Chapter 130 Raid on the Camp

Shi Potian was confident that he could enter and leave the Japanese pirate camp without any danger, even if he failed to capture anyone.

With that in mind, the group discussed a specific plan.

Once the plan was decided, everyone dispersed, and someone arranged accommodations for them to rest.

Hattori Shichiro had been imprisoned in the Nanjing Garrison's jail for half a day without food or water, and was filled with despair.

The cell was dark and damp, with rats scurrying in the corner and a musty, rotten smell permeating the air. He huddled in the corner, motionless.

He was waiting to die.

He knew all too well the way those Tang people looked at him—like they were looking at a dead dog. That woman named Long Kui could make a high-ranking official in Nanjing open the city gates with just a word, and kowtow repeatedly; that young man could effortlessly break into his elder brother's camp and steal the corpse—his martial arts were terrifyingly powerful. What chance did he have of surviving in the hands of such people?

He thought he would be used as a negotiator, which would give him a glimmer of hope, but instead he ended up in jail.

Hattori Shichiro closed his eyes, regretting that he shouldn't have left Nanjing for Anqing.

But it was too late.

"Click".

The sound of a key turning came from outside the cell door. Hattori Shichiro suddenly opened his eyes, his muscles tensing instantly. The chains rattled, and he instinctively shrank back, leaning against the cold wall.

The cell door was pushed open. The torchlight made him squint.

A plump, fair-skinned eunuch entered, dressed in a python robe, followed by two junior eunuchs. The eunuch stood at the prison gate, looking down at him with a friendly smile on his face.

Hattori Shichiro's heart was in his throat.

Is that high-ranking official here to kill him?

The eunuch did not give the order to act. Instead, he waved his hand, signaling the junior eunuchs behind him to step back. Then he knelt down, personally helped Hattori Shichiro up, and said kindly, "General Hattori, I have something good to discuss with you."

"Good thing, or are you going to kill me?"

Liu Chao waved his hand, a smile spreading across his face: "General Hattori, you've misunderstood. I've come to discuss something with you."

Hattori Shichiro sneered, "What are we discussing?"

Liu Chaoyong said, "General, your elder brother has stationed troops outside the city. As you can see, Nanjing has high walls and thick defenses, and it won't be able to be taken in a short time. The imperial army will arrive soon, and then we'll all perish, which will benefit no one. I would like to ask you to go back and persuade your brother to withdraw his troops. How about we both take a step back?"

Hattori Shichiro was overjoyed, but remained outwardly calm: "Let me go back? Aren't you afraid that I'll return with troops to avenge today's events?"

Liu Chaoyong laughed and said, "General, you jest. Your brother is setting up checkpoints outside the city to collect taxes for money, not for his life. Once the imperial army arrives, your brother won't fare well either. It's better to stop while you're ahead, so everyone can save face."

Hattori Shichiro thought to himself, "This eunuch is indeed a good-for-nothing. When I get back, I'll lead a large army into the city. If we can't get in, we'll loot the city to vent our anger and see how dignified he becomes." He immediately nodded and said, "Alright, I'll go back and talk to my elder brother. But I can't guarantee whether my elder brother will withdraw his troops."

Liu Chaoyong said, "It's good that the general is willing to go and speak. Men, escort the general out of the city."

Hattori Shichiro was led out of the garrison headquarters and headed towards Koto Gate.

Hattori Shichiro was led to the city wall. Looking down, he saw a vast expanse of Japanese pirate camps just a mile away. He was secretly pleased, but feigned reluctance: "You mean what you say?"

Longkui said calmly, "You keep your word. Go back and tell your brother that the imperial army will arrive soon, and that he should be careful."

Hattori Shichiro snorted but didn't reply. Liu Chao waved for the soldiers to lower a basket. Hattori Shichiro stepped inside, and the soldiers cranked the pulley to slowly lower him down.

In a corner of the distant city wall, Qu Feiyan leaned on the battlement looking down and suddenly asked, "Little brother, are you really confident?"

Shi Potian said, "Hmm."

As the basket landed, Hattori Shichiro stepped out, glanced back at the city wall, and gave a mocking smile. "You think you can fool me with this little trick?"

He turned and ran towards the Japanese pirate camp. The pirates recognized him and let him in. He disappeared among the tents in a few moments, and the city wall couldn't see where he went at all.

Qu Feiyan pouted and said, "This guy is definitely laughing at us. Let him be happy for a while, and then we'll give him a big surprise."

Shi Potian remained silent. He closed his eyes, focusing intently on sensing. The extraordinary power of the Tai Xuan Scripture kept pinpointing Hattori Shichiro's location, guiding him through layers of tents and deeper into the camp.

He "saw" Hattori Shichiro pass through seven or eight tents, turn three corners, and finally disappear into an inconspicuous little tent. The tent was ordinary and unremarkable; if one hadn't followed him all the way there, no one would have guessed that the Japanese pirate leader would be hiding there.

He stayed inside for a long time. Shi Potian wasn't in a hurry; he simply listened quietly as he talked to someone.

When Hattori Shichiro came out and returned to his nearby tent, he didn't move again. It was only then that Ishiba opened his eyes.

"Found it," he said.

Everyone perked up. Qu Feiyan asked, "Where?"

Shi Potian pointed in a direction: "That top."

Sarutobi Higetsu followed his finger and saw that the camp was densely packed with tents, making it impossible to distinguish one from another. He was secretly astonished—how could his lord, from so far away, accurately locate Hattori Senjun's hiding place? What kind of skill was that?

Shi Potian explained it to Yuanfei Riyue in detail, and only then did he understand where it was.

Long Kui looked at Shi Potian, a strange light flashing in her eyes. This young镖头's abilities were becoming increasingly unfathomable.

into the night.

Liu Chaoyong prepared a lavish banquet with delicacies from land and sea, intending to invite Shi Potian and others to the feast.

After they had eaten and drunk their fill, and as night deepened, the city drum sounded three times. Shi Potian stood up and said to Yuan Fei Riyue, "Let's go."

The two leaped over the city wall and silently disappeared into the darkness outside the city. Sarutobi Higetsu gripped his katana, about to use his lightness skill, when he saw Shi Potian's figure flicker and vanish into the night.

Sarutobi Hiyori was taken aback. He had practiced ninjutsu since childhood, and the art of light footwork and concealment was essential for a ninja, yet at this moment he could not sense Shi Potian's presence at all. The boy was clearly right in front of him, yet he seemed to have blended into the night and into the world.

Even the most skilled ninja masters couldn't achieve this. Sarutobi Hitsuki's heart was filled with astonishment—his lord's movement technique was even more impressive than their ninjutsu's stealth! How did he manage to train like this?

He gave chase with all his might, using ninja techniques to conceal his presence as he fled towards Hattori Senjun's camp.

The two men, one after the other, passed through the outposts surrounding the Japanese pirate camp and bypassed the patrols, moving as if they were in an empty place. The Japanese pirates' overt and covert sentries were completely useless in front of Shi Potian; they had no idea he was passing by.

A moment later, Shi Potian was the first to arrive at the camp he remembered.

Shi Potian stopped and made a hand gesture to Sarutobi Hiyori. Sarutobi Hiyori understood, gripped his katana tightly, and held his breath.

Shi Potian lifted the tent flap and stepped inside.

Inside the tent, an oil lamp burned, casting a dim yellow light on which sat a burly Japanese pirate. He wore magnificent armor and had two swords, one long and one short, at his waist; even seated, he exuded a formidable aura.

Sarutobi Higetsu recognized him at a glance—it was Hattori Senjin!

Chong Shi Potian nodded.

Without further hesitation, Shi Potian stepped forward, his right hand reaching out to strike Hattori Senjun's neck.

His grab was as swift as a gazelle's horns; he was confident his opponent couldn't dodge it.

But just as his fingers touched the other person's collar,

"boom--!"

With a deafening roar, Hattori Sengun's body exploded! Sparks flew, metal shavings flew everywhere, and the entire tent was instantly overturned!

A group of people walked out of the tent, and one of them laughed loudly, "Yuecang, you are truly brilliant! You have made a great contribution this time."

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