Chapter 236: Pirate Duel (6)

You Yi left the black-sailed ship, returned to the Su Family Army's warship, and said loudly, "Full speed ahead."

The Su Family Army's warships and the black-sailed ships of Juling Island hoisted their sails simultaneously, rushing rapidly toward the intense battle zone.

Both teams of people were getting closer and closer to the battle zone, and the distance between the black-sailed ships and the pirate ships was gradually narrowing. At this distance, the pirate ships could already use cannons to attack them, but the pirates didn't seem to want to pay attention to them, rushing toward the center of the battle zone one after another.

Ao Tian said coldly, "They intend to attack only and not defend."

Gu Yun cursed in a low voice, "Damn it!" The pirates must have known that the cannons on those three ships were blocked and only one side could be used, so they chose to attack Su Ling instead of defending against them. Were the pirates actually willing to die together just to kill Su Ling? Who exactly were these people?

If the pirates concentrated all their firepower on attacking Su Ling, then he was in too much danger. Gu Yun said urgently, "Chase them, concentrate firepower, and cannon-bomb the ships on both sides." As long as they didn't let them form an encirclement, Su Ling wouldn't be attacked from all sides.

"Good." Ao Tian nodded. The black-sailed ships moved forward rapidly, and the five large black ships lined up in a wedge formation again, like a bat flapping its wings, and the cannons on the ships launched attacks at the pirate ships on both sides.

Boom!

"General, be careful!" A cannonball hit the bow squarely, and the entire ship shook violently. Han Shu grabbed the mast and said urgently, "The pirates' firepower is too fierce!"

"No matter what, we must hold on." Su Ling picked up the telescope and looked. Through the layers of smoke after the explosion, he could already see the black-sailed ships of Juling Island and the warships of the Su Family Army. As long as they persisted for another quarter of an hour, they should be able to arrive.

Putting down the telescope, Su Ling looked at Mu Cang's ships ahead. The explosives they threw had already sunk many small boats that had approached. If these explosives could be thrown onto the pirates' main warships, even if they couldn't destroy the ships, they could blow many pirates to death.

Su Ling shouted loudly, "Qiao Linfeng, order to approach the pirate ships, cover Mu Cang's ships, and let her throw the explosives directly onto the pirate ships."

"Yes."

Qiao Linfeng stood at the entrance of the lower deck and shouted loudly, "Sail to the left—"

Boom!

Another cannon hit the center of the mast squarely, and the thick pole snapped from the middle, smashing toward the deck. When Qiao Linfeng, who was talking with his head down, looked up, it was too late to escape.

"Ah!" The mast pressed heavily on his chest. Fortunately, Su Ling held the Red Blood sword horizontally to support the other end of the mast, so Qiao Linfeng could catch his breath.

The pirates also saw the opportunity. A pirate raised the crossbow in his hand and aimed at Su Ling's back. The red light of the Red Blood sword flashed violently, reminding Su Ling of the danger, but Su Ling couldn't let go at this time. If he let go, Qiao Linfeng's life would be gone.

"Whoosh!" The crossbow arrow was fired at full draw, whistling over. Su Ling only had time to tilt his body slightly, but still couldn't dodge the arrow. The crossbow arrow pierced through his chest and nailed heavily onto the ship's pillar.

Mu Cang, who was not far from him, happened to see this scene, and her heart tightened suddenly. The pirate still wanted to continue firing arrows, but Mu Cang quickly raised her bow and arrow, shooting at full draw, hitting the pirate's throat squarely!

The Binglian sword in her hand shook violently. Gu Yun was shocked. Could it be that something happened to Su Ling? Gu Yun picked up the telescope and searched for Su Ling's figure among the smoke-filled warships.

"General!" Han Shu rushed over from the stern and saw Su Ling holding the Red Blood sword, supporting the thick mast. Under the mast was Qiao Linfeng, who was already vomiting blood. Blood was gurgling from the left side of the General's chest!

Su Ling endured the severe pain and said in a deep voice, "Pull him out!"

Han Shu lowered his head and dragged Qiao Linfeng by the shoulders. After much difficulty, he dragged him out. Su Ling just wanted to let go when he heard a roar in his ear. The deck under his feet collapsed suddenly, and Su Ling's tall figure was pressed heavily into the sea by the heavy mast.

"Su Ling!" Gu Yun finally found Su Ling's figure, but what she saw was this cruel scene.

At that moment, Han Shu and Mu Cang also jumped into the sea immediately, swimming toward the place where Su Ling fell, but the surging waves had already quickly swallowed Su Ling.

The hand holding the telescope was shaking uncontrollably. His chest was still bleeding, the seawater was freezing cold, and he was pressed by the mast. Could he hold out until Han Shu and Mu Cang went to save him! The thick smoke after the explosion filled the entire battle zone, and it was so difficult for Gu Yun to even see clearly whether Han Shu and Mu Cang had found him.

Tears fell unconsciously, and her heart felt like it was being tightly grabbed by an invisible hand, hurting her unbearably. So, she had long ago left her heart with him. She wasn't that indifferent!

Looking at the tears silently rolling down the corners of her eyes and the sadness she couldn't hide, Ao Tian said coldly, "I'll send you over."

"No need." Clutching the mast tightly, Gu Yun barely stabilized her body. Mu Cang and Han Shu had already gone to save him. It was useless for her to go over now. She must help him win this battle. None of those who hurt him would be able to run away!

Taking a deep breath, she said in a cold voice, "Signal officer, order the Su Family Army warships to move left and tighten the encirclement!"

"Yes."

The Su Family Army warships moved left, gradually approaching the center. As the encirclement gradually shrank, most of the pirate ships had been sunk. Su Ling fell into the sea with serious injuries. Seeing that the goal had been achieved, the remaining pirate ships had given up attacking other ships and were constantly retreating, wanting to rush out of the encirclement and escape to the reef area.

Want to escape! Not so easy! Gu Yun said ruthlessly, "Order the warships to retreat and block the road back to the reefs."

"Yes."

The warships obeyed the order and retreated quickly, lining up in a column, firmly blocking the entrance for the pirates to enter the reef sea area.

"Chase!" The black-sailed ships chased relentlessly, and the Su Family Army warships didn't give an inch. Soon, the four fleeing pirate ships were blocked between the Su Family Army warships and the black-sailed ships. When they were fighting Su Ling just now, the pirate ships had already consumed a large amount of ammunition, and the hulls were also battered. The pirates were now at the end of their rope.

Gu Yun said ruthlessly, "Fire!"

At the order, the Su Family Army warships and the black-sailed ships fired at the same time. The four already battered pirate ships were blown to pieces almost instantly, and the remaining wreckage was soon swallowed by the surging waves.

Ao Tian had never seen such a gloomy expression on Gu Yun's face. It was as if she couldn't calm the anger, or perhaps sadness, in her heart unless she destroyed all the pirate ships.

"Great! We won!" Cheers of victory came from the opposite side, but Gu Yun didn't feel any joy at all, only feeling as if the strength of her whole body had been drained, and her heart contracted again and again. Su Ling! How is Su Ling? At this moment, she urgently wanted to see him! Just see him! She grabbed Ao Tian's hand and said urgently, "Ao Tian, I want to go back!"

Her cold fingers clutched his hand tightly, her hazy eyes full of anxious anticipation. Ao Tian masked the pain in his eyes and said in a low voice, "Good, I'll send you back."

The black-sailed ship turned around and sailed toward the messy battle zone. After searching for a long time, Gu Yun finally found Su Ling on a warship that looked relatively complete.

She ran onto the deck. The bow was already surrounded by many soldiers, who stepped aside when they saw her coming. In the center of the deck, Su Ling lay motionless, and faint blood seeped from under him, slowly flowing downward. Gu Yun's mind went blank. She walked very slowly to his side and squatted down. His face was pale, and his eyes were closed tightly. Gu Yun said tremblingly and urgently, "Su Ling."

He would never respond to her again, would never look cold at her, would never roar at her, would never be angered to death by her but always compromise in the end. Her hand gently stroked that pale face, and tears fell uncontrollably, landing on his forehead.

Wait! Gu Yun's hand stiffened. His face still had temperature! Gu Yun's hand moved down to stroke the pulse in his neck. The rhythmic pulse made Gu Yun's heart, which had sunk to the bottom, rise bit by bit. He wasn't dead!

Just at this moment, Su Ling's eyelids moved, and he slowly opened his eyes. In fact, that arrow didn't hit a vital point. The severe pain made his spirit somewhat trance-like, and the freezing seawater after falling into the water just happened to wake him up. But his right arm was injured, and he couldn't swim. Fortunately, Han Shu and Mu Cang swam to him in time and saved him. After saving him onto the ship, Han Shu went to find a military doctor, and he was too exhausted from blood loss, so he fell asleep for a while. He didn't expect to wake up and see Gu Yun crying like this. Seeing Gu Yun crying, Su Ling was somewhat flustered. She was crying for him—Su Ling's heart flew to the extreme at this moment, but he also felt heartache for her sadness. Supporting himself to sit up, Su Ling wiped the tears from her face with heartache and whispered, "You didn't let me die, how would I dare to die!"

He was still alive! Gu Yun really wanted to punch him. Why pretend to be dead, scaring her so much, making her so sad, so afraid, so painful! Grabbing his lapel, Gu Yun suddenly leaned forward and kissed Su Ling's pale lips. Su Ling widened his eyes. She, she! She actually—

The soft breath flowed at the corners of his lips. After a moment of surprise, Su Ling's hand quickly wrapped around Gu Yun's slender waist and regained the initiative. The two hugged and kissed affectionately in full view of everyone. The surrounding soldiers were stunned at first, and then deafening cheers, whistles, and shouts resounded through the blue sky.

Mu Cang turned away silently and left the noisy bow. Ten years ago, she owed him a life; today, it was considered repaid. They were even. When she got off the ship, Mu Cang happened to see that lonely black shadow turn and step onto the black-sailed ship, and the large ship sailed away slowly without a sound.

The pirates were wiped out, and the army returned to the coast. Gu Yun helped Su Ling off the ship. As soon as the two stood still, a soldier trotted up and reported, "Military Advisor, someone claiming to be from the Prime Minister's Mansion wants to see you."

Prime Minister's Mansion? It wouldn't be that Qing had something happen again, right? Gu Yun replied, "Bring him over."

The young general beckoned to the person behind him, and a man in plain clothes standing in the distance walked over immediately and said respectfully, "Greetings, Miss."

"Did your Madam send you?"

"Yes, Madam told me to wait nearby and report to you as soon as the pirates were wiped out."

Gu Yun's brows furrowed tightly, and she said urgently, "What happened?"

"The Third Prince has passed away."

"What!"

(End of Chapter) ===== CHAPTER 237 =====