Chapter 1228 - 318: Cold Snow Locks Suzhou, Schemes Shock the Jianghu (Part 4)

"What... what’s going on?" Wu Zhong muttered to himself, his heartbeat suddenly quickening.

Before his words fell silent, a piercing sound of metal friction emanated from the reeds, and five thousand black-armored warriors emerged like apparitions, uniformly raising their weapons. Spears stood like a forest, giant axes reflected the moon, and the Three-Pointed Double-Edged Saber glimmered with an eerie red under the firelight, resembling an army of demonic ghosts crawling out of Hell.

"Wu Zhong! Long time no see!" With a hearty laugh, a silver-armored youth stepped over the waves, his Heaven-piercing Halberd raising a skyful of water spray.

This person was none other than Huang Haitian, the Young Master of the Sea Sand Gang. He hovered in mid-air a yard away from the ship’s bow, his halberd tip pointed straight at Wu Zhong’s throat, "Grand Squad Leader Shi has long since transferred the Jiangnan Cao Bang to my Sea Sand Gang. This Tiger Cave Sword Pool now bears the name Huang, not Heroic Sakura!"

Xiang Yushan’s face changed suddenly, the "Wind Pillar Technique" activated instantly, and violent winds erupted around the ship: "Audacious scoundrel! Do you know that we are envoys appointed by the Imperial Court? Step aside if you know what’s good for you, or else..."

"Or else what?" Huang Haitian laughed out loud, and the halberd tip fiercely struck the water surface.

In an instant, the surrounding water surface exploded, and hundreds of fast boats emerged, densely packed with Sea Sand Gang disciples wielding grappling hooks standing on the decks.

In the distance, countless torches lit up the hilltops, illuminating the night sky as if it were daytime. The "Sea Sand" insignia was faintly visible stretching for miles. The fast boats of the Sea Sand Gang had undergone special modifications; their speed was incredible, equipped with various firearms, deemed unparalleled in Jianghu.

Lv Yuan gasped, "Cold Ice Palm" gathered and dissipated in his palm.

He gazed at the shore where five thousand well-equipped and orderly ambushers were stationed, secretly calculating: These troops are well-trained, just those poisoned spears and serrated giant axes alone show that even with the three hundred death warriors behind, there’s absolutely no chance of victory.

Wu Zhong wiped the cold sweat off his forehead, forcing calmness: "Young Master Huang, could there be a misunderstanding? Shi Feiyang he..."

"Misunderstanding?" Huang Haitian’s halberd blade trembled lightly, cutting off a drifting sail, "Grand Squad Leader Shi transferred the Cao Bang with ten million taels of silver, and the documents bear the handprints of two Elders of Heroic Sakura Association. If Mr. Wu doesn’t believe, maybe you should come ashore and have a look?"

Xiao Lingling looked at her husband’s tense side face, full of worries in her heart. She quietly grasped the Mandarin Duck Saber at her waist, only to be stopped by Wu Zhong’s gaze. Shan Zhi’s hand clenched and released inside his sleeve, Miao Menlong’s arrow was nocked but dared not be shot.

"Lord Xiang, Lord Lv, this..." Wu Zhong turned to the two Jinyi Guard leaders, his voice carrying a barely noticeable tremor.

Xiang Yushan’s face turned ashen, suddenly kicking him in the back: "Useless! Why haven’t you ordered a retreat?"

The three hundred death warriors as if granted amnesty, frantically rowed to retreat. The Sea Sand Gang didn’t pursue, but beat the war drums, the sound echoing in all directions.

Huang Haitian withdrew his halberd and stood, laughing loudly: "Go back and tell Lu Bing, though the Sea Sand Gang is a Jianghu sect, it’s not a weakling to be easily bullied! If you trespass again, you’ll never return!"

On the return ship, everyone remained silent.

Xiang Yushan fixed his gaze on the water as if engraving this humiliation into his heart; Lv Yuan had a sullen face, unknown what he was planning.

Wu Zhong slumped on the deck, looking at his trembling hands, full of regret and fear.

Once the ship docked, everyone hurried back to the Gusu Government Office.

Lu Bing was pacing back and forth in the hall, and upon seeing them return disheveled, he flew into a rage: "Useless! Can’t even take down a small Cao Bang?"

"My lord, about the Tiger Cave Sword Pool..." Before Wu Zhong could finish, Lu Bing had picked up the inkstone on the table and fiercely hurled it, the inkstone grazed his ear and hit the wall, creating a deep pit: "Shi Feiyang, that treacherous scoundrel! Daring to use such tricks!"

He was so angry that he was trembling all over, his robe sweeping the floor, knocking over the nearby candlestick, and the flames instantly igniting the papers on the ground.

Xiang Yushan stepped forward, speaking solemnly: "My lord, please calm down. In my opinion, Shi Feiyang had long plotted this move. Now that we lost the Jiangnan Cao Bang, Heroic Sakura Association must have other plans."

Lv Yuan also chimed in: "Indeed. The urgent task is to redeploy, and not fall into that scoundrel’s trap again."

Lu Bing took several deep breaths, forcibly suppressing his anger: "Issue orders to seal all key waterways and roads and strictly inspect all passing ships! I refuse to believe Shi Feiyang can sprout wings and fly away!" His eyes revealed a fierce light, as if envisioning Shi Feiyang’s demise, unaware this was merely a move on Shi Feiyang’s chessboard; a larger storm was still awaiting the Imperial Court...

Inside the Sea Sand Gang’s conference hall, the atmosphere was as heavy as lead.

Gang Leader Huang Zhenyue sat in the tiger-skin armchair, his face dark enough to drip water, the dragon-headed cane in his hand thumping heavily on the ground, making a muffled sound: "The court’s ban on the Cao transport, cutting off the Sea Sand Gang’s financial sources, how can we swallow this?"

Young Master Huang Haitian stood beside him, the Heaven-piercing Halberd leaned against his shoulder, his eyes full of unwillingness: "Father, I am willing to lead the elites and fight those court’s dogs to the death!"

"No!" Huang Zhenyue suddenly raised his head, his gaze like a torch, "The court is mighty, fighting is tantamount to striking a stone with eggs. We must plan long-term."

At this moment, Master Zhuge Yi approached with a folding fan in hand, speaking slowly: "Gang Leader, in my humble opinion, the court’s ban on Cao transport is intended to trap our Sea Sand Gang. Why not go against it?"

Everyone’s eyes converged on Zhuge Yi, who showed a mysterious smile at the corner of his mouth: "Our Sea Sand Gang excels in sea battles, commanding a fleet of a thousand ships. Why not take this opportunity to expand maritime trade? Nowadays, the countries of the South Seas have long coveted Central Plains silk, porcelain, and tea. We can send fleets southward, evade the court’s watch, and open new trade routes."