Their ships hadn’t yet entered the reef area and had encountered no obstacles along the way. Having thoroughly checked before departure, how could the ship’s bottom suddenly break? Moreover, it wasn’t just one ship – all the ships’ bottoms had broken. This was deliberate!

Although these weren’t official vessels, they were purchased at great expense and regularly guarded. Under normal circumstances, no one could approach to damage them. It must have been during his brief conversation with Yu Xiang, combined with the large waves and the sound of waves crashing against rocks, which had masked the sound of someone diving underwater to sabotage their ships.

Realizing this, Xiao Changfeng worried deeply about Xiao Changyan: “Launch the small boats!”

When Xiao Changfeng realized something was wrong, he immediately ordered the small boats launched to rescue Xiao Changyan. Just then, rain began falling in large drops from the sky.

The sound of waves crashing against the shore roared in the strong wind as if the entire river might surge over at any moment. In the distance, thunder and lightning flashed across the sky, the multicolored lightning resembling skeletal claws reaching down from above, terrifying to behold. The small boats didn’t dare leave the larger ships in the waves, while more and more water spurted up from the bottom of the large ships, which began to sink…

By this time, Shen Yun’an had caught up to Xiao Changyan, who had reached the abandoned ship. Disregarding the storm, he boarded the abandoned vessel, his face turning extremely dark when he found it empty.

Just then, the official ships caught up, and a subordinate reported: “Your Highness, General Yu is in pursuit.”

“Yu Xiang?” Xiao Changyan’s expression changed as he walked to the bow. Due to the reefs, Yu Xiang’s ship couldn’t sail closer. Standing on his ship, he shouted to Xiao Changyan, “Your Highness, your subordinate has urgent matters to report!”

Xiao Changyan stood at the bow when a wave suddenly struck, nearly causing him to lose his balance. Only by quickly grabbing the mast did he avoid falling.

“Your Highness, the ship is taking on water!” shouted the men who had been searching the ship’s interior.

Xiao Changyan had come aboard via small boat, but now in the wind and rain, the small boat couldn’t approach, and the distance between the large ships was considerable.

In the storm, the calm river surface seemed like a disturbed giant beast beginning to roar in anger. Even if one jumped into the water now, they would likely be swallowed up.

Xiao Changyan watched “Yu Xiang” on the official ship, his mouth opening and closing. He could hear sound but couldn’t make out what was being said.

The storm grew stronger, and the water accumulating on the ship became more severe, rushing up from below toward the bow, which began sinking rapidly.

“Your Highness, quickly!” The one protecting Xiao Changyan was his Shadow Guard commander, a man of exceptional skill.

The commander’s eagle-sharp eyes scanned. He swiftly moved along the tilting direction of the ship, grabbing a rope tied to the ship’s side.

He secured one end of the rope to the ship and tied the other around himself, then grabbed Xiao Changyan and leaped, landing on a small boat between the ships that hadn’t experienced much of the storm.

The small boat rocked unsteadily, but thankfully the commander’s rope secured to the large ship stabilized him and Xiao Changyan, preventing them from being tossed into the river.

“Quick, turn the ship around!” shouted Xiao Changyan’s subordinates from another ship.

Though this ship wasn’t rocking much in the storm, it was impossible to control the helm in these conditions.

Seeing this, Shen Yun’an entered the cabin and asked the helmsman: “Can our ship get closer?”

The helmsman followed Shen Yun’an’s gaze to where Xiao Changyan’s small boat was located.

The helmsman, the most experienced sailor of the Qu family, had weathered all kinds of storms. This official ship was originally built by the Qu family, and he was particularly skilled at handling it. His eyes searched the surroundings and observed the direction of the waves on the river.

After a long moment, he nodded!

Shen Yun’an was overjoyed. Thus, instead of their ship, Xiao Changyan and his companion encountered “Yu Xiang’s” ship. By now the rope-bound ship had begun breaking apart, sinking so quickly that the others who had boarded with Xiao Changyan had no choice but to jump into the river.

Some struggled in the water, gradually drifting further away despite their desperate efforts, while others were immediately submerged by waves.

“Your Highness, board the ship!” Shen Fifteen shouted.

In this dangerous situation, surrounded by others’ thoughts, Xiao Changyan and his commander’s priority was escaping danger. Feeling the rope loosening, the commander didn’t wait for the perfect moment but leaped up, carrying Xiao Changyan toward the large ship.

Just as they leaped, Shen Yun’an, hidden in the shadows, threw a projectile that cut through the wind and rain toward Xiao Changyan. However, the Shadow Guard commander sensed it and twisted in midair. The projectile struck precisely into the commander’s waist as he reached the height of his jump, causing his gathered energy to dissipate. It seemed both he and Xiao Changyan would fall.

The commander only had time to say to Xiao Changyan: “Your Highness, be careful!”

As he spoke, he pushed Xiao Changyan toward the ship’s deck. At that moment, the rope’s other end completely broke, and the commander plunged into the water with a huge splash.

As Xiao Changyan landed on the ship, Shen Fifteen rushed to catch him, but his dagger pierced Xiao Changyan’s body as he caught him. Both Shen Fifteen and Xiao Changyan froze simultaneously as the dagger hidden in Xiao Changyan’s sleeve also stabbed into Shen Fifteen’s body.

Shen Yun’an rushed out, striking Xiao Changyan, but an arrow suddenly flew toward him, forcing him to withdraw and pull Shen Fifteen away.

Shen Yun’an steadied Shen Fifteen as Xiao Changfeng had already positioned himself in front of Xiao Changyan.

“Young Master, enough!” Xiao Changfeng stood casually, holding his long sword before Xiao Changyan in a protective stance.

Seeing the blood blooming around Shen Fifteen’s waist, Shen Yun’an’s face turned cold: “We each serve our masters, how can there be enough? Life or death, each relies on their abilities!”

After handing Shen Fifteen to others, Shen Yun’an rushed toward Xiao Changfeng like a swift wind.

One was the son of the Northwest King, the other the son of the Northeast King.

They had been equally matched opponents since their fathers’ generation. Though their fathers had never fought, these two had long admired each other from afar.

Their sword tips met, sparks flying.

A cold light flashed in all directions, every move was lethal!

The waves had calmed slightly now, and Xiao Changyan’s Shadow Guards, seeing the situation from afar, immediately began finding ways to leap over from Xiao Changyan’s ship, engaging in close combat with Shen Yun’an’s men.

Though wounded, Xiao Changyan still gripped his iron sword, not allowing anyone to approach within half a step.

Beyond the ships, other areas had also ignored the wind and rain, becoming a battlefield!

In the vast darkness, the waves, fierce winds, and heavy rain had only briefly caught their breath, as if gathering more strength before descending again in full force!

Small boats capsized, and large ships crashed into reefs in the storm, their bottoms breaking.