Chapter 533: Raging Sea Gang

Chapter 533: The Raging Sea Gang

The pirate ships approached swiftly.

It was clear that the pirate vessels lacked the tonnage of the Tang family flagship, yet they were no smaller than the other ships in the Tang fleet. With hundreds of them speeding forward, the visual pressure was immense.

Tang family sailors quickly spread across the deck, drawing bows and nocking arrows, and even pulling back oilcloth with a clatter to reveal several mounted crossbows.

Zhao Changhe glanced sidelong, thinking to himself that these crossbows were most likely embezzled by Tang Buqi for his own family’s fleet... That honest-looking fellow wasn’t such a good sort either...

The disciplined and formidable display lent the scene a touch of absurdity. The closer the pirate ships came, the more dumbfounded they grew, until finally they split left and right, passing by at a distance of several arrow shots, showcasing astonishingly skilled navigation and command.

From afar came a voice, projected with effort: “Whose fleet are you?”

This strength... was formidable.

Speaking across several arrow shots on this vast ocean, Zhao Changhe dared say that even with a loudspeaker, an ordinary person couldn’t make themselves heard. Yet this inner force carried the words so clearly—only possible for someone who had opened a secret vault: the basic requirement of the first secret vault, merging with the environment, using the sea wind to transmit sound.

Tang En clearly couldn’t manage that and couldn’t reply, but the other side had already spotted the flag flapping wildly in the wind: “So it’s the Tang family of Gusu.”

He said nothing more. The pirate fleet turned around, almost as if escorting the Tang ships on either side, following them all the way.

Tang En frowned deeply, looking thoroughly vexed.

Zhao Changhe didn’t understand and asked quietly, “What’s their game?”

Tang En said, “There’s only a thousand days of thieving, not a thousand days of guarding against thieves. Following us like this clearly means they don’t want us to dock for rest and supplies. Once we go ashore, who knows what might happen.”

Zhao Changhe understood. If they reached a supply port, the enemy likely had people on land too. With a prearranged signal, they’d be caught in a pincer, making things awkward. Especially since the other side had experts while they didn’t—if they found an opportunity to charge in like a tiger among sheep, the crossbows would be useless.

This was the advantage of home ground combined with the threat of top-tier experts.

The best plan was to fight now, to scare them off for good. But Tang En clearly wasn’t prepared for a life-or-death struggle just two days into the voyage, and he hesitated.

Zhao Changhe saw this and raised his voice slightly: “That’s fine, who knows who’s guarding against whom. Don’t let me find a chance to board their ships—a little counter-plunder wouldn’t be bad either.”

Though it seemed only a little louder, his voice was like a solid substance, not carried by the wind but unbroken by it, reaching every pirate ship clearly.

The pirates all changed expression. This move was far stronger than their leader’s! What level of cultivation was this!

The leader who had spoken also seemed taken aback, responding gravely, “Which hero from the Earth Ranking is this?”

Zhao Changhe almost instinctively wanted to say Wang Daozhong. Playing Wang Daozhong was second nature now, and even his strength matched—he was practically a method actor.

But on second thought, he suppressed the impulse. The Wang family was central to this affair, and he wanted to stay low-key and observe. Claiming to be Wang Daozhong would only cause trouble and go against his original intent.

So he casually made up a lie: “The Chaos World Record is often biased. I’m not on the list, just an unknown.”

Back in the Central Plains, few would believe that, but at sea, they almost took it at face value: “So you’re a maritime hero recruited by the Tang family. May I ask your name?”

Zhao Changhe casually adapted the name of Lu Shouyi, whom he’d met recently: “Zhao Shouyi. And you?”

Embracing the Origin and Guarding the One—much more cultured than Guarding Righteousness. I’m more of a scholar than you Fanyang Lu types.

The other side paused for a moment, as if trying to recall if they’d heard of Zhao Shouyi. After thinking for a while with no memory, they had to say, “I am Hua Zhenming of the Raging Sea Gang, sent by the Third Chief to persuade all fishermen and sea merchants to turn back.”

Persuade to turn back—Zhao Changhe could actually believe that. This was still near the coast, less than a day out. Earlier, Tang En couldn’t even believe there were pirates here, so calling it persuasion made more sense. Of course, that was because their side was strong. If they were weaker, they’d probably just be robbed outright—physical persuasion, no pleasantries.

Zhao Changhe was quite surprised: “With your strength, there are still so many chiefs above you?”

Hua Zhenming said, “My strength is just a small role in the Raging Sea Gang.”

Zhao Changhe couldn’t help but shout inwardly: “Xia Xia, the Chaos World Record is seriously missing some entries!”

Xia Xia played dead and didn’t respond.

Zhao Changhe had to say, “Surrounding the fleet and following us to cause trouble—this is your persuasion?”

Hua Zhenming said, “What else can we do... Your ships are strong and your crossbows powerful. Without some strategy, would we just clash head-on?”

Zhao Changhe laughed: “And now?”

Hua Zhenming fell silent.

The reason following the ships created psychological pressure was mainly due to his strength. If the other side wasn’t careful, he could board and wreak havoc, keeping them tense and miserable the whole way. But now the tables had turned—the other side had someone stronger than him. So who would end up tense and miserable?

He sighed: “The seas are troubled now. Our persuasion is well-intentioned. Why must you be so stubborn?”

Zhao Changhe said, “If you can give us a reason to be convinced, turning back isn’t out of the question. Otherwise, if you were in my shoes, would you obediently turn the whole fleet around just because someone said it was well-intentioned persuasion? Do we still have to answer to our young master?”

Hua Zhenming was silent for a long while, then said, “I can’t say.”

Zhao Changhe said, “Then there’s nothing to discuss. You can follow along slowly.”

Hua Zhenming said, “I challenge you according to the rules of the jianghu. If you lose, your entire fleet turns back.”

Zhao Changhe laughed: “Do you really think you’re a match for me?”

Hua Zhenming said calmly, “Inner force or secret vaults don’t determine real combat.”

“Makes sense.” Zhao Changhe smiled. “And if you lose?”

Hua Zhenming said bluntly, “We’ll hand over all our valuables and women.”

Zhao Changhe glanced at their ships—there were no women at all. Damn liar.

But this stalemate wasn’t working. Zhao Changhe also wanted to test his skills against a sea expert, so he laughed: “Deal.”

The moment the words fell, both leaped up almost simultaneously, meeting in the air above the sea between the two ships. In the blink of an eye, they exchanged over a dozen blows with a series of crackling sounds.

Zhao Changhe used the Divine Phoenix Wind-Thunder Palm from the Divine Phoenix Sect. This palm technique was impenetrable in defense, perfect for testing the opponent’s strength, and he doubted the other side would recognize it.

After testing, Zhao Changhe felt pleasantly surprised.

Hua Zhenming’s fist and palm techniques were clearly honed in seawater. Each punch felt like facing the heavy pressure of the ocean depths—slow on the surface, but the pressure was overwhelming, almost visible as a swirling vortex of seawater around him.

This was one of the most typical martial arts characteristics derived from learning from nature. If the Heaven’s Record recorded it, it would be an excellent reference for advancing one’s own martial path.

After over a dozen exchanges, both ran out of breath and landed on the sea surface simultaneously.

Zhao Changhe lightly tapped his foot, walking on the waves, and rose into the air again.

Hua Zhenming also stepped on the water, but unlike Zhao Changhe, who used buoyancy to rise, it seemed as if a whirlpool formed beneath him, lifting him upward.

Zhao Changhe laughed: “Excellent! Take this palm!”

In an instant, wind and thunder roared. The Divine Phoenix Wind-Thunder Palm burst forth, crashing down with a boom.

Hua Zhenming raised both hands, and a water dragon spiraled upward, colliding fiercely with the wind and thunder above.

The water dragon scattered and fell apart. Hua Zhenming clearly couldn’t withstand Zhao Changhe’s power and tumbled backward.

Zhao Changhe grabbed him by the collar and casually flung him back onto his pirate ship. Using the reaction force, he himself drifted backward through the air, landing gracefully back on the Tang ship.

Both sides watched in rapt awe, and regardless of friend or foe, they cheered in unison: “Excellent! Excellent skill!”

Indeed, lightness skill was the most impressive thing—far cooler than any wind-thunder palm.

Hua Zhenming landed on the deck, staggered a couple of steps, and found himself unharmed. He stood there dazed for a moment, then cupped his hands toward Zhao Changhe: “I’ve learned much!”

Zhao Changhe returned the gesture: “I overpowered you with brute force... Your techniques have given me much to ponder. I’ve learned much too.”

Hua Zhenming sighed: “The valuables on the ship are yours.”

Zhao Changhe laughed heartily, patted Tang En on the shoulder, and said, “Full speed ahead. Let’s go.”

The Tang fleet sailed away, leaving a group of pirates staring at each other in bewilderment.

After a long while, Hua Zhenming sighed and said, “The Third Chief was right... There are heroes on land as well.”