Episode 2 recap: Hu Ba Yi acquired a haunted ship.
As Hu Ba Yi watched Shirley staring at the steps absentmindedly, he nudged her with his hand. Shirley realized that she had just experienced an illusion. Despite the sailors recommended by the bald man receiving high praise, Shirley sensed from their appearance and their smooth hands that they were not the kind of people who did rough work. She advised Hu Ba Yi to find a more reliable ship captain.
Hu Ba Yi felt that Shirley's point made sense because the captain's experience was crucial for sailing. However, Hu Ba Yi was pondering over which ship to use for their voyage. In order to secure a good ship, they visited several shipyards. Although each shipyard owner boasted about how excellent their ships were, with one even claiming that their ship could withstand pirate attacks, Hu Ba Yi was not entirely satisfied. Self-defense capabilities were indeed important, but the most crucial criterion for Hu Ba Yi was that the ship had to be sturdy.
To find a good ship, Hu Ba Yi followed the recommendation of the shipyard owner and sought out a local celebrity named Bai Wu. Bai Wu knew that Hu Ba Yi was a renowned figure in the archaeology field, so he presented a precious item he had just obtained and asked for Hu Ba Yi's appraisal. It was an ancient jade disc. Intuitively, Hu Ba Yi recognized it as genuine. Since he needed something from Bai Wu, he refrained from negotiating and directly purchased the item at the price suggested by Bai Wu. However, Hu Ba Yi made a condition: Bai Wu had to help him find a good ship that could sail to the Coral Spiral.
When Bai Wu heard that Hu Ba Yi intended to go to the Coral Spiral, he was somewhat surprised. He reminded Hu Ba Yi that very few people who had been to the Coral Spiral had returned alive. Despite Hu Ba Yi's determination to go, Bai Wu did not continue dissuading him. As for the request for a good ship, Bai Wu thought of one and proceeded to provide Hu Ba Yi with information about that particular vessel.
That ship was known as the ghost ship. It received its name because when it was first completed, several British people boarded it for a trip, but while the ship returned, the British individuals vanished without a trace. Later, a few fishermen used the same ship to go fishing, and their situation mirrored that of the British people—they all disappeared while the ship returned. However, Hu Ba Yi didn't believe in superstitions. He told Bai Wu that as long as the ship was sturdy enough, it would suffice.
Bai Wu led him, Shirley, and the others to a cave. The cave was pitch black. As soon as they entered, a large group of bats flew out, startling Wang Pangzi, who quickly covered his head. Once inside the cave, they caught sight of the ship. Upon closer inspection, they discovered that it was a four-propeller vessel with dual engines and equipped with cannons.
Hu Ba Yi examined the ship's material and was very pleased with this legendary ghost ship. In order to seek good fortune, Bai Wu even brought a witch to bless Hu Ba Yi and the others. After everyone boarded the ship, the witch stared with her all-white eyes and couldn't help muttering that her prayers were useless because the vengeful spirits who died on the ship would always be with it.
Besides helping Hu Ba Yi purchase the ship, Bai Wu also introduced him to an experienced ship captain named Ruan Hei. Ruan Hei had a son and a daughter. When Wang Pangzi saw Ruan Hei's daughter, Duo Ling, who was so beautiful, he was stunned.
Duo Ling's birthday was approaching. Ruan Hei's son, Gu Cai, approached his sister and calculated the time. He realized they wouldn't be able to return before her birthday. While they were talking, Ruan Hei walked over and informed Duo Ling that due to the dangers of the Coral Spiral, he planned to take only Gu Cai with him and leave Duo Ling behind to take care of the house. Upon hearing her father's words, Duo Ling pouted and felt dissatisfied.
Unaware of his daughter's emotions, Ruan Hei was preoccupied with thoughts of the sea. To be honest, if it weren't for the need to earn money to support his family, he wouldn't have taken on this risky job. Before setting off, he inspected the ghost ship and found some sacrificial items on board. In order to seek good fortune, he also burned some paper money and used a knife to cut his hand, letting a few drops of blood drip onto the burning paper money.
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