Chapter 758: with translation of chapter title

Zhao Tieshan rushed to the ship's rail and shouted, "Blow the horn! Beat the gong!"

"Yes!"

In an instant, the horn and gong sounded together.

The water soldiers quickly pulled the sails, closing the distance between the warships.

The formation formed by the fleet slowly contracted, surrounding the two flagship vessels in the center.

Zhao Tieshan shouted to the water soldiers in the lookout, "Search again! Report quickly!"

"Yes!"

Xiao Er, who had just taken a few steps forward, quickly returned, "Prince?"

Xiao Yuanhang shoved his daughter into his arms, "Take her to the National Preceptor's cabin!"

Tuan Tuan clutched Xiao Er's neck, turned her head and shouted, "Dad, be careful!"

Xiao Yuanhang smiled at his daughter, "Hurry, go!"

Xiao Er held Tuan Tuan tightly, turned and ran toward the cabin.

The water soldier in the lookout tightly grasped the Thousand-mile mirror and examined, "Ship, the ship is full of people! All are lying down!"

The clamor on the ship froze instantly.

Zhao Tieshan lifted the Thousand-mile mirror and looked toward those five ships.

In the tube of the mirror, the five ships drifted ever closer, yet the people on the decks remained motionless.

Gradually, the scene on the ships became clearer.

Men, elders, women, and children were all present, piled together.

There was even a young woman lying on her side at the ship's rail, cradling in one hand a child who seemed less than a year old.

Zhao Tieshan set down the Thousand-mile mirror, his face drawn tight.

They were not warships, and there were no Eastern soldiers on board; what kind of trick is this?

He shouted orders, "Relay the command! All troops on alert!"

"Heavenly fire tubes take position! Archers, draw your bows!"

"Without my order, no one may act on their own!"

The flag bearer quickly climbed the mast and signaled the command to the warships on both sides.

The water soldiers ran back and forth, their footsteps making thudding sounds on the deck.

Everyone stared intently at the five ships drawing ever nearer.

Xiao Ningchen heard the commotion and rushed out of the cabin.

Even though sweat still beaded on his forehead, his hand was already steady on the hilt of his sword, and Xiao Ningxun followed closely behind.

On the neighboring warship, Xiao Ran and Chen Hao's faces grew increasingly pale.

They leaned on the doorframe and walked to the cabin entrance.

The three members of the Goryeo royal family also ran out; Zhang Wu'an's complexion was pale as he led a few guards to shield them.

As Xiao Er carried Tuan Tuan past Lu Qi's cabin door, he caught Lu Qi with a blank face just as he reached the doorway.

His eyes were sunken, his steps unsteady, and he looked as if he hadn't slept for days and nights.

"Uncle Seven!" Tuan Tuan jumped at his appearance, "You should go back quickly; Dad and Uncle Zhao are outside, it's fine!"

Xiao Er looked at his condition and frowned, "You're like this, yet you still come out? Go back and lie down quickly."

"Lie down? As if." Lu Qi pulled out two iron lotus seeds from his chest, "If there's any movement, can I stay lying down?"

"Then hold on tighter." Xiao Er stopped urging, just as he was about to keep running forward, he saw Chu Yuan walking toward him.

"National Preceptor! The Prince asked me to bring the miss to your cabin."

Chu Yuan reached out and took Tuan Tuan from his arms, "You go help, I'm here."

Tuan Tuan clutched Master's neck, turned to Xiao Er and said, "Yes! Master is with me! Uncle Two, go help Dad!"

"Alright." Xiao Er glanced at Tuan Tuan, turned and supported Lu Qi, "Brother, shall I help you over there to have a look?"

Lu Qi nodded, and the two walked to the rail and looked down.

As the ships approached, a foul, fishy stench grew stronger.

Tuan Tuan wrinkled her little nose, "Master, it smells terrible!"

Chu Yuan's complexion changed, he covered Tuan Tuan's eyes, "Don't look, I'll tell you when there's something."

"Okay." Tuan Tuan obediently nestled into his arms and closed her eyes.

The ships drifted ever closer, and the scene on board became crystal clear to everyone.

Countless people lay on the ship.

An old man lay on the ship's side, half his body hanging over the edge; a slash ran from his shoulder down to his waist on his back, and the blood on his clothes had hardened into a stiff dark brown.

Beside him was a five‑ or six‑year‑old girl, eyes tightly shut, her face smeared with blood; on the girl's waist lay a seven‑ or eight‑year‑old boy on his back, a clear wound visible on his neck.

On all five ships, every corpse was dressed in Goryeo attire!

"Th‑that's our people!" Wang Cheng'an rushed to the rail, clutching the railing with both hands, "Damned Easterners!"

Wang Jingzhao stepped out from behind Wang Cheng'an, his hand gripping the sword hilt tightly, trembling slightly, the blue veins on the back of his hand bulging one by one.

He stared at the civilians on the ship whose names he couldn't even pronounce, his lips pressed into a thin line, "You will not die in vain; I will avenge you!"

Wang Jingning, short and unable to see below, saw her uncle and brother and tears rolled down her cheeks.

Several Goryeo guards, eyes tearing, fell to their knees on the deck and shouted, "Your Majesty! We must avenge these innocent civilians who died tragically!"

Wang Jingzhao turned and helped each of them to their feet, nodding solemnly.

"Beast!" Zhao Tieshan cursed harshly, "They won't even spare the elderly and children!"

"Commander Zhao, they did this on purpose."

The old soldier beside us croaked, "Stack the corpses on the boat and let it drift over; this is a warning to us!"

"Pah!" Zhao Tieshan spat forcefully.

The fury on the deck ignited like dry wood soaked in oil, roaring up in an instant.

The curses, the clashing of blades, and the shouts merged into one din.

Xiao Yuanhang's expression remained unchanged, but his brows knit tightly.

Why did the Japanese send no warships to block, yet let a boat laden with corpses drift close?

Could it really be just a warning?

"Father," Xiao Ningxun said as he stepped beside his father, "This matter is probably not that simple; sending a fleet to launch a night raid would be a better warning, wouldn't it?"

Xiao Yuanhang remained silent.

Zhao Tieshan suppressed the surge of anger in his chest and said, "Send two fast boats over, inspect them carefully, and see if any survivors remain."

Xiao Yuanhang added, "Do not board the ship; beware of disease."

Zhao Tieshan suddenly realized, "The Prince is right!"

Two small boats were lowered slowly and rowed toward the five vessels.

The water troops rowed their boats around in a circle, extending oars and long poles to examine each of the corpses laid out.

Everyone watched them quietly, silently hoping to find anyone still alive.