I pondered for a moment and said, "That's only natural. You see, you're our leader. If we kill you, even if we manage to cross the river safely, we won't escape the next attack."
“The enemy’s intention is to gradually wear us down.” Xiao Zuo stretched lazily, took out a small bottle from his pocket, and laughed, “In that case, I’ll wear down some of their strength first.”
As he spoke, he tiptoed closer to the ship's side and uncorked the bottle...
"Hey! What are you doing?"
I looked at him suspiciously, or rather, at the small bottle in his hand!
Just how many strange things was he carrying? I know of at least three: the medicine I used to apply to my face, the box of hemostatic and tissue-regenerating medicine for Baili Chenfeng, and this little bottle right now.
“Since they like being water ghosts so much, I’ll make them actually become ghosts.” Xiao Zuo turned around and made a face at me, saying, “It’s just a pity for the fish in the river, I’m sorry to them.”
His comical appearance immediately made me chuckle. This guy really knows how to make people relax, no matter when or where!
However, we have the upper hand at this point, so why not have some fun?
On a whim, I waved to him, suppressing a laugh, and said, "Wait a minute, I'll join too..."
Before I could finish speaking, a deafening roar suddenly came from very close by, almost tearing my ears apart. At the same time, the huge ship hull shook violently and instantly broke in half.
"Xiao Zuo—"
Suddenly struck by this drastic change, in the midst of unparalleled panic and in that terrifying moment, the first words I uttered were these two—Xiao Zuo.
These two words are filled with my inexplicable trust and hidden vulnerability, things I have never given to anyone in the past seventeen years.
However, I know that Xiao Zuo will not let me down.
"Don't be afraid, I'm here."
His gentle, low voice reached my ears, so calm and composed.
As the turbid Yellow River roared in, he shielded me with his chest, held me tightly, and jumped off the side of the boat, landing squarely on a raft.
I turned my head in his arms and saw the ship break in half and slowly sink.
A pair of Emei Water-Splitting Spikes suddenly emerged from the water. Without thinking, I pointed them out. After a scream, the attackers plunged back into the water and disappeared without a trace.
"Water ghosts! There really are water ghosts!" I looked up, my anxious gaze darting around Xiao Zuo's side. "How many water ghosts are there? What if they break the raft? I can't swim, I... I'll drown!"
“You won’t drown.” Xiao Zuo tugged at my hands, which were tightly wrapped around his neck, but failed. Seeing the fear on my face, a hint of pity flashed in his eyes, and he softened his voice, saying, “With me here, how could I let you drown? Listen to me, let go of my hands.”
"No!" I shook my head quickly. The sheepskin raft was bobbing up and down, and it didn't even have a rim. It looked like it might capsize at any moment. I wasn't going to let go.
Xiao Zuo sighed helplessly. Just then, two more water ghosts attacked. He freed one hand and forced them back with a single palm strike.
At this moment, the well-trained cavalrymen also jumped into the water and began to fight the water ghosts underwater.
“The cavalry are more than enough. I’ll take you away first,” Xiao Zuo said, extending his arm to pull over a piece of broken plank floating on the water, using it as an oar to start rowing the raft. Along the way, they dealt with many more water ghosts who had followed them. After a while, I secretly peeked out from his arms and asked, “Where are we going?”
"The boat just passed a water oasis, and I'm rowing back now. If you let go of me, we should be able to get there in half an hour."
I froze, then realized I was clinging to Xiao Zuo's chest. My face flushed instantly, and I quickly let go of him and backed away. But my movement was so sudden that I almost fell backward...
"Ah! Xiao—"
Needless to say, it was another case of Xiao Zuo!
Xiao Zuo smiled wryly, reached out and hooked his arm around my waist, pulling me back.
The raft rocked violently, and I turned pale with fright once again. There's nothing I can do; I lose all my temper when I'm in water, all I feel is fear.
After a while, the raft was still shaking violently, and I couldn't help but groan, "Xiao Zuo, can you think of a way to stop the raft from shaking so badly?"
“I can’t help it,” Xiao Zuo laughed. “Because it’s not the raft that’s shaking, it’s you.”
"It's...me?"
"Yes, it's you."
"So, the raft is okay?"
"Yes, no problem. Don't worry."
A moment of silence.
"Xiao Zuo, talk to me... This rushing water is making me uneasy."
"Okay. Sit down and I'll talk to you."
"No, no! There's water all around, and I get dizzy just looking at water!"
"If you don't sit properly, I guarantee you'll not only feel dizzy, but your face will also turn red."
"Why?"
"Because I have already seen Chenfeng and your chief steward."
"Where?" I immediately looked up and saw Feng Qiansu and Baili Chenfeng.
Volume 1, Chapter 4: A Sudden Turmoil (3)