Chapter 1173: Hurricane (Part 2)

Yang Yuanqing and Chang Fanqi stood side by side at the bow. Through feedback from the soldiers on the lookout platform, they issued orders in time; before reaching the waterway, the hull must turn slightly right to avoid the jagged ends of the reefs. Yang Yuanqing extended his arm, and the crew adjusted the direction according to his gestures at any moment.

A slight tremor came from the hull. Yang Yuanqing immediately judged it was due to the ship being too heavy, the draft too deep, already touching the top of the waterway. Chang Fanqi also heard the sound of the hull striking the reef; he jumped up, the scraping sound continued. By now they had reached the stern, and Yang Yuanqing ordered the crew to throw some provisions into the sea, but the situation could not be improved; they had to retain necessary food and fresh water.

Chang Fanqi shouted, "Discard the Heaven-shaking Thunder!" It was a difficult and helpless decision. If they did not quickly reduce the ship's weight, their warship could run aground at the lagoon's entrance at any moment, and worse, the reefs could at any time snap the taut rudder.

After entering the waterway, the waves obviously diminished, yet the sense of danger grew ever heavier. The crew tasked with monitoring depth kept reporting hair‑raising numbers. After the main ship tossed six Heaven‑shaking Thunder cannons overboard, its draft finally improved noticeably. Yang Yuanqing ordered the rear warships to lighten their load as much as possible and enter the lagoon cautiously. Once all warships had entered the lagoon, a headcount showed only fourteen vessels remained; the loss of Heaven‑shaking Thunder was even more severe—of the fifty cannons, only fifteen were left. Still, in this harsh climate, preserving the ships and the crew's lives was the top priority.

Inside the lagoon it was calm, completely unlike the world outside the encircling reefs. The soldiers could still clearly hear the booming of waves crashing against the rocks, recalling their arduous advance through the recent storm and downpour; each felt a lingering fear.

Xia Zhangming landed on the main ship's deck. Chang Fanqi and Yang Yuanqing hurried to greet him. Yang Yuanqing asked anxiously, "How is the lord's condition?"

Xia Zhangming did not mention the perilous experience just now, speaking softly: "We have already landed safely on Python Flood Island, but this hurricane will likely greatly delay our attack schedule."

Yang Yuanqing sighed with regret: "Heaven's changes are unpredictable; I never expected a hurricane to suddenly sweep the sea. This hurricane has already cost us six warships and thirty‑five Heaven‑shaking Thunder cannons." Even before formal hostilities began, such massive losses left Yang Yuanqing inevitably disheartened.

Chang Fanqi also felt ill at ease, but dwelling on sorrow now was useless. He lifted his head to gaze at the endless rain‑filled sky and said in a low voice, "I don't know how long this wind and rain will last."

Xia Zhangming said, "Perhaps just one night, perhaps several days in a row; for now we have no other choice. The lord should have guessed our situation, and I believe he will surely make preparations to cope."

This storm had utterly disoriented Hu Xiaotian. After resting awhile in a sheltered spot, he decided to first find a place to stay, unsure how long the wind and rain would persist. If the hurricane continued tomorrow, he estimated his fleet would struggle to advance as planned to Python Flood Island.

In the distance a light still burned. Hu Xiaotian walked toward it following the glow; fortunately, in such foul weather no pirates came out to patrol. Even the pirates in the lookout tower had gone to take shelter.

Upon reaching the illuminated area, he saw it was a warehouse. Hundreds of laborers were moving goods inside, while several strong men directed from the side, for the hurricane had torn off the roof and rain poured through the breach. Consequently, personnel were urgently summoned to shift the cargo, moving the water‑soaked items to a dry location.

One of them cursed, "Damn it! I don't know where you lot of good‑for‑nothings were dug up—haven't you even eaten? To join our Python Flood Island you must perform well; why haven't the new recruits of the Third Battalion arrived yet?" The 'new recruits' they spoke of were actually captives seized from raiding merchant ships; many had volunteered to join the pirates to save their lives. After screening, the pirates selected some of them for training to supplement their own forces.

Hu Xiaotian heard a commotion in the distance; a group was struggling toward him through the storm, their formation scattered by the wind into small clusters, a long ragged line—at a glance it was clear they were not regular troops.

Hu Xiaotian took advantage of their inattention, fell in at the rear, and slipped into the group.

Upon reaching the warehouse door, he heard a hoarse voice shout, "You lazy bones, why are you so late?" A crack! rang out as the foreman swung his whip and lashed one of them hard; the man's skin split and flesh tore, he groaned in pain but dared not utter a word of anger, head drooping as he hurried forward.

Hu Xiaotian thought darkly, "If anyone dares to whip me, I'll crush his throat." Seeing the overseer lift a foot to kick his buttocks, a man can bend or stretch; though Hu Xiaotian hated to kill him, he kept up a fearful façade, hurried inside, and together with the others went to the leaky spot to move the goods to safety.

Among the pirates there were also gradations; this heavy work naturally fell to the newcomers who had just joined the camp. Apart from Hu Xiaotian, who had infiltrated them, most were compelled by necessity, enduring humiliation to survive by surrendering to the pirates. Though abused by these overseers, they dared to be angry but not to speak out.

Hu Xiaotian's original plan had been to land on the prison, but before descending he was attacked by a strange bird, nearly falling from a height of two hundred zhang; only with tremendous effort did he manage a safe landing, yet he missed the intended drop point. To make matters worse, he happened upon this rare hurricane, forcing him to temporarily abandon his plan and first blend into the enemy's ranks.

While they were busy moving cargo, the warehouse roof was ripped open again by the hurricane, a huge gap through which howling wind drove rain drops the size of soybeans, slowing the progress. The overseers all fled to the side to escape the rain, leaving only Hu Xiaotian and his fellow laborers to suffer.

Hu Xiaotian did not feel the toil; having successfully infiltrated the enemy camp, and since everyone came from different places, no one suspected him. He and a young, sturdy man were assigned to the same team; while lifting crates, Hu Xiaotian initiated conversation: "Sir, may I ask your honored name?"

The man glanced warily around, making sure no one was paying attention, then lowered his voice: "I'm Wang Sanxi, from Hai Prefecture of Dakang. I was captured when the merchant ship I followed was seized at sea, which is how I ended up like this."

Hu Xiaotian replied, "What a coincidence—I'm also from Dakang."

Wang Sanxi exclaimed in surprise, "Really?" Then, his face full of bewilderment, he added, "I recall there being no other Dakang natives in our Third Battalion."

Hu Xiaotian whispered, "I'm not with the Third Battalion."

Wang Sanxi said, "You must be from the Second Battalion."

Hu Xiaotian nodded; the two set the crate down. Suddenly a mournful howl came from afar—a crate had fallen from height, striking a middle‑aged man on the head, bursting his brains and killing him instantly.

The crowd rushed over in panic. An overseer bellowed, "What are you looking at? Damn it! You idiots can't even handle such a simple job." He pointed at Hu Xiaotian and Wang Sanxi, "You two, come over—carry the corpse out to the Flying Fish Cave."

Hu Xiaotian did not know where the Flying Fish Cave was, so he failed to react in time. Seeing Hu Xiaotian unmoved, Wang Sanxi also stayed still. The overseer shouted, "Deaf? Hey, you black kid—are you deaf?"

Only then did Hu Xiaotian realize 'black kid' referred to him; after days of sea wind and sun his skin had darkened considerably. He hurried forward, he and Wang Sanxi hoisted the corpse and headed out.

Upon reaching the outside, they immediately felt the full force of the gale and rain. Wang Sanxi, presumably having been to the Flying Fish Cave more than once, led the way with practiced ease, guiding Hu Xiaotian outward. The two lifted the corpse and walked against the wind toward the cave; from Wang Sanxi's words Hu Xiaotian learned that the Flying Fish Cave is a peculiarly structured cavern on the island, its water system directly connected to the open sea; normally, when captives die on the island they are thrown from here into the sea below to feed the sharks.

Arriving outside the cave, they saw a dim yellow light glowing within. Wang Sanxi whispered, "Remember, once inside you must say nothing—Lord Luo Fifth lives there."

Hu Xiaotian asked, "Which Lord Luo Fifth?" He thought secretly, "Could it be Luo Qianfu, who once went on a mission to Dongliang Jun? That would be troublesome—we have met before, and I have not yet disguised myself; if I encountered Luo Qianfu he would surely recognize me."

Wang Sanxi replied, "It's our Fifth Chief, Luo Qianfu, Lord Luo Fifth."

Upon hearing that it was indeed him, Hu Xiaotian silently circulated his mysterious skill to alter his appearance; this technique he had learned from Bu Wu, and he had also mastered Tendon Changing Bone Shifting, which can reshape the body, while altering the features lets him control facial muscles to change his outward look.

Since Wang Sanxi walked ahead with his back to Hu Xiaotian, he did not see his companion's transformation; even if he had noticed, he would not have imagined how Hu Xiaotian's visage could change so dramatically in an instant.

The two entered the Flying Fish Cave; Hu Xiaotian silently prayed not to run into Luo Qianfu, then lowered his head and asked, "Brother Wang, how much farther?"

Wang Sanxi turned around; Hu Xiaotian's head drooped, and because the light was dim, Wang Sanxi could not make out the change in Hu Xiaotian's face, saying softly, "Just ahead, we're almost there."

Hu Xiaotian had already heard the waves striking the cliff walls, deducing that this place must connect to the outside sea. As they neared the corpse‑disposal spot, he sensed footsteps approaching from afar and felt a warning stir in his heart; sure enough, a familiar voice soon called out, "You there—stop!" (To be continued~^~)