Chu Lingguang was not reckless.
"So, what’s your plan?"
Zhou Kun asked.
"Since the Xiazigou pirates want to see our response, they’ll definitely have people watching Black Bear Island. From this moment on, keep an eye on every suspicious person on the island—especially newcomers who look like they’ve spent a long time living in these waters."
Chu Lingguang commanded.
"Yes, sir!"
The men answered, then left looking puzzled. Chu Lingguang hadn’t revealed his plan for dealing with the Xiazigou pirates.
After they left, Chu Lingguang went to find Eunuch Liu.
Eunuch Liu lived on the island. Aside from supervising Xuanyuan Jinkang’s training in the Soft and Flexible Technique and teaching him patience, he spent most of his days fishing by the sea.
He claimed that fishing, too, was a form of training.
He said that when his mind could settle and sense every stir under the water, it helped him recover his power.
"Eunuch Liu."
Chu Lingguang said, coming up behind him.
"What do you plan to do?"
Eunuch Liu asked.
Clearly, he already knew that the Xiazigou pirates had attacked Zhang Long and Zhao Hu’s ships, causing heavy casualties among the Black Bear Island soldiers.
"I want to go to Xiazigou myself. First, I’ll get a clear picture of the situation and confirm how many men they have. Only then will I figure out a strategy to wipe them out."
Chu Lingguang said.
With the strengthening of his Sea of Consciousness Power and the ever-brightening glow of his Divine Wisdom Power in that small inner ocean, Chu Lingguang was not only calmer than before but also a sharper thinker, able to extrapolate and see the bigger picture.
"Hmm. ’Know your enemy and know yourself.’ Very good. I happen to be idle, so I’ll go with you."
Eunuch Liu said with a smile.
"That... I was hoping you could..."
Chu Lingguang had wanted to ask Eunuch Liu to look after Black Bear Island in his absence. After all, since the Xiazigou pirates had already dared to attack Zhang Long and Zhao Hu’s ships, there was no guarantee they wouldn’t try something even bolder once he was gone.
"They wouldn’t dare make a move on Black Bear Island, even if they had ten times the nerve. Otherwise, the Court would send a hundred thousand marines to Xiazigou. Even with their natural defenses, not a single one of them would survive."
Eunuch Liu interrupted, knowing what Chu Lingguang was thinking.
Black Bear Island was the stationed base of the Qingzhou navy. For pirates to attack the island would be tantamount to rebellion. The Great Yuan Dynasty would never sit idly by.
"Then my thanks, Eunuch Liu."
Chu Lingguang no longer refused.
Xiazigou was no ordinary place. Having a True Martial Realm expert like Eunuch Liu along would add another layer of security.
"They’ll have people watching you. Before you go, make arrangements so they think you’re still on the island training the troops, that you haven’t taken a single step off it."
Eunuch Liu reminded him.
"Alright."
That was Chu Lingguang’s plan as well.
He led the soldiers in Spear Technique practice every day.
He just needed to find a stand-in. As long as the islanders could hear the sounds of Spear Technique practice and see ’his’ figure on patrol, no one would suspect he had left Black Bear Island.
"You’re running off to Xiazigou with my master and you want *me* to impersonate you? Chu Lingguang, you’ve gone too far! It’s one thing to steal my master away, but now you want me to be your stand-in?"
Xuanyuan Jinkang was seething with frustration.
He was completely against the idea of Chu Lingguang going to investigate Xiazigou with Eunuch Liu. If Chu Lingguang went alone, that would be one thing, but why did his master have to go with him?
’Who was Eunuch Liu’s apprentice, anyway?’
"You understand Chu Lingguang’s Spear Technique better than anyone on Black Bear Island. Plus, you’re about the same age and build. You’re the only one who can pull off the impersonation without giving it away."
"Besides, you’re a Captain on this island too. If anything happens, you’ll be able to help."
Eunuch Liu said, walking in.
"Master, you’re here to oversee *my* training. Why are you always siding with Chu Lingguang?"
Ultimately, Xuanyuan Jinkang was still bothered by the whole affair.
"If we can eliminate the pirates at Xiazigou, it will be a great accomplishment for both of you. Don’t you want to leave this place sooner?"
Understanding Xuanyuan Jinkang’s feelings, Eunuch Liu countered.
"Of course I do. I know what I have to do."
Xuanyuan Jinkang said with resignation.
The next day, Xuanyuan Jinkang, disguised as Chu Lingguang, led the soldiers in Spear Technique practice on the Martial Arts Arena. To avoid giving the game away, the men positioned at the front were all trusted subordinates he had recently cultivated.
Meanwhile, under the cover of darkness, Chu Lingguang and Eunuch Liu set out to sea before dawn, making their way toward Xiazigou.
Black Bear Island and Xiazigou were separated by a day’s voyage.
The small boat carrying Chu Lingguang and Eunuch Liu traveled at a respectable speed with the help of the Wind and Wave Power, finally nearing Xiazigou just before nightfall.
But he didn’t make any rash moves. Only after the sky was completely dark did the two of them press on toward Xiazigou.
Just as the rumors said, Xiazigou was surrounded by coral reefs, making it easy for large ships to run aground. The only way to approach was through a treacherous, trap-filled channel.
Fortunately, their boat was relatively small and could reach Xiazigou easily.
After the two of them had hidden the boat,
they used the cover of night to find Xiazigou’s port. By following the alignment of the docked vessels, they located the channel large ships used to enter Xiazigou.
To have any hope of attacking Xiazigou, they had to become familiar with every aspect of this channel.
Chu Lingguang and Eunuch Liu slipped into the channel together.
In his past life, Chu Lingguang had grown up in the countryside. Every summer during the rice harvest, he would go swimming in the ponds with the older children, so he had learned to dive long ago. Coupled with the three months he had spent living on the island, his skills in the water had only improved.
Furthermore, he had also cultivated his Underwater Breathing Technique to the level of Perfection.
He could dive underwater and use his Spiritual Sense Fluctuations to get a clear picture of everything happening within the channel.
As for Eunuch Liu, he was also skilled in the water. Furthermore, with his True Martial Realm cultivation, he had long been able to breathe through his very pores, making the Underwater Breathing Technique completely unnecessary for him. He could hold his breath longer than any Water Ghost soldier, anytime.