Chapter 769: Life or Death, Each Relies on Their Own Abilities
Their ships hadn't yet entered the reef area, having sailed smoothly without any bumps along the way. They had been thoroughly inspected before departure—how could the hulls suddenly rupture?
Moreover, it wasn't just one ship, but all of them had damaged hulls. Clearly, this was deliberate sabotage!
Although these weren't official vessels, they had been purchased at great expense and were regularly guarded. Under normal circumstances, no one could have approached to cause damage.
Only during his exchange with Yu Xiang moments earlier—combined with the strong winds and the sound of waves crashing against the shore—must have masked the noise of someone diving into the water, damaging their ships.
Realizing this, Xiao Changfeng grew deeply concerned for Xiao Changyan: "Launch the lifeboats!"
The moment Xiao Changfeng sensed something amiss, he immediately ordered lifeboats deployed to rescue Xiao Changyan. Just then, bean-sized raindrops began pouring from the sky.
The roar of waves crashing against the shore echoed through the gale, as if the entire river might upheave at any moment.
Distant lightning flashed and thunder rumbled, colorful electrical arcs stretching across the sky like skeletal claws—a terrifying sight. The lifeboats dared not venture far from the main ships amid the storm, while increasingly more water gushed up from the ruptured hulls, causing the vessels to sink steadily...
By this time, Shen Yungan had caught up with Xiao Changyan, who had pursued the abandoned ship. Braving the storm, Xiao Changyan personally boarded the deserted vessel. His face darkened completely at the sight of the empty ship.
Just then, official ships caught up. A subordinate reported: "Your Highness, General Yu is pursuing us."
"Yu Xiang?" Xiao Changyan's expression shifted. He moved to the bow. Due to the reefs, Yu Xiang's ship couldn't approach directly. Standing on his vessel, Yu Xiang shouted toward Xiao Changyan, "Your Highness, this general has urgent matters to report!"
As Xiao Changyan stood at the bow, a sudden wave nearly knocked him off balance. He barely managed to grab the mast in time to avoid falling.
"Your Highness, this ship is taking on water!" someone who had been inspecting the cabins rushed up shouting hoarsely...
Xiao Changyan had arrived via lifeboat. Now with the raging storm, the small boat couldn't approach, and the distance between the larger ships was considerable.
The once-calm river surface, disturbed from its slumber like a great beast, began roaring furiously. Even jumping into the water now would likely mean being swallowed by the torrents.
Xiao Changyan watched "Yu Xiang" on the official ship—his mouth opening and closing. Though he could hear sounds, he couldn't discern the words through the storm.
The waves grew increasingly violent as more water flooded the ship, gushing up from below and surging toward the bow, which began sinking rapidly.
"Your Highness, we must leave!" The Shadow Guard commander protecting Xiao Changyan—a man of exceptional skill—urged urgently.
The commander's eagle-sharp eyes scanned the situation. He swiftly moved along the tilting ship's direction, grabbing a rope tied to the vessel's side.
After securing the rope to the ship and tying the other end around himself, he embraced Xiao Changyan and leaped down, landing on a small boat positioned between two ships that remained relatively sheltered from the worst waves.
The lifeboat rocked precariously, but the rope tethering them to the larger ship allowed the commander to stabilize himself and Xiao Changyan, preventing them from being tossed into the river by the violent motions.
"Hurry, steer the boat over there!" Xiao Changyan's subordinates on another ship shouted urgently.
Though this vessel rocked less in the storm, steering remained nearly impossible under such conditions.Shen Yungan entered the cabin and asked the helmsman, "Can our ship approach theirs?"
The helmsman followed Shen Yungan's gaze and spotted the small boat where Xiao Changyan was located.
As the most experienced sailor of the Qu family, the helmsman had weathered all kinds of storms. The official ship was originally built by the Qu family, so he handled it with exceptional ease. His eyes scanned the surroundings, observing the direction of the churning waves on the river.
After a long while, he nodded!
Shen Yungan was overjoyed. Thus, instead of their own ship, Xiao Changyan and his companion encountered the ship of "Yu Xiang." By this time, the rope-bound boat had begun to break apart, sinking so rapidly that the others who had boarded with Xiao Changyan had no choice but to leap into the river.
Some struggled in the water, fighting desperately but drifting farther away, while others were swallowed by the waves and sank instantly.
"Your Highness, board the ship!" Shen Shiwu shouted urgently.
In the perilous environment, everyone's thoughts were scattered. For Xiao Changyan and his companion, escaping the danger was the top priority. Sensing the rope loosening, the Shadow Guard commander, regardless of whether it was the optimal moment, leaped into the air, carrying Xiao Changyan as he soared toward the larger ship.
At the very moment he leaped, Shen Yungan, hidden in the shadows, flung a hidden weapon. It cut through the wind, waves, and rain, aimed directly at Xiao Changyan. However, the Shadow Guard commander detected it keenly. Mid-air, he twisted his body, and the hidden weapon struck him squarely in the abdomen, dispersing his gathered strength. It seemed both he and Xiao Changyan were about to fall.
The commander barely had time to utter a warning to Xiao Changyan: "Your Highness, be careful!"
As he spoke, he shoved Xiao Changyan toward the ship. At that moment, the other end of the rope snapped completely, and the commander plunged into the water with a loud splash, sending a massive wave soaring.
Xiao Changyan landed on the deck, and Shen Shiwu rushed to catch him. The moment Shen Shiwu reached him, his dagger plunged into Xiao Changyan's body. Simultaneously, both Shen Shiwu and Xiao Changyan stiffened—Xiao Changyan's concealed dagger had also pierced Shen Shiwu's body.
Shen Yunnan swiftly dashed out, aiming a palm strike at Xiao Changyan. But at that instant, an arrow shot toward him, forcing Shen Yunnan to withdraw his hand and instead pull Shen Shiwu away.
As Shen Yunnan steadied Shen Shiwu, Xiao Changfeng had already positioned himself in front of Xiao Changyan.
"Young Master, that's enough!" Xiao Changfeng stood like a sturdy pine, sword in hand, shielding Xiao Changyan protectively.
Shen Yunnan stared at the blood blooming on Shen Shiwu's abdomen, his expression icy. "We serve different masters. How can there be 'enough'? Life or death—we each rely on our own skills!"
Handing Shen Shiwu to others, Shen Yunnan charged toward Xiao Changfeng like a gust of wind.
One was the son of the Northwest King, the other the son of the Northeast King.
From their fathers' generation, they had been evenly matched rivals. Though their fathers never clashed, the two had long been aware of each other's prowess.
Their blades met, sparks flying.
Cold steel flashed, each move lethal!
The waves had somewhat subsided by then. From afar, Xiao Changyan's Shadow Guards, sensing something amiss, began leaping one by one from Xiao Changyan's ship, engaging Shen Yunnan's men in close combat.
Though wounded, Xiao Changyan gripped his iron sword, refusing to let anyone approach him.
Beyond the ships, the storm seemed forgotten as the scene transformed into a battlefield.The vast night, with its surging waves, howling winds, and torrential rain, had only paused briefly, as if gathering even greater strength before sweeping over everything in an overwhelming assault!
Small boats were overturned, while larger vessels crashed against reefs amid the storm, their hulls shattered.
(End of Chapter)
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