Lan Hao Tian and Shui Xin Ling swiftly swam back to the harbor. Without hesitation, they strolled toward a boat they had set their eyes on earlier, as if it had always belonged to them.
At that moment, a man was sitting on the boat. Lan Hao Tian approached him with a bright, friendly smile and greeted him politely:
"Hello there, my friend. How are you today?"
"Huh? I'm good. Do you need something from me?" the man replied.
Lan Hao Tian's smile grew even wider. He answered bluntly, "We'd like to borrow your boat."
"No way. We're planning to set sail soon," the man said flatly.
Of course, he was lying. But who in their right mind would lend their prized possession to complete strangers?
Lan Hao Tian showed no sign of offense. He simply stepped closer, grabbed the man by the collar, and tossed him into the sea.
The man, still dazed and confused, barely had time to react before hearing Lan Hao Tian's cheerful voice ring out:
"Thanks for the boat! If we ever cross paths again, maybe I'll return it to you!"
It was only then that the man realized he had been robbed. He shouted furiously:
"Pirates! Everyone, be careful!"
His voice echoed across the harbor, drawing the attention of those nearby. People instinctively became wary.
The man glared at the duo with eyes filled with rage and roared:
"You bastards! Do you even know who I am? I have connections with a Navy captain! You'd better prepare to be hunted across the ocean!"
At the mention of the Navy, Lan Hao Tian's expression changed. The Navy was the strongest force under the command of his enemies—definitely not something to be taken lightly.
Just then, someone onshore pulled out a camera and snapped a photo of them. The man and woman's faces were clearly captured.
Lan Hao Tian looked toward the source of the click, stunned.
"A camera? Why is something like that here?"
But Shui Xin Ling didn't seem surprised at all. She explained:
"You probably grew up in a remote place; that's why you're not familiar with this stuff. Cameras are common on more developed islands. Anyone can buy one if they want."
Hearing that, Lan Hao Tian nodded, his mind racing with thoughts:
"It seems the science in this world is far from trivial. I didn't fully understand it before, but the naval artillery they used to attack the place where I lived must have been extremely advanced, capable of flattening an entire island. How terrifying must the high-level science in this world be? I'll have to be more cautious in the future."
Noticing his deep contemplation, Shui Xin Ling asked,
"What's got you so serious? It's just a photo, right? Of course, when your bounty notice comes out, it'll have your picture on it. What pirate would be afraid of a bounty?"
Lan Hao Tian snapped out of his thoughts, smiled, and nodded.
"You're right. A pirate shouldn't be afraid of a bounty."
With that, they continued paddling, their speed so swift that no one could catch up with them.
…
After reaching a vast stretch of open sea where no boats could be seen, they stopped to consult their map and compass, trying to determine their exact location.
Is it really so easy to wander the seas like this? Of course, ordinary people couldn't do it, but these two were nearly indestructible, even if they were cast adrift in the ocean. So, they weren't worried about getting lost—though being lost would only cost them a bit more time to get back on track.
"Hey, have you figured out a place yet?" Shui Xin Ling asked, drawing circles out of boredom.
"This is the third time you've asked me, right? I'm still thinking about it!" Lan Hao Tian replied.
Hearing that, Shui Xin Ling pouted and said, "What's there to think about? Just go to the most crowded island nearby. It's bound to have the Navy, and if we cause a scene there, we'll definitely have a bounty on our heads."
"Why do you like causing so much trouble? If you act so impulsively, what if I die before I even have a chance to grow stronger?" Lan Hao Tian said helplessly. Right now, he didn't have enough power to do as he pleased. If he acted recklessly and attracted a powerful opponent, he might die before ever reaching his full potential.
Shui Xin Ling shook her head, then lightly tapped Lan Hao Tian's head.
"You fool, we're pirates now. Moreover, our future enemies will be the empires. If you want to grow stronger quickly, you have to experience life-and-death battles. Don't hesitate, and don't look for a way out. It's either becoming a master or dying—that's the only way to become strong."
Lan Hao Tian was stunned. He remembered how, in the past, Master Luo Tian Hai had said something similar to him.
He took a deep breath, nodded, and replied, "I understand now. Thank you."
"You don't have to thank me, haha. After all, we are comrades. Let's go directly to the largest island and start a riot now!" She laughed heartily, her confidence in herself radiating through her smile.
Looking over the map, Lan Hao Tian spotted a promising location. He said, "Coral Island, the largest island in the nearby area. It'll take us more than a day to get there. Do you need to rest along the way?"
Slap!
She smacked his head again and said, "Are you stupid? We're going there to stir up trouble, so we need to be in the best physical condition to fight. Even though staying awake for a day doesn't affect us much, we shouldn't act like that."
Lan Hao Tian felt incredibly aggrieved. It was as though he had a troublesome ancestor with him instead of a comrade.
"Why do you always hit my head?"
"Aha, because your head looks so satisfying to hit."
"You..." Lan Hao Tian sighed helplessly. The most annoying part wasn't the fact that she hit him, but that he could never avoid her blows. The overwhelming difference in their strength left him feeling very uncomfortable.
The next morning, the silhouette of the island gradually appeared in front of them. Shui Xin Ling said:
"Hey, are you sure that's Coral Island? No matter how I look at it, it looks like a deserted island."
Lan Hao Tian squinted, trying to observe, but he couldn't see anything. Her eyesight was just ridiculously good—he would need a telescope to match, but there was no telescope here.
"I don't see it. Can you describe it to me?"
"No need to describe it. I think I know where we're heading. We're going to the small deserted island near Coral Island. We're almost there, so don't worry." She checked the map while speaking.
"Alright, then. You lead the way, and we'll continue," Lan Hao Tian nodded and replied.