Xu Jiu anxiously gazed down at the water. Water Snake and Fatty Shrimp had led people underwater for the third time, and having returned empty-handed twice, he couldn’t help but suspect he’d gotten the location wrong. But after checking the map several times and confirming repeatedly with Mei Shan that it was correct, it was absolutely beneath this stretch of water. If he didn’t need to remain on the boat to command, he would want to go down and search himself.

The water surface rippled with fine waves. Under the bright daylight it was completely exposed—he could see the two patrol boats over there, and naturally could also see any movement on the water at any time. But Mo Zi had them rendezvous underwater. He couldn’t figure out how, with the two points so far apart, she could stay in the water that long.

“Mei Shan, if we can’t find them this time, I must go underwater. Half an hour is right before our eyes. I refuse to believe that with just this much water beneath our feet, we can’t rescue a single person.” Xu Jiu said.

Mei Shan nodded. “Gang Leader, rest assured. Leave the boat to me.”

Xu Jiu removed his great robe. Inside he wore a lake-blue water suit, binding his legs and arms, displaying his sturdy and handsome physique in full. Everyone would call him a fine fellow in their hearts. Before long, he saw several boat gang brothers surface and still shake their heads at him, so he plunged into the water.

Though the lake looked deep from above, inside the water it wasn’t too bad. Xu Jiu encountered Water Snake and Fatty Shrimp who were going up for air.

Water Snake pointed to the left and shook his head at him.

So Xu Jiu swam to the right. His rise to today’s position wasn’t famous only for his martial arts skills, but also for his amazing diving and breath-holding ability. After swimming over sixty zhang and finding nothing, just as he was about to swim back, on impulse he changed from a straight line to a curved one. This change allowed him to see a strange thing like a large fish. Swimming closer, he discovered it was made of wood and had bright yellow glass fragments. He pressed against it to peer inside. Not looking, he didn’t know; looking, he got a shock. Vaguely, there were clearly people inside. Making an immediate decision, he quickly swam to the surface. The eight boats formed a circle so the soldiers on that end couldn’t see them diving.

“Found it.” He said to Fatty Shrimp and Water Snake who were resting. “It’s tangled in water plants, so it can’t move. Prepare the tools.”

Though Fatty Shrimp and Water Snake still hadn’t rested well, their movements were extremely fast. They jumped into the water and retrieved thick rope from the boat bottom with the boat gang brothers.

“Mei Shan, as soon as I come up, leave immediately.” After giving instructions, Xu Jiu took a deep breath and dove into the water again, leading Fatty Shrimp and the others to swim toward the Dolphin Boat.

Mei Shan was nervous when he couldn’t receive people, and even more nervous when receiving them. After Xu Jiu came up, he gave the order to set sail while asking, “Being underwater so long—how exactly did you manage it?”

Xu Jiu ran his large hand through his wet hair, slicking it back. His wheat-colored skin gleamed in the morning light. “Today I truly had my eyes opened—breathing and talking normally in water. Who in the world can match Brother Mo’s abilities? And Lord Yuan’s resourcefulness and extraordinary bearing—with these two joining forces, how could I not willingly serve them?”

Mei Shan’s eyes lit up listening. “I really want to see the situation underwater with my own eyes. Gang Leader, your ambitions are lofty. If you can follow them, you will surely build meritorious achievements recorded in the history books.”

Xu Jiu sighed. “I’m clear about my own problem of being too soft-hearted and not ruthless enough. Taking the gang leader position, eliminating the Chen traitor, establishing the Tianship Association and swallowing Yu Zhong—every step I took benefited from their help. My debt of gratitude isn’t enough to repay. I dare not think of meritorious achievements.”

As for the boat that Fatty Shrimp and Water Snake boarded, though it looked outwardly as clumsy as an old cargo vessel, it came from Hongyu. No need to say more—coming from Hongyu meant coming from Mo Zi. Beyond maintaining the powerful defense and breakthrough offensive capabilities she pursued internally, the bottom board docking port specially designed for the Dolphin Boat pioneered new territory in underwater reconnaissance and escape.

Fatty Shrimp and the boat workers together pushed the iron rods to open the docking port. After seeing the Dolphin Boat flow in with the water current, they immediately closed it. The water was about half a person’s height. Because it was a compartment design, this compartment was built especially high—it just increased the load somewhat.

Min Song stood on the high platform, dumbstruck watching such a scene, murmuring, “It can truly be called magnificent and marvelous.”

“You talk all you want, but don’t stop your feet!” This voice was Wei Qing’s. He was vigorously stepping on the boards. The water that had just entered was being expelled through small windows above the bottom compartment via an improved waterwheel design.

Min Song awoke as if from a dream and hurriedly began pedaling, but his eyes remained riveted.

Water Snake climbed up the tail ladder of the Dolphin Boat onto the top and pushed open one layer of boards, then knocked.

They heard several clicking sounds. The second layer of boards sank down, and Stinky Fish’s head popped out. “Good brothers, where did you go fishing? You nearly suffocated us to death.” He shot out in a whoosh and pulled up Ming Nian.

“You deviated.” Not shirking responsibility, but being honest. “Your rudder sense can’t keep up with your directional sense. You need to practice diligently.”

Mo Zi said the load mattered, so they should bring someone light and nimble. That’s why among the three brothers, the shortest and smallest, Stinky Fish, was chosen to rescue people. In terms of boat handling technique, Water Snake was the most outstanding.

Stinky Fish scratched his head, didn’t argue back, and laughed cheerfully. “I’m not like you, Second Brother—able to stand in a space one inch wide for three days and nights. My rear can’t sit still.”

Ming Nian said to Yuan Cheng who had just come up, “My lord, we just escaped death by a hair’s breadth. I was so frightened my limbs went weak. How does it become child’s play in his mouth?”

“That’s exactly right. As Brother Mo says, playing around makes you skilled.” Stinky Fish extended his hand to Mo Zi.

Mo Zi pulled herself up with one tug and received the outer garment Water Snake handed up. “Exactly. Raise soldiers for a thousand days to use them for one moment. In ordinary times, practice all techniques to perfection as if playing around—when the critical moment comes, your mindset will be good. There’s no other shortcut to piloting a boat—practice makes perfect. The greater the pressure, the worse it becomes.”

Changing the subject, “Why did Xu Jiu come down?”

“Big brother and I went down three times. He was worried.” Water Snake jumped onto the wooden platform.

“He’s loyal enough.” Mo Zi waited for everyone to go up before being the last to leave the Dolphin Boat.

“I’ll go greet him.” Yuan Cheng turned to look at her. The genuinely joyful expression on her face made him happy too. For her and himself, today was when they truly began to live freely like fish in water.

“Go ahead. Don’t chat nonsense with him. You haven’t slept all night—catching up on sleep would be good. Besides, we still can’t completely relax.” She bore responsibility for an entire boat of lives, so she would be very busy.

Yuan Cheng smiled and nodded, then left with Ming Nian.

“I didn’t realize you had the meticulousness of a housewife—usually so carefree.” In the shipyard, not a single man was a match for her.

Mo Zi ground her teeth, turned her head to glare. “Min Song, stop the nonsense. The tail propeller is tangled in water plants. You get to repairs right away. Who knows when we’ll need to go underwater again.”

Seeing her turn fierce immediately, Min Song walked over and said in a low voice, “I’m your cousin after all. I don’t expect you to be as gentle and considerate toward me as you are toward Lord Yuan, but at least be like other families’ younger sisters—act a little coquettish toward your elder brother or something.”

Mo Zi patted his shoulder, using considerable force. “It’s not my fault that you had to leave your delicate wife right after your wedding. If you have complaints, take them to Grandfather.” Min Song had married in May. It seemed to be love at first sight when he lifted the veil. The couple’s feelings were sweet as honey.

Min Song grimaced and sighed. “No wonder Min Zhen and the others say that clearly there are two younger sisters, but you only seem to acknowledge Doulü. Grandfather says getting you to act coquettish toward family members is as difficult as plucking stars from heaven. I see there’s much to work on. By the way, look who’s over there.” He pointed toward Wei Qing. “I’m someone who listens to you—much better than him.” After speaking, he called Ding Xiu and the others to go inspect.

Mo Zi walked over to Wei Qing’s side and helped him tread water.

Before she could say a word, Wei Qing complained first. “Brother Mo took all the trusted people away but left me alone. I’m unwilling.”

“Who says I took all the trusted people away?” Mo Zi was both exasperated and amused. “I only took the shipwrights I trained myself and left the most trusted person to take over Hongyu. That was my true intention. Don’t randomly distort the facts.”

“You, Min Song, Ding Xiu and those masters aren’t at Hongyu. What am I taking over—an empty frame?” Wei Qing wasn’t fooled by her nice words.

“Empty frame?” Mo Zi laughed. “Without us, Hongyu still has twenty-six shipwrights and one hundred forty-eight boat workers. You’ve been with me so long—though you can’t build boats, you’re thoroughly familiar. Continuing to take large orders is no problem at all. I said that after taking over, all annual net profits go to you. If I can never return, I’ll definitely find a way to transfer the shipyard to your name. Wei Qing, didn’t you decide to be richer than your father? This is the best opportunity.”

“I won’t take it.” No matter how silver-tongued Mo Zi was, Wei Qing was determined to follow her.

“You’re already on the boat. What more can I do?” That’s why she hadn’t spoken earlier. “Who’s managing Hongyu now?”

“I entrusted it to Old Master Min Yu. He said he’d find someone to watch over it.” Wei Qing didn’t know about Mo Zi and the Min family’s relationship, but he knew how to judge people.

“That’s fine too. However, you can’t display your talents on the boat—you’ll have to be temporarily wronged as manual labor.” Mo Zi thought to herself that this was the benefit of having many relatives. With Hongyu in the Min clan’s hands, whether or not it could be preserved, at least the damage would be minimized.

“Not wronged at all. As long as Brother Mo doesn’t blame me.” Wei Qing pedaled vigorously.

“Brother Mo, Xu Jiu sent someone to invite you.” Water Snake flashed to the side, revealing a smiling face behind him.

Mo Zi grasped her hand. “When did you become Xu Jiu’s subordinate, Luo Ying?”

Luo Ying swung a palm toward Water Snake. “Ask him. I also don’t know how I became someone sent by Xu Jiu.”

Water Snake’s feet shifted, and Luo Ying’s palm force missed. “You came from Xu Jiu’s boat and said Xu Jiu invited Brother Mo over. Doesn’t that mean Xu Jiu sent someone to invite him?”

Luo Ying narrowed her eyes. “Before, when I talked to you, you’d answer one sentence out of ten. Today you’re so talkative—could it be you’re willing to like me?”

Mo Zi was climbing the stairs. Hearing these words, she nearly missed a step and turned back to stare at these two.

Water Snake’s dark face showed unprecedented awkwardness. “I… no…”

Luo Ying suddenly jumped onto the railing, level with Water Snake’s line of sight. “If you say against your heart that you don’t like me, then I’ll take back my words of liking you. Don’t regret it. You blockheaded lump—if you miss this young lady, you definitely won’t find anyone better.”

“I like you.” Water Snake panicked, but after speaking realized he’d been too loud, and quickly used his lightness skill to go up.

Luo Ying smiled like a flower. She’d pressured him into urgency, but she herself wasn’t anxious. She slowly walked to Mo Zi’s side. “Miss will have to help me arrange the wedding.”

Mo Zi blinked—

“When did you two hook up?”

Though this was what she was thinking, it came from Stinky Fish’s mouth.

All the previous difficulties and dangers couldn’t compare to the shock of this moment. Mo Zi felt she absolutely must get to the bottom of this gossip.