The storm arrived suddenly, and as Lu Mingfei surfaced from the water, a splash of rain violently hit his mask and burst open. If not for the tether, he would have been pressed back down to the bottom of the water.
The Moniyahe trembled in the storm. It was the evening of the third day since Lu Mingfei arrived at Qutang Gorge.
"The fourteenth collaborative operation is over, Mingfei, you did very well." Liu Heguang reached out and pulled Lu Mingfei up, the warmth from his palm dispelling the coldness from Lu Mingfei's body.
"Take a break. Angers has gone to pick up your companions."
Behind him, someone was holding two thick stacks of towels, hiding behind the cockpit window, watching Lu Mingfei and Zero.
Lu Mingfei sat wrapped in a towel, waiting for his body to warm up, when he suddenly heard movement from the aft cabin.
"The Headmaster is back," Zero said.
"Let's go, we'll go see Senior Brother Ye Sheng." Lu Mingfei got up and headed towards the aft cabin, with Zero following behind him.
The fore cabin was very quiet; everyone was focused on the screens in front of them, operating swiftly and silently.
In the aft cabin, Ye Sheng had already changed into the diving suit he brought from the academy. Looking at Lu Mingfei walking from the fore cabin, he inexplicably smiled and said, "After all this circling, we're back here. But thankfully, this time we've brought something new back."
"Something new?" Lu Mingfei was surprised.
"My marriage application with Yaji has been approved. After this mission, we'll have a half-year long vacation and won't have to report back to the Execution Department." Ye Sheng smiled, pulled out his phone, and showed the application form with three red stamps of approval.
"After the plan is finished, Yaji and I will first go to Japan to bring her parents back to China. The wedding will be held in Beijing, and the invitations for you, Mingfei, have already been written."
"Congratulations, Senior Brother and Senior Sister, may all lovers find their true match." Lu Mingfei was infected by Ye Sheng's joy, and the gloom brought on by several underwater operations was also somewhat diluted.
Zero also rarely smiled and nodded, "Congratulations."
Shuhtome Yaji was currently changing into her diving suit. Hearing Lu Mingfei and Zero congratulate them through the door, she pursed her lips and chuckled softly.
Meanwhile, Angers, who had brought them here, was standing on the deck, pressing his hand to his chest. Before the majestic power of nature, only the steady sound of his heartbeat could prove his calmness.
His black windproof raincoat was blown tightly against his body by the wind and waves. He stared at Liu Heguang, "Only you are here. It seems they agreed."
"We have no reason to refuse."
Under the storm, the entire Moniyahe was emitting a violent roar. The ship's anchor chain was pulled taut by the rushing river water. Liu Heguang's and Angers's voices were drowned out by the wind and rain, but by reading each other's lips, they still understood each other's meaning.
A strange power hovered above and below the water. Liu Heguang could feel it, and Angers naturally could as well.
"Have the stowaways been found?" Angers asked.
"No," Liu Heguang shook his head. "We only figured out their purpose. They want control of the Moniyahe, so I will stay on board with my weapon."
"It's a pity I won't be able to see the battle of the future Family representative. My old friends in America seem to have come knocking," Angers chuckled.
Liu Heguang was startled and turned to look at the shore.
"..."
The conference room door was pushed open. Liu Heguang turned and closed the door, cutting off the noise of the heavy rain outside, and nodded slightly to Lu Mingfei, who had been waiting in the conference room for a long time.
"Sorry, I was delayed by a discussion."
Rainwater dripped from Liu Heguang's hair, but it turned into steam before hitting the ground. In less than half a minute, Liu Heguang was completely dry again.
"Ye Sheng."
"Shuhtome Yaji."
"Liu Heguang."
The three introduced themselves. Liu Tongchen had arrived in the conference room before Liu Heguang and they had already met.
"Some members of the Ye Family are still employed within the Family and are welcome to return to the Family at any time," Liu Heguang said with a faint smile.
"That's alright. I heard the Family is still the same as ever, not very appealing," Ye Sheng chuckled, subtly declining Liu Heguang.
Over the years, Ye Sheng had heard bits and pieces about this young master of the Liu Family, who was making a name for himself in Beijing. It seemed many within the Family wanted him to inherit the lineage. Hearing Liu Heguang's words now, he understood that the Ye Family had already sided with the Liu Family.
"I just received a notification," Lu Mingfei suddenly interjected, interrupting their conversation about the Family. "The meteorological bureau issued a warning: the storm will continue through the latter half of the night, with wind speeds increasing to level ten and rainfall reaching 200 millimeters."
"To be honest, although I don't have extensive experience with dragons, my intuition tells me that with just a few of us, we are no match for what's under the Yangtze River, especially with this severe weather. We can't be sure how the situation will unfold."
"The Dragon King may not have hatched yet. According to historical records, before the palace of Norton, the King of Bronze and Fire, sank, there were at least two Next Generation Species guarding it. When the pure-blooded Dragon King slept, they also slept with their monarch. Our first headache might not be the Dragon King; it's very likely to be the Next Generation Species guarding the Dragon King." Liu Tongchen, in the corner, nodded slightly while holding a tablet.
"Fighting Next Generation Species underwater?" Lu Mingfei frowned slightly. "Although saying this is disheartening, I once promised someone that I would come back alive, so I want to say that I am not a match for a Next Generation Species. If I encounter a Next Generation Species, I will take Zero and return as quickly as possible."
"That's understandable and acceptable," Liu Heguang nodded. "Safety is always the first priority. If the Dragon King hasn't awakened, this bronze palace is dead, and we can explore it again at any time."
"Returning empty-handed is not the worst outcome; returning safely is what we hope for. The items in the palace are merely icing on the cake, and we always reserve the ownership of four items for your esteemed school."
He looked at Lu Mingfei, "After the palace is found, Tong Chen will go into the water immediately. The data indicates that opening the main gate of the palace requires sacrificing dragon blood to a living spirit. My blood should be just right."
Liu Tongchen in the corner nodded, "I apologize for only being able to be of such limited use."
"Is this the result of the compromise between the academy and the Family?" Ye Sheng suddenly asked from the side.
"Yes, the Family explicitly prohibits cooperating with members of the Secret Party to go underwater," Liu Heguang said helplessly. "For them, the Secret Party members being able to explore underwater in the Three Gorges is already a provocation."
"However, a general outside does not always follow the monarch's orders. Since I am on site, we will do our utmost to help with the underwater operation."
"Thank you," Ye Sheng pondered for a moment. "Let Liu Tongchen come underwater with us. Before leaving Qutang Gorge last time, using my Rune, I had already estimated the location of the gate. It was only when I was at the final step that I was called off due to disciplinary issues and had to return."
"Do you have a drilling machine prepared?"
"The drilling machine is ready to operate at any time," Liu Tongchen said.
"Then let's begin the operation," Ye Sheng nodded and said. "There is a gate structure between Baidi Mountain on the surface and Chijia Mountain underwater, and opposite that structure is the original Caotang River. According to geomancy, that is where the mountain dragon and water dragon converge, gathering yin and yang energy. Last time, I was standing there when the operation was called off. The ruins of White Emperor City are likely there."