Chapter 633: The Boatman Who Gave Himself Away

Mr. Wu’s low murmurs of confusion were answered by Li Yanyan’s loud response.

"Because the Princess has a crystal ball larger than yours!"

Li Yanyan’s voice was so loud that Mr. Wu, across from her, heard every word.

Mr. Wu, shrouded in his black robe, looked their way, his voice low and steady as he spoke.

"Children, it seems there’s more than just Great Han’s National Master Feng Wushang and little Lucky Star Li Yanyan here. Who are all of you?"

At that moment, the Black Dragon in the sky vanished. It was as if the lack of control over the crystal ball caused the dragon’s shadow to fade and disappear.

The silver dragon, conjured by the National Master, lunged at Mr. Wu with an open mouth and extended claws.

Mr. Wu made several hand formations, and a longsword appeared out of thin air in his hand. The sword flew out at an angle and entangled itself with the silver dragon.

To any discerning eye, it was clear the National Master had gained the upper hand.

However, Mr. Wu sneered coldly and suddenly withdrew his sword.

"Feng Wushang! Do you know why this place is called Black Water Ridge?"

The National Master furrowed his brow. "What are you trying to say?"

"Nothing much! Just that everyone on this ship will meet their end here today."

"Everyone? Does that include the informant you have amongst our sailors?"

Ji Youzhi suddenly chimed in. His words caused the expressions of the onlooking sailor and the portly aunt to change.

"M-Master... what are... what are you talking about? We... we don’t understand..."

The sailor looked at Ji Youzhi with wide, terrified eyes.

"There’s nothing you don’t understand. In fact, we should have passed Black Water Ridge yesterday. But you started to deliberately slow down the night before last, even stopping for an hour in the dark. Am I right?"

The sailor’s face turned pale. He thought he had been discreet, but this young Master Ji had seen right through him.

"Traveling at night, unaware of the dangers... We feared accidents, so we stopped and waited for dawn to set out again. What’s wrong with that?"

The sailor stuck out his neck, arguing with Ji Youzhi.

Ji Youzhi scoffed. "Are you deliberately stalling, or are you genuinely worried about our safety? I wasn’t sure before, not until a moment ago when I heard a flute. The flute’s melody began only after our ship entered Black Water Ridge, and shortly thereafter, Mr. Wu appeared. Sailor, what a remarkable coincidence all of this is!"

Ji Youzhi stood beside the sailor and calmly explained his theory.

The sailor’s face alternated between pale and flushed. "You... don’t you dare slander me! I... I don’t even know that Mr. Wu, or anything about him! Why would I tip him off?"

The sailor became frantic and shouted.

"If you don’t know him, then how did you know to call him Mr. Wu?"

Ji Youzhi retorted. The sailor choked, taking a long moment before replying.

"I... I just heard... heard you all say it!"

"Your hearing is certainly sharp. I didn’t notice who among us mentioned ’Mr. Wu,’ but you clearly did."

Just as Ji Youzhi finished speaking, and while the sailor was still preparing to argue, Mr. Wu spoke.

"No need to argue with them. Seize them all! Especially the little Lucky Star—I want her alive!"

Mr. Wu’s words undeniably confirmed his connection with the sailor.

"Yes, Mr. Wu!"

The sailor waved his hand, and several sailors drew long knives. Constable Zhou and his men also appeared on deck in a swarm, the bright gleam of their blades startling everyone.

Xiaosuisui’s eyes sparkled as she looked at the large knives and said excitedly, "Are we going to fight?"

Xie Pan’Er held her tightly in her arms.

"My dear Princess, please remain calm! I’m just worried about your fearless nature. If you rush in to fight them and get hurt, what would I do?"

Xiaosuisui pouted at Xie Pan’Er’s words.

"They’re just a bunch of Luo Luo; they can’t beat me. That Mr. Wu, though, I think he’s stronger than my Seventh Uncle. I might not be able to beat him, but it doesn’t matter because his crystal ball is useless now. He won’t be a match for the National Master anymore. We’re not in any danger today."

Xiaosuisui analyzed the situation with impressive clarity.

Xie Pan’Er felt somewhat reassured.

"That’s good then! As long as we’re truly safe."

Just as Xie Pan’Er finished speaking, the sailor waved his hand, and a group of his men charged toward them, brandishing their knives.

Their targets were the two children, Li Yanyan and Xiaosuisui.

"Grab those two children! I want them alive!" the sailor shouted.

After shouting his command, he himself lunged towards Xiaosuisui.

Xiaosuisui, however, was not such easy prey. Held in Xie Pan’Er’s arms, the moment she saw the men charging, she hugged Xie Pan’Er’s leg and shouted, "Feifei!"

Then, still holding onto Xie Pan’Er, she leaped onto the railing, performed another "Feifei" jump down, and with a swift kick, sent a sailor who was lunging at them flying into the sea.

In an instant, chaos erupted on the large ship.

The two sides were locked in a fierce battle.

Mr. Wu produced a bamboo flute from nowhere and began to play a wailing, mournful tune.

The large ship rocked violently, as if something was ramming its hull.

"Why do I feel like something is ramming the ship?"

The Emperor exclaimed, his face filled with terror.

Ji Youzhi also looked frightened.

"It’s seagulls, and some are wild geese."

"It’s Mr. Wu’s flute. He’s controlling the seabirds."

Princess Ata interjected, then also took out a bamboo flute and began to play her own wailing, mournful tune.

"What... What are you doing?"

Ji Youzhi asked anxiously as she continued to play.

Princess Ata didn’t answer him, continuing to play her mournful tune.

The addition of Princess Ata’s flute music stabilized their ship for a short while.

"Princess Ata! To contend with me, your skill is still far too lacking!"

Mr. Wu’s low voice was heard.

Everyone broke out in a cold sweat.

This sound hadn’t come from Mr. Wu’s mouth, but seemed to emanate from his stomach, like a strange vocalization.

This Mr. Wu is truly formidable!

the Emperor muttered, kicking the attacking sailors off the ship one by one!

The few constables were also swiftly beaten until they lay sprawled on the deck.

Xiaosuisui watched, pouting, and called out loudly to her adoptive father, the Emperor.

"Daddy! Can’t you leave a few for me to fight? You’ve knocked them all down, and I... AHH..."

Before Xiaosuisui could finish her sentence, the ship suddenly began to rock violently.

The vessel tilted and swayed precariously, as if something beneath the hull was pushing against it.

"What’s going on? Why does it feel like the ship is about to capsize?"