Chapter 47 Draft (Do not buy) Draft (Do not buy, wait for revision...)
[Do not buy the discarded draft! Do not buy the discarded draft! The following is the discarded draft section. Do not buy it! Wait for the revised and updated chapters. The word count will only increase, not decrease. Do not buy it.] [The following is the discarded draft section. All of it is invalid.] [The following is the discarded draft section. All of it is invalid.] [The order has been scrambled, making it a meaningless chapter. Please do not buy or read it, dear readers.] [Do not buy the discarded draft! Do not buy the discarded draft! The following is the discarded draft section. Do not buy it! Wait for the revised and updated chapters. The word count will only increase, not decrease. Do not buy the current version.] [The Bat Chapter is currently being revised.]
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Lin Pingzhi stumbled along the dimly lit corridor.
With each step, his whole body felt like it was being pricked with needles, the pain excruciating, almost like being tortured. The wax makeup on his face, mixed with blood, dripped onto his clothes.
How could a grown man like him bow his head and admit defeat? So he took the plunge and reluctantly boarded the Purple Whale Gang's ship.
"Hmm..."
Lin Pingzhi's teeth were chattering, and like a snail soaked in salt water, he struggled to move forward, holding onto the cabin wall.
He vaguely remembered that at the end of this corridor was his sister's cabin, and a purple grass basket was hanging on the door...
At this moment, Lin Pingzhi was like a small plank of wood floating in the vast ocean, small and lonely.
Apart from his sister, there was no one else in the world who could give him a place to stay, and no one could help him find a way to survive.
He suddenly thought of Chu Liuxiang.
But what if Chu Xiangshuai knew that he had killed Hai Kuotian...?
Lin Pingzhi became increasingly alarmed as he thought about it, and couldn't help but shiver.
He couldn't afford to gamble on this, nor did he dare to.
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Xiang Tianfei looked around, slowly wandering through the corridor, carefully searching for those easily overlooked corners.
He wore a black eye patch, a "souvenir" left to him by You Mingjiang. Although he respected You Mingjiang's martial arts skills, he could not swallow this insult no matter what.
Xiang Tianfei knew in his heart that the obvious trap could not possibly escape her notice.
If you want to get revenge, you must not reveal the slightest clue. Otherwise, not only will you fail to get revenge, but you may also suffer an even greater loss.
He was hesitating when he suddenly saw a figure.
The person was wearing an ill-fitting garment that hung loosely on their body. Every step they took looked like they were about to fall, yet they managed to keep going.
Xiang Tianfei immediately became alert!
The man was a young pirate with a completely unfamiliar face. His forehead was covered in blood, and his body was also stained with blood.
"stop!"
Like a thunderclap out of nowhere, Xiang Tianfei shouted at the top of his lungs.
The little pirate froze, slowly raised his head, and as soon as his eyes met Xiang Tianfei's, he quickly looked away.
Lin Pingzhi's mouth was slightly open, but he couldn't say a word. He could only breathe heavily and make "huffing and puffing" sounds.
Xiang Tianfei was never patient, and he couldn't tolerate such a suspicious person. He approached step by step and said in a deep voice, "I'm asking you a question! What are you doing here—"
Before he could finish speaking, Lin Pingzhi took off running, his steps frantic, as if a ghost were chasing him.
Lin Pingzhi ran very fast, the wind whistling behind him.
He dared not look back, he just rushed forward desperately, with only one thought in his mind: run!
Lin Pingzhi felt a tightness in his chest, and a metallic taste filled his throat. He staggered forward, calling out, "Sister..."
Xiang Tianfei followed slowly, like a cat teasing a mouse, a sinister smile playing on his lips.
He recognized him; wasn't this Lin Pingzhi, the one who had let those young vixens escape before?
Last time, Lin Pingzhi also fled in a similar predicament.
Hmph, there won't be a next time.
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Suddenly, a bolt of lightning ripped through the darkness.
The sound of wheels rolling could be heard in my ears.
A man in blue robes sat in the wheelchair; it was You Mingjiang.
She was still wearing that Nuo mask, which covered her entire face, leaving only her eyes visible. A few strands of damp hair clung to her face, and she exuded a faint scent of purple gromwell.
Lin Pingzhi's eyes lit up, as if he had grasped a lifeline, and he shouted at the top of his lungs, "Sister, save me!"
Upon hearing the shout, You Mingjiang slowly turned her wheelchair, her gaze passing over Lin Pingzhi and coldly fixed on Xiang Tianfei. Her eyes were calm, yet they pierced Xiang Tianfei's heart.
Xiang Tianfei's heart sank, his steps froze instantly, and the sneer on his face instantly turned into one of terror.
His lips trembled slightly; he wanted to speak, but could only manage a dry, hoarse sound as he struggled to squeeze out a single word: "You..."
You Mingjiang ignored him, and simply raised her hand, signaling Lin Pingzhi to hide behind her.
Lin Pingzhi scrambled to avoid it, panting heavily as if he had just escaped from the brink of death.
"Elder You, I didn't trespass this time... Don't meddle!" Xiang Tianfei shouted, his voice trembling.
You Mingjiang said coldly, "Take one more step forward, and I'll make you really fly to the sky."
Xiang Tianfei knew that You Mingjiang wasn't bluffing him. Sweat beaded on his forehead. He gritted his teeth and reluctantly took a step back, but letting Lin Pingzhi go really infuriated him.
You Mingjiang turned her wheelchair and slowly approached him.
The clattering sound of the wheelchair struck my heart again and again.
"You...you stay away!" Xiang Tianfei shouted as he retreated in a panic, his eyes filled with fear and confusion.
Ignoring Xiang Tianfei's terrified cries, You Mingjiang steadily turned her wheelchair and slowly approached him.
The cold gaze beneath the Nuo mask fixed on Xiang Tianfei.
Xiang Tianfei's legs began to tremble, and his back was soaked with sweat. His previous arrogance had vanished, and he wished he could disappear into the ground and get away from You Mingjiang immediately.
Finally, Xiang Tianfei couldn't bear the fear any longer and turned to run away. His figure quickly disappeared at the end of the dimly lit corridor, leaving only a series of disheveled footsteps.
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You Mingjiang turned around and looked at the disheveled Lin Pingzhi.
Lin Pingzhi slumped onto the deck, his legs weak. The terrifying moment had drained him of all his strength, and his thoughts were still stuck on the desperate moment when Xiang Tianfei was chasing him. He took a deep breath, trying to steady his breathing, but his violently pounding heart seemed to mock his powerlessness.
You Mingjiang sighed softly, bent down slightly, and prepared to push the wheelchair away.
However, just as she was about to get up, a tearful voice called out behind her: "Sister..."
Lin Pingzhi slumped to the ground, his body trembling slightly, tears streaming down his face like broken beads, dripping onto the deck.
His shoulders shrugged, he raised his head, his eyes red and swollen from crying, and reached out to try to grab You Mingjiang's clothes, but his hand could not reach her and could only wave helplessly in the air.
"Sister, my legs are weak, sob sob sob..." He cried, his voice particularly pitiful, like a wounded little animal seeking shelter.
You Mingjiang sighed softly, "Now you know fear?"
Lin Pingzhi stared at her without blinking, his eyelashes trembling slightly, tears welling up instantly and blurring his vision.
He bit his lower lip hard, his shoulders trembling violently, until his lips turned white. He desperately tilted his head back, trying to hold back his tears.
You Mingjiang sighed and looked at Lin Pingzhi, who was crying his eyes out: "Pingzhi, why are you crying so sadly?"
Lin Pingzhi's eyes were red-rimmed, his throat was dry and parched, and he sobbed, "Did I cause trouble for my sister? Waaah, does my sister dislike me?"
You Mingjiang was slightly taken aback, a hint of hesitation flashing in his eyes, as if he had been choked by the question that was suddenly thrown at him.
After a moment, she smiled gently, a hint of doting in her eyes, and said softly, "How could I hate you? Silly child, don't overthink it."
"Really?" Lin Pingzhi asked, sobbing.
“Of course.” You Mingjiang replied gently.
You Mingjiang reached out to help him up, but Lin Pingzhi shrank back and cried even harder: "If I encounter danger again in the future, will my sister still come to save me?"
His voice was full of surprise and doubt, like a child groping in the dark, afraid of losing his last support.
Upon hearing this, You Mingjiang frowned slightly.
"Will my sister come?" Lin Pingzhi asked again.
Looking at Lin Pingzhi's pitiful state, like a tender seedling battered by frost, she couldn't help but feel pity for him. She sighed softly, "Hmm."
"Really?" Lin Pingzhi still seemed unable to believe it, his voice trembling with anticipation.
"Mm," You Mingjiang replied patiently.
"That's great!" Lin Pingzhi smiled through his tears, laboriously raised his hand, and just as he was about to touch You Mingjiang's palm, a large hand with distinct knuckles suddenly reached out and firmly grasped his.
When You Mingjiang looked up, Lu Xiaojia's familiar yet cold face came into view.
He said with a half-smile, "Let me help him up."
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The Fuwei Escort Agency had been run by three generations, accumulating a vast fortune.
Growing up in such a family environment, Lin Pingzhi had never experienced the hardships of the world, and his every move exuded an unadorned simplicity.
The wax face was washed away by tears, revealing a delicate little face the size of a palm. When he smiled, two shallow dimples appeared on his face, sweet and charming. His features were delicate and handsome, almost like a pretty girl, exuding both nobility and elegance.
Lu Xiaojia's heart skipped a beat, and she immediately sounded the alarm.
He discovered that You Mingjiang was not at all averse to Lin Pingzhi's approach, and even softened when he shed tears.
Lin Pingzhi was forcibly dragged up by Lu Xiaojia.
Despite his disheveled state, he smiled through his tears and said, "...I will be good and not cause any trouble for you, sister. I will only help you."
Lu Xiaojia glanced at her sideways with a cold look.
"elder sister?"
He repeated it, and immediately got goosebumps all over his body.
Does You Mingjiang like this soft, gentle tone?
Like a stray dog begging for food, it wags its tail and begs for mercy around its owner.
It's still uncertain who will help whom.
Lu Xiaojia emphasized each word: "Don't worry, little brother, with me here, no one can get near your sister!"
"That's great." Lin Pingzhi forced a smile and reached out to push the wheelchair.
“I’ll do it.” Lu Xiaojia took the other hand.
The two refused to give in, remaining locked in a stalemate, the atmosphere tense and on the verge of exploding.
Yu Mingjiang looked around, then stood up from his wheelchair and said to Lin Pingzhi, "Go to my cabin first, I'll treat your wounds and I have something to say to you."
Lin Pingzhi obediently entered the cabin.
As soon as You Mingjiang turned around, Lu Xiaojia stood in front of her, looming over her like a shadow.
He mimicked Lin Pingzhi's tone, his face expressionless, and asked, "Sister~ Sister~ Will sister come to save me?"
"This pretty boy calls you 'sister,' what? Is he your own brother?" Lu Xiaojia said sourly.
You Mingjiang looked embarrassed and said, "Are you angry?"
Lu Xiaojia crossed her arms and stared at her intently, as if trying to see right through her: "How could I dare to be angry with my sister? You have plenty of good younger brothers."
He speaks in a somewhat sarcastic tone.
You Mingjiang opened her mouth, then swallowed her words, finally saying helplessly, "How about I let you punch me a couple of times to calm me down?"
Lu Xiaojia raised an eyebrow and asked, "Can I hit your head?"
You Mingjiang smiled and said, "No, I'll beat him silly."
Her lips were rosy and had a natural sheen. The corners of her mouth were slightly upturned. One look at her and my heart melted like spring water.
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Looking at her smile, Lu Xiaojia felt a sweet warmth well up in his heart, and he subconsciously touched the rouge clasp in his sleeve pocket.
This rouge box was his little secret; he had been planning in his mind when he could deliver it to You Mingjiang.
Perhaps because he was too excited, he couldn't help but reach into his sleeve pocket to touch it. After doing this so many times, even the sleeve pocket developed a small hole.
After a moment of silence, You Mingjiang felt that the subtle atmosphere was making it hard to breathe, so she started a conversation.
How are your family members?
Lu Xiaojia paused, staring intently at her, and smiled slyly: "That's great, I just don't know when you'll be willing to be my family."
You Mingjiang was slightly taken aback, and a faint blush crept onto her cheeks. She coughed lightly to cover her embarrassment.
Realizing her words were a bit too blunt, Lu Xiaojia blushed and quickly cleared her throat: "By the way, you seem to have a bad attitude towards Chu Liuxiang. Do you not like him?"
You Mingjiang's eyes were clear, and she tilted her head slightly.
She said, "No, he is a steady and mature man, and also a compassionate and kind person. I admire him very much. However... my current status is special, so I can't do things that attract too much attention."
Lu Xiaojia froze, her smile gradually fading, and then her brows furrowed tightly, as if she had been startled by something strange.
He asked again, his tone full of disbelief: "...You admire him?"
“…Yes.” You Mingjiang blinked.
A hint of confusion crossed her eyes; she clearly didn't understand why he was so surprised, assuming that Lu Xiaojia harbored prejudice against Chu Liuxiang, and couldn't help but defend him.
"...You're not going to spout nonsense like 'theft is theft,' are you? Those high-ranking officials, powerful figures, and tyrants are the real scourge. They first exploited the people, stealing from the country and harming the people. Chu Liuxiang robbed the rich to help the poor. He didn't steal the innocent's wealth, but the ill-gotten gains of those who were rich but heartless... For every person like Chu Liuxiang, there will be one less refugee who resorts to cannibalism."
Back in the day, she was known as "Divine Doctor You" in Yazhou.
She has saved countless lives.
To be honest, her medical skills weren't necessarily much better than other doctors'. But when she encountered people who were starving and about to die, she would always bring them a bowl of hot, white tofu soup and feed it to those poor souls.
After a bowl of tofu soup, a person won't starve to death, and will regain their energy and spirit, naturally recovering.
Thinking of this, You Mingjiang's eyes dimmed, and she silently shut her mouth, no longer mentioning those old stories.
Lu Xiaojia's mind went blank; she didn't hear a thing.
Before he could recover from the shock, the carefully chosen rouge box slipped quietly from his worn-out sleeve pocket and fell gently to the ground with a soft, crisp sound.
He was completely unaware.
He just stared wide-eyed at You Mingjiang, wondering why his rival in love had not only a younger brother but also an older man.
Lu Xiaojia was completely dumbfounded.
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Upon hearing the cries of agony from the deck, everyone's expression changed drastically.
Chu Liuxiang decisively divided the group into two teams. One team, consisting of You Mingjiang, Jin Lingzhi, and Hu Tiehua, went to check the situation on the deck. The other team, consisting of Chu Liuxiang, Lu Xiaojia, and the unconscious Xiao Meng, went to search for Ding Feng and Gou Zizhang in each cabin.
This distribution of forces ensures a balance of power, with each side restraining and wary of the others, preventing anyone from acting rashly.
With no objections from the crowd, You Mingjiang led Hu Tiehua and Jin Lingzhi onto the deck.
·
After the rain, the deck was still slippery, and the sea breeze, carrying a salty smell, slammed heavily against the ship's side.
The six sailors who were handling the sails and steering the ship on the deck all had blue lips and were bleeding from their seven orifices. They lay stiffly on the deck, their fingers scratching out several bright red bloodstains, their faces contorted in extreme pain.
Jin Lingzhi instinctively covered her mouth, startled.
You Mingjiang squatted down, wrapped his sleeves around his neck, and checked their breaths one by one. He said in a deep voice, "It's a poison that kills on contact with blood."
Hu Tiehua slammed his fist on the bulkhead and cursed under his breath, "Bastard!"
Looking around, he noticed the freshwater tank on the stern deck was open. The fact that six sailors had been poisoned in one go strongly suggested that the water supply had been contaminated. Following this line of thought, You Mingjiang quickly made his way to the lower deck. Generally, freshwater tanks are located at the bottom of the ship, serving both as a freshwater source and as ballast. Since the freshwater source on the stern deck had been poisoned, the one in the lower deck would likely have been contaminated as well.
She walked hurriedly, and Hu Tiehua and Jin Lingzhi exchanged a glance before quickly following her down to the lower deck.
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The hold was an extremely smelly place, even more so than the rotting mudfish thrown into the Ocean View cabin.
This place was originally just a rest stop for the Purple Whale Gang members, so it's not particularly fragrant.
The cabin next door is the kitchen, and that's where the mudskippers were pulled out.
Inside this corridor, several pirates lay sprawled, bleeding from all seven orifices.
Seeing this, she suddenly stopped in her tracks, and Hu Tiehua and Jin Lingzhi, who were following behind, almost bumped into her back.
Without even glancing inside the Purple Whale Gang pirates' cabins, You Mingjiang turned and rushed upstairs.
Hu Tiehua called out to her, "Aren't you going in to see if there are any survivors? After all, not everyone drank water; there must be some who didn't drink water who survived."
As You Mingjiang charged forward, he said, "Because the murderer will finish the job. He poisoned the fish to save trouble, not out of pity. If there are one or two fish that escaped, he will definitely finish them off without hesitation."
Jin Lingzhi was a little unconvinced when she saw that she had disappeared in the blink of an eye. Hu Tiehua had the same idea as her and muttered, "What if?" The two of them went forward together, and when they pushed open the cabin door, they almost vomited.
You Mingjiang's prediction was very accurate.
The room reeked of blood, the smell permeating even through the blankets.
Hu Tiehua gagged twice, but didn't have the courage to lift the blood-stained blanket to see the condition of the person underneath.
But even he could tell with his toes that the head was flat like a book page, which was clearly not a normal human body shape.
Jin Lingzhi was pale and leaning against the door, gagging. But when she touched the sticky door, she almost fainted.
On this ship, the few sailors who were not poisoned had all died.
·
It seems that Ding Feng and Gou Zichang were also hiding their true abilities.
Ding Feng was not a fool; he keenly realized that he wanted to sacrifice a pawn to save the king and get rid of him.
Therefore, he and Gou Zichang stopped acting.
You Mingjiang had already rushed back to his cabin, where Lin Pingzhi was alone.
Subconsciously, she felt that Ding Feng and Gou Zizhang were not somewhere else, but right in her cabin.
I glanced at the hatch; there were no signs of violent deformation.
However, the purple grass basket on the hatch had changed slightly.
The purple gromwell in the basket was specially arranged in a radiating pattern according to its thickness and length. However, when You Mingjiang arranges flowers, she considers the light and shadow that came in from the hatch that day, which are two completely different styles.
After confirming this, You Mingjiang tucked a razor blade between his fingers and reached out to push open the hatch.
"Squeak—"
The cabin was dimly lit, and the door was pushed open a crack.
Hook was pressed close to the cabin wall, his body slightly crouched, his hand tightly gripping the dagger.
The dagger gleamed with a faint, cold light. His eyes were fixed on the hatch, and as the hatch was pushed open, the tall figure slowly appeared.
Just then, Gou Zichang suddenly raised his dagger and stabbed at You Mingjiang's neck.
A cold glint appeared!
You Mingjiang's eyelids twitched, and she twisted her body and took a step to dodge.
Gou Zichang's all-out attack missed its mark. In the instant their clothes clashed, You Mingjiang raised his right hand, and the blade tightly held between his middle and index fingers slid out, whistling softly as it cut through the air.
It was so fast that no one had time to react.
"Crack!" A muffled sound of a carotid artery rupturing rang out.
Crimson blood mist splattered, and the hook remained frozen in place, still in its thrusting posture.
A line of blood was slowly blooming on the side of his neck.
"Ugh!" Hook's eyes bulged out, and he made a gurgling sound in his throat, but he could only spit out a few mouthfuls of blood foam before collapsing to the ground. He twitched a few times and then fell silent.
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You Mingjiang slowly wiped his hands and threw the blood-stained blade on the ground.
"Clap clap—" A lone clapping sound came.
Immediately afterwards, candlelight suddenly illuminated the previously dimly lit cabin.
The stinging sensation in his eyes was intense. Yu Mingjiang resisted the urge to close his eyes and felt his vision blur briefly. He vaguely saw two figures, one tall and one short.
She said calmly, "Your Excellency is indeed flexible and adaptable; you can even clap your hands with joy when one of your own people dies."
"Bat Island isn't a place anyone can just go to. If you're not capable enough, you'll just become prey on the island." Ding Feng kicked the box at his feet. This box belonged to Gou Zichang, who always kept it with him. Now that its owner was dead, the heavy-looking box was still there.
With each kick, the water bag inside the box made a clanging sound.
Is this big box just filled with water bags?
Yu Mingjiang's eyes were still blurry with flickering light as she continued, "You are my guide, and you always like to call me a VIP of Bat Island. For this, you even swallowed your anger and took my slap... How come you're turning your back on me now? Was that slap for nothing?"
Ding Feng scoffed, "You've revealed your true colors, aren't you just turning your back on me? You weren't here for the Jade Peaches in the first place. I received a message by carrier pigeon that the spy Bat Island sent to impersonate Wu Weiyang was shot dead with an arrow. Chu Liuxiang was present the day he was killed. But the moment you took off your mask, Chu Liuxiang's expression changed... Can you call yourself a VIP of Bat Island after poaching someone like this?"
As they spoke, You Mingjiang's vision had returned to clear.
Only then did she realize that the two figures, one tall and one short, were Ding Feng and Lin Pingzhi, who was gagged and tied up tightly.
Lin Pingzhi's head swayed from side to side, his neck held in Ding Feng's hand, and he could only make "woo-woo" sounds.
When he met her gaze, Lin Pingzhi struggled even more fiercely, but he could not escape Ding Feng's clutches.
Ding Feng smiled and said, "Look, we've found a new guest. I'd like to invite this young man to Bat Island."
“If you take him with you, it will be even harder for you to escape.” You Mingjiang’s eyes turned cold.
Ding Feng kept Lin Pingzhi in front of him at all times, ensuring that he was not within the range of the attack.
He gazed into You Mingjiang's eyes and smiled, "Bat Island loves famous sword manuals the most, and it just so happens that it is missing a copy of the Lin family's 'Evil-Repelling Sword Manual.' Although he is unwilling to say, I think the guests on the island have plenty of ways to get him to talk about it. If we can't sell the sword manual, we can sell it to people who know about the sword manual. It's the same thing."
You Mingjiang tilted his head and looked at Ding Feng: "If that's the case, why didn't you leave earlier? Why did you have to wait for me to come back here?"
Ding Feng laughed and said, "It's better for two people to squeeze in than three. Anyone else would not have killed Gou Zichang as easily as you did. And since you were able to secretly hide Lin Pingzhi, you will naturally come back."
You Mingjiang said in a deep voice, "You hid it secretly... How did you know?"
"It's quite a coincidence, but that day I was with you two when we made our move." Ding Feng patted Lin Pingzhi's cheek lightly, his tone quite sarcastic. "If it weren't for the poisoned wine I sent, with your fancy but ineffective skills, even if Hai Kuotian got completely drunk, he probably wouldn't have been able to kill him."
Lin Pingzhi's eyes widened, and the scene of Hai Kuotian bleeding from all seven orifices flashed through his mind.
I see……
In that instant, he suddenly understood why Ding Feng wanted to kill Hai Kuotian.
Ding Feng's ultimate goal was the "Evil-Repelling Sword Manual." Now that he had obtained Lin Pingzhi's manual, Hai Kuotian, the insider, should keep his mouth shut. Now was not the time to leak information; if Hai Kuotian spoke carelessly, it could bring unnecessary trouble…
Just as Ding Feng himself said, "The mouthpiece of the dead is the most reliable." From the very beginning, he had no intention of letting Hai Kuotian live.
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