Zhan Qingcheng took Feng Jiu’er’s hand and turned her around to face him.

Feng Jiu’er raised her head to meet his gaze, her lovely eyes blinking.

“Ninth Imperial Uncle, if…”

Before she could finish her words, the man suddenly lowered his head and captured her lips.

Feng Jiu’er stared wide-eyed at Zhan Qingcheng, her hands instinctively pressing against his chest.

“Ninth…”

The words she wanted to say never made it out — her lips were sealed once again.

Feng Jiu’er pushed back with all her strength, only to find that the large hand resting at her waist was tightening its grip as well.

Trying to pull away without hurting him was truly no easy task.

But — surely Ninth Imperial Uncle knew that the brothers were still down below, didn’t he?

They had just weathered a tremendous storm. Not only were they soaked to the bone, they had also expended a great deal of their inner energy.

If the brothers were to see the two of them sharing an embrace at a moment like this, what would everyone think?

This could not happen! She could not let everyone see this!

“Ninth Imperial Uncle, you…” Feng Jiu’er was still struggling to resist.

She was very clear about one thing — if she failed to keep her wits about her, she would quickly find herself conquered by Ninth Imperial Uncle’s charm. When that moment came, whatever he wished to do, she would be powerless to refuse.

After great effort she finally managed to push the man away. Feng Jiu’er immediately turned around and glanced down below.

She was met with a barrage of stunned, disbelieving stares. Her face instantly flushed the deep crimson of pig liver.

How had this happened? When had everyone started looking up? Hadn’t they all been looking every which way just moments ago?

She glanced back at Zhan Qingcheng, and when she turned around again, she wished she could find a hole to crawl into.

Oh, what face would she have left to show everyone from this point forward?

Catching the look in Zhan Qingcheng’s eyes, the people on the deck did not dare to stare any longer and immediately averted their gazes.

“Lovely weather!”

“Indeed, what fine skies — what fine skies!”

“A gentle breeze and warm sunshine — wonderful!”

“Blue skies and white clouds — beautiful!”

In an instant, sighs rippled across the deck one after another.

By the time Zhao Yusheng came out from inside, the deck, which had been somewhat gloomy just moments before, had come alive with activity.

Seeing the brothers carrying on like this lifted his spirits considerably.

“True enough — we’ve all been through so much together. It is impossible to be trapped in a formation forever. As long as we work in unity, we will certainly make it back.”

Qiao Mu cast a playful sidelong glance at Zhao Yusheng, then lifted her eyes to meet Feng Jiu’er’s gaze.

“Young Head, the scenery up there just now was truly beautiful. What a pity you missed it.”

Feng Jiu’er glared at Qiao Mu, so agitated she nearly stomped her foot.

That Qiao Mu — there were things one simply should not bring up, yet she just had to bring them up!

With so many brothers still watching down below… it was all Ninth Imperial Uncle’s fault!

Zhao Yusheng came to Qiao Mu’s side and, as he raised his eyes to look upward, Zhan Qingcheng had already vanished from sight.

On the upper deck above, only Feng Jiu’er remained.

“My lady, the wind is strong up there — come down!” Zhao Yusheng called out softly.

“I am not your lady!” Feng Jiu’er shot Zhao Yusheng a glare, leapt into the air, and dropped down from the upper deck.

“Do not worry! I will find a way to see you safely home.”

Zhao Yusheng moved to approach her, only to be stopped by another glare from Feng Jiu’er.

“In the future, stop talking such nonsense. If my father hears you, it would be a wonder if he did not split you in two!”

The moment the words left her lips, Feng Jiu’er turned and swept her gaze across everyone present.

“Brothers, you did well just now, but a far fiercer storm lies directly ahead. Once we push through it, we can return to Bei Mu Nation.”

“This journey has been hard on everyone. In the future, when I have grown wealthy, I will definitely treat you all to the finest food and drink.”

Had her little face not still been flushed a deep red, everyone might truly have believed that their Miss Jiu’er had already put the incident behind her.

“Well done, Miss Jiu’er!” one of the brothers from the Ninth Prince’s estate said with a smile, clapping his hands.

“Our lord is naturally the finest of all!” a brother from the Celestial Mechanism Hall said without hesitation, his face full of pride.

“Indeed — in this lifetime, being able to serve alongside Miss Jiu’er is the greatest fortune any of us could ask for,” another brother from the Celestial Mechanism Hall agreed.

“Well done, Ninth Princess Consort!” a brother from the Ninth Prince’s estate looked at Feng Jiu’er, deeply moved.

Very soon, everyone grew animated.

“Well done, Ninth Princess Consort!”

“Well done, Ninth Princess Consort!”

Zhao Yusheng stood there, brow furrowed as he watched everyone, clearly unaware of what had just transpired.

Yet the man being spoken of was the Ninth Prince, whom he admired most deeply — what could he possibly say in opposition?

Even so, judging from his expression, it was plain that he absolutely refused to accept the title of Ninth Princess Consort being applied in this way.

Watching everyone carry on like this, Feng Jiu’er thought back to her embrace with Ninth Imperial Uncle on the upper deck, and her face flushed a shade deeper.

She gave a light cough and lowered her head.

“Everyone, prepare yourselves for battle. I am going to check on my father.”

With that single remark, the one everyone was calling the Ninth Princess Consort departed in a hurry.

The brothers on the deck suddenly felt a powerful, oppressive presence bearing down from overhead and all looked up at once.

The moment they spotted Zhan Qingcheng, both those from the Celestial Mechanism Hall and the brothers from the Ninth Prince’s estate immediately understood.

“Yes.”

“Yes, Ninth Princess Consort.”

Having responded to Feng Jiu’er’s words with complete solemnity, each person immediately returned to his post and prepared for battle.

After that little scene between the Ninth Prince and the Ninth Princess Consort, the mood of everyone on board had lifted considerably.

Everyone, that is, except Zhao Yusheng, who looked distinctly aggrieved.

He had never once said he had feelings for Feng Jiu’er — yet Feng Jiu’er was, in truth, the woman with whom he had exchanged wedding vows. Now, hearing her called the Ninth Princess Consort by everyone around him, how could he possibly accept that?

But brooding over it with a long face would earn him no sympathy from anyone, so he let out a long, heavy breath and walked toward the bow of the ship.

The sky soon darkened, and the whole world seemed draped in a layer of grey.

What was meant to come would always come. Everyone had made their full preparations.

The sky grew darker and darker, until by degrees not even a thread of light remained, like the dead of night — yet the winds stayed calm and the waters stayed still.

Then, without warning, a blinding flash of white light streaked past, and everyone saw it with perfect clarity — the totem looming ahead.

A black dragon, and a phoenix of the same dark hue, were coiled around each other in combat.

The black dragon was ferocious in the extreme, its very gaze brimming with murderous intent.

The phoenix in the midst of the struggle cried out in waves of anguished calls, and if one looked closely enough, it was easy to see the tears welling in its eyes.

It seemed as though the phoenix had no desire to continue fighting, yet to preserve its life, it had no choice but to keep struggling against the black dragon.

Cry after mournful cry rang out, filled with helplessness and sorrow. Even without looking — merely hearing the sound — everyone’s hearts felt heavy.

“Brothers.” Feng Jiu’er’s clear, resonant voice rang out across the ship. “Everyone, close your eyes — do not look!”

“This totem can ensnare the soul — do not look! Do not listen!”

“Remind the brother beside you — do not look, do not listen, sink your weight downward, hold the ship steady with all your strength. The storm is coming!”

The moment Feng Jiu’er’s voice fell, Zhao Yusheng’s voice rang out immediately after.

“Brothers, do not look, do not listen — the storm is coming! Everyone, hold steady!”

“Yes!” The brothers’ response rang out with particular clarity in the silent stillness of the night sky.

The ship continued to press forward, sailing ever closer into the zone of death.