Quite a few of the crew members also followed Ning Beichen's example, fishing without bait in their free time, and naturally, they caught nothing.
Ning Beichen lay in his rocking chair, too lazy to bother with them.
The more he cultivated, the more he felt the vastness and mystery of the Grandmaster realm. It reminded him of the Nine Palaces Strategy. It was said that above the Grandmaster realm, there was another state: Heaven and Man Unite.
However, Ning Beichen had never heard of anyone who had managed to reach the Heaven and Man Unite realm.
Initially, Ning Beichen hadn't held out much hope, nor had he paid much attention to it.
In the past, he, Ning Beichen, wouldn't have dreamed of going very far. He just wanted to be the King of Darkness.
When he got old, he would find a beautiful and serene place to live out his days, just like the old man. The best outcome would be a peaceful death, not to die without a burial place.
But ambition tends to expand. It only fails to expand when you haven't found the opportunity.
Now that the opportunity had arrived, Ning Beichen saw no reason to give it up.
So, after resolving this matter, he intended to do his utmost to collect all the Nine Palaces Strategy scriptures and see if he had the fortune to break through to the Heaven and Man Unite realm.
Although he hadn't heard of anyone successfully achieving Heaven and Man Unite before, others were others, and he was himself. Wasn't there still a slim chance? After all, who didn't think of themselves as the protagonist?
A few days passed in the blink of an eye. Just as everyone was getting sick of eating sea fish, the cargo ship finally reached the dock. Ning Beichen bid farewell to the couple on board and disembarked.
"Mr. Ning, my cargo ship will be docked here for about ten days. If there's anything you need our help with, please don't hesitate to ask."
As they disembarked, the couple on board respectfully said to Ning Beichen.
Ning Beichen was about to refuse, as this matter was beyond their involvement. But then, a flash of inspiration struck him, and he spoke softly to the couple, though he couldn't recall what he had thought of.
"Perhaps I will indeed need your help later. How about this: leave your cargo ship here to wait for me. I will cover all the expenses."
"No, no, no, Mr. Ning. You are our savior. How can we let you pay for us?"
The couple hastily waved their hands, refusing.
"Alright, it's settled. It's not easy for you to run a ship."
Ning Beichen left no room for their refusal.
Soon, Ning Beichen left the dock. A black commercial vehicle was already waiting to pick him up.
"Mr. Ning, Miss Fang sent me to pick you up. She is waiting for you at her residence."
The person who came to pick him up respectfully said to Ning Beichen.
"You are too kind."
Ning Beichen said calmly and got into the car.
As the King of Darkness, he naturally had his subordinates and hidden assets in every country.
Of course, Ning Yanwang—no, now Ning Grandmaster—besides killing, could also save people.
Life and death were originally opposing concepts. If some people hated him, others would naturally be grateful to him.
Therefore, Ning Beichen had not only enemies but also many people who had benefited from his kindness.
The car left the dock and soon arrived at a grand and beautiful manor.
As the car door opened, a beautiful woman in her late twenties, wearing a Southeast Asian ethnic-style dress, walked towards him with a smile.
Ning Beichen got out of the car, saw the woman, and also smiled. He then clasped his hands together and nodded in greeting.
The beautiful woman also clasped her hands together and nodded in response.
Following the woman, she let her green skirt trail as she walked forward and gave Ning Beichen a warm hug.
"Mr. Ning, it's been a long time."
"It has indeed been a long time. Miss Fang is still as beautiful and charming as ever."
Ning Beichen said to her.
"Mr. Ning, you are still so eloquent. Please come inside."
Fang Yi, with a smile as bright as a flower, made a gesture to invite him in.
Ning Beichen, carrying his briefcase and a simple duffel bag, entered with her.
The manor was vast, with a Southeast Asian architectural style. There were even several elephants being kept, requiring more than a dozen people just to care for them. Such an undertaking was impossible without considerable wealth.
"Mr. Ning, you must stay for a few more days this time."
Fang Yi said to Ning Beichen with a beaming smile.
"I'll see."
Ning Beichen neither refused nor accepted, his answer being ambiguous.
This woman was no pushover. Despite her dress and glasses, giving her an appearance of a fragile woman, she was a demoness whose hands were as stained with blood as Ning Beichen's.
Furthermore, her manor wasn't just home to elephants; there were at least a hundred gunmen hidden throughout the grounds.
If it weren't for the matter at hand that required her help, Ning Beichen would truly not have wanted to have too much contact with this demoness.
"Mr. Ning, you are still so wary of me."
Fang Yi said with a playful tone.
An ordinary man seeing her like this would likely have had his bones turn soft. This was because Fang Yi possessed an innate charm, capable of deeply captivating men without any pretense.
However, such tactics were ineffective on Ning Beichen.
The Ning Beichen of the past could resist her allure, let alone the current Grandmaster Ning.
"Miss Fang, you misunderstand. It's not that I'm wary, but that I prefer to be in control of things."
Ning Beichen turned to look at her, a smile playing on his lips.
This made Fang Yi somewhat indignant. She had confidence in her charm, believing she could handle any man. Only with Ning Beichen did she find herself at a disadvantage.
Next, Fang Yi hosted a welcome feast for Ning Beichen.
In the manor, a long table was laid out with dozens of dishes, but only the two of them were present.
Fang Yi raised her wine glass and said to Ning Beichen,
"Mr. Ning, I know you prefer quiet, so I specifically arranged this banquet at home, just the two of us. I'll toast you."
"Thank you, cheers."
Ning Beichen raised his glass, clinked it with hers from a distance, and drank it down in one gulp.
Fang Yi also finished her wine in one go.
"Mr. Ning, you didn't come all this way just to see me, did you?"
Fang Yi asked after putting down her wine glass.
"I have something I need your help with."
Ning Beichen stated directly, without mincing words.
This demoness was not someone easily fooled, so Ning Beichen didn't bother with polite pleasantries.
"Oh? Is there something that even Mr. Ning cannot resolve?"
Fang Yi's eyes lit up. She wasn't displeased by Ning Beichen seeking her help; quite the contrary, she was eager for him to ask for her assistance.