On the third day of the voyage, only a few hours remained before reaching the Sannan Border. The soldiers wept with joy—they were finally about to dock. These long three days had felt like years; even Xie Jue thought they were endless. Seasick and unable to savor any food, he had been eating purely for survival, alternating between eating and sleeping, all the while yearning to reach the shore. Zhang Boxin, Lin Xiao, and other young nobles who had never ventured out to sea before felt the same. Upon hearing they were about to dock, their spirits were lifted.
However, the heavens were unpredictable. The weather at sea was erratic and difficult to gauge, even for the most skilled sailors. No one foresaw the sudden immense wind and waves, nor the dark clouds rolling in, followed by an immediate storm as they neared the Sannan Border. Although they had encountered mild swells over the past few days, it had been relatively calm and steady until now.
