114: sneak attack on Japanese pirates

The fourth quarter of the Yin hour (around 4:30 AM) was the exact moment when the night was at its deepest and people were at their most exhausted and lax.

Black Reef Island was like a giant beast crouching upon the ink-colored sea, its silhouette hideous. Scattered, faint flickers of torchlight on the island were like the beast's half-opened, drowsy eyes during sleep, adding a sense of deathly stillness.

In the hidden waters near the back of the island, several dark figures slipped silently into the icy seawater. Qin Feng activated the water repelling pearl, forming an elliptical air shield that enveloped himself, Zhao Mang, Mace, and Ji Ruxue, isolating the seawater and sound. Like a nimble fish, they dived toward the island's shore.

"Tsk tsk, this really is a good item." Mace watched the seawater being automatically pushed aside around them, a flash of undisguised greed in her eyes. For someone who lived on the sea year-round, the temptation of such a water-repelling treasure was far too great.

Qin Feng glanced at her indifferently. "This was lent to us by Lord Su. Chief Mace had better not get any ideas."

Mace curled her lip and said nothing more, though her gaze remained fervent.

Soon, the four of them silently stepped onto Black Reef Island. Beneath their feet were rough and slippery reefs, and the air was filled with the smell of the sea and a faint, lingering scent of decay.

"Sister Xue, it's up to you," Qin Feng whispered to Ji Ruxue.

Ji Ruxue nodded. Although she had been in poor condition earlier on the ship due to seasickness, once her feet touched solid ground, her instincts as a Gold Medal Assassin immediately returned. She became like a true shadow, merging into the darkness, her presence almost completely vanishing.

Swish, swish, swish—

In the darkness, only extremely subtle sounds, like wind blowing through fallen leaves, occasionally drifted over.

In less than fifteen minutes, Ji Ruxue's figure quietly reappeared, giving Qin Feng a gesture indicating the area was cleared. The twelve Martial Master-level hidden sentries and outposts scattered around the island's perimeter had already been silently dealt with by her, as if she were mowing grass.

The four continued to sneak inward. Before they had gone far, a patrol of five Martial Masters led by a Grand Martial Master came walking lazily along a fixed route, yawning.

Qin Feng's eyes turned cold. He took out specially made knockout powder and poison powder from his Storage Pouch, channeled his Internal Energy, and blew gently toward the patrol. The colorless and odorless powders drifted with the wind, instantly enveloping the six men.

They only felt a bout of dizziness. Before they could realize what was happening, their legs went weak, and they collapsed silently to the ground.

Ji Ruxue moved again, like a god of death in the dark night. Her dagger's cold light flashed repeatedly, precisely slitting their throats and severing all life.

Clean and efficient!

Qin Feng made a series of pre-arranged hand signals toward the sea.

A moment later, in the shallow waters behind Black Reef Island, dark figures waded ashore like ghosts. The Hundred Flowers Pavilion guards led by Steward Liu and the elites of Mace's Green Fish Bandits—totaling over a hundred Grand Martial Masters and Martial Master experts—surged onto the beach silently like a tide.

Led by several pirates under Mace who were proficient in mechanisms, they quickly destroyed two hidden alarm mechanisms at the island's entrance and silently opened the simple yet sturdy wooden gate.

The entire operation was as smooth as flowing water, with perfect coordination.

However, just as Qin Feng and the other three took the lead in stepping through the gate to begin their assault, a Wokou wobbled out of a crude thatch toilet nearby, pulling up his pants. He was drunk and bleary-eyed; he was one of the three Deputy Heads, possessing a Half-Step Martial King cultivation!

Both sides bumped right into each other on the narrow path!

They stared at each other in shock!

Most of the Deputy Head's drunkenness was instantly scared away. He widened his eyes, looking at the four unfamiliar faces who were clearly not his own men. Especially sensing the undisguised powerful auras from Zhao Mang and Mace, a discordant rasping sound came from his throat as he instinctively prepared to shout.

"Enemy attack—!!"

"Do it!"

Almost at the same time, Qin Feng, Zhao Mang, Mace, and Ji Ruxue exploded into action as if they shared one mind!

Qin Feng's Finger Sword Among Flowers went straight for the throat!

Zhao Mang's violent punch wind enveloped the head!

Mace's flaming palm strike slammed into the heart!

Ji Ruxue's poisoned dagger stabbed into the back of the heart!

Four great experts—including a true Martial King and a Half-Step Martial King—all putting forth their full strength to deal with a single, hurried, and still-drunk Half-Step Martial King; the outcome was without suspense!

Boom!!

With a dull thud, the Deputy Head hadn't even been able to fully draw his Katana before his Protective Aura shattered like paper. Several fatal holes and charred palm prints instantly appeared on his body. His eyes bulged out with endless terror and resentment as he fell straight back, dead!

However, his shrill cry of "enemy attack" just before death was like a giant boulder thrown into a calm lake, instantly shattering the silence of Black Reef Island!

"Enemy attack!!"

"There are enemies!!"

"Get up, quick!"

In an instant, the entire Wokou nest was like a disturbed hornet's nest, exploding! Countless Wokou were startled from their sleep, frantically grabbing the Katanas beside them and rushing out of various huts and caves in disarray, with cursing, shouting, and the sound of blades being unsheathed ringing out together!

And in the largest cave at the very center of the nest.

Sasaki Taro violently pushed away the four or five kidnapped, shivering young women beside him and leaped up, bare-chested. He grabbed the Katana placed by his pillow; his face was somewhat bloated from excessive wine and lust, but his eyes shot out cruel and violent light.

"Baka! Who has the audacity to come and run wild on my turf!" he roared, kicking aside a woman in his way and rushing out of the cave with his blade in hand.

"Everyone! Take up your weapons! Annihilate the intruders! Leave none alive!"

The bloody melee erupted with a bang in this darkest moment before dawn!