Chapter 764

Xiao Hong hung her neck from the beam, swaying back and forth, as if finding the posture uncomfortable; then she floated upward, hooking her feet around the beam, head downward, directly facing Pan Yun and Xue Shao seated below.

Xue Shao instinctively averted his gaze, fixing his eyes on the window as he spoke to Pan Yun: "So they know about your agreement with Cao Jixiang—they came here for the silver. Our side hasn't leaked a word; the leak must be from Cao Jixiang's end?"

Pan Yun rubbed her fingers in silent thought, then finally said: "I trust Cao Jixiang's loyalty and ability. Do you think he might have been unable to resist telling the young emperor first?"

Xue Shao fell silent.

Pan Yun pressed her palm to her forehead: "I forgot to warn him not to tell the emperor before we left."

After swinging enough, Xiao Hong released her feet from the beam and drifted lazily back and forth, appearing as if she were lying flat before them. She asked listlessly: "Still need me to keep watch? Can I show myself now?"

Pan Yun: "No need to watch anymore. You can reveal yourself now—but act like a person, not a ghost."

Xiao Hong floated upright, bored: "I think those pirates aren't telling the truth—they're hiding more. I'll scare them a bit; maybe they'll talk."

Pan Yun gazed at the night outside the cabin, thoughtful: "That's actually a good idea…"

Xiao Hong's eyes lit up—but Pan Yun took her straight to the main ship to find Yang Shan, suggesting they lock all four pirates together.

Yang Shan had used every method possible, yet only extracted trivial details; they refused to reveal their mastermind.

Yang Shan knew they were waiting for the ship to reach shore.

Once the ship docked, they might be silenced—or they might get a sliver of hope.

But he couldn't kill them, nor could he prevent the ship from docking.

The silver on Pan Yun's ship was the most important thing.

Moreover, if the silver on their ship truly amounted to as much as they claimed, once presented, their conspiracy would collapse on its own.

He couldn't sacrifice the big picture for small gains.

The ultimate goal mattered most.

So Yang Shan was willing to give it one final try.

"You want to eavesdrop on their conversation?" Yang Shan ordered men to bring out the four men.

. ttkдn. cO

Pan Yun said: "Find them a place where they can speak in secret—so we can't hear them."

Yang Shan was slightly surprised: "Shouldn't we lock them somewhere convenient for eavesdropping?"

Pan Yun pointed at Xiao Hong and smiled: "My fellow cultivator here has a special talent—she can become invisible. As long as they let their guard down and talk, we don't need to worry about eavesdropping."

Yang Shan stared in astonishment at Xiao Hong.

Xiao Hong smiled at him, her form blurring before his eyes until she vanished completely.

Yang Shan's eyes widened: "This, this…"

Pan Yun smiled at Yang Shan.

Yang Shan suppressed his excitement, murmuring: "Truly miraculous. Master Pan, wait a moment—I'll arrange it myself."

Yang Shan personally escorted the four men to the stern cabin and locked them in, then ignored them entirely.

The four men sat quietly in their respective corners, glanced at each other, and remained silent.

Yang Shan wasn't in a hurry; he stationed guards at the door, ensuring only that they didn't kill themselves.

Then he dragged up the cook and ordered him to prepare a lavish meal overnight: "Use every good ingredient you have. Make them a final meal—like condemned men get."

The cook perked up at once—he couldn't afford to be careless.

He immediately took his knife and slaughtered the last chicken, boiling it through the night.

Then came bean sprouts and the cabbage stored for months in the big vat—both fine ingredients.

Sea cucumber and salted fish were also brought out.

The aroma of chicken soup drifted out; Pan Yun and Xiao Hong floated to the kitchen, watching the cook work, and both swallowed hard.

Pan Yun: "Shouldn't we serve it with rice?"

Xiao Hong's eyes gleamed: "Can I sneak a bite while I'm eavesdropping?"

The cook chuckled: "If Miss likes it, I'll set aside some for you first—go ahead and eat."

He sighed: "Too bad we don't have fresh fish—it'd add more flavor."

Pan Yun immediately said: "Fresh fish? I've got some. Wait a moment."

Saying this, she turned and ran out.

Xiao Hong followed right behind.

The two leaned over the ship's railing, peering down—the sea was pitch black, indistinct, nothing visible.

Xiao Hong: "Do fish sleep at night?"

"Not if there's night fishing," Pan Yun circled the railing, unable to tell which side had more fish—and the ship was moving.

After thinking, she called inwardly to Pan Xiaohei: 【It's time for you.】

Pan Xiaohei: …

Fifteen minutes later, Pan Xiaohei arrived dragging a steamed bun. Pan Yun took it, raising an eyebrow: "Use this?"

Pan Xiaohei gave her a look of disdain.

Pan Yun chuckled, tore the bun into pieces, drew her long sword, and cast a spell to make it stand upright.

The sword had been used frequently these past days—it grew lively, circling happily in the air the moment it appeared, then settling steadily before Pan Xiaohei.

Pan Xiaohei leapt onto the sword.

The sword carried him out over the sea.

Pan Yun controlled the sword; Xiao Hong aimed and tossed the bun fragments into the water.

As the ship passed, most fish avoided it—but some sea fish chased after moving vessels.

Soon, Pan Xiaohei's paw struck like lightning—grab, slap—a flash of silver shot upward, but the ship had moved forward a bit…

As the fish began to fall, Pan Yun couldn't help but dart out, catching it midair with a foot, then kicking it high—it landed with a loud plop on the deck.

The fish was completely stunned, took a good while to come to its senses, then thrashed violently, but no matter how it flopped, it couldn't leap back into the water.

Pan Yun spun in mid-air, stepped on the air, and flew back to the deck.

Then with a beckoning gesture, the sword carrying Pan Xiaohei flew back, and she moved to a different spot to continue lying in wait.