novelraw Chapter 114: The Adulterous Cat Carrying the Flower Witch on His Back
Chapter 114: The Adulterous Cat Carrying the Flower Witch on His Back
Chen Qi asked,
“Excuse me, can the map you just showed be sold?”
“You’re really planning to head to Sea Monster Gorge, huh?” Palu counted his money while speaking, “Friend, even though the navy promises safety, that doesn’t guarantee security.
If you want to run a restaurant boat business, Sea Monster Island’s market is decent, but the competition is fierce.
Of course, money must be made. A more detailed map costs twenty thousand Shell Coins. It’s non-transferable.”
Chen Qi didn’t hesitate and generously took out twenty thousand Shell Coins.
The Ice Demon Pirates’ map could be called the most professional sea map available.
If anyone knew the true identity of this bard in front of them, his maps would have sold like hotcakes long ago.
“Looks like you’re not short of money~”
Palu handed the map to Chen Qi.After receiving the map, Chen Qi obediently stepped back behind the crowd.
At this moment, the tall navy officer from before also came over: “I want a copy of the map too, and I have some intelligence questions.”
After buying the map, the tall navy officer looked serious and asked, “Informant, why can the Black Shark’s captain, Mad Shark, dare to linger in the dangerous waters of Sea Monster Gorge?”
The Black Shark, operating in Sea Monster Gorge year-round, was definitely the navy’s primary enemy.
Its captain, Mad Shark, was known for his experience living in Sea Monster Gorge.
Palu curled his finger and whispered,
“A secret…”
The navy fell silent. Palu’s implication was to talk privately.
Soon after, the navy officer blushed and left with Palu.
Chen Qi stayed in the tavern a while longer, confirming there was no more intelligence, then left.
……
……
Chen Qi returned to his inn room and began planning the next moves.
During the earlier operation, he had already obtained a map of the dimensional rifts in Sea Monster Gorge.
Whether it was the floral aspect rift intelligence needed by the Flower Witch or his own shadow-lamp aspect rift, all were covered.
This afternoon, the navy would launch a surprise attack on Sea Monster Gorge.
Following the navy to Sea Monster Gorge was definitely a good choice!
The navy’s presence could help him handle pirates inside the gorge.
Then, upon reaching the midpoint, he would break away from the navy and head to the C-tier floral aspect rift deep inside Sea Monster Gorge.
After delivering the Flower Witch to the C-tier floral aspect rift,
he could go to the center of Sea Monster Gorge, where the ‘Qin’ was located, to check out the sea monsters!
At the same time, he could clear the shadow aspect rift nearby and obtain the shadow aspect skill card.
“A perfect plan…”
Chen Qi took the map and went to the Flower Witch’s room to share their sailing plan.
The Flower Witch, combing her hair, opened her mouth wide.
She hadn’t expected that just during her shower and ointment application time, Chen Qi had already gathered intelligence and formulated the route plan.
“Amazing…”
The Flower Witch sighed in admiration.
After a brief discussion, they began preparing for the next action.
……
……
In the afternoon.
At the entrance of Sea Monster Gorge, steep cliffs flanked both sides, like giant arms tightly embracing the sea surface.
By now, five fully armed steamships were anchored at the entrance.
Leading them was the navy’s White Seagull!
Behind the steamships followed thirty well-armed medium-sized vessels.
Chen Qi’s small houseboat sneaked in among fishing boats, quietly following behind these massive vessels:
“Fin, be careful.”
The Flower Witch, hiding on the bed inside the boat house, nodded seriously: “Mm, mm.”
The sea wind grew increasingly harsh, whipping the sails with a howl.
Boom!
At the bow, a navy rear admiral struck a war drum fiercely with a giant hammer: “Everyone, prepare to set off!”
The White Seagull’s engine roared thunderously!
Chen Qi stepped out of the boat house, looking up toward the far distance.
At the railing at the stern, he spotted a familiar white-haired figure.
White hair fluttered in the sea wind.
An was indeed on the navy ship… Chen Qi waved to An.
Unexpectedly, An’s eyes widened, then waved urgently, signaling Chen Qi to leave immediately.
Run!
Knowing that Sea Monster Gorge hid numerous pirates, An considered this mission extremely dangerous!
Even Chen Qi would find it hard to survive the chaotic battle between the navy and pirates!
Chen Qi chose not to leave.
An didn’t know that a third-tier Flower Witch was secretly on his ship.
An looked at Chen Qi anxiously, wanting to cast a spell to stop him.
However, after a loud steam whistle sounded,
the White Seagull suddenly started, creating huge waves as the fleet surged like countless sharks into Sea Monster Gorge.
The small houseboat followed closely and entered Sea Monster Gorge.
……
……
The daylight’s flames gradually dimmed.
An hour passed, and the small houseboat was now out of sight of the larger ships.
In the first half of the route, Chen Qi had closely followed the navy.
In the middle segment, he chose a shortcut.
The shortcut could reach the depths of Sea Monster Gorge faster, closer to the sea monsters’ lair, where encountering sea monsters was more likely.
Therefore, most ships avoided this route, taking a longer detour.
The Flower Witch sat on the boat, hands clasped and eyes closed:
“Teacher, pray that our journey goes smoothly and we don’t encounter any sea beasts.”
Chen Qi carefully scanned the surroundings.
Though he wanted to reach the sea monster lair, he couldn’t bring the Flower Witch along.
He had to deliver the Flower Witch to the rift location first.
At that moment, something unexpected happened!
Behind them on the sea surface came gurgling sounds.
A monster!
Chen Qi decisively activated White Pigeon Perception to detect spiritual energy fluctuations in the surrounding sea area.
Below the sea were humans, and they were third-tier supernaturals!
Pirates!
Chen Qi quickly activated Hunter’s Eye.
From above the sea surface, a thick arm covered in Black Shark tattoos suddenly reached out, and in the strong hand was a steel harpoon!
A grim-faced old man poked his head out of the water, glaring fiercely at the small houseboat.
Who is this? Chen Qi thought quickly.
Based on the tattoos and aura, this was likely the infamous pirate here, Captain Mad Shark!
Mad Shark touched the necklace around his neck and laughed:
“Thought I caught a navy scout, but it’s just a small fish daring to enter my waters, courting death…”
“Kid, remember this before you die: this is my territory!”
He suddenly clenched the harpoon tightly and threw it at Chen Qi’s leg!
A huge sonic boom echoed through the air!
Bang!
Chen Qi dodged sideways, narrowly avoiding the fierce harpoon attack.
“Not bad!”
Then, in the next second, Mad Shark picked up a blood-filled bag and violently smashed it against the small houseboat.
Bang!
The sticky black bag splattered on the boat, releasing a strong stench of blood.
At that moment, inside the boat house, a wooden magic staff aimed directly at Mad Shark.
Daring to ambush Chen Qi! Angry little flowers appeared above the Flower Witch’s head.
Basic offensive spell!
Boom!
An ear-splitting roar!
Spiritual energy burst from the staff tip, shooting a fierce flash that struck Mad Shark squarely.
This kid even has a third-tier expert hidden in the boat! Mad Shark grabbed his bleeding shoulder:
“Forget it, prey without value isn’t worth hunting…”
Mad Shark’s attack on Chen Qi was a whim.
Blood would attract real sea beasts.
His blood bag had just hit the small houseboat.
The blood scent would inevitably lure real sea beasts.
Such a reckless small boat venturing into dangerous waters was doomed to perish, devoured by the ocean’s power!
“Covering the retreating ships is most important, no need to waste time on these small boats.”
“Goodbye, little fish, wait to be swallowed by the sea.”
Mad Shark uttered these cruel words and sank like a shark, rapidly distancing from the small houseboat.
After Mad Shark left,
the two exhaled deeply.
That was a close call… Chen Qi thought silently.
Mad Shark’s sudden appearance was too unexpected.
He never imagined someone could be hiding on the sea surface.
Fortunately, he mastered White Pigeon Perception with enhanced detection.
If he hadn’t reacted quickly, he might have had his leg shattered by Mad Shark’s harpoon.
However, in such dangerous waters, Mad Shark daring to fight underwater was beyond Chen Qi’s imagination.
The Flower Witch asked worriedly:
“Are you okay, Qi?”
“I’m fine, just a light injury.”
Chen Qi touched his shoulder.
He hadn’t expected his first battle in Sea Monster Gorge would involve such a dangerous character.
Luckily, killing them brought no benefit to Mad Shark.
Besides, he probably hadn’t discovered the Flower Witch’s true identity.
Otherwise, there would have been real trouble.
Chen Qi checked the blood on his small houseboat.
Blood would attract sea beasts.
At this time, the Flower Witch decisively took out a bottle of potion and poured it over the blood.
The scent of blood gradually faded.
“Hehe~”
The Flower Witch patted her chest:
“Don’t worry, I prepared many potions that can mask the smell of blood. As long as I’m here, we won’t become targets of sea beasts.”
“Well done…”
Chen Qi faintly heard the faint singing of sea monsters.
They were very close to the sea monsters’ lair.
Unfortunately, he couldn’t bring the Flower Witch to meet the sea monsters.
And undoubtedly, their position was already exposed.
“We need to speed up and head to the floral aspect rift, or we might be chased down.”
Chen Qi summoned the Deepsea Water Spirits to propel the small houseboat toward the floral aspect rift as fast as possible.
……
……
An hour later, the sky was covered with a heavy layer of gray.
Unexpectedly, aside from some blackhead fish and faint sea monster singing, they hadn’t encountered any sea beasts.
This was largely thanks to the Flower Witch’s potions!
These potions were top-tier at repelling sea beasts!
With the help of seven Deepsea Water Spirits, the small houseboat stopped.
Ahead stood a flower tree over a hundred meters tall.
On the flower tree was a bleeding dimensional rift entrance.
A C-tier single-person floral aspect rift called the Home of Magical Potions, only accessible to third-tier supernaturals!
C-tier rifts weren’t something Chen Qi could participate in.
“Finally arrived! I’m ready, I’m ready~”
The Flower Witch gripped her staff, muttering to herself to psych herself up.
She hadn’t challenged a floral aspect rift in a long time.
Chen Qi said,
“Then, Flower Witch, goodbye for now.”
“Mm.”
The Flower Witch stepped forward but suddenly stopped.
She realized a problem.
After she left, what would Chen Qi do?
Remember, Chen Qi was just a novice transcendent!
In these dangerous waters, without her, if Chen Qi were targeted by sharks or sea monsters, the consequences would be unimaginable!
This kind of farewell scene was common!
Though just a simple goodbye, it was really a final farewell!
The Flower Witch’s imagination ran wild.
She could already picture the sea monsters using their song and beauty to lure Chen Qi.
Then, under the sea monsters’ temptation, Chen Qi was made into food and finally placed on a dining plate in a horrifying scene.
When she next saw Chen Qi, all she would see would be a bloated sea monster with a full belly.
Moreover, they had just been targeted by Mad Shark.
Although they’d only met once, the fact that he dared to stay underwater meant he was an extremely dangerous transcendent.
Maybe Chen Qi would be captured by pirates and sold to the Blackfin Crew’s Madam, becoming a slave to experience the bitter and luxurious life of the Flower Language.
When she saw Chen Qi again, he might have already lost his mind, skinny and utterly fallen.
Sad little blue flowers appeared above the Flower Witch’s head.
“Qi, please be very careful, don’t cry. I’ll clear the third-tier floral aspect rift as quickly as possible and come back.”
“Why am I crying? What are you thinking?” Chen Qi smiled, “Mm, I’ll be careful. Have a smooth journey, Flower Witch.”
According to his inspiration appraisal, although this floral aspect rift was C-tier, its distortion rate was only 7%, making it relatively safe.
With the Flower Witch’s strength, clearing it was just a matter of time.
The Flower Witch used Water Walking, stepping on the water surface:
“Then I’m off… wait!”
Chen Qi clenched his fist:
“Fin, anything else?”
“Almost forgot, here are the potions for you!”
The Flower Witch took potions from her Backpack Card.
Five bottles of sea beast repelling potions, two bottles of sea beast scent potions, two bottles of underwater breathing potions, and two bottles of high-efficiency healing potions.
Like a nagging mother, the Flower Witch reminded,
“You must find a safe place to stay, and every once in a while, use the sea beast repelling potion nearby.
If you unfortunately encounter a sea monster, smear the sea beast scent potion on yourself, then bind yourself tightly and use concealment skills.”
Chen Qi promised,
“Mm… I understand.”
He knew the Flower Witch worried about him but was a bit too nagging.
“Well, I really am leaving now, be very careful…”
Chen Qi nodded, “Please be careful, Fin.”
She took a few steps but turned back.
Again!
“Hold it in, hold it in, don’t look like you really want to leave the Flower Witch.”
Explaining the sea monster threat to Chen Qi, trying to keep him sane!
The Flower Witch seriously said,
“When you hear the singing, cover your ears immediately; you didn’t just now.
And never look directly at the sea monster’s body, use spiritual energy perception instead.”
Chen Qi replied,
“Mm, I promise, even if I hear the slightest singing, I’ll cover my ears immediately…”
“Also, be careful of Mad Shark you just met.”
“Mm, mm.”
Finally, after tugging for a full twenty minutes, the Flower Witch entered the floral aspect rift.
“Finally…”
Chen Qi sighed deeply, excitedly clenching his fist!
Now, he could finally head to the center area of Sea Monster Gorge, the sea monsters’ lair.
As expected, there were definitely many treasures in that lair.
“I have to get there and deal with things before the Flower Witch returns.”
Suddenly, he felt a strange sensation.
Wait, why does it feel like…
I’m a cat sneaking around behind the Flower Witch’s back?
He had just inwardly hoped the Flower Witch would enter the rift sooner.
No choice, the Deep Sea Affinity, this forbidden talent, couldn’t be easily revealed.
This feeling was really strange… Chen Qi thought.
But no matter what, the Flower Witch was finally gone!
He no longer needed to avoid sea beasts!
Freedom!
“Deepsea Water Spirits, push the boat!”
Chen Qi excitedly steered the small houseboat toward the most dangerous area of Sea Monster Gorge, the sea monsters’ lair.