Chapter 759: Slice the Ginger!

After a short while, two small boats returned with a report: "Governor, I counted twice."

"Five ships, men, women, old and young total 273 mouths, all cut down from behind."

"They have been dead for at least seven or eight days, most already beginning to rot."

A stir arose again on the deck.

Wang Cheng'an stared at the five ships drifting silently on the sea, silent for a long while.

He turned and saluted Wang Jingzhao; the two whispered a few words.

Then Wang Cheng'an turned, and across the rail bowed deeply to Xiao Yuanhang.

"Prince," he said hoarsely, "the old minister has a matter to request."

Xiao Yuanhang replied, "Speak freely."

Wang Cheng'an glanced again at the five vessels, turned to face him, his expression heavy: "These civilians are my subjects of Goryeo, yet they died here innocently."

"By the King's decree, their corpses have already rotted; it is virtually impossible to send them back to Goryeo."

"Prince, please dispatch men to burn the ships, giving them a final journey."

Xiao Yuanhang did not hesitate: "It should be so. Governor Zhao, make the arrangements."

"Yes!" Zhao Tieshan answered, shouting toward the deck, "Launch a small boat! Prepare fierce fire oil!"

Soon everything was ready; Zhao Tieshan personally led men to row to the ship and poured the fierce fire oil onto it.

Then he lit a torch, hurled it forcefully onto the ship one by one, and the flames instantly surged.

The firelight danced on the sea, thick smoke rose into the air, then quickly dispersed in the sea breeze.

Flames enveloped the hull, swallowing the corpses piled on the deck one by one.

Those on the ship, witnessing all this, fell silent.

Wang Jingzhao stood at the rail, his spine straight.

He took his sister's small hand, bent down and wiped the tears from her face.

Wang Cheng'an closed his eyes, his lips moving slightly, reciting the funeral chant.

Zhang Wu'an removed his helmet, cradled it, his expression solemn.

Xiao Ran and Chen Hao stood side by side at the rail, watching the five blazing flames.

The fire gradually faded; the five small boats were burned down to a few charred keels, and moments later vanished.

Zhao Tieshan returned to the warship, stood beside Xiao Yuanhang, remained silent for a while, then ordered, "Send word to all vessels: the warning is cleared, resume formation."

The flagbearer climbed the mast and signaled the vessels with flag codes.

The tense atmosphere on the deck gradually relaxed; the water troops returned to their stations, adjusted the rigging, and the formation was redeployed.

Xiao Yuanhang glanced at the now empty sea, then turned and walked toward Chu Yuan.

He looked at the daughter in Chu Yuan's arms, reached out and touched her crown of hair: "Are you afraid?"

Tuan Tuan lifted her face, shook her head: "Not afraid! The worse they are, the less I fear! I will beat them all back!"

Xiao Yuanhang laughed aloud, snatched the daughter from Chu Yuan's arms, lifted her high, looked up at her: "Good! This is truly my daughter!"

Tuan Tuan giggled in midair, her little legs kicking: "Daddy, raise me higher! Higher still!"

Chu Yuan looked at the father and daughter, the corners of his lips slightly upturned.

Xiao Ningchen and Xiao Ningxun leaned on the rail, watching their sister lifted so high by her father, and couldn't help but laugh.

Before the laughter faded.

Two dark silhouettes suddenly flipped from the outside of the rail onto the deck, drenched, and the moment they hit the ground they sprang upward, lunging at Xiao Yuanhang and the Tuan Tuan in his arms!

Xiao Yuanhang's pupils narrowed sharply, his foot spun quickly, and he shoved the daughter into Chu Yuan's arms.

Two long blades brushed his shoulders, cutting his robe sleeves, leaving two bleeding wounds.

"Father!" Xiao Ningxun and Xiao Ningchen drew their swords simultaneously and rushed forward.

Xiao Er and Lu Qi entered from the side; Xiao Er slashed at the back of the neck of the man on the left.

The man didn't even turn his head, but a reverse slash forced Xiao Er back.

Lu Qi's iron lotus had already been launched, yet the man didn't blink, raised his leg and kicked.

Lu Qi was kicked, staggered back, slammed into the rail, and spewed a mouthful of sour liquid.

His already dizzy head grew even more woozy.

At the same time, a sudden cry rose from the neighboring warship.

Four figures dressed in identical black clothes flipped from the rail onto the deck, two of them lunging at the Wang Jingzhao siblings at the rail.

The other two charged at Wang Cheng'an!

Zhang Wu'an let out a roar, swung his long sword horizontally, forcefully blocking in front of Wang Jingzhao.

Xiao Ran and Chen Hao drew their side swords and rushed forward.

The Goryeo guards leapt forward, blades together, slashing the two black-clad men, but only tore the clothing, not even a layer of skin.

Wang Jingzhao was horrified, grabbed his sister and rushed outward.

"They can't be killed!" a guard shouted in panic.

Xiao Ningxun suddenly realized, shouted loudly, "It's a Shadow Blade!"

Chu Yuan held Tuan Tuan against his chest, shielding her, exposing his back outward.

Xiao Yuanhang and Xiao Ningchen stood before them, several arcs of light flashed, driving back a Shadow Blade.

Xiao Ningchen and Xiao Ningxun stood side by side on the other side, with Xiao Er and Lu Qi providing support from the flank.

But the Shadow Blade ignored swords, focusing solely on Xiao Yuanhang and Tuan Tuan, charging wildly.

Tuan Tuan quickly lowered her head, took a fish bone from the small embroidered pouch.

"Hold the Shadow Blade! No one moves!"

After speaking, she relaxed her small hand, and the fish bone fell downward.

A faint light flashed, and the fish bone vanished.

The next moment.

Eight shadow blades all seemed seized by an invisible giant hand, frozen in place.

Some blades were still raised in midair, some legs still outstretched, yet all suddenly became motionless, as if frozen into ice statues.

Everything happened so fast, almost in the blink of an eye.

Just as they recovered, Zhao Tieshan, who had rushed forward, landed directly on a shadow blade, and the two rolled onto the ground.

Zhao Tieshan hurriedly got up, sheepishly rubbing the back of his head.

Xiao Er and Lu Qi couldn't help but burst into laughter.

Everyone on the deck was panting heavily, still shaken.

Xiao Yuanhang slowly lowered the arm that had been blocking his daughter's front.

Tuan Tuan lifted her little face, turned around and grinned at Chu Yuan: "Master, I've pinned the bad guys! They won't move!"

Chu Yuan let out a sigh of relief, hugged her tightly as he turned, and said, "Indeed, thanks to your quick mind and fast reaction!"

Tuan Tuan hurriedly brushed against his neck and said, "Master, don't be afraid, I'm here!"

Chu Yuan couldn't help but laugh.

Xiao Yuanhang looked at those shadow blades and said, "Tie them up and bring them over; I, the king, will personally interrogate!"

"Send word to all warships: conduct thorough searches and guard against any enemies that slip through!"

"Bring the Goryeo Royal Family over."

"Yes!"

"And also!" he sighed, "Slice ginger! Distribute it daily to everyone who gets seasick!"