Chapter 4 - 4

Lapulapu has already dipped the blade of the grasscutter. The blades spin underwater and Liangyu braces herself. A few seconds have passed and she's wondering why nothing is happening.

"Do it already!" she yells.

"I'm already doing it."

"What?!" She takes a look and the blade spins underwater. "The blade is straight! No wonder it doesn't work!"

"Hey, I've seen this kind of thing on other boats. Trust me, it will work."

"They're getting near! How can you say that junk works?! Just get rid of it!" She kicks the grasscutter into the water.

"What have you done?!" he screams, pulling his hair. "I worked hard to get that!"

"Here!" She tosses the paddle to him. She grabs the other and both of them paddle all they can.

It worked a little bit until two boats caught up to them from left and right. The other one is behind them.

"We're surrounded!" she exclaims. "This is bad, they're going to crush us!"

"That's what I'm waiting for," he says and she struck a nerve after hearing that.

"WE'RE GONNA DIE!!!"

He grabs the paddle from her. Now, he has two. The boats are closing in from left and right, aiming to capsize them. With the paddles, he hits the sides of the incoming boats like skiing. His raw strength accelerates his boat.

"Woah!" she cries out, falling backward.

Just in time, they got out of that tough spot. The two boats crash onto each other, breaking each other's hulls. The last one behind is too close to steer away so it crashes with the other two.

"Lady Liangyu!" her suitor calls for her. "I promise I will rescue you!"

"No, thanks, pig!" she answers.

"What?"

"I'm gonna have an adventure!" she laughs, jumping up and down.

"Woah, woah!" Lapulapu scolds her. "Sit down, sit down. You're rocking the boat!" Then he rubs his chin, wondering about what he just said. "Did I just sing?"

"Thank you!" she kneels, bowing to him. "I'm sorry for the things I said to you earlier. I trust you now."

"Really?"

"Yes, really, Lapulapu." She smiles at him.

"Well, Miss Linglong—"

"I'm Liangyu."

"Langlooh."

"Liangyu."

"Langyu?"

"LIANGYU!!!"

"Whatever! Just... give me what I asked!"

"Okay, later."

"No, right now!"

She swallows and asks, "Now?"

"Yes, of course, or I'll throw you overboard. It will serve as your fee."

"If that's what you want," she nods. While on fours, she turns around to make her behind face him. "It will be my first time, so please be gentle."

"What are you doing?" he asks, confused.

"Giving you what you asked."

"The treasure is inside your panties?"

She is in disarray for a moment and just answers, "Yes." because it's true.

"It's your own panties, you bring it out."

She grabs the end of her dress to expose her underwear and that's when he yells, "Hold on for a minute!" So she stops. "There is no treasure in your panties, is there?"

"I'm giving it to you right now! What do you mean? What kind of treasure?!"

"You know, gold, jewels, and pearls!"

"What are you talking about? I don't have those!"

Then a big exploding slap echoes throughout the sea.

"ARGHH!!!" she screams after he slaps her butt so hard that the whole boat is rocking.

"THAT'S NOT WHAT I WANT!!!" he screams.

"That hurts, you jerk!" She is sobbing, feeling her right buttcheek throbbing in pain. "I'm giving you the greatest treasure a woman can offer! That's what we agreed upon, remember?!"

"Well, I thought it was a treasure I can use to buy things I needed!"

"You didn't specify!"

"'You' didn't specify! That's it! I'm gonna sell you to a brothel! That way, I could get some money at least. What's even more depressing is that how can I sell you at a higher price? You look like a walking turd."

"Whose fault is that?!" she yells, hitting his head with a paddle.

"Now, now, don't get too violent about the truth. Accepting the truth is healthy for your mind and heart, you know."

"Anyway, if you want money, I can give it to you. I know a place where I can give it to you."

"Are you tricking me or something?"

"What? Why would I?"

"You might be planning on selling me off to a brothel or—"

"You're not even a woman in the first place! What have you been smoking?"

"For your information, Linglu, I might look like the epitome of what it means to be a man but I don't smoke anything."

"Then all of this stupidity is innate, then?" she asks, losing all hope for him.

"Carefully choose your words. Saying nice things to people brings good merits, you know."

"I don't wanna hear that from you!"

"So, where is this place you were talking about? How do we get there?"

After sighing, she answers, "Just follow the coast to the southwest."

"It better be worth my trouble."

"Oh, it will be."

He steers the boat, following the coast while she cleans herself. The sun has started to sink behind the mountains to the west which is on their right. All of that commotion earlier made her feel so tired that she can sleep easily on the hard surface. Lapulapu didn't sleep as he keeps a watchful eye for the direction they're heading and the sudden change in the air current. He has to or else they'll get lost.

Hours later morning comes and she wakes up with a deep yawn and a groan of pain. Her neck is in pain. She looks back and sees Lapulapu still awake.

"Did you sleep at all?" she asks.

"Nope. Sailing and sleeping do not go together, China girl."

"Oh...," she reacts, a little impressed.

She stands up and looks at the coast, recognizing the features as if they were the back of her hand.

"Are we near?" he asks.

"A little bit further. At this speed, we could get there by evening."

"If that's the case," he yawns. "you steer and let me sleep."

"Are you sure?" she asks, her eyes glowing.

"Yeah, whatever..." He's already lying down and covering his eyes with his headband.

She sits beside the rudder of the boat and can't stop smiling. "This is the adventure I've been rooting for," she says to herself.