Max Level Return—I'll Protect That Fragile One

Huo Wen’an just assumed Xu Xingguang was teasing her, ”Alright then, I’ll wait for you to come and help me out.” Huo Wen’an was just joking.

Xu Xingguang was busy with farming assessments at the Central Yu Alliance, so how was she going to say she’d come over right then?

Huo Wen’an sat on the railing, watching the video of Xu Xingguang taking out pajamas from the cabinet; she threw the pajamas at the end of the bed and started unbuttoning the shirt that belonged to him.

Huo Wen’an stared intently.

Suddenly, Xu Xingguang looked up and smiled at the screen where Huo Wen’an was, ”You’re enjoying this, aren’t you? Sneaking a peek!” She lifted the hem of her shirt and said, ”Hanging up now, I’m going to change and sleep.”

After speaking, Xu Xingguang decisively hung up the video, even more ruthlessly than a heartless man.

The video froze at the moment Xu Xingguang lifted her shirt, showing a glimpse of her waist, then descended into darkness.

Huo Wen’an stared at the video that suddenly went dark, stunned for a moment before shaking his head and smiling, ”What a scoundrel, hanging up the call just like that.”

He had never seen a woman as ruthless and heartless as Xu Xingguang.

”Pilot.” Zheng Qin was really sleepy, wrapped in a thick coat, he yawned and discussed with Huo Wen’an: ”I want to sleep for a while, let Doctor Ying watch over for me.”

Ying Ziyao came over too, wearing a leather coat.

The collar of the leather coat had a ring of fur, its punk dark style not very fitting on Ying Ziyao. But there was no choice; the clothes around here were all styled like this, so Ying Ziyao had to make do.

”Captain Huo, I’ll take the night watch in the second half of the night.” Although Ying Ziyao had interned in the Divine Martial Realm for five years, the farthest he had been was Medicine King City, and that was accompanied by a guard from the medicinal fields.

He had heard about the infamous Bai Ze Island from the guard, said to be a place full of ruthless criminals, a place where decent people wouldn’t go, naturally, neither would he dare to go.

Ying Ziyao never thought that one day he would set foot on Bai Ze Island.

He didn’t know why Huo Wen’an was going there, but he was alone now, as Huo Wen’an’s little follower; they were like grasshoppers tied to the same rope. Wherever Huo Wen’an went, he had to follow.

He had already thought it through, if they encountered bandits, he would fight if he could, run if he couldn’t, and beg for mercy if he couldn’t escape.

As for pride, Ying Ziyao could sometimes tuck it away, put it in his pocket.

Unexpectedly, Huo Wen’an shook his head, saying, ”You all go to sleep, I’ll personally watch over the second half of the night.” He couldn’t sleep, feeling strangely energetic.

Zheng Qin noticed the sparkle in Huo Wen’an’s eyes, guessing it was because of a call from his wife, and he was excited. ”Alright, we’ll go sleep first.” Zheng Qin pulled Ying Ziyao back to the cabin.

Huo Wen’an turned around, faced the sea sitting on the railing, the sea wind blowing his coat rustling, swinging with the wind, but he remained still, just gazing at the mountains rising sharply from the sea in the distance.

That was Bai Ze Island, a refuge for relentless criminals, a paradise for Super Power Users, but also his living hell.

*

When Zheng Qin was shaken awake by Ying Ziyao, dawn was breaking, the sky showing bits of fish belly white.

In a daze, Zheng Qin rolled up his sleeve and checked the watch, discovering it was 4:40 in the morning, he had slept for four hours.

Ying Ziyao leaned against the wall, holding a cup of hot tea, and reminded Zheng Qin, ”Get ready, we’re about to dock.”

Zheng Qin instantly sobered up.

He walked into the restroom, turned on the tap, washed his face with icy cold water, shivering all over from the cold.

The two carried their luggage to the deck, the sky slightly brighter.

Huo Wen’an stood on the deck.

He had a cylindrical bag slung over one shoulder, holding a cane in his right hand, from Zheng Qin’s point of view, giving the illusion that Huo Wen’an was a wandering artist.

If that cylindrical bag were replaced with a violin, he’d look the part even more.

The ship had already arrived at the shore, with the captain and sailors anchoring.

The temperature at Bai Ze Island remained low year-round; the spring here was only seven or eight degrees.

The Strong Sailor wore dirty black leather, with a wind-blocking leather hat atop his head, and with coarse hands, he forcefully threw the anchor into the shallow sea.

The heavy black iron anchor chain rose high into the air, the anchor digging into the mud and sand, firmly gripping the shallow seabed.

The sailor and the captain worked together, successfully docking the ship at the shore.

The sailor removed his hat and nodded at the captain, then silently went back into the cabin.

The captain picked up the rag tied to the railing, wiped his hands, and spoke with a voice like a wheezing bellows: ”Dear guests, we’ve arrived at Bai Ze Island, please settle the final payment.”

After years at sea, the captain had a weathered face, his skin dark red, one couldn’t tell his age, but his eyes were sharp and piercing like a hawk’s.

He removed the pipe hanging at his waist, filling it with tobacco while staring blankly at Huo Wen’an’s face. ”For the three of you, the fee is supposed to be 180,000 silver coins. You’ve already paid a 60,000 deposit, so the remaining 120,000.”

After a pause, the captain said, ”Just give me 60,000 more.” The agreed 180,000 was reduced to 120,000, directly offering a discount equivalent to one person’s cost.

The captain didn’t look like someone who would do a good deed.

Huo Wen’an subtly raised his eyebrow before nodding slightly at Zheng Qin.

Zheng Qin quickly stepped forward, transferring 60,000 silver coins to the captain from his personal account.

Only then did the captain give them a seemingly kind smile, retrieving a slightly crumpled name card from the pocket of his weathered leather coat and handing it to Huo Wen’an. ”Pleasure doing business. Should you need a ship next time, you can find me.”

Huo Wen’an wasn’t put off by the shabby name card; he extended his hand and accepted it, passing it to Zheng Qin beside him.

Zheng Qin took the name card and put it into a small compartment in his laptop bag.

”Gentlemen, take care.” The captain showed them out.

”Thank you.” The three of them stepped onto the iron-cast walkway, and as they reached the shore, they heard the captain shout, ”Hey!”

The three of them turned around to look at the captain.

The captain had lit a cigarette, puffing it mouthful by mouthful. He looked at Huo Wen’an and asked, ”Canghai’s Laughter, what’s your relationship?”

Canghai’s Laughter was the ’stage name’ Huo Canghai used back in the Divine Martial Realm during his sneaky escapades.

Huo Wen’an’s face resembled a young Huo Canghai’s so closely that the captain could relate him to Huo Canghai, indicating an unusual familiarity between them.

”Captain, do you know Mr. Huo?” Zheng Qin asked on behalf of Huo Wen’an.

”So that old cheat’s surname was Huo, huh?” The captain took a drag of his pungent cigarette, raising an eyebrow. ”Could it be Huo Canghai?”

Zheng Qin shut his mouth tight, acting as if he were deaf, staying silent.

The captain chuckled and then said, ”That fellow always took my ship whenever he came to Bai Ze Island.” His gaze fell back on Huo Wen’an’s handsome face. ”You’re more impressive than Canghai’s Laughter. Does your family have some gene for stunning looks and impressiveness?”

”...”

Huo Wen’an said deeply, ”Compared to those misfits of the Divine Martial Realm, it’s hard for us to even look ugly.”

”Haha!” The captain laughed heartily, and with that laugh, the ruthlessness in his old eyes softened considerably.

”Are you his son or grandson?” Huo Wen’an looked quite young, while Huo Canghai should be quite old by now, leading the captain to lean toward Huo Wen’an being Huo Canghai’s grandson.

Huo Wen’an said, ”Son.”

The captain took another puff of his cigarette before saying, ”Oh, then you’re the youngest son born to his little darling.”

Even knowing that Huo Canghai had a ’little darling’ indicated a fairly close relationship between the captain and Huo Canghai.

The captain took the cigarette holder from his mouth, placing one foot on the railing, and reminded Huo Wen’an, ”Kid, your father made quite a few enemies on Bai Ze Island. If you wish to avoid trouble, it’d be wise to keep your face covered.”

The captain had some semblance of kindness, but not much. After saying this, he turned and walked into the cabin.

He indeed knew Huo Canghai.

Initially, they merely shared a regular business relationship; he was an operator of a black ship, and Huo Canghai was a passenger aboard it.

However, every time, Huo Canghai would solely ride his black ship. Over time, a certain camaraderie developed between them.

Yet, they both were taciturn men, rarely speaking.

But there was that one time, on a stormy night, when the captain, who had spent a lifetime operating black ships, encountered a sea whirlpool. He, his ship, and the only passenger, Huo Canghai, almost got sucked in.

In the critical moment, Huo Canghai grabbed his shoulder and jumped into the swirling Black Sea water. Just as the captain thought he was doomed, the two found themselves in a strange place.

It was also a vast sea, where the water was quite deep, yet they somehow could stand steadily on the surface.

However, the seawater rose quickly, submerging them within an hour. The captain thought they were surely going to die, but they were transported back onto the Black Sea.

By then, the storm had ceased. His ship lay tattered by the whirlpool’s force, with iron and wooden boards floating on the sea.

The two lay on a wooden plank for two days before being rescued by a passing ship.

From then on, a revolutionary friendship was born. The captain never asked Huo Canghai where they ended up that night or why Huo Canghai was undocumented.

Later, Huo Canghai would still come to board his ship, but the captain stopped charging him the stowaway fee.

The last time the captain saw Huo Canghai was seven or eight years ago, by which time Huo Canghai was already quite old. The captain thought he might not see that old fellow again in this lifetime, yet unexpectedly, after many years, he met the old fellow’s son.

It was fate.

In light of this fateful connection, no stowaway fee was collected from the old friend’s son today.