Chapter 923: Second-Way Pirates

As soon as He Lingchuan opened his mouth, Dong Rui interrupted him: "But it has already been picked clean by you, nothing is left. It's really gone!" "A divine tomb? Are there living Heavenly Gods inside?"

Dong Rui looked at him as if he were caring for the mentally disabled: "What kind of talk is that? Of course not! Otherwise, would they let me take blood and cut bones?"

Lu Lu Qingan returned home, and it was already late.

His father, Lu Zhensheng, had already returned and was waiting for his report.

Lu Lu Qingan took out the forty thousand taels of silver notes but didn't mention the accident during the sea inspection, only saying that today was exceptionally smooth.

What was the use of mentioning it? The archipelago had already been sold.

The only thing the old man could complain about was that it was sold too cheaply—since someone had their eyes on the archipelago, perhaps they could have accepted a higher price.

Speaking of which, had the man surnamed He been bluffing him these past few days?

Lu Lu Qingan was a little annoyed.

Lu Zhensheng also let out a long sigh of relief when he saw the silver notes, and then smiled bitterly: "Bowing down for a mere few tens of thousands of taels of silver. Alas, I didn't expect that you and I would have this day."

"Everyone who does business knows that everyone has times when they are short of cash," Lu Lu Qingan comforted him. "It's just a half-month difficulty, it will pass. Next month, the autumn grain and taxes will be collected one after another, and the treasury will be full again."

Bailie's land was very fertile, with few disasters and no wars, and there could be a bumper harvest every few days.

Lu Lu Qingan changed the subject: "By the way, the Baishun Festival is next month. What are the plans for the second brother and his wife?"

In previous years, Lu Qinglin and his wife often returned home to visit relatives during the Baishun Festival.

"There is a war in the west, and Qinglin is still on the front line, so it's hard to say at this time," Lu Zhensheng said casually. "Most likely they won't come back."

Lu Lu Qingan said "Oh" and felt relieved.

This sister-in-law of his was a top-tier power broker in the Mou Kingdom, Xia Lishang, the daughter of General Yutian. Every time she came to visit relatives, Bailie had to provide the highest standard of reception to show importance.

What is the highest standard? Expensive.

Spending money.

Wasting manpower and money.

These three words were about to become Lu Zhensheng's taboo; he would get a toothache whenever they were mentioned.

It happened to be the autumn harvest, and Bailie had finally managed to save some money. If Xia Lishang came, he didn't know how much would be ruined.

If she didn't come, it was truly a happy ending for everyone.

In order to save some money, Lu Lu Qingan could not see his second brother; this was no problem at all.

￥￥￥￥￥

The next day was cloudy.

The morning sun was blocked by thick clouds, and the wind on the sea was a bit chilly.

The Fish Bone Reef was very small, only thirty or forty square meters. Rather than a "reef," it was more like a small, slanted beach. The part exposed above the water was clean and delicate, shaped like a fish bone, hence the name.

When the tide rose, the entire Fish Bone Reef would be submerged.

Today at the hour of Chen, it was exactly the lowest point of the ebb tide. He Lingchuan arrived by boat, and his subordinates set up a table and two chairs on the Fish Bone Reef, and placed a jar of fine wine on the table.

He Lingchuan sat here waiting, drinking by himself while listening to the rising and falling of the waves.

Qiu Hu and other guards stood behind him with their hands behind their backs, motionless.

After half an hour, Qiu Hu leaned closer and said: "Young Master, the time is more than half over."

He Lingchuan nodded, not in a hurry at all.

Why was he certain that the pirates would keep the appointment? It was simple. Before Lei Ni left the pleasure boat yesterday, He Lingchuan had secretly placed an eyeball spider on her.

This girl really found the Second-Way Pirate Leader and conveyed Young Master He's request.

The pirate den was immediately in an uproar, laughing and joking about him, the new island master. However, after hearing about Lei Ni's experience on Suoding Island, the Second-Way Leader decided to come and meet him.

Not to mention anything else, the location He Lingchuan chose for the meeting showed sincerity.

The Fish Bone Reef was not on land, nor even in Blade Harbor; the beach and the sea were wide open and unobstructed, and there was no place to hide ships, which ruled out the possibility of an ambush.

If you want to talk properly, you have to find a location where both parties can feel at ease.

Another half hour passed.

Just as the hour of Chen was approaching, a speedboat suddenly approached and dropped anchor, its movements exceptionally agile.

Afterwards, more than thirty burly men jumped off the boat and walked towards here.

The leader was not tall, with a big head and a thick neck, and a long scar on his left face, extending from his eyebrow and eyelid to the corner of his mouth. No matter what expression he had, he looked ferocious.

These people had dark, shiny skin, like old farmers in the fields. But He Lingchuan knew that this was the result of being blown by the sea wind and exposed to the sun.

He let Min Tianxi bring only five people to the reef, but this fellow brought more than thirty. Black and oppressive, they were numerous and powerful.

Why should pirates listen to the words of a small "Island Master"?

The pirate leader looked him up and down a few times: "He?"

He Lingchuan waved his hand: "The Second-Way Leader is here? Please sit."

This person was not afraid either and sat down boldly. The pirates dispersed from behind him, relying on their numerical advantage to surround Qiu Hu and the others, staring like tigers.

35:6, the ratio of the number of people on both sides.

Surrounded by a group of bandits, He Lingchuan remained calm: "How should I address you?"

"My name is Min Tianxi." He didn't believe He Lingchuan hadn't inquired about his name.

"Leader Min." He Lingchuan personally lifted the pot and poured him a cup of wine.

The wine was fragrant, but Min Tianxi didn't even lift his hand. How could he drink wine of unknown origin?

"Are you the big sucker who bought the Yangshan Archipelago?" Min Tianxi went straight to the point, seizing the right to speak first.

"I bought the archipelago, but I'm not a sucker," He Lingchuan wouldn't be led astray by him. "In a few days, you will know who the real sucker is."

"Oh?" Min Tianxi was a little curious, "Who?"

He Lingchuan smiled without a word.

The pirates on the side were whispering, pointing at them from time to time.

The more rogue ones reached out to poke the shoulders of the Rongshan people.

"Are these Leader Min's elites?" He Lingchuan glanced at them. "When the master is discussing matters, they dare to whisper on the side; their quality is too poor."

Min Tianxi frowned. When he was talking to someone, this group of kids was giggling and whispering on the side; it was indeed not proper. In contrast, the five people behind He Lingchuan stood like pine trees, neither speaking nor moving, a sharp contrast to the sloppiness and rudeness of his own side.

"Shut up, all of you!"

Min Tianxi roared, and the private discussions of the pirates gradually subsided.

Qiu Hu saw this, his eyes flashing slightly.

The pirate leader then asked: "How much money did you spend to buy this archipelago?"

He Lingchuan didn't hide it from him: "Eighty thousand taels."

"Only eighty thousand?" Min Tianxi slapped the armrest of the chair with a "clack." "Oh my, if I had known it was only eighty thousand, wouldn't I have just gone to Bailie to buy it? These islands and sea areas would all be mine legitimately in the future."

A confidant behind him reminded him: "Leader, we do business without capital; we can't spend money."

Who would rob on their own territory?

Min Tianxi glared at him fiercely. Being stupid again? Can't you hear that he is mocking this kid? "Do you think this eighty thousand taels was worth spending?" This Island Master He looked like a rich young master, but his gaze was steady. The guards behind him also had cultivation, and they didn't look weak in combat power.

Min Tianxi's gaze swept over Qiu Hu twice. As a pirate leader, the most important thing is not how many people you have under your command, but having a discerning eye to know how to choose the right prey.

Someone like Qiu Hu, whose ferocity is obvious, is a tough nut to crack at first glance; the Second-Way pirates would definitely not choose him as prey.

What about his master, Young Master He? Is he also not as stupid as the rumors say? Should I test him? "Very worth it." He Lingchuan raised his glass and sipped the fine wine. "Just Dragon Spine Island alone, how much farmland can be reclaimed, how many manors can be built? And you don't have to pay any exorbitant taxes."

Not only do you not have to pay, but he can also collect these fees from people who come to the island to buy houses and settle down. "As a result, dozens of islands combined only sold for eighty thousand taels; if this isn't a cabbage price, what is?"

Min Tianxi looked at him for a long time before asking: "You know that you can't get into the depths of the archipelago, right?"

Because of the Yin-Sha turbid energy.

He Lingchuan didn't even lift his eyelids: "Usually, Yin-Snakes won't swim to the periphery to hurt people, Leader Min knows this too, right?"

He was talking about the recent changes in the Yangshan Archipelago, and at the same time, he answered Min Tianxi's previous question: he knew everything.

"Oh?" Min Tianxi was very surprised. "You know the reason?"

This kid knew that the Yangshan Archipelago had Yin-Sha, yet he still dared to buy it? Who gave him the courage?

"Of course." He Lingchuan smiled. "Without some confidence, how would I dare to buy the Yangshan Archipelago? Let's put it this way: within a month at most, the Yin-Sha on all islands except Dragon Spine Island will fade away."

Min Tianxi's playful expression slowly became solemn, and he suddenly laughed out loud.

"Almost, I almost believed it!" Min Tianxi slapped his thigh, laughing uncontrollably. "You mean, you can drive the Yin-Sha of the earth veins clean? Even if you put a few peanuts on the table as a snack, you couldn't drink like this."

He Lingchuan just waited quietly for him to finish laughing.

Qiu Hu stepped forward, his murderous aura released.

With a few clangs, the pirates surrounding the crowd immediately drew their swords.

The situation suddenly became tense.

He Lingchuan raised his hand and pressed it down, signaling both sides to be calm.

After Min Tianxi's laughter stopped, he continued: "If the Yin-Sha on Dragon Spine Island hadn't faded on a large scale, why would the Yin-Snakes be dying in patches?"

"Just a coincidence." Min Tianxi frowned. "On the Yangshan Archipelago, let alone the accidental fading of Yin-Sha, even if other strange things happen, it's not rare. Do you still want to take credit for yourself?"

Even if the Yin-Sha faded, that was the movement of the earth veins, the work of creation; what could it have to do with this yellow-haired kid! At most, he could calculate the variables here, but wanting to use this to bluff people was still too naive!

He Lingchuan knew that words alone were not enough, and this pirate leader wouldn't believe him anyway, so he said: "I say the Yin-Sha can fade, so it must fade. Then the problem between you and me is very prominent, Leader Min."

"Oh?" Min Tianxi asked knowingly, "What problem?"

"You are digging for food on my territory without my permission." Entering the main topic, He Lingchuan didn't need to be tactful anymore. "In the past, the Bailie people were incompetent and could only turn a blind eye; now that the Yangshan Archipelago has a new master, I sincerely advise you to consider whether to stay or leave."

The pirates behind Min Tianxi sneered: "Just relying on you few?"

"The kid has a big mouth; today we will chop you up to feed the fish, and we will take over the archipelago!"

"With the deed in hand, from now on, whoever sees our Leader Min must respectfully call him Island Master!"

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 924 =====