Chapter 790: Sea Mines
Ignoring Zhu Yunque's objections, Zhang Yi took Zhou Ke’er along for the sea voyage. As for the others, especially the women at home, they had quite a few complaints. Yang Xinxin, in particular, gazed at Zhang Yi with pitiful, longing eyes—clearly wanting to join him on the trip. Lu Keran also offered to come aboard as a mechanic to assist with repairs. However, Zhang Yi firmly rejected all these requests.
This wasn’t a pleasure cruise—it was a mission of critical importance. Even he couldn’t guarantee whether dangers lurked in the open sea. If something went wrong, he wouldn’t be able to protect so many people out on the water. Nevertheless, the shelter residents still saw them off at Chaoyu Harbor.
From the harbor, they traveled another dozen kilometers by snow vehicle to reach the anchored fleet. The waters here were deeper and hadn’t completely frozen over yet. The Golden Edge icebreaker, pulled out by Chen Jingguan’s men, stood ready, its deck crowded with sailors prepared for departure.
Zhang Yi bid farewell to his household one by one, instructing them to stay vigilant in his absence and contact him or Zhu Zheng immediately if any danger arose. After settling these matters, he boarded the ship with Zhou Ke’er and Zhu Yunque.
Zhang Yi and Zhou Ke’er traveled light, carrying nothing—everything they needed was stored in his Dimensional Space. Zhu Yunque, however, didn’t enjoy the same convenience. Though she had minimized her luggage, she still had two massive suitcases in tow. Zhang Yi made no move to help, but kind-hearted Old You loaded them onto the vehicle. At the harbor, sailors naturally carried them aboard.
Once on deck, Zhu Yunque deliberately took out her communicator in front of Zhang Yi and announced, "Uncle, we’ve boarded. We can set sail today!" Zhang Yi smirked inwardly—this was clearly a power play, reminding him that Zhu Zheng stood behind her. Unfazed, he signaled Old Tian to depart.
The crew returned to their stations as Old Tian expertly commanded the anchor’s retrieval. The massive icebreaker slowly moved, crushing the thin surrounding ice before heading out to sea. Zhang Yi, meanwhile, took Zhou Ke’er to their cabin. Below deck, the boilers roared, providing ample warmth—a requirement Zhang Yi had insisted on. Even on a long voyage, he refused to compromise on basic comforts like heating and food, all of which he had stockpiled in his Dimensional Space (courtesy of Zhu Zheng’s resources—no reason to spend his own funds on official business).
The days that followed were monotonous. Old Tian and the crew, seasoned sailors with post-apocalyptic experience under Wei Dinghai, knew which waters posed risks. Before departure, Zhang Yi had instructed them to prioritize safety over speed, avoiding pirate-infested routes and steering clear of Japan’s coastal waters—home to many ronin who doubled as pirates and bandits. They also had to watch for sea beasts. With no shortage of supplies, they could afford a leisurely, cautious journey.
For the first two weeks, the voyage proceeded smoothly. They stayed within Huaxu Kingdom’s territorial waters, only needing to coordinate with the East Sea Region’s patrols. But once they left national waters, troubles began mounting.
On the seventeenth day, as the Golden Edge entered Japanese waters, Old Tian consulted Zhang Yi about notifying local authorities to avoid misunderstandings. Zhang Yi, reading a copy of *1Q84*, closed the book. "No need. Proceed as planned. We’ll deal with any interceptors if they appear."
His reasoning was sound. The apocalypse had devastated global populations and military strength. Even Huaxu Kingdom couldn’t fully control its maritime borders, leaving the oceans increasingly lawless. Japan itself was fractured into two factions, its navy unstable. Their Maritime Self-Defense Force lacked substantial patrol capabilities, making formal contact unnecessary—and potentially suspicious. If issues arose, Zhu Zheng could handle the diplomacy.
Old Tian relayed the orders. Hours later, Japanese forces issued a warning. Zhang Yi had them identify as a civilian rescue vessel while Zhu Zheng’s office intervened. Though displeased, Japan—lacking the means to enforce maritime control—let them pass.
Back in his cabin, Zhang Yi resumed reading. But just after exiting Japanese waters, violent explosions rocked the ship. The hull trembled, startling Zhou Ke’er. "Stay calm," Zhang Yi reassured her, patting her shoulder. "I’ll handle this." In a flash, he appeared in the icebreaker’s command center.
The crew, armed and furious, cursed at the radar blips swarming the screen. "What’s happening?" Zhang Yi asked, noting the red dots. His presence immediately steadied them. "Sir, this area’s mined! Pirates must’ve laid them!" Old Tian growled around his pipe. "Those damned Japanese—they waved us off, then tipped off nearby pirates!"
A cold smile curled Zhang Yi’s lips. "Ship status?" "Minor damage. We’re sturdy. But these mines are just the prelude—pirate ships are closing in!" Old Tian pointed to approaching blips. "Keep the ship steady," Zhang Yi ordered. "I’ll deal with the rest." He vanished mid-sentence. While the crew knew he’d handle the threat, half still grabbed guns and rushed to the deck, unwilling to sit idle.