69novels Chapter 200 You don't not want to be a dog, you just don't have the chance.
Chapter 200 You don't not want to be a dog, you just don't have the chance.
Chapter 200 You don't not want to be a dog, you just don't have the chance.
Chen Wenping's simple words brought tears to the eyes of Flying Ape and the others. They thanked him repeatedly and obediently stepped back behind Chen Wenping's seat.
The way he looked at Luo Sanpao and the others had become more confident.
One of them couldn't help but lower his voice and urgently remind him, "Captain, be extremely careful!"
"This Luo Sanpao is extremely skilled in martial arts and has many desperate men under his command, making him even more difficult to deal with than Zhang Baozai was back then! His stronghold has been well-established for many years and is easy to defend but difficult to attack—"
Chen Wen waved his hand, indicating that he didn't need to say anything more.
Before Chen Wen could even speak, Luo Sanpao, sitting at the head of the table, burst into laughter, picked up a bowl, and exclaimed, "Brother Chen! It was all a misunderstanding! A huge misunderstanding!"
"These brothers came claiming to be envoys of the Blood Flag Army, but I, Luo Sanpao, have been at sea for so many years, I recognized them at a glance as Zhang Baozai's lackeys!"
"I thought someone was impersonating your army, trying to freeload off me! That's why—hehe, I was a little negligent!"
""
"Now that you've come in person, Brother Chen, there's nothing more to say! Take the person away! Let's put this little misunderstanding behind us!"
""
"Come on, brother, let me toast you. Drink this, and from now on we're friends!"
"If anything happens at sea, we can look out for each other!"
He directly addressed Chen Wenping as "younger brother" or "older brother," attempting to build a closer relationship while subtly elevating himself to a position of equal standing with Chen Wenping.
"presumptuous!"
Liang Kuan flew into a rage, stepped forward, and shouted, "Luo Sanpao! Who do you think you are? How dare you call yourselves brothers with our captain? If you dare to speak so disrespectfully again, don't blame me for being merciless with my sword!"
"How dare you!"
"How dare you be disrespectful to our boss!"
Several of Luo Sanpao's trusted lieutenants immediately jumped out, drew their weapons, and glared angrily.
The other pirates inside the cave also started to shout and clamor, subtly surrounding Chen Wen and his group.
The atmosphere instantly became tense, thick with the smell of gunpowder, as if blood would be spilled at any moment!
Zhuo Yifei turned pale with fright, his legs trembling. He quietly tugged at Ma Rulong's sleeve, his voice shaking, "Brother Long—if a fight breaks out—we're in their lair! We only have a few dozen men, while there are hundreds or even thousands of pirates outside—we're doomed! Quick, quick, persuade the captain to back down—"
Ma Rulong's palms were sweating and his heart was pounding, but he glanced at Chen Wen, who was sitting still.
I forcibly suppressed the urge to speak up and offer advice.
He knew that any show of weakness at this moment could bring about utter disaster.
Chen Wen remained seated.
He even casually picked up a relatively clean wine glass from the table in front of him, twirling it gently between his fingers, as if admiring the patterns on the rough pottery, completely oblivious to the sword fight scene before him.
Luo Sanpao's face was ashen as he stared at Chen Wen, his mind in turmoil.
This is his territory!
He had over a thousand pirates under his command who were capable of fighting.
The enemy has fewer than fifty men at most. Even if that guard is a great fighter, how many can he possibly handle?
Having honed his skills and swordsmanship for many years, he was confident he could defeat the guard leader.
Once we take action, the chances of capturing Chen Wen are extremely high!
and then?
What happens after they're captured?
Luo Sanpao's greed and ambition were raging wildly.
Seize him! Seize this rebel leader! Whether we use him to extort vast sums of money from the Blood Flag Army, or simply tie him up and send him to the authorities—
No, send it to the Governor-General of Guangdong Province or even directly to the capital!
What an incredible feat that would be!
To be granted official titles and honors, to bring glory to one's ancestors, to cleanse one's name and go ashore, to transform into an official of the imperial court—wouldn't that be far better than living in fear and uncertainty at sea?
But another voice sent chills down his spine, making him afraid to move.
Commander-in-Chief of the Blood Flag Army!
He was a man who dared to confront the imperial army head-on, conquering prefectures and counties one after another, and firmly occupying Lingnan!
Could such a ruthless and cunning leader be a reckless and foolish idiot?
Would he lead dozens of men into the lion's den without any preparation?
Are there warships already lying in ambush outside? Is there backup?
Even—does he have any people on this island?
Luo Sanpao recalled the rumors about the Blood Flag Army, how they appeared and disappeared unpredictably and were full of schemes.
The more I think about it, the more I feel that beneath this seemingly calm young face lies a bottomless vortex.
The temptation to take action is immense, but if one miscalculates—it will be utterly annihilated!
If the Blood Flag Army could defeat the government troops, dealing with a pirate leader like him would probably be even easier.
The noise, shouts, and clashing of weapons inside the cave grew louder and louder, and the pirates were getting restless, just waiting for their leader's order.
Liang Kuan's muscles were tense, and he was in a state of combat readiness.
Ma Rulong and the others were also breathing heavily, preparing to fight to the death.
At this critical moment.
The shifting expression in Luo Sanpao's eyes finally hardened, and he shouted sternly, "Shut up, all of you! Put away your weapons!"
"Boss Chen is my honored guest! Anyone who dares to be disrespectful to him again, I'll chop them up first!"
He turned to Chen Wen, forcing a stiff smile: "Boss Chen, my men are unruly and don't know the rules. I'm sorry you had to see that."
"Let's drink and talk properly! Someone, pour wine for our distinguished guests! Serve the best meat!"
The pirates looked at each other, reluctantly sheathing their weapons, though the fierce glint in their eyes remained, still watching them intently.
In this forcibly suppressed silence.
Chen Wen suddenly chuckled softly.
He put down the wine glass he was toying with, looked up at Luo Sanpao, whose expression was constantly shifting in the main seat, and said in a tone that carried an undisguised hint of mockery and disappointment: "Island Master Luo, I thought that a man who reigns supreme at sea would be a ruthless and decisive character. I never expected him to be so cowardly."
.
"I'm sitting right here, practically offering myself to you, and you clearly want to grab it, but you don't dare."
"This is really... a bit disappointing!"
These words were like a resounding slap across Luo Sanpao's face, shattering the last vestige of his forced facade of harmony.
Luo Sanpao's forehead veins bulged, and he slammed his hand on the armrest, roaring, "Chen Wen! What are you saying?! I, Luo Sanpao, respect you as a man, as a rebel king, that's why I'm treating you with courtesy! Don't push your luck!"
He wanted to say something more polite, trying to regain some initiative, or to probe for something more.
Chen Wen, however, had already lost patience with him.
The smile faded from his face, and his voice, though calm and even, was clear and sharp, hitting the nail on the head: "Alright, Luo Sanpao, stop acting. I know exactly what you're thinking."
"The people who detained me lured me here, weren't they just looking to make a big gamble?"
"Grab me, or we'll extort money from the Blood Flag Army, or—tie me up and send me to the imperial court to exchange for your official hat and plume, is that it?"
Luo Sanpao's pupils constricted sharply. Being exposed for his most secret plan filled him with shock and anger. He vehemently denied it, shouting, "Bullshit! I despise those corrupt officials in the imperial court the most!"
"Serve them like dogs? I'd rather live a carefree life on this sea!"
"Is that so?" Chen Wen sneered. "It's not that you don't want to be a dog, it's that you don't have the opportunity to be a dog for the imperial court."
""
"Once you're given the chance, you climb faster than anyone else and lick the boots more diligently than anyone else."
, 7
"Spirit? Do you, Luo Sanpao, even have that?"