Across the vast expanse of the southeastern seas, islands large and small dotted the waters like stars in the sky. Some emerged at low tide only to vanish beneath the waves at high tide, barren and uninhabited. Others were self-sufficient, claimed by settlers as their homes. Then there were those with treacherous terrain that became havens for all manner of maritime outlaws—free spirits roaming the boundless ocean.
Among these countless islands lay one called Golden Dragon Island, hidden deep in the sea's embrace, so remote it was nearly impossible to find. Once obscure, its name began circulating among coastal communities a few years ago when a group of people arrived, clearing the land and settling there. Though labeled as pirates, their practice of escorting and protecting ships—unlike true marauders—gradually earned them a reputation among coastal dwellers. Golden Dragon Island became known as an island of righteousness. According to an old fisherman who had once accidentally landed there during a storm in earlier years, the island boasted fertile soil, perpetual spring-like seasons, and scenery as enchanting as a garden upon the sea.
But today, this maritime paradise no longer resembled heaven. Amid the thunder of cannon fire, flames engulfed the island, trees snapped, and grass was trampled—a scene so horrific it resembled the torments of hell.
Three days prior, imperial warships had stealthily approached the waters surrounding Golden Dragon Island, encircling it completely. Throughout the night, crimson-clad cannons bombarded the island relentlessly. After obliterating the outer defenses, the fleet dispatched landing boats, and well-trained naval soldiers swarmed ashore, launching their final assault. The forces of the Golden-Masked Dragon Lord held out for two days before the island finally fell.
The imperial forces achieved a resounding victory, but during the prisoner inspection, neither the Golden-Masked Dragon Lord nor the youth known as the Young Master could be found. Li Zhong, the newly promoted Naval Fleet Commander of Fujian and Guangdong provinces who led the assault, interrogated the captives and learned that the Golden-Masked Dragon Lord had already contemplated abandoning the island. Half a month earlier, he had set sail with a single ship, his destination unknown, and had not returned since.
Li Zhong frowned deeply.
The emperor had recognized his naval prowess and entrusted him with this critical mission. With lightning speed, Li Zhong had mobilized over a dozen heavily armed warships to strike here. Yet his primary objective—the mysterious Young Master—remained elusive. Though Golden Dragon Island had been captured, the most crucial figure was missing, rendering the operation fruitless.
After a long moment of contemplation, Li Zhong summoned his trusted aide and ordered all imperial ships surrounding Golden Dragon Island to lower their masts and withdraw, clearing the nearby waterways. Puzzled, the aide asked for an explanation.
"If my guess is correct," Li Zhong said, "the Golden-Masked Dragon Lord must have grown wary, hence his decision to abandon the island and relocate. Most likely, he went to scout for a new base. The ocean is vast and directionless—no matter how capable I am, tracking him would be impossible. But he could never have dreamed our fleet would arrive so swiftly! News travels slowly at sea compared to land. I suspect he remains unaware of Golden Dragon Island's fall and will surely return. We'll lie in wait like a hunter by a tree stump, ready to catch the hare. The moment his ship reappears, we'll have him trapped like a turtle in a jar."The trusted subordinate was filled with admiration and immediately went to issue the orders. Li Zhong then selected a few sharp-witted men, dressed them in the islanders' clothing to pose as the Dragon Lord's followers, and sent them in small boats back to the destroyed lookout posts from the attack days earlier. There, they waited patiently, pretending all was normal, for the Dragon Lord's return. Sure enough, seven or eight days later, at noon, news arrived: several nautical miles southwest of Dragon Lord Island, the mast of a large ship had been sighted. Nine out of ten, it was the Golden-Masked Dragon Lord's vessel.
Li Zhong was overjoyed but immediately ordered his men to hold their positions and wait for the ship to enter the encirclement before acting. However, moments later, another report came: as the ship drew closer, it spotted the lookout boat and signaled with flags. Their own men had made a mistake—likely exposed by those on the large ship—which now swiftly turned around and departed.
Li Zhong promptly commanded the hidden warships to mobilize, with all rowers at the ready, giving chase at full speed.
...
Li Zhong’s assumption was correct: Dong Chengmao and Xiao Yu were indeed aboard that very ship. This return to the island was meant for Dong Chengmao to settle matters with his long-time followers—those willing to leave with him could do so, while those who chose to part ways would receive severance pay, bidding farewell as brothers in this life. But he hadn’t expected the imperial naval fleet to arrive so quickly. Sensing something amiss, they turned the ship around and sped away. Behind them, the roar of cannon fire echoed across the sea. After traveling over ten nautical miles, a fireball caught up and struck a main mast, snapping it in half and drastically reducing their speed. Soon, a dozen warships formed a line on the horizon, quickly closing the gap. At Li Zhong’s command, they fanned out, encircling the Dragon Lord’s ship completely.
Standing at the bow of the flagship, Li Zhong ordered the rowers to advance gradually and shouted, "General Dong! I, Li Zhong, once served under you and held you in the highest esteem. It pains me to confront you like this, but as a servant of the throne, I must fulfill my duty. I beg you not to make this harder for me. Your Majesty has decreed that if you hand over the young lord, all past offenses will be forgiven! Should you wish to continue serving the nation, you’ll return as a first-rank marquis, and your men will live in comfort, far better than risking their lives. If not, His Majesty will not stand in your way—you may leave freely!"
After his speech, seeing no response from the opposing ship, Li Zhong’s expression darkened. He shouted again, "If you refuse to heed my words, I’ve no choice but to act. Your Golden Dragon Island is already in my hands. Even if you care nothing for the men who’ve followed you all these years, will you also disregard the young lord’s life? His Majesty means him no harm—only to bring him back to the capital, sparing him further hardship! If you persist in resistance, like a mantis trying to stop a chariot, a single command from me will unleash a barrage of cannon fire, sinking your ship in an instant. Even with your title as Dragon Lord, you won’t save the young lord then—you’ll only be the death of him!"
Aboard the Dragon Lord’s ship, silence reigned as all eyes turned to Dong Chengmao.Today's situation was dire—he had but one ship and two hundred men, while the enemy boasted over a dozen fully armed warships and at least several thousand soldiers. There was no way out. Yet this battle-hardened man showed no fear. His only regret was that despite Pei You'an's warning, he had still underestimated the swiftness of the imperial court's actions and failed to retreat in time, leading to this disaster. His eyes burning with resolve, he declared, "Brothers, you were once the Duke of Wei's men and have followed me for years. I've failed you all! The emperor doesn't want your lives. If any of you wish to surrender to the court, go now. That Li Zhong won't harm you!"
One man retorted, "If the Duke of Wei were here today, would he ever choose survival over loyalty? Live together, die together—we fear nothing!"
The rest echoed in unison, "Live together, die together—we fear nothing!"
Dong Chengmao's eyes brimmed with hot tears as he nodded. "I underestimated you! Then today, we fight to protect the young master. Life or death—let heaven decide!" He then ordered a small boat prepared at the stern and turned to Xiao Yu. "Young Master, the imperial cannons are powerful but inaccurate at close range. Once we break through their formation, we'll cover you with the ship. If we can get you to the boat and form a defensive line, the vast sea offers a chance to escape!"
While Dong Chengmao spoke, Xiao Yu had stood silently facing the sea. Slowly, he turned, his expression grave. "No need. Even if we break free, where could we flee on the open sea with pursuers behind us? Golden Dragon Island is already ruined because of me. If I let more of you die for me, survival would be a disgrace. The emperor wants me—I'll go."
Seeing Dong Chengmao about to protest, Xiao Yu raised a hand and walked away. "My decision is final. Say no more."
"Young Master!"
Dong Chengmao's eyes reddened as he signaled to a nearby man, who struck Xiao Yu's neck, rendering him unconscious on the deck. Dong Chengmao immediately ordered him carried to the small boat and prepared the fleet for a desperate charge.
Li Zhong had tried diplomacy first, but when no response came, the imperial envoy Zhang Jian, overseeing the operation, grew impatient. "Dead or alive makes no difference. Why waste words? Sink their ship first—let's see where they flee then!"
Outranked, Li Zhong had no choice but to order the cannons fired at the large ship.
On the Golden Dragon flagship, rowers took their positions, chanting in unison as they drove the ship forward through the deafening roar of cannon fire. The ship, reinforced with golden iron at the bow and built with an unyielding keel, had taken multiple hits and was slowly leaking. Yet under the power of dozens of rowers, it surged ahead. The imperial warship, caught off guard by its suicidal charge, scrambled to turn away but couldn't evade in time. With a thunderous crash, the Golden Dragon ship rammed through its side near the bow. The impact sent the warship lurching violently, nearly capsizing, as its crew fought to steady it.Li Zhong watched in shock, never expecting Dong Chengmao to remain so fiercely valiant even when surrounded. This battle was crucial to his own future prospects. If the enemy were to escape from his grasp, he would have no way to account for it upon his return. Seeing Dong Chengmao standing at the bow of the Golden Dragon Ship, calmly issuing commands with an imposing presence, Li Zhong knew that if he wasn’t eliminated, further trouble might arise. At this point, he could no longer afford to hesitate. He summoned a row of Divine Archers and ordered them to take aim at the Dragon King, intending to shoot him down first.
The archers lined up, dozens of iron bows drawn taut, arrows aimed at the figure ahead, awaiting only the command to unleash a volley.
Just then, a lookout soldier hurried over to report that a warship was closing in from behind.
Startled, Li Zhong rushed to the stern and indeed saw a ship with full sails and oarsmen rowing in unison, speeding toward them. He quickly recognized it as one of the imperial warships that had not set sail earlier. At first, he thought it might be reinforcements, but it didn’t seem so. He couldn’t tell who was leading it either. As the ship drew nearer, he spotted a figure standing at its bow, gazing intently. When it came close enough, he recognized the man—it was none other than Pei You'an. He hastily ordered his men to withdraw their defenses, focusing instead on encircling the Golden Dragon Ship and temporarily ceasing fire. Then, he shouted toward the approaching vessel, “Lord Pei! What brings you here? Has Your Majesty issued another decree?”
The warship soon drew near, and the two vessels came alongside each other. Pei You'an boarded the flagship alone, his robes fluttering in the sea breeze as he strode forward.
Li Zhong and Zhang Jian, the Surveillance Commissioner who had hurried over upon hearing the commotion, promptly saluted him.
Pei You'an walked to the bow and glanced at the Golden Dragon Ship ahead before turning back. “Commander, I bear no decree from His Majesty today. I’ve come only to ask a favor of you.”
Li Zhong was puzzled. “What do you mean, Lord Pei? What favor?”
“I wish to ask you to release the Golden Dragon Ship,” he said calmly.
Li Zhong was stunned, and Zhang Jian beside him gaped in disbelief before regaining his composure. “Lord Pei, if you had an imperial decree, this official would naturally comply without question and release the ship immediately. But without one, this puts us in a difficult position. You must understand that the ship carries a criminal wanted by the imperial court. If we simply let it go, we cannot bear the responsibility for such a crime.”
Pei You'an replied, “I understand the predicament this places you both in. Upon my return, I will personally seek an audience with His Majesty to accept the blame. All responsibility will fall on me, Pei You'an, and I will ensure neither of you suffers any consequences.”
Li Zhong’s expression turned troubled, but Zhang Jian’s face gradually darkened, his tone turning stiff. “Lord Pei, this official knows His Majesty holds you in high regard, but I act only on orders—orders from His Majesty himself. This matter is of grave importance. I must ask you not to interfere!”
Pei You'an stood with his hands behind his back, unmoved.
Zhang Jian shot a glance at his trusted aides on either side. Several armed men stealthily approached, but before they could even draw their blades, there was a metallic clang. One man felt his waist lighten—his sword was gone. Looking up, he saw it now in Pei You'an’s hand. The blade flashed, and before Zhang Jian could react, he felt a cold sensation at his neck—the sword was now pressed against his throat.
“Commissioner Zhang, you are merely carrying out orders, and I should not trouble you for it. But today, I have no choice. I fear I must offend you.”
Zhang Jian stiffened his neck. “Pei You'an, I am a dignified third-rank official of the court! How dare you lay hands on me?”Pei You'an smiled: "Lord Zhang, during the Tianxi reign, you served as a minor judge in a county under Funing. Through scheming and climbing, by the Shun'an reign, you rose to become the fourth-rank prefect of Fu'an. As a local official who should suppress evil and settle lawsuits, you instead showed ruthless cruelty. For the sake of political achievements during your tenure, who knows how many wrongful judgments you handed down? Calling you a cruel official would not be an exaggeration..."
The smile suddenly vanished from his face, his gaze turning dark. With a tightening of his wrist, a cut appeared on Zhang Jian's neck, blood droplets splattering down: "Since I dare to come here demanding your ships, what's stopping me from killing one more mere third-rank official?"
Zhang Jian's face paled dramatically. Enduring the pain in his neck, he dared not move again.
Pei You'an turned to Li Zhong and said calmly, "Lord Li, release the ships."
Li Zhong snapped out of his daze, gritted his teeth, and finally ordered the withdrawal. The dozen or so warships obeyed, slowly retreating to both sides.
Pei You'an turned toward the opposite side and shouted loudly, "General Dong, don't worry about me! I have my own way out! Take your men and go as far as you can—never return in this lifetime!"
His voice carried over the howling sea winds.
On the Golden Dragon ship, Dong Chengmao's eyes welled with tears. Leading his followers, he rushed to the bow and knelt, kowtowing toward Pei You'an, crying out, "Eldest Young Master!" Then he rose and ordered the ship to set sail forward.
The battered ship moved ahead, gradually disappearing into the horizon.
Pei You'an continued restraining Zhang Jian, using the tip of his blade to pull over a folding stool. He sat down, straightened the hem of his robe that had been flipped up by the sea breeze, and raised his head to look at Li Zhong, who was staring dumbfounded. He smiled and said, "Let's return, Lord Li."
...
Several days later, the fleet returned to port, and the Naval Fleet disembarked. Li Zhong followed cautiously all the way, preparing to return to the capital together to report on their mission.
It was dusk, the setting sun as red as blood. As the group passed the Zhennan Gate outside Quanzhou City, Li Zhong hesitated for a moment and ordered the procession to halt. Dismounting, he approached Pei You'an and said quietly, "Lord Pei, this humble official trusts your character. If you need to enter the city to speak with your wife, please go ahead. I will wait here for you."
Pei You'an, still on horseback, turned his head and gazed in the direction of the southern gate. His figure remained motionless for a long time before he finally turned back. Spurring his horse past the city gate, he continued along the post road leading to the capital.
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