Chapter 383: The Unlucky Deep Sea Demon Whale King
"The other man is even more terrifying. His Martial Soul is the White Tiger, but not the righteous kind we know! His eyes are an eerie gold, and he pounces on people as soon as he sees them. His strength is frighteningly immense, and he specifically... specifically bites people's necks to drink their blood! He drinks it raw! Just like the vampires in legends!"
"And that Fatty, his Martial Soul seems to be a Phoenix, but the fire is dark purple. Once it touches you, it can't be extinguished. It burns people until they wail like ghosts and howl like wolves, and in the end, not even many bones are left! Moreover, that fire also seems to be able to absorb Soul Power!" the last person added, his tone full of disgust.
The characteristics of the three combined.
Combined with those evil deeds of drinking blood and devouring Soul Power, their identities were almost obvious!
Tang San, Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun!
At this moment, Tang Chuan's fingers tightened slightly around his wine cup, and he thought to himself:
"They really are active on the sea, and their actions are so rampant and cruel. It seems the influence of the Rakshasa God is even deeper than I anticipated."
The bearded man cursed, "What a sin! What kind of monsters are these? We're just fishermen, who did we offend? Why hasn't Lord Sea God taken these prodigies away!"
"I heard there's already movement from Sea God Island." A lean fisherman lowered his voice and said mysteriously, "It seems a Sacred Pillar Lord has personally come out to patrol, specifically looking for these three bringers of calamity! May Lord Sea God protect us and catch them soon!"
"I hope so. Going out to sea lately has been nerve-wracking..."
The fishermen's discussion continued.
On Tang Chuan's side, the atmosphere at the dining table grew a bit heavy.
The four women had clearly heard those appalling descriptions, and their faces were somewhat pale.
Although they were all Soul Masters and had experienced battles, such evil, murderous acts directed at civilians were still beyond their comprehension.
"Big Brother Tang Chuan, what they said..." Ning Rongrong asked softly, her eyes filled with shock and doubt.
"It should be them." Tang Chuan set down his wine cup, his voice calm yet carrying a hint of coldness as he said, "It seems our trip to Sea God Island won't be very peaceful. Besides facing the trials of Sea God Island itself, we'll likely run into these old friends."
He turned his head to glance toward the harbor outside the window, his gaze becoming profound.
Tang Chuan suddenly said to everyone, "Once we finish eating, we'll go to the harbor immediately and set sail."
Hearing this, everyone exchanged glances and then nodded.
The originally planned leisurely break in Vast Sea City was forced to be canceled due to this unexpected news. The carriage carried everyone straight toward the busy and boisterous giant harbor on the west side of Vast Sea City.
Masts stood like a forest and ships were moored stem to stem; the harbor was filled with various scents and clamor.
Tang Chuan's goal was very clear. He had the driver head to the harbor's rental area while keeping an eye out for captains who looked capable and had ships in good condition.
Before long, they noticed a ship named the sea demon.
It wasn't the largest, but the lines of its hull exuded a faint sense of ferocity. It was built entirely of dark ironwood and well-maintained, with a few subtle reinforcements and old scars on the hull, and sturdy rigging. Standing at the bow talking to someone was a middle-aged man of medium build with bronze skin, his face bearing the weathering of a life spent at sea and a faint scar.
His gaze seemed simple, but as he occasionally scanned the pier, a hint of shrewd calculation flickered through.
Through an introduction, Tang Chuan learned that this captain was named Haider.
"Captain Haider, we want to charter your ship to the western sea. It will take about a ten-day voyage to reach a general direction." Tang Chuan got straight to the point while observing the man.
Hearing this, Haider rubbed his rough palms and revealed a seemingly honest yet merchant-like shrewd smile, saying, "My lord, the western sea is not small; a ten-day voyage can cover many places. That direction you mentioned... could it be toward the Devil's Triangle or even further west into the unknown seas? That's a dangerous area, and it hasn't been peaceful lately. I heard there are sinister Soul Masters killing people at sea."
"We are aware of some of the risks. The fee is not an issue, but we need a sturdy ship, a reliable crew, and familiarity with the route. As for safety, we have our own considerations."
Tang Chuan answered calmly, not revealing his specific destination to Haider.
Haider's eyes darted around, his gaze sweeping over the four women of extraordinary temperament behind Tang Chuan, lingering for a moment on Ning Rongrong and Dugu Yan. His smile became a bit more sincere as he said:
"Look at what you're saying! I, Haider, have been sailing out of Vast Sea City for over twenty years. This sea demon might not be the largest, but it's definitely solid! As for the currents and reefs of the western sea, I won't say I know them like the back of my hand, but I'm very familiar with them! As for the crew, they're all old mates who've been with me for years, each one highly experienced!"
He patted his chest in guarantee and then quoted a quite high charter price.
Tang Chuan didn't haggle much. After confirming the ship's condition and basic supplies, he paid the deposit. Seeing the gold coins, Haider's eyes brightened slightly, and his attitude became even more attentive.
Soon, the supplies were loaded onto the sea demon.
As they boarded, Tang Chuan noticed the crew members on the ship.
Although they were dressed as sailors, most of their eyes carried a sense of hostility. Their movements were agile but vaguely revealed a type of coordination different from that of ordinary merchant ship sailors.
Haider enthusiastically led them to the best cabins on the ship.
Although they were very simple, they were fairly clean.
Although Haider was very attentive on the surface, he was sneering inwardly, thinking:
"A bunch of ignorant rich kids and chicks, daring to run into the depths of the West Sea? And taking responsibility for their own safety? Hmph, once we get to my territory, this ship, the money on you, and even these chicks... Hehe. This is simply a fat sheep sent by the Sea God!"
Time passed quietly amidst the monotonous sound of waves, and evening soon arrived.
The setting sun, like a giant, burning orange-red fireball, slowly sank below the distant horizon, dyeing the boundless sea into a shimmering expanse of brilliant gold and red.
The sea breeze also carried a hint of chill.
On the deck, the sailors who had been busy all day finished their routine work and began to rest or prepare for their shifts in small groups.
Tang Chuan and Xiao Rui'er stood side by side at the ship's railing, gazing at the magnificent sunset.
The afterglow of the setting sun gilded Xiao Rui'er's profile with a soft golden edge.
The surrounding sailors seemed busy or at rest, but the occasional glances they cast carried an imperceptible scrutiny, especially when their eyes swept past the cabins where Xiao Rui'er and the other women were, flashing with a hidden greed.
Xiao Rui'er watched the sea for a while, then suddenly spoke softly, her voice audible only to the two of them, "You should have noticed too, right? These people... aren't quite right."
Tang Chuan's gaze remained fixed on the distant horizon where the sea met the sky. Hearing this, he nodded almost imperceptibly, his voice equally flat and low as he said:
"Yes, I could tell from the details when boarding and from Haider's eyes. They aren't ordinary merchant sailors. Their style of conduct and hidden hostility suggest they are likely pirates in disguise."
Xiao Rui'er wasn't surprised, but a hint of worry flickered in her eyes as she said, "Then why are we still..."
"It doesn't matter." Tang Chuan interrupted her, his tone still calm but carrying a sense of absolute control. "As long as they behave themselves and honestly take us where we need to go, we'll just act as if we don't know. It's better to avoid unnecessary trouble."
At this point, he turned his head slightly, his gaze seemingly sweeping over the apparently relaxed sailors before falling back on Xiao Rui'er's face. His voice lowered, carrying a trace of cold killing intent.
"But... if they seek their own deaths and dare to target us..."
Tang Chuan didn't finish his sentence, but that suddenly restrained yet clearly discernible killing intent made Xiao Rui'er instantly understand his meaning.
Xiao Rui'er nodded gently and said no more.
The sun sank completely, and the night sky, like a giant black velvet blanket, swiftly covered the sky and the ocean.
The stars lit up one by one, reflecting the light of the guiding soul tool lamps on the sea demon's masts in the distance.
The night at sea was exceptionally quiet, save for the sound of waves and the wind.
It was even... a bit too quiet.
Inside the cabins, Ning Rongrong, Ye Lingling, and Dugu Yan had already fallen asleep from the exhaustion of the day's voyage. Xiao Rui'er had also returned to the cabin assigned to her and Ye Lingling, but she didn't fall asleep immediately. Instead, she lay down fully dressed, feigning sleep while remaining alert.
Tang Chuan sat cross-legged in his own cabin, seemingly meditating and regulating his breath for cultivation. In reality, his Spiritual Power was like invisible mercury spreading across the floor, permeating every corner of the ship's cabins in fine threads, sensing every subtle movement on board.
Time slowly moved toward midnight.
Most of the crew seemed to have rested as well. Only the night-watch sailors occasionally walked on the deck, making faint footsteps. The entire ship was immersed in a superficial tranquility.
However, in a small, hidden compartment beneath the captain's quarters, cleverly concealed by clutter, several dim oil lamps illuminated faces filled with greed and ferocity.
Captain Haider's face no longer held the honesty and enthusiasm of the day. In its place was the sinister calculation characteristic of a pirate leader. Seated around him were four or five trusted crew members, all the strongest and most reliable veterans on the ship.
"Did you all see clearly?"
Haider lowered his voice, his eyes gleaming like a hungry wolf's as he said, "That blue-haired kid didn't even blink when he paid; he definitely has more on him! And those chicks, tsk tsk, especially the one dressed most elegantly and the one with green eyes—they're top-tier! I've been on the sea for so many years and I've never seen such fresh goods!"
A one-eyed sailor licked his cracked lips and grinned hideously, "Boss, we saw it clearly! They're definitely fat sheep! Especially those women; if we sell them on the black market... hehe!"
Another burly man with a scar on his face hesitated and said:
"Boss, that blue-haired kid feels a bit eerie. Those women with him don't look like ordinary people either. Could they be Soul Masters? Should we..."
"What about Soul Masters?" Haider interrupted disdainfully.
"Which of our brothers on the sea demon doesn't have a few Soul Master lives on their hands? While they're asleep, we'll sneak in and use drugs first! Old Scab, you still have that Soul-Confusing Incense you mixed, right? Blow it into every cabin! Once they're all out, they'll be at our mercy, won't they?"
Hearing this, the scrawny man called Old Scab nodded with a sinister smile. He pulled out several bamboo tube-like objects from his breast and grinned hideously, "It's been ready for a long time, Boss. It's very potent. Even a Soul Sect or Soul King will fall into a death-like sleep if they inhale too much!"
"Good!" Haider nodded, a fierce light showing in his eyes as he said:
"Once the drug takes effect, kill that blue-haired kid first! Keep your hands clean! Then tie those chicks up tight and strip them of all their valuables! We'll turn the ship around immediately. We're not going to any damn west; we're heading straight back to Vast Sea City!"
"With this haul, we'll be set for several years of pleasure! Everyone, move quickly and don't make too much noise! Remember, leave no survivors!"
"Yes, Boss!"
Several pirate henchmen responded in unison, their eyes filled with cruelty and greed... A few minutes passed.
On the silent midnight sea, time seemed to stretch very long, yet also seemed to pass in an instant.
The expected scene of the prey being in a drug-induced sleep and at their mercy did not occur.
Instead, several abrupt and shrill screams rang out from the sea demon. Those cries were filled with extreme pain and terror, carrying far across the open sea before being quickly swallowed by the sound of the waves.
Immediately after, there were several splashes of heavy objects hitting the water!
On the deck, the pirate henchmen who had been preparing to sneak toward the cabins, including Old Scab with the incense tubes, were nowhere to be found.
Only a few splashes at the ship's railing and a faint lingering scent of blood in the air proved they had been there moments ago. Clearly, those who had just fallen into the water were them.
Haider was seen kowtowing like a pounding pestle, his voice distorted and out of tune due to fear, as he said:
"Spare... spare my life! Mercy, my lords!"
"This lowly one had eyes but failed to recognize Mt. Tai! I have offended you Soul Master lords! I beg you to show mercy and spare my dog's life. I am willing to work like an ox or a horse to atone for my crimes!"
While begging for mercy, the corner of his eye caught a glimpse of the ship's railing where the screams had come from. There seemed to be a familiar piece of clothing... it was his son!
His only son had also been instantly dealt with and thrown into the sea!
Instantly, a piercing pain and overwhelming hatred flooded Haider, but he kept his head buried low, not daring to show even a fraction of it. He buried that deep-seated vengeance for his son and his resentment into the darkest corners of his heart.
Tang Chuan looked down from above at this pirate leader who now appeared humble and pathetic. His gaze was as calm as if he were looking at an ant as he said:
"Fine. I have no other demands except that you deliver us safely to our destination. I can choose to spare your life."
Hearing this, a sudden surge of lucky ecstasy rose in Haider's heart. However, beneath his lowered eyelids, his eyes burned with the flames of madness and malice.
His son was dead!
The son he valued most and had always kept by his side to train was just dead like that! These people before him were the killers! What mercy? What destination? It was all bullshit!
An extremely evil and mad thought grew wildly in his heart.
"Send you to your destination? Fine! I'll send you all to your deaths!"
"But not toward any Sea God Island! I'm going to steer this ship into the deepest part of the Magic Whale Sea Region within the Devil's Triangle! The undercurrents, whirlpools, and mists there, along with the legendary sleeping hundred-thousand-year-old sea Soul Beast... even a Soul Saint or Soul Douluo would have no chance of survival!"
"Aren't you all powerful? Can't you kill my people? I'll make you all be buried with my son! The people and the ship will all sink to the bottom of the sea! Even if I can't escape in the end... to be able to drag you damn Soul Masters, especially the enemies who killed my son, down with me—it's worth it!"
On the surface, however, he acted even more terrified and submissive.
"Rest assured, my lord! This lowly one will surely atone for his crimes! I will definitely deliver everyone safely! I know this ship and this route like the back of my hand! I wouldn't dare have any more treacherous thoughts!"
He kowtowed, his tone incredibly sincere.
Tang Chuan watched him silently for a few seconds, his gaze seemingly able to pierce through flesh and look directly at the Soul.
Haider felt an invisible pressure. His heart pounded wildly, and he could barely breathe.
Tang Chuan finally withdrew his gaze and said indifferently:
"Remember what you just said. Take a few men to clean the deck. Tomorrow morning, we sail as usual. If there is any strange movement... you know the consequences."
"Yes! Yes! This lowly one understands! Thank you, my lord, for your mercy!" Haider felt as if he had been granted a great pardon. He scrambled to his feet and called over the remaining ordinary sailors who were already scared out of their wits and shrinking in the corners, and they tremblingly began to clean the traces off the deck.
Back in the cabin, Xiao Rui'er looked at Tang Chuan and asked softly:
"Do you really believe he will lead the way honestly?"
Hearing this, Tang Chuan exhaled a breath of turbid air and walked to the porthole, looking out at the pitch-black sea that seemed capable of swallowing everything. He said in a flat, waveless voice, "Of course he won't. With the death of his son and his nature as a pirate, he is likely plotting how to perish together with us right now."
"Then why did you?"
"Because I want him to lead me to the Magic Whale Sea Region. My Soul Power has reached rank ninety, and my Blue Silver Emperor Martial Soul is just missing its final Soul Ring. That Deep Sea Demon Whale King..."
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