"Where are you guys going? Don't be fooled by the clear sky now. There'll be a storm this afternoon."
The climate of the Basha Islands is humid, and the weather is unpredictable. Rain comes without any pattern.
Huang Tonghai turned to look at the fisherman standing behind him and frowned. "Is there really going to be a storm this afternoon?"
The fisherman nodded affirmatively and then patted the swaying mast confidently. "Judging from the sky, there'll be a storm, but my boat can handle it."
Hearing the experienced fisherman's certainty, Huang Tonghai became even more reckless. He immediately told Lao Hong to set sail.
Xu Qingqing, who had been observing Huang Tonghai's movements from behind the reef, saw them get on the boat and immediately ordered her men to follow.
The boats reached the rapids at the coastal boundary. There, an even shabbier wooden boat was waiting.
A young man with a sun - bleached straw hat and dark skin stood on the boat, waving at Huang Tonghai on the other boat.
"Boss Huang, you're finally here!"
This man was Lao Hong's son, who had been waiting at the front of the rapids.
When the two boats met, Huang Tonghai stood at the bow, looking at the huge water whirlpool about 100 meters away from them.
This was the dreaded rapids whirlpool, formed by various geographical phenomena.
The swirling force around the whirlpool was extremely powerful. A yacht would easily be drawn into the center of the whirlpool and people on it would be thrown out.
Huang Tonghai looked solemn. If they wanted to reach the exact location of the sunken ship, they had to pass along the edge of the whirlpool. They'd be there in just a few dozen meters.
Everyone knew the sunken ship was out at sea, but they didn't know that its real location was right below the whirlpool.
They say fortune favors the brave. If they didn't take risks, they'd never salvage the sunken ship.
Huang Tonghai fixed his solemn gaze on Lao Hong and spoke in a very serious tone.
"Lao Hong, I'm entrusting all the people on this boat to you. You're an old fisherman with decades of sailing experience. You'll surely get us through safely, right?"
Although Lao Hong felt a great deal of pressure, thinking about the money Huang Tonghai had promised him, he nodded seriously.
"I'll do my best to get the boat through!"
"Good, then let's go quickly!" Huang Tonghai's face regained some calm. He turned around and urged Uncle and Gu Anrou to quickly enter the fishy - smelling cabin.
"The wind will be extremely strong when we get close to the whirlpool. Let's not stand on the deck and get in the way. Hurry in."
Gu Anrou tugged at her wind - tousled hair and looked at the huge, cold - looking whirlpool. Her face paled.
"Do we really have to go through that whirlpool? Can't we take a detour?"
Huang Tonghai shook his head impatiently and pushed Gu Anrou into the cabin.
Gu Anrou's head almost hit the dried salted fish hanging in the cabin.
She disgustedly slapped the dried fish to the ground, wrinkled her nose at the smell on her hand, and her face became even more unpleasant.
The environment here was shabby, and they had to pass through a life - threatening whirlpool. She regretted coming here!
What was the use of making money if she didn't have a life to spend it?
Xiao Hong noticed Gu Anrou's disgusted expression and felt unhappy.
It was Huang Tonghai who had begged his father to help. If it weren't for the generous payment, they wouldn't have risked their lives to cross the huge whirlpool!
This woman was so ungrateful and even showed her displeasure!
If it weren't for this fishing boat, none of them could get through!
Lao Hong steered the fishing boat slowly towards the huge whirlpool. His expression was serious, and his face turned an obvious ashen color due to excessive nervousness. Cold sweat trickled down his forehead.
The huge whirlpool was like the eye of a demon. All the surrounding waves were swept up, creating waves more than a meter high.
As soon as the fishing boat got close to the whirlpool, Lao Hong could feel the cold water droplets splashing on his face.
Xu Qingqing, who was hiding behind, saw the fishing boat in front trying to rush into the huge whirlpool.
Her face instantly changed. A hint of solemnity appeared on her calm face.
If the sunken ship wasn't located behind the huge whirlpool, these people wouldn't have risked their lives to rush into it.
Even from a distance, she was startled by the swirling waves of the whirlpool and unconsciously clenched her fists.
"Isn't this too risky!"
Xu Qingqing murmured. Wang Lide on one side was also worried, mainly because they would have to enter the whirlpool soon.
"I didn't expect the sunken ship to be really near the whirlpool. We must be careful later. If we really can't get through, we'll have to apply for assistance."
After all, human lives were the most important.
Uncle Meng on one side softly comforted Xu Qingqing. "Qingqing, don't worry. The bodyguard driving the boat used to drive warships. His ability to handle emergencies is top - notch."
"Our yacht will definitely be safe under his control."
Hearing this, Xu Qingqing opened her mouth slightly in surprise and looked at the bodyguard wearing sunglasses and steering the boat.
The bodyguard looked calm and seemed not to take the whirlpool in front seriously.
Xu Qingqing couldn't help but sigh in her heart: Lu Chuanbai's bodyguards were really full of hidden talents.
One was a judo champion, and the other had driven warships. They were all top - level experts.
It seemed a bit overkill to protect a weakling like her.
"Then I'll trouble you!" Xu Qingqing respectfully nodded to the steering bodyguard.
Since her life was in his hands, it was never too late to curry favor.
The bodyguard gave Xu Qingqing a thumbs - up and said in a slightly proud, deep voice, "I've been to places much more dangerous than this. You can rest assured on my boat."
"Thank you!" Xu Qingqing and the others expressed their gratitude one after another. Hearing the bodyguard's confident words, Xu Qingqing felt a bit more at ease.
But things weren't going well for the boat in front. Lao Hong was driving the fishing boat less than 50 meters from the swirling eye of the whirlpool.
The rudder was out of control and spinning wildly. The boat was also tilting towards the eye of the whirlpool.
"Quickly turn the boat around! Otherwise, we'll be sucked into the whirlpool!"
The deck of the boat was tilting. Huang Tonghai could hardly stand and could only barely support himself by holding on to the boat wall. He shouted for Lao Hong to control the direction of the boat.
Gu Anrou and Uncle, who were hiding in the cabin, were pressed against the boat floor because of the tilting deck and didn't dare to move, fearing that the boat would capsize.
Lao Hong was sweating profusely. He and his son worked together to hold the rudder and barely managed to stop it from spinning.
This swirling rapid was really powerful. Even this old fisherman had a hard time controlling the boat and almost fell into it.
Huang Tonghai also rushed over to help. As they passed the rumored area, the boat tilted even more severely and showed signs of spinning.
If it weren't for the three of them desperately holding on, the boat would surely have been sucked in.