Sail Shadows in the Sea of ​​Fog

Chapter 207 Blood Mist

"Captain! The hands on the clock face of that treasure map are showing!"

Yun Ji's reminder was transmitted to Cheng Lang's ears through the magic mirror, who was still standing on the open bridge at the stern of the ship.

"Disappeared again!"

Yun Ji's follow-up reminder made Cheng Lang frown. Immediately afterward, he issued an order, "Silver Queen, have the Valkyrie retreat. Yun Ji, keep an eye on the treasure map, and have the Silver Queen stop when the pointer appears."

"Okay," Yun Ji replied readily.

"Inform His Highness Yunlan about what just happened," Cheng Lang said, quickly walking into the conference room.

"It's here again!"

Just then, Yun Ji issued a reminder, and the Silver Queen immediately manipulated the dragonfly fins, trying her best to keep the ship relatively still.

“It seems this treasure map has very high requirements for the helmsman,” Yun Lan’s figure appeared on half of the wall.

"Shenba, are you interested in staying on the Thorn as its helmsman?" Cheng Lang asked directly.

"As long as the Thorn doesn't stray too far from the Valkyrie."

The honest and simple-minded Shenba stated his condition: "I don't want to be separated from my sister, even though she always beats me."

“That means you agree,” Yun Lan said. “The Thorn won’t stray too far from the Valkyrie.”

"In that case, I would like to trouble the Silver Queen and First Mate Yun Ji to use the treasure map to determine the range of the starting point."

Cheng Lang gave a new command: "Now I'm starting to wonder what treasure is hidden at the end of this treasure map."

"I've never seen a treasure map like this before."

Yun Lan said with great interest, "So we need to wait until the time shown on the dial matches the time required on the treasure map before we set off?"

"Princess Yunlan has a real talent for exploration."

While observing the changes on the treasure map, Yun Ji said, "Just as you said, this treasure map probably requires a very high level of skill from the helmsman, and it might also require a very high speed."

"Should we tie the two ships together?" the Silver Queen asked absentmindedly while constantly adjusting the Valkyrie's course.

"The road ahead is unknown, it's too dangerous to do this."

Yun Lan said with great confidence, "Moreover, I believe in Mr. Gerta and Mr. Shenba's ability to steer the ship."

"Since that's the case, let's give it a try," Cheng Lang made a decisive decision.

After a short wait, the Silver Queen and Yun Ji worked together to measure the range of the "starting point" using the Valkyrie.

If we were to describe it in a way that Cheng Lang is more familiar with, the area where the pointer appears on the treasure map's dial would be at most the size of two playgrounds.

This area is large enough for a person, but it is pitifully small for a sailboat.

The clock face on the treasure map is in 60-hour format.

Yun Ji said, "For our first leg of the voyage, the bow of the ship needs to point to the morning star at 4:28 to begin sailing. The destination seems to be an island or reef."

Get ready.

Cheng Lang said, "The sailors sort the cargo in advance, and if necessary, they will discard the wine and fruit first. We have plenty of these things."

Amidst the laughter of the crowd, the two boats stopped one after the other in the "starting point" area, ready to go.

Compared to their patience, the hands on the treasure map's dial spun much faster than they expected.

So they didn't actually wait long before the time specified on the treasure map arrived.

"set off!"

On the open-air bridge of the Valkyrie, Cheng Lang, holding a scimitar he had picked up from who-knows-where, issued his orders.

With a soft "whoosh," the Valkyrie's sails unfurled, and its fins below the waterline swung vigorously at the same time.

With this dual propulsion, the Valkyrie gracefully glided towards the direction of the Morning Star.

Within a breath or two, the Thorn, having shaken off the leaves that had been clinging tightly to the "trunk" to soak up the sea breeze, also began to wiggle its dragonfly fins. At roughly the same speed, it caught up with the Valkyrie, which resembled an underwater reflection, carrying the Fresh Fruit.

In fact, just as the Valkyrie began to set off, Cheng Lang realized something was wrong—the wooden boat in the metal bowl had started to spin in place.

Is the navigation signal weak?
Cheng Lang frowned as he examined the small wooden boat inside the metal bowl, which looked like a headless fly. A nonsensical thought popped into his head.

Suppressing his unease, he temporarily put the metal bowl back in his office drawer.

In just a short while, the sea outside the floor-to-ceiling windows was already obscured by thick sea fog, but the Thorn behind them was still clearly visible.

"Notify the Silver Queen that we no longer need to use the fog as cover," Cheng Lang said as he walked towards the open-air cockpit.

"Your Excellency Captain, the sea fog outside was not summoned by Lady Silver Queen."

The Magic Mirror followed closely behind Cheng Lang and explained, "She has been trying to dispel the fog, but she has not succeeded."

Furthermore, to prevent further loss of contact, First Mate Yun Ji asked Princess Wuying for help to connect the two boats together using three tassels.

Before the magic mirror finished speaking, Cheng Lang also saw the little princess of misty shadows who was tiptoeing and throwing out the tassels, as well as the three tassels tied to the stern mast of the Valkyrie and the bow mast of the Thorn.

"Stay in constant contact with the Thorn."

Cheng Lang, who had already stepped onto the open-air cockpit, gave a word of advice with concern, then looked to his left and right.

The fog here looks no different from the outside, but it doesn't smell of the sea. Instead, it's filled with a strong, sweet, fishy smell, like... like the smell of a lively, jumping rat that's been smashed to pieces with a hammer and then thrown into a downpour to be washed away all day.

After exchanging a glance with Yun Ji, who had already put on her mask, Cheng Lang turned and walked down, almost running all the way into the driver's seat.

"Quick! Close all the doors!"

Before Cheng Lang could finish speaking, he started gagging. Fortunately, the magic mirror was intelligent enough to appear by the window in the blink of an eye, closing the windows one by one, and even bringing some spices to Cheng Lang.

After the strong aroma of spices dispelled the sweet, fishy smell lingering in his nostrils, Cheng Lang couldn't help but shudder. The smell outside was absolutely disgusting, hundreds of times more nauseating than the smell of the half-blood sea monster they had killed last time.

"Look outside," Yun Ji, still wearing her mask, reminded them at that moment.

Turning his head to look out the floor-to-ceiling window, Cheng Lang was startled. In just a short while, the fog outside had turned pink.

The color of the mist even deepened, eventually settling on a bright red that was somewhere between blood and pink.

Fortunately, although the surrounding fog was strangely frightening in color, the Thorn ship following behind was still clearly visible.

Because they could see it so clearly, Cheng Lang, Yun Ji, and the Magic Mirror in the conference room also noticed that drops of bright red dew had condensed on the crown-shaped sails of the Thorn Ship.

As the ship sailed, the dewdrops grew larger and larger, eventually dripping down and creating a bloody rain on the deck of the Thorn.

"Captain, your Valkyrie is bleeding, and you're bleeding too?"

Just then, Yun Lan appeared in the wall mirror. However, just like her exclamation, bright red tears of blood also flowed from the corners of Yun Lan's eyes.

Subconsciously, he exchanged a glance with Yun Ji beside him, and the two of them wiped their eyes. Fortunately, although they appeared to be shedding blood tears in the mirror, they weren't actually shedding any. After checking with each other and confirming that Yun Lan, Ya Fu Suo, and the others weren't shedding blood tears either.

Yun Lan breathed a slight sigh of relief and said, "From my perspective, your sails are stained blood red and are dripping blood. It's very serious."

"The Thorn Ship too, it's raining blood everywhere," Cheng Lang said.

The food outside tastes terrible.

Yun Lan said strangely, "But the Thorn's heartbeat is very fast. I can feel it. It seems very happy. It is absorbing this blood rain."

"Absorbing Blood Rain?"

Upon hearing this, Cheng Lang immediately began communicating with the Valkyrie's core. However, after a moment, he shook his head. Neither the actual core nor the one at the bow seemed to react to the blood rain outside.

"Captain, look at the Fresh Fruit!"

Just then, Yavso appeared in the mirror on the wall, and immediately afterward, the undead form of the Fresh Fruit emerged from the sea between the two ships.

Subconsciously turning his head to look out the window again, he saw that the Fresh Fruit Ship had been stained bright red by the blood rain, and the color was even gradually deepening.

"Captain, please look at my mother!" Princess Mist Shadow ran in at that moment, her voice trembling with tears.

Upon hearing this, everyone immediately ran outside the conference room. At this moment, the Silver Queen was looking at them through the floor-to-ceiling window. She too was stained red, almost the same color as the Fresh Fruit Ship.

"Mrs. Silver Queen, are you feeling unwell?" Cheng Lang asked loudly through the window.

"No, no"

The towering Silver Queen stared blankly at her hands. "I'm not acting strangely, but... I like this mist... I... I think I can control it."

Before he finished speaking, the surrounding fog suddenly became incredibly thick, and its bright red color made people instinctively want to vomit.

As the fog thickened, a crimson rain fell on the Thorn, and the Valkyrie's crimson sails began to gush blood.

Even the Fresh Fruit, located between the two ships, almost blended into the thick fog.

A moment later, the blood mist gradually dissipated. The Silver Queen on the Valkyrie gently shook her head. "It's strange. I can manipulate this blood mist, but a portion of it always seems to be beyond my control."
I can gather most of the blood mist, but there are some I can't control; I can also dispel most of the blood mist, but there are some I can't dispel.

"Ladies and gentlemen."

At this moment, the magic mirror reminded us, "There seems to be an island or reef right in front of us, well, I guess you could call it an island or reef."

Upon hearing this, everyone immediately rushed into the conference room. Unfortunately, the wall mirror, which had been infallible before, was now completely red and nothing could be seen at all.

"It seems Mr. Magic Mirror can finally take a break."

As Cheng Lang spoke, he walked back to the indoor bridge, picked up the binoculars, and looked towards the bow of the ship.

At the same time, the Silver Queen also worked hard to dispel most of the blood mist.

In the remaining thin fog, Cheng Lang finally saw the island reef.

just
Is this really an island or reef?
Cheng Lang became increasingly suspicious; it was more like a stone platform rising above the sea than an island or reef.

Its sides are so smooth and its top so flat, it looks like it was meticulously carved.

But on the top of this seemingly perfect cylindrical island, there appears to be a human figure standing there—a golden figure flowing with bright red blood.

Don't you guys think so?

Cheng Lang put down his binoculars. "Don't you guys think that golden statue looks a lot like the Silver Queen?"

“Why does it look to me like…” Yun Ji put away her binoculars, “It looks to me like the golden statue of the Magic Mirror Master.”

"I think that golden statue looks more like the captain."

The Silver Queen asked, "Mist Shadow, what did the statue you saw look like?"

“It looks like a big cat,” Wuying said, tilting her head back.

"And you?" Cheng Lang looked at the magic mirror. "What did the statue you saw look like?"

“It looks like a vine demon,” the magic mirror said strangely.

"Aren't you the all-knowing and all-powerful Saint Barbaya Mirror?" Cheng Lang asked. "So what's going on here?"

"Honorable and distinguished Captain, Santa Barbara is omniscient and omnipotent, but her mirror is not."

The magic mirror said obsequiously, "I am just a poor, talking mirror. Respected Captain, it doesn't really matter who that golden statue resembles more."

Importantly, that statue is undoubtedly made of gold. I think we should move it to our ship.

"You stupid mirror had better give up that idea."

Before he finished speaking, the big cat Ye Di also came up from the staircase leading to the lower cabin.

"Big Cat! I haven't seen you in so long!"

Wuying let out a cheer, then ran over with her little hands raised and skillfully climbed onto the back of the big cat Yedi.

"Lord Yedi, do you know what's going on?" Yun Ji asked respectfully.

"I don't know what that statue outside is, but I can tell you for sure that the blood mist outside has a strong hallucinogenic effect."

Ye Di glanced worriedly at the Silver Queen outside the window, which had turned blood red. "Its effect is even stronger, especially on undead beings."

"Will it cause any harm to Mrs. Silver Queen?" Cheng Lang asked immediately.

"I do not know"

Night Demon licked its large paws. "At least one thing is not a concern: undead beings are very difficult to kill in a true sense."

Aside from that black whip in your hand, I haven't seen many ways that can truly kill undead, so what have you two-legged rats guessed?

Is there a ghost inside?

Cheng Lang and Yun Ji asked in unison, "A ghost that needs to be hypnotized?"

"Maybe"

Night Demon pointed out the window with its long, glossy tail, "Whether the princess in her hallucination or that wretched ship outside is insane or lucid, it means nothing to you."

But I have a premonition that if there really is a hallucinated spirit here, and if it regains its senses, it will likely be a huge disaster.

At this point, Ye Di placed his large paws on Cheng Lang's shoulder. "You two-legged rat, if that happens, I will immediately take Princess and Wu Ying away. You'd better be confident in using your whip to kill any undead that may be there."

"Can't you stay and help out?" Cheng Lang asked helplessly.

“I’m just a poor cat,” Nightbringer said, mimicking the Magic Mirror’s tone. “I can’t help with this kind of thing.”

(End of this chapter)