Chapter 82: The Mastermind Behind the Scenes

The third leader of the pirates was spineless. Once he fell into Fang Yue’s hands, there was hardly any need for interrogation; he answered every question without resistance.

“So you’re saying that the ones who gathered all you pirates from the East Sea were the Pirate King of the East Sea and the Sea Dragon King? Who is this Sea Dragon King?” Fang Yue asked.

Night had fallen, and torches were lit all around, illuminating the uncertain expression on Fang Yue’s face.

“I don’t know who he is. Everyone who has ever seen him is dead. I’ve only heard that he travels the East Sea on a painted boat, stirring up massive sea storms that can overturn any pirate ship in his path. Everyone says he’s the Dragon King from the seabed, come up to play.”

“He can conjure up storms at sea?” Fang Yue frowned, looking at the third leader, who was forced to his knees by the others.

He couldn’t tell if the man was speaking the truth or merely trying to frighten them.

But in a world haunted by monsters and spirits, such things weren’t impossible.

“So why did they gather you all? Was it just to amass enough men to attack the city?”

This was something that had puzzled Fang Yue. The pirates ruled the seas; attacking a city seemed a losing proposition.

The third leader glanced at Fang Yue, replying cautiously, “It’s not just robbery. There’s also killing. Each group of pirates was assigned a quota of people to kill. If we didn’t meet the quota, we’d have to make up the numbers with our own men.

I don’t know about the other groups, but our quota was over four thousand. None of us wanted this—it was the Pirate King of the East Sea and the Sea Dragon King who forced us. We only sought profit…”

As the third leader rambled on, those around him gasped in horror, cursing furiously:

“There are only a little over six thousand people in Fishhead Town! Do they mean to slaughter us all?”

“Damn pirates, so deranged! They should all be sent straight to hell!”

Fang Yue’s brow furrowed as he pressed on, “With so many of you gathered, do you plan to attack places other than Ping’an County?”

The third leader shook his head quickly, “Everyone’s come to attack Ping’an County. We’re not to touch any other city or county.

The Pirate King’s men said that attacking Ping’an County wouldn’t meet much resistance, and there’s no need to fear the imperial army.

Once we arrive, we’re to loot and kill as we please, so long as we reach our quota within three days.”

Fang Yue’s expression changed. “What do you mean? Why ‘no need to fear the imperial army’?”

Seeing Fang Yue’s darkening face, the third leader answered nervously, “I really don’t know. Maybe it just means there won’t be any interference from the imperial court for those three days?”

Fang Yue looked grim. He had assumed that after Magistrate Hu reported the pirates’ attack, reinforcements would be dispatched from above.

But from the third leader’s words, it seemed that reinforcements might never come.

If there were none, then with only a few hundred county constables and yamen runners, plus about a thousand militia, they stood no chance against ten thousand pirates.

What was most terrifying was that whoever orchestrated this could even manipulate the court into inaction.

If it was simply a matter of deceiving those above, that would be one thing. But if they were brazenly complicit, that was truly dreadful.

Fang Yue sensed a chilling horror behind it all.

“Why must so many be killed? Why Ping’an County?”

He voiced his final question.

The third leader could not answer; he truly didn’t know.

“Deal with the rest of the pirates,” Fang Yue said wearily.

Immediately, some men stepped forward, gagged the third leader, and dragged him away.

He struggled desperately, begging for mercy, but no one wavered. The pirates had killed so many—no one felt any sympathy for them.

…

Inside the house, the candlelight was dim.

After a simple meal to regain his strength, Fang Yue found a temporary residence and entered, avoiding the others.

Fang Yue—

Merit: 9,516 points

Divine Abilities: Deduction, Reflection, Soul Capture

Martial Skills: Dao Comprehension Fist (Second Level), Basic Blade Technique (First Level), Iron Body (First Level)

Killing pirates, saving people, slaying ghosts—these events had caused Fang Yue’s merit points to soar in a short time, almost reaching ten thousand.

“This time, the use of explosives—whether Fang Baoliang used them to blast the pirates, or I used them to destroy that ghost—brought me merit points.”

Fang Yue reviewed the sources of each gain, noting especially the explosives.

He had previously improved the gunpowder formula, “inventing” black powder, which this world had never seen. He’d thought this would earn him a shower of merit points.

But he’d gained nothing, to his great disappointment.

He didn’t know if it was because the improved formula wasn’t truly his own invention, or because, in a world with supernatural forces, ordinary inventions had no value and thus brought no merit.

In any case, Fang Yue’s hopes of earning merit points through mass replication of inventions from his previous world had been dashed.

“Perhaps only when these things are put to real use and create actual impact can merit be earned?”

He pondered, realizing he’d have to test this further in the future.

“With such abundant merit points, I can continue deducing martial skills—the third level of Dao Comprehension Fist, Flame Palm, or Lightness Skill, all can be deduced.”

In the dim light, Fang Yue’s eyes shone keenly as he silently invoked, “Deduce.”

A pair of black and white yin-yang fish appeared, exuding an aura of ancient desolation.

…

The candle flickered, emitting a faint crackling.

Shadows danced gently on the wall.

Outside, voices drifted through the night, mingled with the occasional cries and sounds of grief.

Those who had fled, survived, or remained were now returning, calling out for their loved ones in the darkness.

Those reunited wept for joy; those who could not find their kin, or who found only corpses, were consumed by sorrow.

The deaths of several hundred had left countless families broken.

Fang Yue sat alone, feeling the flow of the deduced martial arts before withdrawing his spirit.

He had deliberately found a room away from others, for he had something important to do.

“Reflection.”

He murmured, and an ancient bronze mirror appeared before him.

This attack by the pirates on Ping’an City seemed to conceal some hidden purpose.

The mastermind behind it had driven the pirates to murder nearly the entire population of Ping’an County—for what end?

In a world haunted by monsters and ghosts, such acts could only mean some sort of blood sacrifice.

“Though there is risk in peering into the affairs of such mighty beings, my vitality is strong now. It won’t be easy to harm or curse me through a mere reflection.

Even if something happens, I control the divine ability and can sever the link in time. With enough merit points for protection, the danger isn’t so great.”

Fang Yue weighed the risks in his mind.

“Begin.”

Merit points were consumed at a staggering rate—far faster than Fang Yue had expected.

He frowned but did not stop, staring intently into the bronze mirror.

The yellowed surface wavered, and an image formed—only an expanse of pitch black.

“Where is this?” Fang Yue’s vision suddenly went dark, and he felt a suffocating pressure, unable to breathe or move.

An immense weight pressed in from all sides, as if to crush his body, like being buried alive beneath endless earth.

He coughed up a mouthful of blood. Fortunately, he had been prepared and severed the divine ability in time, avoiding a mortal wound.

“Heal.”

Merit points drained rapidly, mending his injuries.

“As expected, I cannot lightly peer into the affairs of forces too great.”

Fang Yue wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and managed a wry smile.