Chapter 1130: There's a Water Monster
Shi Lang asked, "Then who's second?"
Aobai bristled. "Are you toying with me? Let's get down to business. Are we making the exchange or not? Utter one more syllable of nonsense, and I'll kill this man, then I'll fight you to the last!"
Shi Lang found himself utterly stumped. The Heavenly Lord's divine command was for him to engage in awkward banter, yet his opponent threatened to kill the hostage if he uttered another frivolous word. What was he to do?
He was at a loss, truly, for words. His lack of refined speech, or perhaps his general education, was failing him now!
"Of course we'll exchange," Zheng Sen interjected suddenly. "The life of any subject of our Great Ming — be it general, soldier, commoner, or even a pirate — is precious beyond measure. A one-for-one exchange isn't a loss at all; it's an absolute triumph! Of course we'll trade with you, but the method, the process, might require some deliberation. We can't simply say 'exchange' and expect you to meekly release him, can we? You'd surely fear we might go back on our word."
Shi Lang beamed. "Little Sen, you're truly the clever one! Now we can resume our 'awkward banter'!"
Indeed, Aobai was also baffled by this problem. He pondered for a moment, then said, "You prepare a small boat. I'll row it to shore, and once I'm there, I'll release this man."
Zheng Sen retorted, "And what then? Once you've released him and scramble ashore, what's to stop us from firing a cannon at your back?"
Aobai was speechless.
It was truly awkward banter!
Just at that moment, the Puppet Heavenly Lord had already climbed to the top of the mast's rigging above Aobai. He grabbed a rope and slid down...
Zheng Sen was still engaged in the awkward conversation. "We are not like you barbaric savages, to go back on our word. Our Celestial Empire adheres to proper etiquette; what we say is like water splashed out—it cannot be retracted. Perhaps you could try trusting us for a moment and release the man first?"
Aobai was listening intently to this awkward exchange...
Suddenly, a shadow flickered in mid-air. A puppet figure slid down from directly above, hanging upside down in front of him, headfirst, mouth agape in a bizarre, terrifying grin. At the same time, it let out a series of eerie cackles: "Wah ha ha ha ha ha! Yee hee hee hee hee hee!"
Aobai yelled, "Ahh!"
In the dead of night, while he was discussing serious matters, his attention entirely focused on Shi Lang and Zheng Sen, such a sudden apparition — who could withstand that? Frightening people could be deadly.
This scare caused Aobai's grip to slacken.
The hostage wasn't foolish either. Seeing the opportune moment, he instinctively ducked, rolling backward onto the deck and scrambling away.
In that very instant, the sound of flintlock rifles rang out.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Aobai's body instantly erupted with numerous bullet holes. He couldn't even let out a scream as his massive frame toppled backward, hitting the deck with a thunderous crash.
The hostage scrambled to his feet, staring at the strange puppet with an incredulous expression before letting out a loud cry: "A monster!"
"Thump!"
Shi Lang boarded the ship and kicked him down. "What's this talk of monsters? How incredibly rude! That is the Heavenly Lord."
The hostage dazedly got up. "I'm sorry, it's all my fault for being so useless, allowing the Manchu general to capture me and hinder your plans."
"No!" the Puppet Heavenly Lord smiled. "You did very well. You cut off the Qing army's retreat, you were incredibly brave, and you rendered great service. When you return to Zhoushan Island, a great fortune awaits you."
The hostage cried out, "Ahhh, the monster is talking again!"
"Thump! Thump!"
Shi Lang and Zheng Sen simultaneously kicked the hostage back to the deck. "We told you it's the Heavenly Lord! You keep calling him a monster, do you have a death wish?"
—
While Aobai and Zhun Ta's unit were being encircled and eliminated by Shi Lang, Zheng Sen, and the hostage, on the other side of Pi Island's waters, the true elite forces of the Qing army had launched their attack.
Gūsan Ejen Samushika led his Eight Banners elite infantry, stealthily advancing toward Jianggao Bay on the northwest corner of Pi Island.
This was no small contingent like Aobai and Zhun Ta's force.
This was a vast fleet, comprised of hundreds of bizarre transport boats, carrying a total force of over ten thousand... and there were no Ming or Joseon troops here who might fight half-heartedly; these were all Manchu soldiers.
There was a saying: "If the Jurchen don't number ten thousand, they are not to be feared; if they do, none can oppose them."
Samushika was brimming with confidence in the elite sneak attack force he commanded.
No one could withstand his ten thousand elites. No one!
Unless...
Unless the opponent wasn't human!
Just as Samushika was thinking this, he heard a subordinate whisper, "General, something strange seemed to swim past beneath the water just now."
Samushika replied, "This is the sea. What's so strange about seeing some fish?"
The subordinate clarified, "It didn't look like a fish. It looked like a person, darting past with a 'whoosh'."
Samushika scoffed, "How could a person swim that fast? It must have been a fish."
No sooner had he spoken than the lead transport boat in the fleet suddenly began to rock violently from side to side. The soldiers on board were startled. "What's happening? Why is the boat rocking suddenly?"
"Oh no!"
One soldier lost his footing and plunged into the sea with a splash.
Paddles extended from nearby boats, allowing the soldier to grab hold as they tried to haul him up.
But the soldier suddenly screamed, "Something in the water is attacking me, ah... ah... ahhhhhh..."
Those on the boat were terrified and frantically pulled him upward. With a swift tug, they finally managed to hoist the soldier aboard, only to discover a huge gash on his lower abdomen, bleeding profusely.
"What happened?"
"What attacked you?"
"I don't know... I don't know," the soldier gasped, "A knife... I... mmph..."
His head slumped, and he was gone.
The men on the boat were petrified. "How could there be a knife stabbing someone underwater? Are they Ming water demons?"
"Don't be foolish. Water demons are only used in river battles; how could they be deployed in the open sea?"
"I saw it!" someone shouted, pointing into the water.
A group of soldiers turned to look, but the night was dark, and the seawater was black as ink. Their vision couldn't penetrate the depths. They could only glimpse a black, human-sized shadow darting swiftly beneath the surface, quickly disappearing into the distance.
"It looked like a person."
"A person couldn't swim that fast, nor stay submerged that long."
"Then what on earth was it?"
The black shadow swam beneath another small transport boat. Immediately, that boat also began to rock violently. The sailors on board went pale with fear, understanding clearly that if they fell into the water, they too would die with a large hole in their gut.
Everyone was terrified, clinging desperately to the boat.
Yet, there was always that one unlucky soul. His foot slipped, and with a splash, he tumbled into the sea.
Those nearby screamed in fright, quickly extending their paddles to rescue him.
But it was too late. The man in the water desperately thrust half his body out, trying to climb back onto the boat, but then he let out a piercing shriek: "Ah!" The horrifying scream sent chills down everyone's spines.
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