Chapter 613

Guo Dashan snapped, "Our entire garrison doesn't even have one cannon—where are we supposed to find a gunner for you?"

"Enough, enough, I've got it!" Pan Yun interrupted their bickering. "But now isn't the time to fire—wait a little longer."

"Wait for what?" Qu Lejian nearly turned his sword into a blur as he shouted, "If we don't fire now, I can't hold out—I'll be turned into a hedgehog!"

Pan Yun gave him a disgusted look, grabbed Zhang Ning by the arm, then grabbed Hu Jing and hurled them both toward shore.

Zhang Ning let out a single cry, then reacted instantly, rising midair, dodging arrows, and flying past Hu Jing to land behind the Japanese pirates.

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Then Pan Yun seized Xue Shao in one hand and Wang Cong in the other, leaping after them.

Seeing Miao Zhen couldn't help exclaiming, "You're leaving us behind again!"

Pan Yun called out clearly, "You all take orders from Zhang Weiyi!"

Zhang Weiyi immediately took charge of the ship's coordination.

The martial artists surged out from every corner of the cabin and deck, knocking down arrows fired from shore.

Pan Yun's five landed directly behind the Japanese pirates, who immediately spun and slashed at them.

But none of these five were weak in martial skill.

Zhang Ning was Lin Mengzhu's top disciple, ranked among the top martial artists in the Wu Lin Alliance; Hu Jing had abundant killing experience.

Wang Cong was plastered with several talismans, his movements agile, his sword in hand like a dragon diving into the sea—the Japanese pirates couldn't get near him.

Xue Shao was weaker, but he was clever and knew how to use momentum—sometimes he lunged two steps forward to stand beside Pan Yun, who casually cut down a man on his left; sometimes he stepped back one pace, raising his sword to block a strike aimed at Hu Jing, who killed the attacker and then split two more charging foes with a single slash…

Or he spun to stand on Zhang Ning's left, and Zhang Ning briefly formed a battle formation with him, watching each other's backs.

Though Pan Yun's four were fighting independently, she alone, moving forward and back, bound all four tightly together into a five-man battle array.

This was why Pan Yun had brought Xue Shao.

She had noticed it back on the ship during the earlier fight.

Whether he was beside Seeing Miao Zhen or alongside unfamiliar martial artists, he could always link those around him, forming new battle arrays based on the flow of combat.

Xue Shao praised Chen Wen for his troop-training ability, but in Pan Yun's view, his talent was no weaker than Chen Wen's—perhaps even far superior.

Yet he himself seemed unaware of it.

Pan Yun was willing to cooperate with him.

If she was willing, how much more so Zhang Ning and the others? As more Japanese pirates poured out from the island, none of them wanted to leave Pan Yun, the strongest fighter among them.

The five cleared a space, then rushed forward to grab the strange object.

Once the object entered the water, the two ships could no longer approach shore—it blocked them like a palisade.

The moment the five tugged the rope, their faces flushed crimson: "This… it's too heavy!"

Even Pan Yun, face straining red, couldn't budge it.

She knew this object must have a secret—how many men would it take to pull it otherwise?

But there was no time to study it now.

Japanese pirates charged toward them; she snatched the rope from their hands and gritted her teeth: "Hold them off for me."

The four agreed. Xue Shao led, forming a battle array to shield Pan Yun behind them, cutting down the charging pirates three meters from shore.

Pan Yun gripped the rope, steadied her breath, inhaled deeply, and coated her palms with Yuan power, slowly applying force.

Yuan power wasn't omnipotent.

Continuous Yuan power surged from her body into her palms, strength building incrementally—the rope creaked and groaned; after a long moment, the sea churned, the submerged object slowly began to retreat, and the motionless ships shuddered.

A Xin sensed it and immediately ordered the crew to push the ship back one meter…

Pan Yun felt it loosen further, increased her Yuan output, her face turning crimson…

The sea roared as the submerged object revealed a corner—Chen Wen on the other ship saw it and ordered at once: "Move the ship forward!"

The ship surged ahead, thudded to a stop—didn't reach shore, but it was enough.

Chen Wen led by example, drawing his blade and leaping from the ship, soaring across five meters of seawater to land on shore, roaring: "Kill them—!"

The martial artists on his ship rallied, drawing swords and knives, leaping after him: "Kill them—!"

Martial artists could be forgiven for not flying over twenty or thirty meters of sea—but if they couldn't clear five meters, that was unacceptable.

They jumped onto shore like dumplings falling into a pot, occasionally one or two slipping and splashing into the sea outside.

Without a word, they splashed back to shore themselves, scanning left and right as if afraid someone would notice.

Seeing no one paying attention, they raised their greatswords and charged out with a roar: "Charge—!"

Zhang Weiyi and the others didn't lag behind. When A Xin saw Pan Yun hauling the object out of the sea, he too ordered the ship forward, drew close to shore, and leapt down just as Chen Wen had.

The martial artists from both ships seized control of the harbor at top speed.

Pan Yun told Chen Wen: "This is our escape route—we need someone trustworthy to guard it. Of all these people, I trust you most."

Chen Wen was also uneasy about the two ships—they had sailed far from Great Ming, nearing Japan; returning home, the ships were indispensable.

With spies aboard, he couldn't trust anyone else, so he bowed: "I'll stay behind with a detachment to guard the harbor."

"Excellent. This is a great achievement. When we return safely to Great Ming, I will personally petition Master Li and Lin Mengzhu to commend you, Great Hero Chen."

This commendation wouldn't come from the Wu Lin Alliance—it would come from the navy.

Chen Wen smiled, unconcerned with the distinction: "As long as we wipe out every last Japanese pirate."

Pan Yun promised she would do her utmost to exterminate them all, then led her group forward along the path the pirates had come.

People on the island scattered in chaos—some clearly were sea bandits, wielding swords, radiating murderous aura; seeing them, they either turned and fled or charged forward screaming.

Others wore kimonos—men, women, even children—and upon seeing them, panicked and fled instantly.

The martial artists didn't pursue these people—they were righteous heroes, not mountain bandits or sea pirates; even if they were Japanese, they couldn't bring themselves to harm women and children.

When children or women stumbled before them, the charging martial artists simply veered around.

Some even picked them up and tossed them aside, afraid they'd be trampled in the middle of the path.

Charging straight in like this, Pan Yun encountered Li Wenying and the others halfway.

They had also fought their way in.

Looking up, the group saw houses and a main road not far away.

The buildings were no less grand than those of a bustling little town; one could tell the people here lived comfortably and prosperously.

Pan Yun: "How much would all this cost?"