Courtyard Houses: From Bronze Compasses to Global Reach

Chapter 431 Riding a Whale Across the Sea

In the summer of 1991, the air in Singapore was hot and humid, but the sea breeze from Sentosa always brought a touch of coolness.

Chenchen and Xixi are two little animals that have just been "released" from a kindergarten in Beijing into the mountains—no, into the ocean.

Chenchen, wearing a light blue vest and shorts, is using a small shovel to dig up a seashell that Xiaoqi has hidden.

Xi Xi, dressed in a pale yellow dress, looked like a lively little oriole, chirping and circling around Lin Yan, repeating the nursery rhymes she had just learned in kindergarten. Occasionally she was off-key, but her voice was still clear and melodious.

"Dad, are there really fish as big as buildings in the ocean?"

Xi Xi tilted her head back and tugged at Lin Yan's trouser leg, asking.

This is the blue whale that Lin Yan casually mentioned when telling a bedtime story a few days ago.

"Yes, I have."

Lin Yan bent down and picked her up, letting her sit in his arms as they looked out at the azure sea.

"Would you like to go take a look?"

"think!"

Xi Xi immediately raised her hands, and Chen Chen also stopped digging and looked over, his bright black eyes filled with the same expectation.

Lin Yan's white yacht, "Zhu Bo," carrying the three divine beasts and Yu Ling, had just sailed away from the dock.

Chenchen and Xixi, wearing sun hats, leaned against the railing next to the cockpit, watching intently.

Lin Gang was at the helm, while Wang Yuling was busy applying sunscreen to the children and preparing juice and snacks.

Little Seven crouched at the highest point of the bow, head held high, the sea breeze ruffling the soft fur on its neck, its expression focused, as if sensing something.

"Brother, there are big guys underwater about 15 nautical miles to the west ahead, quite a few of them."

Lin Yan nodded and said to the two expectant children:

"Hold on tight, a big school of fish is coming."

Not long after he finished speaking, unusual ripples appeared on the distant sea.

First, several long, sigh-like jets of water shot into the air, reflecting small rainbows in the sunlight.

Immediately afterwards, one by one, deep blue backs resembling moving islands slowly rose from the sea surface and then steadily submerged, their tail fins creating huge waves.

"Wow--!"

Xi Xi opened her mouth wide, her eyes widened, and she forgot to breathe.

Chenchen gripped the railing tightly, her face flushed with excitement.

That was a group of seven or eight blue whales, foraging in this rich sea area.

They are the largest creatures on Earth, yet at this moment they appear so peaceful and slow, possessing an ancient, serene power.

The yacht came to a slow stop at a safe distance, bobbing gently with the waves.

"Xiao Qi," Lin Yan called softly.

The small white dog at the bow of the boat turned its head in response, a glint of gold flashing in its eyes.

It stood there quietly, exuding an ancient majesty that surpassed all beasts, spreading out like ripples on water.

The leisurely pod of whales stopped spouting water, their massive bodies no longer diving, but floating quietly on the surface of the sea, like several deep blue islands suddenly frozen in time.

This is a kind of awe and submission to a higher existence that originates from the depths of one's blood.

Lin Yan picked up Xi Xi with one arm and held Chen Chen's hand with the other:

"Let's go, let's pick the biggest and most majestic mount."

He had his two children with him, and asked Lin Gang to lower the lifeboat from the yacht so they could slowly approach the whale.

Finally, the father and his two sons jumped onto the broad, smooth back of a blue whale that was over 25 meters long.

"Hold on tight, our ship is about to set sail."

Lin Yan smiled down at the two children, then used his divine sense to send a friendly message to the enormous creature beneath his feet.

Driven by Xiao Qi's imposing presence, the blue whale let out a deep, resonant cry, and its massive body began to move slowly.

It started slowly, as if it was getting used to the "passenger" on its back, and then the speed gradually increased.

"Whoosh—!"

The enormous whale head broke through the surface of the sea and rode the wind forward.

A strong sea breeze rushed towards him, but it was filtered by Lin Yan's protective true energy, making it gentle and cool.

The view suddenly opened up, as if the entire ocean was spreading out beneath my feet.

The azure sea parted beside the giant whale, forming two magnificent white walls of spray that then merged back into each other in the distance.

"It's flying!"

Xi Xi clung tightly to Lin Yan's arm, screaming with a mixture of fear and excitement, her little face flushed red.

Chenchen was initially a little nervous, gripping her father's finger tightly, but she was quickly won over by this unprecedented experience. Watching the rapidly receding sea and the surging waves so close at hand, her eyes shone brightly, and she whispered, "So fast! Faster than a car!"

Lin Yan laughed loudly, the sea breeze filling his shirt.

He pointed to the seabirds flying in the distance, the flying fish leaping nearby, and the vibrant, warm, and enormous body beneath his feet.

This is a truly awe-inspiring and profound educational experience that no amusement park can provide.

The blue whale carried them around the sea for about fifteen minutes, sometimes diving shallowly to let the cool seawater wash over their ankles, and sometimes surfacing to spout a small jet of water to amuse the children.

When the yacht reappeared in sight, Lin Yan knew it was time to turn back.

He conveyed his gratitude again through telepathy, and added a suggestion of "a small reward".

Back on the yacht, Xi Xi was still excitedly gesturing, "So big, so big!" Chen Chen, unusually talkative, described to Wang Yuling, "The water wall is blue, and it has white hats!"

Lin Gang had already prepared his "reward".

He walked to the ship's side, made a hand seal, and gathered soft and pure water-based spiritual energy at his fingertips, transforming it into countless threads of spiritual light finer than a hair. These threads gently reached into the sea and covered the blue whale leader and several other blue whales nearby.

The barnacles, whale lice, and other parasites attached to the whale skin were precisely peeled off by the silk threads.

Wherever the spiritual energy threads passed, they not only cleared away the parasites but also gently moisturized the blue whale's skin, bringing a sense of comfort.

The blue whales emitted even more soothing and joyful low moans, and rolled over contentedly in the sea, as if shedding their heavy armor.

The leader that had carried them even poked its massive head out of the water and, towards the yacht, sprayed out another jet of water that shimmered in the sunlight, as if bidding farewell and expressing gratitude.

"Goodbye, big fishing boat!" Xi Xi waved her little hand vigorously.

As the yacht returned to port, the setting sun painted the sea a golden-red hue.

The two little ones, exhausted from playing, soon fell asleep nestled together on the sofa in the cabin, their faces still bearing the sweet smiles of excitement.

Lin Yan stood at the stern, watching the group of blue whales regain their freedom and leisurely disappear into the deep blue.

Xiaoqi jumped onto the railing next to him and rubbed against his hand.