Southern White Dragon Marsh, Blackwater Whirlpool.
The Three Lakes Gang's tower ship sailed through the marsh's swirling mist for more than an hour before finally reaching its destination and stopping.
Standing at the bow, Wu Yuanhao's legs trembled uncontrollably. His right hand clutched the railing so tightly that his nails dug into the wood. He had returned to this place of death.
The waters of Blackwater Whirlpool were a completely different color from those elsewhere. Ink-black lake water slowly swirled, yet not a single wave disturbed its surface. It was utterly quiet.
"This is the place."
Wu Yuanhao's voice came out dry and strained, steeped in a powerful terror he could never forget.
"Gang Leader Chen, th-this is where we were attacked before."
Seeing that they had arrived, Chen Tao walked to the center of the ship's deck, narrowing his vicious, triangular eyes as he surveyed the broad lake.
The water here was black, and the mist was thirty percent thicker than elsewhere in White Dragon Marsh. A faint rank odor hung in the air-not merely the smell of fish, but also the distinctive stink of snakes.
Chen Tao took a deep breath, seemingly unaffected by the stench, and smiled with excitement.
"That's right. It's here."
Hearing their gang leader's words, Qian Yue had already assembled twenty-one gang members behind him. Each had an air bladder and weapons wrapped in waterproof oilcloth strapped to his back.
These men were all veterans of the Three Lakes Gang who had spent years making their living in White Dragon Marsh. They were excellent swimmers, yet not one of them looked happy as they stood on the deck.
It was not merely because the rank stench was so strong. Their surroundings were deeply unsettling as well.
"Gang Leader."
Qian Yue came closer from behind