Chapter 244 The Second Boss Appears; It Was All a Misunderstanding

While the woman was speaking, the old man was not idle. He quietly parted the branches under the tent, revealing a gap just big enough for the girl to squeeze through with the baby.

The girl said, "No... if there are so many assassins chasing after us, it's impossible not to alert Blackwater Stronghold. Let's wait and see."

As she spoke, she cautiously peered out through the gap.

Meanwhile, some pirates reported to the crippled strategist that apart from the man and woman, they hadn't seen anyone else, and certainly not the second-in-command.

In addition, the man and woman were extremely skilled; if it weren't for the fact that there were many of us brothers, they probably would have escaped by now.

Upon hearing this, the crippled strategist immediately launched into a detailed analysis.

"It seems that the second-in-command has been hidden by that couple, and there is no trace of anyone else. So we have to keep two people alive and find out where the second-in-command is."

"No matter how skilled they are, they can't withstand our numbers."

"If seven hundred brothers can't even take down two mere two people, Blackwater Stronghold might as well disband as soon as possible!"

"Give the order: take care of those two at all costs! Of course, make sure they're alive; crippling or injuring them is fine!"

At this point, even the crippled strategist couldn't care less about the chief's promise to capture the woman and make her his wife.

In comparison, the second-in-command is more important.

Having received the strategist's instructions, the group launched a frenzied attack, with hundreds of men rushing onto the mudflats one after another. The lame strategist also rowed his small boat to the shore.

Neither Xiao Qidi nor Ning Jinli were carrying any weapons. Facing so many people with their bare hands, the pressure was mounting. After working together to repel a wave of pirates, the two quickly exchanged a few words back to back.

"Jinli, these guys aren't giving us a chance to communicate at all. If we keep fighting, the tent will definitely be exposed, and the people inside will be in danger."

"Hmm... there's no other way. You distract them, and I'll escort those guys into the delta!"

"good!"

The Delta not only had ten special operations team members, but also several pistols and rifles, as well as some ammunition, in preparation for attacks by large wild animals.

While not enough to wipe out several hundred pirates in one fell swoop, it was enough to take out a portion of them.

Killing the pirates is not the primary objective at present; the key is to intimidate and frighten them away.

It is believed that the pirates will surely flee in disarray after witnessing weapons beyond their comprehension and their terrifying destructive power.

In this way, the collection base in the delta can be protected from destruction, and the lives of the girl and others can be saved.

This would also buy enough time for Ning Jinli to return to the modern world, bring more firearms to the special operations team, and then launch a direct attack on the Blackwater Village stronghold to wipe out all the river pirates.

Xiao Qidi took a deep breath and charged forward to meet the pirates' attack, his fists and feet sweeping like thunder.

The pirates had no choice but to focus their attention on him.

Just as Ning Jinli was about to retreat to the tree branch tent, a strange sound suddenly rang out in the night.

The sound resembled a horn, but was deeper and had a rapid rhythm, making it very penetrating.

Immediately afterwards, waves surged around the mudflats.

One after another, huge black shadows, at least four or five meters long, emerged from the depths of the swamp and rushed ashore with lightning speed.

At the same time, the numerous pirates also tacitly made way for these dark figures.

Ning Jinli and Xiao Qidi took a closer look and felt a chill run down their spines.

Those huge, fast-moving black shadows were all crocodiles!

In the blink of an eye, dozens of crocodiles rushed onto the mudflats, and more were continuously arriving.

Ning Jinli knew that crocodiles could be found in the swamps near large rivers, but it was already winter, and reptiles like crocodiles should have gone into hibernation long ago.

Unexpectedly, they've suddenly appeared in large numbers, which is dangerous!

Crocodiles are the overlords of the swamp, fierce in nature and extremely powerful in combat. They also have super high defense; their thick crocodile skin is difficult to break even with a regular handgun.

On a small boat on the mudflat shore, the crippled strategist held a large snail shell to his mouth, a cold smile appearing in his eyes.

That's right, these crocodiles were summoned by him using his unique secret technique.

He's not just good at training monkeys.

Having just observed the situation firsthand, he was once again impressed by Xiao Qidi and Ning Jinli's fighting prowess. Worried that even with hundreds of brothers joining forces, they still wouldn't be able to handle it, he decided to send out the crocodiles as a precaution.

As the crippled strategist continued to blow the conch shell, the crocodile swarm acted according to orders, not launching indiscriminate attacks on the river pirates on the mudflats. Their target was clear: Xiao Qidi and Ning Jinli.

This unexpected situation was completely beyond Ning Jinli and Xiao Qidi's expectations.

When they came to their senses, the water leading to the delta was already teeming with crocodiles.

Presumably, the two of them had killed the giant snake that was about to transform into a dragon at the bottom of Falling Eagle Gorge, so they couldn't remain calm at this moment. However, a single crocodile is definitely no match for that giant snake, but with so many crocodiles together, even that giant snake couldn't withstand them.

Ning Jinli and Xiao Qidi were still able to escape and protect themselves.

But the girl and her companions... as well as the special operations team members in the Delta, are in danger.

Ning Jinli's expression was cold and stern as she racked her brains for a solution.

Xiao Qidi quickly retreated to her side and grabbed her hand without hesitation, "Jinli, let's go!"

For Xiao Qidi, no one is more important than her.

“Qidi…” Ning Jinli gritted her teeth and said, “I’ll stay here and hold them off for a bit. You go and meet up with the special operations team and leave this place.”

"No!" Xiao Qidi uttered two words in a firm tone, grabbing Ning Jinli and preparing to use his lightness skill to leave the place.

Suddenly, a clear and loud voice rang out: "Stop it, all of you!"

Ning Jinli and Xiao Qidi turned their heads and saw that the girl had crawled out from under the tree branch tent.

Amidst the two men's astonished gazes, the girl strode towards the pirates, ignoring the horde of crocodiles rushing towards them with their jaws wide open, shouting as she ran, "Didn't you hear me? Stop right there!"

The pirates were even more stunned than Ning Jinli and Xiao Qidi, and didn't react for a moment.

However, the lame strategist on the shore hurriedly blew the conch shell again, and this time the sound was clearly different from the previous one.

The moment the sound rang out, the crocodiles froze on the spot, their open mouths slowly closing, and they lay motionless.

The crippled strategist, still shaken, limped towards the girl as fast as he could, then knelt down immediately, "Second Master! You scared me to death!"

"Second-in-command?!" Ning Jinli and Xiao Qidi were dumbfounded.

"Greetings, Second Boss!" All the pirates knelt down.

The girl wiped the cold sweat from her forehead, exhaled, and said, "You scared me to death! I thought a large group of assassins had come after us, and I was wondering why the brothers from Blackwater Village hadn't reacted at all. It was only when I heard the snail shell sound that I realized it was you guys! Get up quickly!"

The cripple hurriedly stood up, glanced behind the girl, and asked, "Second Master, were you kidnapped by those two? I've led my brothers to rescue you!"

"No, no, no!" the girl said hurriedly, "They saved me, so please don't do anything rash!"

The cripple was taken aback again, realizing that there seemed to be a misunderstanding. His expression became very complicated, and he lowered his head and said, "Yes... Second Master."

Ning Jinli and Xiao Qidi also had mixed feelings at this moment.

Who would have thought that the person they casually rescued would be the leader of this group of river pirates?

Moreover, those three were a fifteen or sixteen-year-old girl, a pregnant woman, and an old man in his seventies or eighties. It was even more difficult to associate them with river pirates.

"So...we rescued a few...bandits?" Ning Jinli frowned and muttered, then asked in confusion, "Wait, no, no, the young girl was definitely a bandit, but what about the woman who had given birth? Was she really the general's wife, or...an imposter?"

The girl turned around and walked up to Ning Jinli and Xiao Qidi, bowed, and said, "I'm sorry to both of you for startling you."

Xiao Qidi's eyes were dark and wary. "Who exactly are you people?"

The girl smiled and said, "As you can see, I am the second-in-command of Blackwater Village."

A murderous glint flashed in Xiao Qidi's eyes.

Ning Jinli quietly took his hand and asked the girl, "Since you are the leader of the river pirates, why are you with a pregnant woman and an old man? And why are you being chased?"

The girl noticed the change in their attitudes and smiled, saying, "You seem quite resistant to my identity, but that's alright. After all, we are bandits. However, I want to tell you two first that we are definitely not the kind of vicious thugs who rob people that you think we are. As for why I was with them and was chased, that's a long story. If you don't mind, you can come with me to Blackwater Village. I will treat you well and explain the details."

“We mind,” Xiao Qidi said coldly. “There’s no need for hospitality. Now you can tell us what the situation is, and we will make our own judgment.”

The girl said, "Alright then, I'll stay here and explain things to you."

She waved to the cripple, "Take the brothers back. Tell my brother I'm fine. Tell him not to worry."

The cripple looked hesitant, his eyes filled with wariness as he glanced at Ning Jinli and Xiao Qidi. "Second Master, these two are definitely not good people. I'm afraid they might harm you..."

"Heh!" Xiao Qidi snorted coldly.

The girl said helplessly, "If they were against me, I would have been in trouble long ago. They saved me! Don't be suspicious and make wild guesses. Hurry up and go, take the injured brothers to get medical treatment!"

The lame man had no choice but to agree and told everyone to retreat.

“Wait a minute,” Ning Jinli said. “The others can leave, but you have to stay. I’d like to ask you what your intentions are in having people lurking around here these past few days.

The cripple blurted out in surprise, "You...you actually found out?!"

Ning Jinli narrowed her eyes, her sharp gaze leaving the cripple at a loss.

The girl looked curious. "It seems there's been some trouble between you two while I was away? Fine, you stay here and explain things to the two of you."

The cripple gritted his teeth secretly, "Yes... the second-in-command."

Subsequently, apart from the crippled strategist, the remaining hundreds of pirates all left.

The cripple also drove away the entire crocodile herd.

The narrow mudflats were finally calmed down, and the sky was beginning to lighten with the faint glow of dawn.

Xiao Qidi rebuilt a firewood pile, and the girl caught a few fish and turtles, skewered them on sticks, and roasted them next to the fire.

During this time, Ning Jinli fed the woman who had just given birth some glucose nutrient solution. The woman held the baby and fell into a deep sleep, while the old man stayed by her side, refusing to close his eyes for even a moment.

The girl discreetly scanned the items and noticed that everything Ning Jinli used for childbirth and warmth, as well as the tools and objects used during the process, was quite unique.

But she didn't inquire about it now.

She said to the crippled strategist in a commanding tone, "Tell me the truth. What are you planning to do by having someone keep watch nearby?"

Xiao Qidi, Ning Jinli, and the girl sat on the ground by the fire, while the crippled strategist stood obediently beside the girl.

He dared not hide anything from the second-in-command and answered awkwardly, "Yes... I want to steal the treasure, and... get the chief a wife."

Xiao Qidi's gaze instantly turned cold, filled with murderous intent.

Regardless of what treasures they want to steal, getting a bandit's wife is clearly their goal for Ning Jinli.

The cripple suddenly felt a chill run through his body, as if his heart was being gripped by an invisible force.

Ning Jinli took Xiao Qidi's arm, smiled faintly, and said to the cripple, "Your boss had better not have such thoughts, otherwise you might not see the sun rise today."

The cripple looked annoyed and was about to reprimand her for daring to threaten their leader, but the girl glared at him and stopped him.

Ning Jinli asked, "What kind of treasure are you talking about?"

Since the matter had already been laid bare, the cripple had nothing to hide anymore. He explained in detail how he discovered the two had entered Blackwater Bay, how he learned from his trained monkey troop that the two were carrying a treasure that could emit a dazzling light in the dark, and how he wanted to obtain it and even sent the monkey troop to try to steal it.

After listening to the whole story, Ning Jinli and Xiao Qidi remained silent for a long time.

"A treasure that shines brightly in the dark?" The girl became very interested. "Is it a luminous pearl?"

The lame man said, "Judging from the monkeys' description, it should be far rarer than a luminous pearl. A luminous pearl can't emit such a bright light. The monkeys told me that it was like seeing the sun, very dazzling."

The girl's eyes widened as she looked at Ning Jinli and Xiao Qidi. "Gentlemen, could you please show me something? I promise I won't steal from you. If anyone dares to covet it again, I will not let them get away with it, not even my brother!"

"So that's why the monkeys snatched our flashlights back then." Ning Jinli said, somewhat amused. "I thought it was just their nature, purely out of curiosity and playfulness..."

Xiao Qidi was also speechless. He pulled out a palm-sized wilderness exploration flashlight from his pocket and said, "This is the treasure you all thought it was."

The lame man examined it carefully, scratched his head, and said, "This black, rod-shaped object isn't glowing. Is it really the treasure the monkeys told me about?"

Xiao Qidi pushes the switch with his thumb.

Snap.

A beam of bright light shone, so bright that the lame man quickly raised his hands to cover his eyes.

"Wow! It's glowing!" the girl exclaimed. "What is that thing?!"