Three Techniques for Crossing the Sea

Still stressing over travel money? Dreaming of adventuring across the jianghu, but completely broke? Well, I've got too much time on my hands today, so I'm sharing some free advice to point my fellow broke wanderers in the right direction! ... Step 1: Blending in at the Ferries To go the distance, you're going to need a good ship. But to take your pick of the fleet, you first have to find a way to fit in at the ferries. Think about it: if you don't pick a sturdy boat and it sinks halfway to your destination, you haven't just wasted your time. You've lost your life! Surviving the ferries means playing the game, and you've got three main options: running a street stall, working odd jobs, or unloading cargo. They all have their pros and cons. Running a stall gives you freedom, but it keeps you too far from the water to actually board anything. Working at the ferry shops keeps you in the loop on all the shipping schedules, but owners hate a nosy worker, and the constant tallying, hauling, and memorizing can be a headache. Unloading cargo is the only gig that lets you move freely between the ferry and the boats. You even get to test how sturdy the deck is for yourself! The downside? It's backbreaking work. Hey, nothing in this world is perfect! ... Step 2: The Midnight Boarding If you're reading this, you've presumably finished step one and spotted the ship of your dreams. If not, go back to step one and wait patiently for the right vessel to come along. Now, any ship you choose is bound to dock for at least one night. And at midnight, the Maritime Trade Bureau shuts down! That gives us a window to make our move! Read this next part extremely carefully. Memorize it word for word if you have to. A single mistake, and the whole plan goes up in smoke! (Three pages have been torn out) Step 3: Starving and Surviving You know what they say: before greatness is achieved, you must first suffer through hardship. Just grit your teeth and deal with the hunger for a while. If you truly can't take it anymore, you can try sneaking into the ship's pantry. If you get caught, just volunteer to join the crew. Do some heavy lifting, and they'll feed you. Once the ship reaches its final destination, you're in the clear, and the world is yours to explore! Just remember one thing: whatever happens, do not rat me out! ...