After being bought by seven rough men and taken to the deep mountains, I was pampered.

Chapter 173 Soaked to the bone! Second Brother pinned her against the helm; the waves… were quite bi

The last straw for the Ma family in Tiezhuang was a river.

The Blackwater River runs across the northwest, with rapid currents and numerous hidden reefs.

In this frigid winter, when even a drop of water freezes instantly, although the river surface is covered with broken ice, the main channel in the center is not completely frozen due to the rapid current, and it remains an important waterway connecting to the outside world.

"Block it! Block it all!"

Master Ma stood on the swaying pontoon bridge, directing his henchmen to lower iron chains into the river.

A thick iron chain, as thick as a child's arm, spanned the two banks, covered with barbs and fishing nets.

That wasn't all; he then ordered two wrecked ships filled with stones to be sunk, blocking the only passage through the waterway.

"I refuse to believe it!"

Master Ma was wrapped in his still-leaky leather overcoat, his face blue with cold, but his eyes revealed a desperate, mad glint in his eyes:

"I can't dig a road on land, but a road in the water... surely I can stop it?"

"If their ships dare to come, whether they hit iron chains or hidden reefs, they'll be sunk to the bottom and fed to the fish!"

He spat viciously, staring at the surging black water flowing eastward, as if he could already see the tragic scene of the Qin family's fleet disintegrating in the river and cargo floating all over the surface.

……

Meanwhile, at the No. 1 dock in the Wolf Fang Special Zone, a completely different scene was unfolding.

"Second brother, this...this really will work?"

Su Wan stood on the high observation deck, looking down at the enormous creature slowly sliding into the water. Her mouth was slightly open, her eyes filled with disbelief.

It wasn't the flat-bottomed sand barges common in this era, nor was it the kind of multi-story ship propelled by sails.

It was entirely black, with a long, slender hull and two huge, waterwheel-like wheels on either side.

At the stern, a strange-looking spiral-shaped metal blade was trailing behind.

The most outrageous thing is that the boat has no sails.

Only a thick smokestack stood in the center of the ship, puffing out black smoke and emitting a roaring sound like that of a wild beast.

"Whether it works or not, we'll find out by trying."

Standing behind her was the second son, Qin Mo.

Today, he wasn't wearing his signature long gown, but instead sported a sharp, dark blue double-breasted wool coat.

The chain of his gold-rimmed glasses hung from the bridge of his nose, swaying slightly with his movements and reflecting a cold, ascetic light that was both austere and dangerous.

"Sister-in-law."

Qin Mo stepped forward, not answering her question directly, but instead reaching out and naturally smoothing her hair, which had been ruffled by the river breeze.

"It's windy and humid on the water."

"The waves might be a bit big once the boat sets sail."

His voice was gentle and warm, yet it carried a hint of something deeper that was hard to define.

"My sister-in-law is delicate and can't stand the cold."

"Let's go to the captain's cabin with my second brother... to get out of the storm."

Before Su Wan could react, Qin Mo half-pushed and half-pulled her onto the new warship named "Breaking Waves".

The captain's cabin is located on the top deck, offering excellent views, and is fitted with specially made thickened glass on all four sides.

As soon as you step inside, you're greeted by a wave of warmth.

They even installed underfloor heating here, making it feel like a completely different season from the icy, snowy world outside.

"It's so warm..."

Su Wan sighed comfortably, and was about to take off her thick cloak when a pair of hands pressed on her collar tie before she could.

"I'll do it."

Qin Mo stood in front of her, his slender fingers deftly untying the intricate knots.

His movements were slow, as slow as if he were unwrapping a carefully wrapped gift.

His fingertips brushed lightly against her collarbone through her clothes.

"Second brother... I can do it myself..." Su Wan felt a little awkward and tried to back away.

"Don't move."

Qin Mo spoke in a low voice to stop him, his eyes behind his glasses narrowing slightly, revealing an undeniable air of stern teacher authority:

"This is a new ship, still in the commissioning phase."

"If my sister-in-law moves around... it will disrupt the boat's balance."

Disrupting the balance?

Su Wan's eyes widened.

This ship weighs several hundred tons, and she's only a hundred pounds... how could she possibly disrupt the balance?

That's such a lame excuse!

But Qin Mo still maintained a serious expression.

He took off her cloak and hung it on a hanger to the side, then turned and walked toward the huge helm.

"come over."

He waved to Su Wan.

Su Wan hesitated for a moment, but still went over.

"Sister-in-law, would you like to give it a try...?"

Qin Mo stepped aside, making room for her to stand in front of the steering wheel:

"How do we control this steel behemoth?"

Looking at the brass steering wheel, which was wider than her shoulders, Su Wan felt a little eager to try it out.

"Can...can I do it?"

"I'm here."

Qin Mo stood behind her, almost touching her back.

He reached out his hands over her shoulders and grasped the edge of the helm.

This pose.

It was as if he had completely embraced her.

Hold on here.

Qin Mo's voice rang in her ear, his warm breath spraying onto her earlobe, stirring a subtle shiver.

Su Wan had no choice but to reach out and grasp the inner ring of the steering wheel.

Her hands were small, fair and delicate.

Qin Mo's hands were long and strong, with distinct knuckles, and they were covering the back of her hands.

"Boom!"

The steam engine in the lower compartment began to operate at full power.

The ship shuddered slightly.

"sail!"

At Qin Mo's command, the enormous wheels on both sides began to spin wildly, churning up thousands of piles of snow.

The propeller at the stern further churned up the water, generating a tremendous thrust.

"ah!"

Su Wan swayed, and the inertia caused her to fall backward violently.

Perfectly fitted.

She crashed headfirst into Qin Mo's arms.

Qin Mo's chest was hard and hot; one could feel his powerful heartbeat even through his clothes.

"careful."

He didn't help her up; instead, he tightened his grip on her arm, resting his chin on the top of her head, his voice deep and pleasant:

"This boat is powerful."

"If your legs feel weak, sister-in-law... lean on me."

"After all... this waterway is still quite long."

……

Like a black dragon awakening, the "Breaking Waves" is going against the current at an astonishing speed.

The scenery on both sides of the river receded rapidly.

Soon, a black "roadblock" appeared ahead.

That was the Iron Chain Crossing the River Formation set up by Master Ma.

Several thick iron chains lay across the water, bobbing up and down in the waves, their barbs gleaming coldly.

There were also the masts of several sunken ships blocking the way.

"Second Brother! There are iron chains ahead!"

As Su Wan watched the obstacle getting closer and closer, her palms sweated with nervousness, and she instinctively wanted to turn the rudder to avoid it.

"Don't panic."

Qin Mo pressed down on her hand, stopping her from moving.

His gaze was eerily calm, even carrying a hint of disdainful amusement:

"Just a few broken iron chains."

"You also want to block the Qin family's path?"

He suddenly lowered his head, his lips almost touching Su Wan's cheek:

"Sister-in-law, hold on tight!"

"Second brother will teach you... what it means to ride the wind and break the waves."

The voice just fell.

Qin Mo suddenly pulled down the accelerator lever next to him.

"Ugh—!!!"

The sound of the steam whistle reverberated through the sky.

Suddenly, a sharp, shark-fin-like steel ram extended from the waterline at the bow.

The speed did not decrease but increased.

With unstoppable momentum, the "Breaking Waves" crashed straight into the iron chain.

"Bang--!!!"

A loud bang.

Sparks flew everywhere.

The fine iron chain that Master Ma was so proud of snapped instantly under the impact of hundreds of tons and the cutting force of the steel ram!

The broken iron chain, like a wounded black snake, thrashed wildly in the air before helplessly falling into the water.

Next came the sunken ships.

"Click—"

Wood chips flew everywhere.

Those rotten logs were as brittle as paper in front of the steel warships, and were smashed into pieces.

The enormous impact created a spray of water everywhere.

The icy river water, mixed with ice shards, slammed against the glass of the captain's cabin, making a series of crackling sounds.

Because one of the side windows wasn't closed properly, a torrent of water gushed in instantly.

"Splash!"

Water splashed everywhere.

Su Wan, standing at the helm, was the first to be affected.

The icy river water instantly soaked the front of her clothes, sliding down her collarbone and into the depths.

The once flowing silk dress now clung to her body, damp and revealing a breathtaking silhouette.

"Ah...it's wet..."

Su Wan gasped and instinctively raised her hand to block.

"Don't move the rudder!"

Qin Mo suddenly let out a low shout.

The ship is rocking violently due to the reaction force of the impact.

If you move the rudder randomly at this time, it is easy to capsize.

He gripped the helm tightly with one hand, keeping the boat steady.

With his other hand, he quickly wrapped his arms around Su Wan's soaked waist, pressing her closer to himself and using his body to shield her from the remaining water.

"Sister-in-law..."

The ship finally stabilized.

Qin Mo lowered his head and his gaze fell on Su Wan.

In that instant, his breathing became erratic.

The person in his arms had disheveled hair, with a few wet strands clinging to her cheeks and still dripping water.

The worst part was that outfit.

The light-colored silk, now soaked through, had become translucent, tightly wrapping around those two full, soft mounds.

This is practically challenging a man's bottom line of rationality.

"Second brother...it's cold..."

Su Wan shivered from the cold, her teeth chattering, and her hands helplessly clutched Qin Mo's coat collar.

"cold?"

Qin Mo's Adam's apple bobbed violently.

He took off his glasses, which were now fogged up with water, and tossed them onto the control panel.

Without the obstruction of the lenses.

Those eyes, usually so gentle and refined, now blazed with a chilling, dark fire.

That was the greed of a seemingly refined scoundrel after he tore off his mask.

"So wet...how can you not be cold?"

Qin Mo's voice was terribly hoarse.

He reached out, his fingertips slowly tracing the wet fabric on Su Wan's chest.

Water stains spread across his fingertips.

"Sister-in-law, isn't it uncomfortable to have these clothes sticking to your body?"

"It feels awful..." Su Wan sniffed, "It's all sticky..."

"Then your second brother will help you..."

Qin Mo's fingers hooked onto a button on her collar.

"Dry it."

"Here?!" Su Wan looked around in horror. "This is the driver's seat! And there are people outside..."

Although there was glass between them, people outside couldn't hear what was happening inside.

But you can see it!

"I can't see it."

Qin Mo's lips curled into a wicked smile.

He suddenly reached out and pulled down the curtains.

The once brightly lit driver's cab was instantly plunged into an ambiguous dimness.

"Now...no one can see it anymore."

He pinned Su Wan between the helm and himself.

In front of him was the cold brass steering wheel, and behind him was his burning hot body.

dilemma.

"Sister-in-law."

Qin Mo leaned down and licked away a drop of water from her cheek with his warm tongue:

"This water... is sweet."

"Second brother doesn't mind."

"No need to take it off."

His palm pressed against her soaked lower abdomen, and through the thin, damp fabric, the warmth of his hand flowed steadily into her.

"Second brother used his body heat... to dry sister-in-law."

As he spoke, his hand began to move.

He rubbed it vigorously on the damp fabric.

Each friction sent a tingling, electric-like sensation through the air.

The perfect fit between the fabric and the skin, the clash between damp cold and scalding heat.

This caused Su Wan to let out a broken moan.

"Um……"

"Shhh."

Qin Mo still had one hand on the helm, controlling the ship's course.

As he gazed at the turbulent river ahead, he whispered in her ear:

"Sister-in-law, keep your voice down."

"The ship is still riding the crest of the wave."

"If you call her 'sister-in-law' too sweetly..."

"Second Brother's hand trembled... and the boat really was going to capsize."

He's not really sailing a boat.

This is clearly... playing with fire!

Su Wan's eyes reddened from his bullying, and she became as limp as a puddle of water, clinging tightly to the steering wheel for support.

"Second brother...no..."

"What do you mean?"

"Don't stop?"

"My sister-in-law is so greedy."

"These waves are so big... Second Brother needs to concentrate."

"but……"

He suddenly bit her sensitive earlobe:

"Since sister-in-law is so cold."

"Then my second brother will teach my sister-in-law... another way to warm up."

"for example……"

He pulled Su Wan's hand and placed it on his belt buckle:

……

At this moment, on the riverbank.

Master Ma was dumbfounded when he saw the strange black ship that had broken through the iron chains and was moving around as if it were empty.

"It's broken... completely broken..."

His proud iron chain across the river was nothing more than a few rotten ropes in front of others!

"Third Master! Run! That ship is heading straight for our dock!"

His men were so terrified they scattered and fled in all directions.

"Run? Where to run?"

Master Ma slumped to the ground, watching the giant ship getting closer and closer, his face filled with despair.

There is a dark road on the ground.

There are black boats in the water.

The Qin family... has it all covered by land, sea, and air!

"Thump—"

The huge waves stirred up by the boat's high speed crashed heavily against the shore.

Before he could even sit properly, Master Ma was swept into the icy river.

"Help... gurgling... it's so cold..."

He thrashed about in the water, looking up at the ship's high deck.

Indistinctly.

He seemed to see that terrifying captain's cabin.

Two figures overlapped.

The man who controlled this steel behemoth seemed to be looking down, biting at the neck of the woman in his arms?

"What a beast..."

In his final moments before sinking, Master Ma let out a sorrowful and indignant cry:

"I'm drowning in water, drinking the northwest wind..."

"You guys are... pulling these kinds of tricks on the ship?!"

……

In the captain's cabin.

Qin Mo finally took pity on Su Wan and let her clothes, which were almost "dried," go.

Of course, it was dried in a way that made people blush and their hearts race.

"alright."

He put his glasses back on, reverting to his impeccably dressed, suave debauchery.

However, his slightly disheveled collar and the satisfied smile on his lips betrayed his earlier misdeeds.

"The road ahead is open."

Qin Mo glanced out the window at the Ma family checkpoint, which was now far behind them, and gripped the steering wheel tightly again:

"Sister-in-law."

"We've passed the first hurdle."

"but……"

He glanced at Su Wan, whose face was flushed and who was huddled in the corner wrapped in his coat, and his eyes darkened.

"Sister-in-law still has a long way to go to learn the rules of this ship."

"From now on, this 'Wavebreaker'..."

"It's the mobile classroom that my second brother prepared for my sister-in-law."

"We have plenty of time..."

"Let's explore this further."

Su Wan felt both ashamed and angry upon hearing his suggestive words, so she grabbed a nearby cushion and threw it at him.

"Qin Mo! You scoundrel!"

"rogue?"

Qin Mo caught the cushion with one hand, pushed up his glasses, and smiled with utter innocence:

"Sister-in-law, you've misunderstood."

"I just...dryed my sister-in-law's clothes."

"after all……"

"Second brother dotes on his sister-in-law the most."

"I can't bear to see my sister-in-law get even a little bit cold."