Chapter 65: The Cunning Blackbeard

Nearly a hundred thugs of the Black Tiger Family moved quickly in small groups of three through the pitch-black alley, covering each other as they advanced. Their movements were almost as good as those of the Empire’s most elite infantry legions. However, the equipment they carried was something even the Empire’s finest infantry rarely got to enjoy; typically, only the royal family’s direct Imperial Guard units were issued such luxurious gear.

For instance, just thirty Hunting Crossbows capable of piercing through rhinoceros knights cost over five thousand Gold Coins each. The Black Tiger Family’s thugs were truly an experienced, ready-to-fight, and victorious elite force around Dun Er Ke.

With a gloomy face, Lin Qi hurried forward surrounded by his family’s subordinates. Enzo, whose neck was slightly crooked and steps unsteady, followed beside Lin Qi, cursing continuously. Bar led several resolute men carrying giant axes at the rear of the group, guarding against possible pursuit by the Black Spirit Continent’s Ancestral Spirit Warriors.

Both Lin Qi and Bar were extremely puzzled. Even in the Black Spirit Continent, any Ancestral Spirit Warrior from the native tribes was extremely precious. Why were there so many Ancestral Spirit Warriors in Dun Er Ke? Who was behind them?

Lin Qi initially suspected that Ya and Ling were helpers summoned by Arthur, but now he had some doubts about that judgment. Arthur did not have the power to recruit Ancestral Spirit Warriors from the Black Spirit Continent. He might be able to attract some ordinary native warriors from the Black Spirit Continent, but these Ancestral Spirit Warriors, who could rival Celestial Knights by burning their Soul and life force—how could Arthur possibly subdue them?

The Ancestral Spirit Warriors of the Black Spirit Continent, much like the Beastfolk Berserkers from the Five Great Archipelagos and the Alien Race Berserkers from the Odin Ice Plain, were the proudest Warriors in this world. Their pride meant they would kneel before their ancestors and their own Elders, but in front of outsiders, even in death, they would die standing. Outsiders could never earn their loyalty.

“Damn it, really damn it!” Lin Qi muttered. “We must have the brothers block all entry and exit routes around Dun Er Ke. Those two women, and everyone with them, must be eliminated. Damn it, Ancestral Spirit Warriors—where did these monsters come from?”

While angrily cursing the mastermind behind tonight’s events, Lin Qi nervously glanced back at Bar. He was afraid Bar would hand over all the recent gains to Blackbeard Old Man. Once those huge spoils reached Blackbeard’s hands, it would be extremely difficult for Lin Qi to get even one Gold Coin out.

A son knows his father best. Although Lin Qi loved money as much as his own life, he knew even better that Blackbeard was the type who would eat a person without spitting out the bones. To extract oil from sand, refine gold from mud, or even squeeze Copper Coins from the ashes of the dead—that level of skill and expertise was something Lin Qi could not match.

As the team moved through the hidden alley, a group of people suddenly rushed out from ahead.

The tall Blackbeard led the way, holding a broadsword, comically dressed in white pajamas with the chest buttons undone, revealing a large patch of dark chest hair. He only wore two satin slippers on his feet. Since the snow in the alley had not been cleared, his slippers were covered in mud and slush, and the originally white satin was now black and filthy.

Blackbeard had brought Ironhammer, Butcher Knife, and hundreds of ‘servants’ from the Ancestral Residence. Every member of the Black Tiger Family knew the streets and alleys of Dun Er Ke like the back of their hand. This secluded alley was the closest and quietest route from the Port to Black Beech Mountain, so Lin Qi had retreated along this path, and Blackbeard had come this way with his men.

Father and son met head-on, and Blackbeard grabbed Lin Qi by the shoulder, whispering harshly, “What exactly happened? Why such a big commotion?”

Lin Qi recounted the night’s events in the briefest terms, naturally placing all the blame on Ya and Ling. He even added a few colorful details to paint them as haughty and aggressive.

“Two foreign beauties with a lot of money? And Divine Art Masters?” Blackbeard frowned and suddenly slapped Lin Qi on the head. “You foolish boy, do you just run away after causing trouble? Huh? Leave such a big mess for your old man to clean up? Can’t you use your head to figure out how to clear your name and get the most benefit from it?”

Lin Qi was stunned. He spread his hands and smiled bitterly. “But, Old Man, I already made a big profit. Those two women were stripped bare by Uncle Bar. Well, damn the Gods, that money is mine, you can’t…”

Alright, Lin Qi didn’t finish his sentence because Blackbeard’s piercing golden eyes were fixed on Bar. Lin Qi knew that Uncle Bar, who doted on him but was even more loyal to Blackbeard, would surely hand over tonight’s earnings to his father and not secretly give any to him.

Shaking his head helplessly, Lin Qi sighed. Well, at least he had gained something tonight—he had won hundreds of thousands of Gold Coins from those playboys, enough for him to live lavishly for three to five years.

Blackbeard snorted coldly and slapped Lin Qi’s head again. He frowned in thought for a moment, then his eyes suddenly lit up with a sharp glow. He chuckled softly, “Aha, dear Lin Qi, for your dear father, if you and your friend, dear young Mister Enzo, are willing to endure a little pain, then your dear father can give you half of the income!”

Lin Qi and Enzo’s eyes suddenly lit up. Half of the gains from those two women? Aha, for the lovely, golden Wowo Call, what was a little physical pain? Lin Qi and Enzo exclaimed in unison, “Old Man, what do you want us to do?”

Blackbeard excitedly dropped his broadsword and rubbed his hands together vigorously. He proudly ordered, “Ironhammer, go get a hundred of those Beastfolk savages we captured last time from the water dungeon. Kill them with random cuts and place their bodies along this alley. Also, make sure they have not only sword wounds but also Crossbow Bolt injuries, understand?”

With a big grab, Blackbeard snatched several large swords and axes from his subordinates. Moving like the wind, he quickly slashed and stabbed Lin Qi and Enzo a few times. Lin Qi and Enzo howled in pain simultaneously. Blackbeard was very precise—the wounds were in their fleshiest parts, the deepest no more than half an inch, but the blades cut through their skin and flesh, and it really hurt!

After letting Lin Qi and Enzo’s blood stain over a dozen swords and axes, Blackbeard tossed the weapons to Ironhammer, telling him to leave them near the Beastfolk corpses.

Then, at Blackbeard’s command, all the Black Tiger Family subordinates present took out their money pouches. In no time, several hundred people gathered over two thousand Gold Coins and more than ten thousand Silver Coins, though there were only three to five hundred Copper Coins.

“Good, now it’s all set.”