Huayu97: Starting with Wu Song Fighting the Tiger

Several import/export business owners, carrying bottles of liquor they'd swiped from the banquet, were leaning against the wall, drinking and humming tunes. They slurred, "What's there to be afraid of? The captain's made all the arrangements. No matter how many pirates come, we're not afraid. Let's have another drink!"

Someone nearby advised, "Boss Sun, stop drinking. What time is it? If the pirates come, you won't even be able to run." Boss Sun waved his hand and said drunkenly, "Run? What's there to run? I'm drunk now. Even if the pirates come, I won't feel any pain. Isn't that great? Come on, have another drink with me!"

As he spoke, he handed over the liquor bottle. Several of the bosses, who were already nervous, were persuaded by Boss Sun and took the bottle to drink. After a few sips of the liquor, their fear dissipated considerably. They took turns drinking and had a great time in the corridor, chatting about everything from business to family, which eased the tense atmosphere considerably.

Seeing this, the captain didn't stop them. He thought to himself helplessly that having a drink to ease the tension was better than the earlier commotion. He arranged for the crew to take turns patrolling the corridor, while he grabbed a megaphone and headed towards the direction where Liu Xiang and Huang Kun were searching for the pirates. He was still worried about the remaining pirates in the cabin and wondered how Mr. Liu and his team were doing with the search.

Meanwhile, Liu Xiang and Huang Kun led their men to search the entire first floor of the ship, but they couldn't find the more than twenty savage bandits who had escaped. The ship was in a mess; tableware and food from the banquet were scattered all over the floor, and many room doors had been pried open, with the contents ransacked—clearly the damage caused by the bandits when they entered.

Huang Kun frowned and reported to the captain over the walkie-talkie: "Captain, we've searched the entire first floor, but found no trace of the pirates. They've probably hidden on the second or third floor. The second floor has guest rooms, and the third floor has entertainment rooms. It's a large place, so it's not easy to search."

The captain's voice came through the walkie-talkie: "I understand. I just finished arranging things for the passengers. I'll take some men over to support you now. Be careful, those thugs have knives, so don't let your guard down."

"Roger that." Huang Kun hung up the walkie-talkie and looked at Liu Xiang, saying, "Mr. Liu, shall we search the second floor now? Or wait for the captain's backup?"

Liu Xiang squatted down and touched the footprints on the ground. The footprints were fresh with seawater, obviously just left, and pointed towards the second-floor guest rooms. He stood up, his eyes sharp: "We can't wait any longer. They just hid inside not long ago, and they definitely haven't figured out the layout of the guest rooms yet. Let's chase after them now and catch them off guard. It will be troublesome if we wait until they figure out the terrain."

He paused, then said, "You take five men and go up to the second floor from the east staircase. I'll take five men and go up from the west staircase. Martial arts masters, follow me. If you encounter any bandits, strike first and don't give them a chance to react. Remember to ask them if they have any accomplices and what's going on with the fishing boats."

Huang Kun immediately nodded, arranged the manpower, and split into two groups to rush to the second floor. Liu Xiang, leading the martial arts instructors and security guards, had just reached the west stairwell when they heard a "crash" sound from the second floor, as if someone had broken something. Liu Xiang's eyes narrowed, she made a shushing gesture to everyone, and she quietly made her way to the second floor.

In the corridor of the second-floor guest rooms, several thugs were ransacking the place, clearly looking for something valuable. They had just broken a vase in one of the rooms. The leader, a tall, thin thug, was carrying a machete and shouting, "Hurry up and find it! Collect all the valuables! When we find that rich businessman, we'll kidnap him and demand a ransom, and we'll be even richer!"

The thugs responded enthusiastically, engrossed in their search, completely unaware that Liu Xiang and her group had already crept up. Liu Xiang's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and she was the first to rush out. The galvanized steel pipe in her hand whistled through the air, smashing directly into the back of the tall, thin thug. The tall, thin thug screamed, his machete clattered to the ground, and he collapsed forward, unable to get up for a long time.

The other bandits panicked instantly and tried to fight back with their knives, but the martial arts instructors that Liu Xiang brought were all highly skilled.

The security guards were equally ruthless, wielding batons and wrenches in quick succession. The thugs, already panicked and now without a leader, were no match for them. Five or six were quickly taken down, and the remaining dozen or so were terrified, turning and running towards the third-floor entertainment room, shouting, "Run! There are experts!"

Liu Xiang wasn't about to let them escape. She pushed off with her feet and quickly chased after them. Huang Kun and his men came up the stairs from the east side, blocking the bandits' path. Caught in a pincer movement, the bandits were completely trapped. Some tried to jump out of the windows, but the second floor of the cruise ship was dozens of meters above the sea, and jumping would only lead to their deaths. They had no choice but to surrender.

Huang Kun had his men tie up the thugs, gag them, and smiled at Liu Xiang, saying, "Mr. Liu, you're really something! We took care of these bastards in no time!" Liu Xiang smiled but didn't speak. His gaze fell on the tall, thin thug. He squatted down, ripped the gag out of his mouth, and said in a deep voice, "Tell me, how many accomplices do you have? What are you planning to do next with the fishing boats on the sea?"

The tall, thin bandit trembled with fear, his face deathly pale. He dared not hide anything any longer and stammered, "There are... there are still hundreds of people. The... the leader on the ship said that if they can't board, they will send a second wave of people to board, and even burn the cruise ship down..."

Upon hearing the pirate's words, Liu Xiang and Huang Kun's expressions changed simultaneously. If the fuel tanks were to burn, the cruise ship would surely explode on the vast ocean, and no one would survive! Huang Kun immediately grabbed the walkie-talkie and roared at the captain, "Captain! Something terrible has happened! The pirates are going to burn our cruise ship! Quickly, send someone to guard the fuel tanks! It's definitely dangerous there!"

The captain, who had just arrived at the second-floor stairwell on the walkie-talkie, was terrified upon hearing this and immediately shouted, "Roger that! I'll take men to the fuel tank right away!!"

Liu Xiang's eyes were serious. He said to Huang Kun, "Captain Huang, take a few men and keep an eye on these bandits. I'm going to the fuel tank first. If the pirates destroy the fuel tank, we're all finished!" Before Huang Kun could respond, Liu Xiang grabbed a steel pipe and rushed towards the fuel tank. His figure quickly disappeared at the end of the corridor.

Huang Kun didn't dare to delay. He arranged for people to guard the pirates and immediately led his men to follow. He had only one thought in his mind: he had to guard the fuel tank before the pirates made their move, otherwise everyone would perish at sea!

At that moment, two pirates crept up to the fuel tank door, carrying gasoline cans and about to pour gasoline onto the fuel tank floor, muttering, "Our leader said that if we burn this place, they will be scared!" Just as the gasoline cans were about to be opened, Liu Xiang appeared in front of them like a god descending to earth.