Luo Longwen
Bai Xiaowen specifically requested two sentries of personal guards because he had two boats.
One of the ships was Ming Army warship that Hu Zongxian had promised to provide to him, and the other was the flagship of the Wokou Pirates Chen One-Eye.
The two boats were about the same size, and each boat was guarded by a squad of ninety personal guards. These personal guards, who had followed Yu Dayou in battle for many years, were far superior to the fishermen who were just playing around. They were extremely skilled in navigating the boats, steering the ship, and reading the water.
The two sentries of guards were led by a dark-skinned captain named Zhang Ting.
Zhang Ting treated Bai Xiaowen with utmost respect throughout the journey, but a dispute arose when they reached the waters near Wusha Reef.
"No, we must go to West Island to make contact and deliver the secret message!" Bai Xiaowen said.
Delivering the secret message was an official task assigned by Hu Zongxian, which was an A-Tier mission, but not Elite Tier one. Bai Xiaowen put this task first for two reasons: first, to prioritize public matters over private ones, and second, to tackle the easier tasks first.
Zhang Ting shook his head repeatedly. "We can't delay the Master's injury; we must go to North Island Ghost Reef immediately to pick Ghost Mugwort."
"Even if I retrieve the Ghost Mugwort, I cannot return without contacting the messenger," Bai Xiaowen said, intending to reason with him.
Zhang Ting, quick-witted as ever, said, "Master Bai, why don't we split into two groups? You go and make contact with the Wokou Pirates woman, while I lead the brothers to pick the Ghost Mugwort. We'll meet up again at the end and return to the main camp."
Bai Xiaowen shook his head and said, "That's not advisable. Master Sun said that the places where Ghost Mugwort grows are haunted by evil spirits and are very dangerous."
Zhang Ting laughed and said, "A warrior like us is not afraid of ghosts. Don't worry, Master Bai, even if we die, we will have no regrets."
With a whoosh, the entire ship of soldiers knelt on the ground. Luckily, the people on the other ship didn't know, otherwise everyone on both ships would have knelt down.
This kneeling was tantamount to coercion.
Bai Xiaowen snorted and said, "What did the governor-general say before you left? He ordered you to obey my commands. What, are you going to disobey orders?"
Zhang Ting, his neck stiff, said, "We regard our lord as our father. We are frantic with worry as long as he remains unconscious. We beg Master Bai to grant our request!"
Bai Xiaowen: "My mission to deliver the message is official business, while finding the medicine is a private matter. I shouldn't let personal matters interfere with my official duties. However, considering your eagerness to save your Lord, I will agree to your request..."
Zhang Ting was overjoyed that Bai Xiaowen agreed so easily, and repeatedly kowtowed in gratitude.
"Don't thank me so soon," Bai Xiaowen said calmly. "Zhang Ting, since you're not afraid of ghosts, then you can only select ten people to go and collect herbs in a small boat. The rest of you will come with me to West Island to help with the mission."
Zhang Ting hesitated for a moment, but still agreed. If he disagreed, Bai Xiaowen would definitely not allow him to leave the ship, and then he would be labeled as disobeying orders, and even if Yu Dayou woke up, he wouldn't be able to save him.
As a veteran of countless battles, Zhang Ting had never really believed in superstitions or divine retribution. He agreed verbally, then summoned ten of his most elite personal guards, and they boarded a small boat and headed straight north.
When Bai Xiaowen ordered the boat to set sail, the remaining guards were no longer as respectful to him as before, probably because they felt that Bai Xiaowen had not prioritized the gathering of herbs and were resentful.
Bai Xiaowen didn't care at all; these personal guards wouldn't be outwardly compliant but inwardly defiant anyway. As for their poor attitude, he could just pretend he didn't see it.
Sitting in the cabin, Li Shuyi asked softly, "Can Zhang Ting and the others really bring back Ghost Mugwort?"
Bai Xiaowen laughed and said, "Why are you asking such a silly question? What level of difficulty is this mission?"
"A-Tier Elite Quest ..." Li Shuyi thought for a moment and said, "So, it's going to be very difficult for Zhang Ting and his group to complete the mission. Then why did you agree to let them go?"
Bai Xiaowen: "Daoist Sun Xuanqing only said that there are evil spirits haunting the place where the Ghost Mugwort grows. We have no idea what these evil spirits are like or what their weaknesses are. In that case, it's good to let Zhang Ting and the others go and test the waters first... After I send the message back, I will set sail for North Island Ghost Reef to collect herbs."
According to Bai Xiaowen's guess, even if Zhang Ting and his group couldn't gather the Ghost Mugwort, they shouldn't be completely wiped out on the North Island Ghost Reef. After all, their ten Elite Tier bodyguards were not weak. Zhang Ting, in particular, was Rare Elite- level expert.
After Zhang Ting's initial setback, he could only wait for Bai Xiaowen to return to the ship. Once they met, Bai Xiaowen would be able to extract information about the ghost's characteristics from Zhang Ting and prepare some targeted methods.
Of course, if Zhang Ting manages to collect the Ghost Mugwort, that would be even better. Completing an A-Tier Elite Quest without lifting a finger—could there be anything better?
Under the cover of night, the two boats sailed to a bay on West Island and, after sending a signal, waited quietly.
As the moon rose high in the sky, a small boat cut through the waves and a man boarded the official boat.
Clearly, this person was the messenger sent by the famous courtesan Wang Cuiqiao to make contact. Bai Xiaowen was slightly surprised that this person was actually a scholar.
In the Ming Dynasty, where literature was valued above martial arts and scholarship was considered the highest virtue, it wasn't simply a matter of wearing a long gown and robe to be called a scholar; only those who actually held the title of scholar were considered worthy of recognition.
"This junior, Luo Longwen, greets you two... sirs?" Luo Xiucai was a little confused when he saw Bai Xiaowen and Li Shuyi, who were in charge. Bai Xiaowen had already changed out of the tattered clothes that were the Spirit Realm Rules when he landed, and was now wearing his original Warlock's Robe. Li Shuyi was also wearing her original Sword Dao Robe.
Such a Daoist priest and a swordsman dressed in strange robes sat among a ship full of government troops, and everything about them seemed odd.
Bai Xiaowen waved his hand and said, "I am a Daoist Gate disciple who cultivates in seclusion, and this is my junior sister. You don't need to address me as 'Military Master.' My surname is Bai, and hers is Li. You can call me whatever you like."
"... Yes, Immortal Master Bai, and this Lady Li..."
"Brother Luo, since you already have official rank and title, why would you stoop to serve the bandits? The name of Wokou Pirates is not easy to erase." Bai Xiaowen handed over Hu Zongxian's secret letter and began to probe for information.
Luo Longwen shook his head and said, "My ambition lies not in fame or fortune."
"... Alright." Seeing that Luo Xiucai was unwilling to talk more, Bai Xiaowen did not press him for his identity, but instead asked:
"Brother Luo, are you aware of the clash between Xu Hai and the Wokou Pirates under Ye Mazi's command the other day?"
"Yes, it was Second Master Hong who led his men in a fight against Chen One-Eye, one of Ye Mazi's men. To be honest, Immortal Master Bai, I am Master Hong's strategist. Master Hong originally wanted to seize the treasures that Chen One-Eye had stolen, but unfortunately, they were taken away by two people who suddenly appeared."
"You witnessed that naval battle, that's good," Bai Xiaowen asked. "And afterwards, did your ship recruit any new crew members?"
Luo Longwen paused for a moment, then nodded. "There are two new recruits on board. These two seem to have fallen from the sky; their backgrounds are unknown... However, they are quite capable. In the past two days, they have helped Master Xu kill several of Ye Mazi's fierce generals, so they are highly valued."