Chapter 33: Departure, Bailu Port

Xu Ming's description helped dispel his preconceived notions about sailboats.

Han Ning thought for a moment before asking the most crucial question: "Suppose we really find a usable sailboat at Bailu Port. What then?

"If we sail it straight back, wouldn't it run aground? There's too much debris in the city."

Although he didn't know how to sail, he understood the basics. Larger vessels wouldn't be able to navigate the complex urban waterways, would they? After all, they weren't small speedboats.

Hearing this, Xu Ming frowned deeply. He pondered for a moment before answering cautiously, "Mr. Han, you're absolutely right.

"The current situation is complicated. Navigating a ship in this environment is extremely risky. It's very easy to run aground or crash, especially for boats with a slightly deeper draft."

He picked up an empty mineral water bottle from the table and gestured with it. "My idea is that if we actually find a boat, it's best not to sail it straight back to the neighborhood. There are too many prying eyes here, the water isn't deep enough, and there are far too many obstacles.

"The safest approach would be to anchor the ship in a relatively remote area with sufficient water depth and no large building ruins nearby."

"Such as?" Han Ning pressed.

"Such as... far away from the city center, closer to the estuary or more open waters." Xu Ming tried hard to recall the city's layout. "This isn't Earth, so the terrain is definitely different, but the South District of Bailu City is less developed. The buildings there are more scattered, making it a better choice."

He added, "We could use a small dinghy or simply swim to travel back and forth between other safe strongholds to continue gathering supplies and improving our strength."

Han Ning nodded. "A safe anchorage is only temporary. Our ultimate goal isn't to stay parked there forever."

Xu Ming wasn't an Awakened. Next, Han Ning gave him a brief rundown of the information left behind by the previous planetary civilization.

"The center of the planet... Do you mean the longer we stay here, the more dangerous it gets?" Xu Ming was utterly shocked.

"Exactly," Han Ning confirmed with a firm tone, then asked, "When we anchor, can you figure out a way to determine our city's coordinates?"

"That..." Xu Ming hesitated slightly. "Mr. Han, that... that's too difficult.

"First of all, we have absolutely no idea where the 'center' of the planet is.

"This isn't Earth. We don't have maps or GPS. Even... even the sky is completely alien. With this endless torrential rain, we can't see any star bodies, so we can't use celestial navigation to determine our position."

He shook his head with a bitter smile. "Whether a compass can even function properly in this environment, under the influence of unknown magnetic fields or those monsters, is questionable.

"To be honest, I'm not confident I can determine the right direction.

"In this vast expanse of water, getting lost would be disastrous. All I can say is... if we manage to find some reference points, use basic navigation tools, or observe the trajectory of certain celestial bodies when the time comes, we might be able to give it a try. But the success rate would be very low."

Han Ning looked at Xu Ming, his tone serious. "I understand. Let's not think that far ahead; we'll focus on getting the boat first. You just need to tell me this: if we can determine the direction, are you capable of piloting a sailboat?"

Xu Ming straightened his back, brimming with confidence. "As long as the boat is fine and the direction is set, I can definitely sail it there. I've participated in ocean voyages many times. I have the basic sailing Skills and the experience to handle severe weather."

"Good!" Han Ning slowly stood up. "That's enough. I'll figure out a way to deal with the navigation issue.

"Your current task is to rest and recharge. Think carefully about the structure and operational essentials of sailboats, especially potential malfunctions and their solutions. When we make our move, you'll be the captain!"

"Understood, Mr. Han!" Xu Ming nodded vigorously.

Back in his own home, Han Ning stood by the window, gazing at the gloomy curtain of rain in the distance, lost in thought.

He thought to himself, "I'm not the only Awakened in the city. Whatever I can think of, others can naturally think of too. The number of boats is limited; I must strike first!"

Liu Feng's team was also targeting Bailu Port, not to mention other survivor groups that might be out there. Whoever found and secured a usable boat first would seize the initiative—and perhaps their only way out.

"I can't wait any longer," Han Ning decided. "I need to scout Bailu Port and assess the situation as soon as possible."

His current advantages were obvious. With the Fish Gills Technique, he possessed the ability to breathe freely and move swiftly underwater. Snow Cake was a natural underwater hunter and scout, and with its increased size, its combat power was even stronger. The combination of the two gave him mobility and stealth in the flooded city ruins that far surpassed anyone else's.

The next morning.

The sky remained overcast, though the rain seemed slightly lighter than yesterday.

Han Ning wore a form-fitting waterproof suit beneath a raincoat, and the backpack on his back was meticulously wrapped in a tarp. It was packed with plenty of food, water, and first-aid supplies. Anticipating that he might be out for a long time today, he had deliberately depleted his Spiritual Power the previous night, casting Natural Blessing on his two plants several times.

Stepping into the stairwell of the apartment building, he observed the water level as usual.

"It's gone up quite a bit again..." he noted. By now, the water had submerged more than half the steps leading up from the first floor. It wouldn't be long before the entire first floor was completely flooded.

Channeling his Spiritual Power, he activated the [Fish Gills Technique].

The skin on both sides of his cheeks squirmed slightly as a pair of gill slits covered by translucent membranes quietly emerged. A protective film veiled his eyes to filter out impurities. Fine, cyan scales grew over the skin of his hands and feet, while webbed Energy extensions formed between his fingers and toes.

[Spiritual Power: 25/25 → 24/25]

[Fish Gills Technique (Basic Level) Skill Level +1, Current 21/100]

The Fish Gills Technique was a continuous active skill; maintaining it for one minute yielded one point in Skill Level.

SPLASH!

Han Ning strapped the large backpack onto Snow Cake and took the lead, diving into the murky, freezing floodwaters.

An icy sensation enveloped his entire body, making him feel as though he had merged with the water. His breathing became remarkably smooth, and the sensation of water flowing through his gills was incredibly distinct. With a gentle flick of his body and webbed feet, he shot forward several meters like an arrow released from a bow, far more agile and swift than running on land.

"Snow Cake, keep up!" Han Ning commanded through their Spiritual Link.

HISS!

Snow Cake followed closely behind. Its massive, grayish-white body slipped into the water, barely making a splash. Its thick tail acted as a highly efficient propeller; with a single casual swish, it effortlessly caught up to Han Ning. One man and one lizard blended into the aquatic shadows, darting rapidly through the submerged city ruins.

[Fish Gills Technique Skill Level +1, Current 22/100]

[Animal Companion Skill Level +1, Current 57/200]

Drawing on the environmental data shared by Snow Cake and his own observations, Han Ning continuously mapped out the contours of both the surface and underwater worlds in his mind.