Chapter 931: This is a Man-Made Disaster

The signal was that He Lingchuan held the Heavenly Respect Gold Scroll in his hand and could communicate with it normally.

If one can communicate, one can negotiate.

"That's enough, return to base."

At He Lingchuan's command, the ship turned around and headed toward Blade Harbor.

Min Tianxi asked curiously, "Young Master, are you... are you not going to negotiate terms with the King of Yin Serpents?"

Had He Lingchuan not taken that treasure scroll specifically to communicate with the King of Yin Serpents? They had come all this way, only to turn back without even talking? He Lingchuan replied with only one sentence:

"The time is not yet right."

Min Tianxi very much wanted to ask when the right time would be. But the pain in his little finger reminded him to be mindful of his new status, so he rubbed his nose, kept his mouth shut, and went to help steer the ship.

After the ship had sailed over a hundred zhang, the roar of the King of Yin Serpents came from behind again.

This time, the crowd could understand its confusion even without holding the treasure scroll.

First draining the Yin miasma from the island, then indicating a desire to negotiate, and then walking away... what on earth did these humans come here for! He Lingchuan sat down to drink again, not looking back: "Ignore it, we go our own way."

They had set out early in the morning, and after all this trouble, the sun had already begun to move toward the west.

The Yangshan Archipelago was dangerous at night; even he did not want to linger on the sea.

As for the King of Yin Serpents, it was full of rage and had plenty of breath; it seemed that the cutoff of the Yin miasma was not yet a fatal blow to it.

That was why He Lingchuan said the time was not yet right.

On the return journey, Ling Guang helped Min Tianxi change his dressing, as the wound on his hand had been dampened by seawater again.

He Lingchuan patted the chair, calling him to sit for the second time.

This time, Min Tianxi sat up straight.

"Relax a bit." He Lingchuan leaned back in his chair himself, "Do you understand now why I bought the Yangshan Archipelago?"

"I understand." Min Tianxi replied without hesitation, "You can dispel the Yin miasma, so the Yangshan Archipelago will no longer be a Land of Heavenly Extinction and can be developed and managed normally. The Lu family is still secretly mocking you, not knowing that they are the biggest fools in history!"

He and the pirates had previously mocked He Lingchuan as a spendthrift second-generation heir, but naturally, they dared not mention it again now.

Seeing is believing.

The Yin miasma, which even immortals had been helpless against for thousands of years, had been brought to heel by this young man in a single encounter; the Yin Serpent, which roamed the Yangshan seas and had devoured countless people, had also been sun-dried into salted fish by this young man. Seeing this scene, Min Tianxi was filled with admiration after his shock.

At that moment, he understood that there would likely be no place for pirates in the Yangshan Archipelago in the future.

So his mindset was much more peaceful now.

Following a strong person was always better than being chased away like a stray dog.

"It is good that you can see this point." He Lingchuan swirled his cup, "What about the other pirates? Do you think they can see it?"

Min Tianxi opened his mouth to answer, then suddenly realized something and swallowed his saliva—

The Young Master was asking him if he could persuade the other pirates to submit.

If they did not submit, they would be surrounded and annihilated.

If they did not submit, he, Min Tianxi, would have to serve as the vanguard.

"My lord, allow me to speak with them first."

He Lingchuan was not surprised: "How much certainty do you have?"

"Huang Zhao, the leader of the First Path, has always been on good terms with me; it should not be difficult to persuade him." Min Tianxi thought for a moment, "Yue Pinghe, the leader of the Third Path, is ruthless and has many petty schemes. I have heard that he has gone back on his word several times. I have no certainty about this person."

"However, both the First and Third Paths are in a state of panic due to the Yin Serpent. Huang Zhao was attacked again the night before last, and another dozen people died. He is already considering moving away from the archipelago to make a living elsewhere..."

The Yin Serpent was killing people everywhere, and the pirates had originally thought it was a natural disaster, an irresistible natural disaster. But Min Tianxi knew now that this was a man-made disaster! Thinking of this, he felt a slight shock in his heart.

That was it; this was likely also Young Master He's arrangement, wanting to use the Yin Serpent to force the pirates to submit.

Round and round, whether it was the Yin Serpent or the pirates, everything was in the man's calculations.

"Since Huang Zhao has the intention to leave, he will be easy to persuade." He Lingchuan smiled. "You handle this matter first."

"Yes!"

"Also, why don't you publicize the fact that the Yin Serpent will not attack the territory of the Second Path?" He Lingchuan asked him, "If other pirates heard this and came to join you, wouldn't that be a good opportunity for you to grow stronger?"

Min Tianxi looked bitter: "That is only a short-term benefit. I am only afraid that the officials will hear about it, come to force the reason out of me, and seize my treasure." Just like you, Young Master He! He Lingchuan laughed: "You still know that 'the possession of a jade ring is a crime,' so you are not completely thick-headed."

Min Tianxi gave a sheepish smile, not knowing if this was a compliment or an insult.

He Lingchuan added: "You have been a pirate leader for so many years; you must have channels to fence stolen goods in Blade Harbor and the surrounding areas, right?"

He knew very well the meaning of "rats and snakes in the same nest."

"Uh, yes, I do."

"Then go help me get a hundred catties of Shaoling Ore." He Lingchuan was very reasonable, "I will pay for it."

Those who fence stolen goods and those who supply goods are usually the same group, commonly known as 'know-it-alls.'

"I will take responsibility for it, consider it a tribute to you..." He Lingchuan frowned, and Min Tianxi immediately changed his words, "Right, alright!"

He was becoming better and better at reading the Young Master's expressions.

"Within six days."

Min Tianxi agreed very readily: "No problem."

After sailing with the wind for an hour.

He Lingchuan's ship sailed back to Fishbone Reef, and everyone could see from afar that the pirates of the Second Path were still there.

Their ships were there too, and there were two more than before.

Everyone looked at Min Tianxi, who gave a dry laugh: "My subordinates were worried about me and went home to call for people. Young Master, please forgive me!"

This was because time was tight; it just so happened that half of the Second Path pirates were out today, otherwise, more ships would have come.

"What is there to forgive?" He Lingchuan found it amusing, "These subordinates of yours are quite loyal; they didn't run away after abandoning you." Instead, they went back to rally more people.

Sure enough, when He Lingchuan and the others docked the ship and stepped onto Fishbone Reef, a large crowd of people jumped down from the three pirate ships, surrounding them completely.

He Lingchuan scanned them, estimating there were about three hundred people.

Fishbone Reef couldn't even hold them all; the pirates were standing in water up to their calves, and another hundred or so were on the ships, brandishing bright weapons and shouting in support.

A pirate who had previously been beaten black and blue by Qiu Hu now relied on the large numbers to clamor: "He, release our Path Leader, otherwise—"

Qiu Hu glanced at him, and he subconsciously collapsed his chest, wanting to shrink back into the crowd.

He Lingchuan said to Min Tianxi behind him: "It's up to you."

Min Tianxi stepped out from the crowd, standing at the boundary of the standoff between the two sides, a small space of less than two square meters.

Qiu Hu's eyelids drooped to hide his killing intent, his right hand hanging at his side, his fingers moving a few times. This fellow had been arrogant at first and had even played petty tricks after being captured on the ship, but the Young Master had not held it against him. If this pirate leader dared to go back on his word now and violate the blood oath he had just made, he would immediately unleash a killing blow, making the faithless villain pay the price.

(End of chapter)