Search, Part 2

Zhang Rongfang smiled slightly and was about to speak.

Suddenly, a piercing whistle drifted from a distance.

He looked up and saw a small boat rapidly approaching the fleet from Snow Kui Island.

"It should be the guide ship for the trade goods that has arrived," Lin Xiaochi explained.

He clasped his hands in a salute to Zhang Rongfang.

"Daozi, shall I take my leave now?"

"I'll go with you," Zhang Rongfang replied.

Lin Xiaochi was ultimately just an ordinary Daoist priest from the Aloeswood Palace. Although he was brave and resourceful, he was still far from being good at considering details.

I'm naive about many things.

The two men, along with the other five, boarded a small boat that had been prepared on the side. After entering the sea, they rowed towards the guide boat.

The two boats, one after the other, quickly returned to Snow Kui Island.

The small boat has a shallow draft, but it moves quickly when the oars are in motion.

Soon they passed through the reef area and slowly approached the shore.

On the golden sand, many islanders were already waiting to exchange their goods.

Some of these islanders had their faces painted with various colors, while others were dressed in tattered clothes. There was a clear class hierarchy.

They were all carrying boxes, earthenware pots, and even plates made of large leaves, holding things in their hands.

"Welcome, welcome! My name is Xue Dongyun, a merchant on Snow Kui Island who specializes in exchanging goods." A tall, burly man pushed through the crowd and stepped forward.

"My name is Lin Xiaochi. Greetings, Brother Xue. We have porcelain here, the finest Blue and White Porcelain, as well as refined elixirs and some dried vegetables and fruits. What would you like?"

He stepped forward and began to negotiate and discuss with Xue Dongyun.

Zhang Rongfang watched with great interest as the islanders who came to exchange goods.

This was his first time going to sea and meeting the natives of the island.

The islanders of Snow Kui Island are mostly small in stature. The few with face paint are all strong.

These people have dark skin, which means they are often exposed to the sun.

Zhang Rongfang quietly strained his eyes to look, and immediately the Dark Light Vision appeared naturally.

In his eyes, the flow of blood and veins of these islanders were clearly visible.

In places where clothes were covering, one could vaguely see.

The exposed areas of skin were exceptionally clear.

Before long, Lin Xiaochi had finished negotiating on the other side, and the two sides began exchanging goods.

Goods were transported between small boats.

Lin Xiaochi also inquired whether the Treasure Hunting Team had passed through this area.

The other party looked completely bewildered, having no idea what Treasure Hunting Team. Even after a reward was offered, no one spoke.

Zhang Rongfang glanced at them and saw that their qi and blood didn't react much, so they didn't seem to be lying. However, when they heard about the bounty, some of them had their qi and blood involuntarily throb and expand a few times, clearly indicating that they were tempted.

He shook his head slightly and took a step forward.

"Mr. Xue, our fleet has been adrift at sea for some time and has not seen land for a long time. Would you mind if we could go ashore for a visit?"

"Well... our Snow Kui Island has always been isolated from the world and doesn't like to communicate with the outside world, so I'm afraid it won't be very convenient," Xue Dongyun replied after a moment's hesitation.

"Is that so? Then forget it." Zhang Rongfang smiled and said no more.

Ship after ship carried goods to and from each other in exchange. Soon the exchange was over, and the two sides embraced one last time as a farewell.

Lin Xiaochi led the group that had come to them back towards the small boat.

Zhang Rongfang also boarded the ship, and the group, carrying the goods they had acquired, prepared to return towards the large ship.

Standing on the boat, Zhang Rongfang turned around and looked at Xue Dongyun, who was waving goodbye.

In a small Coconut Grove nearby, a petite figure was hiding behind a coconut tree, watching the departing ship from afar.

"What's over there?" asked a master from the Thousand Stone Sect.

"Just kids watching the show." Lin Xiaochi glanced at it from afar. "Let's go, next island. I've asked around on this island, and nobody's heard of the Treasure Hunting Team."

*** Island.

Zhou Xinlan was panting heavily. He had just finished his work when he heard a merchant ship docking, so he hurriedly and secretly ran out.

They also brought along the note and the Yu Xiang Coral.

But as he stood behind the coconut tree, gazing at the departing boat, his heart grew colder.

'Am I too late?'

Zhou Xinlan the note tightly in her hand.

So close! So very close!

A rare feeling of annoyance welled up in his heart.

'I'll have to wait until next time. I have to go back immediately, or I'll be in big trouble if I get caught!'

He turned around and ran quickly towards the Blue God Residence.

If he were discovered by the people in the manor, or by the Ghost Mask Man, he might be skinned alive and eaten! Thump! He hadn't run two steps when he felt a sharp pain in the back of his neck, and a large hand lifted him up.

"Oh? There's actually a little brat from the Inner Courtyard here."

Xue Dongyun grabbed Zhou Xinlan by the neck with one hand, smiled, and lifted him up, placing him in front of her.

"What do you want to do by sneaking here?" His narrowed eyes were full of coldness.

Suddenly, it fell to the ground with a soft thud.

Zhou Xinlan down and saw a pale yellow crumpled paper on the ground.

"What is this?" Intrigued, he squatted down and picked up the crumpled paper with one hand.

Splash!

The crumpled paper was unfolded, revealing a jumble of strange, grotesque scribbles on it.

"I want to find someone to teach me to read," Zhou Xinlan struggled to say.

His face was flushed, and his vision began to blur due to lack of oxygen.

"Learn to read?" Xue Dongyun chuckled. "You, a little brat who does odd jobs, want to learn to read?"

He tossed aside the note, picked up Zhou Xinlan, and prepared to return to the island.

"Why should Mr. Xue take it so seriously at the expense of a child? It's a good thing that he's trying to improve himself."

Suddenly, a figure appeared not far from the Coconut Grove and looked at the two of them.

Xue Dongyun looked up at the newcomers, her brows furrowed. It was someone from the merchant ship.

"This is a druid I bought on Snow Kui Island some time ago. It broke the rules and ran out of the house without permission. How to punish it is up to us."

He squinted at the newcomer.

The person bent down, picked up the discarded note, unfolded it, and read it.

"But I don't think that's appropriate."

The man raised his head, revealing a face wearing Black Mask.

"Friend, you were on the merchant ship just now, right? I advise you to go back quickly and not meddle in other people's business." Xue Dongyun sized up the man, her tone slowly changing.

"Speaking carelessly on this island can get you into trouble." He stuck out his tongue and licked his lips.

"I noticed just now that you seem to be hiding something," the man in black said softly.

Xue Dongyun's eyes darkened.

"Friend, it seems you truly intend to oppose our Snow Kui Island? In that case..."

He stepped forward and suddenly shouted.

"Guards! Seize him!"

With a swishing sound, burly men with faces painted with greasepaint emerged from all directions, surrounding the black-masked man.

"There are a lot of people." The man in the black mask's eyes darted around. "But unfortunately, no matter how many insects there are, they're still insects."

He raised his hand.

Smack

A snap of the fingers.

One after another, burly experts from the Thousand Stone Sect rushed out from the surrounding forest.

Several Ghost Mask Man with Camouflage Face turned to attack, but were grabbed by the arms Shuangshuang large hands and lifted up into the air, unable to move.

Tear!

Amidst the sounds of flesh being torn apart and agonizing screams, these Ghost Mask Man had their arms ripped off one by one and were thrown to the ground.

Xue Dongyun's face darkened. He threw Zhou Xinlan aside and kicked the Black Masked Man with a loud thud.

Whoosh! His strength was clearly far superior to that of the Ghost Mask Man. With just a side kick, the air was compressed and produced a whistling sound.

At the same time, sharp poisonous thorns suddenly sprang out from the soles of the legs and feet, aiming fiercely at the opponent's neck.

When.

The poisonous stinger was precisely caught by a large hand.

Beneath the black mask, Zhang Rongfang's lips curled into a smile, and he suddenly pulled with one hand.

Xue Dongyun was pulled over with great force and slammed into Zhang Rongfang's chest like a cannonball.

Thud! From his chin to his sternum to his lumbar spine, everything snapped with a cracking sound. It all broke instantly.

It was as if I had run into a copper wall.

He tilted his head back as if to vomit blood, but a finger touched his chin.

Blood sprayed towards the open space on the right.

"Sorry, I was a little too rough." Zhang Rongfang looked at Zhou Xinlan, who was getting up beside him.

"Now, boy, tell me, where did you find this note?"

As soon as he scanned the group, he noticed something subtle and amiss.

Now it seems there really was a problem.

The note contained the secret text he had personally designed in the Aloeswood Palace.

Only by knowing the decryption method can one understand the meaning above.

And just now, this encrypted text was actually brought out by a child who was only a teenager.

What about the others?

Where are the other Treasure Hunting Team?

He needs an answer.

Zhang Rongfang had a vague sense of unease.

Zhou Xinlan raised his head and stared blankly at Xue Dongyun was hanging in Zhang Rongfang's hand like trash.

Then look around at the Ghost Mask Man lying on the ground, howling in pain.

He felt as if he were in a dream. This was the first time he had ever seen people outside so powerful. "No! You all need to leave! There are still Blood God Pirates on the island! They won't die! They're all Immortal Body! If we're discovered..."

"Immortal Body?" Zhang Rongfang narrowed his eyes upon hearing this.

He looked around.

"Shut them up."

Upon hearing this, one of the experts from the Thousand Stone Sect punched the Ghost Mask Man on the head.

One by one, heads split open like watermelons, and amidst terrified pleas for mercy, the last Ghost Mask Man's head was blown off.

Thousand Stone Sect and the others stood up as if nothing had happened.

"Your Crown Prince, everything is settled," Tian Ruyi, who had a mustache, said Tian Ruyi a smile.

"Why don't we just kill everyone on this island?" he said, scoffing. "These people don't look like good people; they have nasty faces."

Zhang Rongfang was speechless. Thousand Stone Sect truly lived up to their reputation for committing many bad deeds in the past.

Before joining him, the Thousand Stone Sect had made a living through smuggling, assassination, robbery, and other criminal activities.

They were incredibly skilled at committing murder and arson.

"No rush, I need to find the Treasure Hunting Team. I need to find them alive or dead."

He looked at Zhou Xinlan again and gave her a rather gentle smile.

"Come on, tell me, where did you get this note from? Don't be afraid, I won't hurt you."

Zhou Xinlan swallowed hard, looking at Zhang Rongfang was 2.3 meters tall. On the face of Zhang Rongfang, who was wearing a black mask, a pair of pale eyes forced a smile as he looked at him.

He suddenly felt that he might have been too hasty in agreeing to Cheng Luo's request to tip him off.

Blood God Pirates is no good person, and this group of people in front of me looks like bad guys too.