The Tang family’s big ship.
The fleet had been waiting for Zhao Changhe at the Pirate New Island. When the two of them disappeared while chasing the water people, the "loyal" Hai Qianfan didn't even look for them. Instead, the Tang family fleet was scared and looked for them everywhere, as if they had lost their father.
In name, they were the Tang family's sea merchants going to Penglai, but in reality, they were simply Tang Wanzhuang's private army assigned to Zhao Changhe to go out to sea, and everything was subject to Zhao Changhe's orders. If we look at it from the perspective of "the family betting on the bet", this means that the Tang family is completely tied to Zhao Changhe, sharing the good and the bad.
Of course, the Tang family actually knew what was going on, so when they looked at the charming young woman that Zhao Changhe brought back for no reason, they all had somewhat unfriendly expressions.
Sanniang had to accept their kindness, after all, they had saved the residents of Taiping Island from the sea tribe, which was a great favor to Sanniang. So even though she was very unhappy with Tang Wanzhuang and had to be looked at by the Tang family crew as if she was a vixen, Sanniang still had to put on a smile, and finally she simply hid in the house to study the crystal cores on hand.
Tang En was too lazy to pay attention to the mistress, and said to Zhao Changhe in a very resentful tone: "Your Highness, please don't be like this. We won't say anything if you lead the charge, you are the Blood Shura, and that's your fighting style. But is it your Highness's job to go after the enemy alone? Your safety is at stake... Let's not talk about anything else. If something really happens, I will lose my head when I go back. Are you forcing me to become a pirate on the sea..."
Zhao Changhe was a little speechless. The father and daughter of the Xia family have already recognized each other, but you are still here, His Highness. It's very embarrassing...
"Evening makeup doesn't work like that... maybe not?"
"You got it wrong. I really lost her lover. Do you think it will be the young master who will kill me, or the chief seat?"
"… "
Tang En was too lazy to say more, and just said: "What's going on here now... I think the pirates are not right, fighting among themselves? Do you want us to do anything?"
"Well, they are cleaning it... We won't get involved." Zhao Changhe said, "During the past few days when we were with the pirates, did you ask them where the island we are looking for is? This is the main reason why we are here."
"I asked Hua Zhenming, but he said he didn't know..." Tang En said, "Logically, the Tianyuan Pirates should be the most familiar with all the strange and unknown places on the sea. Many kingdoms may not be more familiar with them than them. If they don't know, it will be really difficult to find them."
"Why don't you ask me?" Hai Changkong's voice came from somewhere: "We basically share the information of the pirate group. Your Majesty also relies on these ears and eyes to control a lot of things on the sea."
Zhao Changhe turned his head and saw Hai Changkong standing alone on a small boat, floating towards him.
Everyone was talking on the deck outside, and they didn't try to cover up their voices. It was normal for Hai Changkong to hear them given his strength. Zhao Changhe didn't care, and asked, "Are you willing to share your information with us?"
Hai Changkong boarded the ship, looked around, and sighed, "What a nice ship... I thought that since we shared the technologies of the Four Elephants Sect and the Wang family from different sources, our shipbuilding level should be first-class in the world, but I didn't expect that the Tang family's ship is obviously a level higher than ours."
"The Four Elephants Sect itself is not good at this technology. It's good enough that it can provide the pirates with some relatively mainstream blueprints. As for the Wang family, do you think they will give you the best technology?"
"That's right..." Hai Changkong said this, his eyes glancing at the boat and the crossbow, refusing to take his eyes off.
Zhao Changhe knew what he meant: "If you want this technology, no way."
Hai Changkong: "...We pay? Any amount is fine."
"No matter how much, I won't sell it." Zhao Changhe turned to Tang En and said directly, "You guys should make up your mind. No matter what kind of inducement, I won't sell this."
Tang En smiled and replied, "Yes."
Hai Changkong sighed and said, "You are not from Xia Country, so why bother?"
"How do you know I'm not someone from Xia Country?"
"Then what island clue did you want to find, don't you want it anymore?"
Zhao Changhe sighed: "Let's put things in perspective. After all, we are a powerful helper in your fight with the Sea God this time. What's more, the place we are looking for may be related to the Sea God. If you don't say this, it's a bit impulsive. I don't think Hai Shuai is that kind of person..."
Hai Changkong smiled and said, "Master Zhao, do you know me well? Why were you so sure that I would cooperate with you to kill Hai Qianfan? I still don't understand why. How did you know what I was thinking?"
Sanniang pricked up her ears in the cabin.
"You stopped the general who tipped off last night. There is only one explanation for that behavior. You were actually protecting him. It is completely understandable that I regard the pirates as imaginary traitors. What's more, when we broke the formation just now, what you said was basically reminding me that there is no need to fight the seamen to the death to break the formation. Just sinking the ship will be the end of it... It is obvious that they are one of us, at least not the Sea God's people."
"That's all? You dare to bet?"
"Ah? Does me just bragging count as gambling?"
"… "
"I found out that you didn't cooperate, so I just boasted and lost some face. Then I turned around and took Sanniang to escape. It doesn't matter whether I said that or not, so I might as well pretend."
Sanniang was in the cabin, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. Hai Changkong also laughed dumbly: "After all this time, you are really just bragging."
"If a person doesn't pretend to be cool, then what's the point of living?" Zhao Changhe said confidently: "Aren't you the same?"
Hai Changkong asked: "How come I am the same? Why do you always say that I am the same as you?"
Zhao Changhe was not joking this time. He turned around and leaned on the edge of the boat, looking at the vast sea and sky. He suddenly said, "You are a warrior, a sincere one."
Hai Changkong was stunned for a moment.
"You want to prove what you have learned, you want to be famous in the Middle-earth. You don't want to be unknown to the world even though you are one of the most powerful second-level secret treasure masters in the world. Even Wang Daozhong looks up to you. I think you are much better than him." Hai Changkong: "..."
Zhao Changhe said: "I can feel that you really want to compete with me. The concept conveyed by the tip of the knife is extremely resonant. At that moment, you didn't think about anything else. You just wanted to fight."
Hai Changkong was silent for a moment, then stood there side by side with him, leaning against the side of the boat and looking at the sea.
After reading for a long time, he whispered, "I am unwilling to accept this. It seems that I have traveled all over the world, but in fact, I am just a traitor. If there were no books about troubled times in the world, it would be fine... but with this thing, it is really stupid and exciting."
"That's why it's called the Book of Troubled Times..."
"Yeah." Hai Changkong said, "I know I can't make any more breakthroughs. My talent is limited. I'm almost fifty years old and I don't have the confidence to make any more breakthroughs. I once thought that if the King of the Troubled Times List is just like this, then I can go back and become a world-renowned figure... But I have to admit that I'm no match for you. This is how my life will be. I just need to do my job at sea."
Zhao Changhe asked, "You lost your temper just like that?"
Hai Changkong smiled and said, "It's not shameful to face the facts. You are very strong."
Zhao Changhe said: "So, you want to show off your power in front of others, isn't it the same as me?"
Hai Changkong finally laughed out loud: "Okay, okay, it's indeed the same."
Zhao Changhe turned to Tang En and said, "Can you get some wine?"
Tang En went into the cabin to get some wine, and said leisurely, "If I want to become famous, I have to get drunk."
Zhao Changhe pointed at him and laughed: "You actually knew what I meant by asking for wine."
Tang En also laughed: "Martial artists have the same aspirations, who doesn't?"
The noisy sounds of the men drinking spread across the deck, carried away by the sea breeze, unrestrained.
Sanniang thought to herself in the room, who shares the same sentiment with you guys? What’s the point of becoming famous? It’s better to sleep.
But listening to the men drinking and laughing, the pirate and bandit genes in his heart couldn't help but stir. He pushed the door open with a clang, walked up to Zhao Changhe and slammed the chopping board: "I want to drink too."
Zhao Changhe handed over the wine bowl, and Sanniang drank it all in one gulp.
Hai Changkong looked at Sanniang drinking freely and carefreely, with some nostalgia in his eyes: "She really looks like her..."
Sanniang put down her wine bowl and glared, "What's wrong? Are you still secretly in love with my mother?"
Hai Changkong said honestly, "I was young then and had lived too much at sea. I thought even a pig looked pretty, not to mention your mother... You can ask all the old brothers, who doesn't admire your mother? I'm not the only one."
Sanniang: “…”
Zhao Changhe asked: "Is your opposition to the Sea King related to this?"
Hai Changkong sighed and said, "Mr. Zhao is really smart... The culprit of the incident back then was indeed the Sea Emperor. I suggest that the princess go back and reconcile with His Majesty. After all, blood is thicker than water."
Sanniang said nothing.
Although she had guessed it because of Hai Changkong's behavior, and it was also the answer she hoped to get, but for some reason, Sanniang found that she was not as happy as she expected, but rather very calm.
Similarly, Hai Changkong said this, but in fact, it was obvious that he did not really hope that the father and daughter could reconcile. He quickly changed his words and said, "To be honest, we did not know the inside story of this matter at the beginning, but when the Sea God began to perform miracles and preach, we have always been very resistant to this so-called Sea God belief. Your Majesty wanted to build a temple, and we even had a quarrel with Your Majesty."
"Oh?" Zhao Changhe became interested this time: "Why? Normally, men who make a living on the sea are afraid of wind and waves. If the sea god can really perform miracles, it should be easy to gain faith in him."
"What's the use?" Hai Changkong said calmly, "Those who believe in it will be saved, and those who don't will be punished by God... Then, what's the difference between this kind of god and the enemy country that invades your country? Those who surrender will be given official positions, and those who resist will be exterminated, right? We have already been destroyed once, and we went into exile at sea because we didn't want to surrender. Could it be that we have changed places and come to surrender instead?"
Tang En was stunned, thinking about something.
Hai Changkong said again: "Civilians can be said to be helpless, so why should warriors like us rely on others for our lives? We should conquer the wind and waves and the ocean ourselves. Is that right or not?"
Sanniang paused with the wine bowl at her lips, and suddenly she was speechless.
If that’s the case, then isn’t the belief in the Four Symbols Sect also a joke
Although the teachings are different...
But in essence, isn't it also relying on people
Turning his head to look at Zhao Changhe, Zhao Changhe was grinning, and clinked his bowl with Hai Changkong: "Well said, well said, one bowl to you!"
Sanniang stared at the man drinking in a trance, and suddenly thought, no wonder Zhao Changhe always said that the biggest embarrassment between him and the Four Symbols Sect was that he could not establish faith.
He has always believed only in his own strength.
(End of this chapter)