From cute to empress

Chapter 282 The Legend of the Pirate King

"Deeper than the fog..." I murmured, repeating Zheng He's words, my heart chilled. I knew better than anyone what "deeper than the fog" meant. It wasn't any sea marked on a map; it was an abyss more terrifying than the unknown.

"Where are the other ships? Have they been in contact?" I tried to calm myself down. Now was not the time to panic.

"The fog is so thick that signals can't be transmitted," Zheng He said with a grim expression. "We can't even be sure if the other ships are safe."

I took a deep breath and forced myself to calm down. The fleet was lost in the fog, their fate uncertain. As the Empress, all I could do was bravely face the predicament alongside them.

"Youcai, what do you think?" I looked at Zhen Youcai who had been silent. His brows were furrowed, and there was a hint of worry in his deep eyes.

"Your Majesty, we cannot sit idly by and wait for death," Zhen Youcai said in a deep voice, "We have never set foot in this sea area before. We must find out the situation as soon as possible."

"Zheng He!" I turned to Zheng He. "You are experienced, what can you do?"

"I am incompetent..." Zheng He lowered his head, his tone full of self-blame.

"No, it's not your fault," I comforted her. "I'm sure you can find a way."

Zheng He raised his head, his eyes determined as he spoke: "Your Majesty, I do have a plan, but it's too risky..."

"Whatever your plan, just tell me!"

"We seem to have hit something just now," Zheng He said. "If my guess is correct, it should be an island. Perhaps we can send people to explore the island and look for clues, or..."

"Or find a way to leave this fog?" I interjected.

Zheng He nodded. "That's right. But the situation on this island is unclear. We know nothing about it. If we rashly land on the island, I'm afraid..."

"I understand your concerns," I said. "How about this? Select a team of elite sailors, bring sufficient supplies, and set out to explore tomorrow morning."

"Your Majesty, I am willing to lead the team!" Zheng He clasped his fists and asked for permission.

"No, you can't go," I shook my head. "You are the fleet's navigator. You must stay on board and command the overall situation."

My eyes swept across everyone and finally landed on Zhen Youcai, "Youcai, the mission of landing on the island this time is now handed over to you."

"I obey your order!" Zhen Youcai did not hesitate at all. He knew that this was my trust and also his responsibility.

The next morning, the sea was still covered with a thick fog, and visibility was extremely low. Zhen Youcai led a small team on a small boat, heading towards the unknown island deep in the fog.

I stood at the bow, watching them gradually disappear into the thick fog, silently praying for their safe return. Then, Zheng He walked up to me, pointed ahead, and said, "Your Majesty, look..."

I followed his gaze and saw a tall, dark figure looming in the thick fog. Gradually, the shadow became clearer and clearer, revealing its true form—an island. It was much larger than we'd imagined, with peaks and ridges, dense trees, and shrouded in mist, like a fairyland on the sea.

"Your Majesty, it seems our luck isn't too bad," Zheng He said. "This island isn't marked on the map. It must be a new continent that hasn't been discovered yet. I hope someone can find a way out of the fog. I also hope the people on this island..."

He didn't say the rest of the words, but I knew what he was worried about. An unknown island means unknown risks. We don't know if there are people living on the island, let alone whether they are friendly.

The fleet slowly approached the island and dropped anchor not far from the coast. Zheng He and I boarded the small boat and were the first to land.

As soon as we set foot on the island, we were immediately struck by a pristine atmosphere. Towering trees blocked out the sun, vines intertwined, and the air was filled with the fragrance of moist earth and plants. We approached cautiously, fearing to disturb the tranquility.

Not long after we started walking, we heard a melodious tune coming from afar. Zheng He signaled everyone to stop and listen carefully.

"This music... sounds like some kind of ancient sacrificial ritual." Zheng He said in a low voice.

We followed the direction of the sound, pushed aside the dense bushes, and suddenly the view opened up.

It was an open space with a bonfire in the center. A group of people wearing animal skins and painted bodies were dancing around the bonfire. Their leader was tall, wearing a feather crown and holding a wooden staff, and was leading the tribe in some kind of ceremony.

Zheng He signaled us to slow down so as not to disturb them. We hid behind a huge tree and observed their movements.

"Your Majesty, it seems they are the indigenous people of this island," Zheng He whispered. "Their ritual seems to be praying for peace."

I nodded and motioned for him to continue observing.

The indigenous people's ceremony lasted for a long time, and they gradually dispersed until the sun set. Zheng He saw that the time was right and took us out.

"We are lost sailors and hope to get your help," Zheng He said in the local language.

The natives were startled when they saw us, then gathered around us warily. Their leader stepped forward and asked in his half-fluent Common Language, "Where are you from?"

"We come from a great country in the far east," Zheng He pointed to the eastern sky. "We lost our way in a storm and ended up here by accident."

The native chief looked us over and seemed to believe what Zheng He said. He nodded and motioned for us to follow him.

"It seems we have encountered friendly indigenous people," Zheng He breathed a sigh of relief. "I hope they can help us."

The indigenous chief took us to their village and welcomed us warmly. We learned that this island is called "Misty Island," and because it is shrouded in thick fog year-round, it has never been visited by humans. The indigenous inhabitants have lived here for generations, leading a life isolated from the outside world.

Zheng He informed the indigenous leader of the purpose of our trip and requested his assistance. The leader pondered for a moment and said, "The Misty Sea is extremely dangerous. It will not be easy for you to leave here."

"Is there no other way?" Zheng He asked anxiously.

The native chief shook his head and said, "There is a way, but..." He glanced at Zheng He and stopped talking.

Meanwhile, on our ship, the boatswain was leading the crew, busy inspecting the hull, repairing equipment damaged by the storm, and preparing for the next challenge.

"Boatswain, do you think we can get out of this damn place?" asked a young crew member.

"Don't worry," the boatswain patted his shoulder. "We've been through thick and thin with Lord Zheng and General Zhen. We've seen all sorts of storms and waves. As long as we work together, no difficulty can stump us!"

He looked up at the distant Misty Island, his eyes filled with determination... A bonfire crackled in the clearing, illuminating the simple faces of the indigenous people. They offered us barbecue and fruit, the rich aroma temporarily making me forget the anxiety of my voyage. However, Zheng He's furrowed brow told me that things weren't that simple.

"Respected leader," Zheng He put down the wooden bowl in his hand and said sincerely, "You said that the foggy sea is very dangerous. I wonder..."

The native chief sighed and poked the fire with a stick, the flames causing the painted on his face to flicker. "This sea has been shrouded in mist since ancient times. We have lived here for generations, rarely interacting with the outside world. But..." He paused, "In recent years, a band of ferocious pirates has emerged from the mist. They sail huge black sails, burning, killing, looting, and committing all sorts of atrocities. Many ships that strayed into the mist have fallen victim to their murderous attacks."

My heart sank. Could this be the danger Zhen Youcai had foreseen? Zheng He pressed on, "Do you know where those pirates came from? Why are they lurking in the foggy sea?"

The native chief shook his head. "Those pirates are very cunning and elusive. We know very little about them. But..." He lowered his voice, "I've heard that their leader is called the 'Pirate King' and possesses a treasure map that marks the route to the legendary 'Treasure of Poseidon'!"

"Poseidon's Treasure?" I couldn't help but exclaim in surprise. Could it be that such a magical thing really exists in this world?

Zheng He, however, appeared very calm. He continued to ask, "Do you know where the 'Pirate King' is hiding?"

The native chief shook his head. "All we know is that the Pirate King's flagship has a golden sea monster engraved on it. It has a hideous, ferocious face and is quite terrifying."

Zheng He expressed his gratitude to the indigenous leader, but I was lost in thought. Pirate kings, treasure maps, Poseidon's treasure...it all sounded like legend, but the indigenous leader's expression didn't seem to be lying.

Back on the ship, I told the boatswain what the native leader had said. He was also shocked. "Pirate King? Could it be the legendary 'Black Shark', the undefeated killer?"

I shook my head, indicating that I didn't know either. At this time, Zheng He came out of the cabin, holding a wooden box in his hand, with a solemn look on his face.

"Your Majesty, look at this." Zheng He opened the wooden box, and inside was a golden badge with a lifelike image of a sea monster with bared fangs and claws carved on it.

"This is..." I felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity.

"This is what we found on the island," Zheng He explained. "According to the description of the natives, this badge most likely belonged to the 'Pirate King'!"

My heart tightened. Could it be that...

Zheng He suddenly raised his head, gazed towards the distant mist, and said in a deep voice: "It seems that we are not far from our destination..."

Before he finished speaking, a horn suddenly sounded in the distance, sharp and piercing, breaking the silence of the fog...