Chapter 4792 — Turning on a Dime
The Blossom Guardian · Page 2 of 3
As for the lookout tower, Wei Zhao never climbed it again after that. Oda Ba had only asked him to lend an eye when he had the time; if danger lay ahead, he could sense it without ever going up—easily, effortlessly, he could steer them clear in advance. He was far more accurate and timely than the veteran lookout who had held the post before.
A marked improvement.
After several such displays, the name of the genius navigator spread far and wide. Almost without realizing it, Wei Zhao had become a rising star of the maritime world…
His reputation was made.
As for Wei Zhao's extraordinary treatment, Ning Xuefei was happier even than Wei Zhao himself, her face glowing with reflected glory. This was not mere wifely pride in her husband's honor—her interest in that ancient warship ran far deeper than his. Now she could openly follow along and steal a few lessons, all in preparation for building one of their own someday.
She had her designs.
Huo Yudie, by contrast, found it rather trying. Ning Xuefei was forever trailing along wherever they went, and she never again had a chance for time alone with Wei Zhao. As for that bold notion that had stirred in her heart atop the lookout tower, she did not dare so much as think of it now. She could only bury it deep for the time being.
Buried, but not forgotten.
After a full month of sea voyage, the warship at last entered the legendary Yellow-Rank waters of East Isle. Though he had come to Cloud-Tier Isle only a few years ago, Wei Zhao had seen a fair share of the world—he had visited not only North Isle but the central isles, South Continent, and West Isle as well. Yet even so, the sight before his eyes now could not help but leave him shaken.
It beggared belief.
Vast! Absolutely vast! That was Wei Zhao's first reaction upon seeing the Yellow-Rank harbor of East Isle. The docks of North Isle and West Isle, set beside this one, were behind by no one knew how many times over. This—this was a true top-tier harbor that stretched to the horizon!
It stretched beyond sight.
And if it were merely the size of the harbor, that would be one thing; the crucial point was that the ships moored before them were simply too magnificent. Seen from afar, more than half of them were treasure ships, and among them were even several warships of enormous tonnage!
A forest of masts.
As for the ordinary sea vessels—even the top-grade ones of staggering tonnage—in a place like this they seemed utterly beneath notice. Moored alongside those leviathans of the sea, they looked for all the world like little fishing boats; a man would be ashamed to hail anyone from their decks.
Simply humbling.
"Treasure ships, warships—I was told such things were exceedingly rare. How is it they are everywhere here?" Wei Zhao could not help swallowing hard. He had thought possessing a single treasure ship would be a remarkable feat; now, on reflection, that was laughably naive. He had truly never seen the world.
A humbling thought.
"Quite right—rare they are, and rare strategic assets at that, treasure ships no less than ancient warships. It is only that more than eighty percent of the treasure ships among the five Cloud-Tier Isles are gathered here at East Isle, which is why they seem so many. A sight like this is one you will never see anywhere else," Huo Yudie explained with a smile.
Her tone was amused.
"So that is how it is." Wei Zhao nodded, silently marveling. East Isle deserved its name as the largest and strongest of the Cloud-Tier Isles—seeing it today, the reputation was well earned!
Well earned indeed.
To the low, mournful blast of the harbor horn, the warship slowly came alongside the dock at last. Ren Zhongyuan, confined to his cabin for a full month, was finally let out—though this time he did not dare come looking for trouble. Now that even Oda Ba was siding with Wei Zhao, even a fool could see he had no cards left to play.
He had learned his lesson.