Lan Hao Tian wasn't about to be outdone. With a casual wave of his hand, he lifted a grown man off the ground and hurled him straight into a group of others.
Every movement of his — a flick of the wrist, a step forward — looked like child's play, yet none of the ship's seasoned sailors could withstand even a single blow.
By now, Shui Xin Ling had also finished dealing with the troublesome bunch. Calm and composed, she strolled up to the shopkeeper with a bright, cheerful smile.
Yet that smile sent a shiver down the shopkeeper's spine. He felt as though a demon was staring straight into his soul. Of course, that was just his imagination — she had no intention of harming him.
"Hey, don't be scared. We just want the map," she said casually. "Besides, you didn't really mean to kill us earlier, did you? So why would we want to kill you?"
"Are… are you being serious?" The shopkeeper stammered, clearly unconvinced.
Pirates, kind of? That didn't add up. He'd dealt with pirates before — none ever left without taking treasure. Why would these be any different?
His lack of trust irked her. She snorted and folded her arms.
"Hmph! What would you prefer? I said, "We're taking all your treasure, seizing your ship, and tossing your crew into the sea for the sharks. Would that make you feel better?"
Seeing her expression darken, the shopkeeper frantically shook his head, his face twisting into a sycophantic smile.
"No, no, no! You misunderstand me, my lady. I was simply overwhelmed by your… kindness. I apologize for the doubt. Tell you what —I'll prepare the finest map for you, along with a generous amount of treasure as compensation for your emotional distress. How does that sound?"
Before she could answer, Lan Hao Tian cut in.
"We don't need your treasure. I'm a pirate — if I'm lacking something, I borrow it. That's how we live. I don't need to hoard riches or anything like that."
"Huh?!" The shopkeeper was dumbfounded. He had never in his life encountered a pirate with that kind of mindset.
Still, he counted himself lucky to have run into such strange, perhaps even crazy, pirates. Had they been the usual sort, he might've lost more than just his gold — his life might have been forfeit, too.
At that moment, Shui Xin Ling grabbed Lan Hao Tian by the collar and smacked him hard on the head. She snorted coldly.
"Hmph! What kind of comrade cuts me off like that? You totally deserved that."
"You... damn violent psycho," he muttered, cursing her under his breath but not daring to strike back.
He had been unsure about her strength before, but now he had a much clearer idea. He didn't know her exact level, but he was certain — she could crush him effortlessly.
The moment she grabbed him, he had felt utterly powerless. Deep down, he thought,
Damn it. I never imagined that the first person I'd team up with out at sea would be this much of a monster. But... I guess it's a blessing in disguise. The stronger she is, the more useful she'll be to me down the line.
Thinking on the bright side, he decided it was best not to provoke her anymore. He wasn't a fan of getting beaten up for no reason.
Unfortunately, his earlier insult hadn't gone unnoticed. She glanced at him — a glare as sharp as a blade ready to pierce his heart.
"Oh? You've got the guts to curse at me now?"
As she spoke, she twisted his ear, and the pressure only grew stronger by the second. For the first time in his life, Lan Hao Tian genuinely felt like his ear might fall off.
With no way out, he gave in.
"I—I'm really sorry. It was my fault."
Satisfied with his response, she finally let go. His ear was glowing red. He grumbled under his breath:
"Damn it, who the hell trained this savage?"
He muttered it so quietly, almost like a thought in his head — and yet, somehow, she still caught it. A razor-sharp look locked onto him again.
"Would you like to say that louder?"
Lan Hao Tian's heart trembled — not out of fear, but because he was beginning to see her strength more clearly.
Heavenly Eyes — though they were just a pair of eyes, they could perceive far more than mere sight. Even sound.
How was that possible?
Sound was nothing more than vibrations traveling through air, water, or solid matter. But Heavenly Eyes could observe everything in their surroundings — including those subtle ripples in the air.
The stronger she was, the happier he felt. The stronger she was, the more valuable she'd be as an ally. So, naturally, he tried to win her favor.
"I was just wondering who on earth trained such a beautiful, powerful, and kind-hearted girl like you."
"Hah, at least you know how to sweet-talk," she scoffed with a smirk — clearly aware of what he really said earlier.
Meanwhile, the shopkeeper watched Lan Hao Tian and, for some reason, felt a strange sense of kinship. He could deeply relate to the young man's helplessness. It was as if they were both fellow sufferers, caught in the same storm.
"I'll go fetch the map for you," the shopkeeper said, then quickly scurried off. He wanted to end this encounter as fast as possible — time was money, and the longer this dragged on, the more he stood to lose.
A moment later, he returned with a rolled-up map made of fine leather. Even a quick glance could tell it was high-grade material.
He didn't want to part with it — he really valued that map — but he valued his life even more. Judging by the pair's unpredictable temperaments, if he dared offer them a fake, he might end up dead on the spot.
Of course, he was overthinking it. In truth, these two wouldn't even need the map for long.
"Here you are. Is there anything else you require of me?" He asked politely, his tone smooth and courteous. But deep down, he was cursing the two unwelcome pirates with every fiber of his being.
Lan Hao Tian accepted the map. He could tell it was a quality item, but he had no intention of giving it back. After all, he was just borrowing it — and he never promised to return it.
"Thanks a lot. Hopefully, we'll meet again."
He then turned to Shui Xin Ling and said,
"Let's go."
Without another word, the two of them leapt from the ship, diving into the sea and swimming swiftly back toward the harbor.
Once they were far enough away, the shopkeeper finally let loose:
"Damn that brat. Who the hell wants to meet you again?!"
At that moment, Shui Xin Ling burst out laughing as she swam, catching Lan Hao Tian's curiosity.
"What are you laughing at?" he asked.
"Just laughing at a certain someone who just got cursed out."
Judging by her strength, Lan Hao Tian's expression darkened — he knew exactly who she meant. But he didn't take it to heart. After all, people were free to say whatever they wanted.