Chapter Thirty-Seven: The Bermuda-Bath Triangle

The mountain wind swept up fallen leaves as it blew past. Though this black, extended Mercedes motorhome was exceptionally comfortable and well-insulated, Hua Feng could still hear, through the air vents, the sound produced by the vehicle's rapid movement and its friction with the air outside.

After a full day and night on the road, Hua Feng and his companions finally arrived at the mouth of the Yangtze River—Shanghai. This city, once an international metropolis, remained one of the great cities of Huaxia even now. Dan Qiu Sheng had chosen this location for their embarkation, as it made it convenient to resupply and set off.

No sooner had Hua Feng stepped out of the car than he saw Dan Qiu Sheng and Master Zhang already waiting at the port. Behind them stood over twenty experts from various sects, personally selected by Dan Qiu Sheng, and judging by their auras, all were at least at the peak of the Yuan King level.

"It seems the Alliance Leader is determined to win," Hua Feng murmured to Yun Meng through a secret voice transmission.

Yun Meng clung to Hua Feng's arm, unabashedly displaying her affection for him in front of so many. "No matter what, we’ll just do our best. With husband and wife united, nothing is impossible! Let’s go!" she teased at the end.

Hua Feng strode forward, cupping his hands in greeting. "Please pardon us for arriving late and for making our elders wait here. The sea breeze is strong; let’s talk inside the car."

"In that case, let’s not stand on ceremony. Business comes first," Dan Qiu Sheng replied briskly, getting straight to the point. "Master Zhang, let’s go with the Chivalrous Chief to his car to talk."

Hua Feng led the group, and once Dan Qiu Sheng and Master Zhang were seated in the Mercedes, he began, "Elders, Alliance Leader, before our departure, we did a bit of research. If I may, I'd like to share some information with everyone."

"No need to be so polite, Chivalrous Chief. Please, go ahead," Master Zhang responded. Though he wore plain clothes today, his righteous bearing was undiminished.

"Has everyone heard of the Bermuda Triangle? On this journey, what we fear most isn't the danger itself, but heading into the unknown—being unaware of what lies ahead or of our adversaries. According to the itinerary the elders sent us, we will pass through a region called the Bass Triangle. Records show that the earliest strange events in the Bass Triangle date back to the late eighteenth century. In 1797, when the salvage ship Eliza was searching for survivors of the Sydney Bay in these waters, it too vanished mysteriously, just like the Sydney Bay itself. Though Eliza’s disappearance caused quite a stir at the time, it was the loss of the Royal Navy’s Saffo in 1858 that truly made the Bass Triangle infamous, earning it a reputation among sailors as a perilous zone.

In fact, for centuries, ships have continued to vanish mysteriously in the Bass Triangle, and over time, people have gradually become accustomed to this phenomenon.

Then, in 1920, when the Australian National Shipping Department’s vessel Amelia disappeared at the entrance to the Bass Triangle, the area once again drew public attention—not only because an official vessel was involved, but also because, on the day of the incident, witnesses from other ships saw strange luminous objects in the sky above the Bass Triangle’s entrance. Some claim the Amelia’s disappearance was likely connected to these lights; as unidentified flying objects became more frequently reported, others speculated that ships lost in the Bass Triangle might have been abducted by extraterrestrials.

In response to the mounting rumors and public anxiety, the Australian authorities dispatched military forces to conduct a large-scale search for all the missing vessels, including the Amelia. However, not only were no ships found, but a number of the search planes also disappeared under mysterious circumstances. The incidents grew more frequent, and the disappearances expanded from ships to aircraft.

For instance, in October 1935, a private plane flying from Melbourne to Tasmania lost contact with the ground while passing over the Bass Triangle. The three passengers and two pilots were never found. When rescue teams searched the area, they discovered only a small piece of wreckage and three aircraft seats. Strangely, the seats were twisted in bizarre ways, and the wreckage showed signs of intense heat and firefighting efforts.

Thus, although the 1935 air disappearance did not leave the complete absence of remains as other cases had, after the authorities announced the discovery of the wreckage, no further information was released. Subsequent disappearances and sightings continued to occur, and third-kind encounters became increasingly common."

Most of Hua Feng’s account was accompanied by holographic projections, yet the presentation felt more like an unsolved mystery documentary, leaving his audience perplexed and the atmosphere momentarily awkward.

Switching off the projection, Hua Feng continued, "I believe that may very well be the first obstacle we must face on our journey. We need to be as well-prepared as possible."

"You mean we might encounter the same phenomena as in those previous incidents? But we’ve chartered a top-of-the-line nuclear-powered submarine for this trip. Besides, we have the support of the Dragon Clan—Yinglong’s strength is surely greater than mine, and the sea is his domain," Dan Qiu Sheng said, a bit agitated.

"Alliance Leader, please remain calm," Master Zhang replied with utmost composure. "Our strength today is not what it was in the past. Whatever we encounter, I believe we have the power to overcome it."

"Master Zhang is right. We’ll adapt as the situation demands. We depart in one hour," Dan Qiu Sheng decided.

Hua Feng fell silent, gazing absentmindedly at the rising morning sun.