Shan Xi's eyes lock onto the figure now framed by the doorway, the unexpected presence of Lanau stirring a mix of curiosity and caution. Though clearly a captive, Lanau does not exhibit the typical signs of fear; her posture is composed, her gaze direct. Shan Xi's instinctual read of people, honed through countless encounters and negotiations, tells her that this woman is not an ordinary captive.
"Who are you, and where are you from?" Shan Xi asks, her tone even but authoritative, cutting straight to the essentials.
"I am Lanau Axi-Örukai of Orogol," Lanau responds, her voice steady, betraying no hint of intimidation.
The room falls into a brief silence as one of the pirates turns to Lizi and Na'er, confusion etched on her face. "Where the hell is that?"
Lizi and Na'er glance at each other before both look back at Shan Xi. "We don't know, how about you, Captain?"
The Blood Lotus refuses to show any doubt. "Of course, I know! Who do you think I am?!" she declares with feigned indignation, a masterful cover for her momentary uncertainty.
"S-Sorry, Captain!" the pirates quickly apologize, their voices blending into a mumble of respect and slight embarrassment.
Shan Xi turns her attention back to Lanau, scrutinizing her more closely. She silently assesses each of Lanau's features, her demeanor, the subtle clues that might tell her more about this unfamiliar region. Her mind races through her mental map of Moukopl and its neighboring territories, trying to place the origins of the traits she observes in Lanau. After a moment's hesitation, she hazards a guess, "It's in the Northeast," hoping her tone conveys more confidence than she feels.
Lanau nods in confirmation, "Yes, it is."
A round of applause erupts from the pirates, their admiration for their captain's geographical prowess voiced loudly in the cramped space of the entryway. Shan Xi, while outwardly basking in the approval, silently thanks whatever fortune has granted her such a well-developed intellect, her internal monologue a mixture of relief and self-congratulation.
Amid this display, Lanau struggles to maintain her composure, the corners of her mouth twitching as she fights the urge to laugh at the comical scene unfolding before her. The tension of her capture momentarily forgotten, she finds herself unexpectedly amused by the pirate crew's dynamics and their captain's quick-witted, albeit lucky, performance.
One pirate, her brow furrowed in concentration, suddenly pipes up, "Wait, is that Te Pü Rü?"
"It's in Tepr, yes," Lanau confirms, a slight nod accompanying her clarification.
"Captain, that's where Jinoz is from! I think Xi Ki Ki..." another pirate starts, stumbling over the tribe's name.
Lanau, recognizing the mispronunciation, gently corrects, "Do you mean Xipiki?"
The pirate, her expression lighting up with recognition, slams her fist into her hand. "Exactly!"
Lanau adds, seeking to clarify her identity amid the growing confusion, "I'm from Xipiki myself."
"You said you were from Oro-thing," another pirate chimes in, skepticism threading her tone.
Lanau sighs, the complexities of her heritage requiring more explanation than she had anticipated. "I wasn't clear. I am from Orogol but my clan originates from Xipiki."
"How can you be from one place and your clan from another?!" the same pirate asks, her confusion morphing into frustration.
Shan Xi, who had been silently observing the exchange, finally intervenes, her patience wearing thin. "Are you fucking stupid?! Her clan probably moved from one place to another. It's not that complicated!"
Chastened, every pirate quickly mutters apologies, their heads ducking in a mix of respect and embarrassment.
One pirate, trying to find a simpler solution, suggests, "Can't we just ask Jinoz to explain?"
Lanau, her amusement tinged with a hint of exasperation, responds, "If I were her, I would have given up a while ago..."
Shan Xi rises from her chair with a fluid grace that commands attention. She strides over to Lanau, her presence as commanding as her gaze. Closing the distance between them, she leans in close, her words a soft murmur meant only for Lanau. "You have a sharp tongue, but you seem to forget your predicament here," she says, her tone a blend of amusement and warning.
Her hand reaches up, caressing Lanau's cheek with a gentleness that contrasts starkly with her words. "You have pretty eyes," Shan Xi continues, her voice low and seductive. "But remember, you were caught by pirates. Your only way out now is as a slave."
Despite the gravity of the situation, Lanau smiles, a flicker of defiance in her eyes. "I didn't get caught; I asked to get caught," she responds confidently, her smile broadening slightly as she meets Shan Xi's intense gaze.
Shan Xi pauses, her hand still resting lightly on Lanau's face. She studies Lanau, searching her expression for signs of deceit. Finding none, her interest deepens, a spark of intrigue lighting her eyes. "Did you want to get caught because my charms were too powerful?" she jests, her laugh rich and throaty, filling the room with its timbre.
She pulls back, maintaining eye contact with Lanau, a playful yet challenging smile playing on her lips. "Many women wish to join the Blood Lotus in her cabin," Shan Xi declares, her voice now laced with a mix of pride and teasing. "But only a few deserve it."
Lanau's tone is earnest as she reveals her true purpose, her gaze steady on Shan Xi. "I am here on behalf of Naci Khan, who wishes an audience with you." Her declaration shifts the atmosphere, turning curious glances into ones of intrigue and confusion among the pirates.
A pirate from the back pipes up, scratching her head. "Who the hell is that?" she blurts out, looking around at her mates for any sign of recognition.
Another pirate shrugs, turning to their captain. "I don't know. What about you, Captain?"
Shan Xi, unfazed by her crew's ignorance, responds with a theatrical shrug and a confident laugh. "Of course, I know! Who do you think I am?!" she boasts, her voice ringing with assurance. The pirates around her cheer in response, their admiration clear.
"That's our Captain!" one exclaims.
"Such intellect!" praises another.
"Such beauty!" adds a third, and the room fills with echoes of agreement.
Internally, though, Shan Xi scrambles for any plausible information. She pieces together what she knows: 'Khan' is a title often given to leaders, particularly among the northern barbarians. With a quick mental leap, she concludes aloud, "It must be a newly risen king of the Northeast. I've heard they claim all the Moukopl lands as theirs!" Her voice carries a note of certainty that she does not truly feel.
In reality, Shan Xi hasn't heard anything specific about Naci Khan. Yet, she is aware that northern barbarians have historically laid claims to Moukopl lands, and it seems a safe bet that this new Khan would follow in similar footsteps. Her educated guess appears as another stroke of insight, maintaining her image of the all-knowing Blood Lotus in the eyes of her crew.
Her gamble pays off as the pirates around her nod and murmur among themselves, impressed by her knowledge and leadership.
Shan Xi's interest is piqued, her gaze sharp as she leans closer to Lanau. "So, what does this Naci Khan want with the Blood Lotus?" she probes, her voice a blend of curiosity and caution.
Lanau meets her gaze, unflinching. "You can discuss the details once you meet," she suggests, her response measured, hinting at the importance of a face-to-face dialogue.
Shan Xi's eyes narrow slightly. "And what if I don't want to speak with him?" she challenges, her tone edging toward defiance.
Lanau senses the shift in mood and quickly plays her next card. "You might want to know what happened to your crew members who went to the Zenyu marketplace," she says, her voice steady despite the growing tension. "If they are still alive, you might want them back."
Shan Xi's smile disappears as the mention of her crew touches a raw nerve. In a swift movement, she grabs Lanau's neck, her long nails digging into the soft skin. "If you northern barbarians have anything to do with my Little Flowers' harm," Shan Xi hisses, her face inches from Lanau's, "I don't want anything to do with you. I will make you pay."
Lanau struggles slightly under Shan Xi's grip, trying to keep her composure and her airway clear enough to speak. "Moukopl leaders' heads can be paid in exchange," she manages to get out, her voice strained but clear.
Shan Xi's voice rises, sharp and clear. "You think I care about those land monkeys' heads? The only thing I care about are my Little Flowers and nothing else!"
The pirates around her react emotionally, some tearing up. "Captain...!" they murmur, their voices a mix of admiration and sadness, touched by her singular dedication to them.
Lanau winces as Shan Xi's grip tightens, a thin drop of blood trickling from her neck under the pressure of those long nails. Despite the pain and the dangerous glint in Shan Xi's eyes, there's a calculated calm in her actions. Suddenly, Shan Xi releases her hold. "As much as I want to, I won't kill you," she declares, her tone slightly softer but still laced with threat. "I have a policy of never killing envoys; you guys already are the worst type of cannon fodder."
Shan Xi straightens up, her commanding presence undiminished by the emotional display. "I'll allow your Khan to enter this house, but only because I won't have to lift a finger to kill him!" She waves a dismissive hand, her decision made. "Go and tell him to come! He is my esteemed guest!"
As Lanau catches her breath, relief mingling with lingering fear, she nods and prepares to leave, her mission clear.
Meanwhile, in the corner of the main room, the real owners of the house huddle together, their sobs barely audible. The pirates efficiently and dispassionately secure them with ropes, ensuring they pose no threat during the impending high-stakes encounter.
Lanau returns swiftly to the commandeered mansion, her pace quick and purposeful. Behind her, striding with a formidable presence, is Naci. Her entrance into the house is dramatic; she grips Jinlü Feng by the throat, his neck precariously under the blade she wields. The tension in the room spikes as all eyes fixate on this powerful tableau.
As she steps forward, Naci throws Jinlü Feng at Shan Xi's feet with a thud that echoes through the room. "This man," she declares, her voice resonant and commanding, "is a humble tribute to thank you for your hospitality." Her demeanor is that of a ruler, not just presenting a captive but making a statement of power.
Shan Xi, taken aback by the audacity and the implication of the gesture, scans Naci up and down, her surprise evident. "There is no possible way you are Khan," she responds, skepticism lacing her tone. The idea of a woman commanding such authority and respect in a realm as brutal and unforgiving as theirs is unexpected, challenging her preconceptions.
Naci's reply is swift and sharp, a smile playing on her lips. "The same reason you can be a pirate queen and rule over the seas, I am a Khan destined to rule over all the land." Her confidence is unshakeable, her authority radiating from her stance to her speech. "In hindsight, we might have been a match made in heaven, if my heart wasn't already taken."
Shan Xi's momentary disbelief at Naci Khan's declaration causes her to falter, a rare crack in her usually indomitable facade. Memories of her life before piracy flash through her mind, unbidden and sharp. She remembers the constraints, the disparaging remarks, the outright dismissals she faced merely for being a woman with ambition. These memories are bitter, and her visceral reaction to them is one of disgust—not at the memories themselves, but at how easily the old prejudices had bubbled to the surface at the sight of another powerful woman.
Her own words echo in her head, a reminder of how deeply societal norms had been ingrained in her, so much so that even now, in her role as a pirate queen, she had initially reacted just as those who once sought to limit her had. This realization stings, highlighting a contradiction in her beliefs and actions.
Shan Xi's ships, her crew, and her life on the sea were supposed to be a rebuttal to the world that told her women couldn't lead. Her fleet was more than just a collection of vessels; it was a sanctuary, a deliberate creation meant to be a haven for those whom society had cast aside or underestimated. Here, on the waves away from the rigid structures of the land, women could rule, thrive, and command respect on their own terms.
As she stands before Naci Khan, Shan Xi feels a renewed sense of purpose and a deep, almost painful empathy. She recognizes that her initial reaction was a lapse, a retreat to the societal norms she had fought so hard to escape and disprove. With a quiet sigh, Shan Xi lifts her chin, her gaze meeting Naci's with a new light of understanding and respect. Her response shifts from defensiveness to an acknowledgment of kinship, recognizing in Naci a reflection of her own struggles and aspirations.
Shan Xi's voice is tight with controlled anger as she demands, "What happened to my crew members who went near the marketplace?" Her eyes search Naci's, looking for any flicker of deceit.
Naci's expression darkens, her brows knitting together as she delivers the grim news. "Some are dead, but many have only been caught. You will get them back," she promises, her tone somber, reflecting the gravity of the situation.
Shan Xi's face hardens, her lips curling in disdain. "I'm not interested in speaking with someone who has killed my family members," she spits out, the words sharp and biting.
In response, Naci takes an unexpected step. She lowers herself onto her knees, her movements deliberate, her eyes never leaving Shan Xi's. "I apologize," she says solemnly, her voice steady and sincere.
Shan Xi recoils slightly, taken aback by the genuineness of Naci's gesture. "You call yourself a Khan that will rule over all the lands and you kneel to a pirate?!" Her voice is laced with incredulity, challenging the paradox before her.
Naci remains on her knees, her posture humble yet commanding. "A ruler who can't tell when they're wrong is nothing but a despot," she asserts, her voice resonant with conviction. She looks up at Shan Xi, her gaze steady and unflinching. "I'm not apologizing to a pirate, but to a queen in her own right."
Shan Xi, still processing Naci's previous actions, now steels herself for what might come next. Her voice, a mix of curiosity and wariness, cuts through the thick tension. "What do you want?" she asks directly. "What do we need to talk about?"
Naci stands, dusting off her knees, her demeanor serious and focused. "We both share the same goal," she begins confidently. "I want to rid the world of Moukopl scum."
Shan Xi's response is immediate and sharp, a clear rebuttal. "We do not share this goal," she states flatly. "I profit from Moukopl. I seize their wealth, and it would disadvantage me if they were to disappear."
Naci, undeterred, leans into her next proposal, her eyes locking onto Shan Xi's. "What if I offer you countless wealth to help accomplish this goal. You became pirates because society didn't value you, didn't give you a chance to lead or prosper," she asserts, her voice growing more charismatic as she builds her case. "You created a realm where you are valued, respected, and feared. I'm offering you a chance to expand it."
She pauses, letting her words sink in, her gaze steady on Shan Xi. "In fighting the Moukopl, we're fighting against the very forces that pushed us to the fringes. We are, in essence, on the same side."
Shan Xi listens, her expression unreadable as she contemplates Naci's words. The offer of wealth is tempting, a practical allure that tugs at her pirate sensibilities. But it's Naci's understanding of their deeper motivations that begins to sway her.
Naci's wry smile stretches wider as she gestures towards Jinlü Feng, who is still cowering on the mansion floor. "And don't tell me you've never wished to crush these insects," she taunts lightly, her eyes sparkling with challenge.
Shan Xi pauses, her gaze drifting towards Jinlü Feng, then abruptly turns and starts walking towards the exit of the mansion. Her crew, caught off guard, voices their uncertainty. "Captain...?"
"I'm sick of being on land," Shan Xi declares, her voice resonant and firm. "We'll continue this chat on my ship." Her stride is confident, signaling her command over the situation and her impatience with the confines of the mansion.
Naci, quick to add crucial information, calls out after her, "In that case, you might want to know that the Moukopl trap consists of a net that goes from one end of the shore to another, trapping you in this port."
At this, Shan Xi stops in her tracks and bursts into laughter, the sound rich and mocking. "Trapping me? The Blood Lotus?! They really thought we were caught with a simple net?!" Her amusement fills the room, a clear dismissal of any threat the Moukopl might pose.
"Lizi!" Shan Xi commands, her laughter still echoing in the grand room.
Lizi snaps to attention, her posture alert. "Yes, Captain!"
With a casual snap of her fingers, Shan Xi cues Lizi into action. Lizi quickly retrieves several pieces from a nearby bag, her hands deft and efficient as she begins to assemble them. The object takes shape rapidly under her skilled fingers—a small crouching tiger,
Naci watches, a flicker of recognition crossing her face as she identifies the object she had only read about in books. Her interest piqued, she observes intently, curious about its use in this context.
Once fully assembled, Lizi strides to the front door, her movements full of purpose. With a powerful kick, she flings the door open, stepping into the threshold. She then positions the crouching tiger, aims it towards the night sky, and activates it.
A dazzling burst of light and a deafening sound erupt from the device, slicing through the darkness of the night. The firework ascends, a brilliant display that lights up the sky, signaling defiance and freedom in a single, spectacular show.
As the echoes of the firework fade into the night, the sudden brightness seems to beckon from the darkness of the sea. Emerging like specters drawn to the light, a gigantic fleet of twenty galleys appears, previously cloaked in the shadows. Their decks are dark, lights extinguished, presenting a formidable silhouette against the lesser darkness of the night sky.
The galleys, massive and menacing, approach the port. As they near the net that was meant to trap any vessel within the port, they collide with it without hesitation. The net, despite its breadth and intended strength, stands no chance against the collective might of the fleet. It snaps under the pressure, the sound of its breaking a sharp crack in the quiet of the night.
As the shattered remnants of the net drift away in the dark waters, the decks of the galleys suddenly ignite with light, transforming each ship into a blazing beacon as they advance into the port. The sight resembles a moving field of fire, each vessel alight with the fierce determination of its crew.
Above the crackle of the flames, a chorus rises from the decks. The women of the Blood Lotus fleet sing in unison, their voices melding into a powerful anthem that reverberates across the water, echoing off the hulls of their ships and the walls of the port.
Without warning, cannons roar to life, punctuating the melody with booming blasts. The cannon fire sends shockwaves through the night, announcing the fleet's arrival not just visually, but with a show of force that resonates in the chests of all who hear it.
As the fleet breaks through the barrier and advances into the port, its presence is as impactful as a small kingdom taking to the sea. Each galley is equipped and ready, not just for a show of force but for any challenge that might arise.
Shan Xi stands at the forefront, her figure outlined by the dim light behind her. With a fierce pride in her eyes and a commanding presence, she announces to those gathered and to the night itself, "This is the real Blood Lotus!" Her voice carries over the water, powerful and clear, not just declaring the name of her fleet but defining its essence—a force as relentless and formidable as the flower from which it takes its name.