The sea.
The pirates’ speedboats were getting nearer.
Niu Dazhao and his crew were still trying their best to escape. They were turning the ship around towards the north.
Dong Xuebing, on the deck, looked around and walked to his cabin slowly. He drank a glass of water to hydrate himself and took a small fruit knife from the table. It was a small foldable fruit knife used for cutting fruits. He stuck the knife on his belt behind him, but he felt it was not enough. He went to the crew’s cabin and found two holding knives he kept behind him. These knives were useless against those pirates’ machine guns like AK47. However, the knives were good enough for Dong Xuebing, and he didn’t need too many.
Dong Xuebing returned to the deck and saw the pirates still chasing them.
Bang… bang… bang…. A few gunshots fired into the air.
Around ten pirates were chasing them in four speedboats. They were shouting in a foreign language.
The crew was scared by the gunshots. Some rushed for cover, and some ran to hide in their cabin.
“Hurry!!” Niu Dazhao shouted.
“Captain, we had tried….”
“Yes. We cannot escape.”
“Do you all want to die here?! Hurry and turn us around!”
The ship was in chaos, and everyone was panicking.
Suddenly, a crew pointed behind the ship and shouted. “There is a ship! A ship!”
Dong Xuebing looked and saw two black dots in the distance. Niu Dazhao and a few crew members used their binoculars.
“That ship is too far. I can’t see clearly.”
“The ship in front is a Korean cargo ship.”
“It’s a cargo ship! I can see it. It’s much bigger than ours!”
“The ship should carry valuable goods, which are four to five times bigger than us.”
The crew members brightened up and hoped the pirates would go after that ship. That ship had changed its routes after hearing the gunshots. If the pirates attacked Niu Dazhao’s ship, they would not catch up with that Korean cargo ship. That cargo ship’s goods were more valuable, and it gave hope.
Two pirates noticed that Korean cargo ship and used binoculars to see it clearer.
The pirates stopped firing and were talking among themselves. They signaled to the medium size main pirate ship, and they gave a command with a flashlight. The pirates on the speedboats saw it and continued to fire at the Chinese ship.
Niu Dazhao was furious, and he shouted at the pirates. “Our boat is only carrying normal goods! Why are you all keep chasing us?!”
A crew sees the pirates’ intentions. “They are trying to catch hostages!”
The other crew members turned pale. “They are too much!”
These pirates only targeted Chinese ships and ignored ships from other countries.
Pirates are criminals who rob ships on the sea. However, this group of pirates was more interested in abducting the crew than the goods. The ransom for the crew, especially Chinese nationals, was much higher than the value of the goods. They had done this several times, and the Chinese government paid the ransom every time. This made them bolder and preferred Chinese ships over other countries’ ships.
Dong Xuebing had been suppressing his anger and was about to explode anytime. We are concerned for the hostages’ safety and paid the ransom. But you all kept targeting our country’s ship and ignoring those countries which don’t pay the ransom for their crew. You all are too much!
The more you give in, the more they would step all over you.
Dong Xuebing’s eyes grew cold as he looked at the laughing pirates getting nearer. The main pirate ship was too far, and he could not see if there were any Chinese hostages or Qianqian onboard. He was unsure if they were waiting for the ransom from the Navy Vessel as it was his guess. He stood there looking at the pirates without moving.
Bang!
Bang! Bang!
The gunshots were loud, but they were warning shots. The pirates wanted the crew alive.
“Xiao Dong! What are you doing?” Niu Dazhao saw Dong Xuebing standing there, looking at the pirates calmly. He thought to himself. What is he thinking? Is he not afraid of bullets? The pirates are firing at us, and you are still standing there? “Hurry and get back into the cabins!”
Most of the crew had retreated to the cabins.
Dong Xuebing turned and walked back. He did not retreat to the cabins. He walked to a binocular dropped by one of the crew and used it to look at the main pirate ship. It was rundown. Plastic sheets covered many parts of the ship and were built with old wooden planks. That ship should be built with parts from old ships. He could see a man with a mustache standing at the bow, and he looked like the captain. Besides, the main ship was a speedboat. It was circling the main ship, protecting it.
That should be the leader.
Even the leader is here.
Dong Xuebing thought about the situation. The leader should not be around if the pirates were searching for a target. He would just send a few speedboats. Now, the leader is around with so many speedboats and dozens of armed crew. They should be here for other reasons.
The more Dong Xuebing analyzed, the more he felt these pirates were the ones who hijacked the Chinese ship a few days ago. He looked at the main pirate ship for a while and did not see Qianqian. A part of the boat was blocked, and he could not see inside.
Bang… bang….
Another round of gunshots!
“Xiao Dong! Come in now!” Niu Dazhao shouted as he ran into the cabin. The pirates were about to board their ship.
“Captain! Close the doors!”
“That’s right! Just ignore him! He is trying to kill himself.”
“That guy is crazy! How can he stand still in front of those guns?”
Everyone felt Dong Xuebing was weird since he had boarded the ship. Shouldn’t you board a cruise ship if you want to sightsee? Why did you board a cargo ship, especially a ship that would be sailing to Fujian Province? Everyone knows pirate activities were high in this region. Do you have nothing to do? Bullets were flying everywhere, and you are still standing there with a pair of binoculars admiring the scenery?
Although the crew members scolded Dong Xuebing, they were impressed by his guts.
How many people can remain unfazed by bullets flying around them?
Dong Xuebing waved to Niu Dazhao and did not return to the cabin. He continued to look at the main pirate ship, hoping to see Qianqian. He looked at the ship for a while before looking at the surroundings.
The next moment, Dong Xuebing saw a ship some distance away. It was too far to see it.
When they saw the Korean cargo ship earlier, everyone noticed there were two ships. The one at the back was too far away, and that Korean ship had escaped. The ship at the back was still sailing towards his location.
That ship was coming towards us.
They were still coming despite hearing the gunshots and knowing the pirates were attacking Dong Xuebing’s ship.
Dong Xuebing felt it was weird and continued to watch that ship with his pair of binoculars. Suddenly, he saw the flag on that ship as it got closer.
That ship was a Chinese Navy vessel!
Niu Dazhao was about to close the door when Dong Xuebing shouted. “The Navy is here! The Chinese Navy!”
Everyone paused for a second, and Niu Dazhao quickly picked up his binoculars. “It’s our Navy vessel! We are safe!”
The crew members cheered.
Dong Xuebing could confirm these pirates were waiting for the Navy vessel to deliver the ransom.
Dong Xuebing looked at the pirates’ speedboats less than twenty meters and smiled. He knew the pirates were going to board their ship soon.
