The Great Dream God

Meng Jin slowly turned around and looked at Edward with deep eyes, revealing a helpless bitter smile on his face. He shook his head slightly and said, "It seems that the living conditions of these villagers seem to have been frozen in the tribal period. Their skills and knowledge do not seem to extend to the field of shipbuilding. They are simple and hardworking, working from sunrise to sunset. I am afraid they are unable to meet our shipbuilding needs."

He sighed and continued, "In their world, they may use simple bamboo rafts to fish, and rely on the land under their feet to travel long distances, rather than the sturdy ships we need. We have to find other ways, or find people with more advanced skills to help us."

Edward pondered for a moment, his eyes revealing a deep concern and understanding. He spoke slowly, his voice full of gentleness and firmness: "I think we should release these villagers. They are not our enemies, but are involved in this dispute. Binding them in this state is tantamount to depriving them of their dignity, which is contrary to our principles. We should deal with this issue in a more civilized and humane way, rather than letting them suffer humiliation like captured thieves. Doing so will not only make our actions respected, but also sow the seeds of goodwill in their hearts."

His words reveal his sympathy for the disadvantaged and his commitment to justice and equality, making it impossible not to be moved by his ideals.

In the tense and silent atmosphere, Lisa's eyes quietly turned to Meng Jin, her trusted partner. Meng Jin's eyes were firm and encouraging, as if silently telling her: "You can do it." Just a nod was enough to convey the tacit understanding between them. Lisa's heart was filled with courage, and she knew that this was the moment for her to step forward.

So, Lisa took a step forward without hesitation, rushing towards the bound villagers like a gust of wind. Her hand slid skillfully to her waist, where her weapon was hidden, a sharp dagger, which was her token of protecting her homeland and relatives. The dagger flashed a cold light in the moonlight, as if foreshadowing the upcoming liberation.

One by one, Lisa moved quickly and accurately, and the dagger gently scratched the ropes. The villagers' tense bodies relaxed as the restraints fell off. The fear on their faces gradually faded, replaced by the desire for freedom and gratitude to Lisa. Every knot that was untied was a resistance to oppression, and every swing of the dagger ignited a new spark of hope.

Lisa's actions were resolute and courageous. Her figure shuttled among the villagers like a light of salvation in the darkness.

In the quiet village, the villagers gathered together, the tense atmosphere filled the air, as if they could hear each other's heartbeats.

They turned their heads and their eyes met. Each of them reflected the other's fear in their eyes, like a mirror, reflecting their inner anxiety.

They all raised their heads at the same time, their eyes falling on the three strangers. These three outsiders seemed so abrupt, like a gust of wind breaking into a calm lake.

Meng Jin sensed this atmosphere and raised a gentle smile to try to ease the tense situation. However, his smile did not bring any comfort to the villagers. Instead, it was like a wolf's pupil in the dark night, which made people shudder.

The villagers did not buy into Meng Jin's good intentions, as they knew that he was not as kind as he seemed. Meng Jin was privately called "Smiling Tiger" by the villagers. Behind his smile was cruelty and cunning. He had used the most cruel means to treat them, leaving the whole village with fresh memories and fear deep in their bones.

Therefore, facing his smile, the villagers could only respond with a wary look, their hearts full of caution and suspicion.

Meng Jin raised the corners of his mouth slightly, trying to show what he thought was a warm, sunny smile like spring. His eyes flashed with sincerity, as if he wanted to dispel the doubts and fears that permeated the surroundings. However, in the eyes of the onlookers, this smile seemed a bit dazzling, and even had a chilling chill, like a jungle king inadvertently revealing its sharp fangs, making it impossible to ignore its potential power. Meng Jin's eyes swept across the nervous and vigilant faces, he slowed down his speech, and said in the most soothing tone possible: "Dear villagers, you don't need to be so nervous, I am not the evil person you think, and I have no malicious intentions in coming." His words were sincere, hoping to penetrate the defenses in their hearts and make them believe in his goodwill.

A burly villager walked forward slowly, his face full of traces of age and deep worry. He said, "I heard that your destination is to find those skilled shipbuilders. I can tell you for sure that our village does have a famous shipbuilding master. His craftsmanship is praised as the soul of the ocean, and every ship made by him can be as stable as a rock in the wind and waves. Unfortunately, this craftsman, along with several other skilled craftsmen in the village who are proficient in weapon forging and herbal refining, recently disappeared in the deep heart of the forest while exploring a rare wood."

"That forest is ancient and mysterious, full of unknown dangers. We lost contact with them once they left. Their families and friends are looking forward to their return day and night, and the villagers are also anxious. If you can bravely step into that forest and find them, I am sure they will repay you in the most sincere way. They will use their lifelong learning to build the ship of your dreams for you, whether it is an indestructible warship or a light sailing ship, they can easily build it. This is not only for their own safety, but also for the inheritance of the traditional skills of our village."

The villager's words were filled with deep concern for the missing craftsmen.

Meng Jin's eyes fell gently on Edward's face. It was a silent communication. Their eyes met in the air, as if conveying an unspoken understanding. They nodded in greeting, and their mutual understanding and trust solidified at this moment. Edward smiled firmly in return, his eyes flashing with determination and courage, as if telling Meng Jin that no matter what was waiting for them ahead, they were ready.

Lisa was also ready to go. She checked her bag to make sure all the necessary tools and supplies were in place. Her eyes revealed a focus and determination, a persistence in the mission and a deep trust in her partners. When she looked up and saw Meng Jin and Edward nodding, she also nodded gently, showing with her actions that she was ready and could set off at any time.

The three figures looked particularly determined in the morning light. They left the quiet village and set foot on the path leading to the mountains. In that unknown mountain area, the missing craftsman they were looking for was hidden.