Chapter 62 Utilizing Professional Expertise

Chapter 62: Chapter 61: Utilizing Professional Expertise

"Sure." Han Ning nodded in agreement.

The group took a brief rest, tending to their wounds and replenishing their water and food. Those too injured to move were assisted back by companions with lighter injuries. Chairman Wu and the others were also heavily injured, but as the commanders, they did not choose to retreat. Instead, they rallied the Awakened who still had combat capabilities and cautiously advanced toward the mooring area.

By this point, the floodwaters were incredibly deep, rising past their chests in most areas. Everyone used whatever abilities they had to navigate the water.

The churning white mist gathered once more. Even with Han Ning’s Molten Gold Eyes allowing him to see further, the fog deeper in remained as thick as soup, severely limiting visibility. Clearly, the mist showed no signs of scattering after the Coral Monster’s death. The remaining monsters along the way hadn’t completely retreated either. Straggling Vortex Shell Crabs, twisted Human-faced Jellyfish, and even a few massive leeches lurking in the muddy depths continued to launch fearless attacks.

"Three o’clock, two Vortex Shell Crabs!"

"Something’s coming up from underwater. Be careful!"

Yu Na’s warning cries rang out from time to time.

"Snow Cake, clear the way!" Han Ning commanded.

"ROAR!"

The Tri-Colored Crystal Scale on its forehead flashed. Occasionally, it unleashed an invisible Spiritual Scream that paralyzed the approaching monsters. Other times, it opened its jaws and spewed condensed Tri-Colored Beams, piercing right through the monsters’ carapaces and bodies. The other Awakened supported Snow Cake, fighting hard to fend off the threats attacking from the flanks and rear. Enhanced fists and kicks, erupting Fire Lines, high-speed Water Cannons, and an assortment of bizarre attacks... The glow of various awakened abilities flashed through the thick mist.

Finally, after passing through a stretch of water littered with container wreckage and construction debris, a much wider mooring area—what used to be the docks—appeared before everyone’s eyes.

On the murky water, ships of all shapes and sizes were quietly docked. Most of them were half-submerged, with only parts of their hulls exposed. The vessels were covered in mud, algae, and unknown barnacle-like creatures, looking completely dilapidated. Some ships had snapped masts and tilted hulls, while others had even been claimed as nests by massive aquatic creatures. They could clearly see creatures similar in size to Vortex Shell Crabs crawling over the hulls. Slimy leeches clung near the waterlines, squirming slowly. There were even a few fish with hideous maws—very similar to the Tuna from before—cruising along the gunwales.

Left abandoned for nearly a month, this place had truly become a monster’s lair. Regardless, upon seeing these various ships, a look of excitement washed over most of the group’s faces.

"We finally found boats..."

"We’re saved!"

"..."

Low murmurs rippled through the team. The oppressive despair that had weighed on them for days seemed to scatter a bit the moment they laid eyes on the ships. As long as they had boats, it meant that even if the city was swallowed by the flood, they could still set sail and head toward a place where land might exist.

Han Ning swept his gaze across the messy docks, frowning slightly. His knowledge of sailing and ship models was limited to Old Xu’s previous descriptions. Looking at the vessels before him, he couldn’t tell which ones were usable or which were better.

"Chairman Wu, Boss Lin," Han Ning said, turning to the two who were directing the group to clear out nearby stragglers. "I have something to take care of and need to head back for a bit. You guys explore first."

"What?" Chairman Wu paused in surprise and was just about to ask why. However, he found that Han Ning had already swum far away. With a few swift strokes, he vanished across the water’s surface at an astonishing speed.

"This..." Chairman Wu looked at Lin Qianqian, silently asking what was going on. He wondered if Han Ning had run away.

Lin Qianqian thought for a moment before saying uncertainly, "I remember Han Ning has a friend who is an ordinary person with experience in sailing. If he went back, it’s very likely to bring his friend over to help evaluate the ships."

"Sigh, he’s treating us like outsiders. We have quite a few sailors in our team; there was no need for him to make another trip," Chairman Wu sighed.

Lin Qianqian just smiled and said nothing.

After considering for a moment, Chairman Wu issued an order: "Everyone, rest where you are, stay alert, and clear out the remaining monsters! We will wait for Mr. Han Ning to return. It’s simply too dangerous for us to rashly venture deeper into the mooring area without him."

Although the crowd was anxious, they understood the stakes. Everyone had clearly witnessed the combat prowess that Han Ning and Snow Cake had displayed just now. They had no choice but to suppress their excitement. Relying on half-submerged shipping containers and building rubble, they set up a temporary defensive line and kept a vigilant watch over their surroundings.

Time ticked by.

A mere ten minutes later.

SPLASH!

Waves rippled across the water from behind as a figure clinging to Snow Cake’s back broke through the surface, looking like a Sea Patrol Yaksha. The man was none other than Xu Ming.

With Snow Cake’s radiating Mental Power driving away the surrounding mist, Xu Ming—an ordinary person—was unharmed. However, his face was slightly pale, clearly terrified by Snow Cake’s newly increased swimming speed.

Seeing Han Ning return, everyone else’s spirits lifted. Swaying his weakened body, Chairman Wu hurriedly hopped down from the debris into the water. "Mr. Han Ning, you’re back!" he said respectfully. "And this is?"

Han Ning had already noticed that Chairman Wu’s group hadn’t moved an inch since he left, all eagerly waiting for him to come back. He found it amusing but didn’t feel much about it. This group saw him as a savior, but wasn’t he also treating them as bait? It was just mutual exploitation.

"A friend," Han Ning replied casually. "Let’s go. Yu Na, come here."

Yu Na glanced at Lin Qianqian. Seeing no reaction from her, she obediently swam over behind Han Ning. She had been living comfortably under Han Ning’s wing this whole time, and Lin Qianqian, whom she was closest to, had tacitly approved. Naturally, she preferred sticking with Han Ning over Chairman Wu’s unfamiliar group.

"You’re in charge of protecting Old Xu. Snow Cake, go ahead and clear out any monsters that get close.

"Old Xu, you help me pick a boat.

"Is everything clear?" Han Ning asked the two people and one lizard in his small group.

"Mhm!"

"ROAR!"

An azure halo enveloped Xu Ming, providing double protection. As Han Ning and his group took the lead in swimming toward the docks, the main force finally began to move slowly behind them.

Xu Ming used to be a sailor, so he was a strong swimmer. As he swam, he squinted, trying hard to examine the ships hidden in the mist.

"Boss, Chairman Wu, look!" He pointed at the nearest sleek, white-hulled vessel. Firing off like a machine gun, he rattled off the docked ship’s model and specs:

"That one’s a ’Blue Water 46’ monohull sailboat. It’s about fourteen meters long with a fiberglass hull and an auxiliary diesel engine.

"This kind of boat is designed for long voyages. It has great stability and relatively reasonable space. If it can start, it’s definitely a good choice.

"However... looking at its waterline, the lower cabin might be flooded. We’ll need to check it."