Cultivation in the Pirate's World

The first drop of rain landed on Xiao Yan's nose, interrupting his meditation. Above, dark clouds had gathered with unsettling speed, transforming the once-peaceful sky into a roiling mass of thunder and lightning.

"Fascinating," Xiao Yan murmured, "the weather here changes as rapidly as a cultivator's mood."

Xiaojin, still perched atop the mast, let out an irritated squawk as rain began pelting its feathers. Steam rose from the phoenix's body with each drop.

"Perhaps you should come down," Xiao Yan suggested. "Being the tallest point during a storm isn't wise—"

A massive lightning bolt struck the mast, cutting him off. When the flash faded, Xiaojin sat there, feathers puffed up and smoking slightly, wearing an expression of absolute indignation.

"I did try to warn you."

The phoenix responded by diving into his sleeve, radiating wounded pride and heat.

Xiaolong, on the other hand, seemed delighted by the storm. The young dragon swam alongside the boat, occasionally leaping through waves and trying to catch lightning bolts in his mouth.

"At least someone's enjoying themselves," Xiao Yan noted dryly.

Xiao Gui had retreated into its shell, which slid back and forth across the deck with each wave. The turtle's head would occasionally peek out, assess the situation, and quickly withdraw.

A particularly large wave crashed over the boat. Xiao Yan remained perfectly dry, a thin barrier of qi deflecting the water. His companions, however...

"Xiaojin, setting my sleeve on fire won't make you any drier."

The phoenix's response was to burrow deeper, leaving a trail of scorch marks.

The storm intensified, waves now towering above their small vessel. Xiaolong surfaced, barking excitedly at each lightning strike, while Xiao Gui's shell pinballed across the deck with increasing speed.

"Perhaps," Xiao Yan mused, catching Xiao Gui's shell before it could launch overboard, "we should find somewhere to wait this out."

As if in answer, a massive wave lifted their boat, turning the world into a chaos of water and wind. At the peak of the wave, Xiao Yan caught sight of something in the distance.

"An island?" he said, squinting through the rain. "No... something else."

The wave crashed down, sending them hurtling toward the mysterious silhouette. As they drew closer, Xiao Yan's eyes widened slightly.

A ship lay dead ahead – or rather, what remained of one. Its massive hull rose from the waves like the skeleton of some ancient beast, masts broken and sails long since torn away.

"How convenient," Xiao Yan remarked, guiding their boat toward the wreck with a subtle manipulation of qi. "Though I question the structural integrity—"

Xiaolong shot past them like an azure arrow, clearly voting in favor of exploration. The dragon disappeared into a hole in the ship's hull, followed by the sound of something expensive breaking.

"I suppose we're investigating," Xiao Yan sighed. He glanced at his sleeve, where Xiaojin still sulked. "Unless you'd prefer to stay here in the rain?"

The phoenix emerged instantly, shaking water from its feathers and trying to look dignified. Xiao Gui, finally emerging from its shell, climbed onto Xiao Yan's shoulder with determined slowness.

Their boat bumped against the wreck's hull. Xiao Yan leapt lightly onto the tilted deck, his robes somehow remaining immaculate despite the storm.

"Now then," he said, watching Xiaolong's tail disappear around a corner, "let's see what secrets this vessel holds."

Another crash echoed from within, followed by what sounded suspiciously like Xiaolong trying to whistle innocently.

"And perhaps," Xiao Yan added, "prevent our excitable friend from destroying evidence."

The storm raged on around them as they ventured deeper into the abandoned ship, lightning illuminating their path through broken windows and gaping holes. Despite the destruction, something about this place felt... deliberate.

Xiao Yan paused, noting strange markings carved into the walls. "Curious. These symbols..."

Xiaojin pecked at one, then quickly recoiled as it began to glow faintly.

"Very curious indeed," Xiao Yan murmured, while somewhere ahead, Xiaolong discovered yet another breakable object.