Chapter 35: The Third-in-Command

A few minutes later, Old Man Song, who had previously gone into the cabin, came back out. He took the telescope handed to him by a sailor and looked at the ship riding the wind and waves in the distance, his face turning serious.

He lowered the telescope and said, “It’s the Third-in-Command of the Sea Dragon Gang.” He frowned, his eyes showing clear disgust, but he still instructed, “Everyone, be careful later. Don’t act on impulse. We’ve paid our tribute, and we have Master Jiang’s name to rely on. They won’t cause us trouble. It should just be a routine check.”

He then said to Xiao Lan by the ship’s side, “Xiao Lan, hide in the cabin and don’t come out.”

Xiao Lan seemed used to this and didn’t say much. She just said to Zuo Zhicheng nearby, “Brother Zuo, just follow my father’s arrangements. Don’t worry, nothing will go wrong.” Leaving a smile, she slipped into the cabin.

Meanwhile, under Old Man Song’s command, the crew turned the ship toward the Sea Dragon Gang.

But Zuo Zhicheng could clearly feel that as soon as Old Man Song mentioned it was the Third-in-Command, a shadow fell over the ship. Several middle-aged sailors showed obvious fear in their eyes, as if this Third-in-Command was some kind of monster.

After giving orders to the sailors, Old Man Song walked over to Zuo Zhicheng and warned, “The Sea Dragon Gang is one of the two biggest gangs in Xinlu Port. Anyone making a living on the seas around Xinlu can’t escape their exploitation.”

“When they board the ship later, don’t say anything. Leave everything to me.”

With that, he patted Zuo Zhicheng’s shoulder as if to comfort him. But Zuo Zhicheng could distinctly feel that Old Man Song’s hand was trembling slightly as he spoke.

‘A gang?’ Zuo Zhicheng watched the menacing black dragon flag in the distance, lost in thought.

In less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the two ships pulled alongside each other. The Sea Dragon Gang members directly set up a plank and climbed over. The leading men wore black martial attire, with a small coiled black dragon embroidered on their chests.

They looked strong and muscular. Though Zuo Zhicheng observed with his left eye and didn’t detect anyone with Innate Primordial Breath, the Spiritual Power they emitted was stronger than that of ordinary people. Clearly, their physical strength was above average.

‘I wonder which one is the so-called Third-in-Command.’

As Zuo Zhicheng pondered this, a loud thud echoed. A huge man jumped straight down from the larger ship, a drop of about three to four meters, but for him, it seemed as easy as a stroll. He landed steadily on the fishing boat, and the deck under his feet groaned loudly, making the entire boat shake.

This giant stood about two meters tall, his muscles bulging like a polar bear’s. He was also bald, his shiny head covered in crisscrossing scars. Combined with his wide, fierce mouth, he truly looked terrifying.

Zuo Zhicheng’s left eye slightly narrowed, and his Infrared Vision swept over the man through his eyepatch. He saw that the man’s entire body emitted Spiritual Power far beyond that of ordinary people, and the Innate Primordial Breath was fully channeled in both his feet.

‘Has he practiced Authentic Transmission Martial Arts?’

Even though only his feet had the Innate Primordial Breath, paired with the giant’s build, he was already a Martial Artist that ordinary people could hardly defeat.

The shouts from the Sea Dragon Gang members soon revealed the newcomer’s identity.

“Great!”

“Third Master, what skill!”

The giant, called Third Master, waved his hand, and the Sea Dragon Gang members behind him stopped cheering. His slightly cold eyes swept over everyone on the fishing boat, and he curled his lips into a cold smile. “Search!”

At his command, the men who had boarded with him began searching the boat. Old Man Song seemed like he wanted to stop them, but the Third-in-Command stepped in front of him, shaking his head. “Old Man Song, you know the rules. Don’t make trouble.”

Old Man Song understood. The Sea Dragon Gang monopolized eighty percent of the smuggling, drug trafficking, and human trafficking businesses in Xinlu Port. They often sent people to patrol the seas near the port, even inspecting ships to prevent other gangs from interfering.

Their domineering behavior and methods were almost no different from the Imperial Court’s, showing how rampant gang power was in Xinlu City. This was largely because the New Continent was too far from the Central Plains, making it hard for the Imperial Court to enforce control effectively.

Old Man Song smiled humbly. “Not at all, Third Master knows we always pay our tribute on time and never break the rules…”

“Cut the crap,” the Third-in-Command spat impatiently onto Old Man Song’s clothes. “I know what’s really going on.”

Old Man Song acted as if nothing had happened, chuckled a few times, and stepped back.

The men searching the boat tossed things around wildly, like bandits raiding a place. But the fishing boat only had fishing tools and the sea fish Old Man Song had caught on this trip, so nothing caught their attention.

Just then, one of the Sea Dragon Gang members tried to enter the cabin but was stopped by Lao Xing.

“Brother, it’s messy, dirty, and smelly in there. No need to look.”

“Move aside,” the man frowned, shoving him away. Another man glanced at Lao Xing and followed into the cabin.

Lao Xing stepped back, but the noise of the argument had already reached the cabin, so Xiao Lan must have heard it.

Under Old Man Song’s worried gaze, the first man who entered the cabin came out, looking annoyed. “Boss, it just stinks of fish. Nothing there.”

The Third-in-Command nodded, gave Old Man Song a cold look, and said, “Let’s go.”

Seeing the Sea Dragon Gang members leave one by one, the fishermen on board sighed in relief. Old Man Song especially thought, ‘Thank goodness Xiao Lan wasn’t found. This girl is getting prettier. I can’t keep her on the ship any longer. I’ll send her to Master Jiang in a few days.’

As Old Man Song was thinking this, a series of screams erupted from the cabin. A man emerged laughing, carrying Xiao Lan on his shoulder.

“Boss, look at this girl. If I hadn’t checked under the floorboards in the cabin, she would’ve gotten away.”

Old Man Song felt his heart drop. He rushed forward and blocked the man’s path, shouting, “Third Master, this is my daughter, Xiao Lan. We’ve paid our tribute. You can’t just do as you please.”

The Third-in-Command turned back, looked at Xiao Lan on the gang member’s shoulder, and snorted coldly. “Put her down first.”

Old Man Song thanked him profusely. “Thank you, Third Master.” He pushed Xiao Lan. “Stupid girl, get back inside now.”

“Wait,” the Third-in-Command rubbed his shiny head and said slowly, “When did I say she could leave?”