Lan Zhan stared at the security chief and asked in shock, "Did you just say this was the 6th cabin?"

"I um. Oh never mind, now that it accidentally slipped out, I might as well tell you the rest." Replied the security chief. He sent his men out of the cabin after Lan Zhan and Wei Ying, sent Youn and Ali to their cabin. Then he closed the door and looked thoughtfully at Lan Zhan and then Wei Ying.

"So, what do you want to tell us?" Lan Zhan asked.

"What I'm about to tell you is between us. Well then. As of yesterday, 27 passengers and 15 crew members have disappeared since we left Rome. Two of my own men are also among the missing. There were no bodies, no blood. Nothing to indicate where these people disappeared to. Today alone, another 14 passengers and 7 crew members have disappeared. The cabins of the missing passengers looked like this one. The crew members just disappeared while they were working. It's like someone snapped their fingers and made them disappear."

"That many people disappeared? Wow. I'm amazed this didn't become known sooner." Wei Ying replied.

"The passengers don't know either so far. Well, except for those who reported someone missing. But they were told by the captain and the ship owner not to say anything. I assume the two of them have threatened them. I don't know with what. But it must have been bad enough that they didn't say a word about it because they were afraid. I and my men were even forbidden to question passengers. We have secretly started to search for the missing persons. But unfortunately without success."

"It sounds like you have some suspicions." Said Lan Zhan.

"Indeed I do. I think the captain and the ship owner are in cahoots. And I'm convinced it's a diabolical alliance. Whatever those two are planning, it can't be good."

"That's what we think, too. So, that the two are planning something." Said Wei Ying.

"My partner is right. We also think the two are planning something. But we don't know yet what. However, we have a hunch." Added Lan Zhan.

"So I'm not alone in my guess. Well, you'll probably think I'm crazy now. But I still have to say it. I have heard about this black ship many times from other sailors. I know what they say about this ship. But I always thought it was nonsense. But now I am beginning to believe these stories about the ship of the dead and the creatures that are supposed to live on it. Now that the ship is facing us and I can see it with my own eyes, with all those people suddenly gone, I believe the stories."

"You believe there are really creatures there?" Asked Wei Ying.

"Yes. I told you it sounds like I've gone crazy. But yes, I do believe it. Even though I've never seen any of those creatures. But they say just because you can't see something didn't mean certain things don't exist."

"That's right. Assuming the creatures do exist, how do you think they can be fought?" Lan Zhan wanted to know.

"Fight them? I'd be in favor of clearing our ship of the ice and leaving. Because whatever is lurking there on that other ship, I have no intention of meeting those creatures. You can call me a coward. But I'm attached to my life, and I'd like to grow old and gray and fall asleep peacefully in my bed."

"Who wouldn't want that? I'm just afraid we're not going to get the ship cleared anytime soon. Unless an unexpected heat wave hits us and melts the meter-thick ice. But that's not going to happen. Not as high north as we are right now. And to be honest, I'm afraid the creatures aren't waiting for us to get on their ship. They'll just come here and pick us off one by one." Explained Wei Ying.

"Wei Ying, don't scare him." Said Lan Zhan reproachfully.

"Oh he doesn't have to scare me at all. I've had that ever since I saw the other ship this morning. And he's right, after all. I always thought, as a security chief on a ship I have little to do and am relatively safe. But now I see it a little differently."

"Well, so what are we going to do now? We can't just burn the other ship down. Because the creatures would then just take over our ship and kill us all. And we won't be able to get our ship out of the ice in the next few hours." Said Wei Ying.

"Honestly, I'd like to start by getting off the ship, exploring the area, and seeing if we have any way to get ourselves to safety." Said Lan Zhan.

"I was secretly out today with two of my men. We were looking for signs of civilization. But we found nothing but ice and more ice. At least for another mile and a half. That's as far as we went. We couldn't stay too long, because otherwise it would have been noticed that we had left the ship. In short, we found nothing. And I hardly think we could wander through an icy landscape with about 400 people looking for civilization."

"Are there any weapons on board?" Lan Zhan asked.

"Not many. My men and I have about 10 hooked rifles. But hardly any gunpowder. We also have 12 crossbows with 10 arrows each. Oh yes, and then we have 7 flintlock pistols. But all the weapons are under lock and key with the ship owner in the safe. Only he and the captain have the keys and the code to the safe. And we can probably assume that they won't give us either to get the weapons."

"That's really fascinating. Supposedly our route was changed because they were afraid our ship would be attacked by pirates. And despite that fear, there are so few weapons on board?" Asked Wei Ying.

"Well, when I asked the captain about it, he said, "Miles, if pirates try to attack our ship, they will quickly regret it. That's all I'll say about it." I was truly speechless at his lack of concern."

"Either way, these weapons are of little or no use to us in fighting creatures. What we need are weapons made of silver, like swords. Swords don't need to be reloaded after every shot. Also, swords are faster and more maneuverable to defend yourself." Explained Lan Zhan.

"True, we don't have swords made of silver. But knives. My men and I know how to use them. We are experienced fighters."

"And how many men do you have?" Wei Ying asked.

"I still have 23 men. I know it's not many. But every single one of them is very experienced in fighting. I..." The security chief paused when there was a knock on the door of the cabin. One of his men informed him that the captain was looking for him. Before leaving, he said to Lan Zhan and Wei Ying, "Come to the outer deck in 2 hours. Then we will discuss further. My men and I will keep watch on the outer deck that night."

Lan Zhan and Wei Ying left the cabin together with the security chief and looked for Youn and Ali. They sat in their cabin, staring anxiously out the window the whole time. Before Lan Zhan could say anything to the boys, Wei Ying said, "Pack your things. I'm taking you away from this ship!"

"And where are you going to take us?" Youn wanted to know.

Wei Ying looked briefly at Lan Zhan and then back at Youn, "I'll take you to Wen Rouhan. He can take you in until we sort things out here."

"That's a good idea Wei Ying. You'll be safe with him." Lan Zhan said with relief because Wei Ying had thought of this solution. Because with so much worry about Youn and Ali, Lan Zhan could hardly think straight.

Within an hour, Youn and Ali had packed their things and Wei Ying had teleported them, along with Lan Zhan, to Wen Rouhan. Lan Zhan's old mentor seemed confused at first when the four of them emerged from the shadows in his room. But he asked no questions and let Lan Zhan explain why they were there.

Without any ifs or buts, Wen Rouhan immediately agreed to take care of Youn and Ali and watch over them. He immediately ordered a room to be prepared for the two of them. Moreover, he laughingly promised to organize a small party to welcome Ali to the "family". Lan Zhan was grateful to him. He knew that he wanted to use the celebration mainly to distract Youn and Ali.

Before Lan Zhan and Wei Ying returned to the ship, Wen Rouhan gave them both some weapons. Swords with blades made of silver. Silver arrows for crossbows and a box of silver bullets for the firearms of the security crew aboard the ship. In addition, he offered to provide them with a few of his best men. Lan Zhan accepted the offer with thanks. He knows they will need all the help they can get.

Wei Ying had to teleport back and forth four times to bring all the men aboard the ship. On his last time, Wen Rouhan asked him for a short talk. Wei Ying agreed and followed Wen Rouhan to his private room. "Do not let Lan Zhan go to the other ship under any circumstances. If it comes to fighting the creatures, I'll ask you to watch over him and get him out of there immediately if things get out of hand."

"Of course, I will take care of him. If the fight gets out of hand, I would bring him here immediately. I just don't know if that's what he wants. He cares about the people on board. Even if they're all strangers to him and certainly don't even have remotely the same interest in him." Replied Wei Ying.

"I know he still believes in the good in people. Still, if the fight gets out of hand, get him out of there. Against his will if necessary. I respect his opinion, of course. But at the same time, he is like a son to me. And if something should happen to him, I would not only be unhappy, but I would hunt down everyone who is responsible for his death! I would even set the world on fire if I had to!"

"I can understand you. And I promise you that nothing will happen to Lan Zhan. There's no need to threaten to end the world. And I'd best forget about this conversation real quick. If only because of Lan Zhan. Since I'm sure he won't like it when he finds out what you just said."

"I had no intention of threatening you. I really didn't. I just wanted to make it clear how much Lan Zhan means to me."

"I know you do. Rest assured that I would never let anything happen to him. And now I should be on my way. Lan Zhan will already be waiting."

"Alright. I hope we will have more time to get to know each other better soon."

"Of course. That would make me very happy." Replied Wei Ying. They returned to the courtyard where 6 of Wen Rouhan's men were standing, already waiting for him.

Wei Ying swung his robe over himself and the 6 men and asked them all to close their eyes. Actually, he doesn't need the robe at all for such a transport. But it gives him more security that really all are transported and arrive at the same destination. And just as Wei Ying was about to start the transport, Youn came running to him.

"Wait a minute, please. I have something for you here." Shouted Youn. He placed a small colorful bag in Wei Ying's hand and said, "This is silver powder. If you sprinkle it on those beasts' faces, they'll be terribly hurt and won't be able to fight you at that moment. Just make sure Lan Zhan doesn't get any of it."

"Thank you Youn. I will use it wisely and carefully if it becomes necessary. Don't be afraid, you will meet again soon. Now go back to Ali. He needs you the most right now, because everything here is foreign to him." Wei Ying replied with a smile and gently stroked Youn's cheek.

"Thank you Wei Ying. I will take good care of Ali. See you soon." Said Youn and hurried back to the house. And Wei Ying started transporting and teleported himself and the men onto the ship to Lan Zhan.