"Come in, the door's unlocked," came Ling Yun's calm and steady voice from inside the cabin.
Chapter 285 What Can Save You
Hearing that calm voice, as steady as a casual conversation, Old Liao was taken aback at first. Suddenly, for some reason, his anxious and impulsive heart calmed down, as if he had been given a tranquilizer. Even with gunfire looming ahead, his mindset remained remarkably peaceful.
He gently pushed open the door and saw Ling Yun standing quietly in the single cabin, looking at him with a calm expression, showing no panic or unusual reaction. Xiao Rou turned halfway around, looking through the round plexiglass as if admiring a landscape on a calm sea. The ship was rocking so violently, sometimes even lifting half of its hull, and with the shelling getting closer and closer, constantly sending huge waves crashing into the hull, even the best-sealed cockpit had become a shallow pool. How come this single cabin was still so dry and warm?
"Sir, we're in big trouble. A fully armed pirate ship is chasing us, and the ferry is out of fuel. More than a dozen of my men have died, and the pirates are about to catch up and attack the ship. What do you think..."
Old Yu succinctly summarized the whole story in one sentence. He originally wanted to ask, "Are you going to jump into the sea and leave, or fight to the death with us?" But he suddenly felt it was a bit inappropriate, so he hesitated in the last sentence. Anyway, the other party understood what he meant.
Up until now, he still didn't know Ling Yun and Xiao Rou's surnames, so he could only address them as "Mr" and "Miss." However, the term "Miss" has been misinterpreted in China, and he didn't know if directly addressing them as "Miss" would enrage them. Therefore, the space for addressing Lao Yu was pitifully narrow, so he had to call this young man "Mr."
The stunningly beautiful girl didn't react to his words at all, only staring out the window, still admiring the uninteresting scenery, as if whether the pirates attacked the ship or how many people died had nothing to do with her.
Ling Yun's expression remained unchanged; he simply asked, "Is this ferry yours?"
Old Yu was taken aback, somewhat confused by Ling Yun's meaning: "It's mine, sir. Is there a problem?"
"Would you like to get a better ship, like that pirate ship?" Ling Yun smiled. This snakehead seemed fairly obedient and not annoying. Moreover, he knew what to say and do, which made him feel at ease. If possible, why not give him this pirate ship?
Old Yu was even more stunned. He didn't speak for a moment, instead frantically processing the meaning behind Ling Yun's words. Although the subtext was very clear: "Do you want that pirate ship? If you do, I'll give it to you." But Old Yu still couldn't quite accept it. It was like one beggar saying to another beggar in a serious tone: "Do you want to win the lottery? If you do, I'll let you win it."
If it weren't for the deep-seated fear and respect that welled up inside him, Old Yu would have already fired a burst of bullets at the young man. What the hell was going on? Still spouting nonsense. "I want everything—good ships, good weapons, good women," he thought. "You're talking nonsense. The question is, what makes you think you can give me all that? Just some empty boasting?" Right now, forget about getting a better ship; even keeping his own crumbling vessel was a slim hope. Or, to put it another way, just surviving was a miracle.
After a long, heated exchange of ideas, Lao Yu still didn't dare tell the guest his true thoughts. Even in this life-or-death situation, he seemed to retain an inexplicable fear of Ling Yun, which even Lao Yu himself found strange, as it was unlike him at all. After thinking for a moment, he honestly replied, "Of course I want one. I dream of having a better ship, but sir, isn't it a bit... We need to find a way to escape from here. There's a rubber dinghy at the stern; if we're lucky, we can leave before the pirates take over the ship."
Ling Yun's eyes flashed, seemingly piercing through Lao Yu's heart, and he said calmly, "You don't need to worry about these things. As long as you want that pirate ship, that's all that matters. I can help you get the pirate ship, but after you get it, you need to move at full speed. I have other things to do and can't afford to waste too much time at sea."
Old Yu was startled. Although he didn't understand what Ling Yun's trump card was, seeing the other party's confident expression gave him a sense of confidence. He had been completely desperate, but Ling Yun's words suddenly ignited his hope for survival. He said urgently, "Sir, as long as you have the ability to save my life and the lives of my men, then my life is yours. You are the captain, and I will do whatever you say."
Ling Yun nodded and stopped talking. Instead, he reached out and took the MA4 from Lao Yu's hand, carefully examined the gun, and suddenly frowned: "How do you fire this gun?"
Old Yu nearly fainted upon hearing this. So this young man didn't know how to fire a gun? How could he possibly guarantee that he could seize the pirate ship? Was he going to fight off the enemy's cannons and AK47s with his bare hands? Old Yu felt that all the strangest encounters he had ever had in his life didn't seem to match this moment. He covered his forehead and almost cried out in despair, "This young man, this young man, he's truly a remarkable person."
Trembling, he frantically taught Ling Yun how to pull the safety and bolt. Fortunately, the gun was fully loaded, so there was no need to teach Ling Yun how to cock it. Watching Ling Yun clumsily handle the MA4, Lao Yu was no longer worried about whether his distinguished guest would fire it. Instead, he prayed that Ling Yun wouldn't accidentally discharge it. In this cramped single cabin, there wasn't even anywhere to hide. Otherwise, it would be too humiliating to be killed by an accidental discharge before even dying in the pirates' slaughter.
I don't know where God found these two guests, they are truly an unexpected surprise in my life, Lao Yu thought to himself, while secretly making the sign of the cross on his heart.
The three men exited their single cabins one after the other and entered the passenger cabin through a narrow passageway. The low-ceilinged cabin was now filled with ankle-deep seawater. Although located in the subtropics, the seawater was still icy cold due to the winter weather. The stowaways had nowhere to sit and stood haphazardly in small groups, most leaning against the ship's walls, their faces pale and filled with extreme panic. No one spoke loudly; only the occasional soft sobs of women and quiet words of comfort from men could be heard. Chaos reigned in the cabin.
The thugs weren't much better off than the stowaways. At least none of the stowaways had been shot dead yet, while half of the twenty-odd thugs had already been killed by snipers. Although their hands were stained with blood, it was just a one-sided massacre of the unarmed stowaways during the smuggling process. The thugs were naturally smug, but now, the perpetrators had become the victims, and the victims were being slaughtered without any resistance. This feeling was extremely unpleasant. The bloody headshots had pushed each thug's nerves to the brink of collapse, and they no longer had the mind to care about the stowaways who were like frightened rabbits.
When the three women filed out, everyone was stunned, and their gazes involuntarily focused on them. Of course, most eyes were on Xiao Rou. Even in their fear of impending death, most men's eyes widened. Could there really be such a beautiful young woman in the world? She was truly a beauty of unparalleled grace. But how could such a woman, who was the center of attention, appear on this smuggling ferry?
The fat man, who had been trembling in the middle of the group of illegal immigrants, was stunned when he saw Lao Yu and the two distinguished guests come out together. After a moment of surprise, he quickly pushed aside the two thin middle-aged men next to him, waded through the seawater and ran over, calling out, "Brother Yu, why did the boat stop?"
Old Yu gestured for him to be quiet, then pointed at Ling Yun and said, "Fatty, this gentleman has something to do, and he can save our entire ship. If he gives any instructions, you must obey them, understand?"
The fat man was stunned for a moment, then overjoyed. His mood, which had been one of certain death, instantly returned to normal. He nodded hurriedly and said, "Yes, yes, I will definitely do as you say."
Old Yu gave a forced, bitter smile. In truth, he was completely uncertain, but Ling Yun had given him a strange sense of confidence, and saying it in front of everyone now also served to boost morale.
Ling Yun waved his hand and said calmly, "No need to do anything, Lao Yu. Just keep everyone in the passenger cabin, close all the doors, and don't let them look out or stick their heads out. It will only take me ten minutes."
Old Yu was taken aback. So this young man wanted a one-on-one fight? And he didn't want his group to see? No wonder he was a mysterious guest; even the method of killing was shrouded in mystery. He was genuinely unsure of himself. Looking at Ling Yun's frail physique and the beautiful girl's delicate and pitiful appearance, let alone shooting someone, even standing on the calm deck, a strong sea breeze would probably knock them over. How could they possibly defeat heavily armed pirates? Did they have secret weapons? Or miniature nuclear bombs? He didn't know that Xiao Rou had already killed the pirate sniper, and he hesitated before saying, "Sir, there are pirate snipers outside. Perhaps we should be careful. I have a bulletproof vest in the cockpit..."
Before Ling Yun could speak, Xiao Rou interjected, "Just do as we say. Don't waste any more words. Also, get me a gun with lots of bullets and a magazine. You can stay in the cabin. If I find anyone coming out on their own, I'll kill them."
She spoke casually, as if killing someone was as simple as stepping on a grasshopper. But Lao Yu and Fatty felt a chill run down their spines. They were very familiar with this tone. It wasn't feigned indifference, but a natural feeling born from a genuine disregard for life and indifference. This proved that this beautiful young woman had not only killed people, but more than one, and these killings must have been the result of bloody battles. This was on a completely different level from the thugs' massacre of illegal immigrants.
Old Yu dared not be negligent or waste any more words. He quickly gave the fat man a wink, and the fat man snatched a carbine and a magazine from a dull-looking thug and respectfully handed them to the girl. At this moment, he had no intention of disrespecting her; all he felt was awe. Clearly, this boy and girl were from a different world than them. Although he was very curious about how the two would fight, his life was obviously more important than his curiosity.
The hatch slowly closed, and with a strange sensation, the people hiding in the passenger cabin suddenly felt an eerie silence, a feeling of complete isolation from the world. The sounds of the ocean waves, the sea breeze, the roaring engine of the pirate ship, and the shouts and curses of the pirates right next to them all vanished as the hatch closed. The enclosed cabin had no soundproofing, and in fact, the soundproofing was shockingly poor. But now, it was as if they were in a vacuum, and all the sounds from the outside world disappeared.
The group exchanged bewildered glances. This was too unbelievable, and a sense of unease suddenly welled up in everyone's hearts. Several thugs seemed to have just recovered from their shock and involuntarily showed curiosity on their faces, and couldn't help but lean over the hole left during the repairs in the pod to look outside.
Old Yu expressionlessly pulled a pistol from his belt: "All of you stay put. If anyone dares to peep again, I'll shoot him dead. Don't be a damn fool who just got off the brink of death and is already looking for trouble."
Hearing his shout, the thugs turned pale with fright and immediately stood still in the middle of the stowaways. Although Lao Yu was relatively lenient with his subordinates, he was equally ruthless when it came to being strict, and the thugs were all terrified of him.
After thinking it over, Lao Yu felt that it wouldn't be right to leave everyone just sitting there doing nothing. So he had Fatty take the remaining dozen or so thugs and arrange for the stowaways to start bailing water. As long as they had something to do, their morale would be extremely low, but at least they wouldn't panic. Otherwise, if a hundred or so people started making a fuss and broke out of the cabin, delaying the important business of the two guests, he would be in big trouble.
Ling Yun and Xiao Rou slowly walked onto the deck. Xiao Rou casually set up an isolation barrier on the outside of the cabin to ensure that even if someone inside was spying, they wouldn't see the two of them using their special abilities. Of course, the pirates would definitely see it, but they wouldn't tell anyone after they saw it. The dead are the best people to keep secrets.
The pirate ship was now less than ten meters from the ferry when it suddenly stopped. Adams and the others were startled for a moment, but quickly understood why and cheered. The heavy machine gunners tensed up, ready to deliver a fatal blow to the smugglers who dared to resist. Because the pirate ship was much taller than the smuggling boat, the heavy machine guns were positioned higher, making them even more intimidating.
The pirates were fully prepared and stood on the ship's side. The first row of pirates carried sturdy planks, ready to join the two ships together when they approached.
When a boy and a girl slowly walked out onto the deck, all the pirates were stunned.
Chapter 286 One-Sided Massacre
Instead of seeing the other side's henchmen come out to fight, they saw a thin boy and an extremely beautiful girl. Immediately, all the pirates' eyes lit up. Adams even held up his binoculars without putting them down, his thick chest heaving violently, exclaiming repeatedly, "What a gorgeous girl! A rare gem!"
Testosterone surged, and the appearance of the beautiful girl ignited the pirates' pent-up desires that had been dormant at sea for years. It was a truly unexpected delight; they hadn't imagined they could encounter such a beautiful girl at sea. Even just getting her would be worth the loss.
Adams's lower body bulged high. He lowered his binoculars, his venomous eyes fixed on Xiaorou's stunningly beautiful face. He commanded in a trembling voice, "Kai, when you send men to storm in, be careful not to let any fool accidentally discharge their gun and kill that girl. Otherwise, I'll be finished. God, this is truly a blessing from God, to actually run into such a good catch. Looks like she's still a virgin." Adams exclaimed intensely, his mind already fantasizing about the scene of his blood boiling as he pinned Xiaorou to the bed.
Kay stood beside him, waiting to order the attack as soon as the two ships were close together. Hearing Adams' command, he frowned slightly. He wasn't as excited as Adams; raping a beautiful woman was enjoyable, but one had to be alive to enjoy it. To be able to face so many pirates without flinching, even strolling casually onto the deck under gunfire without a trace of panic on their faces—this suggested either the two men were insane or had some kind of backing. However, it seemed the latter was more likely.
Venomous snakes and insects in the desert often have beautiful camouflage; the brighter the color, the stronger the venom. This same principle applies to humans. However, Kai can't yet discern the danger; he only vaguely senses extreme unease. But his boss is Adams, and even in death, he can only obey his boss's orders.
Almost all the pirates ignored the submachine guns in the boy and girl's hands. Their frail and ordinary appearance created a deceptive impression, making the heavily armed pirates think that the two were weak and that even with guns, they were just posing a threat. Every pirate wanted to be the first to capture the incredibly beautiful girl and enjoy her, but even if they did, it wouldn't be their turn; she would definitely be offered up for Adams to play with. However, there were so many other people hidden in the cabin, and there must be other women, enough for the pirates to satisfy their lust. As for the men… including the boy with the MA4, in the pirates' eyes, they were already dead men.
With a dull thud, the two mismatched vessels slowly collided. As the pirate ship pushed the ferry side by side, dozens of covers suddenly opened on the black metal exterior of the pirate ship's hull closest to the ferry. One by one, large iron hooks, each with a sturdy steel wire attached to its back, automatically extended from the covers. With a gentle probe, the six barbs firmly gripped the smuggling boat against the railing of the pirate ship, pulling the two ships tightly together.
This is a common tactic used by pirates when forcibly attacking ships, in order to prevent the other ship from suddenly escaping. Once hooked by the iron hook, the two ships are firmly connected. Even if the ferry has enough fuel and is running at maximum power, it is impossible to carry the pirate ship weighing hundreds of tons along with it.