Chapter 361 - 271: An Army of Thousands Avoids the White-Robed (2)

Chapter 361: Chapter 271: An Army of Thousands Avoids the White-Robed (2)

This was his only lifeline, and he had to grasp it firmly.

It had to be said that for Graham to have survived for so many years as a sea merchant on the treacherous oceans, his courage and strategic mind were both top-notch.

And he had guessed correctly.

Wu Liangchen gave the blond-haired, blue-eyed Folangji merchant before him—his face a mask of humility—a long, hard look, then spoke.

"I want to go to the overseas secret realm."

’Just as I thought.’

In truth, Graham had already suspected as much.

After all, he couldn’t imagine any other reason for such a peerless expert to seek him out.

Other than the overseas secret realm.

Although the martial arts of the Folangji had been in decline in recent years due to the rise of firearms, the secret realm was still a place countless Martial Artists dreamed of reaching.

No one knew how many had died on the way to the overseas secret realm.

Yet even so, ships still set out for that place one after another, an unending stream.

As one of the few sea merchants who could contact the overseas trade ships, many had tried to use him to their advantage.

Fortunately, his connections ran deep. He had even been personally granted the title of Count by his queen. Furthermore, he always had a powerful Firearms Team by his side, which helped him avoid a great deal of trouble.

But this was the East Sea Kingdom, not the land of the Folangji. He wasn’t facing ordinary Martial Artists, but a peerless expert who had reached the very pinnacle of this world.

Therefore, he had to show absolute respect. It was his only path to survival.

"I can, but the overseas trade ships won’t arrive for another five months," Graham said.

Wu Liangchen studied Graham. He saw the frankness in the man’s gaze and the humility in his expression, and his opinion of him shifted slightly.

’This one knows his place.’

’Much better than these arrogant, ignorant people from the East Sea Kingdom, at least.’

"Where do they dock? How far is it? After I meet the trade ships, how do I get to the overseas secret realm?" Wu Liangchen fired off three questions in quick succession, each one striking at the heart of the matter.

To his surprise, Graham’s answer was just as direct. "At a place called Heaven’s Corner, about three thousand nautical miles from the Folangji lands. It would be a two-month journey from here. As for how to get to the overseas secret realm...."

Graham paused to think for a moment before continuing, "Those overseas traders value profit over people. If you can offer them something valuable enough, they might even take you there directly. If not, your only option is to trail behind them."

"What are the dangers?" Wu Liangchen asked again.

He was certain that someone like Graham, who had dealt with those overseas trade ships so many times, must have some inside knowledge.

"First, there’s the fog. Once you pass Heaven’s Corner, the weather becomes extremely unpredictable. One moment, everything is fine; the next, you’re enveloped in a dense, persistent fog. It’s incredibly easy to lose your course under those conditions, so that’s the primary challenge."

"Second, I’ve heard from the traders that the deep ocean is home to many ferocious Sea Beasts. Some are so massive they can capsize a ten-thousand-ton vessel. Because of this, even they can’t guarantee a safe arrival every time. Their casualty rate is astonishingly high."

Graham was truly an excellent sea merchant, describing the dangers of the voyage in meticulous detail.

Wu Liangchen listened intently.

He wasn’t surprised by these hardships and dangers.

If the overseas secret realm were that easy to reach, countless people would have made the journey over the years.

But that was not the case.

Even among the Folangji, who lived closest to the secret realm, those who successfully reached it and returned with news were few and far between.

When Graham had finished, Wu Liangchen nodded and asked, "You mentioned valuable items. What are you referring to? Gold and silver?"

Graham was inwardly impressed.

’This Wu Liangchen really is extraordinary. You can tell from his questions—they’re not only logical and clear, but every one of them cuts right to the heart of the matter.’

"Yes, but they only accept gold, and it’s not even what they value most. A ship’s cargo capacity is limited, after all. Compared to precious metals, they much prefer rare medicinal herbs and other priceless natural treasures."

Wu Liangchen frowned, lost in thought.

Graham didn’t dare to rush him. Having said his piece, he could only stand there obediently.

"So these firearms and warships all come from those overseas trade ships?"

"No. They sold us the technology. We manufactured the weapons and then sold them to the East Sea Kingdom."

"So their technology is very advanced?"

"Very advanced. The hulls of their warships are plated with iron, and some critical components are cast entirely from it. The ships themselves are enormous."

At this, he glanced at Wu Liangchen before adding, "And the guards on these ships are extremely powerful."

"How powerful?" Wu Liangchen asked immediately.

"By the standards of martial cultivation, an average guard possesses power at least equivalent to the Third Realm."

A grim look crossed Wu Liangchen’s face.

’If that’s the case, how strong are the more powerful guards?’

’And what about their captains?’

But just as quickly, Wu Liangchen let out a breath of relief, a strange light glinting in his eyes.

’This is actually a good thing. It proves that the level of power in the overseas secret realm far surpasses that of this world.’

"Who do these trade ships belong to? Have you had any contact with their owners?" Wu Liangchen asked.

Graham shook his head and gave a wry smile. "I may have dealt with them a few times, but those people from the overseas secret realm are incredibly arrogant. Forget the captain—I’ve never even met a high-ranking crew member. The only people I ever interact with are their lowest-level grunts."

"Oh? So you Folangji merchants aren’t considered major clients?" Wu Liangchen asked, a little surprised.

From his perspective, the fact that these Folangji merchants could sell such a massive quantity of firearms and warships to the East Sea Kingdom was clear proof of an astonishing trade volume.

And yet they’d never even met a high-ranking crewman.

"Of course not. These trade ships have only started visiting frequently and regularly in the last twenty or thirty years. They appeared in the past, but the intervals were extremely long. One recorded visit came after a fifty-year absence."

"That long?"

"That’s right. They said the sea fog on the routes here used to be too thick, making navigation nearly impossible, so they rarely ventured this way. Only in the last twenty or thirty years has the fog thinned enough for them to come more often. Besides, they don’t just trade here; it seems they have other, more prosperous trade partners elsewhere."

Understanding dawned on Wu Liangchen.

He had been wondering why the Folangji, despite their access to overseas channels, had never truly developed until their sudden rise to maritime dominance in recent years.

Now he understood. The appearances of the overseas trade ships had been irregular, with extremely long intervals in between.

Just then, the faint sound of a clamoring crowd drifted in from outside. It sounded like a large group of people causing a disturbance.

Wu Liangchen turned to Graham. "The Monarch of the East Sea Kingdom is dead. Even though you weren’t the ones who did it, you’re still inextricably involved. These people from the East Sea Kingdom won’t let you go. You now have only one choice...."

Before Wu Liangchen could finish, Graham immediately interjected, "I understand. I will follow your lead in all matters, my lord."

’That’s the good thing about dealing with smart people—no need to waste words.’

Wu Liangchen nodded in satisfaction and led Graham and his men out of the great hall.

In the distance, a bustling crowd of figures had gathered before the palace gates.

But Wu Liangchen didn’t care in the slightest. He strode right toward them.

As he drew closer, he saw that the entirety of Tokyo’s nobility had gathered, along with a packed crowd of various honor guard units that had rushed to protect the throne.

But despite their numbers, no one dared to cross the line, merely lingering before the gate, discussing something anxiously.

But when they saw Wu Liangchen’s figure approaching, all sound ceased. Everyone shut their mouths and silently parted, forming a straight path.

Expressionless, Wu Liangchen led Graham and his men through the crowd. Their passage was completely unimpeded; not a single person dared to stand in their way.

Witnessing this, Graham sighed in awe and stole a glance at the young man before him, who stood as straight as a sword in his white robes. A single line surfaced in his mind.

’An army of thousands will part for a man in white.’