As the departure window arrived, the waiting vessels raised their anchors one after another, queued up, and sailed out of the harbour, embarking on their journey to Antarctica.
Although all these research vessels were headed to Antarctica, their routes varied considerably. Most went to the Antarctic Peninsula and the South Shetland Islands. Few ships ventured to the harsher climate of the Antarctic continent proper. Thus, after sailing just a few dozen nautical miles out of port, the directions of all the vessels changed, their trajectories scattering in different ways.
The first stop for the Iliad research vessel was the Antarctic continent itself. Upon reaching it, they would pick up the staff from that research station, then proceed to other stations on the islands, eventually evacuating all personnel back to Ushuaia port. At that point, the staff would fly back to Northern Europe, while the research vessel would take nearly a month to return to its home port.
On the second day of navigation, the vessel entered the Drake Passage. The infamous Roaring West Winds lived up to their fearsome reputation. Winds here typically ranged from force eight to ten, with waves at least five metres high. The ship navigating this passage felt like a lone leaf in a gale, appearing extraordinarily small.
Due to the harsh weather and the vessel’s inherently slow speed, it was not until the third day that the ship had still not exited the Drake Passage. The winds and waves outside grew increasingly intense.
While Charlie wade, Grace Lowes, and Song Ruyu cultivated the Great Sun Tathagata Hand Seal with undivided focus, Lin Wan’er in her room used her delicate body to withstand the vessel’s violent pitching and rolling. Her pair of jet-black eyes stared fixedly at the profound, almost black seawater outside the window and the waves towering over the cabins. She gripped her fists tightly in tension.
In her more than three hundred years of life, Lin Wan’er had never been to Antarctica.
She harboured boundless anticipation for the Antarctic continent in her heart, yet she dared not forget her reverence for nature in the slightest. Seeing the ocean rise even higher than the ship, with enormous force slamming against the portholes and making the entire vessel shudder, she could not help feeling some nervousness.
Charlie wade sensed the violent heaving of the hull. The moment he opened his eyes, his gaze began searching for Lin Wan’er. Seeing her hands clutching a small table fixed to the floor, her body barely coping with the raging waves, he immediately walked over, grasped her hand, and asked, “Miss Lin, how are you feeling? Any seasickness?”
Lin Wan’er had not expected Charlie wade to emerge from meditation. With a touch of shyness, she said, “Thanks to the young master’s concern, this servant is not seasick. I am just a little tense. Although this servant has sailed many transoceanic voyages, such massive winds and waves are truly unprecedented…”
Lin Wan’er had shuttled between Europe, America, Japan, and Southeast Asia in modern times, naturally often travelling by ship across oceans. Yet almost all the sea conditions she had experienced lacked the extremity of the Roaring West Winds.
Let alone the sailing ships or steam ironclads of that era, even most modern vessels did not meet the requirements for traversing the Roaring West Winds. Only special ships capable of withstanding winds above force ten and holding polar vessel certification were permitted passage here. Moreover, they had to follow regulations, crossing only when maritime authorities deemed the timing suitable. Otherwise, there remained a risk of capsizing.
Charlie wade channelled a trace of spiritual qi into her meridians through her pulse gate, saying, “Spiritual qi can help enhance your physical strength, making it easier to cope with the waves. Once we pass the Drake Passage and approach the Antarctic continent, it will be calm.”
Lin Wan’er felt a sudden surge of powerful strength in her body. Her balance and core stability against the waves improved considerably. The discomfort eased instantly. Filled with gratitude, she nodded and said softly, “Young master, please return to meditation and cultivation quickly. Do not worry about this servant.”
