It was mid-afternoon, and the sun was blazing.
As the fleet reached Backwater Bay, the channel narrowed. The rear ship, packed full of commoners, gradually fell behind the vessels ahead.
Old Wu stood at the stern, peering at both banks.
He could not say what was wrong, but his eyelids kept twitching.
"Everyone into the cabin." He hurriedly gave the order in a hoarse voice. "Sit tight against the hull. Don't show your heads."
The commoners had barely started moving into the cabin—
Boom!
The reeds on the left exploded as a swift black-canopied boat rammed out from the side. A red-faced burly man stood at its prow, dressed in dark crimson martial garb. Behind him, four men rested their hands on their sword hilts, while two iron corpses stood at the stern.
"My senior brother Withered Bone, and the three hundred fellow disciples of Dark Harbor." The red-faced man struck first with his words. "We'll take this boatload of commoners first and collect a little interest."
Old Wu's heart sank.
Yet he still gripped his waist saber and stepped before the cabin entrance, roaring, "Fire the signal arrow!"
A bailiff behind him drew out a signal arrow and fired it into the sky with a shrill whistle.
Old Qin hobbled out, leaning on his fire poker, and stood beside him. "Don't panic. Lord Xu... will come."
Further back, the half-grown boy had somehow found a broken pole. Without saying a word, he stepped to the very front.
The burly man lifted a brow. "A nest of mortals, and you dare stand in my way?"
"Dog-fucking bastard." Old Wu spat out a wad of phlegm. "What we're stopping is a pack of beasts."
"Old thing, your mouth really stinks, huh?"
The man casually swept a hand. His astral force lashed