Chapter 629: Atmosphere Shifts

The large ship set sail again, and the atmosphere was no longer the same.

Pan Yun no longer strictly confined the captives on board; she began allowing them to take turns on deck for fresh air.

After the twenty-eight people disembarked safely, and twelve of them had already left with their money in hand, the captives' spirits changed completely.

Fear faded from their faces; some even wore faint smiles, harboring hopes for their future lives.

Even the children, who had previously huddled like sick cats beside the adults, became livelier, their eyes sparkling; occasionally, when allowed on deck, a few little heads would huddle together whispering quietly.

Older women and elderly people began voluntarily stepping forward to help clean, organize the ship's belongings, and even cast nets to catch fish, supplementing the ship's food supply.

Song Xuan and the others were naturally magnanimous, harboring little negative feeling toward these elders, women, and children; Qu Le was petty, yet he did not hold grudges against them—when they showed goodwill, his expression softened.

Thus, as the ship's atmosphere changed, their vigilance eased, and the journey grew more pleasant.

To Yi Jianren and the others who had just boarded, it appeared that although these sea bandits' families had lost their homes to Pan Yun's group, they were on good terms with them.

Clearly, she must be a person of good character, someone who keeps her word.

Otherwise, who would not resent those who robbed them of their own home?

Unless, like us, they were in the wrong—first striking out to rob others, failing to succeed, and then being robbed themselves.

Yi Jianren suspected that the sea bandits on the island had struck first to rob Pan Yun, and only then had she led her people to attack the island, killing them and seizing their ship and families to bring them to Siguo Island.

So ultimately, it was the Dainai clan that had brought misfortune upon them.

Yi Jianren sent his retainers to quietly inquire among the captives.

Since they were all Japanese, offering food and striking up casual conversation, their questions were not secrets—the retainers soon learned the truth.

"... These people suddenly stormed the island; they knew nothing, but overheard some talk—apparently, someone among the sea bandits had looted their belongings and slaughtered entire villages, so they came for revenge. The Dainai clan had received word in advance and fled on two ships; several others remained on the island and were all captured and killed."

Yi Jianren: "So it really was the Dainai clan?"

"Yes," the retainer said. "They also inquired about the Kikuchi clan—wondering if there's any connection."

"Can you find out their origins? How dare they have such audacity—just one ship, sailing all the way to Japan? The Dainai clan's power is not weak."

The retainer: "Has His Excellency forgotten the rumors we heard recently?"

Yi Jianren: "You mean the foreign expert who destroyed the Kikuchi clan's shipyard?"

The retainer: "It's said the two leaders of those experts were Daoist Priests from the Upper Country, dressed much like that Pan Yun. I paid close attention—nearly half her crew wears the same attire. It's said that in the Upper Country, this is a sect's uniform. The Dainai and Kikuchi clans must have done something to offend them."

Yi Jianren sighed in distress: "What exactly did they do? Even if it was just robbery, why would someone travel across the sea for revenge?"

The retainer thought of how his lord had dealt with Benshan and the Chōsokabe clan, swallowed hard, and whispered: "Perhaps they killed people..."

Yi Jianren: "Robbery often involves killing—when they resisted, we killed them too, didn't we? It was forced upon us."

"What if it was a village massacre? A clan massacre?" the retainer said. "If no women or children were spared, it would surely ignite their hatred—that's why they came to seek revenge."

Yi Jianren frowned: "If it were such a massacre, would you still leave behind the sea bandits' families after storming the island?"

Yi Jianren grew more suspicious as he spoke: "With such hatred, if I had stormed the island, I would have left not a blade of grass—let alone these elders, women, and children; even the unborn child in a pregnant woman's womb I would not spare. Pan Yun is a vengeful person—how could she allow them to live?"

Yi Jianren's words left the retainer confused: "If it's not a massacre of annihilation, why would they cross the sea to seek revenge?"

Pan Yun let out a cold laugh, called back Pan Xiaohei who had been eavesdropping, and turned to call out to Qu Le, who was excitedly hauling a net with others: "Come here."

Qu Le was learning net-fishing from a few elderly captives; he didn't turn around: "Wait till I pull this net up—I can feel it, this haul's huge. I'll treat you to steamed sea fish tonight. I heard raw fish from the sea is delicious too..."

Pan Yun saw his face turning red, struggling to haul the net up.

The elderly captives beside him taught him to use finesse, pulling hard too—but all were old and weak, exerting little strength, and Qu Le was utterly inept.

Pan Yun clicked her tongue, stepped forward, seized the net, and with a slight tug pulled it out of the water.

Seeing the net filled with fish, including two silver-white ones as large as adults, Qu Le shouted excitedly: "Big fish! Big fish!"

Pan Yun helped haul the net onto the deck, and the children nearby immediately rushed over to help fish them out.

The women stood at a distance, wanting to approach but afraid to.

Pan Yun, lost in thought, gestured to them to come forward and collect the fish.

The women hesitated, then stepped forward; the elderly captives glanced at them but made no move to stop them.

Pan Yun looked down at the red marks on her palm, rubbing them with her thumb.

Qu Le was also rubbing his palms, hissing in pain: "This net's so sharp—I wore gloves and still got marks. If I hadn't worn them, wouldn't it have cut off my palms?"

Qu Le noticed her red marks and hurried to look: "Are you alright?"

Pan Yun frowned, snatched her hand away, and turned: "Come here. I have something to tell you."

Qu Le grumbled as he followed: "I'm just concerned for you, and you won't even appreciate it."

The entire ship was full of people—even near the cabins, captives were taking their turn on deck.

Sigh. Letting the captives out isn't good—too many people. Can't even find a quiet spot to whisper.

Only near the stern, where Xue Shao was, was it quiet.

Xue Shao had been watching her for some time; seeing her look over, he smiled and waved.

Xue Shao was playing chess with Hu Jing.

When she arrived with Qu Le, he rose and smiled: "Shall I make room for you?"

Hu Jing also stood, preparing to leave.

Pan Yun's gaze swept over the two: "I have nothing to hide from you. You may stay and listen."

Qu Le: "What's so secret?"

Pan Yun turned to face him, sizing him up.

Qu Le felt a chill run down his spine and took a small step back: "W-what is it?"

Pan Yun: "There's something you need to do."

Qu Le cautiously said: "Tell me what first."

Pan Yun: "Do you remember Master Hu?"