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Chapter 250 Cruise Ship, Ark of Hope!!! (2 words, Update 25)

Fang Qingyu certainly knew why the old man had run away.

Last time, I "borrowed" his most treasured possession.

During the reign of Emperor Shun, the dragon was at work.

The old man probably thought I was here to freeload again.

Fang Qingyu wasn't in a hurry and continued to keep an eye on the float.

After a while, the float suddenly sank!
With a slight flick of the wrist, the fishing rod instantly bent into a beautiful arc.

A river fish, about the size of a palm, with silvery scales, was pulled out of the water and struggled on the hook.

Fang Qingyu skillfully removed the fish and casually tossed it into a plastic bucket filled with water next to him.

There were already three or four lively fish in the bucket.

He then put away his fishing rod, picked up the heavy plastic bucket, hoisted the fishing rod, and walked towards the depths of the alley where Hong Qitian had disappeared.

At the end of the alley stood that familiar vermilion gate.

Fang Qingyu stood in front of the door, looking at the door that seemed to separate two worlds.

He smiled helplessly and gently tapped three times.

Dude, dunk, dunk.

The sound was exceptionally clear in the quiet alley.

Inside the door, all was deathly silent.

It was as if there was no one inside at all.

Fang Qingyu wasn't annoyed and gently placed the plastic bucket containing the fish by the door.

Then, speaking softly but clearly into the closed door:
"Don't worry, sir."

"I'm not here to ask you for anything."

The words fell.

The inside remained quiet.

But Fang Qingyu knew the old man could hear him.

He paused for a moment, then said softly.

"The fish in the bucket are freshly caught, still alive."

"I've come to bring you some fish."

Fang Qingyu's gaze fell on the door panel, as if it could penetrate the thick wood and see the old man behind it, who was puffing out his beard and glaring at him.

"Thank you for taking care of me during this time."

He said this with exceptional seriousness.

Done.

Fang Qingyu did not linger.

Turning around, I carried the ordinary bamboo fishing rod and walked along the bluestone path I had come from.

Their figures quickly disappeared into the twilight of Chang'an Ancient Street.

squeak
Just after Fang Qingyu's figure completely disappeared around the corner of the alley.

The tightly closed vermilion gate silently opened a crack.

Hong Qitian cautiously poked half his body out.

My eyes immediately fell on the plastic bucket by the door that was still swaying slightly.

Several silver-scaled river fish were splashing around inside, creating tiny water droplets.

Hong Qitian looked at the bucket of fish, then at the direction where Fang Qingyu had disappeared.

The expression on that weathered old face was extremely complex.

He first breathed a sigh of relief, then frowned, puzzled as to "what is this kid up to?"

Finally, that confusion slowly dissipated, turning into an extremely subtle trace that even he himself hadn't noticed.
Warmth.

He stared at the bucket of fish for several seconds.

He bent down, picked up the bucket, and seemed to mutter something under his breath.

Then they quickly retreated back inside the door.

squeak
The gate was closed again.

The alleyway returned to silence.

……

Fang Qingyu made a special trip to deliver this bucket of fish.

The incident occurred just a few days ago.

At that time, the four members of the team were resting by the training ground in the blessed land, discussing the details of the Glazed Light City on the Arctic front.

Chu Kuanglan suddenly seemed to remember something, slapped his thigh, and turned to look at Fang Qingyu, who was wiping the Dragon Sparrow Blade, with a look of curiosity and gossip:

"Hey! Fang Shen! Can I ask you something?"

Fang Qingyu looked up: "Hmm?"

"When did you get involved with our very, very, very old curator?" Chu Kuanglan winked and raised his voice several decibels. "You mean Old Master Hong! The one from Chang'an Ancient Street!"

"Old Master Hong?" Fang Qingyu paused, somewhat surprised.

"We've known each other for a long time. The old man helped me when I participated in the martial arts competition. What's up?"

He subconsciously thought that Chu Kuanglan was referring to the possibility that the matter of Shun Shi Long Gong had been leaked.

"Holy crap! We knew each other back during the martial arts competition?!"

Chu Kuanglan's eyes widened even more, and then a look of envy, as if to say "you're really lucky," appeared on his face, his tone tinged with sourness.

"Tsk tsk tsk, Old Master Hong really dotes on you! He dotes on you to an extreme degree!"

"You care about me?" Fang Qingyu was truly stunned this time. He put down the knife and cloth and looked at Chu Kuanglan. "What do you mean?"

Chu Kuanglan leaned closer, lowered his voice, and spoke with a hint of mystery and emotion:
"My dad only let me know about it when I was about to leave this time."

He paused, seemingly organizing his thoughts, then mimicked his father's tone and manner, and said in a deep, muffled voice:
"Son, when you go to Liuli Light City, work hard under Captain Fang! Don't act recklessly! Do you know why? Because Old Master Hong gave his word a long time ago! Just one sentence."

Chu Kuanglan suddenly straightened his back, mimicking a resolute and unquestionable tone of authority:

"Within the Federation, any force, any person, who dares to harbor any ill intentions towards that brat, I'll wipe out their entire family!"

After saying that, Chu Kuanglan reverted to his usual carefree demeanor, scratching his head and chuckling:
“My dad said that based on what Old Master Hong said, in the entire Federation martial arts world, from those old-established martial arts families with hundreds of years of history to those upstart troublemakers, anyone with a brain wouldn’t dare to mess with you! Even those of us who follow you will benefit! So before he left, he repeatedly told me to build a good relationship with you and stick close to your coattails!”

Chu Kuanglan spoke with complete candor, showing no remorse for "betraying" his own father.

Fang Qingyu was completely stunned as he listened.

Old Master Hong, did you say something like that a long time ago?
For myself?
An indescribable warm current, like a spring bud breaking through the soil, instantly broke through the ice layer of the heart lake and surged into every part of the body.

No wonder.
No wonder his path as a martial artist, though filled with battles and constant dangers, involved very little trouble from "people".

He had encountered attempts to win over powerful forces, but he mostly kept his efforts brief and restrained.

Those arrogant second-generation rich kids and domineering martial arts school disciples almost never appeared in front of him.

The only conflict that could be considered was with those two arrogant bastards from Qingjian City who came looking for trouble. After I packed them up and sent them back, the martial arts school in Beijing never followed up again.

Even during the selection process for Project Hidden Dragon.

The martial arts schools that had minor conflicts with him did not take any further action.

He always thought that the other side was wary of him because his strength had improved too quickly.

It turns out that beneath this seemingly calm surface...

It was that seemingly lazy and mean old man on Chang'an Ancient Street, who was actually unfathomable.

I've already sent him a message silently.
"So that's how it is."

Fang Qingyu murmured to himself, his eyes, like molten gold, churning with complex and indescribable emotions.

There was a sense of sudden realization, a feeling of warmth, and an overwhelming sense of gratitude.

That's why we're fishing by the river at dusk today.

That's how the bucket of lively river fish ended up in front of the Longyuan Martial Arts School.

A simple yet sincere thank-you gift.

……

Three days passed in a blink of an eye.

A blessed land, within the team's private courtyard.

Fang Qingyu and his four companions were fully prepared to depart.

Each person carried a specially made military tactical backpack, bulging with clothes, Qi and Blood Crystals, Life Beads, high-energy food, first aid kits, and their own preferred weapon maintenance kits.

Chu Kuanglan stretched his shoulders, which were being weighed down by the heavy backpack, and looked at Fang Qingyu with a mixture of excitement and curiosity:
"Captain! Shall we fly there in the 'Black Bird' again this time? We'll be there in a flash!"

Fang Qingyu was checking Jiang Wei's backpack straps, which were a size smaller but still crammed full. Hearing this, he didn't even look up and casually said, "No."

"No?" Chu Kuanglan was taken aback, then his expression changed slightly.

"We can't possibly drive there, can we?! Getting to the Arctic would take forever! And if we run into some kind of ghost on the way, it would just cause a lot of trouble!"

Fang Qingyu fastened Jiang Wei's suspenders, straightened up, and couldn't help but laugh out loud at Chu Kuanglan's exaggerated expression.

"What are you thinking about?" He shook his head. "I'm not riding the Black Bird, nor am I driving a car."

Amidst the puzzled gazes of Chu Kuanglan, Wei Banmeng, and Lu Jiuyuan, Fang Qingyu's lips curled into a mysterious smile.

"We'll be going by boat this time."

"By boat?!" Chu Kuanglan's eyes widened. "Go to the Arctic by boat? There are plenty of dead men and women on the sea, aren't there?"

Wei Banmeng frowned slightly, clearly considering the feasibility: "Sea voyages are long and the risks are uncontrollable, especially the route to the Arctic, where the environment is harsh and the threat of death is great. Captain, what do you think of this option?"

Fang Qingyu smiled and interrupted her doubts, adding two words:

"Big ship."

Seeing the three people's even more confused expressions, Fang Qingyu stopped keeping them in suspense and took the lead in walking towards the exclusive passage leading to the outside of the blessed land.

"Let's go, you'll see when we get there."

The five people first returned to the headquarters building of the Sanctuary.

Without stopping, Fang Qingyu led them directly down the elevator to a huge underground parking lot.

A reinforced military off-road vehicle was already waiting there.

The group quickly got into the car.

With the engine roaring, the SUV drove out of the headquarters of the Shenguan Bureau and merged into the evening traffic of the capital city.

Looking at the rapidly receding city streets outside the window, Chu Kuanglan couldn't help but ask again, "Captain, where exactly are we going to catch the boat? Is this direction...to the harbor?"

Fang Qingyu sat in the passenger seat, looking at the road gradually widening ahead and the coastline faintly visible in the distance, and nodded: "Yes, Shangjing Deep-Water Port."

"It really was a boat trip!"

Chu Kuanglan muttered to himself, clearly expressing doubt about the comfort of a long-distance voyage.

The SUV traveled smoothly and quickly left the bustling city center, entering a heavily guarded port area.

Towering walls, heavily armed soldiers on guard posts, and surveillance cameras and energy detection devices visible everywhere.
This is clearly a military-controlled area.

Fang Qingyu presented his credentials, and the SUV successfully entered the port after passing through several strict checkpoints.

The road became wide and straight, with huge warehouses and gantry cranes on both sides.

The air was filled with the distinctive salty smell of the sea breeze.

As the vehicle ventured deeper, the view of the port's berthing area gradually came into focus.

When that enormous vessel came into full view.

The car fell into a deathly silence!
Chu Kuanglan, Wei Banmeng, Lu Jiuyuan, and even Jiang Wei all subconsciously turned their heads to look out the car window.

Four pairs of eyes opened wide at the same time.

The reflection in my pupils showed the mountain range stretching across the coastline like a steel mountain.
A giant ship!

It's just too big!
It is so large that it surpasses humanity's conventional understanding of a "ship." Off-road vehicles appear as tiny as toys in its presence.

The length is estimated to be over 1,500 meters!

Its height is comparable to that of a moving skyscraper.

The streamlined hull presents a deep, heavy silver-gray color, gleaming with a cold metallic luster in the afterglow of the setting sun.

The superstructure on the ship resembles a miniature city.

Layer upon layer, brightly lit, the outlines of the swimming pool, viewing platform, and even the garden can be vaguely seen.

Chu Kuanglan's voice was hoarse and trembling, filled with disbelief and shock, "This...this is a ship?! This is a fucking moving island?!"

Even Wei Banmeng's usually cool face was filled with astonishment as she murmured, "It's at least three times larger than any cruise ship I know of."

Lu Jiuyuan's sharp eyes were also filled with solemnity and scrutiny.

Jiang Wei's small mouth opened slightly, and the huge ship's shadow was reflected in her clear red eyes. Her face was expressionless, but her eyes brightened noticeably.

"This cruise ship is huge!"

Even the usually taciturn Lu Jiuyuan couldn't help but sigh softly.

Fang Qingyu's smile deepened as he looked at his teammates' shocked expressions.

"That's right, we're going to the Arctic on this ship."

He patted the steering wheel.

"Hope Ark".

Wei Banmeng repeated the name "Hope Ark," but her brows immediately furrowed, revealing a professional wariness and doubt.

"Wait a minute? This ship looks like a top-of-the-line luxury cruise ship. It's huge, but what about its defenses? Sea monsters are everywhere, especially on the route to the Arctic, where high-level sea monsters pose a huge threat! This civilian-grade structure, if attacked, I'm afraid..."

She didn't finish her sentence, but the meaning was clear.

This ship would probably be no match for the Ghost of Fate.

Chu Kuanglan and Lu Jiuyuan also immediately snapped out of their shock, their faces showing the same worry.

Yes, no matter how big or luxurious a ship is, it's nothing more than a large target in front of the deep-sea behemoth, the Ghost of Fate, which can tear apart steel warships.

Upon hearing this, Fang Qingyu did not explain directly. Instead, he smiled and reached into the storage compartment of the center console in front of the passenger seat, taking out a thick brown paper document bag.

He casually tossed it to Wei Banmeng, who was sitting in the middle of the back row.

"See for yourself."

Wei Banmeng took the heavy file bag and quickly opened it.

Chu Kuanglan and Lu Jiuyuan immediately joined in.

The file folder contained a thick stack of detailed technical data and construction reports about the "Ark of Hope".

The paper was covered with dense data, charts, and diagrams.

All three were second-tier grandmasters, with sharp minds and quick eyes scanning the key information.

[Ship Name]: Ark of Hope

[Class]: Federal Arctic Strategic Transport Ship (SSS Class)
[Total Length]: 1588 meters

[Width]: 268 meters

The hull structure, main armor belt, and core compartments utilize a multi-layered composite forging of alloys, including the "Abyssal Whale" skeleton, with an average thickness of 4.5 meters and a thickness of up to 8 meters in key areas. Its yield strength far exceeds that of any known warship armor. The exterior is covered with a latest-generation "energy-absorbing ceramic-shape memory alloy" composite armor layer.

Enhanced for ice zones, the bow adopts an "Icebreaker-Titan" structure, containing a core low-temperature force field of "Frost Devourer," which can efficiently break and melt thick polar ice layers.

The ecological cycle, a highly enclosed large internal ecosystem, can support the long-term self-sufficiency of the crew (rated capacity of 5000 people) during navigation.

[Main Tasks]: To undertake personnel rotation between the Federation mainland and the Arctic front, transportation of high-value supplies, especially Ghost materials, and to serve as a mobile strategic support point.

and many more.

……

"hiss--"

When I saw the words "skeleton of a giant whale".

Chu Kuanglan gasped, his eyes nearly popping out of their sockets.

"My goodness! This isn't a cruise ship! This is a super war fortress disguised as a cruise ship!!"

Even Wei Banmeng's usually cold face was filled with shock.

My fingers unconsciously traced the data on armor thickness and yield strength on the document.

"So that's how it is. Using the life-ghost material itself as the main structure, no wonder they dared to take the Arctic route! Even ordinary third-tier life-ghosts would probably have a hard time breaking through this defense in a short time!"

Lu Jiuyuan nodded vigorously: "Disguising it as a cruise ship is probably to reduce unnecessary trouble and spying."

Looking at the three men's relieved yet shocked expressions through the rearview mirror, Fang Qingyu added with a smile:
"Therefore, there is no need to worry too much about security. This ship itself is the culmination of federal technology and a mobile fortress that embodies the hard work of countless engineers on the front lines."

After reading the information, Chu Kuanglan's eyes shone like light bulbs. His previous worries vanished, replaced by excitement and anticipation.
"Captain! Doesn't that mean we can really relax on the way there?! I read in the information that the ship has all kinds of facilities! Training grounds and simulated combat rooms are definitely included! The key is that there's a swimming pool, a movie theater, a bar, a restaurant, and even a small shopping street and a botanical garden?!"

The more he spoke, the more excited he became.

I could almost see myself lying on a deck chair, sipping an iced drink, and enjoying the scenery of the Arctic Ocean.

Fang Qingyu looked at Chu Kuanglan's appearance, then at Wei Banmeng and Lu Jiuyuan, whose eyes were also slightly bright and showed some interest, and at Jiang Wei, who was sitting quietly beside them, but whose little ears were obviously perked up.

He smiled and nodded, not intending to spoil everyone's fun:

"Yes, the ship's facilities are indeed very complete. After all, the voyage is quite long; it takes nearly twenty days to reach Liuli Light City one way."

“So,” Fang Qingyu said with a relaxed tone, “aside from the necessary group training and individual practice time each day, you are free to arrange your own time. As long as you don’t violate the ship’s rules or interfere with your work, you can relax however you like.”

"yeah!!!"

Chu Kuanglan couldn't help but cheer in the car, rubbing his hands excitedly.

"Great! I can finally catch my breath! I'm going swimming! I'm going to see a movie! I'm going to try the ship's specialty restaurants!!"

Wei Banmeng couldn't help but smile slightly, a hint of anticipation flashing in her cool eyes.

No matter how composed she is, she is still a young woman in her twenties, and it is impossible for her to remain indifferent to such a novel and luxurious "journey".

Although Lu Jiuyuan remained silent, his tense shoulders visibly relaxed a bit.

Jiang Wei quietly took out a new lollipop from a special pocket in her small backpack, unwrapped it, put it in her mouth, and quietly sucked on it.

In her clear red eyes, the silhouette of the giant ship, like a steel mountain range, was reflected in the car window as it drew ever closer.

Her face was expressionless, but the aura around her seemed to have lightened a little.

……

The off-road vehicle stopped beneath the massive "Ark of Hope".

Looking up, the ship's silver-gray, thick, mountain-like armor belt was extremely imposing.

Staff members dressed in crisp dark blue uniforms and wearing "Ark of Hope" badges were already waiting at a designated boarding entrance.

Fang Qingyu and his four companions got off the bus with backpacks on their backs.

The person in charge of registration and verification was a middle-aged military officer with a serious face and sharp eyes.

When he took the special ID card from Fang Qingyu and saw the name and team he belonged to,

His eyes suddenly focused!
The seriousness on his face instantly turned into deep respect.

Snapped!
A standard, forceful military salute!

"Captain Fang Qingyu! Welcome aboard! Thank you and your team for everything you have done for the Federation!"

The officer's voice was loud and sincere.

Clearly, the name "Fang Qingyu" and his identity as "Captain of the Special Team of Project Qianlong" are no secret within the federal high command and the military.

"The duty lies."

Fang Qingyu calmly returned a military salute.

The officers quickly and efficiently processed the boarding procedures for the five men, issuing them special electronic identification cards and cabin keys.

"Your room is Suite 01 in Section A on the top floor. Captain Wei Banmeng and Comrade Jiang Wei are in Suite 02 in Section A. Comrade Chu Kuanglan and Comrade Lu Jiuyuan are in Suite 03 in Section A. Here are your room key and ship's access guide. Have a pleasant journey!" The officer respectfully handed over the items.

"Top floor, Section A? Suite?"

Chu Kuanglan took the room key and looked at the gold-embossed "A01" on it, both surprised and delighted. "Wow, this is amazing!"

Guided by the officer, the five people entered the interior of this steel behemoth through a dedicated VIP passage.

The corridor is spacious and bright, with a thick, non-slip carpet on the floor and warm, off-white walls accented with soft ambient lighting.

It stands in stark contrast to the cold, hard armor on the outside.

The interior space appears more spacious than it does from the outside.

They took the high-speed elevator directly to the top floor.

The elevator doors opened, revealing a wide corridor covered with a dark blue carpet and decorated with Arctic landscape paintings on both sides of the walls.

Quiet, luxurious, with an atmosphere like a top-tier hotel.

They found their respective suites.

Open the door.

Even though Fang Qingyu was mentally prepared, he was still taken aback by the spaciousness and luxury inside.

An area of ​​over 200 square meters.

Huge floor-to-ceiling windows occupy an entire wall. Now the curtains are drawn back, and the golden glow of the setting sun fills the room. Outside the window is the shimmering harbor and the city skyline gradually lighting up.

The room includes a living room, bedroom, study, a luxurious bathroom with a bathtub and separate wet and dry areas, and even a small private gym equipped with basic equipment.

The furniture is exquisite, the decoration is elegant, and all facilities are complete, all from top brands.

"My goodness! Is this a trip to war or a vacation?"

Chu Kuanglan stood in the living room of his suite.

Looking at the huge curved TV and the fine wines displayed in the wine cabinet, I felt a little dizzy.

Wei Banmeng and Jiang Wei entered their suite. Although they didn't speak, a look of satisfaction flashed in their eyes.

Jiang Wei, in particular, was immediately drawn to the colorful candies in an exquisite fruit bowl on the coffee table in the living room.

Fang Qingyu put his backpack on the living room sofa and walked to the huge floor-to-ceiling window.

Looking down at the bustling port like ants and the vast sea in the distance.

Take a deep breath.

After settling their luggage, the five agreed on a time for dinner and met at a seafood restaurant on the top deck with a panoramic view.

On the way to the restaurant via the internal elevator.

Chu Kuanglan looked at the diverse people coming and going in the elevator, and couldn't help but click his tongue in amazement. He lowered his voice and said to Fang Qingyu:

"Tsk tsk, I just ran into a few people in the corridor, wow, they were all second-tier! Their auras were incredibly powerful! Just how many Grandmasters are on this ship?"

Upon hearing this, Wei Banmeng's usually aloof face revealed a hint of "you're making a fuss over nothing" in a smile:

“Senior Brother Chu, you need to think about just how big the entire Federation really is. Although our group of people in Project Hidden Dragon is concentrated in the capital, it doesn’t mean there are fewer Tier 2s in other places. There are branches of the Divine Administration Bureaus in various provinces, many long-established martial arts families, martial arts groups formed spontaneously by the people, and those lone hunters who hunt in dangerous areas all year round. The base is huge.”

Fang Qingyu nodded, his gaze sweeping over a cold, middle-aged man in a crisp military uniform with epaulets indicating he was a colonel; a bald, burly man carrying a massive, door-sized sword with an arrogant look in his eyes; and an elderly man in a research coat with thick glasses, whose aura was also at the second level.
From the time I boarded the ship until now.

He had already seen dozens of second-tier grandmasters, or chosen ones.

And this is just the tip of the iceberg that we saw on the way there.

The other side of the Arctic
That is currently the largest, most brutal, and most powerful organization in the Federation.
The ultimate battlefield!

The elevator doors opened with a ding.

Outside, the restaurant entrance is brightly lit, filled with the aroma of food and soft music.

And Fang Qingyu and his four companions' Arctic expedition.

Also along with this steel ark named "Hope".

at this moment.

Officially launched.

　A huge, huge thank you to the generous donor, Pig Da Bao, for the 5000 Qidian Coins!
　　Xiao Qiu knelt down in gratitude!

　　And here, I'd like to ask for monthly votes again. I'm still a bit short of 1000 monthly votes this month.

　　I thought that with such a high update frequency, there shouldn't be any problems, so I didn't ask for monthly tickets in the chapter titles or at the end of the chapters, for fear of affecting the reading experience of the readers.
　　But now I really have to ask for monthly votes, sob sob!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)