111: Cleverly capturing Mays

By noon on the fourth day of the voyage, the sun was blazing and the sea surface was shimmering. Following Qin Feng's instructions, the ship had already deviated from the regular route to avoid risks, but trouble still found them.

Urgent alarm bells rang from the lookout tower!

"Enemy ship spotted on the port side!"

"Starboard side too!"

"And behind us! We're surrounded!"

Qin Feng, Zhao Mang, and the others quickly came to the deck. They saw five slender ships with ferocious green fish carved on their prows and black pirate flags flying, closing in in a fan shape. They were moving extremely fast, clearly skilled in naval warfare, and had already cut off the retreat of the ten thousand seas.

Steward Liu's face turned pale, and he whispered, "It's the Green Fish Bandits! Their leader is 'Red-Haired' Mace. They say... she's at the Martial King level!"

Ji Ruxue stood beside Qin Feng. Although she had taken seasickness medicine, her face was still slightly pale, and her aura was indeed a bit weaker than on land. However, her eyes remained cold and sharp. She sensed for a moment and whispered, "A Half-Step Martial King, not a true Martial King."

Zhao Mang cracked his thick neck, making a popping sound, and said loudly, "Deacon Qin, they're just a motley crew, and the leader is only a Half-Step Martial King. Do you need me to step in and wipe them all out?" Being at the Early Stage Martial King, he had the confidence to say this.

Qin Feng's gaze swept over the five pirate ships and the fierce-looking, weapon-wielding bandits on board. He shook his head. "No rush. When sailing at sea, it's best not to fight if we can help it. Let's see what they want first."

By now, the Green Fish Bandits' main ship had approached within dozens of yards. The Red-Haired, curvaceous Mace on the prow was particularly conspicuous. She circulated her Internal Energy, and her voice came across with a hint of laziness and playfulness:

"Friends on the ship ahead, acting all secretive, which path do you follow? It's nothing major, just that my brothers have been short on cash lately and can barely survive. We'd like to borrow some money from you all to spend."

Qin Feng stepped out from the crowd, walked to the railing, and responded calmly, "Friends from the Green Fish Gang, how much do you wish to borrow?"

Mace held up five fingers, licked her red lips, and smiled. "Not much, fifty thousand gold coins! Once the money is paid, we'll clear the way immediately and guarantee your safe passage through these waters."

"Fifty thousand gold coins? How bold!" Hearing this, Zhao Mang snorted in anger and no longer hid his strength. The powerful aura of an Early Stage Martial King erupted, sweeping across the sea like an invisible storm!

A commotion immediately broke out on the pirate ships opposite. Many lower-level bandits turned pale and could barely stand.

Mace's pupils also constricted slightly, and a hint of solemnity flashed across her face, but she didn't back down. Instead, she let out a charming laugh. "Oh, so there really is a Martial King expert holding the fort! Impressive! But..."

Her tone shifted, turning cunning and fierce. "Lord Martial King, you are indeed powerful. But as long as my brothers risk their lives to tie you down for a moment, the brothers on our other four ships, along with the 'Stone Iron Cannons' on these ships, will be enough to tear your large cargo ship to shreds! When the ship is destroyed and everyone is dead, the loss will probably be more than fifty thousand gold coins, wouldn't it?"

She pointed at the dark, metallic-glinting ballistae on the prow of her ship. These were heavy weapons specifically designed to deal with ships, and the special giant bolts they fired were enough to pierce through ordinary ship planks.

The atmosphere instantly became tense.

Qin Feng suddenly smiled. He flipped his palm, and a crystal card shimmering with golden light appeared between his fingertips. "One hundred thousand gold coins? I have them right here."

He waved the crystal card and looked at Mace, his tone carrying a hint of provocation. "Leader Mace, the money is right here. If you come up and can defeat me in a fair fight, these one hundred thousand gold coins are yours. How about it?"

As soon as these words were spoken, not only was there an uproar among the Green Fish Bandits, but Steward Liu, Captain Zhang, and others on the ten thousand seas were also stunned.

"Young Master Qin, you mustn't!"

"Big Brother Qin, it's too dangerous!" Xiao Chun stamped her feet in anxiety.

Mace was stunned for a moment, as if she had heard a huge joke. She pointed at Qin Feng and laughed so hard she trembled. "You? A Late-stage Grand Martial Master? Challenging me, a Half-Step Martial King? Kid, are you tired of living?"

The bandits beside her also shouted, "Boss, watch out for a trap!"

"This kid definitely has a scheme!"

Qin Feng's expression remained unchanged as he said indifferently, "What? Is the famous 'Red-Haired' Mace of the seas afraid to even accept a challenge from a Late-stage Grand Martial Master like me? Or are you afraid that Leader Zhao behind me will take action? I can guarantee that Leader Zhao will never interfere in a fair duel between us."

Mace's eyes flickered. She was indeed wary of Zhao Mang, a true Martial King, but Qin Feng's proposal tempted her. One hundred thousand gold coins! Moreover, if she could publicly defeat the opponent's leader, it would undoubtedly strike a massive blow to their morale and give her absolute initiative in subsequent negotiations.

"Fine! Kid, you've got guts!" Mace's mind raced. Thinking that dealing with a Late-stage Grand Martial Master would be easy, she agreed. "However, I won't go onto your ship! If you're so capable, come onto mine!"

She was still cautious; she would be more confident on her own turf.

"Fine," Qin Feng agreed readily.

"Brother Qin! Big Brother Qin!" Zhao Mang and Xiao Chun spoke up at the same time to stop him.

Qin Feng gave them a reassuring look and whispered, "Leader Zhao just needs to hold the fort. I know what I'm doing."

With that, his figure blurred. Everyone felt a flash before their eyes as a green shadow glided across several yards of sea like a ghost, landing lightly on the deck of the Green Fish Bandits' main ship without disturbing a speck of dust.

"What fast movement technique!" Mace's eyes narrowed, and she cast aside her last bit of contempt. This level of lightness skill was definitely not something an ordinary Grand Martial Master could possess.

"Please." Qin Feng stood with his hands behind his back, his qingming sword still in its sheath.

"Hmph! Playing tricks!" Mace gave a delicate shout and no longer hesitated. Her fiery red hair moved without wind, and her Half-Step Martial King Internal Energy erupted, a crimson aura flaring around her! She crossed her palms, which lunged like two fire pythons emerging from a cave, carrying a scorching wave of air straight at Qin Feng! Her palm strikes were fierce; she clearly cultivated a fire-attribute technique that was fierce and overbearing.

Qin Feng's eyes sharpened, and he pushed his Wind Spirit Illusion Steps to the limit. His figure was like a willow catkin in the wind, or a ghostly phantom, evading the fierce palms at the critical moment. Simultaneously, he pointed his fingers like a sword, and the sharp Sword Qi of the Finger Sword Among Flowers hissed, like blooming petals of death, attacking Mace's vital points from various strange angles.

Mace was experienced and didn't panic despite her surprise. She changed her palm technique from offense to defense, her crimson palm shadows flying to disperse the streaks of Sword Qi with muffled "thud" sounds. She was secretly shocked; the opponent's Sword Qi was far more concentrated than that of an ordinary Grand Martial Master, and his movement technique was so unpredictable that she felt like she had nowhere to apply her strength.

"Raging Flames Burning Heart!" Unable to land a hit for a long time, Mace shouted. Her palms became as red as branding irons, and she suddenly pushed forward. A scorching wave of air pressed toward Qin Feng like a wall of fire, covering a wide area in an attempt to restrict his elusive movement technique.

Feeling the heat wave hitting his face, Qin Feng knew he couldn't take it head-on. His footwork changed again; it was no longer just simple evasion but a rapid rotation around Mace, creating multiple afterimages that dazzled the eyes. At the same time, the qingming sword finally left its sheath!

"Clang!"

The sword light appeared like a green rainbow. It wasn't a direct thrust but drew out mysterious arcs. As the Hundred Flowers Sword Technique was unleashed, the sword light sometimes bloomed like a profusion of flowers, brilliant and eye-catching, and sometimes seemed like flowers withering, hiding lethal intent. The Sword Qi and the crimson palm force collided repeatedly, producing a dense sound of clashing metal.

Mace grew more alarmed as the fight went on. The opponent's sword technique was exquisite, and his movement technique was even more elusive. Despite her vast Half-Step Martial King Internal Energy, she was repeatedly countered by his skill, making it difficult for her to exert her full power. Furthermore, the sharp aura coming from the sword made her skin crawl, and she didn't dare to take it head-on with her bare palms easily.

In the blink of an eye, the two had exchanged dozens of moves. The bandits on the deck watched in stunned silence; they had never seen their leader pushed to such a state.

Qin Feng knew that a prolonged battle would be disadvantageous, as her Internal Energy was ultimately deeper than his. He feigned a mistake, his figure seemingly faltering for a moment.

As expected, Mace fell for it. A flash of joy appeared in her eyes, and she struck with a full-power palm at Qin Feng's wide-open chest. "Kid, it's over!"

At that moment, a cold smile curled on Qin Feng's lips. He pushed his Wind Spirit Illusion Steps to the maximum, his body drifting backward along with her palm wind as if he were weightless. Simultaneously, his left hand quietly flicked out three Hundred Flowers Needles, as thin as cow hair and coated with a potent anesthetic!

Mace's full-power strike hit nothing but air. Just as her old strength was spent and new strength hadn't yet risen, and because her eagerness to win had caused her mind to relax slightly, she was suddenly hit in the soft ribs of her waist by the three Hundred Flowers Needles!

She felt her body go numb, her Internal Energy circulation instantly becoming sluggish, and her movements couldn't help but slow down by a beat.

"Now!"

Qin Feng's eyes were as sharp as swords. The qingming sword lunged like a venomous dragon emerging from its hole, avoiding vital spots. The side of the blade struck Mace's wrist with precision!

"Smack!"

Mace groaned as her wrist throbbed with pain and her palm force dissipated. Qin Feng didn't let up. His footwork followed in succession, closing the distance instantly. His left fingers moved like the wind, tapping several major acupoints on her chest!

Mace's body completely stiffened, and she remained in a forward-lunging posture, unable to move. Only her beautiful eyes were wide open, filled with disbelief and humiliation.

She, the "Red-Haired" Mace, a Half-Step Martial King, had actually been captured alive in a head-on confrontation by a Late-stage Grand Martial Master!

The entire sea surface instantly fell into a deathly silence.