358: Chapter 358 I've finally found you!

"This is simple,"

Zhang Liang proposed, "Let's see whose squad can scuttle the most enemy ships. Whoever does so will be the undisputed commander of the Water Ghost Camp!"

"Good, good, excellent!"

Peng Yue was overjoyed upon hearing this; it was indeed a brilliant idea!

"What do you all think?"

Peng Yue's gaze swept over Song Jiang, the Yu brothers, Zhao Lang, and the Sun Brothers.

"No objections from me,"

Song Jiang replied.

"I don't have any objections either,"

the Yu brothers, Zhao Lang, and the Sun Brothers all responded in turn.

They began selecting their men and testing their swimming abilities.

This was to prevent anyone from just making up the numbers, joining the Water Ghost Camp solely for the reward money.

They led the group to the water's edge and tested their skills one by one.

Those whose names were called stripped off their clothes and, with a splash, leaped into the water.

Like flood dragons entering the water, they each displayed their prowess.

Some did the dog paddle, some dived to the bottom, and some swam with the grace of Chang'e Flying to the Moon; others moved through the water with ease and incredible speed, able to breathe underwater without making a sound; still others performed tricks in the water, drawing cheers from the crowd on the shore.

As the sky grew dark, Song Jiang and the others gained an understanding of the swimming skills of the brothers joining the Water Ghost Camp; none were merely pretending.

Night fell like ink, pressing heavily upon the Yunmeng Marsh Water Fortress.

Inside the fortress, bonfires flickered. The patrolling Yunmengze Water Bandits walked with heavy footsteps, their occasional conversations carrying far in the silent night.

A figure dressed in black martial attire was hidden in the shadows, his face covered by a black cloth, revealing only a pair of eyes as sharp as a falcon's, glinting with a cold light in the darkness.

This person was Sheng Tao, lurking in a dark corner of the Water Fortress.

He moved along the shadows, steadily approaching the fortress walls.

After glancing around and confirming no one was there, he gripped a Grappling Hook and began to swing it.

The Grappling Hook was forged from fine steel, its body shimmering with a ghostly light, and it was tied to a hemp rope.

He held the hook with both hands, swinging it with increasing force.

He released the Grappling Hook.

"Whoosh!"

The hook whistled faintly through the air.

Carried by momentum, the hook flew rapidly toward the top of the wall.

Sheng Tao was clearly an expert; the hook he threw caught the edge of the fortress wall with precision.

He gave the rope a firm tug, and once he was sure it was secure, he climbed up with the agility of an ape, hands moving in quick succession.

Because Sheng Tao had practiced climbing for years, the skin on his palms was calloused, so the rope did not chafe his hands.

Sheng Tao picked up his pace, using both hands and feet, until he finally reached the top of the wall.

He unhooked the Grappling Hook and quickly ran across the five-to-six-meter-wide top of the wall.

Then, he hooked the Grappling Hook onto the wall again and, gripping the hemp rope, slowly lowered himself down.

Once his feet touched the ground, he flicked the rope, causing the hook to fall from the wall, and then stowed it away.

He crouched low and headed outward.

Given his knowledge of the Water Fortress,

there were hidden sentries nearby.

Consequently, Sheng Tao moved with extreme caution, terrified of alerting them.

Sheng Tao advanced through the darkness, his heart pounding so hard it felt like it might burst from his chest.

His primary fear was being caught by the sentries.

After reaching the vicinity where the Shadow Guards were lurking, Sheng Tao began to mimic the cry of a night owl.

"Hoo-hoo—hoo-hoo—"

The call sounded remarkably lifelike in the silent night.

Over a dozen Shadow Guards were hidden within a patch of reeds.

They were also dressed in black martial attire, nearly blending into the night.

Their eyes gleamed with sharp light in the darkness, constantly alert to their surroundings.

Hearing the night owl cry that served as their signal, the Shadow Guards emerged from the reeds and moved toward the source of the sound.

By the moonlight, the Shadow Guards saw it was Sheng Tao and began to return the signal.

"Hoo-hoo—hoo-hoo—"

Sheng Tao followed the sound made by the Shadow Guards. When he spotted their figures, he was overjoyed and quickened his pace toward them.

The lead Shadow Guard watched Sheng Tao approach.

"Phew..."

Gasping for breath, Sheng Tao whispered, "I've finally found you."

This lead Shadow Guard was his contact.

The lead Shadow Guard nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over Sheng Tao, and asked, "What is the situation?"

Taking a deep breath, Sheng Tao recounted everything he had learned inside the fortress regarding the Water Ghost Camp to the Shadow Guard.

"These men are all expert swimmers. They've decided to take hammers and chisels and lurk underwater to scuttle our warships."

"Understood. We've got it."

The lead Shadow Guard listened silently, his expression growing increasingly grave. Once Sheng Tao finished, he whispered, "You've done well. I will send word back immediately."

He then asked, "Will you return with us, or continue your undercover mission?"

In the eyes of the lead Shadow Guard, Sheng Tao's mission had been perfectly completed.

"I..."

Sheng Tao frowned slightly.