Chapter 119: Leaving Home

On the third day after the New Year, Lin Qi and Arthur set out with their men.

The weather was rarely good. The dark clouds in the sky had cleared, and the golden sunlight shone on the sea. The sparkling waves took on a beautiful light golden color, just like Lin Qi’s favorite gold coins. It was good weather. Sailing up the Sain River, Lin Qi could safely return to the Imperial Capital in just two days.

For Arthur, this was the worst possible weather. People along the northern coast all knew that every sunny day in the terrible winter was followed by a fearsome snowstorm—a snowstorm strong enough to destroy everything. Lin Qi only needed two days to return to the safe Imperial Capital to escape the snowstorm. But Arthur had to lead a fleet of twenty armed ships across two thousand miles of sea to the waters where his father, Red-Haired Ghost, had once roamed and raided.

Thinking about the terrifying scene of sailing two thousand miles in a snowstorm, Arthur felt chills run through his body.

During his years with the Black Tiger Family, Arthur had lived in luxury and wore fine clothes. He was a young master used to a life of ease. The thought of leaving the luxurious suite of the Green Gem Hotel, leaving the warm embrace of those beautiful young ladies, having to sail the rough seas with over a thousand fierce pirates, and fighting bloody battles at sea like his father Red-Haired Ghost—all this made Arthur’s mouth taste bitterly sour.

But Arthur had no choice!

Blackbeard was fair. On the third day after the New Year, he sent his own son away from Dun Er Ke to go to the Imperial Capital and expand the Black Tiger Family’s territory and influence. As Blackbeard’s adopted son, Arthur had to do the same.

It couldn’t be that while the biological son went out to seize territory and compete with others, the adopted son stayed at home living in luxury and enjoying wealth and comfort, could it?

Even if all the Black Attendants of the Night Alliance were present, Blackbeard would still be completely in the right. In the same dreadful winter, on the same day, at the same time, an adopted son and a biological son both set out to fight for their futures. It was fair, just, impartial, and transparent. Who could say a single word against Blackbeard?

The cold wind filled the sails. Arthur stood at the bow of the flagship, forcing a smile as he waved repeatedly to Blackbeard and the others seeing him off.

Behind Arthur’s flagship were twenty armed warships, each nearly fifty meters long. These ships looked like civilian vessels on the outside, but their construction and materials were of warship grade. Their speed and combat power were very close to the Empire’s regular warships. With over a thousand pirates on board following orders, this force was extremely frightening on the sea. Unless facing the armed fleets of major empires, no other cargo or passenger ship convoy could escape their plunder.

The port of departure was not in Dun Er Ke. There was no way such pirate ships could openly appear at Dun Er Ke’s official port.

This was the Black Tiger Family’s secret port, located thirty miles outside the suburbs of Dun Er Ke. It was a small cove nestled between two steep cliffs, thickly covered by countless trees. The defenses here were tight. The Black Tiger Family permanently stationed dozens of small warships here, and with several incredibly strong forts on the cliffs, this port could withstand attacks from Dun Er Ke’s local garrison fleet or even the Empire’s North Sea sub-fleet.

Next to Arthur’s twenty armed ships was a large passenger ship ready to take Lin Qi and his group to the Imperial Capital. It was seventy meters long and entirely a civilian passenger ship. Lin Qi, wearing a large Bearskin Coat and looking like a black bear, stood at the bow, grinning as he watched Arthur less than fifty meters away.

Arthur did not even glance at Lin Qi. He just stared deeply at Blackbeard standing on the pier, and bowed forcefully toward him. “Father, I will work hard. When I have time, I will come back to see you.”

Blackbeard smiled and nodded. Holding Madam Ross’s slender waist, he waved at Arthur and said, “May the Sea God bless your gains, dear Arthur. Take care of your safety, and if anything happens, consult the experienced men under you more.”

After giving Arthur these instructions, Blackbeard turned to Lin Qi. Squinting, he said in a low voice, “Lin Qi, remember why you are going to the Imperial Capital. Don’t mess around; do the job steadily. If you mess up, I will teach you a lesson!”

Lin Qi slouched casually, a cigar in his mouth. He blew out a thick puff of smoke and waved at Blackbeard with a laugh. “Don’t worry, old man. You stay here and have a good time with Aunt Ross for a few more days. I’ll handle things in the Imperial Capital. With so many men and so much money, if I can’t achieve something big in the Imperial Capital, then I really am useless!”

Laughing heartily a few times, Lin Qi turned and waved at Arthur. “Arthur, have a smooth journey!”

Arthur also laughed. He hated it so much that his heart felt like it was bleeding, but he still had to force a warm smile.

A smooth journey? Tomorrow or the day after, there would be a snowstorm. How could he have a smooth journey? But Arthur had to keep smiling. He had to laugh; he couldn’t let anyone know he held any ill will toward Lin Qi. He had to wait for that day—the day when Lin Qi was taken down. Then he could rightfully inherit everything of the Black Tiger Family!

Even as an adopted son, on the Western Continent, an adopted son was qualified to inherit the family.

With a bright smile, Arthur shook his fist at Lin Qi. “Lin Qi, do well. Don’t let Father down!”

Lin Qi smiled. Let Blackbeard down? He didn’t care about that. Looking at Arthur’s beaming face, he suddenly felt that Arthur was truly pathetic. This flower that Blackbeard had raised in a warm greenhouse—could he really adapt to the climate of the North Sea?

Considering Arthur’s luck wouldn’t last long, Lin Qi generously forgave his past wrongs.

“Why be angry with a dead man?” Lin Qi cheerfully tossed his cigar into the sea, waved at Blackbeard, and then shouted, “Weigh anchor! Set sail! Head for Dun Er Ke, then up the Sain River to the Imperial Capital! Arthur, have a smooth journey. You must have a smooth journey!”

Looking at the brilliant sunshine, Lin Qi wished Arthur a smooth journey a few more times. The large passenger ship slowly set sail, drawing an arc in the small cove, and then plunged into the narrow strait leading to the open sea.

Arthur bowed to Blackbeard, drew his sword, and shouted sharply, “Weigh anchor! Set sail! Course—Black Demon Cape!”

Following Lin Qi’s passenger ship, the twenty armed vessels also slowly left the small cove.

Blackbeard tightened his arm around Madam Ross’s waist and muttered under his breath, “Well, the beloved son and the annoying son are both gone. Now I can really relax. How about staying here with me for a month?”

Madam Ross giggled and wriggled her waist, clinging to Blackbeard like sticky candy.

In front of thousands of subordinates on the dock and ships, Blackbeard laughed wildly, picked up Ross, and hurriedly carried her into a small guardhouse on the pier.

Ironhammer stood on the pier with his hands behind his back and said slowly, “Spring is coming. The master is in heat again!”