After the two pirates reached an agreement, they went indoors. They weren’t there to seek the others’ opinions but to inform them.
“What? Surrender to Zhu Ping’an, the Governor of Zhejiang?! Are you joking? We just escaped with our lives, and now you want to go back and court death?!”
“No way, have you lost your minds?! If you want to die, go ahead, but I’m not going!”
The two still-conscious pirates in the room were instantly terrified, breaking out in cold sweats and shouting as if in mourning.
“I’ll ask you once: we’re going to surrender to Zhu Ping’an, the Governor of Zhejiang. Are you coming with us or not?” the trusted pirate asked, too impatient to explain further.
“You’re surrendering to Zhu Ping’an? You’re betraying our leader, planning to hand over Leader Maye to Zhu Ping’an for wealth and glory?”
“You’re mad! Zhu Ping’an will have us all executed and claim us as his military achievements!”
The two conscious pirates finally realised what was happening, shocked beyond belief and stammering in disbelief.
“I’m asking you, are you coming or not?” the trusted pirate repeated.
“You’re absolutely insane. This is suicide. Go if you want, but we’re not going,” the two pirates shook their heads vigorously.
“Fine, to each their own. If you don’t want to come, so be it. But we’ve been pirates together for so long, and we’ve faced life and death side by side. Before we part ways, it’s not too much to ask to borrow something from you, is it?” the trusted pirate said slowly, his lips curling, as if an old friend were casually asking for a favour before leaving.
“Of course, take whatever you want, as long as we have it,” the two pirates nodded eagerly, desperate to avoid being dragged along to surrender to Zhu Ping’an. To them, anything was fine as long as they didn’t have to go to their deaths.
It was just borrowing something—take it, take it.
“Thank you. We’ll remember your kindness forever,” the trusted pirate said, his grin widening.
“No need to be polite. Oh, by the way, what are you borrowing? Travel money?” the two pirates asked curiously, waving off the thanks weakly. Though reluctant to part with money, as long as it meant not going to Zhu Ping’an, money was nothing.
Truth be told, they had no money. They were poorer than beggars, with not a single coin on them. This time, before they could plunder, Zhu Ping’an’s Zhejiang army ambushed them with explosions and fire, forcing them to abandon their weapons. They truly didn’t have a single copper to their names. If it was money they wanted, they couldn’t help.
“Not travel money. We’re borrowing…” the trusted pirate said as he slowly approached them, giving a subtle glance to his accomplice.
The accomplice understood and also began moving toward the two pirates.
“Not travel money? Then what?” the two pirates asked, puzzled. What else on us is worth borrowing?
“Your heads!” the trusted pirate said calmly, standing behind one of them.
“Oh, our heads? Sure—wait, what?! You want to borrow our heads?!” The pirate’s words caught up with him, and he turned in panic, staring at the trusted pirate in disbelief.
“Yes, exactly. We’re borrowing your heads,” the trusted pirate said, grabbing one pirate’s head. Under the pirate’s panicked gaze and weak struggles, he seized the turned head and twisted it sharply 180 degrees. With a “crack,” the pirate went silent.
Almost simultaneously, the other pirate’s neck was snapped, ending their sinful lives.
“Why not bring them along?” the accomplice asked the trusted pirate after the deed.
“This is a huge achievement. It’s enough for the two of us to share. More people would dilute the reward,” the trusted pirate said slowly.
The accomplice’s eyes flickered with wariness, his mind racing. If you didn’t want to share with them, would you try to take it all for yourself by getting rid of me quietly, just like you did them?
“What are you thinking? I got rid of them not just because the reward would be split too thin, but because they’re a burden. They can barely walk. We have to carry Leader Maye, and if we had to carry them too, while staying hidden and ensuring safety—do you think we could manage that?” the trusted pirate explained, noticing his accomplice’s suspicion.
The accomplice nodded slightly, but his wariness didn’t fully dissipate.
“What’s on your mind? If I wanted to take it all, why would I have spent so much time convincing you outside? I could’ve just taken you out when you weren’t looking! Look at Leader Maye’s condition—at least two people are needed to carry him. I couldn’t manage alone even if I wanted to,” the trusted pirate continued, then swore an oath. “I swear to the heavens, we’ll share this achievement. If I betray you, may lightning strike me dead, and my body be torn apart.”
“Alright, I was overthinking,” the accomplice coughed, his suspicions easing.
He’s right. Leader Maye is delirious with fever and can’t move. To transport him, we’d need at least a stretcher and two people to carry it. One person couldn’t do it.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t have bothered convincing me outside.
But the other two were different. Though conscious, they were gravely ill and couldn’t stand.
Even if they wanted to bring them along to surrender to Zhu Ping’an, they’d have to be carried.
Carrying Leader Maye was one thing, but carrying those two as well? Impossible. Two people can’t carry three.
So, whether they agreed to surrender to Zhu Ping’an or not, they couldn’t be brought along.
As for leaving them here to fend for themselves or letting them return to the Tuolin stronghold…
That’s a joke. We’re betraying our leader and taking Leader Maye to Zhu Ping’an. This has to stay secret.
If word got out, it’d be our heads.
If Leader Xu Hai caught wind of our betrayal, he wouldn’t stand idly by. Even if he’d be pleased to see Leader Maye handed over to Zhu Ping’an, he’d send men to hunt us down, kill Leader Maye, and pin it on us.
As for the Zhejiang army to the south, we need to be cautious and discreet when surrendering to Zhu Ping’an. Who’s to say the Zhejiang soldiers who spot us won’t kill us for the credit, take Leader Maye, and claim the reward? No one can guarantee that.
Surrendering to Zhu Ping’an requires the right timing and setting—at least in public, where we can declare our identities and intent to surrender with Leader Maye, making it impossible for them to kill us and steal the credit.
So, these two had to die. There was no other choice.
