Chapter 178: Chapter 96: The Death of the Giant Whale Gang Leader! An Extremely Powerful Enemy!_2
Su Changkong unquestionably harbored a murderous intent for Meng Sang!
On the ship, nearly ten people took turns rowing towards the port of the Giant Whale Gang.
It took a whole day and night before the fast boat finally reached the port.
“Second Miss!”
At the port, the Giant Whale Gang disciples on guard duty spotted the approaching Su Changkong and others; they all breathed a sigh of relief upon finding Sikong Huang safe and sound.
After docking and disembarking, Su Changkong saw that of the ten battleships originally moored at the port, each a hundred meters long, only eight remained.
“Hmm… what is the situation?”
Although her heart was heavy with grief, Sikong Huang concealed it all and inquired about the current situation from a Giant Whale Gang disciple.
The Giant Whale Gang disciple spoke with a face full of sorrow, “Attacked by three major Sea Pirate Groups, we fought bravely to break through, but only three battleships safely made it back. The Black Whale and White Whale… did not escape.”
Upon hearing this, Sikong Huang silently nodded.
Two battleships, nearly a thousand Giant Whale Gang disciples, including the Young Gang Leader Sikong Zhan, failed to return.
“Increase the vigilance lately, bring more experts from within the Gang, to prevent those Sea Pirates from attacking the port!” Eventually, Sikong Huang issued the command.
Without a doubt, this loss for the Giant Whale Gang was too devastating!
Just the cost to build two hundred-meter-long battleships was immense, not to mention the nearly a thousand Giant Whale Gang disciples lost on board. News of this incident, if spread, would be enough to shake the Martial World of Ink Forest Prefecture City.
The Giant Whale Gang had suffered an unprecedented major loss!
Everyone was hoping for a miracle, but after three full days had passed with calm seas and no sign of Sikong Zhan returning from overseas, everyone knew that his defending the Black Whale meant his chances were grim.
Inside a large hall of the Giant Whale Gang, Su Changkong practiced his breathing and cultivation, keeping to his daily routine.
“Four days have passed since that battle at the Blue Rain Sea, and the atmosphere within the Giant Whale Gang has been grim!”
Having completed a cycle of breathing and cultivation, Su Changkong silently sighed.
The once-renowned Giant Whale Gang of Ink Forest Prefecture City, now heavy stricken by the Sea Pirates, shook both internally and externally.
Some hot-blooded Giant Whale Gang disciples wanted to rally the elite within the Gang to eradicate those Sea Pirates in the Blue Rain Sea.
But, firstly, these Sea Pirates were itinerant, their exact hideouts on the islands of the Blue Rain Sea remained unknown; secondly, some Giant Whale Gang disciples felt it was necessary to recuperate before initiating a forced battle. Winning would be great, but if it led to another devastating loss, the situation could worsen, sending the Giant Whale Gang into an even deeper plunge!
Within the Giant Whale Gang, some from the Leader Faction suspected a too convenient coincidence, believing that right after Sikong Zhan had taken heavy forces to deal with Wang Tianyuan, the three major Sea Pirate Groups arrived in sudden conjunction, seeming like a betrayal. Naturally, suspicion fell on Meng Sang.
However, without concrete evidence, disciples from Meng Sang’s faction accused Sikong Zhan of making the decision himself; now that a catastrophe had occurred and he had involved himself in it, blaming others seemed utterly unreasonable.
“Where is the Gang Leader? With such a big incident, shouldn’t the Gang Leader come out of seclusion and take charge? With his abilities, he would surely be able to settle everything!”
The greater outcry was for the Gang Leader Sikong Yong to come out of seclusion and take charge.
Sikong Yong had a significant reputation both within the Giant Whale Gang and the entire Ink Forest Prefecture City, esteemed and influential. The current situation required a Sea God’s Needle, and Sikong Yong was undoubtedly that needle!
The Giant Whale Gang was in utter chaos over the incident in the Blue Rain Sea, teeming with uncontrollable disputes.
Having been back at the Giant Whale Gang for four days, Su Changkong had also discreetly gathered some news and sensed that the current situation was very unfavorable for the Giant Whale Gang!
“Thump, thump, thump!”
The heavy doors of the grand hall were knocked, and Su Changkong knew it must be Sikong Huang.
So, Su Changkong stood up to open the door.
Outside, a slightly haggard Sikong Huang appeared at the doorway.
In the past few days, Sikong Huang had undoubtedly endured enormous pressure, not only was her own brother’s life in jeopardy, but she also had to try calming the Gang members as much as possible.
It wasn’t just Sikong Huang who arrived. Beside her stood an elderly man with white hair and beard, nearly half his teeth missing, and extremely aged.
“Come in and let’s talk,” Su Changkong glanced at the old man beside her but, knowing Sikong Huang brought him, assumed he must be trustworthy and so they entered the hall to talk.
Inside the grand hall, the old man looked at Su Changkong admiringly and said, “It’s no wonder both Huanger and Zhan Er speak so highly of you. You truly are a sight to behold, a young hero.”
“Respected elder is…” Su Changkong was not swayed by the praises and was somewhat puzzled by the man’s identity.
“He is my grandfather, Sikong Wen.”
Sikong Huang then spoke up to introduce the old man’s identity.
Sikong Wen held considerable authority within the Giant Whale Gang, being the previous Gang Leader and the father of the current Gang Leader Sikong Yong.
Sikong Wen was once a prominent figure in Ink Forest Prefecture City, but as he grew old and fortunately had a son late in life—Sikong Yong—he stepped down and handed over the Giant Whale Gang to his son.
Decades have since passed and Sikong Wen, now well over a hundred years old, has grown frail and no longer possesses his youthful vigor. He naturally retired behind the scenes and seldom appeared in public.
However, Sikong Wen had personally come to see Su Changkong today, and Su Changkong understood that this must mean there was something significant at hand!
“So it is Elder Sikong. I have long heard of Elder Sikong’s eminent reputation.”
Su Changkong offered a complimentary remark casually.
Then he shifted his tone and asked, “Has Elder Sikong come to see me for some task?”