Chapter 623 - 338: The 13 Great Bandits Pursue Sikong Li! (Part 2)

Time ticked by, second by second, and in the blink of an eye a month had passed.

The fleet returned to port for repairs, unloading the spoils from wiping out the River Bandits and replenishing supplies for the ships.

Su Mu himself didn’t feel it was boring at all. To him, whether he was doing Cultivation on land within the Cyan Fish Gang, or on the Cyan Fish out at sea, there wasn’t much difference.

During this period Su Mu practiced Martial Arts every day as usual. Aside from the Immortal Body, Flood Dragon Shocking Skill, Profound Demon Five Transformations, Three-Turn Dragon Elephant Skill, Hundred Battle Fist, Molten Fire Golden Body, Spring Breeze Crossing Cicada and the rest were all kept up; his days could be said to be extremely fulfilling.

"Return to port!"

There was still half a month left before New Year’s Eve. Having failed to track down any trace of his enemy, big brother Baili Feng could only sigh helplessly and give the order for the fleet to turn back.

From here it would take five days to sail back to port; if they delayed any longer they’d miss the Spring Festival.

In the blink of an eye, three days later.

The eight-engraved Cyan Fish Order at Baili Feng’s waist trembled; news had come from the port.

"We just received word—our people have found Sikong Li’s whereabouts!"

"Sikong Li?"

Excitement flashed across big brother Baili Feng’s face, while Su Mu’s heart stirred. He had heard this name from big brother’s mouth before.

Sikong Li, one of the two Vice Gang Leaders of the Jiao Blood Gang, ranked eighth among the Thirteen Great Bandits, nicknamed Blood Tiger. He controlled the fleets of two of the Jiao Blood Gang’s halls, and his ferocious reputation on these rivers and seas was infamous.

"News about Sikong Li?"

Baili Hongtang was somewhat surprised; this was a big fish. Any one of the Thirteen Great Bandits was under constant pursuit by Donglai County Mansion and the Demon Slayer Bureau. The head of this man alone was worth sixty thousand taels of silver on the Wanted Order.

Only, Baili Hongtang also faintly sensed something fishy. By coincidence, it just happened to be one of big brother’s enemies whose tracks were exposed. Earlier she had already suspected that there was something strange about the matter of big brother being besieged by two Great Bandits.

Whether Baili Feng was completely unaware, or simply didn’t care, he spoke with his spirits high: "The intel should be accurate. Five days ago the Prefectural Governor’s fleet was ambushed. Lord Song flew into a rage and ordered his people to pursue all the way. All this information comes from the Prefectural Governor’s office."

"This Sikong Li, as Vice Gang Leader of the Jiao Blood Gang, has barged into our Cyan Fish Gang’s waters several times this past year to intercept passing merchant ships, and has even attacked our Cyan Fish Gang’s fleets, causing no small loss.

This time is an opportunity. If we can kill him, we’ll not only eliminate a grave hidden danger, we’ll also make our Cyan Fish Gang’s prestige soar, so that at least for several years to come, petty scum won’t dare offend our Cyan Fish Gang again!"

To exterminate Sikong Li alone was worth more than slaughtering hundreds or even thousands of ordinary River Bandits!

"Latest intel: that Sikong Li and his men are currently anchored on a nameless island near our Cyan Fish Gang’s territory. This operation must be fast; we have to catch them off guard and not give them time to recover!"

Baili Feng made up his mind on the spot, planning to wipe out Sikong Li and all his followers in one sweep. If successful, the gains from this campaign would doubtless be enormous.

"Third brother, what do you think of this?"

Baili Hongtang privately sought out Su Mu. Su Mu’s eyes flickered. Over the past month at sea, aside from that first encounter, they had only run into scattered Sea Pirates, many of whom fled in panic before they even clashed.

This matter might well have something odd behind it, but risk and opportunity were two sides of the same coin; it was also a chance to test the fruit of his month-long bitter Cultivation at sea.

And if this time they could seize Sikong Li, the Jiao Blood Gang’s Vice Gang Leader, it would be of immense help in tracking down the Jiao Blood Gang’s lair and completing Flood Dragon Shocking Skill.

Since they’d run into this, how could they easily give it up?

"This may be an opportunity."

"Is that so?"

Baili Hongtang could see what Su Mu was thinking and did not say anything more.

Speed was the essence of war. The sound of horns spread through the fleet, and the ships that had been about to return to port all swung their bows around, sailing toward the nameless island where Sikong Li was said to be hiding.

At the same time, the port also received Baili Feng’s orders. Five warships loaded with nearly a thousand Cyan Fish Gang disciples sped out to reinforce the island.

"Turning the ships instead of returning to port—did the Young Master and Second Miss discover something?"

All the Cyan Fish Gang disciples speculated inwardly. Secrets make success; on this whole fleet, aside from the Baili Siblings, only Su Mu knew what was going on.

On the deck of the Cyan Fish, the Baili Siblings stared into the distance.

Inside the cabin, the fourth golden spot on Su Mu’s right arm—also his tenth Immortal Golden Spots—shone with his breathing. Four golden spots intertwined and merged, faintly forming two layers of a dark yet brilliant golden pattern.

Right now this pattern was incomplete, as if surfacing on his skin yet also rising and sinking within his flesh, bones, and meridians, hovering between reality and illusion.

"Everyone, we’ve received news from the County Mansion: the Jiao Blood Gang’s Vice Gang Leader Sikong Li has been injured by Tributor Xue at Lord Song’s side, and is now hiding on an island fifty li ahead."

"Our purpose this time is to eradicate evil for the people, slaughter Sikong Li, and sever one arm of the Jiao Blood Bandits!"

The five warships sped on until dusk. Only when they were fifty li from the island did Baili Feng formally announce the goal of this operation.

"What? That Blood Tiger Sikong Li is hiding on the island ahead?"

"Sikong Li is a Vice Gang Leader of the Jiao Blood Gang, a ruthless man ranked eighth among the Thirteen River Bandits, and the Young Master actually plans to wipe out this bastard!"

Upon hearing the news, all the Cyan Fish Gang disciples were shaken in spirit, then one after another their faces flushed with excitement. Among them were some who had followed Baili Feng out to sea last time.

Now that they learned Sikong Li was wounded and trapped on the island, how could they not be fired up? This time they could both avenge the past and swallow a huge chunk of fat to celebrate the New Year!

"We only have three hundred men at present; it’s unwise to clash head-on. Pass my orders: the fleet is to drop sails and await in place. The night is our best cover. Once we link up with the reinforcements from the port, we strike straightaway under cover of darkness."

"In this battle, killing one ordinary River Bandit under Sikong Li will earn a reward of three hundred taels of silver; killing a Sixth Grade River Bandit will earn one thousand taels; killing a Fifth Grade River Bandit will earn three thousand taels; killing a Fourth Grade River Bandit will earn ten thousand taels of silver."

"Whoever can kill Sikong Li will be rewarded one hundred thousand taels of silver, and promoted to Vice Hall Master!"

============

"Our purpose this time is to eradicate evil for the people, slaughter Sikong Li, and sever one arm of the Jiao Blood Bandits!"

The five warships sped on until dusk. Only when they were fifty li from the island did Baili Feng formally announce the goal of this operation.

"What? That Blood Tiger Sikong Li is hiding on the island ahead?"

"Sikong Li is a Vice Gang Leader of the Jiao Blood Gang, a ruthless man ranked eighth among the Thirteen River Bandits, and the Young Master actually plans to wipe out this bastard!"

Upon hearing the news, all the Cyan Fish Gang disciples were shaken in spirit, then one after another their faces flushed with excitement. Among them were some who had followed Baili Feng out to sea last time.

Now that they learned Sikong Li was wounded and trapped on the island, how could they not be fired up? This time they could both avenge the past and swallow a huge chunk of fat to celebrate the New Year!

"We only have three hundred men at present; it’s unwise to clash head-on. Pass my orders: the fleet is to drop sails and await in place. The night is our best cover. Once we link up with the reinforcements from the port, we strike straightaway under cover of darkness."

"In this battle, killing one ordinary River Bandit under Sikong Li will earn a reward of three hundred taels of silver; killing a Middle Grade River Bandit will earn one thousand taels; killing a Fifth Grade will earn three thousand taels; killing a Fourth Grade River Bandit will earn ten thousand taels of silver."

"Whoever can kill Sikong Li will be rewarded one hundred thousand taels of silver, and promoted to Vice Hall Master!"

"Our purpose this time is to eradicate evil for the people, slaughter Sikong Li, and sever one arm of the Jiao Blood Bandits!"

The five warships sped on until dusk. Only when they were fifty li from the island did Baili Feng formally announce the goal of this operation.

"What? That Blood Tiger Sikong Li is hiding on the island ahead?"

"Sikong Li is a Vice Gang Leader of the Jiao Blood Gang, a ruthless man ranked eighth among the Thirteen River Bandits, and the Young Master actually plans to wipe out this bastard!"

Upon hearing the news, all the Cyan Fish Gang disciples were shaken in spirit, then one after another their faces flushed with excitement. Among them were some who had followed Baili Feng out to sea last time.

Now that they learned Sikong Li was wounded and trapped on the island, how could they not be fired up? This time they could both avenge the past and swallow a huge chunk of fat to celebrate the New Year!