Chapter 685: Sailing a Beili Merchant Ship

"Yes, sir." The Huo family retainers responded, leaning over the railing.

They were waiting for the ship to get a little closer before jumping down.

"Mr. Tu, this is improper." Jiang Chenyi blocked the men at the railing.

"What’s improper about it?"

"Boarding a ship to plunder fresh water and food without the owner’s consent—how is that any different from being pirates?"

Huo Tu sneered. "So righteous, Second Young Master Jiang. You won’t let us touch the Jiang family, and you won’t let us touch a stranger either. Are you going to let everyone on this ship die for the sake of some intangible sense of justice?"

"Exactly! If the Jiang family has so much integrity, then don’t drink a single drop of our fresh water."

"Anyone can say pretty words. What a hypocrite."

"You Huo family people are going too far! Brother, stop wasting your breath on them." Jiang Yue stepped forward to stand with Jiang Chenyi.

Huo Liran, not to be outdone, shot back, "Jiang Yue, you want to fight? Bring it on."

The Huo family members on the ship immediately drew their blades and faced off against them.

Seeing this, the Jiang family members also drew their longswords, ready to fight.

"Second Uncle, Brother Jiang, we’re all on the same boat. Is there anything we can’t resolve peacefully? Everyone, put down your weapons." Huo Feng rushed between the two men, caught in the middle.

"Brother Huo, it seems I’ve had some misunderstandings about the Huo family in the past. Only today do I see the truth." There was a distance in Jiang Chenyi’s voice.

Huo Feng was taken aback for a moment. "Brother Jiang, I know what you’re thinking, but now is not the time for infighting."

Seeing that Jiang Chenyi was unmoved, he turned to Huo Tu. "Second Uncle, we’re so close to making it ashore. Why must we cause such a scene?"

Huo Tu lowered his gaze. ’If we were never going to make it to shore, killing the Jiang family members would go unnoticed. But now that we can land, we can’t let things get too hostile.’ He looked up and swept his eyes over the Huo family retainers. "All of you, put your weapons away."

"Mr. Tu..."

"Put them away."

The Huo family retainers sheathed their weapons in unison.

Seeing this, Huo Feng secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

"Second Young Master Jiang, since you won’t let us touch this little girl, you can be responsible for making her talk. Get some fresh water from her boat. If you can’t, then don’t blame me, Huo Tu, for being ruthless."

The Huo family members all waited for the show to begin. The little girl on the boat looked like she was mute. How could he possibly make her talk?

The large ship stopped five meters away from Ye Qianning’s small boat. Everyone leaned on the railing, staring at the young girl. It seemed that from the very beginning, there had been no sign of anyone else on her boat.

Jiang Chenyi’s gaze also fell on Ye Qianning. "Excuse me, miss. Would it be possible to ask the person steering the boat to come out?"

Ye Qianning was leaning against the railing on her deck. She noticed the ship bore the insignia of Beili, but judging by its course, it seemed impossible for it to have come from Beili’s waters.

"HAHAHAHA." The Huo family members burst into laughter.

Huo Tu also chuckled. "Did you find anything out, Young Master Jiang?"

"It would be strange if a mute could talk," Huo Liran sneered.

Jiang Yue glared at her, then turned to her brother. "Brother, I’ll go down..."

"Are you from Beili?"

Before Jiang Yue could finish, a clear, cold voice reached their ears.

Though the voice was cold, it was very pleasant to listen to. Everyone was stunned for a moment and looked down in unison. ’So she isn’t a mute.’

Jiang Chenyi was also taken aback for a moment. Realizing what had happened, he quickly replied, "No, we are from Nanyuan."

"The ship has Beili’s insignia. Which of you are from Beili?" Ye Qianning asked.

"We are all from Nanyuan. As for this ship..."

"The ship belongs to my family, the Huo family." Huo Liran looked down at her. "What about it?"

"People from Nanyuan sailing a Beili merchant ship. It’s just a little strange."

"Nanyuan and Beili trade with each other. What’s so strange about sailing a Beili merchant ship? You country bumpkin," Huo Liran scoffed.