Sail Shadows in the Sea of ​​Fog

Chapter 160 I am Fan Hart

"We were indeed pirates who came ashore."

After a moment of silence, Cheng Lang replied, "The prophecy is right, we are indeed pirates who have come ashore, but I'm not sure if we can give your children freedom."

"At least give us a carriage."

The male elf pleaded, "The supplies in that carriage will at least keep those children from going hungry, especially two little ones who are still breastfeeding."

"Where are you hiding?" Cheng Lang asked after a moment's thought.

"In a cave on the edge of the town of Funeral Valley"

The elf said, "To trade food with Funeral Valley, we need wine. We can only purchase wine and other necessities from a few villages and towns outside Beast Corpse Territory."

But the number of hunters was increasing, so we had to go to towns that were farther away each time, and the carriage was gradually becoming too slow.

"Speaking of which, wasn't that carriage used by the Elven royal family to receive foreign guests? How did it end up in your hands?" Yun Lan asked the question she had been wondering about.

"Several years ago, the Elven royal family sold that carriage to Viscount Shenfei."

The male elf explained, "It is said that the spirits that the carriage was driven by were almost asleep and no longer suitable to serve the royal family, so it was sold to Viscount Shenfei at a high price."

About six months ago, Viscount Shenfei went to the Sin Gold Mine in that carriage. We also escaped the pursuers by riding in that carriage and chasing that digging beetle through the mine after Erlin kidnapped Viscount Shenfei.

"What is Viscount Shenfei's background?" Yun Lan continued to ask.

The female elf explained, "He is the grandson of Marquis Shenqi and the sole heir to the hereditary title. His father automatically lost his eligibility to inherit the title because he joined the Azure Hunters."

“His father is already the Grand Master of the Azure Hunters,” the male elf added.

"Looks like someone really important died," Cheng Lang muttered gleefully.

"Aren't you afraid?" Yun Lan asked with a smile, though she didn't look scared either.

"I didn't kill him, so what am I afraid of?"

Cheng Lang said nonchalantly. Of course, he wouldn't mention that he killed a prince right at the beginning of the game, and he's still doing just fine.

"So you're planning to help them?" Yun Ji, who hadn't spoken until now, asked.

"Please help me."

Cheng Lang said nonchalantly, "Yun Lan, can we just build a tunnel to get there? That might be safer."

"I need to know the exact locations where the others are hiding."

Yun Lan said, "The digging beetles consume a lot of oil. I'm not sure if the fish oil in those three miners' lamps will last us that far. If we run out of power halfway, we might be trapped in the mountains."

"In that case, let's just forget about it."

Cheng Lang decisively chose to give up, "Let's take out our other travel carriage and see if it can fit everything in that luxury carriage. If it can't, let them use our carriage as well."

No one objected to the captain's order. Shenba immediately took out the box containing the traveling carriage and retrieved the other carriage.

Although the two pointed-eared elves were surprised that these pirates who had come ashore were so wealthy, after they realized what was happening, they immediately worked together to unload all kinds of supplies from the luxurious carriage and categorize them, filling the two travel carriages belonging to Cheng Lang and his companions to the brim.

Climbing back into the unusually spacious royal carriage, Yun Lan asked curiously, "It seems like there's a lot less decoration inside?"

"We melted it down and used the proceeds to exchange for gold coins to buy supplies."

The male elf said matter-of-factly, "We are just some escaped miners, not as wealthy as you. We wouldn't have tried to stop you if we hadn't been desperate."

Let's not bring this up again.

Cheng Lang waved his hand dismissively, "You two drive those two carriages separately, and we'll ride in this carriage with you, okay?"

"Of course, of course."

The female elf said gratefully, "Thank you for your help anyway."

"In that case, let's not linger here any longer. I'm about to suffocate," Cheng Lang said, handing the firefly necklace around his neck to Yun Lan again.

They took out the gold-digging beetle again, opened a hole, and the three traveling carriages returned to the winding mountain road.

This time, without the overloaded cargo, the six-wheeled carriage finally managed to travel at a fairly brisk speed.

What do you think of that prophetic poem?

In the luxuriously decorated carriage, which was filled with a faint smell of chicken and sheep manure, Cheng Lang opened the window and asked.

“I’m more concerned about what serious mistakes we might make,” Yun Lan said.

"And who is the net weaver?" Yun Ji followed up.

"Then comes the second heart."

Cheng Lang looked at everyone, "Do you think it could be Poseidon's second heart?"

"It can't be a Valkyrie, can it?" Yafso said casually, then noticed that everyone was looking at her.

"Why are you all looking at me like that?" Yafso panicked for a moment.

"We'll know when we make a big mistake."

Cheng Lang said nonchalantly, "Now we should worry about something more pressing: how do we deal with the many dark elves that are coming?"

"If only Nobunaga were here."

Shenba, whose brain was still completely unopened, spoke first, "Otherwise, we could write a letter to Miss Yunhai; she'll definitely..."

She definitely can't come.

Yun Lan said, "Even if we bring Xin Weng with us, even if we write her a letter, she can't possibly send her fleet to Frostflower Harbor to pick us up. That would be no different from declaring war."

"That's right"

Yun Ji said, "From now on, we can only rely on ourselves to find a solution."

I'm not here to save the dark elves.
Cheng Lang muttered to himself, but did not say it aloud.

Amidst idle chatter about the web of fate and the fate of the dark elves, three fully loaded carriages hurried along the winding mountain road, their two pointed ears never stopping even as sunset approached.

Since they kept going, Cheng Lang and the others naturally couldn't stop either.

Fortunately, after Yavso's careful cleaning and wiping along the way, the luxurious carriage was finally clean, and it was much more comfortable to ride in than the two carriages with only oak barrels.

After traveling day and night, the three vehicles finally arrived at Funeral Valley on the evening of the second day, and finally saw the small town shrouded in miasma.

This so-called Funeral Valley is almost entirely shrouded in miasma, and all that can be seen in the distance are rows of log houses.

At the entrance of these houses, there are signs that read "Free room and board, free showers, free grooming."

At the same time, these houses usually have some "commissions" posted on the doors.

These requests were remarkably simple; over 70% were for purchasing alcoholic beverages, while the remaining 30% were mostly for delivering mail.

“If they can provide alcohol, they can pay for all kinds of food.”

Gerta, who has done business here, explained, "The prices here are very reasonable, or rather, any alcoholic beverage is very popular here."

That's why those two pointy-eared guys brought so much liquor; it's much more cost-effective than buying grain directly.

"They could actually buy some spirits and then dilute them with water on the way," Cheng Lang suggested in a low voice.

“Captain, you have mastered the secret to making money on this trade route.”

Gerta said honestly, "In fact, that's exactly what we did back then. People who are about to die can't taste the wine."

“But those elves don’t seem to have mastered the trick,” said Yun Lan, who had been looking out the window.

"You can get more food by exchanging undiluted wine; the trick is to dilute different wines with different amounts of water."

Gerta said, “Their transaction will probably take a long time. If you’re interested, you can visit the confessional in the middle of town. Of course, we’re more used to calling it a general store. There’s nothing valuable there, but the food is cheaper. However, whatever you buy, you’ll need a mail delivery service.”

Let's go for a walk!

Yun Lan suggested, while she and Ya Fu Suo, who was also looking excited, took Yun Ji's arm from both sides.

Clearly, neither the captain nor the first mate of the Thorn were particularly daring.

"Let's go for a stroll then," Cheng Lang said nonchalantly.

"I won't go later, I'll wait for you outside."

Gerta said with a laugh, "I don't have a very good memory of this place."

We don't plan to go up either.

Crook and Crookie, along with a few other young pirates, quickly said that they were still young and had enough fear of death.

Children are not allowed inside.

As Gerta spoke, he took over the driving from Shenba, pulled on the reins, and parked the car at the foot of a tall tower in the center of the town.

Cheng Lang and the others climbed out of the carriage, looked around, and followed the direction Gerta pointed into the gate at the foot of the tower, which had no door at all. Instead, they found an old man with goat horns sitting there.

Peering inside the stone tower, you see a spiral staircase leading upwards, with small niches on the walls on either side, each with a glass door and an oil lamp hanging inside.

"Whether you are prepared to die or want to help the dying send off their last letter, please come in."

Any confessional window without a lit oil lamp can be used, as long as there is a lit oil lamp.

If you see something you like, just write down its number and come find me.

The old goat, drunk, said, "Also, please do not disturb the person who is confessing and going to their death."

After saying that, the old man cleared the way upstairs and gave everyone an oil lamp and a dirty, patched-up hood.

After receiving the items one by one, Shenba, who was at the front, hastily put on a hood large enough to cover his face, picked up the oil lamp, and trudged forward—this silly boy had even forgotten why he was there.

Behind him, Yun Ji and the others walked exceptionally slowly, carefully examining the items in the lit niches.

Some of these niches contain gold coins, some contain a bag of food or wine, and some contain varying amounts of jewelry and gold coins.

Others contain weapons such as flintlock pistols, swords, and axes.

Some of the items left were even junk such as wooden cups, dentures, fake eyes, and fake legs.

Without exception, each of these items had an envelope on it, with words roughly written on it such as "Sent to the Elf Duchy", "Sent to the Murphyta Duchy", "Sent to Red Cloud Island", or even "Sent to Pirate City".

Of course, they would also occasionally encounter those who were going to their deaths, standing in front of the alcove and writing their last words with the paper and pen provided there.

Most of them were already very old, but their faces, as the pen moved, reflected the memories of their youth in the oil lamp light.

However, there were also a few young people who were either emaciated or unsteady on their feet, and some even emitted a pungent stench.

"In the face of death, this place is more humane than the world of the living."

Cheng Lang's subconscious sighs echoed repeatedly as he ascended the spiral staircase, causing some people to stop crying or even smile involuntarily.

Shaking his head apologetically, Cheng Lang quickened his pace slightly. There was nothing he was interested in, nor did he think he had the time or energy to deliver messages for anyone—just for a fake eye or a fake leg.

Gradually, he caught up with Shenba, only to find that he had reached the highest point of the tower. From here, he could see the world above the miasma, but not the Funeral Valley below the miasma, nor the town.

After waiting a short while until Yun Ji and the others caught up, the group continued down the stairs via another staircase.

Here too are individual niches, and here too are people standing in front of them.

Gradually, the girls behind him slowed down, while Shenba in front quickened his pace. Cheng Lang, on the other hand, was left all alone.

At that moment, Cheng Lang felt as if an invisible force was pulling him toward one of the niches.

The items in the niche were covered in dust, and even the flame of the oil lamp was not very strong.

That's why it wasn't until Cheng Lang pressed the oil lamp against the not-so-clean glass that he could see clearly what was inside: a tattered eye patch and a letter pressed under it. The letter, almost buried in dust, read, "Send to the Sea of ​​Despair."

When his attempts to pull his hand back failed, Cheng Lang also noticed that the invisible force came from the ring inhabited by Fan Hart.

Cheng Lang tried tugging at it again, looked around, and whispered, "Okay, okay, I'll give it to you later."

After he finished speaking, the invisible force disappeared.

Cheng Lang wiped the numbered plaque next to the niche with his sleeve, quickened his pace slightly, and returned to the first floor almost together with Shenba.

"I want something from one of the niches."

As Cheng Lang spoke, he gave the number of the niche he had just seen to the old man with goat horns.

"Wait here for me."

After the old man finished speaking, he slowly got up and went upstairs step by step. Before long, he returned behind Yun Ji and the others, and handed the eye patch and letter to Cheng Lang. "The person who left this item has set a price of 100 gold coins and requested that the letter be delivered to a designated location."

"What if it can't be delivered?" Cheng Lang asked.

"Suit yourself, but don't even think about taking it without 100 gold coins," the old man said.

Upon hearing this, Cheng Lang smiled and winked at Shenba, who immediately took out a money pouch from his bag, counted out 100 coins, and handed them to the old man.

"Let's go," Cheng Lang said, already climbing into the carriage.

"Captain, what good stuff did you buy?" Yavso, who had followed us in, was the first to ask.

"I am not sure as well"

As Cheng Lang spoke, he instructed everyone to draw the curtains and temporarily send the little sailors out to avoid frightening them.

Soon, he summoned Fanhart, but unexpectedly, the ring shattered into several pieces the moment Fanhart appeared.

Slightly dazed, Fan Hart spun around in the carriage for a moment, then reached out his four hands to Cheng Lang, each holding a hand carefully as he accepted the blindfold and envelope.

With a slightly clumsy effort, Fan Hart put on the blindfold and then opened the letter. Even the sea cucumber on his head tried to stick its tip down to see what was inside.

However, both he and those watching him noticed that the pale pink letter had no words on it, only a clear tear stain.

A moment later, Fan Hart, who looked comical and ugly and was wearing a tattered light pink eye patch, started wailing while holding the letter and the letter paper.

Amid his cries, the letter gradually merged into his body, and the sea cucumber on his head also gradually dissolved into his spirit body.

In the end, even the pale pink, tattered eye mask gradually dissolved into his body.

Suddenly, Fan Hart's body released a sea-blue light, which then turned into a golden light.

Finally, the light gradually dimmed, and Fanhart's undead form reappeared before everyone.

He had eight arms that served as legs and four arms that grew on his upper body, but the disgusting, strange, and filthy sea cucumber on his head was gone.

Suppressing the urge to glance at the other person's lower body, everyone noticed that Fan Hart had an undead backpack on his back.

Not only that, the blank and dazed expression on his face completely disappeared, and he became exceptionally lively.

He has developed thought?
Just as everyone was thinking of this, Van Hart began to recite the prophetic poem:
The web of fate has been woven; the guilty elves have fled into the realm of beasts, while the free souls have hidden in the miners' lamps.

The web of fate has been woven; the pirates who came ashore made a grave mistake, while the silver-haired elf became a laughingstock.

The web of fate has been woven, but the weaver has become trapped in his own cocoon, while the black termites have drunk their fill of sweet dew.

The web of fate has been woven; the second heart has transformed into a rain of blood to nourish the continent, and the one who brought the rain deserves a reward.

As the last line of poetry faded from the carriage, Van Hart put his hands behind his back and covered his chest with his other two, bowing slightly as he said, "Hello, pirates who have come ashore. I am Van Hart, and I used to be a pirate. May I ask, what foolish things did I do before I awoke?"

(End of this chapter)