Chapter 17: Unease and the Monkey

"Listen to him." As Liu Zhi finished explaining the details of the next segment of their journey, Perkin's voice sounded from behind them.

Everyone turned to see Perkin holding something resembling a notebook, flipping through its pages.

Catching Liu Zhi's glance, Perkin smiled at him. "I knew it; inviting you was my best decision."

Liu Zhi stared at the notebook in Perkin’s hands, hesitated briefly, and abandoned the idea of asking Perkin to study it. This was likely a clue for his search for that particular plant. Liu Zhi didn’t want anyone to know his true objective, and Perkin probably felt the same about his own purpose for this journey.

Noticing Liu Zhi’s gaze linger only for a moment before withdrawing, Perkin nodded in satisfaction. He had deliberately brought out the notebook; in truth, it was merely the ship’s log, with nothing of importance written within. The real clues were all in Perkin’s mind—he was only testing Liu Zhi’s attitude.

After all, the map was in Liu Zhi’s possession, and Perkin wasn’t certain whether Liu Zhi harbored any hidden intentions. If Liu Zhi coveted his prized plant and intentionally led them into danger, that would spell trouble.

Now, Liu Zhi’s attitude reassured him, and Perkin nodded, beginning to outline their next destination.

While researching the map with Liu Zhi, the vessel easily found the massive rock shaped like a snake’s head that Liu Zhi had described. Half-submerged in the river, it could have been missed entirely if not for the keen-eyed female dagger-thrower.

“Everyone, pay attention! Keep a close watch on the left bank. If you spot anything resembling a whale, stop and observe—do not venture in recklessly,” the old captain called out in a booming voice.

The ship belonged to the captain and his family; they didn’t distinguish between captain and crew. The old captain and his three sons managed everything: sails, rudder, and all shipboard affairs.

Even against the current, their control of the vessel was steady and precise. Liu Zhi, who had earned himself a secondary role as an extraordinary sailor, understood just how difficult such mastery was.

At the captain’s command, everyone rushed to the port side, scrutinizing the riverbank. Whenever they spotted a large stone or tree, they studied it intently, trying to determine if it resembled a whale.

Liu Zhi shook his head helplessly. If the whale-shaped marker were so easy to find, the documentation wouldn’t be so vague.

Nevertheless, Liu Zhi searched diligently, for this was crucial to his journey.

At that moment, the guide Perkin had hired approached Liu Zhi.

He was a local tribesman, his skin tinged with red, adorned with white and blue paint forming various patterns.

He looked Liu Zhi up and down. “I see marks of a curse upon you. You are under the gods’ curse.”

Liu Zhi glanced at the guide’s neck, noting a necklace of stone and teeth. Examining the patterns carved into the pendant, Liu Zhi shook his head.

“The curse I bear is no concern of yours.”

Faced with this retort, the guide’s expression soured.

But as Liu Zhi said, even if he was cursed, it had nothing to do with the guide—it wasn’t the ancestor’s curse of his tribe. Even if the guide wanted to pry further, he lacked a suitable reason.

Irritated, the guide shot Liu Zhi a glare, then moved over to the jungle specialist.

This jungle expert, clad in long sleeves and trousers, was wrapped tightly, backpack slung over his shoulders, and various small tools hanging from his gear—a person who could survive for ages if stranded in the wild.

Seeing the guide approach, the specialist whispered, “How did it go?”

“He refused to say anything, but I am certain he bears a curse. That curse likely belongs to Emperor Atahualpa.”

“El Dorado? No wonder he won’t let us see the map. If I had such a clue, I wouldn’t let anyone near the map either,” the jungle expert immediately deduced Liu Zhi’s goal.

“So, should we…?” the guide whispered.

“Keep an eye on him. Let’s stick with this group for now; don’t gamble on both sides only to come up empty,” the jungle expert decided after a moment’s thought.

Just then, the specialist felt as though something was watching him.

He assumed his conversation with the guide had been overheard, and he turned toward the source of the gaze.

Yet he saw no one observing him—only a monkey on a nearby tree, grinning at him.

"Just a monkey, thank goodness. But why is it here?" As a survival expert, he knew the local fauna well; such monkeys normally wouldn’t come near the riverbank. It was far too dangerous for them.

"Something’s not right; this monkey is suspicious." The specialist tried to take a closer look, but suddenly threw all other thoughts aside and shouted loudly, "I see the whale! Everyone, come quickly!"

At his cry, everyone rushed over, following his pointing finger. They saw, beneath the water, a massive stone. The stone overlapped with the shadow of trees on the surface, and through the rippling water, it truly resembled a whale about to surface and spout water.

Liu Zhi and Perkin exchanged glances and nodded in confirmation.

The old captain shouted, "Hold the sails tight, we’re turning!"

His sons quickly grasped the sails, and the vessel executed a sharp turn, gliding into a nearby channel.

Meanwhile, the jungle specialist remembered the monkey from earlier. He looked back to where he’d first spotted it, only to find it had vanished.

The guide, noticing his expression, asked, "What’s wrong?"

"Nothing, just a sense of unease."

"Really? If you feel that way, you must warn me in advance. This jungle is riddled with curses—those sensitive to them often sense danger before it strikes."

The specialist nodded firmly. "Don’t worry, I’m an expert at wilderness survival. I won’t be careless."

While they spoke, Liu Zhi too wore a puzzled look. He didn’t believe they’d taken a wrong path, but for some reason, as the ship entered this new channel, he felt a growing sense of unease.

It was as though he faced an oncoming truck, unable to escape.

Even during the attack by the fishman prophet, he hadn’t felt this way.

"Something’s wrong. There’s a problem here."