Chapter 1270 - 325: Destroying Pirates Amid Gossiping Mist, Defending Rivers and Mountains with a Mighty Palm (Part 5)

He gazed at the drifting wreckage of the enemy ships in the distance, listening to the wail of waves washing against the reefs; the taut expression on his face finally eased. Turning his head toward Bai Zhi at his side, he saw her silver ornaments dulled by dust, her Miaojiang-colored skirt torn by Sword Qi, yet she still gripped her jade flute tightly, her eyes filled with resolve and concern.

"It’s so good to have you here," Shi Feiyang’s lips curved into a gentle smile as he reached out and wrapped an arm around Bai Zhi’s slender waist.

At that touch, he felt her waist slim and delicate, almost too narrow to grasp, yet carrying the supple strength unique to one who practiced Martial Arts.

Bai Zhi’s cheeks flushed faintly, like peach blossoms just budding in the third month, as she chided softly, "You always take such risks, never knowing how to cherish yourself."

Though she said so, she still let her body lean lightly into his embrace, the herbal fragrance of Miaojiang in her hair lingering around the two of them.

Shi Feiyang lowered his head to place a light kiss on the crown of her hair, then employed the Supreme Lightness Technique "A Thousand Miles With No Trace Left Behind."

In an instant, the two of them shot out like arrows loosed from the string, their toes barely brushing the wave crests as their figures turned into two streaks of shadow.

The sea wind howled past, Bai Zhi’s colorful skirt billowing behind her like a butterfly spreading its wings. She held tightly around Shi Feiyang’s waist, feeling the strong, powerful thrum of his heartbeat, and felt that no matter how many storms they faced, as long as she was in his arms, she could be utterly at ease.

In but a short moment, the two had returned to the merchant ship. Shan Zhi had long been waiting; seeing Shi Feiyang and Bai Zhi return, he hurried forward to greet them.

He cupped his fists in salute, his eyes full of admiration: "Grand Squad Leader, this great victory is truly the fortune of our Heroic Sakura Association!" Shi Feiyang nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping across the disciples on the deck standing ready in strict formation, and said in a resonant voice, "Pass down the order, have the merchant ship turn about. This time, we truly return to Jiangnan!"

Shi Xiong strode over, holding a water-skin, his bronze-hued face still smeared with blood, yet unable to hide his joy. He handed the water-skin to Shi Feiyang and Bai Zhi, laughing heartily, "Grand Squad Leader, Madam, hurry and have a drink to moisten your throats. This battle was fought to our hearts’ content!"

Shi Feiyang took the water-skin and raised his head, drinking a great mouthful; the cool water flowed down his throat, dispersing the fatigue of fierce battle.

He then passed the water-skin to Bai Zhi, his gaze gentle: "You should drink some too."

Bai Zhi accepted the water-skin and took a light sip, savoring the sweetness of the clear water.

She looked at Shi Feiyang, her eyes full of distress. "Shi Lang, you’re hurt." As she spoke, she reached out to lightly touch the wound on his arm.

Shi Feiyang smiled carelessly. "That’s some of the dwarf bandits’ blood!"

Shan Zhi watched from the side, his heart filled with countless emotions.

He recalled how, over these years, he had followed Shi Feiyang in campaigns north and south, passing through countless life-and-death trials.

Before his eyes stood this paired jade couple: one whose Martial Arts towered above the world, righteous and loyal to the extreme; the other refined in mind and gentle in heart, with superb medical skills—surely a couple made by heaven and earth.

"Grand Squad Leader, the Jiangnan Headquarters has surely long prepared a victory banquet, waiting for your triumphant return."

Shan Zhi spoke. Shi Feiyang looked into the distance, his gaze firm yet far-reaching. "This time returning to Jiangnan, after we’ve rested, there are many things yet to be done. Though the dwarf pirates have retreated, their wolfish ambition will not cease so easily. And those Jianghu scum who colluded with them in the shadows must also be thoroughly cleaned out."

He clenched his fist, his entire aura surging; icy-blue True Qi flowed within his palm.

Bai Zhi gently tugged at his sleeve and said softly, "Whatever it is, I’ll face it with you. The gu insects of Miaojiang can also share your burdens."

Shi Xiong laughed loudly at the side. "With Madam’s aid, and together with the Grand Squad Leader’s peerless Martial Arts, our Heroic Sakura Association will surely beat those petty villains till they’re pissing and shitting themselves!" The merchant ship slowly turned, sailing toward the direction of Jiangnan.

The afterglow of the setting sun spilled across the deck, stretching everyone’s shadows long.

Shi Feiyang held Bai Zhi close as they stood at the ship’s bow, gazing at the glittering waves.

The sea breeze brushed lightly past, carrying a trace of salt, yet mingled with the unique gentle aura of Jiangnan.

"The plum blossoms in Jiangnan must have bloomed by now," Bai Zhi said softly.

Shi Feiyang lowered his head to look at her, his eyes brimming with indulgence. "When we get back, I’ll accompany you to enjoy every plum blossom in Jiangnan."

The two looked at each other and smiled. In that moment, they forgot the bloody storms of the Jianghu, leaving only the tender sweetness between them.

Behind them, Shan Zhi and Shi Xiong watched the pair and could not help but show gratified smiles as well.

More than ten days later, the merchant ship of the Heroic Sakura Association cut through the waves and entered the Jiangnan Sea Region.

Shi Feiyang rested his hand on the bronze eagle’s head at the ship’s rail, gazing at the faint outline of Wusongkou in the distance, his dark battle garb whipping in the sea wind. Suddenly, a fishy wind carrying a rotting stench rushed at him. His pupils shrank—this scent was by no means ordinary sea brine; it was more like the breath of death that seeped from a deep-sea behemoth’s decaying flesh.

"Shi Lang, look!" Bai Zhi suddenly clutched his sleeve, the Miaojiang silver bells at her wrist chiming crisply.

Following the direction of her jade-like finger, they saw the corpse of a giant whale floating on the sea’s surface dozens of zhang away, its rotting skin oozing purple-black blood that churned like the suppurating wounds of a fiend. Shan Zhi stroked the dart pouch at his waist, cold gleams flickering faintly between the seams of the darts. "Grand Squad Leader, the dwarf pirates are fond of sinister tricks. This dead whale is likely hiding a King Yama summons." Shi Xiong drew the White Rainbow Sword half an inch from its sheath, its ring like a dragon’s roar tearing through the sky. "Whatever ghostly trick it is, whoever comes, we’ll slaughter them!"

Before the words had fallen, the blue whale’s carcass suddenly convulsed violently, as countless bubbles gushed from its rotting parts.

Shi Feiyang bellowed, "Fall back!" His双 palms thrust out the "Heaven’s Edge" form of the Hundred Victories Saber Technique; nine golden arcs of Saber Qi, wrapped in frosty soul-chilling cold, fanned out in a sweeping strike, yet only barely managed to force back the toxic miasma surging straight toward them by three feet.

At the instant of the whale’s explosion, thick putrid flesh and poisonous miasma surged like a black tide. "Hold your breath and dive!" Shi Feiyang encircled Bai Zhi’s waist, his toes stepping on the flying chunks of flesh as he used "Thousand-Catty Descent," plunging into the depths like a darting fish.

Shan Zhi flicked out three plum-blossom darts that nailed into the reef, borrowing their force to drop swiftly; Shi Xiong pointed his sword at the seawater, the "Wave-Cleaving Art" rousing a three-zhang-high curtain of water to shield them all.