XIAO SHUXIANG'S

284 - Pirate Ship

Washi used to travel at night, especially during snowfall. Cold weather is not a barrier to keep spurring the day to keep moving.

This white tiger with dark brown stripes is able to see in the middle of darkness. Not so with the people they bring.

The new moon was always a problem in traveling at night, Washi and Xiao Shuxiang clearly had trouble seeing in the dark. Luckily the rays on the two blue flames that Xiao Shuxiang released could be the lights of the road.

"Buddy, I'll give you the information you need to know about Black Harbor.." Washi started to open his voice, he made Xiao Shuxiang who was beside him turn his head.

".. Black Port is actually an illegal place with a lot of booty boats and distribution of prohibited goods. There's a lot of pirates in that dangerous place and I'm reminding you not to trust anyone you meet there, okay?"

Washi was so serious in his words. Although Xiao Shuxiang understood, yet there was a question that was riveted in his head.

"If it's a dangerous place because it's a pirate's lair, why did you take us there instead?"

"Buddles, those pirates know a secret path that can take you to the Central Continent in no time. Considering you are a cultivator, I'm sure you can distinguish ordinary humans and warriors.."

Washi also said that they should look for a ship whose crew is only ordinary humans, so Xiao Shuxiang and Hu Li will be able to take control of the ship.

".. In that place, having a lot of money as well as a title will not make you respected. They'll only do it when you can prove yourself to be one of the strongest among them,"

Washi told me a lot about Black Port, more than he had ever told Xiao Shuxiang before.

One of the stories is that the territory of the Black Harbour was of equal standing with the private territory of Tomoaki Maeno, that the Eternal Ice Emperor had no authority to interfere in the affairs of the region.

".. Although it is troubling that they always smuggle prohibited items, we can do nothing to stop them. Master always won't allow it,"

"If your Master doesn't allow it, why don't you do it yourself? Doesn't doing good need no permission?"

Washi looked at Xiao Shuxiang who saw himself with a frown, clearly visible expression of the face of his new friend who looked astonished.

It is true that doing good deeds does not require permission from anyone, but Washi is a samurai who is very obedient to his Master's orders, after all dangerous if he makes a scene in Black Harbor, he will only take his life.

Xiao Shuxiang knew that, but Washi could at least gather his friends as well as other warriors to carry out an attack on the place if alone was not enough.

But everything depends on Washi's decision because he himself is not interested in meddling in the problems in this Continent.

".. The only ones who often interfered in the matters of others were only the cultivators and warriors of the White Stream. They're annoying people, and I'm learning to be a part of them.."

Xiao Shuxiang started discussing himself. He made Washi surprised because his new friend only found out that he was a swordsman from the Black Stream.

"But you don't look evil at all, man. You're even friendlier than the cultivators I've met so often,"

Xiao Shuxiang snorted, "You must not be fooled by this handsome and charming face of mine. Let me tell you.. I once killed my own teacher, slashed the throats of my parents, slaughtered the sect that most of his disciples were one clan with me, I also killed my best friend and kept my residence shrouded in darkness for over a month. That's only a small part of it.. Haaah.. My days have been amazing,"

Washi had difficulty digesting Xiao Shuxiang's speech. He considers everything his friend says is just a joke. This is because it is impossible for someone to be so proud to admit to every crime he commits, let alone without feeling guilty at all.

"That's impossible, man.."

"Mm, it's up to you not to believe.."

Xiao Shuxiang smiled as he said so, he then asked Washi about the lives of the samurai and what they did every day.

Hu Li and Xiao Qing Yan only focused on riding their tiger while occasionally participating in Xiao Shuxiang's conversation with Washi.

Far away where they are.. A harbor was visible from above, so vast and filled with ships of various sizes.

Lanterns containing insects glowed into the light of this port, some also showed people holding a torch.

The snow grains that fell slowly on the cold night did not make the fire on the torch extinguished, let alone to make the people who are mostly fierce-looking is cold.

"Please look around, sir. Black Demonic Core, magician nails, and dragon eyes, all available,"

A merchant dressed in dark brown with a hairy collar appeared to be offering his wares to a middle-aged man dressed in navy blue. But the man just kept walking and just stared at the glance of his sales goods.

"Come here, Mr and Madam..! Rare items, rare items..! Dragon mustache, sea fairy tears, and apple-flavored goat milk are here..!"

"Come, come, Ladies and gentlemen..! Rare and quality items, you will not find them anywhere else..! Paper amulets of exorcists of evil spirits, summoners of evil spirits, amulets of conjugal relations violators, fortune-toting amulets, soul mate-pulling amulets, all good luck charms are in this place..!"

The cry of the merchants in Black Port never stopped, the more late the conditions in this place became more crowded. Black Port is not only filled with ships ready to sail, but also decorated with traders from among pirates.

This place was just like the Dark Market, various strange and unnatural items were easy to find. The customers who came were mostly from cultivators as well as Black Flow swordsmen.

Although these traders are pirates, but they are quite honest in making transactions. Well, that only applies to customers they have known for a long time, and it can certainly be very different if the customer is still a new person.

This port was actually far from violent acts and such between fellow merchants, they would only be angry if there was someone who boldly looked for trouble in this place.

Braak!

!!

A woman dressed in red with a hairy collar kicked down a table belonging to a merchant selling various talisman papers. The woman's face looked very upset, could be seen from the look of her eyes that seemed to almost pop out.

"What a Thing This Amulet is! You said this talisman could attract a soul mate, Where is the Proof?! I stick it on every wall of my house, room, even I always carry it everywhere, but not a soul mate who comes, even debt collectors! Are you tricking me?!"

The woman with the thick face makeup several times kicked around the table while holding the talisman paper she had bought. He continued to scold the merchant in front of him and forced his money to be returned.

"Madam, that talisman doesn't work because it's lost to your uncontrollable anger. Your charmed soul mate passed like the wind when you were angry,"

"You think you can fool me?! I want my money right now..! Give me back my money..!"

The merchant who sold the amulets was still patiently serving the woman in front of him. He was one of the pirates whose hands were used to holding human hearts and intestines.

His body was not muscular and his face was ordinary, not fierce at all. His merchant-like appearance was weak and easily suppressed was the most perfect disguise.

"Mrs, listen to me first.."

This young man tried to understand his customers, he still remained patient to face the woman who continued to get angry in front of him.

The commotion was common in this place and it was the first greeting Xiao Shuxiang and his friends had received when they arrived.

The tiger they were riding on had long since left, Xiao Shuxiang, Washi, and the others were walking on their own while occasionally watching the merchants.

"It's like a regular market. At first I thought it would look terrible, too bad.."

"Young Master Xiao, don't be fooled. This place is like a sleeping lion, we better not be looking for trouble,"

Xiao Shuxiang snorted as he looked at Hu Li who was walking beside him, "Do you see me as a person who likes to look for trouble? In the past it may have been, but not in the present,"

Xiao Qing Yan also noticed, he continued to hold onto his katana and seemed ready to fight at any moment.

Washi takes his friends to one of the medium-sized ships. He spoke to a crewman who appeared to be 32 years old, it didn't take long until the crew agreed to give Washi's friends a ride.

"They can leave now. Come on up,"

Xiao Shuxiang patted Washi softly on the shoulder and then smiled, saying thank you as well as asking that his friend can take good care of himself.

"Buddy, there aren't many days we've spent together. But if you have time, come here occasionally,"

"Of course, but it looks like I will be more frequent in the White Snow Empire. Give my regards to Yuuichi and the others,"

Washi nodded, he also requested that Xiao Shuxiang, Hu Li, and Xiao Qing Yan guard themselves as well as remain vigilant. He then rubbed O Zhan's head slowly and began to watch his friends board the ship.

Other than Xiao Shuxiang, Hu Li, and Xiao Qing Yan-the man in blue sea-clothed who had previously also been a passenger on this ship.

He was seen standing a bit apart from Xiao Shuxiang, but his gaze was always on the young man.

As the ship started sailing, Washi kept his eyes on his friends while waving his hands. Slowly.. The ship began to be invisible, as if directly swallowed by the darkness of the night.

Washi had actually gone to Black Harbor several times already, so most pirates had recognized him.

They are certainly friendly to Washi, even though the young man is a samurai who often carries out missions to slaughter.

Getting help from one of his acquaintances to bring Xiao Shuxiang to the Central Continent made Washi happy. But in any case, pirates are still pirates.

".. I hope you'll make it to your destination, man.."

*

*

The second voyage of Xiao Shuxiang felt very different. This was the first time she felt uncomfortable riding a yacht, occasionally she caught the crew staring at her and Hu Li with a hard-to-understand look.

It was not only her who felt uneasy, but Hu Li, O Zhan, and Xiao Qing Yan as well. They were being stalked by hungry, thirsty eyes.

"Are you guys sure they'll take us to the Middle Continent? They can't kill us and throw us into the sea, can they?"

Xiao Qing Yan rubbed his katana holster, so far he had noticed the movements of the crew, and the conclusion reached his mind.

".. There are about 17 crew members, three big and fierce-looking, they'll be troublesome opponents if we really fight,"

Xiao Shuxiang who heard Xiao Qing Yan's remark gave the 10-year-old a warning. It would be best if they avoided the fight as much as possible, this was so that the ship they were riding on did not suffer any damage.

".. After all they did nothing harmful at all, we just need to remain cautious.."

Throughout the voyage, not a single crew member took Xiao Shuxiang and his friends to talk. Until the man in navy blue asked for a room on one of the crew, it was there that Xiao Shuxiang learned that the crew were easy to talk to.

Xiao Shuxiang and Hu Li also tried to request a room, both of them were quick in response and were immediately escorted by one of the crew, Xiao Qing Yan also came along.

There was only one room given and Xiao Shuxiang had to share it with his two friends. He did not mind the origin of the dinner.

The crew of the 23-year-old boy smiled and asked Xiao Shuxiang to wait, saying he would return with food soon.

Other than Xiao Shuxiang and Hu Li who were the cultivators on board this ship - the young man in blue sea clothes who inhabited the room next to them was also a cultivator. His practice was at the Earth-level Grand Master.

After cleaning himself up, the young man named Kong Wu began to sit cross-legged on his bed and then closed his eyes slowly.

Not long after, a crew member knocked on the door and then opened it. He brought Kong Wu a treat.

".. It's time for you to rest, but I don't feel good just feeding the other passengers,"

Kong Wu smiled and thanked him, he just got off his bed when the crew exited his room.

Kong Wu only paid attention to his food, he did not touch it at all let alone eat it. Kong Wu then turned his head towards the wall next to which was the room where Xiao Shuxiang and his friends were.

In contrast to Kong Wu, Xiao Shuxiang instead enjoyed his meal greatly and forbade Hu Li and Xiao Qing Yan to eat.

"Young Master Xiao, I can resist hunger but there's no way Miss Qing Yan can do it too,"

"Hu Li, he won't die if he doesn't eat all day.."

Xiao Shuxiang looked so greedy, he muttered that poisonous food was the best. Hearing the muttering of his Young Master made Hu Li and Xiao Qing Yan flinch.

"Poisons? Mean Young Master.."

Hu Li picked up the food he was rationing, he smelled the aroma of the food and just smelled the aroma of delicious cuisine, ".. Absolutely no smell of poison is felt,"

True to what Xiao Shuxiang muttered, their food including drinking water had been given a slow reaction poison.

"You know it's poisonous, but why keep eating it?"

"Because I am hungry," Xiao Shuxiang so casually answered the question of Elder Da Lin's descendant, he then finished off the food rations of his two comrades without any residue.

Xiao Qing Yan exhaled and said Xiao Shuxiang was insane, "Don't blame me if you die,"

"Just calm down, I've been dead.. So dying a second time is not a problem,"

Hu Li flang slowly, he reminded his Young Master not to eat too much. It was dear that Xiao Shuxiang did not heed his warning.

Elsewhere, exactly the kitchen part of the ship.. There were four robbers with two of them being muscular men, they were getting ready with a large sword in hand.

This kitchen is quite clean, but different in the left corner of the back. Where the place is full of human bones.

There were some new bones, this could be seen from the flesh as well as the fresh blood that was still attached. There are about ten skulls and one of them is still wrapped in skin.

".. Did they eat it?"

One of the muscular men staring at his known companion was the young man who delivered food to Kong Wu and Xiao Shuxiang's room.

"I don't know the first room, but for the second.. One of the boys ate it,"

Hearing his colleague's words made the saggy young man on his right cheek there was a sword incision visible grinning.

***