Beginning with the Ubume Bird

Chapter 226: Chapter 63 The Forbidden Woman

“Ba felt a bit wronged by his loss. This guy’s blood and vigor are abundant; ordinary weapons can’t injure his bones or inner organs. That’s exactly the type of opponent Ba dreads the most.”

“If it weren’t against the rules to intentionally take a life, equipping Ba with a dagger poisoned through and through would make that whelp sing a different tune!”

The Cai Firm’s Colleagues whispered among themselves.

“One hundred thousand taels,” Mr. Cai spoke up, “Within the Cai Clan’s possession is a hundred-meter-long Portuguese seven-masted ship. Such an item is priceless on the market, so I’ll estimate its worth based on a similarly sized Guang ship. Taking into account the ship’s equipment, it’s around one hundred thousand taels. The exact price, I’ll have my men calculate it, but I’ll offer one such ship to start, is that acceptable?”

The largest ship possessed by the Red Flag Gang was an eighty-meter Guang ship, with about ten such vessels in their fleet. Furthermore, the Guang ships built by the authorities in earlier years were no match for the Portuguese’s new model of the seven-masted ship. By proposing such a valuation, Cai Qian was taking quite a loss.

Li Yan also spoke up, “The Red Flag Gang hasn’t retired. We can still man our ships. There are 56,042 of us who can board, so that’s two hundred thousand taels, right? Deduct the wages we discussed first, then call me once you’re done.”

...

The Cai Firm’s colleague clicked away on the abacus, filling the air with tinkling sounds. A bustling scene unfolded.

“Hahahaha~ The Red Flag Gang truly harbors hidden dragons and crouching tigers, huh. My subordinates are also getting restless. Anyone present who’s interested, why not try a friendly competition?”

Seeing that Elder Yan had taken his seat and Cai Qian showed no inclination to speak further, Zhufen immediately spoke up.

“If Elder Zhu is in the mood, the Phoenix Tail Gang is happy to oblige,”

the leader of the Phoenix Tail Gang rolled his eyes, exchanging a knowing smile with Zhufen.

“Heh, how coincidental, I was also thinking of testing my skills against Elder Zhu’s men.”

The one interrupting the silent exchange between the two was Lin Ajin.

“What’s the matter? Zhao Yingshan (Leader of the Phoenix Tail Gang), since both of us have the same idea, why don’t our sides fight it out first?”

The leader of the Phoenix Tail Gang’s expression tensed, and Zhufen’s face darkened as well.

“Er… I dare not, dare not.”

Lin Ajin turned to Zhufen, “Elder Zhu, it seems it’s down to us two then.”

Zhufen forced a smile, “Lin, you and I have had no quarrels in the past, nor any enmity of late. If they want to fight me, what right do you have to interfere? Even if you want to fight, shouldn’t there be an order to these things?”

“Elder Zhu brother, we’ve known each other for many years now. We’re intimate enemies, and we know the real worth of each other, who is whose pawn. Mr. Cai has set the rules, and you can’t exploit any loopholes; after all, it’s about paying up. But you’re still a giant of your own right, and your reputation matters, doesn’t it? Pack away that fake fighting act, let’s speak with our true abilities.”

“Fine~” Zhufen elongated his response, “We’ll rely on our abilities.”

With that, he signaled to his men with his eyes.

“Ahem…”

Lin Ajin coughed twice and waved his handkerchief. A ruggedly determined middle-aged man stepped forward.

In the Red Flag Gang, a shifty character known as the Gaoli ghost sneered, “Oh my, look who it is~ an old acquaintance.”

Bai Ruyu

Status: Quanlang Type (One of the five hundred Quanlang Types from the Precious Ship Lin Clan)

Specialty: Naval Battle 84%

Threat Level: Red

The Gaoli ghost and the Quanlang Type are the only two physical refinement techniques in the entire South Seas. Legend has it that both originated from the same technique, acquired by the Sanbao Eunuch during his voyage to the Western Ocean, from an instance of the Heavenly Mother Crossing the Sea. Its original name was “Quanlang Sea Ghost”, and it was the protector of Mazu.

As time passed and situations changed, the cultivation technique of the “Quanlang Sea Ghost” was divided into two sets, with one set, the “Gaoli ghost,” in the Five Flagsi Alliance, and the other, the “Quanlang Type,” in the Precious Ship Lin Clan.

To this day, there still exists a competitive spirit between the Quanlang Type and the Gaoli ghost. That’s why, upon seeing a member of the Lin Family Quanlang Type, someone from the Red Flag Gang couldn’t resist mocking them.

Bai Ruyu glanced at the man from the Red Flag Gang, “If you don’t agree, come and challenge me.”

“Yeah, I’ll wait for you to finish up, pup!”

The people from the Red Flag Gang and the Precious Ship Lin Clan immediately started hurling insults at each other.

Li Yan coughed twice, “My apologies, my apologies.”

Lin Ajin nodded gently, not making much of it.

Before Zhufen’s side even saw the person, they heard the clanking of chains. It took a while before an old woman with dishevelled hair and dry skin emerged, shackled at her hands and feet, her eyes bulging, showing more white than black.

On the side of the Red Flag Gang, sitting among a group of rough men, Zhi Nong had been staring at her since she began to step forward from under Zhufen’s hand.

Bai Ruyu kept her eyes on the old woman, “Do you want us to unlock those chains for you?”

The old woman, her teeth black and yellow, replied, “No need…”

Cha Xiaodao caught a fleeting glimpse. He realized this old woman was even more extraordinary.

Dragon Granny

Code: Forbidden Witch Curse (Limit: Nine Luminaries)

Threat Level: Ten Cities

(Those who learn the complete spells will pay the price of giving up the Yan Fu Heritage.)

(Killing a practitioner of the complete code does not grant the right to record their spells for purchasing.)

(The complete code can only be obtained from the fruit; offering the complete code to Yan Fu will unlock all skills within, but it will occupy the skill slot.)

“Eh~ Eh~”

Cha Xiaodao prodded Zhi Nong, this enchantress born of the Wupozi bloodline, “What is a ‘Forbidden Witch’?”

“Brother Daozai, what keen eyes you have,” Zhi Nong chuckled behind her black veil, “It’s the same trade as your Queen Yan, practicing the arts of witchcraft, ghosts, and deities. Mortals who seek to approach the spirits will surely be bitten back. This person is withered, their life force dried up. Compared to Madam Shi, who could maintain her youthful beauty before death, it’s a far cry. However…”

She glanced at Bai Ruyu, “A mere martial man relying on the incomplete art of refining the flesh, I’m afraid he is no match for this old woman.”

Zhao Xiaoyi, leaning against his long spear with black shaft, didn’t like the sound of that, “I’m a martial man too, and I haven’t undergone any flesh refining but still exchanged over a hundred moves with Tianbao. You’re so arrogant, how come you got your wrist snapped as soon as the fight started?”

Zhi Nong sniffed disdainfully, her lips moving slightly, “Many mystical methods and magical artifacts in the South Seas come from Heavenly Mother Crossing the Sea,”

“Recently during Heavenly Mother Crossing the Sea, Tianbao Dragon Head and Cha Daozai must have come across some strange adventure, I’m not sure which. But there’s no way it’s comparable to the Quanlang Type or Gaoli ghosts. Instead, some people… Tianbao Dragon Head was just toying with you, and you took it seriously enough to boast about it.”

“Humph.”

Zhao Xiaoyi scoffed twice and was too lazy to argue with this woman.

“Ruyu!”

“Old Bai.”

A shout of alarm came from Lin Ajin’s people, and they quickly dragged the unconscious Bai Ruyu back.

Dragon Granny was expressionless; she glanced at Zhufen and turned to walk back.

But in the time it took for a few words to be exchanged, the outcome had already been decided on the field.

This old woman was indeed not simple, able to conjure six-foot-tall clay figures out of thin air, with multicolored tunics, bulging bellies, long hair, huge breasts, and poison in their nails and teeth. Bai Ruyu had chopped down seven or eight, but not without sustaining several wounds. Before she could swing her blade a few more times, she felt heavy-headed and light-footed, her face turning purplish as she collapsed to the ground.

“Hmph, Mr. Lin, got anything to say now?”

“It’s just the beginning; don’t rush it.”

Zhang He cleared his throat, “Zhan Hui, it’s your turn.”

From the Demon Thief’s side, one person stepped forward. He walked onto the chains-strewn deck.

The man in his twenties, wore a black silk robe with very wide sleeves, and his features suggested he was Vietnamese.