Chaotic World of Martial Arts: I Have a Spirit Pearl of Desire

"ah!!"

The intense pain caused Stanley Tong to let out a bloodcurdling scream, as if he were being slaughtered. He was covered in cold sweat and had no ability to resist or commit suicide.

"Keep an eye on him!" Chen You ordered sternly.

With the leader, Stanley Tong, eliminated, the situation on the deck instantly reversed.

"The strategist has been dismissed!"

"We've lost...we've lost!"

Upon seeing this, the morale of the dozen or so guards from the Hundred Refinements Armory collapsed instantly, and their eyes were filled with despair.

"Take down these people, they'll still be useful if they live!" Chen You shouted.

"Yes!" Luo Sanqian and Sun Xian roared, leading their men in the final all-out attack.

Chen You transformed into a streak of crimson lightning, weaving through the crowd.

The Black Sand Blade was drawn and sheathed with lightning speed. With each flash of its cold light, an enemy soldier would fall to the ground with a broken arm.

In just half an incense stick's time, the shouts of battle on the deck gradually subsided, replaced by an overwhelming stench of blood and corpses scattered all over the ground.

The remaining guards were either killed on the spot or dropped their weapons and knelt down to surrender. After a very brief bloody battle, the entire warship was completely taken over by Chen You and the Luo family!

Soon, Chen You found the wooden door to the lower deck. After pushing it open, a damp and sour smell wafted out.

By the dim light of the fire, what came into view were pairs of eyes filled with terror and despair!

In the narrow, dark bottom of the ship's cabin, more than thirty women were huddled together.

Most of them were in their prime, but at this moment they were dressed in rags, their hair was disheveled, and their bodies were covered in bruises and mud.

Extreme fear made them huddle together, trembling, like a flock of lambs to the slaughter.

When Chen You, covered in blood and wielding a sharp blade, appeared outside the door, a chorus of suppressed sobs and screams erupted from the crowd. Everyone instinctively shrank back, fearing an even more tragic fate awaited them.

Amidst this suffocating despair, a disheveled girl, her face covered in dust, gritted her teeth and squeezed out.

Although her face was pale and her body trembled slightly, her bright eyes still shone with an indomitable spirit.

She stared at Chen You, mustered all her courage, and asked in a trembling voice, "My lord, you...you've come to save us, haven't you?"

Looking at the group of innocent women who had suffered so much torture, Chen You subtly withdrew his murderous aura, sheathed his black sand blade, smiled and nodded, and said in a deep voice, "I am the captain of the Luo family's patrol team. I learned by chance that you were imprisoned here, so I came to rescue you! The thieves have all been wiped out, and you are all safe. Now, line up one by one and come forward."

As soon as the words were spoken, the previously deathly silent cabin fell silent for a moment, and then burst into a low cry and cheers of relief!

"They've saved us...someone really came to save us!"

"Thank you, sir! Thank you so much for saving my life!"

The fear in the girls' eyes was instantly replaced by boundless gratitude.

They wiped away their tears and, under the guidance of the disheveled girl, lined up in an orderly fashion.

As each woman passed Chen You and left the cabin, she couldn't help but look up at the young captain who had come covered in blood, trying to forever remember his cold features and the life-saving grace.

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Meanwhile, the rolling river was shrouded in night mist.

Heng Chong stood with his hands behind his back beneath the mast of the warship, with an entire imposing fleet of ships from the Hundred Refinements Armory moored behind him.

Opposite him, Luo Haiping led the Luo family patrol's warships across the river, the two sides were on the verge of war, the atmosphere extremely tense.

"Luo Haiping, this river area has long been the territory of our Hundred Refinements Armory. You brought so many people across the border, do you want to start a full-scale war with us?" Heng Chong sneered, his eyes filled with provocation and disdain.

Luo Haiping, his hand on the hilt of his sword, remained calm and composed, replying indifferently, "What a joke! This place has always been patrolled by my Luo family. How did it come to be your Hundred Refinement Armory? But the fact that Instructor Hengda brought so many people out tonight suggests he's probably up to no good."

"Hmph, sharp-tongued!" Heng Chong's lips curled into a sinister smile. "I advise you to know what's good for you and get out of here right now, or tonight the bottom of the Yangtze River will surely see a few more innocent souls of the Luo family!"

"Don't speak too confidently, Coach Heng." Luo Haiping narrowed his eyes and sneered, "Who can say for sure who will win until the very last moment?"

The two exchanged harsh words, creating a tense atmosphere, but in reality, each harbored their own ulterior motives.

Heng Chong wasn't in a hurry at all.

He deliberately led his troops to cause a commotion here tonight, even risking a direct confrontation with the Luo family, all to attract their attention.

As long as Luo Haiping's main fleet is kept pinned down on the river, the relocation plan at the water village can be successfully completed.

This is called luring the tiger away from the mountain!

What he didn't know was that Luo Haiping on the other side was even more unshakable.

He knew in his heart that his sister Luo Haitang and Chen You had already led their elite troops to launch a surprise attack on the water village.

Heng Chong thought he was luring the tiger away from the mountain, but he never dreamed that his lair had already been ransacked by Chen You and Luo Haitang!

Just as both sides were caught in a stalemate, a subordinate from the Hundred Refinements Armory rushed onto the deck in a panic.

"Instructor! Something's wrong. There seems to be a light coming from the direction of the ship transporting people!"

"Um?"

Heng Chong frowned sharply and quickly turned his head to look in the direction of the water village.

Under the cover of night, we could indeed see faint flames shooting into the sky on the distant water, and even wisps of black smoke spreading outwards!

Logically speaking, the warship carrying the people should have already sailed away silently by now.

Furthermore, to avoid suspicion, all open flames are strictly prohibited on board!

"What's going on?" A strong sense of foreboding suddenly rose in Heng Chong's heart. His composure vanished instantly, and he shouted sharply, "Send a fast ship back immediately and see what went wrong!"

"Yes!" The subordinate was about to turn around and give the order.

goooo...

Suddenly, a white shadow streaked across the night sky. A nimble-feathered carrier pigeon flew through the thick fog and landed precisely on Heng Chong's shoulder.

"That's... the armory's emergency communication pigeon?"

Heng Chong's expression changed, and he quickly grabbed the carrier pigeon and pulled out a tightly sealed letter from the copper tube on its leg.

He unfolded the letter and glanced at it, his pupils instantly shrinking to the size of pinholes, his entire face contorting violently with anger and terror!

"Damn it! We've fallen for their trap! What a load of rubbish!" Heng Chong roared furiously, tearing the letter to shreds and drawing his broadsword. "Everyone, change course! Return to the water fortress immediately! Now!!"

Seeing Heng Chong's formation thrown into chaos, Luo Haiping on the opposite side burst into laughter, drew his long sword, and pointed it forward: "Hahahaha! Heng Chong, trying to escape now? Too late! Luo family men, charge! Block them out!"

In an instant, the warships of the camp behind Luo Haiping billowed their sails and rowed, roaring like ferocious river beasts!

Because Luo Haiping was well-prepared, the Luo family sailors coordinated perfectly, and in the blink of an eye, they completed the formation and the semi-encirclement.

On the other hand, Heng Chong's original intention was just to attract attention and play a "luring the tiger away from the mountain" game. He had no intention of fighting the Luo family head-on tonight!

The hasty order to retreat caused chaos among the warships under his command. Some attempted to turn left, while others tried to retreat directly. The bows and sterns even scraped violently against each other.

In such chaos, the warships of the Hundred Refinements Armory were instantly put at a complete disadvantage!

"Release the arrows!!"

Luo Haiping stood atop the flagship's dragon head, wielding his long sword with a resounding boom that echoed across the river.

"Swish swish swish!!!"

The Luo family archers, who were already prepared, pulled the strings of their crossbows in unison. Hundreds and thousands of rockets, carrying burning oilcloth, flew across the night sky like locusts, leaving behind streaks of brilliant and deadly red light, and poured down on Hengchong's fleet like a deluge!

"Boom! Boom!"

"Ah...the ship is on fire!"

"Put out the fire! The canvas is on fire! This is terrible!"

The rocket landed on the wooden deck and sails, igniting upon contact with oil, and in an instant, a towering flame illuminated half of the river surface in a fiery red.

The bandits of the Hundred Refinements Armory were disregarding their own safety. Some frantically tried to put out the fire with buckets of water, while others screamed and fell into the Yangtze River amidst a hail of arrows. The scene was one of horrific carnage and wailing.

Heng Chong stood on the main deck of the ship, the raging fire illuminating his extremely distorted and violent face.

Seeing his own fleet burned to a crisp, and with Luo Haiping blocking his way back to the water fortress, Heng Chong's anger finally erupted!

He knew that if he acted hastily on the river, he would only face certain death!

Only close-quarters combat can tear a bloody path through!

"Don't panic! Ram the ship!!" Heng Chong roared to the sky, his eyes bloodshot, like a raging beast.

He slammed down a burning mast beside him, and barked, "Sail up! Get close! Jump onto the Luo family's ships! Kill them all!!"

"Kill! Jump over there and you might survive!"