Chapter 5: Reck's Counterattack

The night over the Starry Voyage was dotted with countless stars, the shimmering sea reflecting the dark outlines of the island, lending an air of mystery and danger. Lana stood at the bow of the ship, her gaze fixed on the distant horizon, as if she could see the Kingdom of Nanyang thousands of miles away through the darkness. Clenching her fists, a complex tide of emotions surged within her: worry for her homeland’s crisis and unease about the journey ahead.

Footsteps approached from behind—Li Chuan handed her a cup of hot tea, his tone calm yet comforting. “Thinking too much won’t help. Rest for now. Tomorrow, we have more important matters to attend to.”

Lana took the tea but did not drink it. Instead, she spoke slowly, “I cannot rest. My father, the king, sent a secret letter. The crisis facing the Kingdom of Nanyang is far graver than I imagined. If we cannot swiftly unite all forces, we may lose the ability to resist entirely within a few months.”

Li Chuan did not respond immediately. He understood that what Lana needed now was release, not analysis. After a moment, he said, “I know this is hard for you, but you are not fighting alone. We will find a way. Trust me.”

Upon hearing this, Lana turned to look at Li Chuan. A flicker of gratitude shone in her eyes, but beneath it lay a tangled web of emotions. This ordinary-born modern traveler seemed always to offer hope when she was most lost.

At dawn the next day, Li Chuan and Lana set their plan into motion. To expand their alliance, they decided to start with the three major pirate factions of the Starry Voyage. According to Li Chuan’s deductions, each faction leader had a distinct weakness:

1. Sharktooth: Brutal and fierce, but obsessed with wealth.

2. Serpenttail: Cunning and suspicious, yet eager to expand territory.

3. Seascale: Calm and steady, but values reputation highly.

“We cannot use force,” Li Chuan explained, pointing at the map. “We must leverage what they care about. Sharktooth wants money, Serpenttail wants land, and Seascale treasures reputation. If we design a scenario where everyone benefits, they will have no choice but to cooperate.”

Lana nodded but frowned. “How can we be sure they won’t betray us midway? All three are infamous for their treachery.”

“Then we must have them check and balance each other,” Li Chuan said with a confident smile. “Though the negotiation will be… troublesome.”

As Lana and Li Chuan began their endeavor, a new figure quietly entered the scene—a woman named Yue Shan. Of complex heritage, Yue Shan was a half-blood; her mother a noble of Nanyang, her father an exiled Ming dynasty pirate. Raised at sea, she was sharp and quick-witted, adept at manipulating both hearts and situations.

Yue Shan initially appeared as a mere assistant to a merchant, but her wit and decisiveness soon caught Li Chuan’s attention during their interactions. Lana keenly sensed that Yue Shan’s attitude toward Li Chuan went beyond typical cooperation.

“You two seem to get along well?” Lana pondered aloud after one conversation.

“Hmm, she is indeed an interesting person,” Li Chuan replied casually, unaware of the slight tension flickering across Lana’s face.

Yue Shan’s admiration for Li Chuan gradually surfaced, while Lana, though wary, suppressed her feelings due to her position and the circumstances. The subtle dynamics among the three grew increasingly intricate as their mission progressed.

After arranging a meeting with Sharktooth, Li Chuan and Lana arrived at a secluded spot on Breaking Wave Island as promised. Sharktooth was already waiting, but clearly not alone—dozens of his men lay in ambush around them, the atmosphere thick with tension.

“I hope you’re not bringing empty words,” Sharktooth said coldly.

Li Chuan smiled calmly, pulling out a detailed nautical chart from his jacket. Crafted using modern knowledge combined with local intelligence, it revealed a hidden golden trade route.

“Boss Sharktooth, you know the value of this route. It could let your faction surpass Serpenttail and Seascale to become the dominant power in the Starry Voyage for years to come.”

Sharktooth took the map, scrutinizing it carefully. A gleam of greed flashed in his eyes, but he snorted, “Sounds like a grand plan. But why should I trust this isn’t a trap?”

As the tension mounted and Lana prepared to speak, Yue Shan interrupted, “Lord Sharktooth, I vouch for the accuracy of this chart with my own reputation. If there’s any falsehood, you may take my life.”

Her tone was resolute, her gaze unwavering. Such boldness surprised Sharktooth. After a moment, he laughed heartily, “Fine! I’ll give you a chance. But if I find any deceit, my blade will not be merciful!”

Leaving Breaking Wave Island, Lana’s feelings were conflicted. She had to admit Yue Shan had helped at a critical moment, yet a quiet unease gnawed at her.

“Do you think Yue Shan is trustworthy?” Lana cautiously asked Li Chuan.

“For now, she seems reliable,” Li Chuan answered frankly, unaware of the fleeting disappointment in Lana’s eyes.

Under the starry night sky, Lana stood alone on the deck, the sea breeze tousling her hair. Looking into the distance, she found herself questioning her relationship with Li Chuan for the first time. As a princess of Nanyang, pride and duty had always kept her from relying on anyone lightly. Yet Li Chuan’s presence was slowly infiltrating her heart.

Yue Shan’s arrival only deepened these tangled emotions. Taking a deep breath, Lana vowed silently, “I will not let anyone sway my decisions, not even in matters of the heart.”

The night was as ink, stars scattered across the boundless sea like a serene veil over the turbulent waters. Beneath the calm surface, uneasy currents churned. Li Chuan stood on deck, gripping a rough but precise map, his eyes sharp as he began to sketch out a bold plan.

“To win this war, brute force isn’t enough,” he muttered. “We must use our brains, mobilize all available resources, and strike at the enemy’s core.”

Pointing to several critical trade routes on the map, Li Chuan shared his ideas with Lana and Yue Shan.

“From what we know, the Black Flag Merchants have expanded their influence mainly through two routes,” Li Chuan said, tracing paths on the map. “One is the golden trade route, transporting key resources; the other is the arms route, supplying weapons. If we can sever these, we can deal them a heavy blow.”

Lana frowned slightly. “Cutting off trade routes is easier said than done. The Merchants have many ships; we don’t have the resources to confront them head-on.”

“Exactly why we won’t face them directly,” Li Chuan smiled confidently. “We’ll exploit the Merchants’ internal conflicts and make them unravel from within.”

Yue Shan looked up, excitement gleaming in her eyes. “Interesting approach. But how exactly?”

Li Chuan spread the map wide and elaborated, “Although Rex commands the Merchants publicly, there’s lingering distrust among captains, especially Saru who controls the golden route and Korn in charge of the arms route. These two have long-standing grudges. If we can fabricate a conflict making each suspect the other of sabotage, their coordination will falter.”

To execute the plan, Li Chuan decided to strike first at the golden trade route. They needed a swift vessel to infiltrate Merchant territory, disguised as Korn’s men, to raid Saru’s supplies under false pretenses.

“We must make it flawless,” Li Chuan said during the briefing. “Not only leave ‘evidence,’ but make Saru believe Korn is behind it.”

Yet the mission was perilous. The golden route was heavily patrolled; even a minor slip-up could cost them their lives.

“Who will undertake this mission?” Lana asked resolutely.

“I won’t let you risk it,” Li Chuan shook his head. “Your identity is too important. If exposed, the whole plan fails. I will go myself.”

Lana looked at him, emotions swirling within. She could not deny Li Chuan’s wit and courage were convincing, but sending him alone made her uneasy.

“I’ll accompany you,” Yue Shan suddenly stepped forward, her tone firm and unyielding. “I know the Merchants’ inner workings and can better handle emergencies.”

Lana frowned slightly but chose silence. She knew this was no time for personal feelings.

As night fell, Li Chuan and Yue Shan quietly approached the golden route’s transit point in a small boat. Disguised as a merchant ship transporting goods, they smoothly blended into the dock. But just as they prepared to act, an unexpected challenge arose.

“Stop! Who are you?” two patrolling soldiers suddenly blocked their path.

Unfazed, Yue Shan calmly offered a forged letter. “We are sent by Lord Korn, delivering crucial supplies.”

The soldiers examined the letter carefully, their expressions softening. Yet one remained suspicious. “Why have I never seen you before?”

“Korn is busy. Why would someone of your low rank need to know?” Yue Shan’s tone turned cold, eyes flashing disdain. “If you delay his plans, can you bear the consequences?”

The soldier was speechless and reluctantly waved them through. Li Chuan felt a cold sweat trickle down his back. Whispering to Yue Shan, he said, “Thank goodness for your silver tongue. We nearly blew our cover.”

Yue Shan smiled slyly. “That’s the meaning of cooperation, isn’t it?”

After successfully raiding the supplies and planting false evidence, Li Chuan and Yue Shan returned safely to camp. Lana’s anxiety eased upon seeing them unharmed. Yet when she overheard a conversation between the two, new waves stirred within her.

“Thanks to you today, I don’t know how we would have managed otherwise,” Li Chuan said gratefully.

Yue Shan chuckled softly. “I just did my part. You’re the mastermind. I’ve never seen such a meticulous plan.”

Their cheerful exchange and relaxed demeanor were imprinted fully in Lana’s mind. She bitterly wondered why such matters troubled her. In the face of national crisis, what weight did personal feelings hold?

Yet she could not deny the faint ache, like the salty tang of sea breeze—impossible to ignore.

While Li Chuan’s group quietly celebrated their initial success, Rex of the Black Flag Merchants was far from oblivious. He soon noticed the subtle shifts between Saru and Korn, growing suspicious of a rift sown by an unseen hand.

“Order increased patrols along all routes,” Rex commanded with a cold smile. “Spread rumors that we’re preparing a large-scale crackdown soon. Let’s see who dares to play with fire.”

Simultaneously, he dispatched an elite squad to secretly track down Li Chuan’s whereabouts. Rex keenly sensed that behind these events lurked a formidable figure not to be overlooked.