Chapter 285

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Flood Dragon King Xu let out a dry chuckle, then, after observing the wind direction, gave the order to raise the sails and break through with all their might.

Now that the direction of the breakout had been determined, everything else was no longer something Zhang Xiaohua could concern himself with. The entire giant boat was thrown into a frenzy, just short of chickens flying and dogs jumping.

Fortunately, Flood Dragon King Xu’s sailors were all seasoned veterans. After the initial chaos, order gradually returned. As for Jing Lao’er, before leaving, he gave Zhang Xiaohua a rather complicated look but, in the end, said nothing, unwilling to lose face.

Qin Shiyue, however, stared at Zhang Xiaohua for quite a while—so long that it made his hair stand on end—before finally saying: “If anything happens later, just follow me.”

Zhang Xiaohua nearly tripped upon hearing this. Was that concern or a warning?

Of course, Zhang Xiaohua understood that this Qin Daren was someone Flood Dragon King Xu was under strict orders to protect. Following him could only be the right move. So, Zhang Xiaohua nodded and replied with a smile. Qin Shiyue returned to the first-floor hall, and the rest of the group, full of doubts, followed closely behind.

In truth, when Zhang Xiaohua first said he sensed ships approaching from behind, no one had believed him. They were all masters of profound internal strength, and could channel inner force to their eyes, allowing them to see more clearly than ordinary folk. But on such a pitch-black night, with neither stars nor moon, what good was even the deepest inner strength? Yet reality proved the boy wasn’t speaking falsehoods—and what’s more, it was exactly six ships, not one more, not one less! They were itching to ask how he had known, exactly. Still, they couldn’t quite believe that this boy had relied merely on “instinct” as he claimed. That word—instinct—felt like a smokescreen. But Zhang Xiaohua was someone Qin Shiyue intended to bring back to the Heavenly Dragon Sect. Since Lord Qin said nothing, they dared not question him directly.

You think Qin Shiyue didn’t want to ask? Of course he did—his curiosity was piqued beyond measure. But on one hand, he knew Zhang Xiaohua’s lips were sealed tighter than iron; even torture techniques like the Soul-Searching Hand couldn’t pry a word from him. If Zhang Xiaohua didn’t wish to speak, there was little he could do to force him. What’s more, the boy had already claimed it was just “instinct”—a clear sign he didn’t want to explain. Why make a fool of himself by pressing the matter?

On the other hand, the Soul-Searching Hand strike he had just unleashed on Zhang Xiaohua had been delivered in anger—its strength, speed, and angle were all top-tier, something ordinary people could never have dodged. In his mind, Zhang Xiaohua should have collapsed the moment his finger struck. But to his shock, Zhang Xiaohua had avoided it with ease. That evasion had shaken him even more than the youth’s earlier claim about the pursuing ships. For a moment, he didn’t know what he should do next—he felt as though even imprisoning Zhang Xiaohua was beyond his ability. That was why he had stared at Zhang Xiaohua for so long, and that lone sentence he finally said had been both a show of reassurance and an attempt at pacification.

Zhang Xiaohua didn’t really care. He had no plans to run—amidst the vast ocean, where could he even go? What he had comprehended was the Earth Escape technique, not a Water Escape. And besides, hadn’t he yet to truly grasp it? As for Qin Shiyue—he no longer appeared to be some insurmountable mountain in his eyes. Now that there was no fear in his heart, naturally, everything felt much more relaxed.

Zhang Xiaohua sat in a chair in the main hall, tucked away in a corner. He had hoped to find a dark, shadowy spot, but the hall was fully lit, bright as day. Flood Dragon King Xu was politely consulting Qin Shiyue on how to proceed, but Qin Shiyue bluntly replied: “Flood Dragon King Xu, this is my first time traveling by sea—I’ve no suggestions to offer. You’d best command things as you see fit.”

Flood Dragon King Xu laughed: “Understood, Lord Qin. Please rest assured. The sea vessels of our South Sea Flood Dragon Palace have encountered ambushes before. We’ve made plenty of preparations for both offense and defense. Jing Lao’er is an old hand—no need for concern.”

“Jing Lao’er? Cough cough…” Qin Shiyue was a bit speechless.

Flood Dragon King Xu seemed to realize he had said too much and quickly cupped his hands: “Lord Qin, would you prefer to remain in the hall, or step outside for a look? If you wish to observe the battle, we can go to the platform on the third floor of the cabin—it offers a good vantage point. However, there may be a conflict shortly, it could get dangerous.”

When Qin Shiyue heard this, he was overjoyed and said: “Flood Dragon King Xu truly understands my heart. I was just thinking how I’d like to see what a naval battle looks like. What’s a bit of danger to us? Don’t we men of the Jianghu live each day licking blood off the blade’s edge?”

Beside him, Xu Jiaotong grew a little anxious and said: “Lord Qin, sea battles aren’t like fights on land. It’s better to be cautious.”

Qin Shiyue was dismissive of the warning, and Flood Dragon King Xu added comfortingly: “It’s nothing serious. Lord Qin’s martial skills are unmatched, and naval battles are fought from afar. Besides, we’re one ship against six, with no intention of engaging. All we can do is flee. As long as we’re careful, there’s nothing to fear.”

The third-floor platform above the ship cabin was broad and open. The sea wind howled, and a fine drizzle fell, making it difficult to even stay upright. But none of those present were ordinary people. With a light circulation of internal energy, they stood firm.

That saying, “the higher you stand, the farther you see”, was no exaggeration. The group looked out from their high vantage point and, upon seeing the scene before them, couldn’t help but suck in a breath of cold air—around them, six sea vessels were closing in from all directions, forming a net. From the rear, they were gaining fast, and the ships on the flanks were already abreast with the giant boat. Judging by the distant moving lights, it was clear those ships were even faster than their own.

At a glance, the experienced ones among them—Three Seas and Seven Waters—could already tell: those vessels could only belong to the navy. Only the official sea ships of the government, built to military specifications, could outpace the South Sea Flood Dragon Palace’s warships by even a small margin.

Flood Dragon King Xu assessed the situation and issued orders for the sailors to go all out and charge forward at top speed. If they could break through the encirclement, there might still be a sliver of hope. But once surrounded, the situation would become grim indeed.

Just then, several massive bolts of lightning tore through the sky ahead. Moments later, thunder rumbled above their heads with a deep, cracking roar. The group was startled, but Flood Dragon King Xu’s face lit up with joy as he exclaimed: “Heaven has not forsaken me!”

Qin Shiyue was puzzled. “The weather’s turning worse, the sailing more difficult—why would Flood Dragon King Xu say such a thing?”

Flood Dragon King Xu pointed to the military ships closing in and smiled. “Lord Qin, perhaps you’ve forgotten what I told you when we first set out. Out at sea, the most fearsome thing is the wind and the waves. Only a giant vessel like ours can remain stable in the storm. The navy’s ships are large too, but still smaller than ours. This current wind and rain are still minor—both sides are handling it fine. But now that thunder has sounded and judging by the sky’s signs, a thunderstorm is imminent. The greater the storm, the more those navy ships will be affected. Only then will we have a chance to escape with our lives.”

Qin Shiyue instantly understood and pointed toward the night sky. “Then let the storm come fiercer still!”

No sooner had the words left his mouth than a bolt of lightning struck directly above his head with a crack, startling everyone with a shudder.

Of course, the one most terrified was Zhang Xiaohua. That fellow hurriedly withdrew his divine sense, no longer daring to let it leave his body. If a heavenly thunderbolt were to be drawn to him at this moment, wouldn’t he be blasted to death on the spot?

The sailors of the South Sea Flood Dragon Palace truly lived up to their reputation. All but those steering the giant ship below deck were gathered on the deck, straining every effort to increase speed. The rest stood in neat formation, each holding bows or other weapons, facing out toward the sea. They stood solemn and unmoving, letting the rain drench them from head to toe without flinching in the slightest.

Standing on high and witnessing such a display, Zhang Xiaohua couldn’t help but feel a chill in his heart. The martial prowess of these sailors, in his eyes now, could be considered mediocre at best—but with so many of them arrayed together, the pressure they exuded was overwhelming. If he were to go up against them alone, even if he killed several, he’d likely be overwhelmed and slain by the rest. At best, he might be able to escape using his Qinggong. Compared to them, those mountain bandits on West Cui Mountain… the gap was simply too vast.

At that moment, a sudden thought flashed through Zhang Xiaohua’s mind: if the sailors of the South Sea Flood Dragon Palace were already this formidable, what about the marines aboard the approaching warships? They were trained in proper military drill and discipline—wouldn’t they be even stronger than these sailors? Zhang Xiaohua let out a sigh. No wonder Flood Dragon King Xu chose passive retreat over active engagement. It wasn’t just a matter of numbers; even in terms of quality, they might be outmatched.

As Zhang Xiaohua silently reflected, the storm had already arrived in full force. Raindrops as large as beans and fierce gusts of wind battered the giant vessel, which now swayed even more violently than before. Especially for those like Zhang Xiaohua, who stood on the upper deck—their footing became all the more precarious. Xu Jiaotong, being slightly weaker in martial skill, nearly slipped off with a misstep. Qin Shiyue quickly urged her to go below. Though she hated to leave her beloved’s side at such a moment, she also knew that if she remained, Qin Shiyue would only be further distracted. With a few parting words, she reluctantly returned to the main hall.

Qin Shiyue glanced at Zhang Xiaohua and opened his mouth as if to say something, but seeing Zhang Xiaohua standing as steady as a rock, he merely sighed and turned his gaze back ahead.

By now the wind and waves had grown immense. The giant ship rocked side to side and surged up and down, its speed clearly slowing. But when they looked toward the distant navy ships, those vessels fared even worse. One had previously been nearly abreast with the giant ship—but now, it had already fallen far behind.

Thus, the seven massive sea vessels surged forward through the darkness, chasing and overtaking one another, with hardly any difference between them.

But as the saying goes, “Heaven is unpredictable, and misfortune visits without warning.” Just when everyone thought escape was within reach, a soft “crack” echoed behind them—one of the masts snapped in half. It came crashing down directly toward Qin Shiyue, who stood on the forward platform. Before Qin Shiyue could react, Flood Dragon King Xu sprang up, both palms striking out simultaneously, landing squarely on the mast. The heavy timber veered off course and toppled to the side.

With the mast down, the giant ship’s speed instantly plummeted. A look of worry crossed Flood Dragon King Xu’s face as he said: “In winds and waves like these, ships usually furl their sails to lessen the impact of the storm. Just now, we broke through in the direction of the tailwind, so I had all sails hoisted to harness the wind and make our escape. I hadn’t expected the gusts to grow this fierce. Our vessel is massive, and even our mast couldn’t withstand it—it snapped clean through. This is ill news indeed.”

Qin Shiyue asked in surprise: “If our mast can break, wouldn’t the naval fleet’s do the same?”

Flood Dragon King Xu gave a bitter smile. “Their ships are smaller, as are their sails—they catch less wind. But their masts aren’t necessarily weaker than ours, so they may not break so easily.”

Qin Shiyue let out a sigh and said no more.

Sure enough, once the giant ship slowed, the navy’s vessels quickly closed the gap. Their formation changed as well. No longer attempting to encircle from all directions, they now charged in from the flanks at an angle—it was clear they realized the giant ship could no longer flee and were preparing for a swift and decisive battle.

Watching the enemy ships draw ever closer, Qin Shiyue smiled and said: “Flood Dragon King Xu, it looks like we’re in for a hard fight. I wonder—how much chance do we stand?”

Flood Dragon King Xu thought for a moment, then replied: “Lord Qin, the standard naval ship carries between eighty to a hundred men. These six ships must have around six hundred soldiers in total. When we set out, I brought one hundred and sixty men aboard this vessel. Two days ago, I left nearly eighty on the other ship. Altogether, we have no more than two hundred and forty. How could we match them? I wouldn’t even say we have a forty percent chance.”

Then, after a pause, Flood Dragon King Xu added thoughtfully: “Still, naval warfare doesn’t always come down to numbers. If we could engage any one ship alone, we’d have a full chance of victory. But the naval troops are well-trained. I fear they won’t give us that opportunity.”

At that, Qin Shiyue’s eyes lit up and he smiled. “Flood Dragon King Xu, hearing you say that gives me a sliver of hope.”

Flood Dragon King Xu was puzzled. “Please enlighten me, Lord Qin.”

Qin Shiyue pointed toward the six pursuing sea vessels and said: “I suspect that even if these naval troops are from Jingyue City, they may not be the real deal—or at least not the original forces assigned to these warships. Though we killed Murong Jian back in Jingyue City, he was but a minor commander. The reason we chose to flee was more because of his Seventh Uncle-in-law. While the city’s Defense Commander holds the highest authority, that doesn’t necessarily mean he can fully mobilize the city’s naval forces. Moreover, judging by the situation, I believe these pursuing ships carry the Defense Commander’s intent, yes—but even more so, the will of the Heaven’s Way Alliance.”

Flood Dragon King Xu and the others all nodded in agreement.

Qin Shiyue continued: “If that’s the case, then these troops likely haven’t received direct orders from General Lu of the navy. That means the men aboard these ships are likely not full complements, nor are they the standard elite naval soldiers.”

Flood Dragon King Xu clapped his hands and said: “Which means, their ability to maneuver these ships won’t be as smooth as before. If we strike in that gap—seize the chance to board one of their vessels—we can take a ship and slip away cleanly!”

Qin Shiyue chuckled: “Flood Dragon King Xu, that doesn’t sound like your usual style—why are you always thinking about running?”

Flood Dragon King Xu gave a wry smile. “Lord Qin, you’re a special envoy of the Divine Cult. If anything were to happen to you in the South Seas, none of the Three Seas Flood Dragon Palaces could bear that responsibility.”

The Flood Dragon Kings of the other two seas also nodded in agreement.

Qin Shiyue said: “I appreciate your good intentions, Flood Dragon King Xu. But if all we do is think about escaping, then we might not escape at all. I believe we should instead focus our forces and charge two of their ships, engage them in direct combat. Our brothers are all men of the martial world; their martial prowess is certainly superior to that of regular soldiers. Though they outnumber us, in true battle, we may not be at a disadvantage.”

Seeing that Qin Shiyue had made up his mind, the Three Seas Flood Dragon Kings and the leaders of the Waters exchanged glances, then all nodded. When warriors meet on a narrow path, victory goes to the brave—that timeless principle still held true. If all they thought of was running, would they even manage to escape?

And so, Flood Dragon King Xu gave the order: furl the sails, turn the ship around, and ram full-force toward the approaching naval vessel!
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