According to the report from the frontline reconnaissance personnel, the news of this departure was detected because a smuggling merchant ship leaked the information to the Wokou pirate vessels at the very beginning. Consequently, they decided to take advantage of the unsettled state of coastal defense and seize the opportunity to plunder during the chaos.
It was heard that this departing fleet was accompanied by more than ten patrol ships. They mistakenly thought it was a major deal where the imperial court was escorting merchant ships, but little did they know that there were no goods on this ship. Instead, it was a military ship escorting the emperor for the voyage.
The Wokou pirate ships excelled in agility, making them suitable for ambush warfare. However, they found it difficult to gain an advantage in open waters. The well-trained Wei fleet promptly adjusted their formation upon encountering the surprise attack.
The escort fleet, arranged in a formation resembling the Chinese character “人” with the core ship at the center, fiercely attacked the suddenly appearing Wokou pirate ships with artillery fire, forcing them to retreat step by step.
Under the intense firepower cover, the Wokou ships dared not approach the large Wei vessels, making it impossible for them to throw their hooks onto the target ships, thus preventing them from boarding and engaging in the more formidable close-quarters combat.
At this moment, He Heng changed into a solemn black long robe, with a sword strapped to his waist from the accompanying escort team. He stood on the deck, gazing into the distance, carefully observing the current situation.
As the sea breeze gently blew, his cheek’s side-swept green silk rustled, echoing softly along with the night wind.
Just at that moment,
“Boom!”
A deafening thunderclap suddenly resounded in their ears.
The next second,
A bright lightning bolt streaked across the dark sky, illuminating the entire night as if it were daylight.
Witnessing this, He Heng tilted his head slightly upward and noticed that the previously cloudless starry sky was now covered by dark clouds, with not a single star in sight. The sea beside the ship began to churn rapidly, with the amplitude of the waves becoming more and more intense with each passing moment.
Based on the old sailor’s experience, it seemed that the weather in this area was about to change abruptly. This also meant they were about to face more unknown dangers.
The sudden change in weather could disrupt their rhythm in battling the Wokou pirates.
Contemplating this, He Heng lowered his gaze, scanning the surroundings. On both sides, the reflection of flames lit up the deck, accompanied by a continuous barrage of cannon fire.
Unbeknownst to them, the Wei fleet had already reached the forefront of a fork in the sea. Before them lay a very spacious open sea area and another narrow passage surrounded by rugged rocks and mountains.
Observing this, He Heng furrowed his brows, and his gaze shifted towards the narrow sea route.
Just at that moment, a crew member spoke up, asking, “Prince Jing, do you have any concerns?”
The crew member’s voice suddenly brought He Heng’s thoughts back.
Noticing the gaze from He Heng, the crew member immediately understood and roughly guessed what was on his mind.
If their fleet entered the narrow fork in the river, the formation of the Wei warships would undoubtedly be disrupted. In the narrow passage with steep rock walls on the sides, the large artillery would also find it challenging to maneuver. The abrupt change in terrain would greatly favor the Wokou pirates, who excelled in ambush warfare, potentially turning the tide in their favor in a military confrontation.
Thinking of this, he said to He Heng, “Prince Jing, you need not worry. Our fleet will proceed through the open sea and return to the dock without entering the narrow channel. During this time, the Wokou pirate vessels won’t be able to approach our ships.”
Just at that moment, a gust of wind suddenly swept across the sea, growing stronger by the second. It forcefully blew He Heng’s hair, which was hanging on one side of his neck, to the other side.
It was then that they realized the gentle breeze that was initially blowing from the southwest had changed direction, now shifting from the southwest to the southeast. This abrupt change in wind direction began pushing the Wokou pirate ships towards the Wei warships.
Witnessing this, He Heng furrowed his brows tightly, a vague sense of foreboding rising within him. He immediately turned to shout at the crew:
“The current wind direction is unfavorable for us. Keep a close eye on the latest developments here, and I will go inform His Majesty in the cabin. Report any situation to me immediately!”
Having said that, he briskly descended from the deck at the bow of the ship.
But the next moment,
“Oh no!”
An urgent report came from the lookout tower. The person raised a telescope and shouted to the people on the deck:
“At eleven o’clock, Wokou explosive boats loaded with explosives are launching an attack on the left wing of the fleet. Given the current wind direction, they’ll hit our patrol fleet in less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.”
The Wei warships were predominantly constructed of wood, and to maintain their formation, the ships were tightly clustered. Once one of the ships caught fire, the flames could rapidly spread, a situation too dreadful to contemplate.
Upon hearing this, the people on the ship followed the direction indicated by the scout and saw an explosive boat loaded with explosives and a fuse rushing towards them. The Wokou pirates, with menacing expressions, propped themselves against the mast, holding torches ablaze in their hands.
He Heng immediately raised his head and shouted at them, “Quick, bring out the heavy cannons from the outermost warships! Concentrate firepower and sink them!”
“No!” The crew member shook his head, “Given its current speed, the outer patrol ships won’t be able to bring it down in time.”
The one in charge of this fleet’s departure was General Li Yu from Huainan. Upon learning of the news, he rushed to the front deck at the fastest speed.
Almost as the scout’s words fell, his gaze met with He Heng’s. They locked eyes for a moment, exchanged a glance, and then simultaneously said:
“Immediately turn the bow, change the course.”
At this moment, if the explosive boat were to collide, the fleet would undoubtedly suffer severe damage. Once a warship was sunk, the chances of anyone on the ship surviving in this turbulent sea would be extremely slim. Returning safely in such circumstances had become an unknown variable.
The only feasible solution at the moment was to change the fleet’s direction and navigate through the narrow waterway. Although this would put them at a disadvantage, it was still better than being directly sunk.
With this command, the crew members rushed to the deck. Working together, they pulled several ropes beneath the masts, exerting all their strength to adjust the direction of the sails, attempting to change the course.
The next moment,
The ship violently rocked, the intense turbulence akin to a pirate ship ride in an amusement park. He Heng staggered for a moment, barely steadying himself, and immediately ran towards the ship’s cabin at the top of the deck.
While searching for Wen Liangyu and his escort team, the fleet officially entered the narrow sea area. The formation of the fleet was immediately scattered, and the dozen or so ships following the patrol vessels were quickly overtaken by the nimble Wokou pirate ships. They found themselves stranded outside the narrow waters.
For the core ship, the primary target of the Wokou pirates, five pirate vessels swiftly surrounded it, launching a barrage of attacks with cannons and firearms.
The heavy artillery pounded against the wooden masts, and in the blink of an eye, the deck was filled with flying splinters and the acrid smell of gunpowder. The people on board scrambled in panic.
Just at that moment,
Dozens of grappling hooks were thrown onto the deck, and Wokou pirates in coarse hemp clothes, wielding knives, climbed up along the ropes, swiftly slicing through the people on the deck.
“Ayu!”
Amidst the chaos, He Heng ran towards Wen Liangyu.
In this moment, another intense cannon fire struck near the cabin, scattering them and the accompanying escort team.
He Heng and Wen Liangyu found themselves trapped on the deck at the stern.
The next second, the sound of metal embedding into the side of the wooden boards suddenly resounded. They looked alertly to the left and right, seeing several harpoon hooks being forcefully embedded into the wooden deck. More Wokou pirates were climbing up along the ropes attached to the harpoon hooks, attempting to board the ship.
“Someone! Over here!”
A burly man with a cloth-wrapped face and a menacing look spotted the people at the stern. Shouting to his comrades, he sprinted towards them.
In the nick of time, He Heng shielded Wen Liangyu and swiftly drew the dagger from his waist.
“Clang!”
As the blades clashed, a burst of white light erupted. He Heng and the Wokou pirate locked eyes, each with a gaze determined to bring the other to demise.
The next second, with a swift move, He Heng pulled out the concealed blade and slashed directly, cutting through the Wokou pirate’s windpipe.
Blood sprayed on the blade and his cheek in an instant, and the burly man collapsed with a groan.
Without pausing, He Heng wiped the blood off his face with his sleeve and decisively said to Wen Liangyu:
“Cut all the ropes on the deck.”
“Okay.”
In the blink of an eye, Wen Liangyu picked up the knife from the fallen man and hurriedly headed towards the ropes on the side of the deck.
With a firm grip on the bloodied dagger, He Heng quickly and neatly severed three ropes on the right wing of the deck. As the blade cut through the hemp ropes, the sound of splashing water echoed from the outer perimeter of the deck.
Just as he cut the last rope, one person unexpectedly didn’t fall into the water but clung tightly to the raised edge of the deck.
Seeing this, He Heng was about to deal with him when he heard the sounds of another scuffle from the other side.
Turning swiftly, he saw a brawny man, seven feet tall and wielding a sharp blade, charging towards Wen Liangyu on the opposite deck. He raised his blade and swung it fiercely at Wen Liangyu.
“Clang!”
Wen Liangyu raised his knife to block the attack, but the force sent his weapon flying.
In an instant, the brawny man raised his blade again, preparing for a second strike…
“Ayu!”
Facing the imminent danger, He Heng didn’t have time to think. In desperation, he directly threw the blade in his hand.
Like an arrow released from a bow, the dagger accurately stabbed into the brawny man’s neck, spurting blood in pulsing waves and splattering on half of Wen Liangyu’s face.
In the moment the brawny man fell into the sea, He Heng rushed towards Wen Liangyu at the fastest speed. He reached out to wipe away the blood on Wen Liangyu’s face, then embraced him, comforting him:
“It’s alright.”
His voice carried a sense of relief from narrowly escaping disaster.
He Heng looked at him and said, “Let’s regroup with the others…”
But at that moment, they heard a series of “swoosh” sounds from behind.
Immediately, Wen Liangyu heard the sound of a sharp weapon piercing flesh.
He Heng made a muffled groan, and his words abruptly ceased.
Feeling the hands around him suddenly tighten, Wen Liangyu was startled. Then, he noticed that at this moment, the man’s eyebrows were tightly furrowed, his thin lips tightly pursed, almost devoid of color, his expression appearing very painful, and the muscles on his side trembling slightly.
Instinctively reaching out to the man’s back, Wen Liangyu’s hand touched a straight-feathered arrow embedded deep in the man’s flesh, and the surrounding sensation was damp.
When Wen Liangyu came back to his senses, his hands were already stained with blood.
Unbeknownst to them, the person clinging to the other side of the deck miraculously climbed up. At this moment, he held a bow and arrow, the arrowhead once again aimed at Wen Liangyu and He Heng.
Wen Liangyu instinctively shielded the man, his gaze falling on the knife blade on the ground. Just as he was about to pick up the knife,
A loud bang echoed from the deck.
The main mast was cut down by the Wokou pirates who boarded earlier. In that moment, the massive crossbeam began to fall towards them at a rapid pace. Simultaneously, with the loss of the main mast, the ship lost balance and started violently rocking in the turbulent sea.
This violent motion shook all three individuals out of their original positions. One Wokou pirate was thrown to the outer edge of the deck, and the bow and arrow he held fell into the sea.
The sea at this moment resembled a colossal abyss, ready to devour everything.
At the same time, the ship tilted abruptly to one side. Due to this intense inertia, coupled with He Heng’s position near the outer edge and the arrow wound he had just suffered, he had no time to react. His whole body was flung directly out of the deck.
In the moment just before plunging into the turbulent sea, his hand was suddenly grabbed by someone.
He Heng looked up in surprise, only to see Wen Liangyu lying on the deck, with half of his body extending beyond the edge.
The other man tightly grasped his wrist, “I… I’ve got you!”
“It’s okay! Just hold on… I’ll pull you up.”
“Cough! Cough!” He Heng tried to speak, but a surge of waves rushed over him, submerging his forehead and choking him.
At this moment, half of him was submerged in the surging seawater. Wave after wave swept over, and the turbulent sea caused him to cough several times. The immense gravitational force was pulling him towards the center of the whirlpool.
Watching Wen Liangyu gradually being dragged off the deck, He Heng clearly realized that at this moment, the other man had to endure not only his own weight but also the soaked clothes, and the dragging force of the surging waves…
It was futile.
Wen Liangyu couldn’t pull him onto the deck.
Even with the strength of three healthy guards, it would be challenging to pull him onto the deck now. If Wen Liangyu persisted, the only result would be both of them being dragged into the sea together.
He Heng didn’t hesitate. He looked at Wen Liangyu and said, “Ayu, let go.”
“What are you talking about?” Wen Liangyu almost shouted.
Hearing He Heng say “let go”, his pupils suddenly contracted, and his heart felt like it was being clenched.
Wen Liangyu held onto the other man for dear life. Half of him was already beyond the railing of the deck, and he looked on the verge of falling.
“I won’t let go!”
He gritted his teeth, the muscles of his jaw trembling slightly. His fingertips were red from exertion, but there was no intention of letting go.
“Help! Someone!”
In desperation, Wen Liangyu turned his head around, trying to find the shadow of the guards and call for help.
But the deck was in chaos at this moment, with the toppled main mast, burning canvas and ropes, and the icy seawater flooding the deck. They could only hear the chaotic footsteps but couldn’t see anyone.
Wave after wave of surging waves hit, causing the hands that were tightly holding each other to gradually drift apart.
The seawater blurred He Heng’s vision. He wanted to say something to Wen Liangyu, but before he could speak, a rushing wave completely swept him into the boundless abyss.
Before completely losing consciousness, his last image was frozen on the despairing face of Wen Liangyu. In the distance, it seemed like someone was shouting “Your Majesty!” and running towards him.
Good,
The members of the escort team are coming. He should be fine.
Holding onto this thought, He Heng was completely engulfed by the sea waves…
On an isolated island several kilometers away,
“Ah Ming, why is the thunder so relentless tonight? It’s making me feel uneasy,”
A young man, dressed as a fisherman, sat on a boulder above the beach. He looked up at the lightning-filled night sky, feeling a bit anxious, and spoke to the person he referred to as “Ah Ming”.
“Did we anger the sea god or something?”
“Sea god?” Ah Ming chewed on a straw in his mouth and playfully gave him a tap on the forehead. “Which sea god are you talking about?”
Because this island was secluded, its inhabitants mainly relied on fishing for a living. Combined with limited communication with the outside world, they were particularly superstitious about sea gods, rain gods, and similar deities.
They firmly believed that seeking the protection of the sea god was necessary for a safe voyage. Before setting sail, they would go through a ritual of bowing and praying to the sea god three times and nine times. In their eyes, angering the sea god was the most terrifying thing.
Losing the sea god’s protection meant losing their livelihoods.
Ah Ming, on the other hand, seemed like an outsider in this village. He never believed in ghosts and gods or worshiped any deities.
“Where did the sea god come from? Aren’t they all fabricated by these people?” Ah Ming muttered. Every time he safely returned, it was thanks to the experience he had accumulated over the years, not the protection of some imaginary sea god.
Hearing such disrespectful words, Xiu Sheng quickly reached out to cover Ah Ming’s mouth. “How can you say there’s no sea god? My grandfather said yesterday, he said…”
“Boom!”
At that moment, a lightning bolt streaked across the sky, followed by a thunderous roar, freezing everyone in place.
In the next moment, lightning illuminated the beach once again. As they looked down, they saw a person being swept ashore by the surging waves, and the lower half of the person appeared dark, as if it wasn’t human legs but… a fish tail.
Witnessing such a shocking scene, Xiu Sheng was left with his mouth half open, unable to find words.
After a while, he excitedly picked himself up from the ground and shouted to Ah Ming, “It’s… the… Sea… Sea God!!!”
Ah Ming: “?”
However, at this moment, Xiu Sheng was shaking Ah Ming’s collar so vigorously that he felt dizzy, and he didn’t have a chance to closely examine what exactly it was. Xiu Sheng had already run towards the road leading to the village while shouting excitedly, “I’ll go call the village chief and others. The Sea God has a fish tail!”
As Xiu Sheng ran away, Ah Ming cautiously walked to the shore.
Upon approaching, he found a man lying on the sandy beach, with a handsome face and weak breathing. However, the man’s face looked pallid, and there was an arrow wound near his chest, with the skin and flesh affected by the arrow appearing pale due to soaking in seawater. The man’s legs were entwined with layers of seaweed, contributing to Xiushe’s earlier misconception of a fish tail.
Judging by the man’s attire, he seemed to be either a court official or a merchant who had accidentally fallen into the sea.
However, at a glance, it seemed unlikely that he would survive…
“Make way!”
Just then, an elderly voice interrupted his thoughts.
“Do not approach the sea god privately!”
Ah Ming turned around to see that Xiu Sheng had already brought the man over, accompanied by a group of shadowy figures.
It seemed like half the village had mobilized.
The leading figure among them was the elderly shaman of the village.
The shaman squinted his eyes, making a great effort to identify the person lying on the sandy beach. His severe nearsightedness led to him being excited upon seeing that He Heng’s legs were entwined with seaweed. He knelt down in agitation.
Casting aside his cane, he raised his hands and looked up to the sky, chanting incantations that others couldn’t comprehend.
At this moment, He Heng, who lay on the beach, was not entirely unconscious.
He felt as if he were drifting, placed in a fluid world, and the vague memories seemed to return to his years of studying abroad.
In one memory, his roommate was telling him a joke.
The roommate mentioned a person without medical insurance who, one day, passed out due to low blood sugar. Someone called an ambulance for him.
When he woke up and checked the bill,
“Man, an ambulance costs $2,000 (over 10,000 RMB), and I fainted right away.”
After telling the joke, He Heng’s roommate patted his shoulder and jokingly said, “Hey buddy, if I faint, just carry me to the hospital, okay?”
He Heng immediately laughed and pushed away his friend’s hand, saying, “Get lost.”
But the next moment,
He seemed to smell a cool sea breeze, and felt like he was on soft sandy ground.
In that instant, He Heng’s consciousness returned. He reluctantly opened his heavy eyelids…
As he gazed at the night sky with flashes of lightning, He Heng felt his head becoming more and more swollen, and his whole body gave in, collapsing onto the ground.
And in that moment of falling, relying on the slightest bit of consciousness, he uttered these words,
“Don’t call the ambulance.”1spoken in English
Upon hearing this sentence, the villagers present were all astonished, staring wide-eyed.
They had never heard this language before. Could it be that the divine was speaking to them?
The shaman, kneeling on the ground, was even more excited, his beard trembling.
This was the sea god responding to them in his own way!
Seeing this, he immediately turned back and shouted to the crowd, calling five strong men to carry He Heng back from the beach.
And in the moment when He Heng was lifted, the sea grass wrapped around his legs began to scatter, gradually revealing his legs.
Unable to stand watching this farce, Ah Ming, with his arms crossed, shouted to the shaman, “What fish tail? It’s clear that the sea grass has entangled his legs.”
“Hey, let me tell you,” seeing this, Xiu Sheng quickly stepped in front of Ah Ming, waving his hands at him with an expression of ‘you don’t understand’.
“Ah Ming, do you know about mermaids? In the water, they have fish tails, but once on land, the fish tails turn into legs. Lord Sea God is just like that. The moment he reaches the shore, he hides his fish tail.”
Ah Ming rolled his eyes at him on the spot.
Mermaids, what nonsense! It was clear that this was a person accidentally washed ashore by the waves.
He immediately pushed aside Xiu Sheng, rushed to the crowd, and shouted, “The arrow wound is too close to his heart, and he’s been soaked in seawater. He won’t survive.”
The next moment, the shaman angrily stroked his long beard and pounded the ground with his staff, making a loud “thud”.
“This is Lord Sea God. Even the fish tail has turned into legs. Of course, he has amazing abilities. Who says he won’t survive? If you dare to speak blasphemous words again, I’ll have you put in confinement.”
Ah Ming: “…”.
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