Chapter 19: The Letter of Recommendation (Part 2)

  Tang Jie looked at these pirates who always had a smile on their faces, but now their facial features were twisted together in anger, looking ferocious like demons. He couldn't help but sigh and look towards Horn.

  All that can be seen is this man standing extremely steadily under the jealous and resentful gazes of the crowd, his mouth sealed tightly shut, unable to say a word. What makes Tang Jie feel shocked is that this man, who is about to face death, doesn't have even a hint of fear in his eyes, but instead is filled with disdain and mockery.

  "Are you sighing for him?" A soft voice came from beside Tang Jie, he turned his head to look, and saw Nia's eyes shining brightly as she looked at him.

  Tang Jie shook his head: "No, I just think it's strange!"

  Niya asked back: "What's so strange?"

  Tang Jie said in a low voice, his words drowned out by the pirates' angry voices, only Nia who was leaning against him could hear: "Why did Horn do this? Who is behind him? Can't we interrogate him?"

  Nia sneered: "You just arrived, there are many things you don't know. Horn got on the ship two months ago, and Jones' tracking also started after he boarded the ship. So, do you understand now?"

  Tang Jie suddenly realized: "Did the captain discover it at that time?"

  Nia coldly snorted: "Father was suspicious of him from the very beginning..."

  "Tang Jie couldn't help but interrupt her: 'Then why did you still let him on board?'"

  Nina sighed: "Because it's really hard for us pirates to recruit a priest who can heal! Do you know how many fewer companions would have died if we had a priest?"

  Tang Jie was silent for a moment before speaking, "Then he could have not rescued you that day in the sea battle. As long as he didn't rescue you, wouldn't Jones still be able to capture you?"

  Nia glanced at Tang Jie and said, "I also asked my father about this question. My father said that the pastor's healing techniques are indeed impressive, but if they were invaded by our swordsmen within a range of ten steps, it would be a death sentence. Think about it, he was right next to us at the time, and William and I were unscathed. How could he dare to turn against us?"

  Tang Jie let out a cry of alarm, remembering that magicians were not good at close combat.

  He thought that Lao Ba had been suspicious of Horn from the moment he boarded the ship, and for more than two months, he had endured without speaking out, talking and laughing as usual, making it impossible for anyone to see any flaws, waiting for Horn to reveal his true intentions before taking him down with lightning speed!

  Enduring for so long before striking out, this kind of endurance is truly admirable!

  Tang Jie sighed: "Captain Bar is really formidable, admirable, admirable!"

  Nia smiled with pursed lips, her icy smile melting like spring snow in front of Tang Jie: "My father said you're the real deal, only a few years older than me but clever and quick-witted, with limitless potential for future achievements!"

  Tang Jie smiled: "The captain really looks up to me!"

  His words had barely fallen when Captain Ball shouted his name: "Tang Jie, come up! In the storm and sea battle, it was you who saved us. You should be the one to kill this traitor with your own hands!"

  Tang Jie never thought that Ba Er would actually say such a thing in public!

  He was momentarily stunned and stood still on the spot!

  Although he betrayed us and let Jones escape, he's a traitor who should be cut into pieces, but... but he did save my life after all!

  If it wasn't for him giving me emergency treatment, I would have died long ago!!

  Tang Jie handed over a cold and sharp dagger, which was the same one that Nia had lent him to cut off the sail rope and behead the sword fighter on that day!

  Nina seemed to have expected this and whispered: "Kill him, Tang Jie!"

  All the sailors around him used their weapons in hand to pound the deck with force, producing a strong rhythmic beat like drumbeats. They shouted loudly: "Kill him! Kill him!!"

  Tang Jie felt that this sound was like a swirling vortex, surrounding him, wrapping around him, making him dizzy and disoriented.

  He dazedly picked up the dagger in Nia's hand, looked at the surrounding pirates' fervent and expectant eyes, and suddenly a word flashed through Tang Jie's mind: Surrender!

  As long as I kill him, I will be thoroughly recognized by them...

  Tang Jie's mind suddenly lit up like a bright mirror, and the dagger tightly grasped in his hand was gripped by his powerful five fingers, full of fine sweat.

  He betrayed us, I should have killed him with my own hands!

  But he did save my life after all!

  Tang Jie's mind was filled with visions of heavenly warriors clashing!

  "Kid, what are you hesitating about?" Bar saw Tang Jie's hesitation and patted his shoulder with one hand, saying in a deep voice: "Today, I'll teach you the second lesson!"

  "If you really want to be a pirate king, then remember: never forgive those who betray you, otherwise, you will never have loyal partners and subordinates!" Bar's voice was like an iron hammer, striking Tang Jie's heart.

  Tang Jie's eyes were fixed, he gritted his teeth and let out a loud roar. With a burst of energy, he charged forward with swift steps, and the dagger in his hand stabbed into Horn's chest without hesitation!

  Horne's body shook violently, and his gaze at Tang Jie revealed a strong sense of astonishment. He flipped over, with the dagger still lodged in his chest, and fell into the sea, creating a splash that quickly disappeared from view.

  The sailors on the deck watched as Tong Jie killed Horn with his own hands, and they all fell silent. One by one, they walked to the side of the ship, looking at Horn disappear into the sea, spitting out saliva heavily, then punched Tong Jie's chest hard, and hugged him tightly. They either laughed or scolded, expressing their emotions in their own ways.

  "Good job, Donnie!"

  "You're really quick on the draw, spare this mongrel!"

  "What the hell, why didn't you stab him a few more times? It's over so soon?"

  "Yes, I'd like to rip his belly open, this scoundrel!"

  Tang Jie let out a long sigh in his heart, accepting the pirates' heartfelt acceptance. He knew that from now on, he was thoroughly accepted by them and had thoroughly been branded as a pirate.

  After Tang Jie finished accepting the congratulations of all the pirates, he stood on the deck, a little dazed. Bar walked over and patted his back, saying warmly: "In life, there are some things you have to go through, cheer up, your future road is still very long!"

  Tang Jie smiled wryly, today's events left a deeper impression on him than his first real battle.

  Before that, he had killed some people he didn't know who wanted to kill him, so Tangie killed them without hesitation.

  But he had just killed Horn, who was with him day and night and had saved his life, and the first person on this ship to be kind to him was Horn!

  Both are killings, but the feelings are worlds apart!

  After Ba Er left, Ni Ya found that Tang Jie was somewhat depressed. She knew he was still thinking about what had just happened, so she gently hugged him: "Don't think too much, he deserved it!"

  A beauty in his arms, the gentle breeze like orchids, Tang Jie's suffocating feeling was also alleviated a lot. He gazed at the faint ripples of water at the ship's stern and let out a soft sigh.

  Nia smiled and said: "Why are you sighing? Are you heartbroken over that dagger?"

  Tang Jie also laughed and said: "You are really a tapeworm in my belly, how did you know what I was thinking?"

  Nia wrinkled her nose and chuckled: "Pfft, I'd rather not be an earthworm, it's disgusting!"

  Tang Jie saw that there was no one around, and suddenly made a face, grabbing Niya's hand: "Is it really so disgusting? I have an even bigger tapeworm here, do you want to take a look?"

  Niya's face turned red with rage as she struggled free, punching Tang Jie: "You're at it again! How can you be so shameless!"

  Tang Jie watched as Nia stormed into the cabin with a huff, and he couldn't help but chuckle to himself, his eyes drifting back to the stern of the ship.

  Nia actually guessed wrong, Tang Jie sighed not because of that dagger, but Horn!

  Tang Jie, with his robust physique, blocked the view of the crowd as he stabbed Horn in the heart. As the dagger pierced his chest, not only did it cut off one of the ropes on his body, but also deviated a few points, missing the center of his heart.

  Tang Jie wasn't a ruthless killer after all, he couldn't bring himself to kill the person who had saved his life without batting an eyelid. He also couldn't bear the expectations of Bal and Nia to save this treacherous traitor.

  So he had no choice but to follow his own criteria and choose what seemed like a compromise.

  Horne was not stabbed in the heart and would not die immediately. The ropes on his body were untied by Tang Jie, so he should not drown either.

  However, he was drifting in the sea without a lifeboat, food or fresh water, and his blood would spread out in the ocean, attracting terrible sharks and carnivorous fish. His fate might not be much better than dying at Tong Jie's hands.

  Whether it's hypocrisy or duplicity, Tang Jie has always been a self-willed person. He doesn't like to act according to other people's standards, no matter if that person is his mentor Bal, or the woman he loves, Nia.

  He has his own set of principles for dealing with the world and will strictly follow his own principles throughout his life.

  In his past life, whether it was the master who taught him martial arts or his class teacher, their evaluations of him were surprisingly similar: extremely bold and unrestrained, acting arbitrarily, doing things his own way, and being a nonconformist!

  Tang Jie withdrew his gaze from the stern of the ship, let out a soft sigh: "That's all I can do, Horn. Whether you live or die is up to the sea goddess Tira to decide!"

  Wishing everyone a happy new year!

  The unhappy, unpleasant and unhappy things of the past year have all passed. In the new year, let's shout out loud:

  Gold will always shine, chrysanthemum will always bloom. Let's continue with YD for another year, go ahead with YD!!!