“Huh?”
“That ship is?”
Sharp-eyed, Liu Piaoxu spotted the luxurious medium-sized ship at once.
Whether it was the deck or the sails, nothing about it looked like a Ship Maiden from the Shanhai Region. Judging by its grade, it should be at least a D-grade Ship Maiden.
“That’s…”
“Zhou Hang?!”
“What is he doing here?”
Liu Ruyan narrowed her eyes as she looked.
The moment she saw the man standing at the bow, her eyes lit up.
“Zhou Hang?”
“What? Ruyan, you know him?”
Liu Piaoxu looked at her daughter in surprise. She had never seen her pay so much attention to any man before.
“Mm…”
“I heard Zhou Hang is from a major family in the Canglan Region…”
“Oh? Canglan Region… a major family?”
Hearing this, Liu Piaoxu’s eyes flickered subtly.
…
At the same time.
Zhou Hang stood on the Fishing Ship, his gaze locked onto the mother and daughter in the distance, his eyes filled with greed.
After escaping from the Zhou Family, he had only brought one servant and two ships.
The old servant had served his mother while she was alive, and one of the ships was the servant’s cargo ship Ship Maiden. The other was the Fishing Ship beneath his feet.
The Fishing Ship, a C-grade Ship Maiden, was 8 meters long, 2.5 meters wide, with a 12-meter mast. It was a standard medium-sized vessel.
Because the wood of its hull emitted a special fragrance that attracted fish, it was called the Fishing Ship.
To be precise, this ship was also his aunt.
Yes, she was his mother’s younger sister, who had fled with him.
“Xiao Hang… That girl… is the one you’ve taken a liking to?”
A soft voice came from the Captain’s Cabin. Zhou Hang’s greedy expression immediately restrained itself.
“Yes, Aunt. I heard the Liu Family is a Smoke Ship family. Seeing them today, they’re indeed not bad…”
“Heh~”
“Just a small family. They’re nothing compared to the Zhou Family! But that girl… she’s worth considering. If she becomes your First Ship Maiden, she’d be quite suitable.”
“I think so too… Unfortunately, she might not look favorably upon me…”
“What nonsense! You carry the Zhou Family’s blood. How could you not be worthy? Later, I’ll negotiate with that old woman. You find a way to get close to the girl… Understood? Don’t be shy. Your rise depends on her!”
Hearing the serious tone, Zhou Hang responded respectfully, “Yes!”
As the sea breeze blew, the figures of the mother and daughter on the cargo ship became clearer. Zhou Hang’s eyes narrowed further.
In truth…
He had not only taken a liking to Liu Ruyan…
At the thought of commanding this pair of mother and daughter Ship Maidens across the seas, a strange excitement surged within him.
“Who goes there!”
“Why have you entered the waters of the Liu Family?!”
Suddenly, a sharp voice rang out from the cargo ship. Liu Piaoxu looked coldly at the Fishing Ship as over a dozen Smoke Ships raised their bows and advanced toward it.
“Misunderstanding! A misunderstanding!”
Seeing the other side preparing to act, Zhou Hang hurried to the railing and forced a bright smile.
“Zhou Hang of the Zhou Family from the Canglan Region wishes to discuss a business deal with the Liu Family!”
“Oh?”
“A business deal? What kind of deal?”
With a suspicious gaze, Liu Piaoxu sized him up. Her eyes carried a trace of admiration.
As expected of someone from a major family. Surrounded by so many Ship Maidens, he remained calm and composed…
“His mindset is solid…”
“With the backing of a major family…”
“No wonder Ruyan thinks highly of him…”
“He’s far more pleasing than that Zheng Hao…”
Her charming eyes flickered as she leaned on her waist, exuding allure at every moment.
“Gulp…”
“Gulp…”
Watching her figure, Zhou Hang’s restless desire intensified.
Suppressing his thoughts, he slowed the Fishing Ship and said lightly, “Naturally, a deal that can help the Liu Family rise.”
“Patriarch Liu, possessing a family like the Smoke Ship is already a natural advantage. If the Zheng Family had not risen too early, perhaps the number one family of the Shanhai Region…”
“How dare you!!! Do you know what you’re saying?!”
Before he could finish, Liu Piaoxu’s expression turned cold, and the surrounding Smoke Ships closed in further.
“Whoosh~”
The sea wind surged as over a dozen ships completely surrounded the Fishing Ship, ready to encircle and capture it…
Yet Zhou Hang remained calm.
“Patriarch Liu… The opportunity is right in front of you… Do you really not want to even take a look? Or are you saying that the Liu Family, with so many people, would fear me and a single Ship Maiden?”
“…”
After several minutes of silent confrontation, Liu Piaoxu’s cold expression suddenly turned into a smile.
“Good, good…”
“Interesting. Come over!”
“Boy, if what you present doesn’t satisfy me, even if you’re from a major family, you won’t leave the Liu Family today!”
With a wave of her hand, the Smoke Ships dispersed, allowing the Fishing Ship to head straight toward the cargo ship.
Standing on the deck to the side, Liu Ruyan’s heart pounded wildly.
For a moment, she felt that Zhou Hang carried himself impressively, remaining calm in the face of danger.
“If only he could awaken an SS-grade talent…”
With such thoughts in mind, Liu Ruyan instinctively met Zhou Hang’s gaze. Seeing the possessive look in his eyes, her face flushed, and she retreated behind Liu Piaoxu. Follow the newest chapters on NovelPing.
“Tsk~”
“You silly girl!”
“Well… this posture might just make him take a liking to you…”
Clicking her tongue at her daughter’s lack of composure, Liu Piaoxu remained standing still on the deck. She watched as the Fishing Ship transformed into a middle-aged woman carrying several crates, climbing aboard with Zhou Hang.
“Patriarch Liu!”
After boarding, Zhou Hang cupped his hands in greeting, neither humble nor arrogant.
“Mm…”
Liu Piaoxu waved her hand calmly, already comparing him to Zheng Hao in her mind.
“Indeed… This one is far more pleasing than that spineless fool… But… how dare he look at me so boldly?”
“What?”
“Does he think he can control me?”
Her brows furrowed slightly as she said coldly, “Speak. What business?”
“Well… Shall we discuss it inside?”
Zhou Hang gestured toward the interior of the cargo ship. Liu Piaoxu’s expression turned cold. “What value can you offer me to think of going inside?”
“Well… Very well! Aunt… give them the goods!”
Taking a wooden crate from the woman behind him, Zhou Hang casually opened it, revealing a large quantity of Blue Fish Fillets with shimmering blue scales.
“Patriarch Liu! This is my sincerity!”
“After leaving the Zhou Family, I secured the supply channel for Blue Fish Fillets! This Blue Fish strengthens a man’s physique to the point he could accompany a Ship Maiden all night without issue! If a Ship Maiden consumes it, it can subtly enhance her attributes.”
“These crates of Blue Fish Fillets are my gift to you as a first meeting present! I wonder… do you have any interest in doing business with me?”
Pushing the crates toward Liu Piaoxu, her eyes flickered as she stared at the fish silently.
After a long moment, she picked up a piece and placed it into her mouth.
“Mm…”
After chewing carefully, aside from the freshness, she immediately felt a strange heat spreading through her body.
“This… This fish really does affect a Ship Maiden’s attributes… I can sense a fluctuation increase of about 0.02 to 0.03. If consumed long-term…”
Her eyes narrowed.
Liu Piaoxu instantly grasped the business potential of the Blue Fish Fillets.
Her previously tense expression transformed into a fox-like smile as she gestured toward the interior. “Good, good! Young Master Zhou is indeed remarkable! Please, come inside so we can discuss further!”
Her gauze robe swayed as she moved beside Zhou Hang, making a welcoming gesture.
Ignoring his greedy gaze, she smiled brightly.
“Please…”
A smile curved at Zhou Hang’s lips. After glancing at Liu Piaoxu, he looked toward Liu Ruyan behind her.
She shifted shyly, her fair skin faintly visible beneath her dress, sending him a flirtatious smile.
“Good… very good!”
Clenching his fists, Zhou Hang’s lips curled upward.
“You mother and daughter Ship Maidens… I believe it won’t be long before I’m steering both of you…”