mtl008 Chapter 145 The Never-Frozen East Coast
Chapter 145 The Never-Frozen East Coast
Ning Xiaoxi rested her hands on the wall and looked through the opening at the churning sea in the distance.
However, he was a bit short, and even when he tried to lift his feet, his eyes couldn't be seen.
With a leap, he landed in the middle of the crenellation, on the slippery ice wall.
Li Jia subconsciously raised his hand to help her, but found that Ning Xiaoxi was already standing steadily on the ice. Even on the ice, the short girl was only a head taller than the ice ledge next to her. He wanted to laugh, but dared not.
Ning Xiaoxi didn't understand Li Jia's dilemma. Standing in the middle of the battlement, the high view finally allowed her to see the towering waves of the sea in the distance!
There was no sun today; the leaden sky was like a heavy curtain, pressing low over the sea as if it might fall at any moment.
The gale, like an enraged beast, swept in with biting cold, crashing against the sea and whipping up towering waves. A salty, damp air filled the air, and a chilling mist drifted across the surface, adding an air of mystery and eeriness to the area.
The waves, like colossal creatures imbued with life, chased and collided with each other, emitting a deafening roar. White foam clung to their crests, proof of their power. Wave after wave surged toward the horizon, as if trying to shatter the cold sky. They leaped high, then crashed down, the splashing water instantly transforming into countless tiny ice beads in the frigid air, refracting an eerie light.
On this turbulent sea, occasionally one can see enormous, ferocious sea monsters. These are massive creatures, as large as a small boat. Their bodies, protruding from the water, are covered in rough, hard scales that shimmer with a cold blue light, as if sculpted from ice. Their heads are broad and held high, their eyes hidden beneath the scales, almost invisible. Their mouths are filled with sharp fangs, each like a blade, gleaming coldly as the waves crash against them.
It lurked in the icy waters, its body heat slightly warming the surrounding seawater, creating a faint current that mingled with the frigid atmosphere. Its eyes were fixed on a school of small fish swimming on the surface, a bloodthirsty glint in them. It slowly approached the school, its massive body moving almost silently, like a ghost. Just as it reached the fish, it suddenly opened its gaping maw, unleashing a powerful suction that created a small whirlpool in the surrounding water. The small fish had no chance to escape and were sucked into the sea monster's mouth.
It chewed its prey, the sound of its teeth cutting through the fish flesh still clearly audible amidst the roar of the waves. Having finished its meal, it flicked its tail contentedly; the tail, like a thick python, swept across the water, creating even larger splashes. Then, it submerged into the icy sea, leaving only the still-churning waves on the surface.
Not far from where it dived into the deep sea, another of its kind surfaced again, continuing to hunt the fish.
Even from this distance, the dinosaur-like sea monster still sent chills down Ning Xiaoxi's spine. If she faced it directly, the chilling aura emanating from the ocean would be completely different from that of land-based beasts.
"Officer Li, what kind of sea creature is that hunting at sea?"
Li Jia leaned against the nearby battlement, watching the sea creatures begin to hunt on the sea. He realized that he didn't recognize them either, and honestly said, "I have only read descriptions of sea creatures in records, and I have never seen them in person. I am not familiar with them."
Ning Xiaoxi tilted her head and watched as the sea beast finished hunting and sank into the sea, and another sea beast surfaced. This group of sea beasts was quite organized.
It was already early May, and the ice on the city walls hadn't completely melted. The East Sea didn't freeze, and sea monsters hunted on the shore at any time. The villages that used to rely on fishing for a living were gone. The living conditions for humans were truly dire!
Ning Xiaoxi pointed to the sea and asked, "This coastline doesn't look like it has shallows. Does it lead directly into the deep sea?"
"Yes, the west coast has long shallows that gradually lead into the deep sea. This place doesn't have that. The coastline is like a city wall under your feet, with a drop of more than ten feet. In some deeper places, it can reach thirty or forty feet, as high as a city wall."
Listening to Li Jia's explanation, Ning Xiaoxi looked down at her feet. At a height of 100 meters, plus the height of the crenellations, her small frame standing upright in the wind really made her feel dizzy.
Comparing the raging sea before me with the gentle sea I saw in my past life, this sea can hardly be called a sea at all!
Looking north along the coastline, he asked, "Officer Li, does the coastline further north always exist?"
"The East China Sea connects with the North China Sea, and about three hundred miles further north, the Qishan Mountain Range stretches for thousands of miles, blocking the coast from the inland. The Qishan Mountains connect the northern part of the East China Sea with the southern part of the North China Sea." Li Jia noticed that following this junior official, he had practically emptied his head of all his knowledge. "This effectively prevents the invasion of sea monsters in this area. Therefore, apart from Beixiao City, which is situated between Fengshan and the East China Sea, there are no other cities within a hundred miles of the coastline." Li Jia searched his memory again, "The nearest one is Donglin County, about two hundred miles away."
"I've only heard that there are ten defensive counties along the border. I'm going to Fufang County. Are you familiar with the other counties, Li?"
"It's called a county town, but it's actually comparable to an inland prefecture city. After all, it has to defend against foreign enemies. If the city's defenses are too weak, how can it hold out?" Li Jia revealed a longing expression. "It's just a pity that I'm a Celestial Master, and I haven't been able to break through in my martial arts skills, so I can't go to the border to kill the enemy with my own hands!"
Ning Xiaoxi hadn't asked who the enemy was. The enemy soldier she'd encountered a few days ago had given her some clues, but she hadn't faced them directly yet. She'd deal with it when she encountered them! Asking now would only cause her unnecessary worry!
Perhaps because she had been standing for a long time, a slight chill came from the soles of her feet. Ning Xiaoxi jumped down from the crenellation and followed Li Jia back to the corner tower.
"Officer Li, I'm heading north along the city wall now." Ning Xiaoxi pointed to the city wall extending to the north. No matter how far it was, she could walk all the way to the end and then continue north.
Li Jia politely clasped his hands in a fist and bow to Ning Xiaoxi, saying, "Have a safe journey, my subordinate!"
Ning Xiaoxi returned the gesture with a fist and palm salute, saying, "With Officer Li's company on this journey, I have gained a lot. If Officer Li has the opportunity to visit Fufang County in the future, I will definitely repay him properly!"
Li Jia stood by the corner tower, watching Ning Xiaoxi's figure gradually disappear. This frail young woman had managed to become an official under Lord Tianji during exile, and was also valued by Lord Tianhui, who specially sent him to explain things along the way, forbidding him from concealing anything he knew. In any case, befriending her could never be a bad thing.