Beginning with the Ubume Bird

Chapter 181: Chapter 18: The Fountain Fight (Part 1)

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Three thousand varieties span the seas, among which the Fire Gold Shark and Gong Fish brought Li Yan quite the surprise.

It’s hard to say about others, but for someone like Li Yan, who has been practicing martial arts since childhood, the enhancement of bone strength to physical fitness is highly perceptible.

Even today, having endured winter training during the coldest spells and summer training in the hottest furies to carve out a bit of skill, Li Yan also found the various immediate enhancement methods in Yan Fu utterly inconceivable.

As long as one dares to risk it all, such exaggerated enhancements could be obtained, reaching levels of martial arts prowess unattainable by past masters. It was indeed an incredibly lucrative deal.

Unfortunately, there was no way to measure the quality of one’s physical abilities as they moved through Yan Fu. Apart from the 560% boost from Hook Star, Li Yan couldn’t pinpoint at what level he currently was.

There were several Yan Fu incidents that provided consumable items directly improving human physical attributes, and Li Yan had gotten his hands on quite a few.

Including ES Cell Injections that increased blood vitality, Blood Oath Wine that enhanced weapon proficiency, Little Golden Mouse Cigarettes that improved jumping power, and the recently consumed Steamed Gong Fish that boosted soul strength, along with Braised Flaming Gold Shark that increased bone strength and blood vitality, and so on.

Little by little, even though the Awakening Degree of the Gu Huo Bird remained at 56% on his panel, Li Yan’s actual combat level had solidly advanced.

The six giant ships of the Red Flag Gang had been navigating through thick fog for most of the night. Neither Li Yan nor Cha Xiaodao felt the slightest bit drowsy.

After a volley took care of that foreign devil and his belongings were divvied up by the pirates of the Red Flag Gang, Li Yan could guess that the ships of the East India Company, just like the Red Flag Gang, had fallen into this dense fog. That Lawrence was most likely wandering ahead, having lost contact with the main fleet.

That’s why the men of the Red Flag remained vigilant, changing watch every two hours, never parting with their swords and guns, sleeping with their pillows on the cannons, for fear of encountering the fleet of the East India Company at night and losing the initiative to act.

Crack!

Xue Ba’s eyes popped open, and he grabbed the long sword from the table, pushing open the cabin door and running up to the deck.

Zhang Dong, who was feigning sleep, shivered from the sea breeze that poured in. It was only then that a piercing whistle echoed over the ship.

In the still of the night, a vague silhouette emerged from the white mist, and aboard the Spirit of the Duck, a clangor resounded. Torches lit up the deck in swathes, accompanied by a tumult of noise.

“Fu Zhi, go check it out.”

Lin Yuanfu, still ailing, didn’t open his eyes but simply ordered.

“Yes, Master Lin.”

Zhang Dong propped himself up with one hand and sat up. His right hand was bandaged, which was the result of his arm being broken by an impatient Xue Ba during the days when Lin Yuanfu was first ill for speaking too much.

On the six large ships of the Red Flag Gang, everyone was on full alert,

“There’s a ship!” “Hear the whistle!” “Where’s my quiver?”

The pirates of the Red Flag Gang adjusted their cannons’ positions and chattered non-stop.

Whistles blew in succession.

Only when they drew closer did they realize there were two groups.

On the left side were a fleet of armed merchant ships, much smaller in size compared to the Red Flag Gang’s lock-ships, totaling seventeen or eighteen. The sea-blue sails bore the image of two Pegasus.

The Xijiang River Giant Bandit, Yishi Zhufen.

On the right was a single ship, a hundred meters in length with two decks, four triangular sails, and the Nine-star Black Flag tied to both bow and stern.

The notorious pirate who once roamed the coastal waters of Guangxi and now guest of honor to the King of An Nan, titled the Commissioner of the Three Announcements of An Nan, the Demon Thief Zhang He.

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The blue Pegasus Cargo Ship was cleaved in half by the Nine Stars Black Flag Ship, and a blue iron net roughly ten meters wide was lowered onto the ship, which was also seen being cut by the crew of the Nine Stars Black Flag Ship. The standoff between the two sides persisted.

At the forefront of the Spirit of the Duck was a raft, with low planking on both sides, making the entire raft resemble a piece of wood, easy to fall off.

The small boat was no more than four meters from front to back. Flags of the Pegasus and the Nine Stars were inserted on both sides, the deck was covered in blood, and there were body parts scattered about, with a bald man sitting at the prow.

“Damn it, the Red Flag Gang is also adding their bit into the mix.”

On the flatboat, a man rubbing mud off his feet cursed.

As the boats from all three sides drew nearer, a pirate stood at the bow of the Spirit of the Duck, shouting loudly:

“Are the spring points open or not? Check the code.” (This is to verify whether they are pirates by using the appropriate jargon.)

The Pegasus-striped cargo ship responded first: “Familiar paths, ventures at sea, the surname Zhu for the Dragon Son, lend a leaf.” (Fellowship, plotting at sea, the head of the household is surnamed Zhu, asking for convenience.)

On the other side, the Nine Stars Black Flag also spoke: “No alliance, test the kiln!” (Not on the same side, every man for himself.)

Li Yan explained to Cha Xiaodao, “On the left is Zhufen from Xijiang, nicknamed Yishi, and on the right is the old nemesis of the Five Flags Alliance, the Demon Thief Zhang He. The Five Flags had pushed him to the border of An Nan two years ago, yet unexpectedly, this Demon Thief transformed into the Governor of An Nan, now closely associated with the British.”

The shouting pirate glanced at Li Yan, who made a downward chopping motion with his hand. The pirate understood and shouted to the people on both sides: “State Wine! A foot of vine from Zhenzhou, hoping to play along!” (It’s the Five Flags Alliance, the head of the household’s surname is Li and he’s on board, looking to throw in a hand.)

A long laugh came from the Pegasus-striped ship.

A chubby fellow emerged from the crowd, his long queue hanging down, his temples patched with plaster, and he made a bow towards the Red Flag’s side.

“Is this the Brother Tianbao from the Five Flags Alliance? Remember me? I’m Lei San. Last year, you and our boss had drinks, and I was there to accompany you.”

Li Yan nodded with a smile, “Of course I remember, Shark Medicine Lei San, right? What’s all the fuss about?”

“Hey! Chasing the sea god gathering, that’s all!”

Seafarers who have fought on the ocean always viewed the Heavenly Mother Crossing the Sea as a divine event. Whenever it occurred, a large number of self-proclaimed outstanding sailors—sometimes a few, sometimes thousands—would try to make a fortune during the Heavenly Mother Crossing the Sea, a practice colloquially referred to as “chasing the sea god gathering.”

Lei San’s face was beaming with a smile.

“Brother Tianbao, you’re also here for the sea god gathering, eh? How come you’re coming from the north?”

“These past few days, the government has been a nuisance around Lantau Island. Madam Shi ordered me to give them a knock, so I just led a sortie and killed Zhuo Huxing, the Governor of the naval forces in Humen. His head is still hanging on the mast. Caught this on the way back.”@@novelbin@@

Li Yan spoke as if chatting about the weather, and everyone from the three sides could hear him clearly.

“Madam Shi had you execute an official?! You, you managed to…?”

Lei San’s voice was very sharp.

“What can I do about my temper? When the boss gives an order, I have no choice but to follow through. Zhuo Huxing’s head is still hanging up there.”

Li Yan leaned forward with his face, “If you don’t believe it, the official flag is still on the ship. Want to have a look?”

“No, no, I didn’t mean that!” Lei San shook his head and hopping on one foot, he addressed Li Yan: “Brother Tianbao, you have to help us out, drive away Zhang He’s men, and let’s split the cargo fifty-fifty!”

Li Yan glanced over the surface of the sea, where a blue iron net with barbs was stuck between the boats on both sides.

It was strange, for the sea was shades of blue and black, except right under that iron net, where the water shimmered a brilliant gold. On the surface, fish scales dotted with blood floated up.