The Immortal Clan begins with deductive intelligence.

Chapter 38 Robbery

"Clan Chief Xu, you've gone too far! Although my Li family is only dealing with the two younger ones, we're risking our lives!"

"If it weren't for my news, Elder Li wouldn't even have gotten a sip of soup."

Xu Changqing sat motionless in the chair, his expression frighteningly calm.

"Furthermore, without these spirit stones, could your Li family's spirit fields still be protected? If the Zhang family uses the land they seized from you to grow crops and then attacks you, would Elder Li feel comfortable doing that?"

This sentence struck a nerve with Li Shan.

He opened his mouth, his face turning a deep purplish-red, but he couldn't utter a single word in rebuttal for a long time.

Yes.

Without this money, the Li family would be doomed.

With this 30%, although it's a bit little, it can at least solve the immediate crisis and also disgust the Zhang family.

"If Elder Li feels he has been cheated, then the gate is over there, and I will not see you off any further."

Xu Changqing served tea to the guests as they were seen off.

Li Shan stood there, his expression shifting constantly, his withered hands clenching and unclenching repeatedly inside his sleeves.

After a long while...

"OK……"

Li Shan gritted his teeth and squeezed out a single word.

"30%!"

"But Chief Xu, you must deal with Liu Sandao yourself. If you can't hold him off and he escapes, or turns around and kills us, then my Li family will turn around and run away, we will not linger in battle!"

It's a deal.

Xu Changqing put down his teacup and extended his palm.

"A high five to seal the oath."

"Slap! Slap! Slap!"

Three crisp sounds.

Li Shan left with a dark expression.

Xu Dayou looked at Li Shan's indignant back and felt somewhat worried.

"Chieftain, that old man is definitely holding a grudge. When the fight breaks out, he might not put in any real effort."

"He wouldn't dare."

Xu Changqing walked to the window, pushed it open a crack, and looked out at the pitch-black night.

"Once he's on the pirate ship, he has no choice in the matter."

"Once we start fighting and get the Zhang family's blood on our hands, the Li family will be in our shoes."

……

Three days later.

The hour of Chou (1-3 AM).

In this vast marshland of Nanzhu, the underwater paths are even more winding than the paths on the surface.

Those underground rivers, usually hidden deep within and unseen, suddenly reveal themselves during the coldest days of winter.

The still water on the surface had long since frozen solid, enough to run a horse-drawn carriage.

Only the mouths of those underground rivers remain unfrozen year-round due to the rapid underground currents.

Black Reef Beach is such a place.

This place is actually not far from the main waterway that runs through the great marsh, but the problem lies in the name "Black Reef".

The bottom of the water is full of those strange, dark rocks, and the current is chaotic due to the confluence of underground rivers. Large ships are prone to running aground, and small ships are prone to capsizing.

Legitimate merchant fleets would rather take a longer, more circuitous route than venture into this area.

It was only because the Zhang family, with their guilty consciences and desire to avoid being seen, dared to take this dangerous path.

Xu Changqing crouched behind a huge, protruding black rock, his face covered with a black cloth, only his eyes showing.

He didn't move, trying to make his breathing long and even.

This weather is awful, it's so cold.

"The clan...leader."

A rustling sound came from the reeds behind him, and Xu Dayou crouched down and crawled out.

The old man was dressed quite "uniquely" today.

He had a red headscarf torn from somewhere wrapped around his head, a tattered raincoat draped over his body, a chipped ghost-head knife tucked into his waistband, and his face was smeared with soot from the bottom of a pot, leaving only the whites of his eyes white.

This appearance made him look exactly like an old water ghost who had just crawled out of the water.

Xu Changqing turned his head and glanced at it, his lips twitching involuntarily.

"Uncle Dayou, your outfit... is a little over the top."

"Pass what?"

Xu Dayou grinned, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth, and lowered his voice, sounding somewhat excited.

"Since we're pretending to be bandits, we need to be professional. We're heroes of 'Black Wind Stronghold' now."

"When we start fighting later, please don't call me by my real name. Call me 'Black Shark,' and I'll call you 'Green Face,' understand?"

Xu Changqing nodded helplessly.

"Okay, Black Shark."

"Where are the Li family members?"

"He's lying in that pile of rocks over there."

Xu Dayou gestured towards the other side of the river with his lip.

"That old codger Li Shan is a coward. He brought four of his clansmen, all dressed like water ghosts. It looks like he's planning to play dirty tricks."

Xu Changqing squinted and strained his eyes to look across at the other side.

In the dark, shadowy area of scattered rocks, several figures could indeed be vaguely seen moving about.

"As long as they're willing to take action."

Xu Changqing glanced at the sky.

The pale moon was slowly sinking in the west, completely obscured by several dark clouds.

"It's almost time."

Xu Changqing's voice turned cold, carrying a chilling aura.

"Once the boat enters that gourd-shaped opening, listen to my command."

"Remember, we're here for money, but also to take lives. Don't talk to them about chivalry or honor; be ruthless."

Xu Dayou's expression hardened, his playful smile vanished, and he tightened his grip on the knife hilt, nodding emphatically.

"clear!"

The old man crouched down and retreated back into the reeds.

Xu Changqing squatted down again, his eyes fixed on the entrance to the river channel that was covered in white foam.

The wind seemed to grow stronger, rustling the reeds.

The sound is just right; it can cover up a lot of unnecessary noise.

About fifteen minutes later.

Suddenly, a very faint light appeared on the previously pitch-black water in the distance.

The light flickered and dimmed, easily overlooked unless you were staring at it intently.

Immediately afterwards, a very faint splashing sound came with the wind.

coming.

Xu Changqing paused, and the spiritual energy within his body began to circulate slowly, converging along his meridians to his fingertips.

It was a small, covered boat with a deep draft.

There were no flags or signs.

A burly man stood at the bow of the boat, holding a long, sheathed sword, and looking around warily.

Although their faces were obscured by the distance, their fierce aura could be felt even through the water.

Liu Sandao.

At the stern and on both sides of the cabin, there was another person crouching, holding a ritual implement in their hands, clearly also on high alert.

Liu Sandao is indeed a cautious person.

Even walking on this deserted black reef beach, they did not let their guard down for a moment.

The small boat, following the swift current, gradually approached Xu Changqing.

Nearly.

closer.

Liu Sandao, standing at the bow of the boat, seemed to sense something. He suddenly raised his hand and shouted, "Stop the boat!"

The boat jerked suddenly, and with a powerful stroke, it veered sideways in the swift current.

"What's wrong, Third Brother?" the Zhang family member at the stern asked anxiously.

Something's not right.

Liu Sandao twitched his nose twice, his triangular eyes scanning back and forth in the dark reeds on both banks.

"Retreat! Go back!"

That old fox is so vigilant!