The night was deep.
The merchant ship moored near the shore swayed gently, the river striking its hull with soft slapping sounds.
At this moment, most of the sailors had already fallen asleep, and snores rose and fell from the lower cabins.
Only the fishing lamps on deck remained lit.
Two crewmen on night watch paced back and forth along the railings.
Just as one sailor reached the bow, every hair on his body suddenly stood on end.
Instinctively, he sensed that something was wrong!
Whoosh!
The sailor had just opened his mouth to shout when a feathered arrow shot toward him with lightning speed.
Pfft!
The poor sailor had no time to dodge before the arrow pierced through his throat.
The wind lantern in his hand dropped limply onto the deck, scattering burning oil in all directions.
Raging flames immediately surged up from the bow!
The other patrolling sailor saw this scene and, aghast, hurriedly threw himself onto the deck.
At the same time, he shouted sharply, "Enemy attack! Enemy attack!"
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Two more feathered arrows flew over.
But because the warning sailor had made the right call, both arrows landed in the sails behind him.
The merchant ship instantly erupted into chaos!
Snap! Snap! Snap!
The next moment, more than a dozen grappling ropes were thrown onto the deck from different directions.
The long ropes suddenly pulled taut backward, their sharp three-pronged iron hooks firmly catching onto the ship's railings.
At the same time, Zhang Yuan, who had been resting in his cabin, abruptly opened his eyes!
Without the slightest hesitation, he reached out, grabbed the Goose Feather Saber beside his pillow, and sprang from the bed.
The moment Zhang Yuan rushed out of his cabin, he saw Feng Ming rushing out from the room next door.