Chapter 452 Zheng State Navy
Doctor Qian was organizing the medicine box in the cabin and would occasionally come out to check on the children.
The shadow guards were scattered throughout the boat. Although the river was calm, their vigilance remained undiminished.
Gu Junze took Chu Ruohan's hand, pulled her to the side of the boat, and pointed to the mountains in the distance.
"We will soon reach Zheng State by going downstream. Once there, everything will be safe."
After sailing for several days, the river became wider and the scenery on both sides gradually took on the unique beauty of the South.
The air was filled with a moist and warm atmosphere, completely different from the dry and cold air in the capital.
"The territory of Zheng State should be not far ahead." Gu Junze stood at the bow of the boat, looking at the place where the water and sky met in the distance, and said to Chu Ruohan beside him.
Chu Ruohan held the already awake little Qingchen in her arms and nodded gently: "I hope everything goes well and I can see Brother Yun soon."
Xuan Ge'er pulled at the corner of Song Ruyan's clothes and excitedly pointed at a group of water birds flying over the water in the distance: "Auntie, birds..."
He stretched out his little arm and pointed at a white water bird that was searching for food on the water surface not far from the boat.
Song Ruyan looked in the direction he pointed. The water bird had white wings and a light posture. It was indeed cute.
Seeing Xuan'er's eager face, she couldn't help but feel playful and laughed out loud: "Xuan'er likes it? That's easy!"
"Xuan'er, wait and see what your aunt does!"
Before she finished speaking, Song Ruyan tapped the side of the boat with her toes, and her figure floated up like a light feather, her clothes fluttering slightly in the river breeze.
She did not pounce directly on the water bird, but made a clever turn in the air, her body like a swallow skimming the water, and landed lightly on a reef exposed above the water in front of the bow of the boat.
The reef was only a few feet away from the flock of water birds.
Everyone on the boat looked at her.
Xuan Ge'er stared intently, his little mouth opened into a small circle.
Song Ruyan stood on the reef and casually untied a thin hairband from her waist. A confident smile played on the corner of her mouth. With a slight shake of her wrist, the soft hairband seemed to turn into a spirit snake in her hand.
She chose the right moment, and just when the white water bird that Xuan Ge'er pointed out flapped its wings and was about to take off again, she flicked her wrist!
The headband seemed to have life, silently breaking through the air and precisely wrapping around one of the water bird's claws.
"Ah!" Xuan Ge'er couldn't help but let out a small cry of surprise, and then covered his mouth with his little hands, for fear of scaring the bird away.
The water bird was frightened and flapped its wings to try to break free, but it was no match for Song Ruyan.
Song Ruyan gently pulled her wrist, and the water bird was pulled towards her involuntarily. She floated up again and landed steadily on the deck, holding a struggling white water bird.
"I caught it! I caught it! Auntie is so awesome!" Xuan Ge'er cheered immediately, clapped his hands and ran to Song Ruyan, looking at the water bird with smooth feathers curiously.
Song Ruyan had a smug smile on her face. She handed the water bird to Xuan Ge'er, but kept some distance and said, "Look, Xuan'er, this is the bird you like."
Seeing this, although Chu Ruohan still disagreed with this approach in her heart, seeing her son so happy, she also walked over and gently reminded him: "Xuan'er, be careful, don't let it peck you."
Although the water bird struggled in Song Ruyan's hands, Song Ruyan's technique was skillful and she did not hurt it at all, but only restricted its movements.
Xuan Ge'er stretched out his little hand, carefully touched the smooth feathers of the water bird, then quickly retracted it, giggling.
Little Qingchen was in Chu Ruohan's arms, and seemed to be attracted by the excitement here.
With its big eyes like black grapes, it looked at the white bird curiously, and made a "ya ya" sound from its little mouth.
Ying Yi suddenly warned in a deep voice: "General, there are speedboats approaching from the left and right wings. They are not friendly!"
Gu Junze's expression changed, and his eyes swept across the river like lightning.
Dozens of small speedboats shot out from the reeds on both sides of the river like arrows, and quickly surrounded their cargo ship.
The boat was full of men in black holding weapons, all with fierce eyes and murderous intent.
"Protect my wife and children!" Gu Junze shouted, his sword already unsheathed, "Meet the enemy!"
Song Ruyan no longer cared about the bird and drew the soft sword from her waist, her eyes flashing with excitement, "These guys don't look like ordinary pirates!"
Chu Ruohan quickly handed Xiao Qingchen to the wet nurse beside her, and hugged Xuan Ge'er tightly, protecting him in her arms, while taking out the dagger for self-defense from her sleeve.
"Don't be afraid, Xuan'er. Mother is here." She whispered to comfort her son, but her eyes were fixed on the enemy who was getting closer and closer.
Those men in black moved swiftly and coordinated well, and as soon as they boarded the cargo ship, they rushed straight towards Gu Junze and others.
The shadow guards immediately rushed forward to fight, and the sound of swords clashing was endless.
Gu Junze's figure was like a dragon, and as he waved his sword, several men in black screamed and fell down.
But he soon discovered that these people's skills were far beyond those of ordinary bandits. Their moves were brutal and ruthless, and they were obviously well-trained killers.
"It's someone from Qingmo Valley!" Gu Junze's eyes flashed with coldness and his voice was icy.
Upon hearing this, Song Ruyan's sword moves became even more fierce: "So it's these lingering ghosts!"
For a moment, the deck was filled with deafening screams of killing and blood splattering everywhere.
The assassins in Qingmo Valley are numerous and fearless. Although the shadow guards are able to fight ten of them at once, they gradually feel the pressure.
Chu Ruohan held Xuan Ge'er in her arms, her heart in her throat. She watched Gu Junze fight bloody battles among the enemy, each strike a thrilling blow.
Just when the battle was at a stalemate and Gu Junze's side was gradually being compressed into a small area, a powerful horn sounded suddenly from afar.
“Woo—woo—”
Immediately afterwards, several larger warships came upstream from downstream, with the flags of Zheng State’s navy hanging on their bows, and quickly surrounded the waters.
The archers on the warships had already drawn their bows and were ready to shoot, and arrows rained down on the speedboats of the men in black.
"It's the Zheng navy!" Song Ruyan shouted in surprise.
Upon seeing this, the assassins from Qingmo Valley immediately became disorganized.
They thought that this ambush would be foolproof, but they did not expect that it would alert the Zheng navy.
The Zheng navy was well-trained and acted swiftly, quickly encircling and annihilating all the remaining Qingmo Valley assassins.
The river was filled with the wreckage of ships and corpses, and the smell of blood was everywhere.
Gu Junze put away his sword and stood there, his clothes stained with blood. He watched the Zheng navy clean up the battlefield with calm eyes.
A moment later, a Zheng State command warship slowly approached the cargo ship where Gu Junze was. A general wearing armor and with a dignified face boarded the cargo ship, surrounded by several personal soldiers.
The general's sharp eyes swept over Gu Junze and his group, finally landing on Gu Junze. He asked in a deep voice, "Your ship is not an ordinary merchant ship. Who are you? Why were you attacked by pirates here?"
Chu Ruohan held the child in her arms, her heart slightly tightening.
Gu Junze's expression remained unchanged. He took a step forward, took out a document and a seal from his arms, and handed them to the general.
"I, General Gu Junze, am bound for Zheng State by imperial order. Here are the documents of entry and the seal of identity, General. Please review them."
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