The interior of the protruding part of the medium-sized three-masted black-sailed flat-bottomed sand ship on which the group was riding was divided into four spaces - the largest cargo compartment, occupying more than half of the entire cabin near the stern; the two smaller cabins were distributed in front of the cargo hold, one on the left and one on the right, and a walkway just enough for one person to pass through in the middle; the curtain was lifted from the deck to enter, and the doors of the two cabins were on the left and right, and the cargo hold was at the end of the walkway.

In this way, the distribution of the dormitories of three men and two women is very clear-of one room for Qi Zhilai and Cai Huan, of course, and one room for the remaining three men; and because one of the two cabins is often used as a public place during the day, and the life of the daughter's house is not easy to see, it is natural that the one on the port side belongs to the man and the starboard room belongs to the woman.

Because the shackles were attached to the pillars, Ge Lan's bunk had to be next to the pillars—the space here was too small to fit a proper bed, so he had to tie a seven- or eight-foot-long white cloth between the pillars and aggrieved him to sleep in a hammock.

It was already late at night, and there were two light sources in the cabin on the port side, the oil lamp on the table was still on, and the other was in Qi Zhilai's hand.

The eyelids grew heavier and heavier, and the scene in the eyes became blurred. Cai Huan returned to the starboard cabin early, Dongzi and Cai Zhao were still sitting on the edge of their respective beds a moment ago, talking to Qi Zhilai who was leaning on the table, and in a blink of an eye, they all fell into the bed. At that time, Qi Zuo's envoy had just said half of his words, and the second half had to turn into a helpless wry smile.

The sticky and wet sea breeze was still blowing in from the open porthole, Ge Lan forced himself to stand up from sleep, Qi Zhilai raised his hand slightly at him, signaled not to, then took another oil lamp with a ring to divide the fire, mentioned to the window, and reached out to remove the bamboo pole supporting the window.

She held the bamboo pole in her hand, propped up the window page with the back of her hand, and slowly lowered it so as not to make a noise—she didn't have to, because Dongzi and Cai Zhao on the other side were already snoring like bellows.

After doing all this, she placed the bamboo pole by the window and carried the oil lamp to the other one on the table. By this time, the person and the two lights in Ge Lan's eyes had become very blurred......

Whew-

With a light and short blowing sound, only one of the two lights remained.

The sound of the door closing lightly. The other light was gone, along with the silent figure......

Ge Lan finally fell asleep as well.

......

Sincere!

The sound of sharps piercing into the plank—

It's a layer of wood, so it's not enough to wake up the dreamer.

Tuk!

The arrows rained down on the bulkhead on the port side.

The first to wake up were the two ladies in the starboard cabin.

"What's going on?"

Cai Huan lifted the quilt and rolled over and got out of bed. A short knife is pinned behind her waist, because she is used to sleeping on her side, so it has little effect on comfort.

On the other side, Qi Zhilai was bunching her long hair back behind her head, and it was hard to imagine that she was quietly sleeping with her hair draped a moment ago.

She stopped, her eyes closed slightly, and she didn't let go of a hint of movement—"Stopped." She said.

Cai Huan put on his shoes, took a pair of Yanling long knives from the wall, and walked in front of Qi Zhilai.

She held the two knives in her left hand and handed them to Qi Zhilai's chest, "I'll go and have a look first." As she spoke, half of her body turned towards the door, just waiting for the latter to take the knife.

The cabin was pitch black, but the hilt of one of the knives was darker than the night.

Qi Zhilai took the two knives with both hands, and stopped talking, "...... I'm going to call them. ”

In the cabin on the other side, the three men were also awakened by the sudden rain of arrows, accompanied by a feeling of heat that did not match the season.

"Hurry up!" At this time, Qi Zuo pushed the door open, and the wooden door hit the wall, letting out a painful moan.

Outside the cabin, the next round of arrow rain is coming with stars and moons, and there are little fires on the arrows.

The rocket pierced through layers of sea fog, and when it appeared, it was already the second half of the projectile, like a meteor falling from the sky.

Tuk!

"It's an igniting arrow!"

Cai Huan withdrew half of his eyes that peeked out from the edge of the wall and shouted into the cabin.

One by one, the arrows were driven into the planks, and small flames spread out, gradually joining together, licking and licking at the wood that was much larger than them.

In the cabin, Dongzi and Cai Zhao had already put on their shoes and took out their weapons from under the pillow and under the bed respectively. The enemy was still in the fog in the distance, and judging from the fiery arrows, the other party did not intend to show up for a while.

"Help me untie it. ”

By the pillar by the window, Ge Lan asked earnestly.

He was still chained between his feet and was attached to a post. Considering the impending life-and-death struggle, he felt that his request was reasonable.

The other three were silent for a while, and Cai Zhao, who was the best friend of Ge Lan, glanced at Qi Zuo, who shook his head.

As for the enemy, she can only think of three possibilities: the person who saved Ge Lan, the person who is strict, and the pirate. The last item is unlikely, if it is for money, it should not be a rocket - after all, the ship is burned and sunk, and there is nothing to grab.

"The right is full of rudders, full sails, and run. ”

The enemy's purpose and strength are unknown, and fleeing is the safest thing to do at this time.

Dongzi and Cai Zhao had to go out the door and go to their respective posts.

The sea from the mouth of the Jun River to the port of Changxing in Shizhou blows the constant trade winds of the four seasons, so they dare not leave anyone to keep vigil and sleep peacefully. But often walking by the river, how can you not get your shoes wet, tonight's surprise attack is a lesson.

Qi Zhilai ignored Ge Lan's pleading, turned around ruthlessly, and walked outside the door. A categorical command came from outside the door: "Cai Huan, you go to fetch water to extinguish the fire, hit on the starboard side, be careful, don't be hit by arrows, Dongzi will guard the rudder, Cai Zhao, pull the sail and go to extinguish the fire together......"

The resolute female voice disappeared for a moment, and the owner of the voice returned to the door.

She walked up to Ge Lan, squatted down on one knee, and asked with a stern expression, "Are you looking for these people?"

To be honest, Ge Lan didn't know—not that he didn't even know if he had found anyone, he didn't, but these people might have come for him. What the Ming Duke of Yan Gui wanted to do and what his purpose was, Ge Lan didn't know anything.

"It's not. He replied, "You have all read the letter that day which I tied to the pigeon's leg, and I only said that I had taken a merchant ship to the city." ”

Qi Zhilai stood up and thought for a moment, "If the other side just released a dark arrow and didn't show up, I really can't think of what they are trying to do...... In short, there is not much to do now, and even less for you. ”

As she spoke, she turned behind Glenn and grabbed the latter's hands.

“...... What are you doing?" the unexpected move startled Ge Lan, who had been together for twenty years, and he thought that there was at least a bud of friendship between the two.

Qi Zhilai's strength is good, but as far as a woman is concerned. Martial arts are superb not only by brute force, but what is fighting now is brute force. Although Ge Lan's hands were clamped by her first, she opened them after a few strokes.

"You still don't believe me. He said. There was some loss and gloom in his tone.

"I don't believe it," she replied coldly, "you're a spy for the city, so I'm going to guard against you, and you're an important witness, so I'm going to protect you." Either way, or because of whatever, I'm handcuffing you now. ”

"That's all?"

"That's all. She replied without emotion.

The hands holding Ge Lan's wrists were cold, and the tiger's mouth was so rough that it didn't look like his daughter's, and it made him a little itchy.

The hands tightened again, and one of them left for a moment, touched something on his waist, and a colder iron ring took his place. This time, Ge Lan did not resist.

"Maybe one day you're not at all, and we'll talk about the rest. ”

Bell!

It's back to square one.

......

"Danger!"

On the starboard side, Cai Zhao's shout came.

Tuk!

A rain of arrows swept past the backs of the two siblings who fell to the ground, and plunged deep into the bulkhead on this side.