Chapter 465: Enemy Attack

The storm raged with unrelenting fury—wind tore across the waves, and the sea foamed and roared like a living beast. Amidst the chaos, several sharp-hulled ships, their tattered white sails snapping in the gale, carved their way through the water like fearless warriors charging into battle.

The target’s waters were now almost within reach, the enemy vessel barely discernible through the storm’s veil.

The one-eyed pirate’s gaze locked onto the looming ship ahead, and a yellowed, jagged grin spread across his face. Faster… faster… even faster. Wealth, women, the chance to rise again from the ashes of past failure—every thought sent his pulse racing.

The other pirates’ eyes were glued to the prize as well, their greed shining through, their excitement so raw that even their thighs ached with anticipation.

One thousand meters… the target ship remained oblivious. Eight hundred meters… still no reaction. Five hundred meters… and yet, the massive vessel seemed utterly unaware.

A thrill of savage excitement swept through the pirates. These fools of the Ming navy, utterly blind to the danger, were about to witness their treasures—burned, looted, and plundered—right under their noses. The thought alone made the pirates’ blood boil with anticipation.

Soon, the name of their crew would echo across every corner of the oceans. Admirers would flock to them in droves. They would resurrect the glory of the legendary leader Chen, standing shoulder to shoulder once more with Wang Zhi himself!

And it would be with blood, gold, jewels, and women that they would crown themselves anew.

Four hundred meters… and still, the target ship made no move. The pirates’ blood had reached a boiling point. They did not need the one-eyed captain to prod them—their preparations for boarding were already complete.

“The navy may have numbers,” the one-eyed pirate growled, his voice cutting through the wind, “but most of their sailors are green, and their main fleet is dozens of miles ahead. These supply ships at the rear are large, yes, but lightly manned. Each carries only twenty or thirty sailors at most, untrained and unready. Our three hundred-strong pack of wolves can swallow them whole with ease.”

“And besides,” he added with a leer, “they’re completely unprepared!”

“Mark my words—the gold, the jewels, and the soft, willing women are all just ahead. Whoever takes them first takes everything!”

A roar of anticipation swept through the pirates like wildfire. Hands that gripped the oars moved with a manic, almost ritualistic speed, eyes burning with insatiable greed.

Through the violent storm, the pirate ships cut forward like sharpened blades, piercing the waves with terrifying speed.

Onboard the ship carrying Zhu Ping’an, the sailors and guards stood at their posts, as ordered, alert and ready. Yet beneath their disciplined exterior, a trace of skepticism lingered.

Pirates dare to tangle with our navy? Ha! Impossible. They’d be eating their own courage if they tried.

Then, a flash of lightning tore through the night, illuminating the fury of the storm. The vigilant sailors froze as they saw, less than three hundred meters away, ghostly ships gleaming under the storm’s flickering light. The glint of weapons reflected like shards of steel, and the murderous intent was unmistakable.

“Enemy attack!”

Cold sweat ran down their foreheads as the sailors shouted the warning, their voices trembling but clear.

The volley of Flemish cannons barely managed two shots before the pirate ships rammed forward, their reinforced bows aimed like battering rams.

“Damn it! These trash actually prepared defenses!”

The one-eyed pirate cursed under his breath. What should have been an easy victory was now met with resistance. Of the two cannon shots fired, one had gone wide—but the second struck one of their own ships squarely, splitting its hull nearly in two.

A ship lost in an instant. How could he not be furious?

What began as a sneak attack had turned into a brutal encounter. Blood spilled freely as human screams mingled with the cracking fire of muskets, a chorus of agony and chaos erupting across the deck.

While Zhu Ping’an’s ship became the main target, the other pirate vessels were not spared. Small craft swarmed the flanks, harassing and boarding wherever they could, preventing any aid from reaching the embattled ship. Some pirates had even thrown iron chains overboard to scale the decks.

The sea itself seemed drenched in the stench of blood and salt, the cries of men and women echoing like a relentless drumbeat.

Below deck, Li Shu and her little maid Baozi clung to each other like frightened ground squirrels. They had never seen such carnage, and the sight of blood and death made them shrink back into the shadows of the cabin, trembling uncontrollably.

Baozi’s sobs shook her tiny frame as she clutched Li Shu. “Miss… Miss… it’s terrifying!” she cried.

Li Shu, meanwhile, held the hand crossbow Zhu Ping’an had given her. Her hands shook violently, but she was steadier than Baozi, and her eyes, wide yet resolute, reflected awe and something more.

The boy at the cabin door, armed only with a short blade and seemingly no strength to speak of, now stood tall and heroic.

One man at the gate, a thousand cannot break through.

That was Zhu Ping’an.

In the midst of danger, a man who could stand firm was a hero in a young girl’s eyes. Li Shu’s gaze lingered on him, heat and admiration blending in her stare.

“You fool! Why don’t you hide? You can’t fight them!” she yelled, her voice trembling with fear yet edged with frustration.

“If I hide, what happens to you?” Zhu Ping’an replied over his shoulder, his voice calm yet unwavering. “Don’t worry. You’ll be fine. Unless… they have to step over my corpse first.”

“And even then…” he added, a faint grin tugging at his lips, “…I’ll trip them up first.”

The thought of the scene made him chuckle. Zhu Ping’an had no grand illusions of heroics or gallant rescue—he simply could not stand idle. At this moment, a man either acted or became irrelevant.

Li Shu, despite her cunning, sharp tongue, and mischievous temperament, had long benefited from Zhu Ping’an’s guidance and protection—from lending books to sharing meals, he had always been there. And yes, he would admit, sometimes she was quite a sight to behold, providing a brief reprieve from the monotony of studying.

Even though she could be venomous and capricious, Zhu Ping’an had no hesitation now. A man could not hide in the face of such peril.

When the nest is falling, how can the eggs remain unbroken? Better to fight than cower.

Amid the cries and clamor, Zhu Ping’an leaned against the cabin door, short blade in hand, lips curved in a slight, determined smile.

“What nonsense are you talking about…” Li Shu muttered, exasperated.

That insolent toad… and he can still smile in a moment like this…

Though scolding him, her heart found comfort. Seeing Zhu Ping’an at the doorway, calm yet teasing even in the storm, she squinted slightly, a feeling of inexplicable reassurance settling over her.

As long as that insolent toad was there, she felt safe.

“Oh, and remember the floating rings I gave you,” Zhu Ping’an added, glancing back. “If the waves turn violent, hold on tight.”

The floating rings—ancient life preservers, invented in the Song dynasty, crafted from soft wood and reeds—were similar to modern lifebuoys. Zhu Ping’an had found three aboard the ship and brought them along, unsure of their effectiveness, but better something than nothing.