Chapter 4425 — A Vicious Move
The Blossom Guardian · Page 2 of 3
Little did he know that some things in this world truly defy the imagination of ordinary folk.
"This thing's got some skill," Wang Baitiao muttered with a curl of his lip and a cold snort. Following a ship like this in ordinary waters would be no challenge at all, but under the interference of this thick sea fog, to trace such a wide-amplitude zigzag and still keep from being shaken off—that truly tested one's mettle. Without seasoned experience, it was simply impossible.
By this reckoning, Wang Baitiao knew in his heart that shaking off the ship behind purely by speed would be very difficult. Even knowing the safe route, he dared not truly push his speed—there were simply too many dangers here, and the slightest mishap meant a wrecked ship and dead men. No one dared take that risk.
But then a sinister, savage grin crept onto the corner of Wang Baitiao's mouth. Since you're so bent on following behind and picking up ready-made gains, then you'd better follow closely—Papa's just going to add a little something to the mix for you!
One ahead, one behind, the two sailing ships plowed through the waves. In the wheelhouse of the Number Five Sailing Ship behind, Wei Zhao's heart was by now growing ever more astonished and doubtful. His own safe passage all this way had depended entirely on the jade pendant's warnings—but what was going on with the ship ahead? Surely the other side did not have a jade pendant too?
Yet from Wei Zhao's observation, he found that the route the ship ahead chose—especially at the various turns—was far smoother than his own.
He himself only changed direction after receiving the jade pendant's warning, and often a single adjustment was not enough, forcing him to correct again the other way, which left his course crooked and stiff. But the ship ahead was different: every time, it entered the turn with perfect accuracy and in advance, as though it knew the safe route outright—so smooth and natural it was a sight to behold.
"Seems this so-called absolutely fair Southern Continent Escort Agency Grand Meet can't escape a few dirty tricks done in the dark after all," Wei Zhao said with a mocking smile. If anyone tried to tell him the ship ahead had not made meticulous preparations beforehand, he would not believe it even if they beat him to death. Even if the other side had some cheat of their own, surely they could not manage such flawless, heaven-made smoothness?
But this way, following behind this ship actually saved Wei Zhao no small amount of trouble. At least when the jade pendant's warnings came, he was no longer as flustered as before; he only had to listen to the changes in the water sounds ahead to prepare in advance—much easier and more relaxed.
From first to last, Wei Zhao had never thought of overtaking the ship ahead. For one thing, there was no need—this round of the race was not scored by ranking; so long as one returned safely within a set time, one earned the corresponding points. Their relationship was not wholly one of kill-or-be-killed competition.
For another, this sea route was simply too dangerous. Even with the jade pendant's warnings to keep him in an invincible position, Wei Zhao did not dare advance rashly, because doing so would be tantamount to courting death.
To be honest, his own seamanship probably did not even reach the entry level—he was limited to being able to operate a ship, and not even fully proficient at that. If he truly had to compete with real masters of navigation, he would very likely blunder in his haste, and at that point even the jade pendant's warnings would not save him.
Wei Zhao was self-aware enough to know this, so he would not do anything foolish. The only thing to do now was to reach the required checkpoint steadily and then sail back; all other distractions were so much passing cloud.