Under the cold moonlight, the crew aboard the Cangyuan Ship all had bloodshot eyes, panting heavily. Even now, they felt as if they were in a dream. Sixteen large chests filled with gold and silver treasures were quietly placed on the deck. Some people, still uneasy, pinched themselves, and only after feeling the pain did they continue to stare at the treasures, unwilling to look away even for a moment.
Mr. Li really wasn't exaggerating! He truly allowed everyone to return fully loaded! However, the extent of this "fully loaded" far exceeded everyone's imagination! The chests were filled with various jade artifacts, gold, silver, and jewels, dazzling everyone.
They had spent half their lives making a living from seafaring and fishing, and even in their wildest dreams, they had never seen such a fantastical scene. Zhang Haobo's mind was completely blank. "It's actually true, that guy really can find treasures sunk at the bottom of the sea! Such ability, such ability..."
Having lived on Glass Island for over twenty years, Zhang Haobo naturally knew that besides immortal masters, there were also some ordinary mortals who possessed various incredible abilities. For example, communicating with birds in the sky, predicting disasters in advance, holding their breath for long periods while swimming underwater, or like Steward Zhao, seeing through people's true and false natures.
But such extraordinary individuals were rare. They were either entrusted with important tasks on various islands or taken as slaves by immortal masters and brought to the Ten Thousand Immortals Island. They were truly hard to come by. Never did he expect that Li Fan was also such an extraordinary person!
Zhang Haobo suddenly recalled that Li Fan seemed to have just moved to Glass Island not long ago. Could it be that he was forced to migrate here because his original island was destroyed by a storm? No wonder, even as a new resident, Steward Zhao viewed him differently! Everything made sense now!
At this moment, Zhang Haobo was filled with regret. "Zhang Haobo, oh Zhang Haobo, you had a rare chance to meet a benefactor, and not only did you fail to seize it, but you also ridiculously thought he was here to steal your small fleet!" The more Zhang Haobo thought about it, the more he regretted it, wishing he could slap himself.
"No, I must apologize immediately! Right away! Such an extraordinary person is a distinguished guest wherever he goes. If he gains power and holds a grudge against me for what I did days ago..." Zhang Haobo shivered and was about to go to Li Fan's room to plead for forgiveness.
"Huh, is it my imagination? Why do I feel like these chests don't seem to have been soaked for long?" "It's strange, we didn't see a sunken ship when we salvaged them." "Maybe they drifted over with the undercurrents of the sea? Or were swept into the sky by a storm and then fell into this part of the sea?" "Who cares, as long as the treasures are real."
Amidst the whispered conversations of the crew, Zhang Haobo hurriedly left.
Inside the room, after sending Zhang Haobo away with a gentle demeanor, Li Fan stretched his tired body. Those sixteen chests of treasures were, of course, thrown down by himself. He had sailed alone to an uninhabited sea area, unfolded the Taiyan Boat, and moved a small portion of the treasures he had plundered from the Great Xuan Kingdom out of the boat, throwing them into the sea, and finally sent a signal for the Cangyuan Ship crew to come and salvage them.
The chests were indeed heavy. If it weren't for the fact that he had been practicing the Xuanhuang Clear Heart Mantra for the past few months, along with the invisible nourishment of the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, which had greatly increased his strength, he might not have been able to handle it alone. Even so, after the task was completed, Li Fan felt as if his entire body had fallen apart.
"The first time, make a big impression. In the future, I won't need to throw so much." Li Fan calculated in his mind. As for Zhang Haobo... Li Fan didn't take him seriously at all. To Zhang Haobo, the position of fleet captain was the foundation of his livelihood. If someone suddenly wanted to take it away, it would be strange if he didn't react.
Moreover, his tricks were so childish and laughable to Li Fan. If it were Li Fan, he would have spent the first few days chatting and laughing with him, hiding his intentions. Once they sailed deep into the sea and his guard was lowered, he would quietly sneak into the room under the cover of night and kill him with one strike. Then, throw him into the vast sea, leaving no evidence.
Even if there was indeed an extraordinary ability to find treasures, being new to Glass Island, he had no foundation. Before obtaining solid evidence, who would really tear faces with a captain who had dozens of loyal subordinates for an outsider, especially a dead one? At worst, if Steward Zhao was determined to punish him, he would only lose his position as captain.
One must know, on Glass Island, there's no such thing as paying with one's life for murder. What the immortal masters needed was merely stable supplies from Glass Island. So, in Li Fan's view, there was no reason not to act. Unfortunately, Zhang Haobo was not Li Fan. He simply didn't have such courage.
In the end, he was just a simple fisherman. The fleet he valued was merely a small stepping stone in Li Fan's plan. "How can a sparrow understand the ambition of a swan?" Li Fan shook his head, dismissing the thought, and calmed his mind to diligently cultivate the Clear Heart Mantra.
Having obtained the treasures, the Cangyuan Ship no longer fished. They immediately turned the ship around and headed back to Glass Island. After all, with such a huge harvest this time, the entire crew couldn't rest easy until they safely returned to the island. With full power, in just two days, Glass Island was in sight.
"After we return, don't dock immediately. Liu San, you quietly go into the water and notify Steward Zhao at his residence, asking him to personally send someone to count the treasures," Zhang Haobo solemnly instructed the crew. If there were no accidents, their fleet should have gained the most this time out at sea. According to the rules, they could keep fifty percent!
With outsiders counting, who could guarantee there wouldn't be deductions or intentional miscalculations? Even a slight loss would cause them immense heartache. Without their own people, they couldn't be at ease. The crew nodded in agreement, and as they saw the routine inspection boats approaching from the island, they immediately became vigilant.
"Zhang Haobo, what do you mean? Not letting us on board?" The other party seemed to have a grudge against Zhang Haobo, with a hint of anger in their words. Zhang Haobo ignored them completely. Seeing no response from Zhang Haobo, the other party became more mocking: "Judging by your ship's draft, it seems you returned empty-handed this time. Looks like your time as captain is over. If you really can't make a living, come to my brother's ship. I guarantee you won't starve!"
The crew of the Cangyuan Ship, hearing their leader being insulted, were instantly furious and wanted to retort. But Zhang Haobo stopped them. No matter what the other party said afterward, Zhang Haobo pretended not to hear, waiting only for Steward Zhao's people to arrive.
"It seems there's a reason Zhang Haobo can hold the position of captain of the Cangyuan Ship. He's not as incompetent as I imagined, just limited by his background and experience," Li Fan, observing this scene from the shadows, couldn't help but nod.
The unusual situation at the dock attracted many onlookers, who pointed and commented on the Cangyuan Ship. Fortunately, the standoff didn't last long. Soon, Steward Zhao personally arrived with his people.
(End of Chapter)