### Chapter 7: Deep Sea Labyrinth (5) (Bonus Update)
The speed of the three-masted sailing ship was even faster than expected.
Though it had fallen behind the fishing fleet for quite some time, it quickly caught up and then overtook them, reclaiming its position at the front of the line.
As they passed a mix of fishing boats, the fishermen standing at the bow knelt down, hands clasped together, chanting something under their breath.
Luo Ying couldn’t help but exclaim, “These fishermen are so devoted to the Flowerless Palace! It shows that the Palace must have helped them out quite a bit in the past.”
Bai Tao nodded in agreement. “The Flowerless Palace excels at healing techniques. If the fishermen suffer from any aches, pains, or injuries, as long as they bring them over, we’ll take care of it.
And when fish season hits, they wouldn’t dare venture out into the open sea without our assistance.
Their tiny boats would be toast in a storm!”
“No wonder they treat the Flowerless Palace like deities,” Luo Ying mused thoughtfully.
Bai Tao smiled, “Honestly, it’s just a small favor for us.”
“Even that is impressive,” Luo Ying said. “Other sects like the Heavenly Sword Sect think they’re the best thing since sliced bread. Those Inner Door Disciples don’t have much talent but strut around like they own the place, hardly treating the common folk like people. Ha! I’ve seen enough of that.”
Luo Ying shook her head, not wanting to discuss it further.
Bai Tao said, “Let’s change the subject. The fishing grounds should be just ahead. You’ll get to see the spectacular sight of a thousand boats casting their nets! Miss it, and you’ll have to wait a whole year!”
…
Because Fatty had made such a poor impression on Bai Tao, Lin Nan was also dragged down with him. The two were unceremoniously tossed into a shabby storage room at the rear of the ship, where they could only use two wooden barrels as makeshift seats.
After tiring of standing, they huddled in the storage room, swaying with the waves.
“Bro, are we just supposed to wait here?” Lin Nan asked.
Fatty grunted in affirmation.
Fatty seemed to still be sulking about Bai Tao forgetting him. He sighed dramatically, “They say women are fickle; who would’ve thought that one day, Fatty would encounter a woman who turns her back quicker than flipping a page in a book!”
Lin Nan quipped, “How about you go over and reminisce with her now?”
Fatty waved his hands frantically, “I dare not! What if she throws me overboard? All my hard work to struggle to this point would go down the drain!”
“Then if you know the consequences, why don’t you just shut it?” Lin Nan shot him a cold look.
Fatty immediately stopped speaking.
He could feel the pressure increasing as he got closer to Lin Nan, who had not shown this much intensity since the return of his No. 1 persona. It was as if that elusive presence had been quietly training during its absence and had now achieved unimaginable accomplishments.
But clearly, something was off with the No. 1 persona’s mood at the moment, so he decided not to provoke him.
This wasn’t just about Lin Nan finding Fatty noisy; as the three-masted ship moved forward, he abruptly sensed a familiar energy in the surrounding sea.
Unfortunately, Fatty’s incessant chatter kept interrupting his concentration. To quickly make him shut up, Lin Nan had to unleash the intimidating pressure of the Cold Moon Witch that used to silence everyone.
Alas, that familiar energy slipped away before he could grasp it.
Why did Frost North Snow have the Nightmare Beast suppress this area, preventing outsiders from easily finding that mysterious sea?
After existing for over a thousand years, the Flowerless Palace must surely know the exact location of Nightmare Island. Had they ever ventured into the mysterious sea and clashed with Frost North Snow?
From the sight of Bai Tao leading over a thousand fishing boats across the waters near Nightmare Island, heading eastward, it seemed that the so-called sea sacrifice was happening in that fog-laden mysterious area.
Lin Nan felt increasingly uneasy, convinced there was a big net encompassing all the fishing boats—including his own—trapping everyone without a way to escape.
“Fatty, can I ask you a question?” Lin Nan suddenly said.
Fatty nodded vigorously, unusual for him to engage in a conversation. He had to show some respect.
“We were players, but now the system’s functions are all down, and we can’t even log out. So tell me, how are we any different from NPCs now?”
Fatty had never thought about that before. In his subconscious mind, he was convinced this was a game, and even if players died, they would respawn. So even though the system was temporarily malfunctioning, it was just a bug, right? It would surely be back to normal soon.
But with Lin Nan’s reminder, a terrifying realization hit him.
“We’re the same as NPCs? You mean, we could be dead… and can’t respawn?”
Lin Nan nodded, “We’re operating in an area where the system isn’t effective. In other words, we might have been temporarily removed from the system and no longer recognized as players.”
After getting Lin Nan’s confirmation, Fatty freaked out, jumping up and banging his head on the low ceiling with a ‘thud’. He cradled his head, yowling like a pig being slaughtered.
“Of course, that’s just my guess,” Lin Nan added.
Fatty looked like he was about to cry.
“Bro, Big Brother! Please don’t scare me like that! My little heart can’t take it!”
Lin Nan said firmly, “So, we must prioritize our safety above all else. Who knows what could happen?”
“Wah… how is your comforting me making me more anxious?” Fatty complained with a pained expression.
At that moment, the three-masted ship gradually came to a halt.
The two peered out curiously and realized they seemed to have arrived at the fishing grounds. Through the shallow waters, they could clearly see a vast array of colorful fish darting around between the boats.
The fishermen cheerfully cast their nets, effortlessly landing catches that were dozens of times more than usual, their rosy faces beaming with the joy of harvest.
Over a thousand fishing boats dotted the expansive sea, creating the illusion that the entire ocean had been conquered by humanity.
For a moment, both of them were stunned by the spectacle before them, staring in silence for quite some time before exchanging glances.
Fatty suddenly swallowed hard, “I think what you said earlier is probably true.”
“Why’s that?”
Fatty chuckled ruefully, “Because this all feels too real—so real that it doesn’t even seem like a game.
In this vast sea, it’s just us two players among thousands of NPCs. Can our current technology really manage such a huge area, with millions of NPCs operating simultaneously, each going about their business without interfering with each other?”
Lin Nan could only blink.
The two sat in silence for a long while.
It had been over half a day since they left Nightmare Island, and the sun hung low in the western sky.
Just then, a thick blanket of dark clouds rolled in, blocking out a significant portion of the splendid sunset.
A chilling wind surged, howling without pause.
The smiles of the fishermen immediately froze on their faces.
…
P.S.: Four updates bleeding out, someone send help!
