Chapter 643 - 274: Dark Sea’s 3 Demon Strongholds, 700 Water Fiends

Chapter 643: Chapter 274: Dark Sea’s 3 Demon Strongholds, 700 Water Fiends

"So there are ships. What’s all the fuss about?"

Cheng Bali forced a smile.

"Looks like today’s a good day. So many ’water buffalo’?"

"Water buffalo" was their nautical cant, meaning the same thing as a "fat sheep."

However, the lookout hurriedly said,

"Boss... I don’t think... I don’t think they’re ’water buffalo’!"

"Not ’water buffalo’?"

Cheng Bali’s expression changed. With a single leap, he was already on the mast. Clenching his saber between his teeth, he scrambled nimbly to the very top in the blink of an eye.

Shading his eyes with his hand, he gazed into the distance, and his face instantly fell.

"Why are there so many ships?

"This is bad. We leave, now.

’Damn it,’ he thought. ’Have those people from the East Sea finally decided to wipe us out for good?’

"What about the cargo?"

"This is no time for cargo! Saving our own skins is what matters!"

Cheng Bali roared, sliding down the mast. He was the first to cross the gangplank back to his own ship, his men scrambling after him.

They pulled back the gangplank, while others deftly weighed anchor and unfurled the sails.

But the ship moved at a crawl, for there was no wind at all.

Sweat beaded on Cheng Bali’s brow. His mind raced with recent rumors from the Jianghu.

They said a Demon Evil God had come from the Eastern Domain. He had killed Huang Lie of Hengyang Island on Wuxia Island and was now leading a large group of East Sea Martial World People to find some secret treasure of the East Sea—the Profound Celestial Iron Mirror.

Although Cheng Bali was part of the Dark Sea Three Demon Stockade’s "Seven Hundred Water Thugs," such matters were too far removed from his world. He had only listened to them as idle gossip.

But now, it seemed he was about to run right into them!

"Pick up the pace! Oarsmen, put your backs into it! If this lot catches us, we’re..."

Cheng Bali’s words came to an abrupt halt.

He had been glancing around as he spoke.

But as his gaze swept across the deck, he realized that, at some unknown moment, two uninvited guests had appeared on his ship.

One was a handsome young man in green robes, who was examining the ship with mild curiosity.

Beside him stood a masked woman.

"The Dark Sea Territory certainly lives up to its reputation. We’ve been sailing the outskirts for days without seeing a single bandit."

"I didn’t expect to run into a whole ship of them so soon after entering."

"Everyone else does their best to avoid them, yet you use your Lightweight Technique to rush right over the moment you see them..."

The two conversed casually, completely ignoring Cheng Bali, the pirate leader, and all the other bandits on board.

But Cheng Bali felt no anger. Instead, a chill crept over him.

Just then, the young man’s gaze fell upon Cheng Bali.

"Come here. I have some questions for you."

The young man’s words were mild, but for some reason, the chill in Cheng Bali’s heart didn’t lessen. It only grew colder, more intense.

It was as if his very meridians and bones were freezing solid.

He forcefully suppressed the fear in his heart. Just as he was about to speak, he heard an angry roar.

"Where did this ’water buffalo’ come from? Sneaking onto our ship? You’re courting death!!"

As the words fell, a pirate wielding a great saber dropped down from above.

He viciously swung his saber down at the young man’s head.

The young man didn’t even seem to spare him a glance. With a casual flick of his hand, he sent out a palm strike, sharp as a blade, in a straight vertical line.

A sharp SHIING was heard!

Before the Water Thief even got close, the palm strike sliced him in two. The halves flew in opposite directions, finally slamming onto the deck as blood spread across the wood.

The scene was so abrupt that all the pirates on board were left stunned and speechless.

The young man then said,

"It’s hard to talk with so many people around. Let’s clean up a bit first."

Cheng Bali froze. ’What does that mean?’

Before he could even process what was happening, the young man in front of him vanished.

A dull THUD sounded from close beside him. He whipped his head around to see one of his men lying dead on the ground.

His head had been smashed clean into his chest cavity. It was a gruesome sight.

Cheng Bali’s heart leaped into his throat as a continuous series of THUDS and BANGS echoed in his ears.

He frantically looked around, but he never saw the green-robed young man—only body after body falling to the deck.

Some had their heads smashed, others had gaping holes in their chests.

Some were even reduced to a fine mist of blood...

Every one of them died a miserable death; not a single complete corpse remained.

Cheng Bali’s eyes instantly turned bloodshot. These were his brothers who had braved life and death with him.

’And they all died just like that, for no reason?’

He should have erupted in a rage, fought the young man to the death...

But he didn’t.

The young man was too terrifying.

’He decides life and death in a single thought. My men didn’t even have a chance to resist.’

Overwhelmed by immense fear, Cheng Bali was frozen in place as if his pressure points had been sealed, unable to move a single step.

Not until the green-robed young man emerged from the ship’s cabin, his hands completely scarlet...

DRIP, DRIP, DRIP. Blood trickled from his fingertips, splattering on the deck as he walked right up to him.

Cheng Bali watched, wide-eyed, until his legs suddenly gave out. He collapsed to his knees with a THUD.

The young man seemed taken aback for a moment, then smiled.

"I hear that you Dark Sea pirates can navigate past the hidden reefs and travel deep into the heart of the Dark Sea Territory."

"I’d like you to take me there. What do you say?"

Cheng Bali’s heart tightened. He hurriedly said,

"That... I can’t... If I take you, I’ll die."

The green-robed young man smiled faintly.

"Don’t worry..."

A flicker of hope sparked in Cheng Bali’s heart. ’If I agree, will this young man protect me?’

Then he heard the young man continue,

"Don’t worry. You’ll die if you don’t take me, too."

"..."

Cheng Bali cursed inwardly. ’This bastard may be handsome, but he’s no good man.’

He steeled himself. ’I’m dead either way. How can I die so pathetically?’

He roared,

"Just who are you?!"

"My name is Fang Shuwen."

Fang Shuwen looked down at Cheng Bali.

"I advise you to consider your next words very carefully."

"Fang... Shuwen!?"

Cheng Bali felt his courage recede as quickly as it had come, like a tide going out.

Finally, his face deathly pale, he said,

"Alright... I... I’ll do it..."

Fang Shuwen glanced at Luo Shuqing.

"See? I told you this would be simple."