Nothing boosts morale more than a victory.

The negative emotions brought on by the setback at the transit station and the flood were dispelled by the joy of victory. The soldiers were in high spirits, and Ge Dalong joked with them.

"If the floodwaters don't recede and we have to keep exploring at sea, I think we should form a 'kitchen knife pirate crew'."

Zhang Shi smiled and chatted with Ge Dalong for a while, not taking it to heart, but little did he know that the listener would take it to heart. In the evening, Wu Qing called everyone over and personally hung a flag on the mast. The flag was embroidered with a skull, with a kitchen knife stuck on top of the skull. Upon closer inspection, it was made to resemble Lao Duan's appearance.

Zhang Shi was surprised that Wu Qing took the joke seriously and didn't know what to do. Just as he was about to encourage her, the system suddenly gave him a notification.

"Ding, a survivor team has been formed. The nautical map is now available to team members."

Zhang Shi was taken aback, then quickly opened the system panel and found the new map option at the bottom of the homepage.

Zhang Shi clicked on it with great anticipation, and a panoramic map appeared before his eyes. It was a map with the ocean as the main part, with only a few scattered and tiny land areas on it. It seemed that the terrain and landform of the wilderness world had undergone tremendous changes after this ordeal.

Zhang Shi found the blue dot representing himself, and with a thought, he zoomed in on it. He was then surprised to find that the map was real-time, as if a heavenly eye was looking down on him from high above, and his every move could be captured by the map without delay.

Zhang Shi was both delighted and worried about the map's functionality, unsure of what to say.

The other three members of the team also gained access to the map function and opened the system to check. Among them, Ge Dalong had the clearest goal. As soon as he opened the map, he confirmed his location and then began to zoom out the map with the blue dot as the center. Before long, he was pleasantly surprised to find an isolated island not far from him and quickly shared the location of the island with the others.

With a thought, Zhang Shi zoomed in on the panoramic map, revealing the island's landscape. However, when he zoomed in further to check the details, he found the entire island shrouded in mist, making it impossible to see anything clearly.

Undeterred, Zhang Shi randomly searched for another island, only to find the same result.

"It seems that this map is not a 'heavenly eye' either. It should only have the effect of a 'heavenly eye' through areas that we have explored."

Based on this situation, Ge Dalong made a deduction, and Zhang Shi nodded, believing that his deduction was probably correct.

"Alright, now we have a clear target. Let's head towards this island. If the situation on the island is good, it will be our new base!"

Upon receiving the order, the soldiers immediately set off at full speed towards their target. Zhao Feng, excitedly braving the torrential rain, stood on the deck, brandishing his large axe and performing a series of moves. In his words, this was the first voyage since the formation of the Cleaver Pirates, and it had to have a sense of ceremony.

According to Lao Bai's estimate, at the Ark's speed, they should arrive at their destination by tomorrow morning at the latest. To prevent any accidents, Zhang Shi specifically arranged for twice the number of soldiers to keep watch at night, hoping for a smooth journey to the island tomorrow.

...

As night fell, the torrential rain that had lasted for several days stopped silently. Zhang Shi was the first to notice the change in the weather and came to the deck to be surprised to find the sky full of stars.

For the first time in many days, the giant sunflower dimmed its light, and the entire ark became less bright but not dark. The bright moonlight was projected onto the sea, rippling with waves, creating an exceptionally peaceful and serene atmosphere.

Zhang Shi was astonished by the changes in the wilderness; the once monotonous night sky had suddenly become sparkling with stars. He stubbornly tried to find the familiar Big Dipper in the sky, but after turning in several directions, he couldn't find it.

"Heh, it's different."

Zhang Shi gave up the search, abandoning that last glimmer of hope deep in his heart.

"What's different?"

Wu Qing's ethereal voice appeared behind Zhang Shi. The silvery moonlight shone on her pristine robe, making her appear sacred and noble, like a fairy who could only be admired from afar and never touched. A gentle sea breeze blew by, revealing the curves of her figure, which even made Zhang Shi, who was always focused on his career, take a second look.

Seeing Zhang Shi staring blankly at her, Wu Qing blushed slightly. She was about to scold him but couldn't bear to break the beautiful moment. She could only stand there shyly and remain silent. The beauty's shyness was made even more intoxicating under the starry sky.

"Wu Qing's face was ripe, even redder than the tumors on the mutated zombies."

For some reason, Zhang Shi's mind went blank and he suddenly thought of the awful zombies, his thoughts abruptly breaking free from that awkward atmosphere.

"The stars in the sky are different from our world."

"Oh, you're looking at the stars?"

Wu Qing gathered her hair, which had been blown about by the sea breeze, to her ears, perfectly concealing her blushing face.

"Yes, we're looking at the stars."

Zhang Shi responded softly, his gaze returning to the vast, boundless night sky, a different kind of ripple stirring within him. He tried to find a trace among the stars that resembled the world he had known before, but he had to admit that every star here was unfamiliar and dazzling, like a gemstone tailor-made for this desolate world by nature, each shining with its own unique light.

Wu Qing slowly walked to Zhang Shi's side, and the two stood side by side, gazing up at the starry sky that did not belong to them.

A gentle sea breeze carries the salty scent of the sea and the coolness of the night, bringing a sense of tranquility and peace. In moments like these, time seems to stretch out gently, allowing one to forget the weariness of the day and the hardships of the struggle.

"You know what? I've never seen such a beautiful starry sky."

Wu Qing's voice was soft, with a slight, almost imperceptible tremor, as if she were telling a long-hidden secret. Her gaze wandered among the stars, each twinkle seeming to touch a chord deep within her heart.

Zhang Shi turned to look at Wu Qing. In the moonlight, her face was no longer cold, but soft and charming. The light in her eyes echoed the stars in the night sky, making her breathtakingly beautiful. An indescribable emotion welled up in his heart. In this world full of unknowns and dangers, she was not only his comrade-in-arms, but also slowly becoming a sanctuary for his soul.

"Yes, it's breathtakingly beautiful."

Zhang Shi responded softly, his voice filled with tenderness and emotion. He reached out and gently placed his hand on Wu Qing's shoulder, a silent comfort and a silent promise—no matter how difficult the road ahead, he would stay by her side and face it together.

Wu Qing felt Zhang Shi's warmth, her body trembled slightly, and then a warm feeling flowed into her heart. She looked up and met Zhang Shi's gaze. Their eyes met at that moment, and without words, their hearts understood each other. This tacit understanding, this comprehension, was more profound and precious than any words.

As night deepened, the stars remained dazzling, and the ark glided slowly across the calm sea, heading towards an unknown island. Beneath this starry sky, two hearts were already intertwined, jointly protecting each other's dreams and hopes. This bond, like the brightest star in the night sky, guided their path and illuminated their world.

Wu Qing looked up at the night sky: "Actually, the stars aren't important."

Zhang Shi smiled slightly and said softly, "I know."

He held Wu Qing's hand tightly, his tone filled with determination, as if he were telling her that they were of one mind.