Chapter 347: Ambush
Screech~
In the sky above, the black Red-eyed Crow spread its wings and soared high with the wind, its ruby-like eyes coldly overlooking the vast marshland below.
Suddenly, the black smoke rising from the distant water caught its attention.
The Red-eyed Crow immediately flew towards that direction.
Four or five ships with green flags were surrounded by over ten Wuqi warships, erupting into fierce conflict, the sounds of battle and screams piercing the sky.
One of the ships caught fire and began to slowly sink!
Seeing this scene, Zhang Yuan left the Red-eyed Crow’s perspective and sped towards the troubled area.
Zhang Yuan’s current boat maneuvering skills had reached a level of mastery, propelling a weapon warship that normally required at least four Barbarian Warriors to operate with astonishing speed using only a single oar.
The blade-like sharp bow of the ship sliced through the waves, gliding forward like an arrow leaving the bowstring.
Soon, Zhang Yuan saw the battlefield ahead.
The ships besieged by the Wuqi warships had flags he had seen before.
At the docks of Golden Sand Island, they belonged to a certain commerce association.
It was clear that this commerce association’s merchant ships, on their way to Golden Sand Island, had encountered an attack by the Wuqi Tribe.
Despite having escort warships, they couldn’t withstand the overwhelming numbers of the Wuman.
And this waterway belonged to the edge of Golden Sand Gang’s sphere of influence, leaving the merchant ships unable to find help.
Zhang Yuan was just heading this way when he discovered their perilous situation!
His appearance quickly drew the attention of the Wuqi warships.
A warship immediately broke away from attacking the merchant ships and headed towards Zhang Yuan.
"Blood Saber Butcher!"
Seeing Zhang Yuan’s warship, the Wuqi warrior at the bow screamed in terror.
Zhang Yuan’s warship, seized from the Wuqi Tribe, was entirely identical to theirs in design.
But to distinguish himself from the enemy and avoid being mistaken by allies, he had repainted it.
The bow was painted red, the stern white, creating a distinct contrast of red, black, and white.
Unique!
With the spread of Zhang Yuan’s reputation as the "Blood Saber Butcher," his ship became well-known.
Now at the docks of Golden Sand Island, no one dared to covet it.
Even the Wuqi Tribe knew this ship as a symbol of death and bloodshed!
The desperate scream of the Wuqi warrior echoed in the ears of other Barbarians.
Chaos erupted.
"Kill, that demon is here!"
"What do we do now?"
"Oh Witch God, it really is the Blood Saber Butcher!"
"Run!"
Zhang Yuan’s deadly reputation was so fearsome that these fierce Wuqi warriors turned pale.
Some stopped attacking the merchant ships, while others turned to flee.
Accidentally colliding with other warships in their panic.
Once a Wuqi warship began to flee, the others followed suit in a chaotic flight.
The most unfortunate was the Wuqi warship that tried to intercept Zhang Yuan, its Barbarian warriors screaming in panic as if the apocalypse had arrived.
In their fear, a few Barbarians jumped directly into the water.
Then Wuqi warriors from the same ship followed suit, causing countless splashes!
When Zhang Yuan’s warship approached this Wuqi warship, it was completely empty.
This sight was breathtaking.
Since the Wuqi Tribe’s invasion north of the Great Dream Marsh, these Barbarians had left a fierce, combative, and ruthless impression.
They were brutal to enemies and merciless to themselves.
Even with extremely high casualty rates, they often fought to the death without retreat.
Now, before even engaging, an entire ship of Wuqi warriors faced with Zhang Yuan alone and jumped into the water to escape.
Their fear of the "Blood Saber Butcher" had seeped into their bones!
But Zhang Yuan felt nothing about this, brushing past the Wuqi warship, he charged towards the forefront of the battle.
At this moment, all Barbarians attacking the commerce association’s fleet fled in panic.
A middle-aged martial artist, covered in blood, appeared at the bow of the largest merchant ship, shouting loudly at the approaching Zhang Yuan: "May I ask if you are Chen Zian, Hero Chen?"
Zhang Yuan initially intended to pursue the fleeing Wuqi warships, but upon hearing the inquiry, he nodded: "Yes."
He slowed his ship.
Zhang Yuan knew that under the current circumstances, there were very few merchant ships daring to travel to Golden Sand Island.
And the supplies brought by the commerce fleet played a crucial role in stabilizing the morale on the island.
Therefore, he was willing to give them face.
After all, they risked their lives for hard-earned money.
They were allies.
The middle-aged martial artist was deeply moved by Zhang Yuan’s response: "It truly is Hero Chen. Your help, our Bai’an Commerce Association will never forget. May I invite you on board to discuss important matters?"
Saying this, he clasped his fists and bowed to Zhang Yuan.
Scanning the scene, Zhang Yuan saw that most Wuqi warships had already fled far away.
He could chase and likely catch one or two.
But it wasn’t very meaningful.
Thinking it over, he stopped his ship and with a leap, landed steadily on the merchant ship.
This Bai’an Commerce Association fleet had five ships remaining, and the one Zhang Yuan boarded was the largest and armed with heavy water combat weapons like a bed crossbow and catapult.
But after a fierce battle, the armed merchant ship was riddled with scars, bodies lay on the deck, and some martial artists and sailors lay wounded, moaning in the blood.
Fortunately, the enemy had retreated, allowing the wounded to receive treatment, otherwise the casualties would have been far worse.
Yet the scene on the ship remained heartbreaking.
Zhang Yuan frowned and said to the middle-aged martial artist: "Alright, what is it you want to say?"
The middle-aged martial artist reached into his bosom and pulled out a blood-stained letter, presenting it with both hands to Zhang Yuan: "Hero Chen, this is the latest intelligence on the Wuqi Tribe, and I want to ask you to..."
Intelligence on the Wuqi Tribe?
Zhang Yuan instinctively reached out to receive it.
But at the instant his fingers touched the envelope, a sudden numbness tingled through his fingertips, and the skin faintly shone with a black hue.
The middle-aged martial artist, who had appeared respectful and awed, suddenly became ferocious.
"Die!"
The middle-aged martial artist clenched his fists, delivering a thunderous blow to Zhang Yuan’s chest!
The speed of the middle-aged martial artist’s transformation and assault was so fast that even the keenly perceptive Zhang Yuan was caught off guard.
He instinctively flew backward!
Simultaneously, Zhang Yuan raised his arms, crossing them in front of him for protection.
Bam!
The fierce fist force from the middle-aged martial artist struck heavily between his forearms.
Zhang Yuan immediately flew off the merchant ship like a kite with a broken string!