The storm was nothing like they had ever seen.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhR5kQC8CzQ
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLgsNYS5lxY
It did not come in waves. It came in walls of water – black, towering, hungry. The wind screamed like a thousand dying animals. Rain fell so thick that breathing was like drowning from the inside.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUW4010hTBF
General Feng Jian held onto the mast stump, shouting orders that were barely heard. "Everyone inside! Below deck! Now!"
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWFrFKHCQbx
The servants scrambled for the hatch. The crew followed. The guards pushed the wounded ahead of them.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaiJjmGnoKP
But Liang Wei remained on the bow.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDZs8Li5bMw
He stood alone, his staff gone, his robe plastered to his broken body. He faced a wave taller than the junk's mast. He took a breath – shallow, painful – and blew.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡam2wjM5yIu
The wind from his lungs met the wave. The water curled, folded, collapsed. The wave fell back into the sea, harmless.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmyR27hKyKI
Another wave rose. He blew again. It fell.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj7mjfnoAQX
A third wave, larger than the first two combined, rose from the port side. Liang Wei's hands moved. He spun them – slowly at first, then faster. A tornado formed between his palms, small but fierce. He pushed it toward the wave. The tornado met the water and twisted it, scattering it into mist.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeS3NfRXxbU
The general heard the sound of bones cracking. Liang Wei's ribs. His spine. His knuckles. Every movement cost him, and he paid without flinching.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtZfcXrMCYA
"Master, you cannot—"
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF31yXW2Ald
"I can," Liang Wei said. "And I will. Get the others to safety."
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5TeiUpJFe3
The general turned and barked orders. "Keep moving! Shift your weight to starboard! Use the torn sails – catch whatever wind you can!"
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz1H0bHwneM
The crew obeyed. They leaned, they pulled, they pushed. The junk swayed but stayed afloat. For an hour, they fought.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgC3tAjrAOM
Liang Wei fought the waves. He blew. He spun. He punched. Each wave he killed, two more rose. The storm adapted. It learned.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzdkqko5MhD
He stopped a wave with his palm. The water splashed aside – then reformed into a tentacle, thick as a tree trunk. It whipped toward him. He ducked, but the tentacle followed, changing direction.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt2Q3QVRX4i
The storm was learning his techniques.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡucc89T9TaV
He jumped.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQfnEJV0g1U
Into the air he went, above the tentacle, above the waves, above the screaming wind. From above, he could see the whole storm – a spiral of black clouds and green water, miles wide. He was a speck in its eye.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn9RhcyvU7R
He came down fists first, striking the tentacle. It shattered. He landed on the water, ran three steps, and launched himself again.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXAqDoZaSXr
Above the waves, he was more effective. He could see the patterns, predict the strikes. He moved like a dragonfly, touching the water only to spring again.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP9IfASDK4d
But his body was breaking.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ91a5F256ov
The general heard it – a crack like a dry branch every time the master landed. His left arm, already useless, hung at a sickening angle. His chest wound had reopened. Blood dripped into the sea.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlhUxtxFXSS
"Master, please—"
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqqSMwJFfLl
A stray wave caught Liang Wei from the side. It tossed him like a doll. He flew through the air, spinning, and crashed onto the junk's deck. The impact splintered the planks beneath him.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrQ9i7OWWkV
He did not move.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWfRLRjyk7u
The general ran to him. "Master!"
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL7vDWWnfv2
"I am… alive," Liang Wei gasped. "Where is the navigator?"
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUfd2edCK9R
The navigator, Master Chen, stood at the stern, his spyglass pressed to his eye. His hands trembled. His voice cracked.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT2anXHIitn
"Land! I see land! Fires on the shore! I swear by all the gods – land!"
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKB0xueQntW
The general looked. Through the rain, past the waves, he saw them. Small orange dots. Campfires. Distant, but real.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0D1rXGJOYl
"How far?" the general shouted.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsO7AhT3vUn
"Two miles! Maybe three! If the storm does not sink us first!"
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdDcvmZUQIT
Liang Wei pushed himself to his knees. His face was gray. His eyes were hollow. But his voice was steady.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdNNd0fYHPa
"India," he said. "Take the lifeboats. Get everyone to land."
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDk6FilM3tW
"Master, you are coming with us."
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0u06GmIZcn
"No." Liang Wei stood. His legs wobbled. "The storm will not let the boats reach shore unless someone distracts it. That someone is me."
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe9x3l8W4Oo
"Master—"
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkDoxwMvnfT
"That is an order, General." Liang Wei turned to face the sea. "Go. I will come to you as soon as I am ensured your safety."
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwa763PZioG
The general opened his mouth to argue. Then he closed it. He saw the truth in the master's eyes. He turned to the crew.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaZPqtwsxZs
"Lifeboats! All of you! Now!"
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6EXWzbBr6b
The boats were scarce – four small vessels, each meant for six people. But the crew was willing to crowd. The servants climbed in. The guards helped the wounded. The general pushed Li Hua toward the last boat.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF1AUQpTPBs
"I will stay," the general said.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQQIw3bBbXo
"You will not." Liang Wei pointed at the boat. "Go. Protect them."
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzSB1M0Gmon
Li Hua wept. "Master Liang Wei…"
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBHUo20NO5G
Liang Wei did not turn. He raised one hand in farewell.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYKuktsdlfG
"Go."
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwLsveQcvpZ
The boats lowered into the churning water. The crew rowed with broken oars, with wooden planks, with their bare hands. The waves tried to swallow them. The wind tried to push them back. But they rowed.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEmbQ912LlJ
Liang Wei watched until the boats were specks on the dark water.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy7XRliDT88
Then he turned to the storm.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZP1u20dBvR
The water before him rose. It formed not a wave, not a tentacle, but a face – vaguely human, vaguely dragon, all hunger.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNiRzakodYc
"You should have fled with them," the storm seemed to say.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMjqojTod2F
"I do not flee," Liang Wei said.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Sov1GrvG5
He leaped.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMvqES0m9fp
He landed on the water and ran. The storm struck at him with fists of water. He dodged, he blocked, he struck back. The water adapted. It grew more tentacles – six, eight, a dozen. They moved in patterns, coordinating, learning.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa6Zfpjfp8P
One caught his ankle.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA4BvNT4bkn
He fell. The water dragged him under. He kicked free, surfaced, gasped for air. A tentacle slammed into his chest. He flew backward, fast as an arrow, and crashed into the junk's hull.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqfCIHMBvbw
The wood splintered. The junk lurched. Water poured through the new hole.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFM4syz36C1
Liang Wei pushed off the hull, staggering. His vision blurred. His ears rang.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWKAMOqot1I
A sixty‑foot wave rose before him. He had no time to dodge. It crashed into him, smashing him against the junk's railing. His head struck wood. The world spun.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzowRT1CVrY
He heard the general's voice, in his memory: "Don't die on us."
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5wcLhJPIcg
He tried to stand. He could not.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2KLXEYkmKS
A final wave – seventy feet, black as ink – rose over him. It hung there for a moment, as if savoring its victory. Then it fell.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXHWVKYbLrh
The water swallowed Liang Wei.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIwkbwpIUez
The junk rolled. The mast snapped. The hull split in two.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvi4I4Euthx
And the master sank into the dark.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNVrbLhEEJq
***
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkoDhgIa0FN
On the shore, the boats scraped against sand.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqnij8Ehx7E
The crew stumbled onto the beach, dragging the few supplies they had grabbed – a bag of rice, a water barrel, a coil of rope. They collapsed on the wet sand, coughing, weeping, praying.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpW5NQ9U0Oh
General Feng Jian stood apart, staring at the sea. The storm was still raging, but farther away now. The junk was gone.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMG0ndKXRk8
"Master," he whispered. "Forgive me."
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYDT7PWQSaI
Li Hua knelt beside him, her face wet with tears. "He will come. He promised."
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGwkgu9XDso
The general did not answer.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl0TEVCQ44p
A guard pointed toward the tree line. "General. Look."
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡztsTOrqrWH
Figures emerged from the bushes. They carried torches that hissed in the rain. They were tall – taller than any man the general had ever seen. Seven feet at least. Their shoulders were broad. Their steps were silent.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡirA7tbQMsC
Their skin was as dark as the night sky, but the moon gave it a faint blue hue. They wore finely woven leather armor over their chests, and robes that stopped at the knee – multicolored, each with intricate patterns, each unique. Their faces were hard, their eyes sharp.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3D2tgXB2i2
One stepped forward. He held a spear with a blade of polished stone. His voice was deep, like a drum.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWWGba2llA0
"Who goes there?"
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6wjHtRqJcl
The language was foreign – nothing the general had heard in China, nothing the navigator had heard in his years at sea. But the meaning was clear: Identify yourselves.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDiJ3JCAfFN
The general drew his sword. The guards drew theirs. The crew huddled behind them.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEF2egTCAw3
"Stay calm," the general whispered to the navigator and the guard beside him. "We are not in India. But we are not safe either."
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmpiBD0uxpM
The tall man stepped closer. His torch illuminated his face – high cheekbones, a broad nose, eyes that reflected the firelight.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0gNUaJX0j7
"I asked," he said again, slower this time. "Who. Goes. There."
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡec7lcPtd5g
Li Hua began to cry.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5nZYUUuGQ2
The general tightened his grip on his sword. His heart pounded. He wished the master was here. He wished Liang Wei would rise from the sea at that very moment, calm and steady, and speak in that quiet voice that made enemies pause.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhiPfWMhkkF
But the sea only roared.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcldeiNlTs8
And the tall men waited.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡisVihijNSF
and then Add to home screen.