"Alright, you just stay put. I estimate it won't be long before you might be released," Yu Jin said to Osial.
"Sounds good, sounds good." Osial was in a very good mood now. After being imprisoned for so long, there was finally a chance to get out.
"But what about that damn trial?" Osial envisioned his future happy times, then realized.
In his current state, when the seal opened, if there was nothing, wouldn't it provoke Morax to personally intervene?
"You don't have to worry about that. I have a brilliant plan!" Yu Jin waved his hand at Osial, then used the Hound's Pacing to escape the seal.
The seabed fell silent. Osial looked at the empty seabed, always feeling a bit awkward.
Did he... forget something?
... "Gurgle!"
Beneath the great sea, Yu Jin broke through the water, leaving a striking white trail.
He was currently swimming towards the shallow sea. As for why? Naturally, it was to discern direction.
When he was looking for Osial before, due to the presence of the seal, Yu Jin knew the direction without having to look at anything.
But if he were to go back, with the seabed being pitch black, Yu Jin was afraid he might swim to some other strange place.
With Yu Jin's continuous arm movements, the seawater before him gradually changed from pitch black to dark blue, and then from dark blue to bright light blue.
Correspondingly, the sea also became lively. Many fish that Yu Jin had never seen before began to swim in the water, making the area beneath the surface much more vibrant.
"Plop!" Water splashed, and Yu Jin's head emerged from beneath the surface.
He looked around. Very good, he was still in the Sea of Clouds—because Yu Jin saw the Vague city ahead and the towering Guyun Stone Forest peaks behind him.
Then he was covered by a large net.
"Quick, quick! Someone fell into the water!"
"Down there, don't move around, just stay in that position!"
"Today is truly an eye-opener. There's actually someone who fell into the water here. He probably jumped from the top of Guyun Stone Forest."
...After a flurry of activity, Yu Jin was pulled up by the sailors like a salted fish.
"Long time no see, everyone." Yu Jin removed the large net from his body and greeted the people in front of him indifferently.
The moment he was caught in the net, he knew the large ship nearby was the Alcor. Mainly because the large wheel on the Alcor was too big; it was hard not to recognize it.
"It's you, you're not dead?" A sailor recognized Yu Jin, after all, Yu Jin was quite famous when he was on the Alcor.
When he actually jumped into the Dark Sea, his reputation grew even larger.
"Why do you think I would die? Speaking of which, don't you know I came back from the Dark Sea a long time ago?" Yu Jin heard the sailor's words and immediately felt a bit confused.
Judging by the tone of the people on the Alcor, they haven't docked since last time, have they?
"Came back a long time ago? We certainly didn't know that. When we're at sea, we're not very well-informed about news from land," the sailor shook his head, exclaiming in surprise.
He came back a long time ago, truly a fierce man who dared to challenge the Dark Sea!
"Hahaha, what's going on? I'll join the fun too!" A hearty and bold laugh came from behind the crowd, and then Yu Jin saw a familiar figure behind them.
"Boss, Yu Jin has been fished out by us!" The sailors immediately shouted jokingly when they saw Beidou approaching.
"Yu Jin? The guy who went to the Dark Sea?" The female voice became somewhat surprised, and then Yu Jin saw the crowd being forcibly parted.
And the one who parted them was, of course, Beidou, the captain of the Alcor.
Yu Jin looked on, a little startled. How could Beidou, a woman, be so strong?
"It really is you? It seems your fate with our Alcor is not shallow! Interested in sailing with me?"
Beidou heavily patted Yu Jin's chest plate, having the idea of inviting him. Not to mention Yu Jin's strength, just this fate alone was enough for Beidou to recruit him!
"Sailing? Do you guys not return for several months on a trip?" Yu Jin asked curiously after hearing Beidou's words.
The ocean, in Yu Jin's previous experiences, had always been an optional presence. So he was naturally a little interested in sailing.
"Hmm, pretty much. But we're back now, aren't we?" Beidou nodded. For a fleet like theirs, sailing always meant several months at a minimum.
The loneliness, the danger, and eventually the scarcity of supplies—all the hardships, only they themselves knew.
Therefore, whenever the Alcor docked, Beidou would hold a three-day celebration banquet, allowing all members of The Crux Fleet to relax properly.
"By the way, what happened to you? Why are you in the Sea of Clouds all soaking wet?" Beidou asked, looking at Yu Jin.
Could there be some unknown Domain beneath the Sea of Clouds?
"Well... if I said I was here to exercise, would you believe me?" Yu Jin scratched his head, thought for a moment, and then said so.
Considering that Osial's matter involved Zhongli, Yu Jin could only come up with such a lame excuse.
Alas, he was a good person; lying was simply too difficult for him.
Who knew that Beidou looked at Yu Jin for a while, then burst out laughing: "Haha, I believe it! With your strength, I would even think you'd disdain coming to the Sea of Clouds to train!"
To be honest, Beidou didn't believe Yu Jin's reason. But what did it matter? The Crux Fleet itself held many secrets.
"But since you're so free, and we're about to hold a celebration banquet, are you interested in joining us?" Beidou patted Yu Jin's shoulder, wanting to invite him to the fleet's celebration banquet.
Putting everything else aside, Yu Jin's experience in the Dark Sea alone was enough to pique the curiosity of many crew members.
The secrets of the sea, for them, a group of people who loved sailing and Adventure, were a pastime that nothing else could compare to.
"Celebration banquet?"
"Yes, our fleet has a rule: after docking, we must hold a three-day banquet to relax properly!"
"Alright! I accept! I'll cook for you all then!" Yu Jin heard this and immediately felt that it was a good opportunity for him to show off his skills.
A three-day banquet, surely it couldn't all be in restaurants? Beidou would definitely need to hire someone to cook, and Yu Jin had always been very confident in his culinary skills!
"Hmm? You can cook too?" Beidou sized up Yu Jin, not expecting someone who was always cooped up in an iron can to be able to cook.
"Of course!" Yu Jin confidently patted his chest plate. Cooking was always an essential skill for an Adventurer, and even more so for a formidable Adventurer like Yu Jin!
It was time for The Crux Fleet to taste the Great Adventurer's recipes!
"Good! It seems this celebration banquet will be different from usual!" Beidou smiled and nodded; she was very willing to try new dishes.
The Alcor was neither too far nor too close to Liyue Harbor. Propelled by its paddles, the massive Alcor soon docked steadily inside Liyue Harbor.
"Haha, Chef Yu Jin, you can start preparing! The kitchen is on the ship! As for ingredients..., feel free to use those strange fish and shrimp in the warehouse!"
"As for fruits and vegetables, we'll go down and purchase them!"
Beidou stood on the deck, excitedly telling Yu Jin. Although she loved the feeling of riding the wind and waves, her joy at stepping onto land after a long time was undeniable.
"Aren't those things for selling? Aren't you heartbroken?" Yu Jin asked, seeing Beidou being so generous, as if confirming.
"Mora and everything else are secondary. We can't just fight for things with our lives and then not taste a single bite ourselves, can we?"
Beidou waved her hand, indicating she didn't care at all.
Yu Jin heard this and immediately wanted to run, because he was very clear about his destructive power towards ingredients.
Although Yu Jin was very confident in his cuisine, others might not understand.
If Yu Jin really let loose and cooked, Beidou would probably think he was there to cause damage.
Just as Yu Jin was frowning, thinking of an excuse to escape, a familiar figure appeared before his eyes.
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