The sky was gradually darkening. Two boats docked at the pier, and a group of people disembarked. Everyone looked solemn.
A man ran through the night towards the group.
"Reporting to my lord, everything is ready," he said.
Chen Zhenhai waved his hand, and the man led the way in front.
Qin Yihuai and the Ye family members walked to a secluded place and stood in front of a brand - new coffin.
Ye Shenyan's face was heavy, and his hands trembled as he stroked the coffin board. "Brother Shen, go well!"
After saying that, a fire started in front of them, and Shen Beiting was lying quietly inside.
Life is short. Eventually, everything will return to dust. All the prosperity is but a handful of sand.
Everyone held a brief farewell ceremony. Then Qin Yihuai ordered his men to collect Shen Beiting's ashes and they returned to the boats.
Suddenly, a strong gust of wind blew in.
"Not good! Hurry onto the boats!" Chen Zhenhai shouted.
Before his words faded, everyone saw a dark mass of sword shadows approaching from behind. The killers were coming again.
Ye Zhinan helped her parents back to the cabin. "Stay here and don't come out."
"Girl, where are you going?" Han Xiangmei grabbed Ye Zhinan's hand, a hint of worry flashing across her eyes.
"I'm going to help. Don't worry. I have this." With that, she took out a dagger from her bosom, broke free from Han Xiangmei's hand, and ran out.
Han Xiangmei was about to follow when Ye Shenyan pulled her back. "Our girl has grown up. Besides, there's Qin Yihuai. You'll only cause trouble if you go. Staying here is our help."
Ye Zhinan was deeply grateful to her father for his understanding in her heart. After she came out, she met Qin Yihuai.
"Stay close to me," he said, pulling Ye Zhinan behind him.
Ye Zhinan was in a dilemma. She originally planned to get some heavy - duty weapons from her space, but now she had to fight empty - handed, relying only on her dagger.
Soon, the black - clothed men rushed over. Some even waded through the water and climbed onto the boats.
Chen Zhenhai led his men to block them at the bow of the boat, but they were outnumbered. For every two men they fought off, five more would rush up.
Although Qin Yihuai could fight ten men single - handedly, he couldn't deal with dozens of them alone. Ye Zhinan was anxiously waiting on one side. Finally, she found a gap and ran away from Qin Yihuai while he was busy dealing with the black - clothed men.
"Finally, I can use the heavy - duty weapons. If I wait until they all get on the boat, how can I throw the bombs?"
As she thought, she pulled out the safety pin of a grenade and threw it towards the shore.
Boom!
The loud explosion made Ye Zhinan immediately cover her head and squat down. "Goodness! I didn't expect it to be so powerful. I have to throw it farther."
Thinking this, she used all her strength and swung her arm in a wide arc.
Another "boom" sounded, and the shore was instantly covered in smoke.
She waved her hands in front of her face to drive away the choking smoke.
"Are you okay?" Qin Yihuai didn't know when he had come to her side. There was a hint of worry and a hint of doubt in his eyes.
Ye Zhinan grinned, showing her white teeth. "I'm fine. As long as you guys are okay. I'll cover your retreat."
...
"Don't use the phrase 'cover the retreat' again," Qin Yihuai said, then swung his sword and killed a charging black - clothed man.
"Be careful!" Ye Zhinan saw another black - clothed man raising a big knife to slash at Qin Yihuai. She subconsciously reached for the safety pin, but the next second, her hand was held down by another big hand.
"Do you want to die together?" Qin Yihuai's dark eyes were full of surprise.
Ye Zhinan just then realized what she was doing. Fortunately, that man had been kicked off the boat by Qin Yihuai.
Ye Zhinan didn't dare to act rashly anymore. The enemies in the distance had been mostly taken care of, and the black - clothed men on the boat couldn't escape either. Soon, the battle was over.
Chen Zhenhai pulled the captured men in front of Qin Yihuai.
"Boss, what should we do with these people?"
Qin Yihuai looked at the men who were tied up tightly, with a rag in each of their mouths.
"If I ask who instigated you, you surely won't say. Then throw them into the sea!"
"Is that too hasty?" Ye Zhinan whispered behind him. But no matter how soft her voice was, it could still be clearly heard by the man in front. Qin Yihuai turned his head and looked at her with a gloomy look in his eyes. "Do you have a way?"
Ye Zhinan still whispered, "I do, but you already know who is behind them, so I don't need to show off. It's just..."
"Just that you don't want to kill. Okay," Qin Yihuai said in a low voice, then turned to Chen Zhenhai. "Arrest them first and take them back to the capital."
Ye Zhinan thanked Qin Yihuai again and again.
Along the way, they had experienced all kinds of things. They thought all the assassinations would end when they entered the capital, but just when the boats could already see the pier, something else happened.
The boats were leaking!
"Someone has punctured the boats. Both boats are leaking, and at the fastest speed, we won't be able to reach the pier," Chen Zhenhai reported to Qin Yihuai anxiously.
Ye Zhinan happened to be going to deliver some wound medicine to them. When she reached the door and heard this, she turned around, found a secluded place, and got into her space.
"Fortunately, there are some rafts here. But how can I take them out?" Just as she was confused, she heard someone shouting outside, "Fire!"
It was really like having continuous rain when the house leaked!
Ye Zhinan immediately came out of the space. At this time, the fireball at the bow of the boat was burning brightly. Chen Zhenhai was leading his men to put out the fire, while Qin Yihuai ran towards the Ye family's cabin.
"Get on the small boat and leave quickly," Qin Yihuai pointed to a small boat under the big boat.
"No! What about you guys? We only have this one small boat!"
Ye Shenyan's eyes were filled with anxious pain and grief. He didn't want to sacrifice anyone to save his own life.
"Don't worry. We can all swim," Qin Yihuai explained calmly.
Ye Shenyan was half - believing and half - doubting when he was pushed onto the small boat.
Ye Zhinan was the last one to get on the boat. As soon as she got on, she grabbed Qin Yihuai's arm and whispered, "If you trust me, take everyone to the stern. There are some rafts there. They'll be enough for you guys."
Qin Yihuai was stunned for a moment, but then he immediately bowed to her gratefully.
As soon as the small boat was set free, they heard the sound of arrows whistling through the air.
Damn it! Someone was shooting arrows!
Qin Yihuai immediately waved his sword to block the sharp arrows for them, then shouted, "Lie down! The current wind direction can blow you to the shore. Don't look up!"
Ye Zhinan's eyes darkened slightly. She handed something in her hand to Qin Yihuai. "You know how to use this, right?"
Qin Yihuai looked down.
Gunpowder?!
"I know. Take care of yourself!" With that, he gave the small boat a hard push, and it floated away.
Ye Zhinan lay on the bow of the boat, looking at the receding figure, silently praying in her heart.
The boat moved forward with the wind. The waves slapped against the boat, making it rise and fall, just like people's nervous hearts.