Xuanyuan Jinkang looked at him, his face filled with shock.
He already knew Chu Lingguang had broken through his Qi Sea to reach the True Martial Realm, but to see him tread water on the sea’s surface, pull him along, and leap to a ship twenty or thirty zhang away... This required not only immense power but also a profound mastery of Potential Power.
However, when he remembered how Chu Lingguang had single-handedly charged to the summit, sending the pirate leaders scattering in terror, and how countless pirates had fallen to his spear along the way, Xuanyuan Jinkang felt it made sense.
But a moment later, he looked at Chu Lingguang with immense anger. Although Eunuch Liu hadn’t specified whether Chu Lingguang’s breakthrough was related to him, Xuanyuan Jinkang had a nagging suspicion that Eunuch Liu was inextricably involved.
"Lord Chu, how did you get knocked into the sea by pirates?"
A General appeared on the second-level deck, asking with a curious expression.
Chu Lingguang glanced at the man’s banner.
It bore the character for "Jin."
He and Xuanyuan Jinkang exchanged a look; with a moment’s thought, they knew who this man was.
The man was named Jin Wubin.
He was also a Captain, and an Advanced Scholar by background.
Qingzhou Prefecture was the southernmost region of the Great Yuan Dynasty, with a coastline stretching over two thousand li.
Besides the shipping lane near Black Bear Island, there were several other important sea routes.
The area Jin Wubin was stationed to protect was called Pearl Island. There weren’t many islands nearby, but it was on one of the most important shipping routes between the Great Yuan and western nations, and it was also frequently plagued by pirates.
Pearl Island was nearly a full day’s journey by sea from Black Bear Island.
He had three thousand men stationed on the island.
It was a day and a half’s journey from Xiazigou. It was obvious that Chu Lingguang had sent a message via falcon to Liu Ziyun, who had then immediately issued an order for Jin Wubin to dispatch troops for support.
And that was what had led to the current scene.
However, the man’s teasing tone seemed to be aimed specifically at Chu Lingguang and his companion.
Chu Lingguang released a wave of his Spiritual Sense and found that the twelve pirate leaders had already fallen into the hands of Jin Wubin’s men and were tied up on the deck.
"Lord Jin, you’ve misunderstood. Captain Xuanyuan and I pursued the pirates down from the summit through a hidden path. Fortunately, you’ve managed to capture them all."
Chu Lingguang explained.
"These pirates are quite cunning. Lord Chu, you’ve worked hard all night. Why don’t you let your men rest? I can handle things here."
Jin Wubin said with a smile.
"Lord Jin, we were the ones who conquered Xiazigou. Why don’t you hand over those pirate leaders to us and let your men go back and rest early?"
Xuanyuan Jinkang replied.
Conquering Xiazigou was a major accomplishment. It wouldn’t be so easy for Jin Wubin to swoop in and take the credit.
Chu Lingguang and Xuanyuan Jinkang had already noticed that Jin Wubin’s men were rushing towards the summit, apparently intending to capture a batch of pirates to take back for themselves and claim the glory.
Unfortunately for them, large ships couldn’t dock at the Xiazigou harbor without knowing the safe route through the channel. Otherwise, their hulls would be pierced by the traps hidden within it.
Thus, of Jin Wubin’s forces that had just arrived, only a group of Water Ghosts and some other men had reached the harbor in small boats and were now scrambling desperately up the mountain.
"Insolence! A mere Captain has no place to speak here!"
Jin Wubin’s Deputy General roared.
The man held the same rank as Zhang Baofu—he was also a Captain. As the saying goes, a higher rank can crush a man. He certainly had the standing to reprimand Xuanyuan Jinkang.
"The Lord Governor ordered you to support us! That means you are to follow Lord Chu’s commands on all matters!"
Xuanyuan Jinkang retorted angrily.
"Is that so, Lord Chu?"
Jin Wubin didn’t get angry. Instead, he looked at Chu Lingguang with a beaming smile.
"Captain Xuanyuan, sound the horn immediately. Tell our men to secure the pirates and not let a single one escape."
Chu Lingguang commanded, his voice ringing with authority.
"Yes, sir!"
Xuanyuan Jinkang commandeered a small boat and sped towards the harbor.
"Chu Lingguang, what do you think you’re doing?"
Jin Wubin demanded angrily.
"Lord Jin, the channel is full of traps. I’d advise you to keep your ships here and not make any rash moves."
With a single leap, Chu Lingguang landed on the second-level deck.
SHING!
Seeing him approach, Jin Wubin’s men all drew their blades and faced him defensively.
The twelve pirate leaders, who were tied up together, shrank into a ball at the sight of Chu Lingguang, terrified that he would blast their heads open with his spear.
"Surely Lord Chu doesn’t intend to snatch these men from my grasp!"
Jin Wubin demanded.
"I wouldn’t dare. Since these men were captured by you, Lord Jin, they are yours to deal with. I only wish to offer you a word of advice."
Chu Lingguang said with a smile.
"Lord Chu, if you have something to say, say it plainly."
Jin Wubin said, his face grim.
"Ambition should be proportional to one’s strength. The same is true in officialdom!"
BOOM!
The moment he finished speaking, Chu Lingguang stomped, shattering the deck. The warship lurched violently as he launched himself from the deck toward the harbor. Using two small boats as stepping stones midway, he crossed the channel and landed effortlessly on the docks.
Only then did Xuanyuan Jinkang have his subordinate sound the horn.
"Chu Lingguang is too brazen!"
Jin Wubin’s Deputy General said, grinding his teeth.
"The men are in our hands. It won’t be so easy for him to take all the credit."
Jin Wubin said, his face dark.
But as he looked at the swaying ship and the shattered deck, he added worriedly, "How is that man so strong? Wasn’t he just a Military Scholar?"
"Never mind that. Send a message to the Lord Governor. Tell him that Chu Lingguang and I have taken Xiazigou, and that all the pirate leaders have been captured and are in our hands."
Jin Wubin decided to oppose Chu Lingguang to the very end.
"To catch a thief, you first catch the king. Without us, Xiazigou wouldn’t have fallen so easily."
the Deputy General chimed in.
The two of them were dead set on getting a piece of the pie and claiming a huge share of the glory.
(Thank you to Carefree Divine Venerable for the 10,000 Starting Point Coin donation!)