Chapter 790: Sea Mines
Ignoring Zhu Yunque's objections, Zhang Yi took Zhou Keâer along for the sea voyage. As for the others, especially the women at home, they had quite a few complaints. Yang Xinxin, in particular, gazed at Zhang Yi with pitiful, longing eyesâclearly wanting to join him on the trip. Lu Keran also offered to come aboard as a mechanic to assist with repairs. However, Zhang Yi firmly rejected all these requests.
This wasnât a pleasure cruiseâit was a mission of critical importance. Even he couldnât guarantee whether dangers lurked in the open sea. If something went wrong, he wouldnât be able to protect so many people out on the water. Nevertheless, the shelter residents still saw them off at Chaoyu Harbor.
From the harbor, they traveled another dozen kilometers by snow vehicle to reach the anchored fleet. The waters here were deeper and hadnât completely frozen over yet. The Golden Edge icebreaker, pulled out by Chen Jingguanâs men, stood ready, its deck crowded with sailors prepared for departure.
Zhang Yi bid farewell to his household one by one, instructing them to stay vigilant in his absence and contact him or Zhu Zheng immediately if any danger arose. After settling these matters, he boarded the ship with Zhou Keâer and Zhu Yunque.
Zhang Yi and Zhou Keâer traveled light, carrying nothingâeverything they needed was stored in his Dimensional Space. Zhu Yunque, however, didnât enjoy the same convenience. Though she had minimized her luggage, she still had two massive suitcases in tow. Zhang Yi made no move to help, but kind-hearted Old You loaded them onto the vehicle. At the harbor, sailors naturally carried them aboard.
Once on deck, Zhu Yunque deliberately took out her communicator in front of Zhang Yi and announced, "Uncle, weâve boarded. We can set sail today!" Zhang Yi smirked inwardlyâthis was clearly a power play, reminding him that Zhu Zheng stood behind her. Unfazed, he signaled Old Tian to depart.
The crew returned to their stations as Old Tian expertly commanded the anchorâs retrieval. The massive icebreaker slowly moved, crushing the thin surrounding ice before heading out to sea. Zhang Yi, meanwhile, took Zhou Keâer to their cabin. Below deck, the boilers roared, providing ample warmthâa requirement Zhang Yi had insisted on. Even on a long voyage, he refused to compromise on basic comforts like heating and food, all of which he had stockpiled in his Dimensional Space (courtesy of Zhu Zhengâs resourcesâno reason to spend his own funds on official business).
The days that followed were monotonous. Old Tian and the crew, seasoned sailors with post-apocalyptic experience under Wei Dinghai, knew which waters posed risks. Before departure, Zhang Yi had instructed them to prioritize safety over speed, avoiding pirate-infested routes and steering clear of Japanâs coastal watersâhome to many ronin who doubled as pirates and bandits. They also had to watch for sea beasts. With no shortage of supplies, they could afford a leisurely, cautious journey.
The crew was thrilled. Having one of Jiangnan Regionâs top superhumansâa spatial ability user, no lessâonboard filled them with confidence and pride. This would be a tale to tell their future children: the time they sailed on a mission with Zhang Yi himself.
For the first two weeks, the voyage proceeded smoothly. They stayed within Huaxu Kingdomâs territorial waters, only needing to coordinate with the East Sea Regionâs patrols. But once they left national waters, troubles began mounting.
On the seventeenth day, as the Golden Edge entered Japanese waters, Old Tian consulted Zhang Yi about notifying local authorities to avoid misunderstandings. Zhang Yi, reading a copy of *1Q84*, closed the book. "No need. Proceed as planned. Weâll deal with any interceptors if they appear."
His reasoning was sound. The apocalypse had devastated global populations and military strength. Even Huaxu Kingdom couldnât fully control its maritime borders, leaving the oceans increasingly lawless. Japan itself was fractured into two factions, its navy unstable. Their Maritime Self-Defense Force lacked substantial patrol capabilities, making formal contact unnecessaryâand potentially suspicious. If issues arose, Zhu Zheng could handle the diplomacy.
Old Tian relayed the orders. Hours later, Japanese forces issued a warning. Zhang Yi had them identify as a civilian rescue vessel while Zhu Zhengâs office intervened. Though displeased, Japanâlacking the means to enforce maritime controlâlet them pass.
Back in his cabin, Zhang Yi resumed reading. But just after exiting Japanese waters, violent explosions rocked the ship. The hull trembled, startling Zhou Keâer. "Stay calm," Zhang Yi reassured her, patting her shoulder. "Iâll handle this." In a flash, he appeared in the icebreakerâs command center.
The crew, armed and furious, cursed at the radar blips swarming the screen. "Whatâs happening?" Zhang Yi asked, noting the red dots. His presence immediately steadied them. "Sir, this areaâs mined! Pirates mustâve laid them!" Old Tian growled around his pipe. "Those damned Japaneseâthey waved us off, then tipped off nearby pirates!"
A cold smile curled Zhang Yiâs lips. "Ship status?" "Minor damage. Weâre sturdy. But these mines are just the preludeâpirate ships are closing in!" Old Tian pointed to approaching blips. "Keep the ship steady," Zhang Yi ordered. "Iâll deal with the rest." He vanished mid-sentence. While the crew knew heâd handle the threat, half still grabbed guns and rushed to the deck, unwilling to sit idle.
Author's Note