Meng Jianqing commandeered a seagoing vessel near Hangzhou Bay and, following Meihong’s directions, sailed toward the open sea.

Meng Jianqing and Meihong stood in the cabin on the highest deck, leaning against the railing and gazing into the distance. The rising sun was clear as crystal, the sea and sky vast and boundless. Looking back toward the coast, it had gradually disappeared into the misty waves.

In the sunlight, Meihong’s complexion was slightly pale, with fine lines faintly visible at the corners of her eyes. Compared to the night, she had a different kind of decadent, fallen beauty—haggard yet pitiful.

Meng Jianqing observed her, not knowing that Meihong was also secretly studying him in the daylight.

Had she once possessed such vigorous, overwhelming power like the blazing sun?

After a long while, a desolate sigh arose from the depths of Meihong’s heart.

She murmured as if to herself, “I truly wish I could go back ten years.”

Meng Jianqing said in surprise, “Go back ten years? You would have been just a little girl then.”

The corner of Meihong’s mouth curved slightly, half-smiling, “Not a little girl, but the me of ten years ago—how could she have been a match for you now!”

Meng Jianqing was speechless at her words and could only smile.

He thought what confused him wouldn’t be the Meihong of ten years ago, but only this current Meihong who had experienced all the vicissitudes of the world and was so exquisitely perceptive.

The northwest wind blew steadily, and in just one day and night, the ship had rounded Putuo Mountain in Zhoushan and turned south. The twelve retainers Meihong had brought began showing excitement in their expressions.

The wind direction wasn’t entirely favorable, and Meihong’s expression showed hints of restlessness, while those dozen retainers were even more agitated.

At sunset, the helmsman sent a sailor into the cabin to say there might be a storm and asked them to prepare.

Looking at the setting sun in the distance, it was indeed unusually red. The eastern sky was also uncommonly black.

The ship increased speed, hoping to reach the nearest Jiushan Island before the storm arrived. But the storm came as quickly as predicted—in an instant, dark clouds filled the sky, bringing howling winds and surging waves. The ship carried no cargo, and most of the ballast stones brought when setting sail had been jettisoned along the way due to Meihong’s urgency to make time. The ship was too light, swaying unsteadily in the fierce wind. The helmsman urgently called to lower the sails to avoid being overturned.

A sailor suddenly shouted in panic, “The rigging is tangled!”

The sails couldn’t be lowered.

A small, agile sailor climbed the mast to untangle the rigging, but in the fierce wind and rolling ship, he lost his grip and fell headfirst. Fortunately, he was caught by a crossbeam and dropped into the sea. His companions quickly threw down ropes and pulled him up. Though he ran shivering to the rear cabin to change clothes, he was essentially unharmed.

A huge wave struck, nearly capsizing the ship.

Among Meihong’s retainers, a fifty-year-old man took off his shoes and climbed the mast. Meihong cried out, “How can we let Uncle Yanfu climb the mast?” The others looked embarrassed, “We couldn’t stop him—”

Though old, Uncle Yanfu was extremely agile, climbing even faster and higher than the young sailor. He wrapped himself around the mast, untied one knot, then climbed higher.

But the wind was truly too strong. Suddenly, the sail shifted to one side, and the rigging spun with it, wrapping around Uncle Yanfu’s neck. Everyone was alarmed, and Meihong cried out.

A flash of light suddenly flew from behind her, striking with a “clang” and severing the rope as it embedded in the mast—it was a short blade. Uncle Yanfu fell heavily but was caught around the waist by a long rope that flew across, slowing his descent. When he hit the deck, he rolled with the momentum and stood up, gasping.

As Meng Jianqing threw out the long rope, his left hand reached out, and another short blade flew forth, severing another knot.

The sail came down.

An oncoming giant wave crashed onto the deck, tilting the ship and sending everyone tumbling involuntarily. Meng Jianqing dodged to the side, crouched down against the cabin wall, and caught Meihong as she fell toward him.

Another huge wave crashed over them, forcing salty seawater into their mouths.

In the wind and waves, Meng Jianqing could still feel Meihong’s rapid heartbeat and breathing. And he was probably no better off.

The sky was black as ink, rain fell like arrows, and the ship rose and fell dramatically.

On this vast sea, each person’s strength was so insignificant. In this moment, she had only him, and he had only her.

Life and death together.

Yet in Meng Jianqing’s heart, in this moment, there was such profound bewilderment.