Episode 164

  "Boom!"

  A loud sound echoed through the mountains, a wave crashed against the shore of Shanghai Island, and the water splashed everywhere, like sparkling dew drops, flying in all directions.

  It was at that moment when the first wave hit the rocky shore, a huge tree on the island was instantly broken, but the sound of the crash was relatively quiet compared to the massive roar of the waves crashing against the mountain cliff. The wave didn't stop after breaking the tree, it continued to roll and flip, only subsiding after a hundred or so yards.

  "Oh! What's going on?!"

  Suddenly thought of Zhu Yun. Hurriedly looked around in all directions, and found that Zhu Yun was sitting on a big tree branch, with his eyes closed, breathing evenly, as if he had fallen asleep.

  "You're really something! Not even a scratch on you! My family, on the other hand, was battered to pieces. If we weren't as tough as gold and stone, I'm afraid we'd be dead by now!"

  "Ahh! Scared me to death! Brother Jin, Brother Jin!"

  "Someone is home!"

  Insufficient and poor airway.

  "Brother Jin, is everything all right with you?"

  "Are you hoping something will happen at our house?"

  "Oh! Not! ......Oh dear! Heaven!......Ah ya! Boat!"

  Zhu Yun suddenly shouted loudly.

  "Ah! Feizhou! Feizhou!"

  Insufficient suddenly turned back to look around, only to see a piece of sail wrapped around a mountain rock protruding from the cliff, where else can you see anything!

  "Boat! Boat! Waaahhhhhh~~~~~"

  That Zhu Yun suddenly burst into tears.

  Insufficient to watch the huge waves surging into the sky, impacting the small island, layer by layer gradually slowing down, until finally all slowly retreated back under the sandy beach, letting out a long sigh and muttering to himself:

  "Since ancient times, it has been said that there is no wave without wind! But looking at it today, this saying is false! Today, there is no stormy weather, yet the huge waves are tens of meters high, what's the difference between them and the surging waves in a raging gale?"

  Half a day passed and the sea surface returned to calmness.

  "Zhu Yun, and don't cry anymore! Fortunately, you and I still have our lives, what's the loss of a boat? In the past, there was an old man named Sai Weng who lost a horse. His neighbors sympathized with him. The old man said, 'Don't worry! I've lost my horse, but how do I know it's not a blessing in disguise?' Later, the horse he lost brought back another horse."

  "But without a boat, how can I return home? My elderly mother's illness is in severe pain and there is no money to cure it, how can her pain be endured?"

  Insufficient to wear and yet praiseworthy

  "It's not the danger of the journey that I'm worried about, but the illness and suffering of my mother! Alas, a benevolent and filial person!"

  After a while, the calmness arrived, and it was not enough to lead him into the island to search for water. On the mountain cliff of the island, there is a stone pit, which is tens of meters wide, with clear and clean water inside that can be used as a mirror. Although there are one or two dead leaves floating on the water, they flow smoothly along the water and come out from a small stream, directly entering the vast ocean. This is a small stone spring.

  Not enough to rival Zhu Yufen's third-level and below, sitting by the water's edge, scooping up water with one's hand to drink, although it doesn't have the sweetness of ancient mainland springs, it is still usable.

  "Zhu Yun, there is water to drink, isn't it a great fortune! Haha!"

  "Brother Jin, why are you always so enthusiastic? Having gone through many dangers, don't you worry about your life?"

  "There's clear water, there are fish and shrimp, you and I can live without worries. The only difficulty is to escape from the sea! However, now that we've arrived at this place, what's the use of crying again? We might as well be like the ancients, who came and accepted their fate with ease! Haha..."

  "However, there is no boat available, will it be impossible to leave this desolate island until old age?"

  "Zhu Yun, looking down, was about to retrieve the rope left behind by the damaged flying boat. With this material, I won't worry about not having a boat to go out to sea!"

  "What's the use of getting this rope?"

  "Hehehe...... With ropes and giant trees on the island, can't we build a raft again?"

  "Brother Jin is indeed formidable!"

  Zhu Yuanzhang's heart was filled with gratitude.

  Although the island is small, it is still seventy or eighty miles in circumference. The grass and trees are dense, with seagulls and other birds building nests on them, and there's nothing else. However, for the two of us, it's a great benefit. Because what they eat has already been cooked!

  "Brother Jin, half-cooked raw fish and shrimp, drinking rainwater, I felt like a wild man! Now, roasted over an open flame and cooked to perfection, it's suddenly deliciously sweet! The joys of life are that after suffering comes sweetness!"

  "Haha! Sorrow and joy are human emotions. Those who often experience joy, view sorrow as joy. But those who are sorrowful, even when they are in the midst of joy, do not know what joy is!"

  "Brother Jin, your heart is as vast as it can hold the sea and sky! I admire you!"

  "Haha! First, on the boat, eating raw fish and drinking bitter water, what joy is there! However, after going through hardships and tempering one's mind, this opportunity is rarely encountered by immortals and Buddhas. Therefore, even in difficulties, I am not aware of the suffering! Generally, ordinary people like to enjoy peace and tranquility, consider enjoying beautiful scenery, delicious food, and holding great power as joy. However, extraordinary people need extraordinary things to toughen their willpower, labor their bodies and minds, and only then can they firm up their determination, assist in achieving their goals, and become extraordinary people!"

  "Brother Jin is a real man! I'm ashamed, all the way here, it's as if I've become effeminate and lost my strength. From now on in life, I must be brave and know shame, charge forward bravely!"

  They stayed on the island for several months. Zhu sun-dried fish every day and stored them for use. Insufficient, however, used a stone blade as an axe to cut wood and build a raft.

  On the island, there were giant trees with loose wood texture, but they were so heavy that ordinary people couldn't move them. In less than a few months, two trees were cut down, and small logs were taken as wheels, placed under them, and transported along the slope to the stone dock by the water's edge. Then, fire was used to burn and cut the wood into several sections of three feet long, which were arranged in a raft shape. Thinner logs were placed horizontally on top, and ropes and rattan strips were tightly tied around them. At both ends of the wooden raft, triangular supports were set up with thin wood, and there were long wooden poles for oars. On the raft, a vertical log was used as a mast, supported by four surrounding wooden poles. A large wooden sail, about one foot wide, was made from fine rattan strips and fixed on top of the mast. There were also short, hollow logs to hold water, along with other items like water bags that had been washed up onto the trees after being torn apart in battle, which could be used to conserve drinking water for half a month.

  "Zhu Yun, smoked fish, clear water and other things are ready, the wooden raft has been successful, today will be a good rest."

  "Tomorrow, we two can go down to the sea and set sail again!"

  "Brother Jin, it's been almost a year since we've been working on this island. Although I work tirelessly every day, the credit for building the raft goes entirely to your hard work, brother. I'm ashamed!"

  "Why must it be so! You and I are both in a desperate situation, we should help each other!"

  On the second day, at dawn, two people pulled the raft into the water and got on it, heading north. At first, the two of them were not very skilled at rowing the raft, but after three to five days, they became quite proficient!

  On the island for a year, it was not enough for two people to be familiar with the sea breeze and tide. At that time, sailing was smooth sailing. Almost near the end of five months, the two had already returned to eating raw fish. As for drinking water, only rainwater could be used.

  It's already February.

  One day, while swinging a wooden fork to catch fish, suddenly, Zhu Yun loudly shouted:

  "Big ship! Big ship!"

  "Hmm! What is it? A big ship?"

  It is no wonder that you ask.

  "Over there! Due south! Big ship! Hey! Save us! Save our lives!"

  Insufficient to turn back and look south. In sight, there is indeed a large ship, the hull with colorful paint, vaguely with the words "Hai Long" on it. Insufficient quickly steers the wooden raft towards the direction of the big ship, turning left nearby, that Zhu Fen does not stop shouting loudly:

  "Save us two! Save our lives!......"

  On the big ship, dozens of sailors leaned on the railing of the deck to look out.

  "Captain, there's someone in the sea ahead calling for help!"

  "What?"

  A tall, dark-faced man with an iron tower-like physique walked over with a thud. The sailors all made way for him. The captain covered his eyes with his hand and looked out to see a strange wooden raft drifting on the water, with two men on it, one handsome and one ugly, dressed in tattered clothes, with messy hair and dirty faces.

  "Lower the ladder and get these two on board."

  "Aye, Captain."