Zhang Heng returned to the captain's quarters. He was drenched by the rain and got a towel to wipe himself down. Anne quickly got out of her wet clothes as well. As they were both shivering in the cold, Zhang Heng poured themselves a glass of rum to warm up. Rum was the signature drink of pirates. It didn't have a decent taste, and though fermented from sugar cane, it was very bitter. As compared to wine and brandy, rum wasn't as smooth. Its only upside was its low price. Not only was it cheap, but it could also be preserved longer than drinking water.
After a month, the drinking water on the ship would start tasting awful as various kinds of plankton would start growing in it. Rum, however, could be preserved for at least a year. That made it an essential item for every pirate ship. Zhang Heng could feel a warmness radiating in his belly after he bottomed a glass of rum. Suddenly, someone knocked at his door.