Chapter 82 of 100

Chapter 82

16 min read4,080 words

(Please note: A new week has arrived. By the way, I want to talk about my backlog of chapters. From now on, after each daily update, I will report my backlog to everyone so that you all have a clear idea. After this chapter, my backlog is 1.5 chapters. I estimate that after updating three chapters tomorrow, it will reach 2.5 or 3 chapters. I will try to save one chapter each day. Additionally, I hope that this week, the book can make it to the weekly recommendation list, even if it's the last place. If the book can stay on the weekly recommendation list for the entire week, then by Saturday and Sunday of the new week, I will release one-third of my backlog, in addition to the regular three updates per day. This means that there will be two consecutive days of updates. So, if you have recommendation tickets, please support the book as much as possible. Thank you all.)

"That ship is very likely the famous harbinger of death."

The horizon in this world is flat, and as long as there is nothing blocking the view, one can see very far. The ship following the giant vessel made no attempt to hide, following in the same manner, seemingly not caring if it was discovered by the giant vessel ahead.

Hao Qi stood with the captain, who looked at the ship behind them through a telescope. The flag on this ship was blank, and after a moment, the captain spoke.

Hao Qi was sitting beside him. Unlike the captain who needed a telescope, Hao Qi could see clearly with his internal energy, even more clearly than the telescope. He could even see the people on the ship, and they all looked like burly men with fierce faces. These people on the ship did not seem to be good-natured.

"Harbinger of death? What is that?" Hao Qi asked curiously.

The captain put down the telescope and looked at Hao Qi. "The Shadow of the Blue Sea has been raiding ships crossing the Blue Sea for decades, almost destroying every ship it encounters. Almost no ship can escape. However, not everyone has perished. According to the survivors, after a ship enters the deep sea, a small boat will appear at a distance behind it. The appearance of this small boat often signifies that the Shadow of the Blue Sea has targeted the ship. Therefore, it is called the harbinger of death by the survivors and those who know about it."

"I see." Hao Qi glanced at the small boat in the distance and said, "So, the Shadow of the Blue Sea has already targeted us? When will they attack? And isn't it said that the anti-sea monster equipment can only be installed on large ships? How did that small boat enter the deep sea?"

"I don't know exactly how it was installed, but there are rumors that the Shadow of the Blue Sea's technology is even more advanced than ours in the Sea Kingdom, such as miniaturizing the system. We don't know if these rumors are true, but the small boat has indeed entered the deep sea. As for when the Shadow of the Blue Sea will attack... wait. The attack will come during the storm. This is the consensus among all the survivors. They come with the storm, and when the time comes, it will be up to you, sir." The captain bowed to Hao Qi.

"I understand. Since you are government sailors and also part of the Sea Kingdom's navy, I hope you can take care of the girl I brought. She doesn't know martial arts," Hao Qi waved his hand and said.

The captain laughed. "That little girl is very cute. She has gotten along well with my crew over these days. She is a very likable child. Don't worry, we will take good care of her and ensure she is not harmed in the chaos."

With that, Hao Qi had no more questions. He then practiced his internal energy in silence as usual, spending his days chatting and joking with the crew. Although the crew members acted as usual, Hao Qi knew that they were secretly preparing their weapons every day, both cold and hot weapons, waiting for the pirates to attack.

Time passed, and the giant ship had already reached the middle of the Blue Sea, almost in the deepest part, when finally, the storm came.

Strangely, the sky was clear, but as dusk approached and the sky grew darker, a strong wind began to blow. The wind grew stronger, and soon raindrops started to fall, becoming heavier and heavier. In about half an hour, the entire sea was engulfed in a storm, and the surroundings were pitch black, illuminated only by the lights on the ship. In this environment, everyone seemed to have a premonition and began preparing their weapons, moving to the defensive positions they had planned.

After instructing Zhang Heng to protect Lan Ling'er carefully, Hao Qi took a deep look at her and then went to his cabin to change into a short outfit. He walked to the deck, staying in the darkness and not showing himself in the light, waiting silently in the storm. He had a premonition, and it was much stronger than that of the crew members. In his premonition, a battle was about to begin.

Time passed, and the storm grew more intense. Around 10 PM, lights appeared in the storm outside the ship. The lights quickly approached, and soon everyone heard the sound of waves, engines, and steam. A ship, about the same size as the one they were on, was rapidly approaching, and it looked like a warship, a large battleship.

Everyone held their breath. Sure enough, as the battleship approached, gunfire began, and the ship's sides came close together. Many ropes were thrown from the battleship, and it was clear that the person driving the battleship was an experienced sailor. The two ships quickly came close with only a slight collision, which was a miraculous feat in such a storm. The ropes were quickly tied, and the two ships were bound together in a short time.

"The Shadow of the Blue Sea is here! Surrender and you will be spared!"

After the two ships were bound together, this shout echoed, and the crew saw many pirates jump from the battleship. These pirates clearly had martial arts skills, led by about six or seven quasi-internal energy realm practitioners. Over a hundred pirates jumped onto the ship, and they were immediately met with gunfire from the crew, who had been guarding the important defensive points. Several pirates were killed on the spot, and even one of the quasi-internal energy realm practitioners was injured, shot in the shoulder. The pirates were quickly pinned down at the ship's edge.

"Heh heh, more military ambushes? How many times will you try before you learn?"

A sinister voice echoed in the storm. Despite the loud wind, rain, gunfire, and shouts, everyone could hear this voice clearly. It was obvious that the owner of this voice was an internal energy realm practitioner.

Sure enough, a man in a black tight-fitting suit jumped from the battleship to the edge of the giant ship. He laughed and walked through the gunfire without a care, and several people aimed their guns at him. The captain shouted, "No good!" but before he could stop them, bullets were already flying at the man.

The man's hands moved, and with a series of crackling sounds, the bullets were caught and deflected back. Several crew members were killed, and the rest were stunned. The sinister man laughed again, his voice sharp and chilling, and he slowly walked towards the crew. However, this calm lasted only a few seconds before he suddenly turned and retreated at incredible speed. His attacker was even faster, and with a loud bang, they clashed, sending the sinister man back over ten meters, while the attacker remained unmoved.

The attacker was Hao Qi, who looked at the sinister man calmly and said, "Hao Qi, greetings."

The sinister man looked at Hao Qi, his eyes flickering, especially at the marks on the ground where he had been pushed back. His face twitched, and after a long moment, he spat out, "Who are you? We know all the internal energy realm practitioners in the Blue Sea, but we have never heard of you. Are you trying to meddle in our affairs with the Sea Kingdom?"

Hao Qi, seeing that the sinister man did not return his bow, sneered and lowered his fist. "Let me ask you, do you enslave the crew after you seize ships? Seventeen years ago, you robbed a cruise ship full of wealthy people. Among them were a mother and daughter. The mother's husband and the daughter's father was an official in the Sea Kingdom's police system. Five years later, he accidentally caught one of your informants, who was legally sentenced to death for collaborating with pirates. After that, you sent him a gift. The daughter was sewn into her mother's skin and returned, still alive but insane. Is this true?"

The sinister man's eyes grew even more sinister, and he remained silent for a few seconds. Suddenly, another person jumped from the battleship to his side, moving with incredible speed and emitting a surge of internal energy. The sinister man finally relaxed and laughed coldly. "It's true. Honestly, when we sent that gift, I thought it wasn't enough. I wanted to sew the mother into the daughter's skin and return her, but the mother didn't survive the surgery. So, the gift was flawed. Otherwise, it would have been a real gift. Heh heh, you have no idea what you've gotten yourself into. I guarantee you will die. No one in heaven or earth can save you. You will die!!"

"The report is true..." Hao Qi closed his eyes and opened them again, his eyes fierce and his killing intent stronger than ever. "Then... please die!"

At the same time, in the cabin of the ship, Lan Ling'er sat in a chair, staring blankly at the storm outside. Suddenly, she stood up and walked past Zhang Heng, who was on guard, and headed towards the deck.

Zhang Heng, who was only guarding the outside of the cabin, was taken by surprise when Lan Ling'er walked out. He immediately called out, "Wait, Lan Ling'er, there's a battle outside, it's dangerous, don't go out!" He tried to grab her, but she ran a few steps, and he missed.

Zhang Heng was shocked and was about to chase her when Lan Ling'er turned and smiled brightly. "Zhang Heng, don't come. The storm is big, and you're not an internal energy realm practitioner. If you fall into the sea, it will be dangerous. It's okay, I'm okay."

Zhang Heng, hearing the gunfire, explosions, and battle sounds from the other side of the ship, became even more anxious. "What are you saying!? Lan Ling'er, listen to me, don't come out now, it's dangerous!"

Lan Ling'er shook her head and said seriously, "Zhang Heng, thank you very much, and thank Hao Qi as well... for protecting me on this journey and fighting in the ruins. Although it was short, meeting you both has been wonderful. If... no, there's no 'if.' Zhang Heng, please fulfill your dreams, find all the places where rare treasures are produced. And please tell Hao Qi that if he travels the seven seas, please come back to the Blue Sea and tell me about the wonders of the other six seas. I want to see them too..."

As she spoke, tears welled up in her eyes, and she kept backing up, now at the edge of the ship. Zhang Heng was afraid that pulling her would make her fall, so he could only stand there, anxious. "What are you saying!? Lan Ling'er, stop it, you're making me angry!"

Lan Ling'er wiped her tears and smiled brightly again. "Goodbye, Zhang Heng, goodbye, Hao Qi..." Then, she flipped backward and fell off the edge of the ship.

Zhang Heng shouted and rushed forward, seeing Lan Ling'er still in mid-air. Just as he was about to jump after her, he was shocked to see her legs, which were originally white, transform into a fish tail, a real fish tail. She fell into the sea and quickly surfaced, still smiling, waved at Zhang Heng, and then dived back into the water, disappearing.

"Ah, ah... Hao Qi!"

Zhang Heng was at a loss, not knowing what to do or what to say. He turned and ran towards where Hao Qi was fighting, not even sure what he was shouting.

"Lan Ling'er turned into a mermaid and swam away! Get a net, no, dive to catch her!!"

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