Chapter 136: End Your Own Life

A shrill scream pierced the night sky!
The night sky: How on earth did my membrane get breached...
Lady Dongming, Shan Meixian, and Shan Wanjing’s expressions changed drastically as they stared at Zheng Jian in utter astonishment.
"Don't look at me, it's not what you think! I have nothing to do with the Sandbar Gang. I just happened to run into the person who came to warn you... See, that's why it took a little time..." Zheng Jian scratched his head, looking somewhat embarrassed.
Well, it was a meeting of true rivals! If you want to blame someone, blame your precious daughter Shan Wanjing. In any case, this trouble has nothing to do with me, Zheng!
Shan Meixian didn't believe a single punctuation mark of what Zheng Jian said and said coldly, "In that case, I must ask the young master to remain temporarily in the cabin!"
She clapped her hands, and two burly martial artists walked in, standing to the left and right of Zheng Jian.
Only then did Shan Meixian and her daughter rush hurriedly toward the deck.
...
Outside, the sounds of killing already filled the air. Three ships of the Sandbar Gang had surrounded the massive vessel of the Dongming Sect and were rapidly closing in.
When Lady Dongming reached the deck, the sailors had already begun hoisting the sails and weighing anchor, preparing to break through the encirclement.
"Quick! Weigh anchor and charge out! Everyone to your positions, fire arrows to meet the enemy!" Shan Meixian remained calm in the face of danger, issuing steady commands.
The sailors manipulated the vessel to charge out of the encirclement, while the martial artists picked up bows and arrows to return fire.
In ancient naval warfare, lacking long-range firepower, the most relied-upon and effective ranged attack method was the bow and arrow. However, such weaponry was strictly controlled, and the Sandbar Gang did not possess many bows, relying mainly on catapults—whose accuracy was simply appalling...
As the largest weapons supplier of the present era, the Dongming Sect naturally lacked no shortage of powerful bows and sharp arrows. Under a simultaneous volley of arrows, screams immediately echoed from the distance.
However, the Sandbar Gang possessed overwhelming numbers and pressed forward against the rain of arrows. Their strategy was extremely simple: once they closed the distance for boarding and close-quarters combat, the Dongming Sect would definitely be unable to hold them off.
"Charge for me, lads!" A roar suddenly erupted in the night sky, sounding exceptionally clear amidst the chaotic battle.
Dragon King Han Gaitai, bare-chested and wielding a saber, stood atop a small boat and shouted at the top of his lungs.
Following his roar, more small boats surged out from the surroundings, following him as they rapidly charged toward the Dongming Sect's ship.
"Fire arrows!"
The members of the Dongming Sect were startled and hurriedly loosed arrows to intercept them. From time to time, figures on the small boats were struck by arrows, tumbling over into the icy seawater.
Yet, eventually, the small boats drew close to the Dongming Sect's ship, throwing ropes that hooked onto the gunwales. Amidst the battle cries of the Sandbar Gang, Dragon King Han Gaitai took the lead and charged straight onto the deck!
"Han Gaitai!" Lady Dongming ground her teeth so hard they nearly shattered. Tonight, her Dongming Sect appeared to be facing a grim fate indeed.
"Greetings, Madam! Old Han has come this time for no other reason. As long as Madam immediately hands over the ledger, Old Han will withdraw right away and will by no means make things difficult for you. How about it?" Dragon King Han Gaitai's voice was like a booming bell, filled with oppressive pressure.
Lady Dongming's expression changed drastically. As the largest weapons supplier, many legendary weapons and artifacts in the martial arts world originated from the Dongming Sect. The ledger Han Gaitai spoke of recorded the transaction records, quantities, and types of weapons sold in recent years. Once taken away, the consequences would be unimaginable.
"What ledger? This humble concubine does not understand," Lady Dongming said calmly. She had already made up her mind; even if she died, she would not let the ledger fall into Han Gaitai's hands.
"Hahahaha... Madam is playing dumb while knowing the truth. If you hand it out, I, old Han, can make the decision to spare your lives. Otherwise... tsk tsk, I've heard that the Princess of Dongming is as beautiful as an immortal, and old Han would also like to taste what mother and daughter are like! Oh right, so many brothers under my command are also intensely coveting her. I wonder if Madam and the Princess will be able to handle them all."
Han Gaitai's gaze swept back and forth over Lady Dongming before glancing at Shan Wanjing behind her, prompting him to burst into loud laughter.
Lady Dongming's pretty face instantly drained of all color.
"Cough cough, Madam, are you scared?" Zheng Jian's voice came from behind Shan Meixian.
Startled, Lady Dongming and Shan Wanjing both turned around in a hurry, instantly catching sight of Zheng Jian's cheap, grinning face.
"You... you and them..." Shan Meixian felt a sense of utter despair.
"Well, you guessed it! Me and the Sandbar Gang..." Zheng Jian smiled.
Shan Meixian's legs went weak, and she almost collapsed.
"Are really not accomplices!"
"???" Shan Meixian suspected she had misheard.
Seeing Shan Meixian like this, Zheng Jian had no choice but to repeat, "Me and the Sandbar Gang... are truly not accomplices!"
Resentment points from Shan Meixian +500, resentment from Shan Wanjing +666.
The things this person said could drive someone insane!
Noticing the suspicious gazes of Shan Meixian and her daughter, Zheng Jian rubbed his nose. "You still don't believe me, do you? Very well, just watch."
With that, Zheng Jian stepped in front of the mother and daughter, placed his hands on his hips, and shouted at Han Gaitai, "Hey! You're that old mudfish from the Sandbar Gang, right? Go ahead and commit suicide!"
Shan Meixian: "..."
Shan Wanjing: "..."
Dragon King Han Gaitai: "???"
Resentment points from Han Gaitai +666.
Han Gaitai's expression darkened. "Brat, I don't care where you crawled out from, get lost right now! The little trick of playing the hero saving the beauty can cost you your life!"
Zheng Jian pondered for a moment and said, "I told you to commit suicide, so just do it. Why all the nonsense!"
Resentment points from Han Gaitai +999.
"Asking for death! Go to hell, you brat!" Consumed by rage, Han Gaitai slashed straight at Zheng Jian with his saber!
This single slash enveloped Zheng Jian as well as Lady Dongming and her daughter standing behind him. If Zheng Jian dodged, Shan Meixian and her daughter would inevitably perish; if Zheng Jian did not dodge, he would be cleaved cleanly in half by Han Gaitai!
Zheng Jian remained completely unfazed, even finding the leisure to look back at Shan Wanjing and raise an eyebrow. "Little beauty, should I dodge or not?"
Shan Wanjing's wide eyes were filled with terror, but she still gritted her teeth and shrieked, "Get out of the way!"
"Well said, a good girl indeed!" Zheng Jian smiled. Without even turning his head back, he drew his sword and thrust it forward!
Amidst the horrified gazes of Shan Meixian and her daughter, the tip of the sword precisely met the blade of "Dragon King" Han Gaitai!
If it had been off by even a fraction of a hair's breadth, Zheng Jian would already have been divided into two pieces...
"Phew..." Lady Dongming Shan Meixian let out a long sigh of relief, and her chest heaved rapidly for a moment...
Han Gaitai found himself in an extremely awkward position at this moment. He exerted all his strength and internal energy, pressing downward. "Hmph..."
He had used every ounce of strength he possessed...
Yet the tip of the sword did not budge an inch...
On the deck, the men of the Sandbar Gang and the Dongming Sect involuntarily halted their slaughter, staring blankly at this scene.
Shan Meixian and Shan Wanjing finally realized that Zheng Jian was an absolute expert. A lingering fear and joy of having cheated death washed over them.
Especially Shan Wanjing, whose large eyes blinked rapidly as she suddenly felt that Zheng Jian wasn't quite so detestable after all...
"No, he's still extremely annoying!" Shan Wanjing told herself inwardly, though she sounded somewhat lacking in conviction...
At that moment, the mermaid You Qiufeng leaped out of the water and landed on the deck. Her black aquatic attire outlined a stunning figure, accentuated by her impressive curves and long legs...
...
The fifth chapter is delivered, cheers!
Little brother's fingers are almost numb. Exactly how many first-hour subscriptions were there? Little brother's trembling hands don't even dare to open the backend... Whether I can release explosive updates depends entirely on this final sprint. Generally speaking, sprints are fast and fierce, right? I assume all you esteemed patrons are fiercely valorous, brimming with vigor, and spirited as dragons and horses, old steeds... cough cough, I'll stop right here.
(End of this chapter)