2. Two worlds collide

As if he had just been waiting for the invitation, our occasional storyteller Xiao Zhan jumped happily back onto the bed and eagerly pulled his groaning beloved into his arms.

“So where was I... ah, right. No, wait!" Xiao Zhan suddenly sat up, clapped his hands, and startled his audience.

"What is it now? Just continue!" Wang Yi Bo whined, rolling his eyes while slapping the naked chest of his husband.

"So impatient, Baby. I know I am awesome, but I just want you to keep the memory of the little boy in mind. It's important for later!"

"Why are you always so full of yourself?"

"Because it's true? And you like it!"

"I..."

"You do, or else you wouldn't have married me, right?" Xiao Zhan lay back next to his frowning man and gently caressed his cheeks with his fingers. His voice was low and soothing.

Wang Yi Bo scrunched his nose and tried to suppress a smile.

"Whatever, just start talking already!"

"Yes, my Baby!"

***

"Alright, let's do it!" Captain Xiao Zhan exclaimed, his confident eyes sweeping over his expectant crew. His appearance exuded strength and command as he made his way down from the bridge. His men looked up at him with respect, waiting for further instructions.

"AYE!"

As he descended the wooden stairs, a gust of wind brushed past his head, followed by a light weight on his shoulder. A soft chirping reached his ear, bringing a smile to his lips. He gently caressed the soft feathers of his companion, a white-headed and blueish-grey female parrot. The bird cooed contentedly and nestled into the loose strands of his black hair that had escaped his high ponytail.

On the main deck, he was greeted by the lively and determined faces of his crew - his family. To outsiders, they might appear as a motley and chaotic bunch, leaving one to wonder how this ship managed to stay afloat. Yet, Xiao Zhan knew every face and name by heart, and he would gladly lay down his life for each one of them - as they would for him.

As Captain, he bore the responsibility for his crew. Despite being a mischievous rascal who often pranked his men, he was both capable and respected. Well, more or less. His relationship with his chief mate, Jiang Cheng, was particularly unique. They bickered daily; one found amusement in provoking the other, while the other was perpetually on the verge of enacting numerous painful revenge scenarios. You can probably guess who is who…

Xiao Zhan cleared his throat before addressing his crew. "I don't think I need to remind you all of the plan. We know the drill, but this time, it will be more challenging. Our spies report that the Company has increased their measures to protect their ships and freight. We must be careful and cannot act recklessly..."

A snort interrupted his speech. "That's rich, coming from you."

"Oh? What do you mean, Cheng Cheng?" Xiao Zhan sighed amused, turning to his favourite victim with an innocent smile. Jiang Cheng, the first mate, rolled his eyes in annoyance, muttering incomprehensible but undoubtedly impolite remarks.

"Who was it again that painted a dick on the fore topsail of our enemy's ship?" Jiang Cheng challenged, his features set in a scowl.

"That masterpiece was mine, of course," Xiao Zhan smirked, waving his hand dismissively. "But what’s your point?"

"Do I really need to remind you what happened after they discovered your so-called 'art'?" Jiang Cheng's annoyance was palpable.

Xiao Zhan's pet parrot, Kuko, puffed up her feathers and hissed aggressively at Jiang Cheng, sensing the insult towards her King. "Oh, come on, we all had a good laugh that day," Xiao Zhan chuckled, soothing the ruffled bird on his shoulder. "You should have seen their faces when we tied them up on their own boat. And they deserved it for trying to scam us with water-filled barrels instead of wine and rum."

The crew nodded eagerly in agreement, while Jiang Cheng facepalmed. In reality, the crew of the smaller ship had intended to swindle the pirates, and as a result, they lost not only their clothes and dignity but also all the remaining barrels of alcohol. Though the Company hunted Xiao Zhan and his crew for weeks after the incident, they never caught them.

After a round of bickering that entertained the crew, Xiao Zhan refocused on the task at hand. He briefed his men again, reminding them of the importance of their mission. The night was still young, but the moonlight made them more visible for their enemy.

"Everyone knows what to do, and no jokes this time. Understood?" Jiang Cheng gave Xiao Zhan a pointed look.

"Why are you looking at me?" Xiao Zhan grinned.

"Just don't do anything stupid again, okay?"

"What could possibly happen?" Xiao Zhan laughed, jumping into one of the rowing boats. He left Kuko with Jiang Cheng, who glared at the sulking, unwilling parrot.

***

Officer Wang Yibo stood on the observation post of the large merchant ship his regiment was assigned to escort. Despite the time of year, the temperature had plummeted since sunset, and it was now freezing. His whole body quivered as he clung to his sword, cursing his fate and the foolish bet that landed him on night watch.

“Fuck my life!” he muttered through chattering teeth.

What angered him more was losing to his best friend, Li Wenhan. After years of serving together, he should have known better. Despite his perpetual bad luck in betting, he was certain Wenhan had cheated and vowed to make him pay for it. But for now, he was alone, braving the cold wind that slapped his face mercilessly. Wonderful.

'Fuck Li Wenhan!'
'Fuck this ship!'
'Fuck this cold night!'
'Fuck… I wish I had something to fuck...' 'FUCK!'

He inwardly groaned, resisting the urge to bang his head against the wooden railing. Faking an injury crossed his mind, but he quickly dismissed the idea, shivering at the memory of his last attempt. Caught feigning sickness, he was punished with a week at the top of the ship during their previous mission. The stormy weather had left him unable to eat properly for days. No thanks.

Sighing and pouting angrily, he unleashed a torrent of impressive swear words. To keep warm, he started stepping from one foot to the other, wrapping the blanket - brought by his so-called friend earlier - tighter around his body. He stared into the dark, calm water, but the darkness obscured everything. Only the pale moonlight reflecting on the water offered any relief from the blackness.

Li Wenhan was a man almost the same age as Wang Yi Bo. They grew up in the same village, but after a fever killed nearly eighty percent of the residents, including their parents, they decided to join the military together. That was thirteen years ago, and they had been like brothers ever since.

Wang Yi Bo let out a frustrated sigh at the thought of his comrades sitting inside under the deck, warm and having a good time while he was freezing his ass off. Something was definitely not going right in his life. Despite his dissatisfaction and constant complaints about his misery, he did not neglect his task. He watched the waters closely around their ship for anything suspicious.

Suddenly, he noticed some movement. Fine waves rippled across the otherwise calm surface of the water, only visible due to the light of the moon. Squinting his eyes, he cautiously crept further to the railing, leaning forward and trying to figure out what was on the water. Whales? But whales wouldn't swim directly towards a ship of this size. Then, a series of rustling sounds resounded behind him. Quickly, he let go of the railing and spun around, ducking behind a wooden box. What he saw made his blood freeze, and his eyes widened in horror.

"PIRATES!"

They had been warned about increasing pirate attacks in this region, but up until today, they hadn't encountered any. Wang Yi Bo had originally thought that the merchant was a weak, fat coward and over-exaggerating. He didn't like the slimy man from the beginning. Something about him was off, and his crew too. They were always eyeing him and his comrades. Right now, his suspicions seemed to be proven right, as many fast-moving shadows climbed over the opposite railing and swarmed the main deck, searching for... something.

Wang Yi Bo crouched down at his post, gazing towards the ship's bell a few meters away. He needed to ring it fast, but he was afraid of being seen. For now, the pirates hadn't discovered him yet. But his thoughts were interrupted when more pirates reached the ship's hull on his side and started climbing up the ropes with hooks. He needed to make a decision. In seconds, they would be here too and able to see him. Then, it would be too late.

Tossing the blanket aside, he launched forward, drawing his sword and running as fast as he could towards the ship's bell in the middle of the deck. Two or three pirates spotted him instantly. Seeing his intention, they tried to stop him, jumping in his way and pointing their weapons at him.

"Don't do this! Believe me, it would be better for everyone!" One of the pirates whispered urgently. The other two nodded in agreement and slowly circled him.

"Nobody needs to get hurt! Just stay quiet!" The strange pirate continued whispering.

"You don't actually believe I would stand here and watch just because you're asking me to?" Wang Yi Bo spat out incredulously, observing every movement of his opponents who tried to prevent him from alerting the rest of the crew.

Out of the corner of his eye, Wang Yi Bo saw the pirates trying to block the doors to the lower decks, where the crew was resting. He realised that they weren't searching haphazardly but were systematically sabotaging the ship - dismantling cannons, cutting the shrouds from the masts, and blocking the capstan. He swallowed in fear. They seemed to know exactly where to go and what to do. Their movements were quick and efficient.

Wang Yi Bo stared back at the pirates stalling him. "You will regret this!" He shouted. Not caring about the two other pirates behind him, he lunged forward and faked a sword slash to the left. Surprised by the sudden move, the stranger reacted with a slight delay and stepped backward. Wang Yi Bo grinned to himself. He might be young and inexperienced, but he was an excellent swordsman. Using his momentum, he turned and swung his sword up in one fluid motion. The pirate pursed his lips angrily as he fended off the strong blow.

Sensing movement behind him, Wang Yi Bo ducked and turned, holding his sword across his chest. Right then, the saber of the second pirate crashed onto his blade. Using the strength in his muscular legs, he pressed up and pushed his enemy away. The pirate stumbled back, making space for his comrade, who ran at Wang Yi Bo with a dagger in hand.

To avoid him, Wang Yi Bo jumped to the side, then made a half-turn and pushed the pirate's back with the pommel of his sword. The man stumbled and nearly fell. Wang Yi Bo heard him cursing but had no time to pay attention as his first opponent had recovered and attacked again. The enemy threw a series of strokes, all of which Wang Yi Bo parried easily.

Unbeknownst to him, a pair of dark, enchanted eyes were observing every move he made.

After some time, the young soldier frowned. He knew his skills weren't bad, but this was too easy, especially considering he was fighting three men at once. He couldn't help but think they were trying to avoid killing him. But that was ridiculous! In the heat of the moment, he decided to test his luck and ran toward the man blocking the way to the bell. He raised his sword over his head, ready to strike. As expected, the pirate stepped back, holding his sword defensively.

Wang Yi Bo didn't stop running. Instead, he made an elegant sidestep, passing the wide-eyed pirate in a swift move. Loud screams erupted behind him as they tried to catch him, but he was faster. He grabbed the clapper and rang the ship's bell as hard as he could. The sound echoed through the air, and everyone stopped in their tracks. They stared at him, then at the blocked entrances. Within seconds, loud screams and banging sounds came from the wooden doors, and it didn't take long before the first, obviously drunk soldiers stumbled through a hidden hatch at the stern.

The pirates looked at each other, pale-faced, but quickly recovered when a deep yet soft voice shouted commands. Wang Yi Bo felt a tingle in his gut at the sound of that voice and looked around to find its source. 'What was that?' he thought, touching his stomach. But he had no time to ponder it as the deck descended into chaos. Everyone was running around in a panic. Wang Yi Bo tried to figure out what to do when he spotted the merchant at the railing, trying to get his valuables into a rowing boat. Annoyed by this selfish act, Wang Yi Bo positioned himself nearby to protect the man. However, nobody seemed to be paying attention to the merchant.

However, duty is duty.

Amid the fighting sounds and screams, he didn't notice the vibrating pile of barrels behind him. The ropes holding them together were about to snap due to the stress from the mob fighting around and on top of them. Suddenly, with a loud snap, the ropes gave out, and the barrels rolled down uncontrollably. Most were filled with heavy goods. Wang Yi Bo heard the crashing sounds, but before he could move, he was hit by a wave of splintering wood. The weight pressed him down, and the impact forced the air from his lungs.

A piercing pain shot into his leg, making him scream in agony as a broken barrel rammed into his thigh. The pain and blood loss made him drift in and out of consciousness. He didn't know how much time had passed. All he noticed was the absence of battle sounds.

'Did we win? Why is nobody helping me?'

The weights were lifted from his body, and the pain in his leg became unbearable. He tried to lift his head but couldn't. All he saw before everything went dark was a tall, lean silhouette of a man, illuminated by the full moon.

As he drifted into unconsciousness, he heard a deep, silky voice that made his insides tremble despite his horrible state.

"Aye, my princess…"

***

"Why do I have to faint?" Wang Yi Bo indignantly shouted at his husband.

"Aww Baby, you were injured. Were you even listening?" Xiao Zhan defended himself, grinning.

"Why am I so weak in your fantasies?"

"You are not! Stop complaining and hear what comes next!"

"....Why are you sitting so far away now?"

"Safety measures…"

"..."