Chapter 54: Oops, Caught by Daddy!
This didn't feel like a tool touching him; it felt like a hand, grasping his ankle.
At the mere thought of this possibility, the man turned pale with fright.
By the fading twilight, he looked down at his ankle and indeed saw a pale hand gripping it.
His eyes widened in horror, before he even had time to let out a sound.
With a sudden jerk, the hand pulled him straight over the side of the boat.
Splash...
As the sound of someone falling into the water echoed, the others looked toward the darkness ahead.
"What fell into the water?"
"I have no idea. From the sound of it, it seemed to come from right by the edge."
"Hey, you people over there, are you okay?"
"What is this?"
Suddenly, a terrified shout rang out from the bow.
Hearing this, a woman asked curiously, "Teammate, did you see something—"
"Ah..."
Before the woman could finish her sentence, her words were shattered by a piercing scream.
Panic gripped the woman's heart, and the hand holding the broom shook uncontrollably.
"What's wrong? What—what happened?"
"Yeah, what on earth is going on? Say something!"
"H-Help me!"
Splash...
Scarcely had the man let out a cry for help when he was dragged down into the crimson sea.
Countless hands reached up from the water, tearing him to shreds.
The others still did not know what was happening, yet they could more or less guess.
Sweat poured from the woman's brow as she tentatively called out, "What on earth is wrong with you? Stop trying to scare me!"
The deck remained deathly quiet, with no response from anyone.
A faint, rustling noise drew closer and grew steadily louder.
The spot where the woman stood was very close to the cabin.
Hearing another shriek echo through the air, she dropped the broom without hesitation and turned to bolt toward the cabin door.
Yet just as she reached the entrance, the heavy door slammed shut with a resounding bang.
Before the woman could even process what was happening, the man's voice suddenly drifted from the distance.
"Hands, so many hands!"
Hands?
The woman's brows knitted together as a sudden realization struck her.
Her expression shifted dramatically as she threw her weight against the door, only to find it completely unyielding.
"Who's inside? Open the door for us, quickly!"
"Open the door! Let us in!"
Sensing the encroaching danger, the others rushed over in a panic.
Finding the cabin door firmly locked, the crowd gathered outside and beat desperately against the wood.
"There's no time! Grab some tools and smash the door down!"
The man's voice echoed from behind them.
At these words, the women hurriedly picked up the tools they had discarded and rained blow after blow upon the door.
Yet the cabin door was remarkably sturdy; despite their frantic beating for a long while, it remained utterly unshaken.
Overcome by despair, the woman glanced back over her shoulder.
To her horror, countless "people" had appeared on the deck.
They slithered flat against the ground, scuttling rapidly in their direction.
Their pupils were pitch black, revealing instantly that they were no longer among the living.
"Help! Someone save us!"
"Is anyone in there? Please let us in!"
The thick cabin door completely shut out their desperate pleas and shrill screams.
It was as if the door had cleaved the cabin and the deck into two entirely different worlds.
On the deck, desperate cries of despair rang out.
Inside the cabin, meanwhile, the occupants heard nothing at all, wrapped in sweet, peaceful dreams.
Ling Yun had no need for sleep, yet he still kept his eyes closed in feigned slumber.
Suddenly, he felt the quilt shift.
Guessing it must be that little troublemaker, Duo Duo, he lifted a corner of the blanket.
Discovering that someone was watching her, Duo Duo raised her little face and met Ling Yun's gaze.
Oops, Daddy caught me!
"Daddy, why aren't you asleep yet?"
"Then why aren't you asleep?" Ling Yun countered.
"Duo Duo can't sleep if she isn't next to Daddy."
Duo Duo inched her way forward, her fuzzy little head poking out from beneath the quilt.
She nuzzled against Ling Yun's chest, tickling him slightly.
Just as he was about to pick the little one up and carry her back to her own bed,
the little rascal found a comfortable spot right against his chest and closed her eyes.
"Goodnight, Daddy!"
Ling Yun: "...Goodnight!"
Chou Chou, trapped right between the two of them, was shivering with fright.
Could this damned Duo Duo please put it back before crawling into Ling Yun's bed?
Ling Yun wouldn't hurt his daughter, but he was never anything less than ruthless to it!
It just wanted to get some proper rest, but with danger lingering right by its side, how was it supposed to sleep?
"You can go to sleep too!"
Ling Yun's voice suddenly descended from above.
Chou Chou hurriedly shut its eyes and pretended to be asleep.
In the morning, bright sunlight streamed through the windows, bathing the upper cabin in warmth.
When Duo Duo woke up, Ling Yun was no longer beside her.
She rubbed her eyes and slowly sat up in bed.
Noticing Ling Yun standing with his back to her, occupied with something unknown,
Duo Duo lowered her hands and called out in a muffled, sleepy voice, "Daddy..."
"Come eat once you're awake." Without turning around, Ling Yun poured a cup of warm milk for Duo Duo.
The food on the table had been sent over by Xu Hetang early in the morning.
Knowing how much Duo Duo loved milk, he had thoughtfully prepared both milk and bread.
Even as a bystander, Ling Yun could perceive the genuine care behind the gesture.
It made him happy to know that someone else cherished Duo Duo as much as he did.
Of course, if that person didn't try to rival him for Duo Duo's affection, he would be even happier!
Duo Duo finished dressing, scooped up Chou Chou, and slid down from the bed.
Pattering over to Ling Yun's side, she let out an awed gasp upon seeing the breakfast spread out on the table.
"Daddy, there's milk!"
Ling Yun looked down at her and said, "Go wash up first, then come eat."
"Okay!"
Duo Duo obediently complied, setting Chou Chou down on a chair.
Then, imitating Ling Yun's habit, she reached out and patted Chou Chou on the head.
"Sister, wait for me for just a moment, okay? I'll be right back!"
Chou Chou: "..."
Patting someone on the head was something elders did to juniors.
That accursed Duo Duo was actually taking advantage of it!
Chou Chou glared at Duo Duo, boiling with anger inside.
Yet the moment Ling Yun turned his head to look, it hurriedly contorted its mouth into a smile that was far uglier than a tearful grimace.
Ling Yun let out a cold snort, warning it, "I've placed a restriction seal on your body, so don't even harbor any thoughts of harming her!"
"I... I wouldn't dare!"
Chou Chou forced those words out through clenched teeth.
Ling Yun knew it was furious, but he couldn't care less.
It couldn't hurt Duo Duo, let alone lay a finger on him.
No matter how angry it was, it had no choice but to swallow its rage!
Unlike the brightness of the upper cabin, the lower hold remained dim and gloomy.
Sunlight could not penetrate its depths, leaving the people trapped inside unable to tell whether it was day or night.
April's daily routine was always strictly regular.
Waking up naturally, she guessed it must be daytime by now.
She slowly pushed herself upright and took stock of the people in the lower hold.
Well over half of the occupants were already awake, while a few were still asleep.
Her gaze swept over them one by one.
Noticing a few empty gaps where people usually stayed, she turned to look at Dean Zhou.
"Mother Dean, has anyone who went out last night come back yet?"
"I don't think so? I've been awake for quite a while, and I haven't seen anyone come in."
Dean Zhou shook her head, looking at April with a puzzled expression.
"April, why are you asking about this?"