186: Chapter 186 Self-Brainwashing

The one-eyed captain raised his wine bowl and sneered.

"Shen Xiu is right."

"In this hellhole, being used by someone means you still have value."

The scrawny captain also spoke up.

"Back then, I wanted to sell my life, but nobody wanted it."

"Now, being a pathfinder for the Holy Father, I'm willing."

"Anyone who isn't willing, get out."

"Go back to the black waters."

"See if those sea monsters recognize you then."

Those few sentences struck home hard.

The young captain lowered his head completely; he didn't dare to argue, nor did he have the face to.

Shen Xiu slowly drew his blade.

Clang!

The Enchanted Longblade left its sheath.

On the blade's body, pale blue runes lit up one by one.

That was a standard fleet weapon issued uniformly by Su Mei.

In the past, Shen Xiu wouldn't have even had the right to glance at it.

Now, they each had one.

This was reality.

This was the gap.

Shen Xiu raised his blade, pointing it toward the night sky.

The blade's edge reflected the lights of the Many Children, Many Blessings in the distance—a light of hope that even the mist could not obscure.

His eyes gradually filled with fanaticism.

"So what if the Holy Father has selfish motives!"

"So what if he's using us as cannon fodder!"

"We are willing!"

As these words fell,

Every captain on the deck stood up straight.

Shen Xiu's voice grew louder and louder as he roared,

"Our lives were given to us by the Holy Father!"

"Our ships were upgraded by the Mistress!"

"In this damned world, to have a master you can sell your life to, who can also keep you fed and warm, is a heavenly blessing!"

His chest heaved violently.

His eyes were bloodshot.

"If anyone eats the Holy Father's food, holds the Mistress's blade, and still talks such stupid nonsense behind their backs,"

"I'll be the first to hack them down."

No one felt it was cruel.

On the contrary,

The eyes of many brightened even further.

This was right; these were the rules the Wan Si Fleet should have.

The Holy Father could be cold-blooded, and the Mistress could be calculating, but they could not be ungrateful.

Shen Xiu turned around abruptly.

He held his longblade high.

"For Wan Si!"

He bellowed out.

His voice tore through the night wind.

The next second,

Several core warships responded simultaneously.

"For Wan Si!"

Immediately following,

Ships further away lit their torches.

One ship.

Ten ships.

A hundred ships.

Like a sleeping giant beast opening its eyes.

"For the Holy Father!"

Someone roared until their voice cracked.

"For the Mistress!"

"For the Wan Si Fleet!"

Countless Survivors rushed onto the decks.

They raised longblades, harpoons, and muskets.

Some even held up half-eaten pieces of roasted meat, howling along with the rest.

The waves of fanaticism rolled layer upon layer, sweeping from the nearby warships to the distant sea, finally turning into a tsunami that crashed against the pitch-black night sky.

Those ugly battle pets lying on the decks were also terrified by this aura, shivering uncontrollably.

Octopuses and sharks huddled into balls.

Giraffe-crabs tucked their necks into their shells.

The scene was bizarre.

But it was also stirring.

A group of madmen who were still struggling on the survival line yesterday now had a faith today.

No matter how twisted this faith was, it was useful enough.

The young captain knelt on the deck.

He looked around.

He saw the people frantically waving their weapons.

He saw the glowing longblade in Shen Xiu's hand.

Finally, he slowly crawled up.

He picked up the roasted meat from the floor.

He took a fierce bite.

Grease smeared all over his mouth.

His tears also fell.

"For Wan Si."

His voice was very soft.

But Shen Xiu heard him.

Shen Xiu glanced at him.

He didn't scold him again.

He only raised his hand and patted his shoulder.

The force was heavy.

"Remember."

"It's normal to be afraid of death."

"But don't be stupid."

The young captain nodded vigorously.

At this moment, he understood.

They weren't fools.

No one who could survive in the Survival World until now was an idiot.

They were very clear about Li Taiping's thoughts.

Pathfinding.

Trial and error.

Sending them to their deaths.

They understood all these terms.

But so what?

The next sea region would only be more terrifying.

Survival Eerie Sea—the name alone was enough to suffocate people.

If they didn't seek refuge with Li Taiping, they would die sooner or later.

By seeking refuge with Li Taiping, they could at least die in a place with light.

Moreover,

What if they survived?

Choosing the lesser of two evils—this was the most extreme and cruel law of survival.

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