Chapter Thirty-Six: The Enemy Pursues, Bai Xuan Strikes!

"I'll go," Bai Xuan said without hesitation.

Outside, the torrential rain poured down in sheets, making it difficult even to breathe. The wind howled across the sky, and in such weather, ordinary people would find it nearly impossible to move. But Bai Xuan leaped nimbly from the boat, walking through the downpour, climbing heights with the ease of walking on level ground, coming and going unhindered.

His physical prowess had now reached an astonishing level; weaving through the forest and rain was as natural as breathing to him. In just a moment, he had picked more than a dozen medicinal herbs, placing them in his basket.

And then—

“Hm?”

Bai Xuan narrowed his eyes.

Standing atop the small island, amidst the lush forest, he gazed down and saw—

On the other side of the island, in a bay shrouded by rain, a pirate ship was slowly approaching!

He saw clearly that it was the black pirate ship belonging to "Boss Qian." Over the past many days, he had seen it several times and could not possibly mistake it. However, now the flag flying from its mast had been replaced by the blood-stained Lone Star of the Starhunters.

“Starhunters…”

Thoughts flashed through Bai Xuan’s mind. The crew had either been slain and their ship seized, or they had surrendered and joined the Starhunters. Regardless which, for them to pursue through this storm and anchor at the same small island—their intention was unmistakable.

Moments later, several figures from the ship rowed a small boat to shore. They braved the downpour, cursing loudly as they trudged across the island, when suddenly—a flash of spear in the rain, a glint of deadly light.

From the rain-soaked woods, Bai Xuan emerged, spear in hand!

A short time later, having interrogated a few pirates, Bai Xuan’s gaze grew cold. He dispatched each one with a single thrust, then stood and looked down at the pirate ship below.

It turned out the crew had already pledged themselves to the Starhunters. Now Boss Qian, having claimed the eighth seat among them, was riding high on his success, hunting down the Qianliu and seeking to reclaim those five thousand taels of silver.

Once the storm passed, they would immediately spot the Qianliu, and another bloody battle would be unavoidable.

“It seems I cannot return for reinforcements,” Bai Xuan thought with clarity.

Bai Xuanji, after exhausting herself in the great battle earlier that day and using the secret blood-burning technique to fight two foes at once, was in no condition to fight again.

Among the remaining crew, the first mate, Bai Yuanjiu, was formidable, but if drawn into a clash with a third-level blood breakthrough warrior, his life would be in grave danger.

The other sailors had suffered heavy casualties and were in no state to fight.

All this flashed through Bai Xuan’s mind in an instant. He hardened his resolve; in that moment, a killing aura surged through him, his eyes flooding with energy, turning a cold, dragon-like blue—slitted pupils like those of a serpent or a dragon.

“If the killing falls to me, why bother with such complications?”

The pirate ship was anchoring in the bay, lanterns burning through the curtain of rain. On the other side, Bai Xuan strode forth, his pace quickening until he vanished into the downpour, heading for the bay.

“I’ll lift their anchor first, attack at sea. If things go awry, I’ll escape through the water.”

Even as murderous intent burned within him, Bai Xuan remained cool-headed. He was a skilled swimmer; should matters turn dire, he could flee into the water amid the storm—no one would be able to pursue him.

...

Aboard the black pirate ship—

“Damn it, where did this accursed rain come from?” Boss Qian sat in the captain’s cabin, brow furrowed, cursing loudly. He had never expected to be trapped by a sudden storm at this small island.

“…But there aren’t many sea routes here. The Bai family’s escape path should be this one as well. Maybe their ship’s also caught in the storm, maybe they’re even on this island.” The thought occurred to him, and he suddenly stood up. “Second mate, take some men ashore and see if anyone else is on the island.”

Though the second mate was reluctant to venture out in the storm, he had no choice but to obey.

Boss Qian commanded three or four large ships, but this one was the widest and most stable—a flagship-class deep-sea vessel he always reserved for himself.

A little while later—

The deck watch, muttering curses beneath the pounding rain, saw the second mate’s boat returning.

“What’s going on?” Uncertain, he called for a few strong hands to winch the small boat aboard. But as soon as they looked inside, their faces changed!

There was no sign of the second mate—only a pool of blood swirled in the rain, the boat empty.

“Something’s wrong!”

A chill ran down the spines of every pirate on deck, terror gripping them.

At that moment, a shrill whistle pierced the air. Before the pirates could react, three throwing knives whistled through the rain, pinning them where they stood—blood spurting from their chests!

Meanwhile, the ship had begun to drift away from shore, the anchor somehow lifted, and now, in the midst of the storm, they were being swept out to sea!

“We’re under attack!”

“We’re under attack!”

The alarm sounded throughout the pirate ship. Inside the cabin, Boss Qian’s expression changed as he leapt to his feet.

“Bold, to dare attack my ship? Has Bai Xuanji lost her mind?” In a few strides, Boss Qian was on deck, just in time to see a figure flicker and vanish into the rain.

“What?”

“Be careful!”

Boss Qian’s face turned ashen.

He saw the corpses on the deck and realized the danger, but it was already too late!

Whoosh!

Another shrill whistle, and a throwing knife tore through the rain, covering dozens of meters in an instant!

“Is he aiming for me?”

A pirate rushed onto the deck, only to see a flash of silver flying at his chest.

Too fast!

He brought up his saber to block, but the force behind the knife was monstrous. With a single touch, his blade was knocked aside, and the silver flash pierced straight through his chest!

Blood sprayed, terror froze on the pirate’s face as he staggered and fell.

Now, ten bodies littered the deck.

“Damn it!” Boss Qian’s face was twisted in rage and fear.

This storm, this pounding rain—the enemy moved unhindered, slaughtering with throwing knives like a demon unleashed!

Once again—

Whoosh!

Another knife shot toward him!

“Trying to kill me?” Boss Qian’s eyes gleamed with ferocity. He was exceedingly alert, and now, brandishing a heavy broadsword, he blocked in midair. The knife struck with a heavy clang, deflecting off, twisted and shattered.

His strength had reached the third blood breakthrough; these throwing knives could not harm him!

“Crude knife skills—just brute force, nothing more. You can’t hurt me!” Boss Qian swept his gaze around. “Why not show yourself? I can see you now—how long can you keep using those knives?”

But the attacker did not answer. Another knife whistled through the rain!

“Damn it.” Boss Qian felt a mounting frustration. He knew—the enemy was testing, probing their strength, but in this storm, it was near impossible to track his movements.

Yet—

Through the howling wind and rain—

Suddenly, a figure stepped onto the deck, iron fish-spear in hand. With a blur, he crossed several meters in an instant—a pirate’s head flew from his shoulders!

“Crossbows—fire!”

Now that the enemy had revealed himself, Boss Qian felt a chill of caution, refraining from charging in and instead stepping back with a shout.

The enemy’s appearance likely meant he’d judged the ship’s defenders insufficient to threaten him.

Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!

A volley of crossbow bolts shot toward Bai Xuan!

“You won’t stop me.”

Bai Xuan’s gaze was icy.

With a sweep of his iron fish-spear, he spun rainwater from deck and air into a whirling vortex. The crossbow bolts struck with dull, drumlike thuds, each one sliced apart by the spear!

“What?” Boss Qian’s heart lurched.

He saw Bai Xuan lower his stance and charge, spear dragging behind him.

“All together—attack!” Boss Qian shouted, though he himself held back, hand on sword at his waist, pupils narrowed, while dozens of pirates drew their weapons and charged forward!

On the deck, Bai Xuan’s spear danced, each thrust sending heads flying and blood spraying. His movements flickered like a phantom among them!

“Kill him!”

The pirates swarmed with sabers, but when their blades struck Bai Xuan, only a metallic ring sounded—blades shattered, edges curled, his simple robe torn to reveal blue-green scales beneath, unscathed.

“How is this possible?” a pirate gasped. He was the third mate, trained in the true art of the blade, unleashing a crescent arc powered by his surging blood as he struck.

But as the blade hit, it shattered with a loud crack, splinters flying!

“Die!” Bai Xuan struck again, spear flashing like a phantom—the third mate’s throat was slit in an instant!

Blood spurted; the third mate’s head flew, eyes wide with disbelief.