"Ah.. help..."
The wind and waves tore apart the screams of desperation.
Moments ago, the guests at the ball were now fighting over a pole, breaking each other's fingers, and shoving others over the railing.
Thunder roared and towering waves crashed with overwhelming force, threatening to capsize the cruise ship. Freezing seawater splashed over them, biting through their skin.
Even the crew, in a state of panic, struggled to find shelter, barely managing to stand, let alone attempt any rescue.
Torrential rain fell like a curtain, and lightning illuminated the pitch-black sky.
Ye Nianchu caught sight of a figure floating in the sea. Its green eyes and moss-like skin were partially obscured by hair, making its features indistinguishable. It observed the chaos aboard with a malevolent gleam in its eyes.
"Sister?"
Qin Mubai noticed Ye Nianchu staring blankly and called out to her.
Ye Nianchu leaned closer to his ear and whispered, "It's in the sea."
The hypnotic, corrupting voice echoed once more. Outside, people, under its influence, let go of the railings and were swept away by the waves. The chaotic crowd continued to push others into the sea.
"The song of the sea," Ye Nianchu thought suddenly, "Can it be connected to the conch?"
"Do you still have that conch?" she asked urgently.
"Uh-huh," Qin Mubai replied, retrieving it from his space and handing it to her.
Ye Nianchu put the conch to her ear, but was met with a sharp, piercing sound that nearly deafened her. She pulled it away, wincing in pain.
"Is that really the song of the sea?" she muttered in disappointment.
Qin Mubai, seeing her discomfort, pulled her to a safer corner.
"What’s wrong?" he asked.
Ye Nianchu covered her ears, "It’s like noise pollution."
Qin Mubai took the conch from her, but heard nothing. Surprised, Ye Nianchu asked, "You didn’t hear anything?"
He shook his head. "No."
Ye Nianchu tried listening again, but the sound had vanished. The figure in the sea was gone too, leaving uncertainty about its whereabouts.
As the storm's fury began to subside, Qin Mubai stood protectively in front of Ye Nianchu. She looked up at him, her reflection visible in his dark eyes as droplets fell from his hair. A warmth spread from her heart throughout her body.
The storm finally began to calm, and the cruise ship's swaying became more manageable. An emergency broadcast echoed through the ship, instructing passengers to return to their rooms and directing the injured to the medical room. The message repeated three times.
Everyone understood the urgency and rushed to their rooms. Those still able to move knew they needed to save themselves rather than wait for help. With the wind and waves easing, many hurried to their quarters, seeking refuge from the cold.
Ye Nianchu and Qin Mubai left the café, drenched by the continuous rain and chilled to the bone.
Outside, the scene was chaotic. The once-luxurious crystal staircase was cold and uninviting, its gleam muted by the flickering lights. Many lay scattered, their wounds worsened by the seawater.
Tourists clung to railings, struggling to regain their footing. Ye Nianchu noticed faint lights flickering through the dark waters, but among the crowd, a waitress, stiff and oddly distant, moved with her hands hidden behind her back. Several tourists suddenly climbed over the railings and leaped into the sea without hesitation.