"I must tell you, the dangers at sea are not small. Don't forget we are no longer within China's borders. We are on the high seas, where pirates frequently appear."
"According to the information I've gathered, the pirates near us are no ordinary ones. They even keep sharks and whales! If we encounter them, it will be dangerous unless we can offer a price they find satisfactory."
After this Ming Long Army member finished speaking, the other Ming Long Army members shrugged.
"Hmph, I thought it was some terrifying danger, but it's just pirates. With so many of us, wouldn't it be easy to deal with them?" Lu Gong and the others said dismissively.
Indeed, everyone heading to the Far West this time was a master of the Hunyuan realm.
How powerful could mere pirates be? Even if they had Hunyuan realm experts, they wouldn't have as many as them.
Furthermore, Zhu Zhi and the others were also on the ship.
But.
The Ming Long Army member who had just spoken raised his middle finger disdainfully.
"Are your brains all turned to mush from practicing martial arts? Don't I know that our expeditionary force is very strong?"
"You all don't grasp the point I'm trying to make. What I meant was that they could entirely use their trained sharks and whales to attack our ship. What do you think would happen then?"
This...
Upon his reminder, the others finally understood the crux of the matter, and they all became nervous.
"Then, according to you, aren't we in great danger? We could capsize at any moment?" Lu Gong asked.
"It shouldn't come to that. If I can find out these things, the Grand Elder must surely know, so they must have made preparations."
Zhang Yang also chimed in at this moment, "When I boarded the ship just now, I noticed several large crates. Perhaps they are the toll the Grand Elder has prepared for the pirates."
The Ming Long Army members immediately felt relieved.
"It's good that they're prepared. That way, we can pass peacefully. They want wealth, and we don't want trouble. It's better for both sides."
"Indeed, the contents of those large crates should be enough to let the pirates pass, and with so many experts like us, they'll have to think twice before trying to extort us."
"Besides, the high seas are vast; they might not even find us."
"..."
The Ming Long Army members tried to comfort themselves.
But in the next moment, Zhang Yang poured a bucket of cold water on them.
"I think we've been discovered," Zhang Yang said gravely.
This!
The nine Ming Long Army members immediately panicked and moved closer to Zhang Yang.
"How do you know we've been discovered?"
"Look for yourselves. Aren't those three sharks following us?"
As Zhang Yang spoke, the others immediately looked.
And indeed, they were!
"This is bad! I'll notify the Grand Elder at once!" Lu Gong said.
"No need to notify him. The Grand Elder probably already knows," Zhang Yang shook his head and gestured for them to look at the front of the ship.
At this moment.
Not far ahead of the ship, a massive pirate vessel flying a skull flag appeared.
And in front of the pirate ship, there was a school of hundreds of sharks!
At the forefront of the shark school were two enormous whales!
This!
Danger had arrived!
Zhang Yang and the others quickly walked to the bow of the ship and joined Zhu Zhi and the others.
"Grand Elder."
"Mm."
Zhu Zhi stared at the pirate ship ahead with a solemn expression, then channeled his internal energy and shouted.
"To the pirate friends opposite, we are not a merchant convoy, and there is nothing of immense value on this ship."
"We are merely passing through by sea to the Far West. Knowing that your livelihood at sea is not easy, we have prepared three chests of gold, hoping for peace between us."
Zhu Zhi's words reached the pirate ship.
This display of long-distance sound transmission startled the pirates.
They did not possess the ability to transmit sound over such a distance.
The pirate captain immediately ordered his men to jump off the ship, ride on the backs of sharks, and swim towards Zhang Yang's vessel.
"Where are you from?" the pirate sailor asked.
"Lin Hai City. We are not a merchant ship, just passing through to the Far West." Zhu Zhi replied.
Upon hearing this, the pirate sailor picked up a telescope, looked at the people on the ship.
Then, he observed the luxurious ship for a moment before returning.
"Captain, the ship opposite is from Lin Hai City. The ship looks very luxurious, and the people on board are wearing combat uniforms. They are likely not a merchant convoy, but possibly from Central Island." The sailor relayed the situation he had observed.
"Oh, people from Central Island in Lin Hai City?" The captain mused for a moment, then let out a hearty laugh.
"Hahaha, it seems our luck is good today. We've stumbled upon a big fish!"
After laughing, the captain suddenly blew his horn.
Wooo~
Wooo-wooo~
The horn's sound, long and short, had a distinct rhythm.
The whales and sharks in front of the ship immediately swam forward, and the pirate ship also moved closer to Zhang Yang's vessel.
"So you're from Central Island. We've long heard of your reputation, hahaha." The pirate captain laughed heartily.
The distance was now much closer.
The pirate captain, using his internal energy, could also transmit his voice.
Zhu Zhi's brow furrowed upon hearing this, and he knew things were not good.
The other side had discovered they were from Central Island so quickly.
This was not good news.
"Since Captain knows we are from Central Island, could you grant us passage? The three chests of gold on board are a small token of our respect."
"Heh, three chests of gold? Are you trying to fob off a beggar?" the pirate captain scoffed disdainfully.
"Your Central Island is the descendant of the previous Lord of China, King Ming. Do you think three chests of gold can appease me? Do you take me for a fool, or are you the fool?"
This...
As expected, the other side was indeed making an exorbitant demand.
Seeing this.
Lu Gong immediately became displeased and shouted.
"You pirates, don't push your luck! Our Grand Elder only wishes to avoid unnecessary trouble. Otherwise, forget three chests of gold; you'd all remain at sea forever, becoming food for sharks!"
The pirate captain's eyes narrowed.
"I am well aware of Central Island's strength, but... you seem to have misunderstood one point."
"This is the sea, not land. Even if your ship is full of Hunyuan realm experts, what use would that be? Humph!"
After a cold snort.
The pirate captain blew his horn again.
The two whales at the forefront churned the water, creating huge waves.
The tails of the two whales struck the hull of the ship on the left and right.
Bang!
Bang!
The ship Zhang Yang was on began to sway violently, almost capsizing.
Instantly.
Everyone on board panicked.
They grabbed onto anything stable to maintain their balance.
After a while, the ship stabilized.
However, the people on board looked disheveled and shaken.
"I've prepared what you asked for! Don't push your luck!" Zhu Zhi said, his face ashen, and shouted.
"Hahaha, my apologies. My pets are a bit unruly. Truly sorry." The pirate captain apologized.
But the mocking smile on his face contained no sincerity.