Chapter 581: Chapter 565: The Ignored People
Zhao Changhe didn’t hear the conversation here, but as long as he figured out that Hai Qianfan was part of the “Royal Pirate Group,” he could guess why Hai Qianfan would leave the position of “Third Leader” vacant for San Niang.
In their eyes, San Niang’s flight was very likely in collusion with Hai Pinglan, so since they were later taken back by Hai Pinglan, they naturally had to show an attitude, leaving San Niang’s position vacant for the Princess, as it was a political issue.
But just as San Niang couldn’t understand why they would betray, Hai Pinglan also had difficulty judging the reasons for their betrayal.
Indeed, they were loyal and righteous men who couldn’t bear the innocent killing of San Niang’s mother and protected the Princess in escape. Afterward, once the misunderstanding was cleared up, there might also have been a sense of atonement, loyally plundering resources for Hai Pinglan for many years without a hitch.
Why, at the end, when Hai Pinglan already began to plan the counter-kill against the Sea Emperor, did they suddenly turn traitor?
“Could it be because they were eroded and controlled by the Sea Emperor?” Xia Chichi also became interested and helped Hai Pinglan analyze.
Hai Pinglan shook his head: “If that were so, it wouldn’t get past me… My sensitivity to the Sea Emperor’s qi is even higher than He imagines. The Sea Emperor and I have silently agreed for many years, one of the basic standards being not to mess with my confidants, otherwise the agreement would collapse immediately. I’ve been focusing on the states of Hai Qianfan and Hai Changkong; there shouldn’t be an issue. I can even confirm that, a few months ago, the Sea Emperor hadn’t found where the pirates were.”
Xia Chichi wondered, “Then what could the reason be? Were they recently found and then feared the Sea Emperor was too strong?”
Hai Pinglan’s eyes were deep: “I want to know as well.”
On Dong’an Island, San Niang watched Hai Qianfan coldly, waiting for his explanation.
Hai Qianfan looked up at the sky, clear and refreshing, cloudless.
He suddenly laughed: “Actually, these matters are very simple, just that you are caught up in your own struggle with God Demons, and have overlooked our common humanity.”
San Niang coldly said, “You talk.”
“In my youth, the Dragon King took me in as his godson, taught me martial arts, and for that, I am greatly indebted. Later, I followed him in fleeing overseas, and your mother led us through all sorts of dangers, earning our deep respect. Early on with a passionate heart, I was willing to exhaust my mind and body for your family, and that’s no lie.” Hai Qianfan’s gaze withdrew from the sky, and in his eyes looking at San Niang, there was a touch of tenderness, “San Niang, if you had always been here, things might have been a bit better…”
San Niang was stunned for a moment.
“San Niang, it’s because we gathered to protect your escape from Penglai that the Pirate Group formed, and when you said ‘disband,’ it actually already disbanded. Later, Your Majesty approached us, unraveling the past misunderstanding. The old brothers were very excited, and honestly, at that time I was excited too, quite willing to continue serving Your Majesty…”
“Wait a minute, what misunderstanding from back then?”
Hai Qianfan looked around – a large crowd, even water people were present, he didn’t elaborate, just shook his head and said, “In any case, the lot of us resumed our life of piracy because of Your Majesty. Zhao Changhe calling it the Royal Pirate Group is very precise. But the problem is, pirates have been isolated for so long, Your Majesty might not always trust us, even the old brothers might wonder if I had other intentions? So, we had to continue using your name, to set up this figurehead, to alleviate everyone’s suspicions.”
San Niang indifferently said, “Indeed.”
“But San Niang…” Hai Qianfan sighed, “When you led everyone over the East Sea for so many years, commanding with such imposing authority, one order from you and everyone bowed their heads, your power was no less than any King’s. However, what you gained was basically offered to Penglai, and the strength you painstakingly developed had to remain vacant for your return… If you were me, what would you think?”
San Niang said, “I would try to slowly establish my own foundation, change course, and declare myself King.”
Hai Qianfan said, “Over these years, some old brothers have died in battle, some retired to live in quiet on Taiping Island doing logistics, and I nurtured the likes of Zhen Ming and others. The Pirate Group has slowly evolved. Later, renaming to Angry Sea Gang, self-styled as the leader, was in preparation to break away from Penglai.”
Zhao Changhe couldn’t help but interject, “So the Tianyuan Pirate Group was also called the Angry Sea Gang, and there was this factor—I really hadn’t thought of that.”
Hai Qianfan said, “It was around that time that San Niang, as Xuanwu, sought us out to establish trade communication. I was originally happy because that represented another channel for offloading goods detached from Penglai, as well as access to Great Xia’s shipbuilding technology support. But also, that encounter made me realize how great San Niang’s influence was within the Pirate Group; the long-term vacant leadership propaganda and curiosity, coupled with San Niang’s beauty and strength, even the new gang members had an incredibly high acceptance of San Niang, the old brothers supported unconditionally, and I too had to play the part of being completely obedient… With this matter, San Niang inadvertently established the impression that the Angry Sea Gang still bore the Yuan surname, ruining years of preparation to break away in an instant.”
San Niang was lost in thought, silent.
Zhao Changhe said, “If San Niang died, wouldn’t this problem go away?”
“If she died, a lot of problems could be solved,” Hai Qianfan cast a glance at Hai Changkong and said indifferently, “Changkong would be the same.”
Hai Changkong smiled slightly, not commenting.
Hai Qianfan said, “This time’s conflict was already in the plans and indeed had nothing to do with San Niang.”
Zhao Changhe said, “But coincidentally, at this time, San Niang arrived?”
“Not only did she arrive, but she arrived when Your Majesty was coordinating the counter-attack claims from that year, which meant there was a very high chance of father and daughter reconciling. Changkong’s long-anticipated opportunity gone, so was mine; the Pirate Group would have to disband, being able to go back and retire as an official was already lucky, there was a greater chance of ‘killing the donkey as soon as it left the millstone.'”
“So you’ve thought it over and suddenly decided it would be better to switch allegiance to the Sea Emperor?”
Hai Qianfan silently consented.
“This means that San Niang’s existence has become your Heart Demon, and to get rid of her, you’ve already betrayed the meaning of your entire life.” Zhao Changhe sighed, “Haven’t you thought about it? Even if you kill San Niang, the Pirate Group may not necessarily be yours. When the time comes, you will have to do whatever the Sea Emperor tells you to do; aren’t you just swapping one master for another?”
Hai Qianfan’s face remained expressionless, “The Sea Emperor has supported so many Island Country Kings, one more or less makes no difference to him, as long as you believe in Him. Compared to that, Hai Pinglan would never allow me to control the Pirate Group forever.”
Zhao Changhe nodded, “Hence the night attack that evening, the Pirate Group’s location was deliberately leaked to the Sea Race by you. The real purpose was to use a borrowed knife to kill San Niang. As for Dong’an Island, there were too many loyal to her and her daughter; wiping them all out in one go would suffice.”
“Correct.”
“And what about all the innocent people? Do you just not care?”
“The rest are merely a bunch of brothel women, cooks, servers, porters; do they even count as people?”
San Niang gazed silently at the sky.
Hai Qianfan said they had forgotten to consider the humanity of the ordinary people in their game of chess with God Demons.
Perhaps this was true. Neither Hai Pinglan nor she, San Niang, had thought about this, leading to unforeseen events befalling those they had never considered, nearly capsizing their plans.
Yet from his standpoint, Hai Qianfan had equally disregarded the more ordinary people, whether their humanity or their lives.
Zhao Changhe clicked his tongue, “Too bad you didn’t realize that San Niang is not a Second Layer Secret Treasure but a Third Layer, and the water constructs simply couldn’t defeat San Niang. But you couldn’t secretly plot against San Niang because there were so many people in the Pirate Group watching… Frustrated, weren’t you?”
Hai Qianfan glanced at the silent San Niang and then at the now fully recovered water constructs before finally saying, “Originally, this matter had nothing to do with you; had you not come, it would have been fine… Now that you’ve delivered yourselves, there’s no point in further talk. The two of you lack the strength to confront us simultaneously. We have answered your questions, so can you depart contentedly?”
Zhao Changhe curiously asked, “Odd, what makes you think we lack the strength to deal with you? Because of the army?”
Hai Qianfan couldn’t help laughing, “Though the water constructs were injured by your scheme, San Niang is also wounded, and she may not be able to defeat the water constructs anytime soon. Otherwise, why would she stand here listening to stories? Just out of curiosity? Or is it because she is also trying to recover?”
Zhao Changhe replied, “But I’m not injured.”
“You?” Hai Qianfan sized him up for a moment, then began to laugh, “Although you’re powerful, do you really think you can take on both me and Changkong, plus Zhen Ming, all at once?”
Zhao Changhe seriously said, “I believe I can… Three moves? No, one move?”
Hai Qianfan’s laughter turned into a loud guffaw, “My head is right here; if you can take it with one strike, then come and get it!”
Before the words finished, Zhao Changhe executed a Horizontal Slash.
The seaside wind seemed to soften, the pounding waves turning into a gentle drizzle caressing the face, refreshing enough to make one completely forget the deadly intention hidden within.
By the time they reacted, the tip of the blade was already at the throat.
A small building listens to the spring rain overnight.
Hai Qianfan, with his Second Layer Secret Treasure, was well-prepared, and with a “clang,” he raised his sword to block the strike, his laughter growing even louder, “Is this your…”
Before the word “move” was finished, a sudden gust of wind came from behind, and another swift blade skimmed the water like a sea eagle, lightly grazing his neck.
Blood suddenly spurted out, and Hai Qianfan’s eyes widened, his smile frozen on his face.
Disbelieving, he turned his head, “Changkong, you…”
Zhao Changhe, as if he had expected it all along, swiftly turned Dragon Sparrow, which skimmed past the throat of Hua Zhenming, who still had no idea what was happening.
Two generations of pirates died together, never knowing what had occurred.
Changkong sheathed his blade and spat out, “Who the hell told you that I’m anything like you, the same you motherfucker?”