Shrouded in the white fog, Ye Shu lounged idly on the deck.
"You have obtained a Queenfish!"
"You have obtained a Queenfish!"
"You have obtained a Human-faced Starfish!"
"You have obtained a Human-faced Octopus!"
Several wooden barrels brimmed with bizarre-looking fish—Human-faced Starfish and Bread Crabs were old acquaintances. The newly hooked Queenfish bore some resemblance to a damselfish, its body a vibrant golden-orange, topped by a pair of crown-shaped bumps, thus the name 'Queenfish.' Compared to the other grotesque fish with human-like faces and limbs, this one was nearly a delicacy—at the very least, its flesh was delicious enough for Da Piaoliang's taste.
After gorging itself on dozens of Queenfish, Da Piaoliang's little belly ballooned round and taut.
Perched on dainty feline paws atop the rail, Da Piaoliang patrolled its territory, tail twitching with self-satisfaction, when suddenly—BOOM! A cannonball smashed into the very spot it stood.
"Bang!"
The steamboat shuddered; the explosion left a gaping wound in the stern, seawater gushing onto the deck.
In the distance...
Si Jin, watching flames blossom in the southeastern sky, backhanded his subordinate with a slap. "Idiot—how could you mess this up? I finally found a lower-level steamboat and you wreck it like this? Move, get to the helm! That ship won't last much longer."
After searching for ages, he’d finally spotted a decent steam vessel, only for Jiang Chao—this idiot—to nearly destroy it.
Jiang Chao, clutching his numb, swelling cheek, obsequiously apologized, "Boss Si, I didn't mean to! I'm on it, I'll pilot straight away."
"Go, go, go! And if you mess up again, I’ll swallow your raft right along with you."
Si Jin's impatience was evident.
If not for the Jiang family's remaining usefulness in real life, he'd never have brought along a waste like him—three days in, still stuck at level zero. He regretted coveting Jiang's promised arms and munitions.
Jiang Chao flashed a toady grin, bowing repeatedly, but his lowered gaze flickered with a trace of vindictiveness, quickly hidden. He smiled, "Yes, yes, I'll get moving now. Wouldn't dare get in your way, Boss Si."
Si Jin nodded curtly.
It was common knowledge: Only an undamaged ship could be fully absorbed.
If the ship sank, it’d be worthless to Si Jin.
A handful of fishing boats began drifting toward the southeast corner.
And the steamboat they'd marked as prey...
"Beep beep beep—Player Ye Shu, your steamboat has sustained damage. Durability down to 80%. Please repair immediately!"
"Durability now at 77%. Please repair!"
"Down to 67%—repair quickly! If the durability reaches zero, you lose the game, and will die!"
Ye Shu's eyes chilled; her smile faded swiftly. Did these people believe that a cannon alone would win her ship? How naive.
Da Piaoliang, its sleek black fur now bristling from the blast, looked like a spiked lump of coal.
"Meowwww... a sneak attack!? They even aimed the cannon at my head!"
"Master... how about I just eat them all?"
The uncanny Black Tiger was witnessing human technological marvels for the first time. Except for puffed fur, it hadn't suffered a scratch. It licked its singed paw, those glowing green eyes brimming with greed.
Ye Xiaoshu had indeed fed it plenty, but as an uncanny, its appetite was bottomless; no matter how much she fed it, its stomach was always flat.
"Wait a little longer—you’re afraid of water, aren’t you?"
Da Piaoliang suddenly saw the light; it had thought its master pitied these so-called kin, but she was only concerned about its aquaphobia.
She tossed aside her fishing rod, pressed her hand to the ship's side, and with a soft command—"Optimize"—a flash of white light sealed the ruptured hull, seawater vanishing as though it had never existed.
A giant fishing boat’s spotlight lit up the steamboat from several dozen meters away.
Jiang Chao rubbed his eyes in disbelief at the vessel, now miraculously restored. He'd swear he’d hit his mark dead-on—so why was there not a scratch on her?
"It's a steamboat!"
"Such luck!"
"But... the ship doesn't look damaged. I saw the explosion with my own eyes. Could it be an illusion? Doesn't matter—let’s board before someone else claims it!"
"Once I absorb this ship, I’ll level up again. Boss Si, as agreed—fifty-fifty, right? You won’t go back on your word?"
"Shut it. I, Si Jin, always keep my word. Gentlemen, rest easy!"
Before the fishing boats had even come alongside, the leaders were already bickering over who controlled the steamboat.
Si Jin, too, was puzzled by the ship’s miraculous restoration.
But, for now, absorbing that vessel was his only concern.
As the flotilla drew near, Ye Shu saw clearly who stood on the boats, and the clusters of rafts lashed to their decks.
"Boss Si, there's a young woman up there—looks pretty cute!"
Jiang Chao's eyes locked on Ye Shu.
She looked so gentle, harmless even, that he dismissed her outright.
What could such a delicate woman do? She'd be nothing but a stepping stone for them.
Si Jin glanced at the petite figure on deck—clad in a sleek black jacket skimming her slender curves, ponytail half-tousled against porcelain cheeks, her lips pressed tight, those black-and-white almond eyes carrying a touch of fragile sorrow.
Yet even in her delicate brow, there flickered a streak of defiance!
Pretty, yes—but ultimately forgettable.
She was nothing compared to the sprite-like beauty he'd seen at Ye Family’s recognition banquet.
Ye Wanwan had awakened to her wood-attribute ability, and behind her stood both the Ye and Qin family corporations—much more of a match for him.
With that, Si Jin shook his head at Jiang Chao.
Given his cue, the players behind Si Jin began shouting at Ye Shu to hand over the ship’s control.
"Leave the boat immediately! From this moment, it’s ours!"
"Surrender now and our boss might spare your life."
"If you’re smart, you’ll cooperate. No need to get hurt… Tsk tsk. Little lady, come with me, and I might even put in a good word for you—maybe they’ll let you go."
Not far off, another fishing boat was quietly watching the chaos.
Having survived the last attack on the inflatable boat, Fu Shiyi had shed the last of his conscience. He cradled a bowl of starfish, binoculars glued to his eyes, munching snacks as he watched.
"To get targeted by Si Jin… what rotten luck for that girl. Wait—she looks familiar… Isn’t that Ye Xiaoshu from 3201? Third Bro, get over here—Ye Xiaoshu’s alive! She survived!"
Surprise broke over Fu Shiyi’s gaze.
Ye Xiaoshu had cooperated with them before—one of the few allies he actually respected.
Now, seeing she was the besieged party, Fu Shiyi’s heart stirred.
At the stern, Pang Pangzi, who handled their kitchen, popped out like a fat, agile rat, frantically asking, "Young Master Fu! Did you say the one surrounded is Ye Xiaoshu? Really?"
"Yeah, Pangzi, you know her?"
Pang Pangzi nodded so hard his jowls wobbled, almost blurting out her leaderboard status, but at the last moment, he twisted his words: "Ye Xiaoshu’s my boss, of course I know her! She’s... she’s a good person."
But his Lady Ye was a legendary fighter. How could ordinary firepower hurt her?!
"Third Bro, should we help her?"
As Fu Shiyi drew their boat closer, ready to intervene, explosions rattled the air.
Aboard the steamboat, Ye Shu drew a pistol loaded with toxic rounds and took aim at the man who'd demanded her surrender.
Three seconds from the bullet striking to venom taking effect.
The man's mouth foamed as he collapsed, skin below the neck turning a sickly black-purple.
"Pew pew pew—"
Ye Shu sprayed the group—seven shots fired, six found their mark.
She was just about to whip out a rocket launcher when Da Piaoliang interjected with a wailed protest: "Wait—you promised these would be for me! Toxins will spoil the meat—it’ll taste awful!"
Ye Shu inclined her head in grudging agreement, "..."
Si Jin stared grimly at the bodies crumpled at his feet. He’d thought she was a pure white lily—instead, she was a carnivorous blossom, taking out five of his best men in the blink of an eye.