Chapter 259: Inside Story

The long night stretches on, and I can't bring myself to sleep!

Chen Shicheng crossed his legs, lay on the grass as he would at home, gazing at the only small fence that let in sky light, when his tone suddenly shifted: "So you're openly peeping at me outside my window?"

Silence fell for a moment, and a low voice came from the empty small fence outside: "I just happened to be responsible for patrolling this area."

"Quite the coincidence."

Chen Shicheng raised an eyebrow; the voice sounded familiar, seemingly that of the scout squad leader he'd met by the fishing village. "Speak up—why did you come out of your way? Don't tell me it's just to thank me for having people clear out the Japanese pirates."

"It's not like that; even if you Returnees don't lift a finger, the lord's army won't stand by idly."

"'Tsk."

Chen Shicheng flicked his hand dismissively: "Come on, your lord even invited those Japanese pirates to his mansion and treated them lavishly; the army might go protect them and turn their spears at us players."

Outside the small fence, silence fell for a moment, then the topic shifted awkwardly: "Planning to make a move at the lord's manor gate is a bit troublesome; per the lord's orders, you Returnees who aren't afraid of death will be imprisoned for a few years."

"I can kill myself!" Chen Shicheng cut him off directly.

"If you want to die, you'd better do it quickly—tomorrow a formation master will seal your entire True Essence, leaving you able only to think, unable to move, like a dead person."

"Mmm, the lord is awesome, the formation master is awesome."

Chen Shicheng gave a perfunctory nod, utterly unfazed—never mind whether the manor's power could hold him; just the thought of himself, who had maxed out the Slay Immortal Grand Formation, being sealed by a single formation, is laughable.

Besides, this scout squad leader's sources are impressive—he even knows how the lord plans to deal with me; maybe he also knows a bit of the inside story about why the Japanese pirates were invited to the lord's manor.

Chen Shicheng shifted his eyes, feigning nonchalance: "By the way, weren't you ordered by the lord to track down the Japanese pirates and wipe them all out? How did they end up as honored guests instead?"

"'Sigh."

The scout squad leader outside the window sighed gloomily, speaking in a muffled voice: "That night, after bringing those women back and settling them, I reported to the lord the information I'd gathered, but then—"

He paused, then continued resentfully: "But then, in the study, I saw the Japanese pirates' envoys; they brought a piece of information very important to the lord, seemingly the purpose of their coming to Great Yu, which is why they became honored guests at the manor."

"Important news?" Chen Shicheng immediately thought of that map and the landing point marked on it: "What news would make the mighty Zhenhai King set aside past grudges and cooperate with a band of Japanese pirates?"

"Saying all this to you already betrays the lord; I absolutely won't divulge this secret."

Urgh!

Hey kid, you've been exposed.

So doesn't this just tell me you know the secret inside! Chen Shicheng sprang up from the ground, walked to the fence, propped one hand on the wall, tilted his head at a forty‑five degree angle, and said glumly, "Because the Japanese pirates killed my countrymen, I wiped them out; because I wiped them out, we became enemies; because we became enemies, I wanted to exterminate them at the lord's manor gate; because I wanted to exterminate them, I was thrown into prison." "I will beg the lord for mercy." The scout squad leader seemed susceptible to this, hesitating before making a promise.

But Chen Shicheng paid no heed, continuing with tears in his eyes: "All because I wiped out the invading Japanese pirates, I'm to be imprisoned for years, unable to move or speak—how miserable, too miserable; I just want to know why the lord would do this, is that not allowed?"

This time, there was no movement outside the fence for several minutes, until Chen Shicheng thought his ploy of playing the victim had failed and the person had already left, when the scout squad leader's voice came from outside like heavenly music.

"Wait a moment, I'll check if anyone's around."

After saying that, a faint 'shush-shush' sound came from outside; the scout squad leader swiftly circled the vicinity, then returned to the prison fence and spoke low and quick.

Long ago, a dynasty once sent a fleet overseas to seek the immortal islands, but not a single ship returned; thereafter, rumors of ghost ships spread across the sea.

Fishermen have seen a sail‑less, rotting giant ship drifting on the sea; boarding it, they gained immortal fate, founded a sect, and became a great master. Thus, for over a thousand years, countless have gone out to sea seeking immortal destiny—most ending up in fish bellies, only a few returning laden with spoils—and so tales of immortal ships at sea have grown ever wider.

This time, it's said that those Japanese pirates discovered the immortal ship's trail, wanting to cooperate with the lord to capture it and reap the greatest benefit, prompting this temporary alliance; I can only say this much—take care.

Having said that, the scout squad leader turned and left, as if having made some kind of resolution.

Chen Shicheng certainly didn't mind the scout squad leader who left, feeling guilty for betraying the lord's information; right now he was clenching his fists and fiercely swinging at the air.

I just said there'd definitely be an unexpected gain—does the immortal ship exist, does the opportunity exist!

He wasn't clear on the legend of the immortal ship in the East Sea, nor what fortune those who had boarded it gained; but he knew that the benefit that could make the Great Yu Zhenhai King cooperate with a band of Japanese pirates must be enormous.

If he could get in on it, even if he couldn't seize the immortal ship outright, scooping up a few scraps would still let him strike it rich! "No, this kind of good thing can't be hogged by one person."

After venting and calming down, Chen Shicheng suddenly thought of the lord's cooperation with the Japanese pirates.

The Japanese pirates aren't a big problem—just over a thousand strong; though they're the main force, as long as their strength doesn't exceed those loose brigands by several tiers, he can clean them up with some effort.

But the Zhenhai King's side is a bit tricky.

After all, the Zhenhai King is a bona fide prince of Great Yu, with countless strange and talented retainers, not to mention at least hundreds of thousands of troops; if he truly bore enmity, the future would certainly be grim.

"Not necessarily!" Chen Shicheng's spirit suddenly jolted.

Still, recalling earlier, the Great Yu Dynasty has no notion of co‑equal kings; for the Zhenhai King to be enfeoffed as lord, he must be the current emperor's own brother.

Moreover, they're on good terms—otherwise he couldn't have relinquished command of the troops—so her backside absolutely couldn't be askew.

While such a prince would hold his nose and cooperate with the Wokou, there must necessarily be some deeper reasons; if one thinks carefully, it is very likely because. One must cooperate with the Wokou in order to find the Seeking Immortal Ship! (End of chapter)