He Jianxi woke up for the third time, and it was already dark outside. He found himself in the cabin, not in the previous compartment, but in the main hold.

Zhang Haiyan was looking at him, and he was looking back at Zhang Haiyan. There were herbal poultices on his nose, the pungent smell making him want to remove them. As he sat up, he noticed that all the crew and sailors were gathered on the other side of the cabin, huddled in a corner watching them.

The spacious cabin was divided into two sides—one side had only two people, while the other side was filled with everyone else.

“What—what’s going on?” He Jianxi wanted to ask. Zhang Haiyan glanced at the crowd watching them from a distance and said, “You’ve been unconscious for a day. Isn’t this the treatment a plague god deserves?”

“Are you really the plague god of the sea?” He Jianxi asked, touching his nose and wincing in pain.

“Your nose is a treasure; you should protect it well. You can even smell that faint scent of turmeric. A con artist would have to practice for a long time to achieve that,” Zhang Haiyan said, tossing him a bundle. He Jianxi realized it was his luggage.

“Take a look; besides the bedding, I’ve packed everything for you. Is anything missing?”

He Jianxi rummaged through his belongings. They were simple; apart from the essentials, there were no unnecessary items, and everything was clear. “Why did you pack my luggage?”

“Because we’re leaving,” Zhang Haiyan glanced at the crowd in the distance, “Do you think we can stay on this ship any longer?”

“What do you mean ‘we’?” He Jianxi was puzzled, thinking that even if they couldn’t stay, it should be Zhang Haiyan who couldn’t stay.

“I’m the plague god of the sea, and you’re the plague god’s cousin. Do you know how many people will come seeking revenge on you? Once we reach the shore, you’ll be captured. They’ll dig out your little ‘Xixi’ and force you to tell them where I am,” Zhang Haiyan said.

“But I’m not your cousin.”

“Do you think others will believe that?” Zhang Haiyan sat upright, glancing at the dark sea outside.

“You’re a hero protecting ordinary passengers; why are they all avoiding you and so afraid of you?” He Jianxi was somewhat surprised.

Zhang Haiyan turned back, indifferent, and looked at the people across from them, “Hero? The hero hasn’t arrived. I kill those who feel guilty. Ordinary people inevitably feel guilt, don’t they?” He then looked at He Jianxi with interest, “Aren’t you afraid of me? Do you feel no guilt?”

“I feel no guilt,” He Jianxi felt the pain in his wound intensifying but still tried to restrain himself.

“Those who feel no guilt are either extremely good, extremely evil, or extremely foolish. Which one are you?”

“None of the above,” He Jianxi replied, “Is it really that difficult not to do anything shameful?”

Zhang Haiyan pointed at the people across from them, all of whom shrank back a little: “You can ask them.”

He Jianxi certainly wouldn’t be foolish enough to ask them. He also didn’t understand what Zhang Haiyan meant by leaving. This was a place where the inner and outer seas met, a vast expanse of blue water with no rocks in sight; where could they possibly go?

Zhang Haiyan leaned closer to He Jianxi and asked, “Let me ask you a question: have you always been so straightforward? How have you managed to live up to now?”

He Jianxi replied, “I’m an accountant; an accountant should speak with certainty. I earn my living by being straightforward. If I encounter situations that require flexibility, there will naturally be others responsible for that. Since the role of an accountant has existed since ancient times, I believe I can survive.”

“Chivalry.” Zhang Haiyan was somewhat surprised; some Westerners value this, but in Malacca, no one does. However, there are many British people in Malacca, and this kid’s temperament would work among them, but in San Francisco, he would probably end up buried under the railway as they laid the foundation.

The same goes for this ship.

Zhang Haiyan made a decision. He could have left him here and gone alone, after all, Zhang Haiqi had taught them skills without conscience. Over the years, he had seen plenty of hot-headed youths, and not all were worthy of sympathy, but for some reason, he felt that He Jianxi exuded a different aura.

It was hard to describe this aura. If he had to put it into words, Zhang Haiyan could only say that He Jianxi was very lucky. Why did he say that? Since boarding the ship, He Jianxi had committed countless taboos of the wandering world, yet he remained unscathed. His temper wasn’t something new; he had survived for so long without dying. Doesn’t that indicate that he is a person of great luck?

He needed luck now more than ever, and he didn’t want to harm innocent lives because of his own mistakes. Ultimately, if sacrificing others for profit was acceptable to Zhang Haiyan, he couldn’t accept that others should pay for his errors.

Looking at the watch, it was about the time he had estimated. Zhang Haiyan stretched his limbs and said to the person opposite him, “Good times always pass quickly. I remember your faces, and I will come back anytime. I will know every bad thing you say about me, and every bad deed you do will be reported to me. Make sure to spread what you see; tell it to ten friends each. Otherwise, you will encounter me every time.”

After saying this, he handed his luggage to He Jianxi. He Jianxi hadn’t reacted yet when Zhang Haiyan grabbed him and threw him overboard; He Jianxi was directly tossed into the sea.

The people on the ship screamed, and Zhang Haiyan stood at the railing and jumped into the sea after him.

Just as He Jianxi poked his head out of the water, he saw Zhang Haiyan falling down and yelled, “What are you doing! You plague! Why aren’t you playing by the rules! We’re going to drown!”

Zhang Haiyan floated with the waves, looking into the distance. There, on the sea, was a small light; that was the South Ann, exactly as he had calculated.

“You won’t drown.”

“I want to go to San Francisco! I don’t want to die here!”

“You won’t die here.” Zhang Haiyan threw out a rope, and He Jianxi grabbed it. “My bedding!”

Zhang Haiyan pulled on the rope and started swimming towards that light, thinking to himself, goodbye, door panel bedding, my spring mattress, here I come.