The current situation really doesn't look optimistic. Jiang Feng's speedboat has sunk, leaving them with only a precarious inflatable boat.
Moreover, the typhoon's wind direction has changed to an offshore wind, blowing them further away from the coast, almost to the middle of the ocean. The sun is nowhere to be seen in the sky, replaced by a dark, oppressive mass, like a scene from the apocalypse.
"Uncle, do you think someone will come to rescue us?" Chu Feifei hugged her shoulders, shivering as she asked Jiang Feng.
"They will! But..."
Jiang Feng frowned, watching the gigantic waves rise and fall on the sea. In cases of shipwrecks caused by typhoons like this, the authorities would definitely send out rescue teams. But when exactly they'd find the two of them was uncertain. By the time they arrived, the situation might have deteriorated further!
Chu Feifei saw the look on Jiang Feng's face and understood what he meant. She gazed at the endless ocean with a bitter smile in her heart, wondering how much longer they could hold out.
"Uncle, are we really going to die here together?" Chu Feifei lifted her small face, smiling sadly. At that moment, she no longer displayed her usual carefree demeanor but appeared like a lonely, helpless little girl, looking desolate. "It's all my fault, I got you into this..."
"Don't say such discouraging things! Rest assured, as long as I'm here, I won't let you die!" Jiang Feng knew that Chu Feifei had been severely affected. At this point, she was somewhat disheartened and dejected, so he immediately reprimanded her, trying to activate her willpower.
Yet, even as he said this, Jiang Feng knew clearly that, given the draft of this inflatable boat, it really wouldn't hold out for much longer!
Even with his strong capabilities, swimming back such a long distance with Chu Feifei in tow was impractical, especially with the fierce storm making it hard to determine the right direction.
At that moment, the sea waves surged violently, causing the boat to rock even harder. The pounding rain, falling in large drops, started to sting when it hit their faces.
Soon after, thunder rolled across the sky with a "boom," and lightning tore through the horizon like a silver serpent!
The wind intensified instantly!
The rain also became heavier, as the huge waves relentlessly surged up, hurling the boat high into the air, then crashing it down again!
Jiang Feng and Chu Feifei were already soaked to the skin. To prevent Chu Feifei from being thrown overboard, Jiang Feng had to hold onto her again, while Chu Feifei clung tightly around Jiang Feng's neck, trying to stay as close to him as possible, inseparable in life and death!
In the face of nature's power, matters of modesty and shame were no longer important. No one would think there was anything amiss with such close proximity to Jiang Feng.
"Splash..."
Another huge wave tossed the inflatable boat high up, but this time, Jiang Feng couldn't keep the boat balanced. As it crashed down, accompanied by Chu Feifei's despairing scream, the inflatable boat capsized, and the two found themselves submerged in the sea!
Although they had anticipated this scenario, actually falling into the sea caused Chu Feifei to panic once more. Even with decent swimming skills, the previous ordeal had drained most of her strength, leaving her unable to swim. In the pitch-black ocean, where she couldn't see her own hand in front of her face, she could only cling tightly to Jiang Feng.
Having taken a deep breath before the capsize, Jiang Feng immediately dove down, taking Chu Feifei with him.
In the midst of the typhoon's rampage, with fierce winds and heavy rains on the surface, the water several meters below was much calmer. Without a clear sense of direction, Jiang Feng could only swim forward with all his might, trying to escape the storm's reach.
But before long, Jiang Feng began to feel uncomfortable as Chu Feifei clung tightly around his neck, nearly suffocating him. He understood Chu Feifei's terror and helplessness. He urgently embraced her waist, lifting her body to alleviate the pressure on his neck slightly.
Meanwhile, to prevent Chu Feifei from choking on seawater or suffocating, Jiang Feng quickly pressed his mouth to hers and exhaled a breath of air.
Chu Feifei, having held her breath for too long and feeling faint, instinctively clung to Jiang Feng. But as he transferred a breath to her, she swiftly regained her senses.
In the dark ocean, Chu Feifei couldn't see anything. However, as long as Jiang Feng was with her and providing fresh air, her fear subsided, and the despair and helplessness finally calmed.
Jiang Feng gently patted her back, and Chu Feifei, understanding his signal, released him bashfully. The air transfer was not only a lifesaving act but also akin to a kiss. In such a dire situation, it carried a unique significance, making Chu Feifei blush.
Jiang Feng gestured upward, needing to surface for air since he had given Chu Feifei all the oxygen in his lungs. He then clutched Chu Feifei firmly and quickly swam back to the surface to breathe.
"Breathe!" Jiang Feng said to Chu Feifei as they finally emerged.
Chu Feifei nodded with difficulty, taking deep breaths. The high waves and fierce winds at the surface made it miserable. Opening her mouth only led to rain and seawater pouring in, but at least she was finally breathing fresh air.
After taking a deep breath, Jiang Feng once again pulled Chu Feifei down into the depths.
This time, Chu Feifei was prepared and was not as flustered as before. As the two dove deep into the sea, they managed to avoid another wave of colossal waves.
Moreover, after diving over ten meters, Chu Feifei opened her eyes to see the underwater landscape, which she surprisingly found breathtaking: many sea fish swam past in panic, and the coral reefs toppled universally in one direction, a stunning and magical sight. She and Jiang Feng seemed to have entered a fantastical world, striking awe and a hint of fear for the deep sea's unknown.
Just as Chu Feifei was adapting to this tension, Jiang Feng pulled her back up for air...
...
Surging up and down, breathing and diving, Jiang Feng and Chu Feifei used this method to survive within the typhoon's swirling sea.
When they truly couldn't hold out any longer, they would transfer air to each other underwater, but their bodies, despite their efforts, were swept by the waves, swiftly pushed forward by the sea current.
It was uncertain how many times this cycle repeated, yet even Jiang Feng's iron-clad body began to feel exhausted.
Finally, they managed to leave the storm's center.
However, being underwater caused them to lose their bearings further, and even Jiang Feng had no idea where the ocean's undercurrents were propelling them, subconsciously feeling that they were drifting further away from the shore.