Boarding the Ship

Following Tan Zhi's gesture, Chen Chuan looked over and visually estimated that the cruise ship was nearly three hundred meters long, boasting twelve decks and a hull of blue and white. Out upon the night sea, the vessel's interior illumination blended with exterior feature lights, casting shimmering reflections across the water to create a dreamlike atmosphere. The bow was stout and heavy, its pointed prow curling slightly upward before sweeping back like a short horn growing from a snout—perhaps the origin of the ship's name. "The *Rhino Horn* can accommodate three thousand tourists, serviced by over fifteen hundred crew members. It's only docking here at Jiyang Port for three days, giving us one full day of leisure. I heard several matches are scheduled for today, featuring nominal students from our Wuyi Academy—though, well, you know how that goes." Tan Zhi shrugged as he spoke. Chen Chuan couldn't help recalling what Instructor Wu had once told him. Wuyi's external students took part in all kinds of arena tournaments and exhibition matches. Such competitions were reportedly quite popular among the citizens of Center City, though having only arrived recently, he hadn't yet witnessed one himself. "Today, after boarding, we'll just wander around at our leisure. Tomorrow there's an event you're bound to find interesting: a high-level bout featuring fighters of the third limit." Chen Chuan was slightly surprised. "The third limit? In a fighting match?" Most fighters at the third limit already held considerable standing; he had rarely heard of any stepping into public rings. "Not every third-limit fighter is willing to risk their life for corporations or the government." Tan Zhi's casual tone carried an unmistakable trace of disdain for both. "Have you heard of the Wilderness faction? It's a martial school that distances itself from the civilized world. "They believe a fighter must discard the advantages brought by civilization, throwing themselves wholly into the wild to battle beasts, compete with their peers, and temper themselves against the forces of nature in order to embrace true strength. "This group doesn't reject outside communication. They often invite other fighters to train or spar with them, nor do they turn down invitations from outsiders. "One of the combatants in this match is such a fighter. "The other side was fielded by a corporation—supposedly a skilled combatant whose implant compatibility exceeds ninety percent, boasting that they have 'tamed' their implants." "'Tamed'?" Tan Zhi scoffed. "Just marketing hype. In reality, it simply refers to how well the implant matches the host. Those with low compatibility frequently have to take anti-alienation drugs, and the performance they can extract is limited. "But when the numbers grow large enough, there are always a few individuals who achieve near-perfect compatibility. The corporations need these people to prove their products to the market, which is why they're so eager to promote this bout. "However, the Wilderness faction adamantly refuses to set foot on Center City soil. That's why the match was arranged aboard this cruise ship—a clash between civilization and savagery, bound to be quite a spectacle." Chen Chuan considered this. If it truly were a bout between third-limit fighters, opportunities to observe one in person were indeed rare. "Is it tomorrow?" "Yes, tomorrow barring any surprises. The exact time is kept secret, but we'll find out once we're there. Many figures from Center City's upper crust are reportedly coming to watch." Chen Chuan asked, "Can they even follow the action?" In a fight between third-limit combatants, setting aside intricate techniques, the nervous reactions of ordinary people couldn't even register the specific movements; they could do little more than watch the commotion. Tan Zhi explained, "I heard these two fighters will square off inside a massive aquarium tank. The water's drag is enough to slow their movements. Besides, we aren't far from Center City in these nearshore waters, so our boundary credentials won't lose connection. They will filter out the churning water waves and bubbles kicked up during the fight. "Oh, and they might apply a certain degree of field overclocking, allowing spectators to process more information in a short span. While it might cause some nausea and dizziness afterward, a little medication clears it right up." As the two conversed, their car drew closer to the harbor. Chen Chuan gazed out across the waters and spotted numerous vessels berthed nearby. Yet when his eyes fell upon a particular ship, his gaze lingered. It was another cruise liner. He had previously seen records of this vessel on the Disposal Bureau's platform—the Gong family's *Zhenbao*. *Is this ship still here?* He promptly checked via the Disposal Bureau's platform. The status indicated that because the Gong family's negotiations with Yuangan Company were still ongoing, the vessel had temporarily delayed its departure. Based on prior information, the Gong family's original itinerary hadn't included Jibei Circuit's Center City; they had only detoured here to rescue personnel stranded at sea. Given how long they had stayed, however, it seemed their original voyage plan had been scrapped. The car pulled into a parking lot brimming with luxury vehicles. After parking, Tan Zhi led Chen Chuan toward a pier where a fleet of speedboats lay moored—shuttles operated by the *Rhino Horn* specifically to ferry arriving guests. Once the two boarded a speedboat and settled in, the engine roared to life. The hull cut a curving white wake across the sea, surging swiftly toward the cruise ship amidst plumes of spray. Chen Chuan noticed that they were not alone; speedboats were departing from the pier at regular intervals, all heading in the same direction. As their boat neared the vessel, the maritime colossus occupied nearly their entire field of vision. Simple platform lifts were lowered from above, hoisting them and other passengers up. Before long, they arrived at an open platform along the broadside. Fully armed security personnel and attendants flanked both sides. Tan Zhi presented an invitation card and connected to the ship's local network through his boundary credential. After a quick verification confirmed everything was in order, the security team retracted the barricades, and the attendants bowed respectfully to welcome them aboard. Passing through the interior checkpoint corridor, the two climbed a flight of stairs and emerged onto the spacious open deck. Standing there, met by gusting sea breezes, one could take in the vast expanse of the surrounding ocean and much of the harbor behind them. Above stretched a night sky strewn with stars, while around them radiated brilliant illumination. Tan Zhi glanced back and said, "How is it? Not bad, right? The guest rooms are already booked. Let's drop off our things, grab a bite to eat, and catch some entertainment." "Sounds good," Chen Chuan agreed. Guided by a steward, he and Tan Zhi moved from a deck passageway into a narrow corridor lined with cabins, eventually locating rooms 1453 and 1454. Chen Chuan's room was 1453. Stepping inside, he found an elongated cabin spanning roughly twenty square meters, complete with an exterior balcony offering an unobstructed view of the sea and Center City. He placed his travel bag into the wardrobe near the entrance, slid the door shut, and walked into the washroom opposite to wash his face in front of the mirror before stepping back out. As for the Shock Thunder and the Xuejun Saber, he kept both on his person. He never let either weapon leave his side. After a brief wait, Tan Zhi emerged from his own room, having changed into an imported suit that fit him well, complete with a ceremonial sword hanging at his hip. Closing his door, he called out, "Come on, let's grab something to eat first." The two left the cabin area and returned to the open deck, reaching the dining zone after a short stroll. Beneath an awning stretched a long bar counter, accompanied by upbeat, percussion-heavy music drifting on the air. The scent of wine and pastries hung thick, surrounded by strolling crowds in high spirits. Walking through the lively ambiance, one couldn't help but step with a lighter stride. Two waiters opened the grand doors to the restaurant. Upon entering, an attendant approached, inquired about their preferences, and guided them past several crystal candelabras to a table for four. Tan Zhi seemed to be messaging someone via his boundary credential. A moment later, he said, "Ha, they've boarded too. Let's order our food first; they'll be here shortly." After taking their seats, the menu projected onto their boundary credentials, and each selected their dishes. For starters, Tan Zhi ordered a bowl of Moyi onion soup, Machiqi grated cheese, lemon juice scallops, and a plate of fresh salmon slices, choosing a glass of honey milk for his beverage. Chen Chuan browsed through the selections and opted for spring rolls, crystal shrimp, shredded chicken and mushroom soup, and a plate of crispy fragrant tofu, pairing them with a rock-sugar purple sweet potato drink. Just then, a young man and woman approached their table. Both wore Wuyi uniforms and carried rapiers at their sides. In appearance, they looked almost like full siblings; the female student carried a more mature demeanor, while the male student appeared a couple of years younger and distinctly more spirited. Tan Zhi chuckled softly. "You think they're brother and sister? Guess again. They're actually close friends—not a shred of romance between them—who train together simply because they get along so well. "The problem was, their families don't see eye to eye and assumed they were dating. To prove otherwise, they went behind their families' backs and had plastic surgery to look like biological siblings! But that only infuriated their clueless relatives even more. The rest of us nearly died laughing back then." Seeing them draw near, Chen Chuan stood up alongside Tan Zhi. The male student immediately stepped forward to shake Chen Chuan's hand. "Hello, Classmate Chen! I've heard Classmate Tan talk about you. I'm Pan Xiaode, and this is Qi Huixin. And let me make one thing clear—we are not brother and sister." Chen Chuan said, "Classmate Tan already explained, but having Classmate Pan confirm it in person makes me trust his words just a little bit more." Pan Xiaode couldn't help laughing. After exchanging greetings, the two sat down and began placing their orders. Qi Huixin seemed reticent, appearing quite introverted, leaving Pan Xiaode to do all the talking. He was clearly an energetic and extroverted individual. The two possessed starkly contrasting temperaments, leaving one to wonder how they had forged such a kindred bond. Pan Xiaode then turned his gaze toward Chen Chuan, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. "Junior Chen, I heard you weren't a recommended student, but earned your spot entirely on your own. How about after we finish eating, we go have a spar first?"