506: Chapter 506 Starting Over

Haihua Island.

Lin Xiao crossed the ocean and reached the shore just as the sun was setting.

This place was very close to Hai Province; it only took half a day by sailboat.

Yet, such a nearby island had already become a domain for Japanese pirates.

"Who goes there!?"

As Lin Xiao stepped ashore, he happened to spot three shirtless Japanese pirates lazily standing guard by the reefs.

The sudden appearance of a Central Plains man naturally gave them a fright, and they hurriedly grabbed their weapons.

Lin Xiao didn't care to say much. With a flick of his hand, sword qi claimed three heads.

Afterward, he sped toward the high slope in the center of the island, where dozens of sheds had been built and most of the pirates were gathered.

It was currently time for dinner, and over a dozen elderly women in tattered clothes were busy stewing something.

A group of Japanese pirates stood nearby, cursing impatiently, many of them wearing lecherous expressions.

Only women were abducted to the island, not only to satisfy the needs of these pirates but also to serve as an "emergency supply" if food ran short.

To the pirates, men and children were far less "cost-effective" than women.

Under the largest sunshade, several pirates dressed in finery were drinking and making merry with young women in their arms.

Lin Xiao was fast; by the time he entered the shed, most of the pirates hadn't even reacted.

"Hmm?"

A bearded pirate stood up and asked in bewilderment, "Who are you? How did you get up here?"

Lin Xiao didn't understand the Japanese language, so he looked directly at the tall, thin pirate leader sitting at the head.

"You must be Ye Jiantaro. Do you speak the language of the Central Plains?"

Ye Jiantaro frowned, his eyes gloomy. "A little. Being able to come here means you're an expert. Do you want something from me?"

"Take your men, get on your ships, and follow me to a certain place," Lin Xiao said, getting straight to the point.

Ye Jiantaro froze for a moment, then burst out laughing. "Are you joking with me? On what bas—"

Before he could finish his sentence, a bloody hole appeared in Ye Jiantaro's chest!

The two girls beside him screamed in terror and scrambled away.

Ye Jiantaro looked down, staring in disbelief at the empty space where his heart used to be. Amidst a face of sheer horror, he breathed his last.

At this, the expressions of the dozen or so minor pirate leaders nearby changed drastically.

A few bold ones drew their blades to attack, but even more turned and fled!

Lin Xiao had long expected the "negotiations to break down."

If they could be reasoned with using human speech, they wouldn't be Japanese pirates!

It didn't matter to him; they were all going to be killed anyway, so it didn't matter where it happened.

Summoning his Black Blade, Lin Xiao went directly into mowing mode.

With "Startling Swan" activated, Lin Xiao's already ghost-like speed became impossible for the pirates to track with their naked eyes.

In Lin Xiao's eyes, the world seemed to enter slow motion.

The fleeing pirates looked as if they were standing still, waiting for him to harvest them.

Wherever the Black Blade passed, screams rose in succession, like a hellish song of wailing ghosts and howling wolves!

With his perception fully expanded, the pirates had no way to hide. In less than fifteen minutes, not a single pirate was left alive on the island.

[Comprehension Ability +2013...]

For the current Lin Xiao, this amount of Comprehension Ability was a drop in the bucket, but it felt great!

After their initial terror, the dozens of young women and matrons realized they had been saved!

"Thank you, benefactor!"

"Thank you for saving us, Young Master!"

The women knelt on the ground one by one, sobbing uncontrollably.

"There are many ships by the shore, and there are no more pirates on the island. You can go back now."

Lin Xiao scanned them and confirmed that several were from fishing backgrounds, so handling the ships shouldn't be a problem.

But upon hearing about going back, most of the women showed signs of sadness and hesitation, as if they had something difficult to say.

Lin Xiao thought for a moment and suddenly understood.

These women had been abducted by pirates; how could they face anyone if they returned to their hometowns?

Even if they were innocent, gossip can be a deadly thing!

"If you don't mind, take the ships to Qizhou in the Yan Region. I will have people make arrangements for you to change your identities and start your lives anew."

Lin Xiao's words caused hope to ignite once more in the eyes of the dozens of women.

"Benefactor, is that really possible?"

"Can we really go back? Won't we be looked down upon?"

Lin Xiao smiled and said, "You don't really have a choice right now, do you?"

The women looked at each other, and many of them nodded.

Indeed, what could be worse than being tortured by pirates?

"Benefactor, may we ask your esteemed name? We would like to repay you in the future."

A rather beautiful woman looked at Lin Xiao piteously.

Lin Xiao remembered that she was one of the women Ye Jiantaro had been holding; among this group, her looks were indeed the best.

"Just call me Yu Zecheng."

"Yu Zecheng?"

The group of women muttered the name, intending to commit it to memory.

Lin Xiao told the women to wait on the ships while he handled some other matters before they all set off together.

However, the woman who had asked for his name was unwilling to board the ship.

"Young Master Yu, I don't want to go to the Yan Region. I want to follow you, may I?" the woman pleaded with a face full of sincerity.

"Follow me? Why?" Lin Xiao asked.

"My father, my mother, and my younger brother were all killed by the pirates. I have no family left."

The woman choked up. "I live only to kill Japanese pirates. I know you must feel the same way, Young Master."

"But you don't know martial arts," Lin Xiao said bluntly.

"But I can speak the Japanese language!"

As she spoke, she uttered a few sentences in Japanese. Although not very fluent, she indeed knew how to speak it.

"My family used to be small merchants who did business with Japan, so I learned quite a bit."

A hint of amusement appeared in Lin Xiao's eyes as he asked, "What is your name?"

"My surname is Jiang, and my given name is Xue."

"Jiang Xue..."

A playful smirk touched the corners of Lin Xiao's mouth. "How is it that I remember your name being 'Feixu'?"

[Feixu (Jiang Xue), 24 years old, Qinhuai Pavilion spy, Aptitude: mystic grade]

[Tags: Spy, Dancer, Actress]

Lin Xiao had noticed early on that this woman by Ye Jiantaro's side was from the Qinhuai Pavilion.

However, Lin Xiao wasn't sure if she had been stationed here by the Prince of Donghai or if she was simply a victim abducted by the pirates.

As it turned out, before Lin Xiao could even test her, the woman exposed herself.

Sure enough, when Lin Xiao mentioned the code name "Feixu," the woman's face changed drastically!

"You... who exactly are you?"

"Who I am isn't important. You just need to tell me: does every pirate leader have someone from your Qinhuai Pavilion by their side?" Lin Xiao asked.

Feixu let out a cold laugh and turned to jump into the sea!

But before she could take two steps, her legs were left behind!

"Ahhh!!——"

Feixu screamed miserably, looking back at her completely "liberated" legs. Terror caused her to break down!