Chapter 934: Calmer Intelligence

At sunset, on Centipede Island, the lair of the Third Path Pirates.

Many years ago, a volcanic eruption left this island with naturally grand terraced mountains. As the tide receded, the setting sun gilded the small crabs and mudskippers crawling through the puddles.

A small boat sailed in from the sea.

The pirates patrolling the shore became alert and were about to step forward, weapons in hand, when they realized the approaching person was one of their own.

A short while later, the scout, thoroughly soaked, stood before Yue Pinghe, reporting what he had seen and heard in Blade Port.

"Are you saying Min Tianxi helped the new island master connect with Huang Zhao?"

"Yes, they talked for a long time. Both the Second Chief and the First Chief were very respectful towards that fellow surnamed He, bowing and nodding."

"It seems Min Tianxi has truly surrendered. He usually puts on airs with me, but he's so docile in front of that fellow surnamed He?" Yue Pinghe muttered to himself, before asking, "What exactly did they discuss?"

The scout quickly replied, "That fellow surnamed He was recruiting Huang Zhao, and said he was currently most in need of manpower. Huang Zhao then asked him, 'What kind of business will the Yangshan Archipelago be doing in the future?'"

"That fellow surnamed He went into a long discourse, saying he wanted to develop palm fruit oil extraction on all the islands, and also engage in other businesses. The two chiefs nodded several times, and he even asked them which of them was more familiar with you."

Yue Pinghe snorted, "That fellow surnamed Huang has never liked me."

"Yes, Huang Zhao deferred to Min Tianxi, and Min Tianxi took on the task, preparing to come see you on behalf of that fellow surnamed He."

"Finally, Huang Zhao raised a toast to Island Master He, and then they all stood up and left."

Seeing that he had nothing more to report, Yue Pinghe waved him away and sat pondering in his chair for a long time, before asking a trusted aide nearby:

"Min Tianxi is so willing to be someone's subordinate, even recruiting Huang Zhao for that fellow surnamed He?"

"I heard that although that fellow surnamed He doesn't have many subordinates, each one is exceptionally skilled. He arranged to meet Min Tianxi at Fishbone Reef. The numbers on both sides were vastly different, but they still managed to subdue the Second Path's men. Even Min Tianxi was taken onto the ship and accompanied that fellow surnamed He on a trip to Dragonspine Island."

"I know all that," Yue Pinghe grumbled. "I heard Min Tianxi decided to follow him only after witnessing him absorb the malevolent energy from Dragonspine Island. Hmm, could this guy be faking surrender? And then, when that fellow surnamed He isn't looking, steal the treasure that can absorb malevolent energy?"

"Has anyone seen that treasure?"

"Apparently not," the aide replied. "We asked someone who accompanied He to the island. The malevolent energy vanished as soon as it approached Island Master He. Wherever he went, the malevolent energy in the surrounding waters would be completely absorbed!"

"No wonder he bought the Yangshan Archipelago!" Yue Pinghe clapped his hands. "When word of this gets out, Baille will be laughed to death."

The aide cautiously asked, "Chief, Min Tianxi is coming as a negotiator. What do you plan to do?"

Yue Pinghe stroked his chin. "Well, we'll have to see what terms Island Master He offers me. My two hundred-odd brothers need to eat and drink, and if his offer is too meager, we certainly can't work for him."

The surrounding pirates chimed in, "Boss, you must demand Banana Grove!"

"And White Gourd Island!"

"We don't want to be sent to the islands to pick fruit and extract oil for that fellow surnamed He!" another person added, "Our blades are for settling scores and exacting revenge, not for chopping palm trees."

The pirates spoke over each other, but the aide was a little worried: "He wouldn't deal with us the way he dealt with Min Tianxi, would he?"

"Min Tianxi is too foolish!" Yue Pinghe sneered. "The other party set the meeting at Fishbone Reef, and he actually agreed? That's such a narrow place. The Second Path has over four hundred men, but only a few dozen can stand on Fishbone Reef. He didn't even use his numerical advantage. Who's to blame but himself?"

"The negotiation will take place here on Centipede Island, and that fellow surnamed He must be present. Then we'll have a good talk!" Yue Pinghe chuckled. "If the talks don't go well, they won't be leaving the island!"

That night, the island's tawny owls hooted strangely, their calls sounding eerie and unsettling.

Yue Pinghe tossed and turned, unable to sleep. He simply got up and drafted the negotiation terms, point by point.

What kind of temperament did the new master of the Yangshan Archipelago have? The information gathered so far was insufficient to tell. To be safe, Yue Pinghe also outlined his bottom line. Some conditions were just a ruse, while others represented core interests that had to be fought for.

By the time he had finished refining them, it was almost dawn.

The next day, Min Tianxi didn't come.

On the third day, Min Tianxi still hadn't arrived. Instead, over forty pirates from the First and Second Paths flocked over, claiming their old lairs had no future, and they wanted to join Chief Yue.

"What are they up to?"

Yue Pinghe only learned upon asking that most of the First and Second Path's men had been transferred to the islands, some helping to build roads and houses, others putting down their weapons and picking up sickles to harvest palm fruit for oil extraction — all under the command of Rainie!

The life ambition of these few dozen pirates was to plunder ships and conduct no-capital businesses, not to toil as laborers on islands. Thus, they switched their allegiance to Yue Pinghe.

Yue Pinghe found it odd: Min Tianxi and Huang Zhao, were they really planning to obediently serve a youngster barely twenty years old?

The pirates who came to defect also said that fellow surnamed He had gone to sea again today, bringing along the chiefs of the First and Second Paths.

"Where to?"

"Apparently straight to Dragonspine Island."

"When did they leave?" Yue Pinghe also wanted to go, to see for himself how Island Master He absorbed the malevolent energy.

"They set off early this morning. They should be on their way back by now."

Let's rewind a few hours.

The sea was cloudy, with occasional light rain, a cool touch on the face.

Min Tianxi and Huang Zhao, each with some of their men, went out to sea with He Lingchuan.

As they sailed deeper into the archipelago, occasional grey mists floated over the sea, all heading towards He Lingchuan, who calmly absorbed them.

This was originally a forbidden zone for most life, a desolate place that made humans tremble with fear. But with He Lingchuan standing at the bow, this sea route quickly became clear and calm.

Min Tianxi was used to it, but Huang Zhao and most of the pirates were thoroughly awed by He Lingchuan's calm demeanor as he defied the wind and malevolent energy, seemingly unfazed.

Min Tianxi patted Huang Zhao's shoulder. "Well, I didn't lie to you, did I? Look at your uninitiated expression."

Huang Zhao gave a thumbs-up. "Young Master He is truly a divine being." *What kind of treasure* could possibly absorb endless malevolent energy?

He Lingchuan smiled faintly, knowing that while they were astonished, they had not yet reached a state of awe.

In the past few days, both in Blade Port and the pirate lairs, rumors had been circulating that Island Master He was dispelling malevolent energy and driving away evil spirits by means of a treasure.

This claim was quite strange.

Misinformation is a characteristic of rumor propagation. As the main subject, He Lingchuan was fortunate not to be described with a green face, fangs, or horns. Instead, these rumors even suggested that the malevolent energy was not dispelled by him personally, but absorbed by a treasure.

Being able to dispel malevolent energy oneself, compared to doing so with the help of a treasure, the latter was clearly less mysterious and less impressive than the former.