Beginning with the Ubume Bird

Chapter 238: Chapter 75: The End

“Mr. Cai! What on earth are you suggesting?”

Zhufen stood up and exclaimed in shock.

Cai Qian paid him no attention, merely bowing repeatedly while apologizing, then turned and disembarked.

Zhang He, who had been silent since his defeat to Li Yan, shot a quick glance at the hurriedly departing Cai Qian without a word.

Lin Ajin’s face bore a thoughtful expression, showing no surprise or anger, and remained extremely calm.

At first, everyone on the scene was whispering to one another, but after a while, they all fell silent.

Before the Tianbo Division’s deck, fruit had fallen to the ground, bloodstains remained, and the macaw parrot scurried about, creating an extremely eerie atmosphere.

This series of shocking changes left everyone unable to react in time; a Tianbo Division’s big meeting that was supposed to sort things out ended up stirring up the winds and clouds with twists and turns bombarding them one after another, leaving everyone dumbfounded.

The five biggest pirate groups engaged in a series of fierce fights. First, the Precious Ship Lin Clan, whom few favored, unexpectedly took the lead; then Lin Ajin announced his withdrawal, and Cai Qian emerged as the candidate for the Alliance Hierarch, leading everyone to realization that Mr. Cai had been plotting all along.

While everyone was still relishing the tactics Mr. Cai used to make Lin Ajin, one of the “Five Great Pirate Forces,” willingly clear the way for him, the Demon Thief suddenly turned his back, refusing to acknowledge the results of the meeting!

As the debate between Cai’s and Zhang’s factions became more and more rigid, Zhang He looked ready to flip the table and walk away, while Zhufen only wanted more chaos; just when the situation was getting most chaotic, the Red Flag Gang emerged! Tianbao directly declared that the fight wasn’t over, and no one could just walk away, even calling out Zhang He by name to battle on the big ship. If Zhang lost, he should stop causing trouble,

The renowned Demon Thief, whose sorcery had previously blown a hundred-meter-long ship in half, was not believed to be someone who Tianbao could beat. However, to everyone’s surprise, Li Yan, with his uncompromising strength, defeated the Demon Thief. Zhang He returned to his seat and shut his mouth, which left countless onlookers agape.

At this point, the tide had begun to turn in favor of the Red Flag, but the Cai Clan tactfully avoided combat, leaving the Red Flag powerless. With just a few words from Cai Qian, Xu Longsi was rattled, and the situation became increasingly tense.

Soon after, an old man in black, the turn of face from Cai Qian, the appearance of the “Fiery Cauldron Madam” through the macaw parrot—all this baffled many as they couldn’t make heads or tails of it. Only a few well-informed individuals linked it to the recent events of the “Red Flag attacking Humen” and the “Governor-General of Guangdong and Guangxi’s disappearance,” piecing together part of the truth.

Li Yan, seeing Cai Qian and the others heading toward the Ryukyu Islands and hearing the name “Fiery Cauldron Madam,” immediately thought of Lady Dan. He wanted to follow, but it was not the time as he was harvesting the fruits of victory, though the worry in his heart did not show on his face.

“Mr. Cai announced his withdrawal; what does the Precious Ship Lin Clan have to say about this?”

Li Yan broke the silence.

Lin Ajin turned to face Li Yan head-on: “I was paying back a favor to Cai Qian by attending this meeting. Now that the debt is settled, everyone will make their own calculations. However, having already stated my withdrawal, I naturally won’t go back on my word.”

“In that case, Zhang He, what do you have to say?”

“I have nothing to say.”

Zhang He’s voice was dry and cold.

“Hmm,” Li Yan nodded, grinning at Zhufen.

Just as Zhufen was about to speak, Li Yan already turned away: “Everyone~”

All eyes concentrated on him, their looks complex.

“This whole night’s affairs have been full of deceit and chaos. Mr. Cai is very impressive, arranging everything clearly and meticulously before the meeting.”

He paused: “We are all here to make a fortune, not to heed someone’s orders and commands.”

Li Yan’s words struck a chord with many. These pirates, unable to contend for the position of the Great Alliance Leader, harbored their own selfish desires and plans. They supported someone as the Alliance Hierarch in the hope of reaping some benefits.

“In recent years, the government has been putting more and more pressure on us. The imperial envoy from above has been replaced three times, and the fleet called in by the Red-haired Men has been getting stronger. Our fortunes have been declining. It’s imperative that someone takes the lead. Everyone has seen enough this night to understand who that person is.”

He pointed to himself: “Madam Shi has just passed away, and we of the Red Flag have stepped forward, with me as the Dragon Head. However, I, Tianbao, am well aware of my own limitations. Among those present are good friends with whom I’ve shared drinks and meat, as well as arch-enemies who wouldn’t hesitate to stab me in the back. With me as the leader, some would lie awake at night.”

Somewhere within the crowd, a voice emerged: “Tianbao Dragon Head, let’s not speak in riddles. What difference does it make if an eight-year-old girl leads the alliance or you do? In the end, won’t you be the one in charge?”

Without looking at him, Li Yan replied, “In that case, according to this brother’s opinion, shall I take on the role of the Alliance Hierarch?”

“Cough, cough~ cough, cough~”

An elderly pirate coughed twice and waved his hands repeatedly: “Tianbao Dragon Head, you are of high integrity, and we all see it. With Xiu’er taking this position, the spirits of the late Alliance Leader Zheng and Madam Shi would also find peace.”

The crowd erupted in a noisy debate, when suddenly, someone said loudly: “Zheng Yiguai was the leader of the Five Flags, but that doesn’t mean we are obliged to honor his favors!”

Li Yan’s eyes narrowed, a flash of ruthlessness gleaming therein. Unexpectedly, the loudmouth stood out, raising his voice even higher: “Today, I respect Tianbao Dragon Head!”

“Indeed, it should be Tianbao Dragon Head himself.”

“I too respect Tianbao Dragon Head.”

The seasoned pirates all remained silent, not speaking a word. Those who were clamoring were likely young novices, so poor they had no rice to eat, who tore down the patched cloth of their ancestral grandmothers to make a flag and become pirates. However, such people were not in the minority, and the momentum of their voices was vast.

As the volume of these voices grew louder, Li Yan lowered his head and walked two steps, then pulled a firearm from the waist of a Red Flag pirate. He aimed it at the sky and pulled the trigger. The gunpowder bomb exploded in mid-air, cutting short the catcalls of the crowd.

Li Yan’s face wore a smile, but his voice was rough, “I grew up in the Red Flag Gang, passing ammunition to sailors since I was nine and have been scrapping it out at sea for over a decade. We must follow rules when starting out and the same goes for joining a gang. Xiu’er’s surname is Zheng. If she does not take the position of Alliance Leader, then I will have to relinquish the position of Dragon Head to her. Are you asking me to hand over the sea charts, accounts, and the flags pressed under Lantau Island by the Five Flags’ leaders, to become a penniless pirate?”

In the absence of Cai Qian, Lin Ajin, Zhufen, and Zhang He all remained silent. In the vast South Seas, not a single pirate could hold up under Li Yan’s interrogation.

Wherever Li Yan’s gaze landed, everyone averted their eyes.

After a while, an older pirate who had spoken up earlier was the first to stand, bowing to Xiu’er, “Ming Gang’s Shark Wei, greets Alliance Leader Xiu’er.”

As soon as he had spoken, a hundred or so behind him stood up, bowing to Xiu’er.

“Blue Flag Gang’s Qianjun Biao, greets Alliance Leader Xiu’er.”

“White Flag Gang’s Fire Head Jin, greets Alliance Leader Xiu’er.”

“White Flag Gang’s Iron Sickle Ming, greets Alliance Leader Xiu’er.”

Zhao Xiaoyi stood up with no one behind him, yet still bowed, “Zhao Xiaoyi, on behalf of Black Flag’s Madam Guo, greets Alliance Leader Xiu’er.”

Once the momentum was set, figure after figure stood up, bowing to Xiu’er.

Some hesitated with troubled expressions, such as Short Ox Gang’s Anqian Gang, and some pirates who had especially poor relations with the Red Flag.

Around the round table, everyone’s expression varied. Lin Ajin gracefully stood up, bowing deeply twice to Xiu’er.

“Precious Ship Lin Clan, greets Alliance Leader Xiu’er.”

As Lin Ajin, one of the major five sea pirates, spoke up, another surge went through the crowd as pirate leaders bowed and paid respect to Zheng Xiu’er in succession.

“White Flag Gang’s Li Six, greets Alliance Leader Xiu’er.”

“Short Ox Gang’s Lei Ao, greets Alliance Leader Xiu’er.”

“White Bottom Gang’s Mo Laosan, greets Alliance Leader Xiu’er.”

On the deck of the Tianbo Division, most of the pirate leaders stood up. Zhang He, who had been silent, let out a breath as if an old dragon exhaling.

He pressed on the table and also got up. Behind him, Qi Daoji and his men hurriedly stood as well.

Zhang He glanced at Li Yan, and then at Xiu’er with her taut little face, a small furrow lifting in his long brows amidst her delicate features.

“An Nan’s Zhang He, greets Alliance Leader Xiu’er.”

At this, no one could maintain their composure any longer.

“White Bottom Gang’s Ruan Xiaoping, greets Alliance Leader Xiu’er.”

“Red Head Gang’s Gao Xiuming, greets Alliance Leader Xiu’er.”

“Yellow Flag Gang’s Xu Longsi, greets Alliance Leader Xiu’er,”

Anqian Gang clenched his teeth and also stood up, “Black Flag Gang’s Anqian Gang, greets Alliance Leader Xiu’er.”

Zhufen slammed his fist on the table; he was one of the five major sea pirates yet was barely noticeable at the Great Meeting of Tianbo Division, “Yishi Zhufen, greets Alliance Leader Xiu’er.”

“Yi Gong Clan’s Tuo Lun, greets the Alliance Leader.”

“The Malay Peninsula’s Cai Xi, greets the Alliance Leader.”

“…”

“Sumatra’s Gang Lin Haiying, greets the Alliance Leader.”

All of the leaders, including those of the Tu Tribe, stood up one after another, and in the hall, not a single person remained seated.

Xiu’er clenched her palms together under the table, squeezing hard. She stood there, but her throat was hoarse and no words came out.

Li Yan approached Xiu’er, smiling warmly at her, and bowed just the same, “Red Flag Gang’s Tianbao, greets Alliance Leader Xiu’er.”

Since the fall of Treasure Island, the increasingly bustling and contentious South Seas pirates, for the first time in over a hundred years, had a nominal sovereign. Based on the strength of the Red Flag Gang, with the brother (father) Tianbao as her advisor, the eight-year-old Pirate Queen of the South Seas, Zheng Xiu, united the Southern pirates into a single fist.