Chapter Sixty-Four: Arrival

Cold air swirled around Gao Jian's iron sword, and a frigid gleam shot forth, slashing fiercely toward the Tu Nu guards with unstoppable force. He and Huang Yi fought in perfect harmony, shouldering the pressure of the three Tu Nu guards without showing the slightest sign of defeat.

In contrast, Mo Ling, Li Ruofeng, and Wu Niu struggled against the other two Tu Nu guards, their strength flagging, and cracks beginning to show. Mo Ling, Li Ruofeng, and Wu Niu had only recently broken through to the late stage of the martial artist realm, their cultivation lagging far behind the Tu Nu guards. Wu Niu, a commoner warrior, lacked refined martial techniques, making his combat ability weaker. Most critically, the three had little experience fighting together and could barely withstand the highly coordinated attacks of the two Tu Nu guards, forced to defend passively and unable to launch any effective counterattacks.

"What is the captain thinking? Is there something wrong with that man in white?" The alluring woman noticed Feng Xionglang’s cold gaze fixed on Gao Jian and voiced her confusion.

"The leader of these captives, the white-robed swordsman, is slightly stronger—a peak ninth-level body refinement martial artist. The others are at most seventh or eighth level, hardly worth any concern," the yellow-toothed elder grinned. "Our captain’s strength is unfathomable. If he were to act, this rabble of captives wouldn't withstand a single move!"

The three Tu Nu guards joined forces, launching a fierce assault on Gao Jian and Huang Yi.

Sword energy flashed! White light streaked through the air!

Clang! Clang!

The sword energies collided, emitting clear, crisp sounds before fading away. Amidst flashes of lightning and sword shadows, they fought fiercely, their exchanges too numerous to count.

"Ice Phantom Sword!"

Suddenly, Gao Jian’s iron sword surged with chilling true energy. The Tu Nu guard, seeing Gao Jian’s sword slashing rapidly toward him, raised his own blade to meet the attack, only to be shocked: Gao Jian’s iron sword was now coated in ice, gleaming with a cold light.

That cold light transformed into phantoms—dozens of sword shadows, indistinguishable between real and illusory, shifting positions ceaselessly. The overwhelming sword energy reflected in the Tu Nu guard’s rapidly constricting pupils.

The Tu Nu guard frantically waved his sword, slashing blindly at the phantoms, unable to locate the true blade. The other two Tu Nu guards, engrossed in their attack on Huang Yi, heard their companion’s desperate cries and quickly rushed to aid him.

"Useless!" Feng Xionglang’s expression darkened.

On the deck, the pirates had seized the advantage, but the three Tu Nu guards suddenly found themselves forced into a corner by Gao Jian.

Feng Xionglang drew his Golden Spirit Sword, slapped his chair, and leaped up like an eagle, swooping down toward Gao Jian. He knew that if he didn’t intervene, the Tu Nu guards would suffer casualties.

That was the last thing he wanted. The Five Tu Nu guards were his most loyal retainers, trained painstakingly over several years. If they were injured or killed in what should have been an assured victory, it would be a grievous loss.

"Damn, Captain Feng is making his move—Gao Jian, retreat!" Mo Ling, locked in combat with a Tu Nu guard, saw Feng Xionglang suddenly leap from his seat toward Gao Jian and cried out in alarm.

The Tu Nu guard, unable to fend off Gao Jian’s sword, watched helplessly as the iron blade slashed toward his head, cold seeping into his body. In despair, he closed his eyes.

Gao Jian, startled by the warning, shouted and withdrew his sword; the dozens of sword phantoms vanished instantly. He spun and slashed toward the charging Feng Xionglang.

Clang!

A crisp metallic ring. The Golden Spirit Sword struck, and Gao Jian’s iron sword shattered.

Alarmed, Gao Jian abandoned his broken sword, flickered back among the other captives, and retreated.

Feng Xionglang landed, failing to capture Gao Jian in a single blow and flew into a rage.

"Kill them! Slaughter these captives!" Feng Xionglang, clad in golden armor and wielding the Golden Spirit Sword, strode forward, roaring at the pirates.

Now, he wanted only to slaughter the captives. Any losses could be written off as a wasted trip; there would be more opportunities in the future.

The accountant’s face twitched, but seeing the captain’s fury, he dared not speak up.

With Captain Feng personally joining the fray, the eighty or ninety pirates were invigorated, surging madly toward the captive slaves.

Blood splattered, crimson flowing everywhere.

Gao Jian and the other captives were fully routed; only the handful at the front possessed wooden clubs, iron swords, or blades—many others were utterly unarmed.

Fortunately, the deck was narrow; the fierce battle between the front ranks of captives and pirates made the space crowded.

Gao Jian, Huang Yi, and the other warriors shielded the rest, retreating and fighting toward the second deck, falling back step by step.

"We can’t hold out much longer!"

"When will Brother Ye arrive?!"

Wang Hu shouted anxiously.

"Hold on—we’ll slowly retreat to the narrow passage at the second deck. Defend from a position of strength! When Brother Ye arrives, the situation will surely turn in our favor." Gao Jian gritted his teeth, slashing down a late-stage pirate as another mid-stage pirate rushed him. At the front, he bore the brunt of the assault, resisting with all his might.

Every moment they held out bought Ye Mo more time to arrive.

—

Ye Mo’s figure sped through the passage on the second deck.

The narrow corridor was littered with captives, unarmed and groaning in pain, their wounds severe.

His heart sank, knowing the situation was dire, and he quickened his pace.

The captives lying on the floor felt a shadow sweep past, like a fresh breeze.

First startled, they broke into smiles.

"It’s Immortal Ye!"

"The Immortal has finally come!"

"Quick, let’s go back and see!"

A few captives shouted excitedly, heading toward the deck. Soon, others found courage and followed.

Ye Mo quickly traversed the passage and appeared on the deck.

The brutal scene made Ye Mo gasp; the dead and wounded captives numbered forty or fifty, blood streaming everywhere.

Ye Mo scanned the crowd and spotted many familiar faces: Gao Jian, Mo Ling, Huang Yi, Li Ruofeng, and others.

He breathed a sigh of relief; none had perished.

Besides those who had survived the island with him, Ye Mo saw other familiar figures—Wu Shan, Qian Ying, You Mingyan—barely holding off a pirate’s attack.

A bearded pirate joined the melee, raising his broadsword and swinging it at Zhao Dafu.

The blow came too suddenly; Qian Ying and the others were unprepared, unable to spare strength to block.

Zhao Dafu screamed, his face pale as death, watching the broadsword descend toward his head.

Ye Mo flipped his palm, producing seven or eight fragments of spiritual wood, and flicked them forward.

Instantly, cries of pain rang out as pirates were struck by the flying fragments, clutching their faces and stumbling back—among them, the bearded pirate attacking Zhao Dafu.

Wu Shan, Zhao Dafu, and the others stared in astonishment, turning to look.

"Brother Ye!"

"It’s Immortal Ye!"

"Ha, we’re saved! Heaven hasn’t forsaken us!"

The captives saw Ye Mo appear just in time on the deck, and their spirits soared, cheering in hope.