The situation was dire, the reality brutal.
But life had to go on.
Han Ning tried to suppress the weight in his heart. The top priority now was to get this Wind Chaser sailboat truly operational.
In the following hours, he protected Xu Ming as they conducted a thorough search across the docks.
During their search, they repeatedly encountered other Awakened teams from Azure Cloud Resort scavenging in the dock area. Without exception, these groups chose to retreat whenever they crossed paths with Han Ning.
Some reluctantly abandoned tools they'd just found upon seeing Han Ning approach. Others immediately left with their companions without a word.
Han Ning was surprised, guessing that Chairman Wu must have issued some orders.
As time passed, an entire day went by.
During this period, small groups of monsters attempted to approach the area multiple times. All were collectively eliminated.
With Tuna and the Coral Monster dead, the area was temporarily safe.
Not just Han Ning and Xu Ming—none of Azure Cloud Resort's Awakened had time to rest. Some weaker Awakened, those who had only recently awakened, arrived from the resort's direction.
Their numbers grew from over twenty to nearly forty, all joining the search for usable boats and parts at the docks.
With just two people, Han Ning and Xu Ming could only carry so much from the entire dock.
Finally, when Han Ning dragged the last few sealed barrels of diesel onto the sailboat, both the lower deck and main deck were packed to capacity.
Most of the deck space was occupied by dozens of oil barrels of varying sizes, emitting a strong diesel odor.
The engine room was crammed with metal parts boxes, bundles of cables, spare canvas ropes, water pumps and filters salvaged from other boats, and several intact solar panels.
Life jackets, fire axes, and emergency lights hung from hooks along the bulkheads.
The entire lower deck resembled an overcrowded, disorganized warehouse, with only a narrow path barely wide enough for one person leading to the engine area.
This loading method severely violated standard sailing protocols, but given the emergency, there was no alternative.
Xu Ming, who had recently completed repairs on the diesel engine before joining Han Ning to search for more parts, now leaned exhausted against an oil barrel, panting heavily. His face was smeared with black grime from mixing oil and sweat.
After all, he was just an ordinary person without an Awakened's enhanced physique.
Han Ning truly wanted to awaken him, but currently, aside from continuously exposing him to Nature's Blessing, there seemed to be no other safe method.
As for Yu Na, she followed them the entire time like a silent assistant, neither speaking nor leaving.
...
"Take a break first. Look how exhausted you are." Han Ning pulled a clean water bottle from his waterproof bag and handed it to Xu Ming.
"Huff... huff... Thanks, boss." Xu Ming's trembling hands unscrewed the cap before he gulped down the water greedily.
"Growl!"
Suddenly, Snowflake's low warning sounded from the deck.
Exchanging glances, Han Ning and Xu Ming immediately headed upstairs.
.
In the thick fog not far away, the faint outlines of numerous boats of varying sizes emerged.
They came in all shapes and forms—single-hulled sailboats, catamarans, and even a few relatively sturdy small fishing boats and speedboats.
At a glance, there were no fewer than fifteen or sixteen vessels.
Leading the pack was the Leopard 40 Catamaran that Xu Ming had previously rejected.
Chairman Wu stood at the bow, waving energetically at Han Ning and the others.
"Damn... they've scavenged every usable boat in the entire mooring area?"
Xu Ming clicked his tongue,
"Seems they planned this long ago, gathering a group of maritime professionals, just waiting for this moment."
"Mr. Han Ning!" Chairman Wu's voice carried through the mist,
"Which direction are you planning to leave from? Could we join you?"
After witnessing the Death Coral Reef, Han Ning had still decided to take a small detour along the outer edges of the harbor, entering the city through Bai Lu's underdeveloped areas.
The Death Coral Reef was several hundred meters away. By sailing within a hundred meters of the docks, they could avoid entering the reef's range.
The city wasn't completely submerged yet, and it still held plenty of supplies. There was no need to rush their departure.
Seeing Han Ning remain silent, Chairman Wu continued loudly, "Could you come aboard to discuss our departure plans?"
Hearing this, Han Ning instructed Snowflake and Yu Na to protect Xu Ming on the boat. He then leaped into the air, whipping out Vines that coiled around the catamaran's railing.
The Vines retracted, pulling him onto the deck.
Han Ning gave a slight nod. "Chairman Wu, I plan to circle around the outer edges of the harbor."
He wasn't familiar with Bai Lu's surrounding terrain, so he intended to cooperate with Chairman Wu and his group.
"What a coincidence! We just discussed internally and also think circling around the outskirts to enter the city is feasible. We're planning to go in from the direction of Dashi Village,"
Chairman Wu said with a smile. "How about we team up?"
"Agreed," Han Ning replied straightforwardly. "Maintain a safe distance. Send one boat to lead the way."
"Excellent! With you joining us, we're much more confident!"
Chairman Wu's voice carried a hint of excitement.
"All hands, listen up! A Long, your Wind Breaker will take point. Head southeast toward Dashi Village. Maintain formation and set sail!"
With the order given, the entire fleet seemed to come alive.
The roar of engines, the creaking of sails being hoisted, and the muffled shouts of excited people intermingled, shattering the deathly silence of the mooring area.
Han Ning returned to his own boat and said to Xu Ming,
"Lao Xu, it's your show now."
"Understood!"
Xu Ming nodded firmly and strode to the helm, gripping the cold metal wheel with both hands.
"Snowflake, go to the bow and keep watch underwater!" Han Ning ordered through their Mental Link.
"Roar!"
"Yu Na, protect Lao Xu."
"Mm."
"Weigh anchor!" Xu Ming commanded in a deep voice.
Despite the small crew, the procedures were followed meticulously.
Han Ning stepped in as a deckhand, operating the hydraulic windlass.
"Raise the mainsail! Foresail!" Xu Ming called out before rushing over to hoist the massive white mainsail and foresail folded against the mast.
The weathered canvas snapped and billowed in the fierce wind, emitting deep, resonant flutters.
Then Xu Ming hurried back to the helm, turning the wheel as he gauged the shifts in current and wind pressure.
"Hard to port! Adjust course to 135 degrees southeast!"
The massive hull of the Wind Chaser slowly turned on the water, its bow gradually pointing southeast.
Turbulent waves crashed against the prow, effortlessly split apart by the sturdy titanium alloy plating.
"Auxiliary power, engage!" Xu Ming pressed a button on the control panel.
A deep rumble echoed from the lower engine room.
"Power output stable!" Xu Ming felt the vibrations beneath his feet.
"Main sails catching wind perfectly, angle optimal—we're good to go, boss."
Han Ning stood beside Xu Ming, his Molten Gold Eyes piercing through the thick fog, locking onto the relatively open waters ahead.