Chapter 437: Chapter 199: Young Hero, Holding His Own
Conversely, if the Turkic people controlled this stretch of water, not only would ships become several times more expensive, but sailing would become fraught with trouble. Once they successfully established a port, they would likely start charging another fee for all incoming and outgoing cargo.
"GURGLE GURGLE!"
"Kill!"
"Turkic scoundrels!"
...
About half an hour later, a torrent of curses echoed across the Canal.
Chu Lingguang walked out of the cabin and onto the bow. He saw the Turkic merchant ship—the same one that had previously capsized a Shuiyu Gang boat—docked along the Canal’s bank.
There were four large merchant ships of that type, with the rest being smaller. All told, there were one or two hundred Turkic people. Seeing the members of the Shuiyu Gang approach, they stood on their bows, shouting taunts and making all sorts of strange calls.
Having been to the Turkic lands, Chu Lingguang now understood that those strange calls were all just vulgar curses.
The Shuiyu Gang’s boats drew closer to the bank.
Chu Lingguang and a group of Shuiyu Gang members disembarked. Qu Qingcheng, followed by Ge Jinxiong and the other gang leaders, walked toward a cargo ship that had long been anchored by the bank. There were already Turkic people and Shuiyu Gang members on its deck.
Chu Lingguang followed behind them onto the cargo ship.
On deck, he saw that people had already squared off.
The Turkic people and the men of the Shuiyu Gang were in a standoff.
Compared to the Shuiyu Gang members, the Turkic people were not only tall and broad with sharp, prominent features, but they also carried a wild, murderous aura about them. They cultivated the Divine Beast Breathing Method, drank Beast Blood daily, and possessed astonishing Qi Power. The presence they exuded often held a soul-shaking force.
The Shuiyu Gang, in contrast, were mostly martial artists of fishermen stock. Aside from a few leaders who had reached the Qi Sea Realm, it was considered a remarkable feat for the others just to awaken the strength of a single Dragon Elephant.
They appeared numerous, but in reality, they had few elite fighters. It was no wonder the Turkic people didn’t give the Shuiyu Gang a second thought upon arriving in these waters.
"Master Qu, have you made your decision?"
"If there are no issues, then sign and seal the document. Sell the shipyard to us."
A Turkic man said, pointing to a pre-prepared contract.
Standing behind Qu Qingcheng, Chu Lingguang noticed the man wore the insignia of an Aika Tribe warrior.
"This is blatant robbery. I will not sell."
Qu Qingcheng tore the contract to shreds. He had seen the offered price was the same as before—a mere one thousand silver taels. They had no sincerity whatsoever. It was a blatant insult.
"You’ll sell whether you want to or not. Master Qu, surely you understand the situation you’re in," the Turkic man said with a sneer.
"You’re the one who doesn’t understand the situation, Isiluge!" Qu Qingcheng shot back.
Chu Lingguang frowned again. The name Isiluge reminded him of Iscoha. The Aika Tribe was as populous as a town in the Great Yuan Empire, and ’Is,’ ’Maha,’ and ’Ba’ were its three major family names.
Samba was Mahmoud’s disciple.
’I wonder if this Isiluge has any connection to Iscoha?’
’But the Aika Tribe’s attire was unmistakable. Isiluge was definitely one of them. I just don’t know if Mahmoud and Iscoha are on this ship as well.’
"Master Qu, have your injuries healed?"
Just then, another Turkic man emerged from the cabin. His style of dress was slightly different from Isiluge’s, reminding Chu Lingguang of Batu Mu and his group.
Upon hearing this, Qu Qingcheng whispered to Master Ge, "Master Ge, that’s Batu Tieshan, the one I told you about. He’s the one responsible for my injuries."
Master Ge nodded slightly and released a fluctuation of his Spiritual Sense, probing Batu Tieshan’s strength.
"Hmph!"
Batu Tieshan snorted coldly. A unique pulse of energy swept out with the sound. Master Ge’s brow furrowed as he felt his own Spiritual Sense Fluctuation get slapped away.
’So strong!’ Chu Lingguang thought, astonished.
’Batu Tieshan’s snort seemed to have originated from his Sea of Consciousness. It actually shattered Master Ge’s Spiritual Sense Fluctuation, blocking him from probing his strength.’
’Clearly, Batu Tieshan’s Spiritual Sense has already developed defensive and Attack Power, though it’s likely still inferior to my own.’
"If Master Qu refuses to sell us the shipyard, then from now on, every ship that leaves your yard will end up at the bottom of this Canal," Isiluge threatened.
"Insolence! You dare make such outrageous threats right in front of me? I order you: leave all your ships behind and get out of these waters. Otherwise..."
Master Ge could listen no longer.
He took a deliberate step forward, moving to stand in front of Qu Qingcheng. The step seemed to land with the force of ten thousand pounds, causing the entire merchant ship to rock violently.
"You’ve got some nerve, old man," Batu Tieshan snorted.
He raised a hand and threw a punch straight at Master Ge’s chest.
Master Ge’s expression was calm yet imposing. Facing the heavy, powerful blow, he raised a hand to block. Their Fist Forces collided with a roar.
BOOM!
Their fists crashed together. Despite his advanced age, Master Ge didn’t lose ground. In fact, he even forced Batu Tieshan to take two steps back.
"Yes!"
Qu Qingcheng couldn’t help but cheer.
’He had been worried that Master Ge wouldn’t be able to handle these people.’
’Chu Lingguang watched with great interest. Master Ge might be hot-tempered, but he certainly had the skill to back up his arrogance. If he could really solve all of Qu Qingcheng’s problems, that would be ideal.’
However, after a moment’s surprise, Batu Tieshan let out a loud laugh and charged at Master Ge again. He unleashed the Gale and Torrential Rain Fist, pressing the attack toward his opponent’s vital points.
Master Ge stood his ground as if his feet were rooted to the deck. His punching speed was no slower, and each blow landed with the might of a tiger, a faint rumble of thunder roaring from within his Fist Technique.
The two gradually became locked in a fierce struggle. Powerful waves of energy washed over the onlookers. To the eyes of an ordinary person, the two fighters blurred into afterimages, each punch seeming to shake the heavens and the earth.
With his sharp eyes and astonishing Perception Power, Chu Lingguang could see that while Master Ge’s aura was growing stronger, his face was also becoming increasingly flushed.
BOOM!
Another punch sent them both flying apart.
Master Ge retreated hastily, his feet splintering the deck boards. His expression was grim, his face contorted. Chu Lingguang’s powerful Perception Power detected that Master Ge’s Qi Sea Dantian was churning violently, as if Fist Force from that last blow had penetrated his body, already forming a hidden injury.
’This is bad,’ he thought to himself.
’In the end, Master Ge’s age was too great a disadvantage.’
