Rekindling the Onslaught

The pirates, numbering over thirty, had corralled all the villagers together.

Clearly, their objective was to ferret out Yang JingTian, the perpetrator responsible for slaying their leader the prior evening. Judging by their posture, if Yang was not surrendered, they seemed prepared to ravage the village.

Yet, how were these guiltless villagers to know that the one who had struck down Chen Ba was Yang JingTian?

Meng Lin's residence was situated a fair distance from the village core, thus temporarily sparing them from the pirates' immediate rush.

As Yang JingTian made his appearance, a group of pirates clamored, "Look, there's someone else there!"

"Grab him. We can't let a single person from this village escape."

Surprisingly, the speaker was a woman.

A bewitching woman of mature charm, exuding feminine allure.

From afar, Yang JingTian caught sight of her; she was the kind of woman who could make a man's heart stir. Clad in white, her hair loosely draped over her shoulders, she was stunningly beautiful. Like a willow swaying in the east wind, her visage was radiant and captivating. Light eyebrows arched gracefully like distant hills, eyes deep and clear as autumn waters. Her lips were as ripe as cherries, teeth like twin rows of finely cut jade, and her countenance was joyous with a winsome smile. In her bright eyes, there was a shimmering allure, indeed a rare beauty among mortals.

The woman's every sway and gesture drew all eyes to her.

Yang JingTian smiled, for he had not expected his adversary to be a woman.

The leader of these pirates was, by nature, a seductive enchantress.

This woman knew well how to deal with men. Despite her beautiful and curvaceous figure, she refrained from flaunting her assets wantonly, opting instead for subtlety and grace. Her demeanor exuded an above-reach elegance, a resolute inviolability, and a pristine purity that only rendered her more captivating to men who relished female conquest.

The more unattainable something is, the more valuable it becomes.

Yet Yang JingTian was an exception.

This wasn't to say Yang JingTian was a paragon of virtue, but rather, he could see through the chilly facade to the passion that lay beneath.

She, a natural enchantress, possessed her own means of beguiling men.

And now, this enchantress also laid her eyes upon Yang JingTian.

Witnessing his extraordinary poise, his piercing gaze seemed to peer into the depths of her soul. Unbidden, her heart fluttered. Her body reacted with a warmth that surged through her veins, her bosom swelled, and a tingling sensation spread, so tantalizing it made her feel unbearably unsettled. A flush of youthful blush graced her cheeks, eyes brimming with unspoken desire.

Yang JingTian's gaze was pulsating and arresting.

To this mature woman, experienced in dealings with men, Yang JingTian possessed a mysterious, alluring charm. His allure was indeed exceptional.

The two pirates who had intended to seize Yang found themselves retreating to the side as he approached unarmed and alone.

Yang JingTian fixed his unwavering eyes upon the exquisite beauty, smiled, and said, "A fair lady such as yourself, why choose the life of a thief?"

At that moment, a pirate wielding a golden spear plunged his weapon into the ground and threatened the villagers and Yang JingTian, "If you don't reveal who killed my boss, I will execute you all!"

The captivating beauty rebuked the spear-wielding pirate, "Silence, no one asked you to speak." Turning to Yang JingTian, she continued indifferently, "What does it matter if I am a thief? I like this life. Is that a problem?"

Yang JingTian replied with a smile, "If you were not a thief, perhaps I would consider taking you for my wife."

"Insolent boy, how dare you taunt our lady boss!" the golden spear pirate exclaimed, raising his weapon to strike at Yang JingTian.

The band of pirates, revealed to be allies of Chen Ba, numbered over thirty. The golden-spear pirate was none other than the group's second-in-command, Chen Zhai, while the breathtaking enchantress was Chen Ba's wife, Lan Mei Feng. Though Chen Ba was the nominal leader of the band, the true power lay with Lan Mei Feng. The gang, originally the legacy of Lan Mei Feng's father, was led by this daughter of privilege. Yet, burdened by the challenge of commanding a band of men as a woman, she delegated the gang's daily affairs to her husband, Chen Ba, a trusted protégé of her father and technically her martial sibling. However, Chen Ba's martial skills paled in comparison to Lan Mei Feng's—a disparity partly due to his limited natural talent, and partly because her father reserved some teachings, wary of Chen Ba's potential dominance over his daughter in his absence.

In truth, Chen Ba was but a puppet within the gang, feared and respected only because of his affiliations with Lan Mei Feng, whose formidable skills and lineage demanded reverence.

However, a storm at sea led them to Haining Village, where an excursion led by Chen Ba seeking food culminated in his demise. Lan Mei Feng, upon hearing the news, swore vengeance and rallied her band to confront the village and apprehend the culprit.

As Chen Zhai poised to strike, Lan Mei Feng commanded him to halt, forcing him to step aside.

Yet, Yang JingTian turned frigid, and with his countenance sharp and icy, he admitted without reservation, "I killed Chen Ba."

Chen Zhai, fuelled by rage, launched his golden spear towards JingTian, regardless of Lan Mei Feng's restraint.

"Seeking death," roared Yang JingTian as he met the attack head-on. A brilliance descended from the skies, aiming straight for Chen Zhai's crown.

Lan Mei Feng, beside Chen Zhai, was stunned, never anticipating Yang JingTian's audacity to confront the golden spear barehanded.

A thunderous clash ensued; Yang JingTian's right sleeve shattered as his powerful punch met Chen Zhai's spear-wielding hands at the moment of impact. A harrowing scream followed as both Chen Zhai's hands and the spear shattered, splattering blood and gore.

The spear broke into four pieces, as did Chen Zhai's hands; the limbs below his arms were reduced to a bloody pulp. Chen Zhai collapsed in excruciating pain, unconscious.

The sight was horridly gripping.

Yang JingTian stood tall, proclaiming loudly, "I am Yang JingTian. It was I who killed your leader, Chen Ba. It has nothing to do with the villagers of Haining. Release them, or his fate shall be yours."

The pirates, having witnessed JingTian's formidable counter, trembled before him, his might instilling dread.

No one dared gamble with their lives, especially not in situations seemingly hopeless. Pirates, like anyone else, harbor fears and dread when faced with overwhelming odds.

Their gazes, collectively, turned to Lan Mei Feng, their leader, upon whom their fates hinged; her steps for vengeance were for her husband, dictating their destiny.

Lan Mei Feng, locking eyes with Yang JingTian, felt a blaze of fury ignite within her.