Chapter 991: Before the Hurricane Hits

**Chapter 981: Before the Hurricane**

Ye Qing shook his head, "Who says the Spider Queen is He Lingchuan's only reinforcement? What if he has other trump cards? How long have you been on the island to claim you know his full capabilities?"

His words made sense, leaving Wanqi Feng with no rebuttal.

"Furthermore," Ye Qing added, "we need to embed one of our people in your team."

Wanqi Song frowned. "You don't trust us?" he asked, understanding they meant an informant.

"This is a serious matter, so we must be cautious," Ye Qing explained. "This way, if either of us encounters an unforeseen situation, the other will be quickly informed, allowing for tactical adjustments."

Having discussed to this point, the Wanqi uncle and nephew, though displeased, ultimately conceded.

They didn't even suggest embedding an informant with the Beijia, knowing Ye Qing would never agree.

With the discussion concluded, Ye Qing prepared to leave. Wanqi Feng asked him, "Has your main force arrived?"

"They've already reached Suoding Island."

Suoding Island, located on the Golden Shipping Lane, is open to all merchant vessels and travelers.

Suoding Island, the Hot Spring Lodge.

Upon receiving Ye Qing's message, a faint smile finally appeared on Yu Zecheng's face.

The plan was slowly taking shape. The Bailong ambush would be the trigger for his operation.

To defeat He Lingchuan, the most crucial tactic was a single word:

He needed to sow chaos on Suoding Island and make He Lingchuan himself panic.

The more disorder, the better; only then could they exploit the confusion, achieving victory with fewer forces against many.

The Bailong people thought too highly of themselves. In reality, they were merely pawns, cannon fodder, a smokescreen, and, if necessary, even bait.

Yu Zecheng had never truly relied on them. The real power behind this operation would come from his own forces.

"Has Xiaobai returned?"

Xiaobai was the white bird. If it were present, communication with Ye Qing would be far more convenient and swift.

The guard behind him immediately replied, "Not yet. Xiaobai has been out of contact for three days; its last mission was to tail He Xiao."

Yu Zecheng snorted coldly. "That He Xiao!"

He dared to interfere with Beijia's demon guard? If this He fellow wanted to go head-to-head, Yu Zecheng wouldn't hold back.

The guard hesitated before saying, "My lord, this He Xiao seems to have some real ability."

Yu Zecheng glanced at him, knowing exactly what he implied: should they send a message back to Lingxu City to get more information?

That look silenced the guard instantly.

"He Xiao defeated Fan Lao Er, so of course he's capable," Yu Zecheng said calmly. "However, the Fan brothers control the Concentric Guard through loyalty, not martial prowess! Among the three Fan brothers, only Fan Lao Da is consistently victorious on the battlefield. If He Xiao could defeat *him*, that would be true capability."

"He Xiao's safe return from Lingxu City was due to two things," Yu Zecheng explained slowly. "First, he had Prince Chiyan as his backer, and second, he became the city's focal point. Someone under such intense scrutiny is naturally safe. However, wisdom takes many forms. Some possess the cunning to navigate complex situations or the prudence to ensure their own survival, but they might not have the wisdom to command a region, overcome hardships, or manage subordinates effectively."

Such a combination of traits in one person is rare.

Yu Zecheng had only ever witnessed one exception: Grand Master Frost Leaf.

The guard quickly nodded. After Lord Yu's analysis, the fellow named He didn't seem so formidable after all.

However, there was one thing Yu Zecheng didn't say aloud:

He had his own difficulties.

There wasn't enough time.

Sending a message to Lingxu City and waiting for a reply would mean the hurricane and the Imperial Dew would have long passed.

The optimal window to strike against Zhu Erniang would have closed, making it far more difficult to act later.

"Ye Qing also asked if we should send people to infiltrate Silkweb Island before the hurricane arrives?"

"No need," Yu Zecheng shook his head. "On the night of the hurricane, do you know where Zhu Erniang will be?"

"Not... not on Silkweb Island?"

"Any operation requires considering timing, location, and personnel," Yu Zecheng explained. "We chose to act on the night of the hurricane; do you think He Lingchuan won't guess our intent? He knows exactly why I'm stationed on Suoding Island. That night, Zhu Erniang will likely be neither on Suoding Island nor on Silkweb Island."

Since the Beijia might act on the hurricane night, there's no reason for Zhu Erniang to foolishly remain on Silkweb Island.

Why would she stay there, waiting for an ambush?

The guard thought for a moment, confused. "Then where... where will she be?"

"How would I know?" Yu Zecheng glared at him. "There are dozens of islands and hundreds of reefs in these waters; who knows which island she'll pick to weather the storm!"

No matter how large Zhu Erniang is, she's merely a drop in the ocean when compared to the vastness of the Yangshan Archipelago.

"Therefore, our target can only be He Lingchuan."

While they couldn't pinpoint Zhu Erniang's whereabouts, they were certain He Lingchuan would be on Suoding Island that night.

With a clear target, the mission could proceed.

"Sending people to Silkweb Island would be a waste of resources," Yu Zecheng said calmly. "Our manpower is limited, and every person is precious. Tell Ye Qing that on the night of the operation, the Bailong must lead the charge. We will only act after they make their move."

For the hurricane night, his strategy revolved around seizing the opportune moment.

That night, the Blade Harbor Maritime Affairs Bureau issued another warning: according to more precise measurements from the Hybridator, the hurricane was highly likely to make landfall the following night.

It was indeed earlier than the initial forecast.

The Soul-Snatching Mirror wailed, "Natural disaster and man-made catastrophe, all at once! Can you handle this?"

By its reckoning, the Imperial Dew was also approaching, and now there was a hurricane tonight.

The Bailong's intent to cause trouble was one thing, but with Beijia's forces involved, it was another matter entirely.

This was truly a case of misfortunes never coming singly.

He Lingchuan chuckled. "When have I ever been incapable?"

The following afternoon, after completing his various tasks, He Lingchuan departed for Suoding Island.

The sea was calm before the ship departed, but He Lingchuan was only halfway through his journey when a sudden, violent squall swept across the waters.

The gale and high waves arrived without warning. He watched helplessly as the swells grew higher and the ship pitched more violently.

Eventually, the vessel was rocking ninety degrees, its bow dipping halfway into the water. When the ship finally managed to crest a wave, seawater cascaded off the deck like a waterfall.

Had it not been for the exceptionally skilled old captain, hired at great expense, the ship would likely have sunk midway.

In the face of such raw power of nature, cultivation levels and divine abilities were utterly useless!

After helping secure everything on board, everyone retreated into the cabin. Only He Lingchuan, planting his feet firmly, stood like a nail at the bow, experiencing the helpless feeling of being tossed by the waves and at the mercy of fate amidst the raging winds and high seas.

His cultivation technique specifically demanded struggling for life amidst the waves.

Beyond that, such a display of natural might also served to constantly remind him:

To remain clear-headed and not be misled by the myriad phenomena of the mortal world.

Raging waves roared as they slammed against the deck, drenching him completely.

How could one truly face life and death with a smile without having grappled with such winds and waves?

Lingguang, unwilling to brave the madness with him, scurried to hide with the old captain.

An hour later, the ship finally struggled back to Suoding Island's sheltered harbor. As soon as Dong Rui stepped ashore, his legs began to tremble.

Lingguang stumbled onto the pier, wobbled, and then retched.

Dong Rui had been barely holding it in; seeing Lingguang's example, he could no longer suppress it.

The man and the monkey stood side-by-side, retching loudly, tears and snot streaming down their faces.

"If I ever board a ship during a typhoon again, I'm a dog!"

How wise Zhu Daniang had been to arrive early and avoid the rough seas.

The Ghost Ape kindly patted their backs. The old captain jumped down from the ship, chuckling, "Youngsters, the hurricane hasn't even arrived yet; this is merely the prelude."

Everyone gazed out at the sea, spotting the silhouettes of four or five more ships, their masts and sails skewed by the strong winds, still hurrying towards Suoding Island.

As each vessel entered the harbor, a designated person on the pier would rush to assist.

Suoding Island served as both a supply station on the Golden Shipping Lane and a haven during storms. Recognizing the sudden change in weather, experienced captains instinctively diverted their ships to Suoding Island for shelter.

Over the past month, Suoding Island had indeed seen a significant increase in ship traffic, but never before had it been as bustling as it was today.

An hour later, thirty-seven vessels had already reached the island, with more fleets continuously arriving from the sea.

Most ships would have preferred sheltering at Blade Harbor, which they remembered offered better lodging and dock facilities. However, the seas were too rough to navigate there, and there was also the fear that Blade Harbor's docks might already be full. Consequently, they had to hastily find a place to land.

To their surprise, Suoding Island had more than enough capacity for all these vessels.

One of He Lingchuan's first major initiatives upon becoming island master was to renovate and expand Suoding Island's supply docks and add two new sheltered harbors—

These two new harbors were completed in just over twenty days; a major low tide during construction significantly sped up the process, allowing them to be fully operational just in time for the hurricane. Several captains gave He Lingchuan a thumbs-up, praising his foresight.

Suoding Island, with its excellent geographical location and several natural sheltered harbors, was one of the islands He Lingchuan prioritized for development.

Qiu Hu and Min Tianxi were the first to rush over, their faces grim.

He Lingchuan pulled him aside and whispered, "What's the situation?"

"I only assigned thirty of them for duty on Suoding Island, but Huang Zhao's subordinates just searched Blackleaf Island twice. There were only a handful of Bailong remaining in the camp, and the Wanqi uncle and nephew were nowhere to be found. When we asked the other campers, they all said the Bailong left for the pier in small groups this morning, and everyone was gone within two hours."

These individuals even had the foresight to leave in batches, but unfortunately for them, once He Lingchuan suspected their intentions, Qiu Hu had already filled the Blackleaf Island camp with informants.

Qiu Hu had already integrated the Bailong into mixed duty rotations. According to his arrangements, the Bailong from the Blackleaf Island camp should not have been working on Suoding Island today.

With frequent movement of people between islands and busy traffic throughout the Yangshan Archipelago, there were regular ferry services. If the island authorities gave prior notice, the ship captains could keep track of who was present and who was not.

Qiu Hu whispered, "Ships are quietly landing at the southwestern tip of Suoding Island."

Their lord had long deduced that the Wanqi uncle and nephew might choose to strike on the night of the Imperial Dew, but then, unexpectedly, a hurricane appeared out of nowhere.

Now, things were getting interesting.

Where were the Wanqi uncle and nephew hiding?

If they were on Suoding Island, they would certainly use the hurricane and Imperial Dew as cover to attack He Lingchuan.

If they hadn't arrived, they would have missed a prime opportunity, and there was no telling when they'd get another chance, which could lead to complications.

He Lingchuan nodded. The Shadow Vipers also reported ships landing on Suoding Island's southwestern beach, though, being unable to count, they couldn't specify the exact number, only that there were quite a few.

(End of Chapter)