Chapter 174: Section 175: Let go of your hand quickly!
Onboard the “Pig Kiss”.
Standing in his assigned cabin, Zhenjin’s face looked terrible, “Do I really have to play Hei Juan as soon as I get on board? Isn’t there a slightly larger cabin?”
The cabin in front of him was indeed cramped, but it was very normal to treat a Black Iron Level mercenary this way.
Zi Di spoke in a soft voice to persuade, “Lord, don’t forget that our journey is a disguise. We’ve created the illusion that you are still in the same place, and as your fiancée, I am only taking a group of people to the Wilderness Continent in advance to pave the way for you. If we expose ourselves now, it would be a huge loss. In fact, even I am pretending to conceal my identity.”
“The cabins on the ‘Pig Kiss’ are actually not much different. The largest cabin is currently in the hands of Priest Jia Sha. The rest are pretty much the same.”
Zhenjin nodded with resignation, “When can my substitute come out?”
...
“Once we reach White Sand City, we will let the substitute wake up. By then, I am sure it will give our two competitors a big surprise,” said Zi Di with a smile.
“Hehe,” Zhenjin mused, “I am eager to see the look on their faces.”
“Forget it, then I will deign to spend a few days in this kind of cabin.”
“You can come to accompany me tonight.”
Zi Di immediately showed an appropriate shade of regret, “Lord Zhenjin, although I would very much like to do so, don’t forget that Priest Jia Sha is on this ship.”
“In fact, according to our previous agreement, we have ‘accidentally leaked’ our information to the Guardian Knights.”
“Next, we have to create an accidental meeting, to get acquainted in advance with the official who is your assessor this time.”
“If we live together secretly while maintaining disguises, I’m afraid it will leave a very bad impression on Priest Jia Sha.”
Zhenjin’s face grew uglier, “You’re right. Hmph, then I’ll just endure it for a few days.”
…
The night was deep.
The “Pig Kiss” sailed quietly on the vast ocean.
Zhenjin turned over to sleep on his side, and suddenly the bed flipped over, throwing him onto the floor.
He woke up from the impact, opened his eyes, and saw that the floor was covered in water. At the same time, many panicked cries reached his ears.
“What’s going on?!”
Before he could react, the cabin door was violently pushed open, and with a thunderous crash, the seawater poured in.
“I…” Zhenjin tried to yell for help but was violently submerged, completely engulfed by the water.
…
Zhenjin gasped for air, emerging from the waves, and finally his feet touched the sand on the beach.
Dripping wet, he staggered a dozen steps forward, and then finally his knees gave out, and he collapsed onto the ground.
Around him was chaos, with many survivors making it to the beach. Some were praying loudly, some were crying out, some were sobbing, and others were desperately organizing rescue efforts.
“Hey, get up, help save others,” someone running by shouted upon seeing Zhenjin.
But Zhenjin had no reaction; his head was buzzing and the world seemed isolated from him.
He was stunned for a good while before his senses finally returned.
“A shipwreck?”
“How could this happen!”
Zhenjin felt like he was falling into an icy cave, tearless and desperate.
More and more survivors gathered around, people crying out in grief, helplessly watching as half of the “Pig Kiss” sank completely, and the other half was marooned on the beach.
“It really is a shipwreck!”
“So unlucky.”
“Wait!” Zhenjin’s body trembled, he reached for his waist, and after touching Silver Lightning, he let out a sigh of relief.
“Thank goodness it’s still here.” As for how he managed to don this sword while fleeing, Zhenjin had no recollection.
He was both relieved and frightened now.
People around him began to call for their relatives and friends, and Zhenjin too started to search the crowd for Zi Di and other mercenaries.
He saw some familiar faces, but could not find Zi Di at all.
“My fiancée… has met with disaster!” Zhenjin’s heart sank to the bottom.
…
“The Captain is missing, and I am the First Officer. This shipwreck is highly suspicious; there wasn’t the slightest hint of trouble beforehand. Instead of discussing the causes of the shipwreck, I think we should think about how to escape from here.”
“At present, we have gathered only a little food and water. But this island is covered with rainforests, so resources must be abundant. We need to form an exploration team first to scout out the terrain here and see where there’s a stable source of food and drinking water.”
The First Officer was giving his speech.
Zhenjin shrank back in the crowd, watching as a group of people was gathered up, seeing Cang Xu volunteer to join.
“These people are taking a risk! This island is strange, it forbids magic and fighting energy, and the limit of prohibition isn’t clear; they actually dare to go and explore.”
“Zi Di is dead, Priest Jia Sha and the others are also out of sight, it does not bode well!”
“Sigh, I better just stay here, hiding my identity. With this disguise, others will just think I am a mercenary.”
“When my family comes to the rescue and finds me, it won’t be too late to reveal my identity.”
…
Zhenjin angrily threw the axe in his hand onto the ground.
“Chopping trees all day.”
“I, a Holy Temple Knight, actually have to do this sort of thing!”
“Building a ship? When will this end? It’s still better to wait for rescue.”
“I am the sole heir of the Hundred Needle Family, and the Chairman of the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce, as well as Priest Jia Sha are also stranded here. There will definitely be a rescue!”
“Huh? What’s that noise?”
Zhenjin, with his Black Iron cultivation, had physical capabilities beyond the ordinary and heard rustling noises.
He followed the sound and discovered an old man eating.
“Old man, have you hidden something?” Zhenjin was delighted, and he approached.
The old man realized Zhenjin’s Black Iron cultivation and immediately became panic-stricken, “Lord, this was originally mine. I brought it to the island. I am so hungry; I beg you to have mercy and not report me. I am willing to share these things with you.”
The exploration team had been gone for a long time, without a stable source of food from the outside, reserves of food couldn’t hold out against the continuous consumption, especially with the need to chop wood to build a new ship. So the First Officer had imposed food rationing, and no one was allowed to hoard food.
Zhenjin snorted coldly, kicked the old man down, and seized all the food.
The old man clung to Zhenjin’s leg, “Lord, please have mercy, give me a little food. If I don’t eat something, I really will starve to death.”
“A worthless mortal dying isn’t a bad thing, right? Why waste any food on him!” Zhenjin said with utter contempt, delivering a vicious kick to the old man before striding away.
The old man nearly had the breathe kicked out of him by that blow.
However, soon after, three sailors confronted Zhenjin.
“Hei Juan, we’ve heard you’ve been hoarding food. You do know the current rules, don’t you?”
“Kid, if you know what’s good for you, you’ll hand it over,” one sailor said.
“That’s right, it’ll be better for all of us.”
Zhenjin looked at the leading sailor who, like him, also exuded the Life Breath of a Black Iron Level.
“It must have been that old man who squealed! Damn it.”
“The sailors are many and strong, there’s no need for me to clash with them head-on. Just wait until my family comes to my aid, I’ll make sure these bastards pay!” he schemed inwardly, though on the surface, Zhenjin chuckled: “I have another way that might be even more beneficial for both parties.”
As he spoke, he pulled out three Gold Coins.
Catching sight of the coins, the sailors’ eyes lit up instantly.
“Alright, that is indeed better,” one sailor agreed.
“You’re learning, kid,” praised another.
“Is this how you make money as a mercenary?” questioned the third.
Zhenjin replied with a smile, “I simply wish to make friends with you all, and I hope you’ll return the favor in the future.”
The sailors burst into laughter, and the leader clapped Hei Juan on the shoulder: “Smart kid, you know the way of the world.”
After the sailors left, Hei Juan disdainfully brushed off his shoulder where he had been clapped, his face full of contempt: “You lowlifes are so easy to deal with, just a few Gold Coins and you’re satisfied. Wait until my family comes to my aid, you’ll regret your attitude today!”
…
Food reserves had dropped to critical levels, and after the first exploration team went missing, the First Officer attempted to assemble a second team.
“I now announce the results of the draw. Those whose names I call out will become members of the second exploration team…” announced the First Officer, causing an uproar among the crowd.
“Why wasn’t a single sailor drawn?”
“I question the fairness of this draw!”
“Redraw, redraw!!”
Concealed in the crowd, Zhenjin watched the indignant people around him with an air of watching a drama unfold.
He wasn’t on the list, having once again bribed a sailor with Gold Coins.
…
Late at night.
Zhenjin was awakened by a commotion: “What’s happened?”
“Someone has incited a brawl with the sailors!”
“What?!” Zhenjin was alarmed and quickly took Silver Lightning to see what was going on.
He witnessed Zong Ge taking the lead and with dominating force, easily defeating the Big guy, and then, under Queshan’s testimony, publicly disposing of the First Officer.
“This Half-Beast has too much strength, and his equipment is of exceptional quality! The bans on Fighting energy and Magic here have turned this dirty-blooded Half-Beast into the strongest of us all.”
“I was correct to hide my identity; who knows how much these Half-Beasts and Half-Elves despise someone like me.”
“These sailors are all useless!”
“This big guy grew so huge for nothing, not a shred of any martial arts.”
“Damn it!”
“With the sailors losing power, all the Gold Coins I invested are going down the drain.”
…
Zong Ge replaced the First Officer and began to control the situation here.
But every night, the survivors suffered from mysterious attacks, and people died, one after another.
“Damn it, this is really sinister!” cursed Zhenjin.
“What the hell is killing these people?”
“Damn it, the rescue is too slow; when are they ever going to arrive?”
…
The sailor who had received the most bribery from Zhenjin quietly came to him.
“Hei Juan, come with us. The Captain was assassinated, and we’ve been subjected to mysterious attacks. It’s likely that Zong Ge, the Half-Beast, is behind all this!”
“We plan to use the assembling of the exploration team as a chance to escape together.”
“Who all are in?” Zhenjin’s heart raced as he proactively handed over a Gold Coin.
With a look of pleasure, the sailor answered, “Lord Xi Suo, the shipwright, Mu Ban… To tell you the truth, only the old shipwright can build us a new ship. You understand.”
Zhenjin nodded repeatedly: “I understand!”
Being beneath a Half-Beast was a humiliation for Zhenjin.
And with mysterious attacks occurring every night, the living conditions were treacherous. Zhenjin had long since lost any desire to stay.
…
Xi Suo, Hei Juan, and others snuck off with the exploration team but were quickly discovered, prompting Zong Ge to lead a pursuit.
During the chase, there was a teleportation.
Upon stumbling on a strange camp, Xi Suo exclaimed: “This must be the divine arrangement, allowing us to escape the clutches of our vicious and insidious enemy and blessing us with this temporary camp!”
The camp was fixed up but was soon under attack by bat monkeys and Strong Life White Rhinoceroses.
“No, I don’t want to die, I won’t die!” Zhenjin roared within, an overwhelming desire to survive filling his chest.
“It’s all over here! Staying here means certain death.” Zhenjin gritted his teeth, turned around, and crouching low, sprinted out of the wooden hut.
In the midst of the life-and-death struggle with the bat monkeys, Zhenjin unexpectedly received support.
“Someone!” he exclaimed joyfully, not daring to look back as he sprinted towards the direction from which the darts had come.
After a mad dash, Zhenjin quickly entered the forest and found a few people standing under a tree.
“Not Xi Suo and the others… wait a minute.”
Zhenjin could hardly believe it, his heart swelling with ecstatic joy. He had actually found Zi Di, his fiancée was still alive!
His eyes suddenly lit up, revealing a look of surprise and delight, he blurted out, “Zi…”
“It’s Hei Juan!” At the same time, Zi Di recognized Hei Juan’s face and exclaimed in a low voice, “He is a member of the Mercenary Group I hired!”
“Hm?” Zhenjin was startled.
“Lord Zhenjin, the people inside the cabin should all be from the Pig Kiss,” Zi Di said to the young knight beside her.
“That man? He’s my substitute!” Realization dawned on Zhenjin.
The young knight nodded, “I must rescue them quickly! You all stay here.”
He moved swiftly forward, and in a few breaths, stood before Zhenjin, his gaze quickly sizing up the tanned young man, “Can you fight again?”
Zhenjin stood there, staring blankly at the substitute before him.
“Just like me!”
His heart was filled with exclamation, but he did not respond for a moment.
The young knight shook his head privately, “It seems his courage is lost.”
The image of Zhenjin’s escape was witnessed by him.
The young knight charged toward the camp, but Zhenjin hurriedly opened his mouth to stop him, “Don’t…”
You are my substitute, don’t lose your life for these fools. Don’t take risks, come back and protect me!
But the next moment, Zhenjin saw the substitute’s formidable combat power.
Zhenjin stared intently at the substitute’s retreating figure, his expression one of shock.
“How could there be such terrifying strength?”
“Fighting energy cannot be used here.”
That’s right, he’s a Beastification Person.
He was a Silver Knight before he was transformed, his physical condition far superior to mine.
How does he compare to Zong Ge?
“Hei Juan,” Zi Di, Lan Zao, and others walked over.
Hmph, well-played. Do you intend to keep hiding it? That’s fine, exposing you now would be pointless for me. Let this foolish substitute fight on my behalf.
“Miss Zi Di.” Zhenjin composed himself and gave Zi Di a bow, “Who exactly is this lord…”
Zi Di was about to reply with a light smile.
But it was the usually silent Lan Zao who spoke first, “He is my master—Lord Zhenjin! He is Lord Zi Di’s fiancé, the sole heir of the Hundred Needle Family, a true Holy Temple Knight, and will one day be the City Lord of White Sand City. He is my savior as well as yours.”
Zhenjin: “???”
“Who is this idiot?”
“It seems like a good opportunity to have collected a servant who will give his life for me. Not bad.”
Zi Di nodded, “I hired you to escort me to White Sand City on the Wilderness Continent, and Lord Zhenjin has been hiding by my side all along. The purpose was to deceive onlookers to prevent our rivals from maliciously obstructing our journey. After the shipwreck occurred, I found Lord Zhenjin. Trust me, Lord Zhenjin will surely lead us to leave this island alive.”
“So it is.” Zhenjin’s adam’s apple bobbed, thinking to himself, “You’re right, my fiancée. Relying on family rescue is no longer reliable, self-rescue is the only way out!”
“`
…
After repelling the horde of beasts, the substitute received a warm welcome, and everyone treated him as a hero.
“This substitute is doing quite well,” Zhenjin thought to himself, feeling reassured.
Zhenjin secretly sought out Zi Di for a private conversation.
“My dear Zi Di, I’m so relieved you’re all right! I thought you had perished; those days were filled with immense sorrow for me.” Zhenjin stepped forward with his arms open, wanting to embrace Zi Di.
Zi Di took a step back, nervously looking around, “Lord, be careful, lest others see us.”
Then, she continued in an excited tone, “After the shipwreck, I and a group of people were washed up on another part of the island’s beach. Lord, I’ve been trying to find you all this time. We are truly fortunate! I almost cried out and exposed your identity when I saw you just now, but luckily your glance signaled me to be cautious.”
Zhenjin stroked his chin, this wonderful misunderstanding immediately eased many of his concerns, and he smiled, “Communicating with someone as clever as you is indeed a time and effort saver.”
“What’s the situation now? Have you sent out any distress messages? Have you received any responses?”
Zi Di shook her head, looking downcast, “No response at all. This island is very strange and extremely dangerous. I had no choice but to awaken the substitute. Without him, I would have died already.”
“You did the right thing. What kind of strength does my substitute have, exactly?”
Zi Di shook her head, “He’s a Beastification Person, but the memory infusion isn’t complete. I found he can partially beastify. As for having stronger combat abilities, I don’t think there are many.”
Zi Di provided a detailed account of some events.
Zhenjin showed a disappointed expression, “It seems that he won’t be able to defeat Zong Ge.”
“Somebody’s coming,” Zi Di immediately warned.
Zhenjin could only cut short the brief exchange with Zi Di and quietly and swiftly leave.
…
And as the two groups continued to interact, when the substitute took out the Armor Plate, Zhenjin couldn’t help but be alarmed, “This isn’t good. It seems Zong Ge has also been transported here. I need to warn them quickly: This Zong Ge is very dangerous!”
“Lord,” Zhenjin placed his hand on his chest and bowed to the substitute, “You are truly worthy of being a Holy Temple Knight, always upholding a spirit of justice and fairness. But my suspicions about Zong Ge are not baseless.”
“He has undergone rigorous combat training!” Zhenjin added.
Everyone looked at each other, puzzled.
Zhenjin continued, “Every mercenary, or every sailor, has been trained in combat. The kind of training I’m talking about is not ordinary training, but military training.”
“Trust me, I’m certain that he has served in the military. Only someone who has undergone strict military training and has served in the army would have such a soldier’s aura. I’m most clear about this.”
He offered insights he had never publicly mentioned before, which both the substitute and Zi Di took very seriously.
…
With Zong Ge and others lurking outside and Xi Suo, the shipwright, and others not returning, the substitute immediately decided to go out and search.
“Not a bad sword,” the substitute returned the thin sword, Silver Lightning, to Zhenjin.
Zi Di suddenly said to Zhenjin, “Hei Juan, I know your sword is no ordinary blade. Please, for now, let Lord Zhenjin use this sword.”
Zhenjin was taken aback, his expression changing slightly, “This sword is a family heirloom.”
He refused without further thought.
The substitute gave a faint smile, “Zi Di, there’s no need to trouble him.”
“Lord, this won’t do!” Zi Di insisted, “We’ve just analyzed; Zong Ge is a powerful adversary. He also has a set of high-quality steel armor, and his War Spear must also be extraordinary. Lord, if you face Zong Ge with ordinary weapons, it will almost be like fighting unarmed. If you fail, Lord, the outcome will be dire for the rest of us. If you won’t consider your own well-being, please consider ours.”
The substitute was stunned, then forced a wry smile.
“`
Zhenjin’s heart jolted, “That’s it! I should hand this sword over to the substitute to use, Zong Ge is extremely powerful, the substitute must be fully armed.”
“He is fighting in my place! If he were to be defeated due to a lack of weapons, I would still be the one to suffer in the end.”
“Zi Di has considered well, she has my interests at heart.”
“Handing over the sword to the substitute lessens the risk for me!” S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
“Lord!” Thinking thus, Zhenjin changed his mind. He actively cradled the thin sword in his hands, stepped forward, and offered it with clasped hands, “It is my ignorance, my vision too narrow. Only in your hands can this sword truly exhibit its value. This is my family heirloom, its name is Silver Lightning. It will surely shine radiantly in your hands!”
Zi Di smiled, “Hei Juan, for this job, I will pay you double the remuneration.”
A smile instantly appeared on Zhenjin’s face.
“Alright. I will take good care of this sword, and I will try to ensure that it is returned to you intact.”
Seeing Zhenjin’s attitude, the substitute also took the sword back with confidence.
Zhenjin laughed smugly to himself, “You just work hard for me.”
…
Zhenjin, the substitute, and Zi Di successfully rescued Xi Suo and the others, including the shipwright.
The substitute faced off against Zong Ge.
“Hmph, a pretty-faced noble!” Zong Ge scorned as he looked at the substitute, his gaze settling on the thin sword’s hilt at Zhenjin’s waist, and commented lightly, “However… the sword is not bad.”
The substitute gave a slight smile, eyeing the remnants of high-grade steel War Armor on Zong Ge, “Your armor isn’t bad either.”
Zhenjin observed secretly, his heart pounding, “Please don’t start fighting!”
Seeing Sanda, Zong Ge, and the others reject Zi Di’s offer, he was nearly uncontrollably furious, swearing inwardly, “You mixed-breed scum, you dare to refuse to serve under me. Such disdain! Do you even have the status to? Very well, I have etched this humiliation in my heart, and one day, I will make you regret it!”
Zong Ge challenged the substitute to prove his identity through prayer, which infuriated the substitute.
The substitute clenched the sword hilt, his eyebrows deeply furrowed, his face darkened, and his gaze turned icy as he rebuked, “Zong Ge, watch your words! You dare to belittle the gods! I carry the gaze of the Holy Emperor, which is a blessing from the gods. Divine Arts are bestowed by the gods, not a show or proof of identity. Apologize to me now, immediately! Otherwise, you will face the wrath of a Holy Temple Knight!”
With that, the substitute took a step forward, closing in on Zong Ge.
Lan Zao, Hei Juan, and others behind him placed hands on their weapons, Zi Di reached into her pouch, Big Fool picked up a wooden stick, and let out a deep growl from his throat.
Zhenjin’s heart leapt to his throat, sweating with nerves, “Damn it! Why act so recklessly? You can’t beat Zong Ge!”
Then, to Zhenjin’s relief, Zong Ge’s retreat made him feel as if he had moved from the edge of a cliff to a place of safety, “This substitute is too brave for his own good.”
The substitute then publicly accepted Zong Ge and his party, inviting them back to the camp.
Zhenjin was so angry he wanted to jump, “You’re inviting the wolf into the house! Utter stupidity beyond redemption!”
After returning to the camp, Zhenjin again found Zi Di privately, greatly dissatisfied with the substitute’s decisions.
He angrily said to Zi Di, “He really thinks he’s a Holy Temple Knight now. Speaking of justice and fairness, treating everyone equally… Bringing Zong Ge and his crew in like that, haha, utterly foolish!”
Zi Di explained helplessly, “Lord, I didn’t make the previous situation clear, there were some serious issues when infusing the substitute with memories.”
“It would not be good to contradict him openly. It’s your authority at stake, after all.”
“His actions actually have a great advantage; it is a perfect disguise. Now even Zong Ge is utterly convinced of his identity.”
Zhenjin sighed deeply and was eventually persuaded.
…
The logging team and the camp were both suddenly attacked by a horde of beasts.
During the defense and counterattack, the substitute discerned the traces of a hidden mastermind.
The substitute’s expression was grave, “This behind-the-scenes mastermind is not simple, not only can he mobilize bat monkeys and Silver Rhinoceroses, but he also possesses exceptional tactical skill. This time he divided his forces in two, one to distract us, the other to focus on attacking the camp. He understands very well that the camp is our weakest and most crucial point.”
“You’re right. We must eliminate him!” Zong Ge nodded.
“Then let’s go, just the two of us, everyone else would be a burden.” The substitute took the lead, and Zong Ge threw away his broken sword and followed closely behind.
Zhenjin watched the two leave the camp, feeling both relieved and worried.
“This guy is too reckless. What kind of residual memories does he have that make his character so recklessly brave?”
“This is too risky.”
“Sigh, I hope he can return safely!”
Zong Ge did come back, with the corpse of a Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa, causing a sensation, but the substitute had not yet returned.
Zhenjin found Zi Di, “We paid a huge price to get this substitute. We can’t let him act independently like this anymore!”
“He actually ventured into the forest alone, such recklessness is too brainless.”
“We need to make good use of him, letting him protect our safety and maximize his value.”
“Lord, you are absolutely right.” Zi Di’s face showed agreement and distress, “But how should we do it?”
“This…”
Zi Di added, “Honestly, right now I just pray that the substitute can return safely, I would be so grateful.”
Zhenjin sighed again, “Sigh, I feel the same way.”
…
Not only did the substitute return, but he also eliminated a Blue Dog Fox Wolf and brought back critical intel about the true nature of the mastermind behind the scenes.
Zi Di said, “Lord pursued the beast groups for a long time and took a life-threatening risk to ambush during the Blue Dog Fox Wolf’s attempt to subdue the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear, killing the Blue Dog Fox Wolf.”
“Lord Zhenjin, with your own strength, you have resolved the threat to the camp that has been present all along. You have done very well indeed.”
The substitute looked at Zi Di’s beautiful purple crystal-like eyes and smiled slightly, reaching out to hold Zi Di’s hand that was resting on the table.
Zi Di’s hand instinctively shrank back a little but stayed in place, letting the substitute hold it.
“Indeed worthy of being my substitute!” Zhenjin, who was also attending the meeting, felt proud inside, “Well done… my ass!”
“Damn it, he dares to hold the hand of my fiancée!”
“Let go, you bastard!!”
“It looks like we need to change our strategy,” Mu Ban said, “We can’t just focus on logging, we need to quickly make strong crossbows.”
Everyone began discussing how to deal with the Demon Beast Army under the command of the Blue Dog Fox Wolf.
Zhenjin, however, was always paying attention to the hand of Zi Di held by the substitute.
“Not letting go yet? Just how long do you plan to hold on?!”
He was furious and really wanted to leap up and plunge the Silver Lightning into the substitute’s forehead.
But he couldn’t!
“Calm down, calm down. I am Hei Juan now, he is Zhenjin!”
“And…”
“The Silver Lightning is in his hand.”