My lord, spare his life!

Is someone's health bar empty?

Fan You and the others, having spent every day with Zhang Yang, were already used to her uttering strange and unusual words. According to their understanding, the so-called "health bar" was simply a precise numerical representation of vital energy. An empty health bar meant the person was dead! Someone was killing someone on the ship!

Ge Zhou dared not leave Zhang Yang's side for even a moment.

She looked around alertly, her ears catching some strange noises.

Crackling sounds.

At first glance, it sounds like insects and rats are gnawing on the wood.

Zhang Yang calmly stood up and handed over the weak Fan You and the seasick Guan Si to Pu Yangkui for protection: "I'm going downstairs to meet some people. Be careful of the things that climb up from the bottom of the water. They may have short health bars, but there are many of them."

There was only one red-named female fisherwoman a moment ago.

In the blink of an eye, countless densely packed red names emerged from beneath the water, crawling rapidly up the hull. They were quite heavy, and Zhang Yang could clearly feel the ship drafting deeper. He pulled out his golden spear and gripped the middle of the shaft with both hands.

The long spear split in the middle, transforming into a pair of square, four-sided weapons.

One piece is gold and the other is white, each about two feet six inches long.

Guan Si suppressed his dizziness and said, "I'll go too."

Zhang Yang didn't answer, but simply called out, "hope Dan!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than Ge Zhou stretched out his arm to block Guan Si, using a slight gust of wind to push him in the opposite direction. Zhang Yang hastily left behind a remark: "I'm the only one who ever robs others; no one has ever dared to rob me! This is utterly rebellious!"

How embarrassing would it be if she were successfully robbed?

What countless max-level PvP players couldn't accomplish, a bunch of cowardly little thieves did. Doesn't Zhang Boyuan have any pride? In the blink of an eye, Zhang Yang disappeared without a trace.

Zhang Daji and Zhang Dagu were resting on the mast, one on each side. The moment they detected the enemy's presence, they signaled to Guan Si and the others. Their calls grew increasingly urgent and tense. Guan Si walked to the window facing the deck and pushed it open.

A strong, fishy stench wafted through the night air.

"The stench of a corpse is overwhelming!"

Fan You walked to Guan Si's side, and his voice abruptly stopped.

Within his field of vision, he saw countless swarms of eerie, scarlet "fireflies" crawling over the ship's railing and onto the deck. As the moonlight shone through, upon closer inspection, he realized these weren't "red fireflies" at all, but rather strange human figures with red eyes. The figures were both male and female, tall and short, mostly bloated, with only a few lean and tall. Their clothing was no different from ordinary cloth.

The strong stench of corpses that Fan You smelled was coming from them.

These figures also noticed the people upstairs.

Ge Zhou drew his weapon and told everyone to hide inside the house.

With a leap, she darted out of the window with incredible agility. Before her feet even touched the ground, the blade in her hand swept across a clearing slit around her. Ge Zhou planned to push all these strange things back into the water.

Who would have thought—

The first bloated figure struck emitted a scream resembling that of a vengeful ghost, its massive body continuing to swell like an inflated balloon. Its skin, wrinkled and taut from being soaked in the river, was stretched and tightened, its thinnest parts almost transparent. With a swipe of the blade, the balloon burst.

Bang, bang, bang, bang!

Strange figures exploded on the spot.

Beneath the skin, however, were not rotting organs, but clumps of blackish pus, the deck hissing and emitting eerie white smoke. Ge Zhou took a step back, horrified, and exclaimed, "What is that?!"

Countless maggots carrying a strong corrosive and yin energy crawled out of the pus.

The maggots seemed to gather in one place as if by some consciousness, clearly targeting Ge Zhou. Ge Zhou wielded his giant axe, trying to avoid smashing the corpses while also preventing the maggots from crawling up, and especially preventing them from climbing onto the second-floor room.

Fan You took out a handkerchief and covered his mouth and nose.

"Where did all these floating corpses come from?!"

As he spoke, Fan You paused for a moment.

Which river hasn't had floating corpses?

The only difference is the quantity.

The standoff between Qin Huang and Zhao Chai had dragged on for a long time, and countless corpses were left behind during the riverbank clearing. With corpses carried downstream, how could their resentment not be heavy? Among so many bodies, there were always those who miraculously survived, like spirits descending from the heavens. These kinds of deaths often gave rise to spirits that are mostly water ghosts.

There are many types of water ghosts, so it's hard to tell which one it is.

Guan Si was not the type of person who could tolerate being protected.

Even in poor condition, she wasn't so weak that she couldn't lift a sword or spear. He knew that Ge Zhou followed a brute-force approach, wielding a giant axe; if the enemy could withstand it, they could, and if not, they would be cleaved in two with a single blow. This style didn't require precise control of strength, and even with careful maneuvering, the result was counterproductive—the more enemies she fought, the more numerous and troublesome they became.

He said, "I'll go help her."

Fan You asked worriedly, "Why do you look like that?"

He felt sorry for Guan Si, but he didn't want anything to happen to Guan Si.

After all, a free general who seeks neither fame nor fortune, but only to fight alongside his lord, is truly rare. If he were to suffer an unexpected defeat due to poor condition, the loss would be immense! Not to mention, Guan Si isn't alone; he also has the Hundred Ghost Guards!

Guan Si declined to comment, saying, "It's nothing."

It was just a little seasickness; it didn't affect his ability to fight.

After saying that, he jumped into the field and reminded Ge Zhou, "Don't hurt these things yet. Let me push them all away."

Guan Si's control over power is exquisite and effortless.

Whether to push or kill, it's up to them.

Ge Zhou replied in a muffled voice, "Yes, sir."

Zhang Dagu and Zhang Daji also received Guan Si's orders: flap their wings to create a strong wind, push those clinging to the ship's side outwards, and grind those in the water into mincemeat with their sharp blades. In short, don't even think about getting on the ship!

These strange things are clearly being controlled by someone.

When they found themselves blocked, they changed their strategy.

Taking advantage of an opening, one of them exploded the instant it pounced. The explosion was extremely powerful, causing Fan You's ears to ring incessantly. A giant wolf formed from black mist stood in front of Guan Si, using its fur to shield him from the filth produced by the explosion. Kui Mulang looked at its fur, corroded by the yin energy, and its original elegant, noble, and cold demeanor vanished completely, replaced by rage and fury.

"roar--"

With a howl, countless wolves crowded the deck, each wolf lunging at a figure like a madman. They bit into the neck, lunged at the gunwale, and exploded before even hitting the water.

Ge Zhou said worriedly, "No!"

Guan Si glared fiercely at him, which terrified Ge Zhouren so much that he went numb.

"I'm going to kill that thing!"

At this moment, Fan You on the second floor also sent a reminder.

He said, "This must be a river drifter!"

River drifters are also a type of water ghost, descended from the stars, and are transformed from floating corpses. Ordinary river drifters have little fighting power and are weak, but when they come in groups, they can overturn rivers and seas. They generally only move in the water and become cowardly when they come ashore.

Many river pirates did not confront people directly, but instead hid underwater, punctured the hull of the ship, sank it, and then killed and looted.

Guan Si said coldly, "Ignore it!"

These river drifters before us are all manifestations of the original body.

In some ways, it's similar to the wolf pack of Kui Mulang. However, Kui Mulang is a phantom of a star, formed from stellar power; even if injured, it only depletes Guan Si's strength. He Piaozi, on the other hand, is a ghost descended from the celestial realm; the more severe the injury, the greater the damage to his true form's vitality. Once severely injured to the point of being unable to suppress the ghost, he will be devoured by it, and Guan Si is not afraid to fight it to the death.

Fan You was surprised that Guan Si was also willful: "I thought he was a steady person, how come he's acting so impulsively like Wang Gongsun?"

Puyang Kui: "As long as no one dies, it's fine."

Her only worry now is that the ship will sink.

If the fight got too loud and the boat broke, they'd be stuck in the water for who knows how long before they could get ashore. The water was a haven for pirates; they'd be at a disadvantage. Puyang Kui's eyes darted around, and he ordered his men to protect the spare boats, just in case.

The commotion on deck had already reached the lower cabins.

The night watchman realized something was wrong and quickly sounded the alarm.

"What's that noise?"

"Could it be pirates?"

The boatmen's first reaction was that it was a pirate attack.

Immediately following was a high-pitched scream.

The screams were very close, separated only by a corridor and two wooden doors. The boatmen, who had made a living on the water for a long time, naturally had some courage and skill. Upon hearing the screams, they judged that the water pirates had arrived here, and immediately drew their weapons from their respective chests.

Their weapons were a wide variety.

Most of them were gleaming machetes and short axes.

Someone dismantled a wooden board and used it to block their way before peeking out first.

Immediately, two naked boatmen, who hadn't even had time to put on their clothes, ran out of the warehouse. It seemed they had encountered something while on their business. As soon as they arrived, they shouted, "The boatman has been killed!"

The crowd was shocked to hear that the boatman had been killed.

He asked, "It wasn't pirates who attacked?"

Two of the bolder ones went straight to the boatman's room and, sure enough, saw a familiar corpse lying at the door. The boatman's eyes were wide open, and the fatal wound on his neck was very deep; his entire head had been cut off, with only a little skin and flesh still attached to his body.

"Was this done by river pirates?"

This is the only passage to the warehouse.

But they looked around and didn't see any pirates.

It was obvious that the pirates were still on deck and hadn't broken through, making the boatman's death seem very suspicious. However, they were currently preoccupied with their own survival and had no energy to concern themselves with whether the boatman was killed by the pirates or by one of their vengeful crew members.

They were also like clay bodhisattvas crossing the river—

Sigh, let's think about how to protect ourselves first.

The boatmen were uneasy, but not desperate.

Regardless of the industry, there's a set of unspoken rules, both overt and covert. These boatmen are employees, not anyone's servants; they finish one job and move on to the next. On this river, the line between pirates and boatmen is blurred.

If handing over the goods and selling them could save their lives, they would definitely sell!

The money they earn belongs to others, but your life belongs to you.

If these pirates are powerful enough to kill all the employer's guards, they will surrender without much effort. It is best not to anger the pirates.

clang!

The clang of metal rang out.

Before the boatmen could react, the fisherwoman, who had been hiding in a corner and barely noticeable, was sent flying, crashing into a wooden door, her blood-stained dagger falling to the ground. The boatmen fled in panic, only then noticing several corpses lying on the ground.

The fisherwoman got up and dusted off her clothes.

A flicker of impatience crossed her delicate features: "You're in the way!"

The fisherwoman's voice was no longer the clear, high-pitched tone it once was; it was deep and husky, clearly a standard male voice! The boatman, disregarding the fisherwoman's gender, only cared about escaping. The fisherwoman didn't give chase; instead, she stepped onto the rubble, tilting her head and tossing her dagger around, her gaze precisely locking onto the approaching figure: "Another one who doesn't know his own limitations and comes looking for death!"

Zhang Yang gripped his double maces and assumed a starting stance.

The "Fisherwoman" icon above the red-named player's head has been replaced with "Water Thief".

"Which gang of pirates are you?"

"You nobody, do you even deserve to know my name!" The dagger in his hand flashed coldly, then lengthened into a short sword.

The narrow corridors of the ship's cabin made it difficult to maneuver long weapons.

Zhang Yang blocked their way, preventing the river pirates from getting through.

boom!

After only a few exchanges, the ground beneath their feet suddenly shook violently without warning, and the faint sound of wood cracking could be heard. Although Zhang Yang had a stable stance, he lacked experience in naval warfare. He inadvertently created an opening, and his opponent slipped through the gap, heading towards the deck!

The boatmen were quick-witted; seeing the danger on deck, they all hid, hoping to buy some time. Zhang Yang chased the pirate towards the deck, the stench almost knocking her unconscious. The pirate was currently on the mast with Guan Si.

Ge Zhou was relieved to see that Zhang Yang was safe and sound.

"My lord, young master—"

Just as Ge Zhou opened his mouth, another violent shaking came from beneath his feet.

Guan Si, who was on the mast, was shaken and lost his balance. The pirate sneered and pressed his short knife against Guan Si's neck like a venomous snake. Just a second later, a hand grabbed Guan Si's wolf tail from behind and yanked him backward, while a single mace slammed down at the same time.

The river pirates never expected Zhang Yang to appear at this moment.

This wealthy merchant's daughter, who looked about twelve or thirteen, had delicate skin and a fair complexion, yet her attacks were so brutal! The pirate's short knife couldn't withstand the force, and the hilt slipped from his grasp. Zhang Yang quickly followed up, grabbing the mast shaft with one hand, stepping on the pirate's shoulder with her right foot, and throwing him away with both legs tightly wrapped around him. Taking advantage of the pirate's weakened state, she used the mast to gather momentum and leaped closer, grabbing her single mace and sweeping it across his waist.

The howling wind pierced the ears of the water bandits.

As soon as he hit it, Zhang Yang felt that something was wrong with the feel of it.

The pirate was thrown off balance and crashed into the deck, creating a large crater. A moment later, he casually climbed out of the crater and looked up at the boy standing on the mast.

He grinned, a smile tinged with annoyance.

"Fine, fine, so you've come to lure me in, huh?" Putting everything else aside, just looking at Zhang Yang's skills, he's someone an ordinary wealthy merchant couldn't afford to support. With this kind of ability, he could raise a flag and become a small warlord himself; why would he need to travel all over the country trading?

The river pirates then suspected that Zhang Yang and his companions were actually people from other forces in disguise.

The purpose was to lure myself out.

Previously, some men claiming to be under Qin Huang's command had come to offer them amnesty, but the river pirates ignored them and even drove them away. Then a group under Zhao Chai arrived, making the river pirates even more displeased. However, offending them meant their lives on the water were no longer easy.

They had to rob the place while also being wary of being ambushed.

Despite all our precautions, we still couldn't prevent it.

At this moment, he couldn't help but curse the idiot who sent the message.

What do you mean by "big fat sheep"? Have they ever seen a big fat sheep that can wield a pair of differently colored maces and casually smash down hundreds of pounds of meat?

The pirate appeared calm on the surface, but his arm was actually numb.

Guan Si gripped the mast with one hand, swallowing the urge to vomit.

"Nonsense! Kui Mulang, tear him apart!"

At that moment, the boatman cried out, "The boat is sinking!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the ship rocked violently again, the sound of impact being exceptionally clear. Zhang Yang, standing on higher ground, could see clearly that next to the large ship was a slightly smaller boat with an iron-plated prow. Dozens of people and several catapults were lined up at the prow of the larger ship.

Zhang Yang: "..."

Pirates: "Hand over the goods, and I'll spare your lives."

On the iron-tipped boat, a woman's voice boomed like thunder, shouting, "Brother, why waste your breath talking to these fat sheep!"

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