Under the chilly moonlight, the crew aboard the Cangyuan were all red-eyed, panting heavily.
Even now, it felt as though they were in a dream.
Sixteen large chests brimming with gold, silver, and jewels rested quietly on the deck.
Some still couldn't believe it and pinched themselves; only upon feeling the sharp pain did they turn their eyes back to the treasure covering the deck, unable to tear their gazes away for even a second.
That Mr. Li hadn't been boasting after all!
He really could bring them home with a full load!
Only, the extent of this "full load" far exceeded anything they could have imagined!
The chests were filled with a dazzling array of jades, gold, silver, and gemstones, leaving everyone utterly dazzled.
They had spent half their lives fishing at sea, yet even in their wildest dreams, they had never witnessed such a fantastical sight.
As for Zhang Haobo, his mind had gone completely blank.
*It's actually true. That fellow really can find treasure sunken on the seabed! This kind of ability... this kind of ability...*
Having lived on Liuli Island for over twenty years, Zhang Haobo naturally knew that aside from immortal masters, certain ordinary mortals also possessed all manner of incredible abilities.
Some could communicate with birds in the sky, some could foresee disasters, some could hold their breath for extended periods and swim through the depths of the sea, and some, like Manager Zhao, could see through a person's truth and falsehood.
Yet such extraordinary individuals were few and far between. They were either entrusted with heavy responsibilities across the islands or taken in as servants by the immortal masters and brought to Wanxian Island.
They were exceedingly rare.
He never would have thought that Li Fan was also one of these extraordinary individuals!
Zhang Haobo suddenly remembered that Li Fan had only moved to Liuli Island recently. Had he really been forced to migrate here merely because his original island had been destroyed by the wind calamity? No wonder Manager Zhao treated him with special regard despite him being a new resident!
Everything made sense now!
Now, regret gnawed fiercely at Zhang Haobo.
*Zhang Haobo, oh Zhang Haobo! You had the rare chance to encounter a benefactor, yet instead of seizing it, you ridiculously thought he was here to steal your petty fleet!*
The more Zhang Haobo thought about it, the deeper his regret grew, until he wished he could slap himself across the face.
*No, I have to apologize right away! Immediately, right now! An extraordinary person like him is an honored guest wherever he goes. If he gains influence and holds a grudge over what I did these past few days...*
Zhang Haobo shuddered and prepared to go to Li Fan's cabin to beg for forgiveness.
"Huh, is it just me? Why do these chests look like they haven't been submerged for very long?"
"Come to think of it, we didn't see any shipwreck when we hauled them up either."
"Maybe an undercurrent swept them here? Or the wind calamity swept them into the sky and dropped them into the sea here?"
"Why worry about all that? The treasure is real, and that's all that matters."
Amid the crew's hushed whispers, Zhang Haobo hurried away.
***
In his cabin, after pleasantly sending Zhang Haobo away, Li Fan stretched his weary body.
Naturally, he had thrown those sixteen chests of treasure into the sea himself.
He had rowed out alone to an empty stretch of water, deployed the Taiyan Boat, hauled out a small portion of the treasure he had scavenged from Great Xuan, dumped it into the ocean, and finally sent up a signal for the Cangyuan's crew to come salvage it.
The chests were genuinely heavy. Had he not spent the past few months constantly practicing the *Xuanhuang Mind-Clearing Incantation*, which, combined with the intangible nourishment of heaven-and-earth spiritual energy, had greatly increased his strength, he might not have managed it on his own.
Even so, by the time he finished, Li Fan felt as if his entire body was falling apart.
*The first time needs to make a strong impression, so I put on a grand show. There won't be any need to toss down so much in the future,* Li Fan calculated.
As for Zhang Haobo...
Li Fan had never paid him any mind.
To Zhang Haobo, his position as captain of the fleet was his livelihood and security in this life. If someone suddenly came along to snatch it away and he had no reaction, that would be truly strange.
What was more, the tricks he had played were childish and laughable to Li Fan.
Had Li Fan been in his shoes, he would have spent the first ten-odd days laughing and chatting pleasantly, keeping his intentions hidden. Once they sailed into deep waters and the other party let their guard down, he would have slipped into the cabin under cover of night and ended him with a single blade.
Then he would toss the body into the vast sea, leaving no evidence behind.
Even if the man truly had the extraordinary ability to locate sunken treasure, he had only just arrived at Liuli Island and possessed no foundation. Before anything was proven, who would truly fall out with a captain backed by dozens of loyal crewmen over an outsider—and a dead one at that?
And even in the worst case, if Manager Zhao was truly bent on punishing him, it would merely cost him his captaincy.
After all, there was no notion of a life for a life on Liuli Island.
All the immortal masters required was that Liuli Island reliably deliver its quotas of supplies.
Thus, in Li Fan's view, there was simply no reason not to act.
Unfortunately, Zhang Haobo was not Li Fan.
He lacked such ruthless resolve entirely.
At bottom, he was merely an honest fisherman.
The fleet he valued so highly was nothing more than a minor stepping stone in Li Fan's plans.
"How can a sparrow comprehend the ambitions of a swan?" Li Fan shook his head, put the matter behind him, and quieted his mind to diligently cultivate the mind-clearing incantation.
***
Having acquired the treasure, the Cangyuan fished no longer. They immediately turned the vessel around and headed back toward Liuli Island.
After all, with a haul this massive, the crew could not rest easy for a single day until they returned safely to the island.
At full speed, Liuli Island came into view in barely two days.
"Once we're back, don't dock just yet. Liu San, slip into the water quietly and go to Manager Zhao's residence to notify him. Have him personally send people to tally the haul," Zhang Haobo solemnly instructed his men.
Barring any surprises, theirs would be the largest harvest among the fleets that had put to sea.
According to the rules, they were entitled to fifty percent!
If outsiders handled the count, who could guarantee there wouldn't be skimming, deliberate omissions, or similar tricks?
Losing even a fraction would break their hearts.
Unless it was their own people, they couldn't feel at ease.
The crew nodded in agreement. Watching the island's routine inspection boats approach, they immediately raised their guard.
"Zhang Haobo, what's the meaning of this? You won't let us board?"
The speaker seemed to have bad blood with Zhang Haobo, a thread of anger lacing his voice.
Zhang Haobo paid him no heed at all.
Seeing no reaction from Zhang Haobo, the man grew even more derisive. "Judging by how high your ship sits in the water, I'd wager you came back empty-handed. Looks like your days as captain are numbered. If you really can't get by in the future, come aboard my ship! I guarantee I won't let you starve!"
Hearing their boss insulted, the crew of the Cangyuan flew into a rage, about to shout back in retort.
Zhang Haobo held them back.
After that, no matter what the man said, Zhang Haobo acted deaf, waiting only for Manager Zhao's people to arrive.
*It seems there's a reason Zhang Haobo has held firmly onto his position as captain of the Cangyuan. He isn't quite as worthless as I imagined; it's merely his background and experiences that have constrained him.* Observing this from the shadows, Li Fan couldn't help but nod.
The commotion at the pier drew a crowd of onlookers, all pointing and murmuring toward the Cangyuan.
Fortunately, the standoff did not last long. Soon, Manager Zhao arrived in person, bringing his men along.
Chapter 31