Chapter 141: Chapter 141: Scouring

Pirates fired several cannon shots at the merchant ship.

The captain, wanting to save his ship, immediately raised his hands and surrendered.

The pirates, having achieved their goal, cheered as they boarded the ship.

They were tall and formidable, clattering aboard with over forty men, all brandishing gleaming weapons and looking ferocious as if they had escaped from hell.

The last to board the merchant ship was different from the rest.

He appeared to be about twenty years old, short in stature, but with delicate features and dressed in splendid clothes, at first glance, he looked like a beauty.

But his voice was a clear, masculine tone.

“Everyone, calm down, for now the Lv Family is under my command, Lv Tianrui, and I, I only take wealth, not lives.”

He smiled radiantly, seemingly easy to talk to.

With his arrival, the pirates split into two groups, making way for him.

The passengers on the ship watched this scene and began to discuss:

“I heard that the Lv Family had changed leaders, but I didn’t expect it to be true.”

“This one doesn’t seem so fierce.”

“Ever heard of a smiling tiger? And if he’s really not that fierce, how did he kill the previous leader?”

“That makes sense. I saw him once before, seems like he’s Lv Dayue’s brother, fratricide that is.”

“Yes, I heard he mutilated his brother so badly that he hung the body on a flagpole for seven days before letting him die.”

…

They quietly exchanged tales of Lv Tianrui’s past.

Jiang Ke listened quietly, glancing in Qi Jiu’s direction.

Qi Jiu seemed to have no intention of making a move.

If they did make a move, plus him, they might stand a chance.

With that thought, he walked over and whispered, “Shall we make a move? Together, we might not suffer a loss.”

Qi Jiu, hearing this, gave a faint smile, “If money can solve it, let’s solve it with money. I don’t want to make enemies with pirates over this bit of money.”

Pirates, greedy by nature and formidable, come without a trace and go without a shadow, like ghosts claiming lives on the sea. Once targeted by them, one can forget about peace ever again.

He was not that foolish.

Jiang Ke: “…”

He hadn’t expected Qi Jiu to be so cowardly, or rather, not cowardly, but utterly lacking in any reckless spirit.

“These people are innocent.”

He was half a man of worldly society, piously righteous in the past, and even now, couldn’t stand to see the weak being bullied.

Qi Jiu’s smile grew cold, “Then you make a move. Just don’t involve me.”

Saying this, he walked away, distancing himself greatly from him.

Jiang Ke didn’t expect this attitude from him, and amidst his anger, he could only hold back.

After all, he wasn’t alone.

Sang Yan was still hidden in the room’s rafters.

He couldn’t risk it.

Lv Tianrui walked to the front of the pirates, took charge, and continued, “Now, line up properly and hand over your treasures obediently. Don’t make me search you.”

Under absolute military force, everyone handed over their bounty to save their lives.

“Sir, this is truly all I have.”

“Sir, please pity me, my old mother is waiting at home for this money for salvation.”

“I have no money, really no money. I’m just a sailor, and this month’s wage hasn’t been paid yet.”

“Sir, spare my life!”

…

They forcibly took wealth.

Those who couldn’t give money, or gave too little, all received a beating.

When it was Jiang Ke’s turn, he estimated from the previous people’s contributions and handed over the silver bag.

The pirate took it out and looked, containing fifty taels of silver.

Passable.

He bit it to ensure it was real, then gestured, “Stand over there. Next.”

Jiang Ke moved to the side where those who had paid were, watching as Qi Jiu and his two companions each gave 500 taels, drawing a look of respect from the pirates.

“Not bad. Not bad. You are capable. Easy come, easy go, right? Don’t be like them, all stingy and miserable.”

“Um, I appreciate your good words.”

Qi Jiu and his two companions also came over.

Jiang Ke marveled at their lavishness–to ward off a disaster, they really spent big.

Soon, all the passengers had been searched.

But how could pirates stop so easily?

Lv Tianrui spoke again, “Since this is all the money you have, whatever else I find now counts as unclaimed property.”

As he finished speaking, the pirates began searching their bodies.

Anyone caught hiding silver was violently beaten!

“Truly no business without deceit!”

“So dishonest, disappointing our trust, understand?”

“Do we look that easy to fool?”

“Exactly, do you think we are beggars!”

…

While committing their violent acts, the pirates cursed continuously.

Jiang Ke wasn’t foolish enough to hide money on his person, so he kept a low profile among the crowd.

Watching those being beaten and left battered, he couldn’t help but clench his fists, resisting the urge to step forward and help.

In that moment, one of the beaten men pointed out, “My lord! Stop beating! He, he hid someone! He has money!”

It was the burly man.

Scared from the beating, he pointed to Jiang Ke and said, “He must be hiding money too! I also heard he’s offering a huge reward to thank someone!”

Jiang Ke thus became an obvious target.

“You, boy, come out!”

Believing the burly man’s claim, a pirate pointed at Jiang Ke and shouted loudly.

Jiang Ke clenched his fists, stepped forward, and explained, “I was just talking; I don’t have that much money. Who hasn’t bragged a bit? If I were really that rich, why would I be here alone trying to make a living at sea? I’d at least bring a few servants to attend to me.”

His explanation was reasonable.

Seeing that the pirate seemed convinced, the burly man, with a face full of panic, shouted, “In any case, he’s hiding someone! A pretty boy! All the money must be on him! Lord, I’m telling the truth, they can all testify!”

The beaten passengers, eager to avoid further punishment, all nodded, “Yes, there’s definitely a pretty boy. Very handsome. Looks like a young dame.”

The world is cold-hearted.

Humanity is perilous.

That’s how Jiang Ke was utterly betrayed by them.

Poor guy, he had just been thinking about helping them.

Qi Jiu’s glance came over, cold as ice, as if watching a good show.

Jiang Ke clenched his fists and said through gritted teeth, “Don’t push people too far!”

That remark was somewhat provoking.

The pirates hadn’t heard anyone dare to speak to them like that in many years.

“Hahaha, you’ve got guts, kid!”

He laughed a few times and ordered a search of the ship.

“Find that pretty boy.”

To save time, he kicked the burly man and others, “You too, go! If you don’t find him, I’ll throw you into the sea to feed the sharks!”

“Yes, yes, yes! Lord, we’ll definitely find him!”

The burly man and the others shivered as they went to search.

Jiang Ke watched anxiously, about to take action–

“Young man, we only take wealth, not lives.”

The speaker was Lv Tianrui.

He was short and easily overlooked if he didn’t speak.

Jiang Ke, seeing him as someone reasonable, said, “That’s my brother, timid and frail, he really can’t stand any shocks. I hope, my lord, you could be merciful.”

He had never begged like this before, appearing very embarrassed.

Lv Tianrui sized him up, his stature slender and sinewy, eyes bright, with a natural elegance, clearly not an ordinary man.

After a long moment, he asked, “What’s your name?”

wuxiaworld.site .co