Section 34: Dad, I’m here to save you!
By Gu Zhenren
Shu Tianhao’s vision grew increasingly blurry. He could no longer clearly see the figure of Residual Wolf.
Was he willing to be defeated by such a clown?
No, he was not.
Was it helpless?
Yes, it was.
In his heart, he could hear the Drunken Snow Saber calling out, crying out in anguish. It was unwilling to yield, it still wanted to fight, to fight!
But Shu Tianhao was completely exhausted. He had not a sliver of strength left. He had the will but not the strength, like a body trying to wield the Drunken Snow Saber but unable to bear its increasing weight.
If only his left arm hadn’t been lost…
He let out a pure sigh, but Shu Tianhao had no regrets. Not at all. Thinking of Chu Yun’s figure filled his heart with solace.
“Everyone says you’re not my biological son. But in my eyes, you, who carry my lost arm, are closer than my own son! I’ve already made arrangements for my will. Chu Yun, you have always been the best successor in my heart. It’s a pity I can’t help you any further. Without me, you must be careful of the forces from Ning Family Island…”
The sounds of battle songs in his ears had thinned, so weak they were almost inaudible. Darkness descended before his eyes, and he was about to sink into the world of death.
Since ancient times, who could escape death? Was the once Fierce Tiger of Many Stars also destined to fade away?
But just then!
…Oh, the dark clouds that fill the sky! Oh, the waves that rise like mountains! Oh, the cold wind that whips at my face! Oh, the spray that lashes the boat…
…Who cares about the wind like a knife, the rain like arrows! Who cares about the shattered rivers and mountains, or the ups and downs of life! …
The battle songs grew louder. Was it an auditory hallucination? Shu Tianhao’s consciousness flickered intensely.
“What’s going on?” Residual Wolf’s expression changed; he too sensed something unusual.
It was as if an invisible gust of wind and waves swept across the entire battlefield, and the atmosphere subtly shifted with the singing.
…Peers, open your eyes! Helmsmen, grip the helm! Be careful, don’t be lazy! Fight with all your might, don’t be afraid…
…We fear not the thousand-zhang waves as high as mountains! We fear not the countless soldiers and horses with spears like forests…
“This is a new song, who is singing?!” Bai Bei’s face turned anxious, and he shouted loudly.
The singing began faintly, like a new spring. But gradually, it grew louder and louder!
It formed a massive wave of sound, sweeping towards the battlefield.
…Since ancient times, who can escape death? Our blood runs true and our hearts are pure…
…We will charge through the sea, then turn back! We will fight the raging waves again, fight them to the death…
Under the infusion of this new strength, the gradually dying morale of the Shu Family Army was like new fuel added to a burning fire.
A completely new power began to brew.
Bai Bei, surveying the entire situation, couldn’t help but break out in a cold sweat. The battle was currently at a stalemate; both sides were utterly exhausted. At this point, if the enemy had reinforcements, the consequences would be unimaginable!
“No, no! How could there be reinforcements?” He immediately denied it repeatedly in his mind, “Such timely reinforcements would only be possible if the urgent military dispatch was sent out, the Shu Family Island reacted immediately, mobilized an army, and rushed here at full speed regardless of the wind and waves. And they would have to pass through my poisonous fog, how is that possible?”
He was unaware that most of his poisonous fog had been dispersed by the wind and waves, and the remainder had been countered by fire, rendering it practically useless.
The singing intensified once more, like a storm of pine trees and a tsunami, resounding across the entire battlefield.
“Reinforcements! It’s reinforcements, our reinforcements have arrived!” Countless soldiers and generals of the Shu Family Army, tears streaming down their faces, were filled with excitement and their morale soared!
“How is it possible that reinforcements are arriving at this time?!” Residual Wolf sneered disdainfully, but his expression then changed, and his eyes stared fixedly in a certain direction within the thick smoke.
Bai Bei also looked stunned, staring in that direction. Several ships were emerging from the dense smoke!
“How can this be? How can ships appear in such thick black smoke?” The pirates also noticed this anomaly. A sense of panic spread, and their morale plummeted.
The battlefield suddenly paused, and countless eyes focused on one direction.
The battle songs were clear and loud, growing louder and louder, merging into a tide of sound that swept in all directions!
Closer, ever closer they came.
Countless people instinctively held their breath.
Boom!
It felt like a long time had passed, yet it was also like the blink of an eye, as the first warship broke through the smoke and entered the battlefield. Six more fast galleys followed closely.
The battlefield fell silent, then erupted in a clamor!
Countless people’s jaws dropped, their eyes nearly popping out of their sockets.
What kind of warships were these? They were actually burning with flames!
What kind of army was this? They were singing battle songs amidst the flames, their fighting spirit blazing!
Expressions of shock froze on the faces of the pirates. Countless people rubbed their eyes, feeling as if they had fallen into a dream.
In contrast, after their initial astonishment, the Shu Family Army was filled with absolute confidence in victory!
They had no idea what kind of army this was. Perhaps it was the island master’s hidden trump card!
Even fierce flames seemed to surrender before them. These were divine soldiers, yes, divine soldiers sent from heaven!
The battle songs echoed, and divine soldiers descended from the sky!
The seven fiercely burning galleys, like seven sharp knives, not only sliced through the entire battlefield but also pierced the hearts of the pirates.
Especially when they saw the warriors leaping out of the flames, their bells jingling, ferociously reaping the lives of their comrades, the morale of Residual Wolf’s pirate side dropped to the freezing point.
Morale is contagious; once courage is lost, even ten parts of one’s strength can only yield half, and that’s the limit.
Moreover, they had been fighting for a long time and were already utterly exhausted. The contest with the Shu Family Army had been a battle of endurance and ferocity. Now, a fresh force had arrived, and such a formidable divine army!
Unbeknownst to them, someone shouted, “Run for your lives!” and plunged into the sea to escape. The rout immediately spread throughout the pirate horde. They were not regular troops to begin with, and their ability to fight for so long was a testament to their respect for Residual Wolf’s ferocity, an exhibition of their peak performance.
They had expected a fight to the death, but unexpectedly, the pirates collapsed entirely shortly after the initial engagement. Chu Yun’s side, on the other hand, found their morale soaring to its peak. They wore jade-green seaweed, and the copper bells at their waists jingled incessantly. They moved freely through the flames.
Invincible, they swept across the battlefield!
Under their leadership, the Shu Family Army launched a full-scale counterattack. The tide of battle abruptly turned; the pirates were routed, and the Shu Family Army took control of the entire battlefield!
Bai Bei was stunned.
Residual Wolf was also dumbfounded!
How could this be? They had clearly held the upper hand moments ago, with victory within reach. But in the blink of an eye, everything had changed. It was a complete reversal!
Watching the continuously retreating, panicked, and surrendering pirates, Bai Bei’s mind went blank. Residual Wolf was also bewildered; things had happened too quickly and too suddenly. The victors of a moment ago were now the vanquished. He couldn’t accept it.
Fight! Fight! Fight!
Chu Yun took the lead, his weapon flashing. Behind him, the three elders, resolute in their old age, their white hair and beards shining in the crimson flames.
The battle songs were loud, and the copper bells at their waists vibrated continuously, echoing each other. Though the rescue force was small in number, the constant ringing of the bells filled the battlefield, creating an immensely powerful momentum!
It was as if thousands of troops had arrived, charging together.
The sound of the copper bells rapidly swept across the entire battlefield, rallying the Shu Family Army for a desperate counterattack. The pirates were completely disorganized, slaughtered and routed. In a short time, countless died from trampling or drowned.
The defeat was like a mountain collapsing. At this moment, the Shu Family Army’s victory was assured.
Shu Tianhao felt as if he were sinking into a dark swamp. In his final moments, it was the familiar battle song that sustained his will.
The song enveloped all directions, as if Heaven and Earth were resonating.
“Dad!” Suddenly, a familiar cry from his memory, like a thunderbolt, pierced the darkness!
Shu Tianhao trembled all over. With strength he didn’t know he had, he forced his eyes open.
A battlefield bathed in crimson.
Warships entangled, flames burning fiercely, a fiery red; bodies scattered across the ground, blood flowing in the crimson sea; and the flushed faces of every Shu Family soldier surging forward…
Red clashed and mingled. The black curtain draped over Heaven and Earth could not conceal this crimson hue!
Shu Tianhao was stunned. The swarming soldiers, Residual Wolf’s incredulous, dazed expression, the defeated pirates… had they won?
How could this be?
The victory far exceeded his expectations. Shu Tianhao was both shocked and bewildered. Suddenly, his gaze fixed on a particular person. This, this was?!
Expressions of shock and joy froze on his face.
“Chu Yun, why are you here, child?!”
As if hearing his inner call, Chu Yun’s eyes turned red, and he stared intently at Shu Tianhao, who lay on the ground, and shouted with all his might, “Dad, I’m here to save you!!!”
With that, he charged forward, leading the charge with an unparalleled, unstoppable momentum.
Residual Wolf’s heart jolted, secretly surprised by Chu Yun’s youth and bravery. Then, a sinister smile appeared on his face: “Still wet behind the ears, boasting so boldly! Good, very good, come then, I shall eliminate you completely today and end all future trouble.”
Standing his ground, Residual Wolf coldly watched Chu Yun board the ship.
“This is bad…” Shu Tianhao’s eyes were filled with anxiety. He wanted to stop him, but he couldn’t utter a single word.
At this moment, within Chu Yun’s senses, time seemed to slow down.
The world became incredibly clear.
