three years, and he is reliable. Such an incident is impossible.”
Qian Ye replied coolly, “So, you’re saying Zhu Ji is lying?”
The young man protested, “She’s the one lying! I did nothing! Boss, save me! She’s not human, she’s a demon!”
The captain’s face twisted in struggle, and he gritted his teeth, “This matter is not yet clear; we need evidence…”
Qian Ye interrupted, “Shall I handle it, or will you?”
The captain’s face changed, “Wait! This matter is not yet resolved!”
Qian Ye replied coolly, “So, you want me to handle it? No evidence is needed; I trust the people around me.”
The captain growled, “Don’t forget, this is my ship!”
“There’s no difference,” Qian Ye stated calmly.
The captain’s voice grew cold and cruel, “I’ve been running long routes for thirty years, and I’ve dabbled in more than a few shady businesses. But I have never abandoned a brother!”
Qian Ye remained unmoved, “Then today will be an exception. If you don’t, I’ll throw you out too.”
The captain’s beard twitched, and his aura fluctuated, clearly struggling internally. Qian Ye stood calmly, showing no signs of strength or weakness, not even a hint of origin power.
Just then, Qian Ye turned to see Ye Tuong appear at the cabin door. She leaned against the wall, saying, “He entered my room, but he didn’t expect Zhu Ji to be there.”
The young man frantically protested, “That’s not true! Boss, they’re lying!”
Qian Ye’s eyes slowly turned blue, and the image of the captain became clearer, “You heard that? I have no more patience.”
The captain’s face changed, and he shouted, “Get him out of here now!”
The crew members’ faces shifted, and one of them spoke up, “Boss! This is our ship. I think maybe the women are lying…”
Qian Ye hummed, raising his hand and pressing into the air. The crew member who had spoken was suddenly flung back, embedding himself in the bulkhead at the end of the corridor, his chest and abdomen caving in, instantly lifeless.
The captain gasped, “You!”
Qian Ye said, “Now you should know that it doesn’t matter whose ship this is. And don’t entertain any inappropriate thoughts or say anything inappropriate.”
The captain, shocked and fearful, took a breath and stammered, “Okay, okay!”
He turned and shouted, “What are you waiting for? Get him out!”
The surviving crew members hesitantly approached, carrying away the severely injured young man. Moments later, a piercing scream echoed from the deck, followed by silence.
In the doorless cabin, Ye Tuong and Qian Ye sat facing each other. She gently held his hand, saying, “You didn’t have to do that. You were planning to win over Red Pipe, weren’t you? Now, it’s impossible.”
Qian Ye smiled, “None of that matters. I cannot tolerate anyone who wants to harm you, even if they only think about it!”
Ye Tuong sighed, “Fool.”
Qian Ye pulled her into his arms, saying, “I was foolish before, but I will try to become wiser. I will take everything into my own hands, so I can give you a peaceful life.”
“I don’t need anything, just to be by your side.”
“Good.”
A moment of silence passed, and Ye Tuong shifted, asking, “Why did you want to win over Red Pipe?”
“They have a ship and know the routes. I wanted them to go to the Evernight once, to bring anyone from Darkflame who wants to come with us to the Neutral Grounds. To be honest, I’m worried about them.”
Ye Tuong said, “With Zi Ning there, it should be fine. If he can’t solve it, you won’t have a better solution.”
“True,” Qian Ye sighed.
Suddenly, a crackling sound came from behind them. Qian Ye turned to see Zhu Ji holding a large piece of beast meat, gnawing vigorously. The beast meat, frozen for preservation, was as hard as a rock. Yet, Zhu Ji bit into it with a crisp snap, seemingly able to chew through anything with her tiny teeth.
Qian Ye and Ye Tuong exchanged a smile, knowing the little one was being stubborn. Qian Ye walked over, patted her head, and asked, “Is it tasty?”
Zhu Ji’s face immediately scrunched up, “No, it’s not tasty!”
The little one, influenced by Song Zi Ning, had adopted his picky eating habits. Munching on frozen meat, even beast meat, was not her style.
Qian Ye patted her head, “If it’s not tasty, cook it first.”
Zhu Ji immediately held the meat up to Qian Ye, meaning for him to do it. Qian Ye sighed and took the meat, heading to the kitchen. Zhu Ji followed closely, climbing onto a stool to watch him cook.
Qian Ye grabbed a knife, gathered the ingredients, and cut the frozen meat into thin slices with lightning speed. He added seasoning and cooked it all in one fluid motion. Though he had been too busy to cook for a long time, his skills were still sharp.
Since he had started, Qian Ye decided to show off, preparing a full table of dishes and sending a portion to the old man.
Dinner was warm and cozy, with the little one devouring most of the food, yet still feeling unsatisfied. Qian Ye knew her stomach was a bottomless pit, never truly full. When she wobbled and yawned, she was truly sated.
After dinner, Qian Ye put the sleeping little one to bed, finally having a moment of peace. He and Ye Tuong embraced, watching the stars through the window, content to let time pass forever.
At that moment, Blackstream City, which Qian Ye was concerned about, was engulfed in raging flames. Multiple fires raged, and explosions echoed. An airship roared overhead, and two bolts of energy hit a turret, causing it to explode continuously. As the turret toppled, a cloud of steam burst from the ruptured pipes, enveloping the area in a misty world.
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