Ye Ju and her companions returned to the Purple Bamboo Boat, watching Zhang Sheng's vessel sail away. Bai, having gorged himself on a pile of food, hadn't absorbed a word of the story.
Ye Ju shook her head helplessly. The girl was still too young, merely a little cub. httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
Turning, she saw Chao Yangzi gazing thoughtfully at the receding boat. Ye Ju was puzzled.
"What's wrong, fellow Daoist Chao?"
"Fellow Daoist Ye, I merely find it strange that the boat seemed to have been deliberately damaged," Chao Yangzi said.
"Oh, wasn't it said to have been rammed by a pirate ship? That's still deliberate, isn't it!" Ye Ju retorted, stating the obvious.
"No, Fellow Daoist Ye, I mean it was damaged by a sword!" Chao Yangzi affirmed again.
"What? By a sword? I recall pirates using sabers, not swords…" Ye Ju's expression suddenly turned solemn!
"Not good!" Ye Ju exclaimed in alarm. She exchanged a look with Chao Yangzi.
Ye Ju remembered Xing Niang's eyes, which seemed to tell a story, or perhaps entrust a child. No wonder she had held her daughter’s hand so tightly, even when the little girl was happily playing with Bai, she refused to let go. She couldn't bear to part with her daughter; every second held was a second gained.
Chao Yangzi and Ye Ju conjured a spiritual shield to shelter them from the rain and flew on their swords, catching up to Zhang Sheng's ship in a quarter of an hour. Indeed, everyone on board was dead, but Xing Niang and the others were nowhere to be seen. Ye Ju landed on the deck and, ignoring the rain, searched room by room.
She finally found them in the last room. One-Eye was dead, killed by a sword thrust. His face was frozen in an expression of sudden realization, followed by extreme hatred.
Xing Niang and Zhang Sheng were clasped together, both impaled through the chest by a single sword. Seeing Zhang Sheng's sword in One-Eye's body, they surmised Zhang Sheng had killed him. Xing Niang, however, had fallen onto the sword-wielding Zhang Sheng, likely in a suicide. Ye Ju felt a chill; she had never witnessed such a brutal scene. The tangled love and hate between the three had cost them their lives.
Zhang Sheng was struck from behind, likely by One-Eye, while One-Eye was killed by Zhang Sheng's flying sword.
Chao Yangzi's cold voice echoed.
Chao Yangzi supported Ye Ju and then discovered a letter on Xing Niang's person.
"Fairy, Xing Niang knows you will return. I beg you to take my daughter. I am willing to be a maid or a servant, as long as she lives well. She is hidden beneath the ship's deck.
All of this was done by Zhang Sheng. It started when Wang Laowu took Yingying as a concubine, which made Zhang Sheng feel betrayed. That was the beginning of everything that followed. This included bribing Yingying, and ultimately orchestrating Wang Laowu's kidnapping for mining, all his doing. But what could I do? Xing Niang liked Zhang Sheng. It didn't matter to Xing Niang whether Wang Laowu took a second wife or who he took. Everything he did was for Xing Niang. He was wrong, but I was more wrong. I should have bravely stayed with Zhang Sheng; then none of this would have happened.
Ye Ju read the letter expressionlessly. The tear stains on the parchment told Ye Ju that Xing Niang had known everything for a long time. Yet, she pretended not to. What kind of emotion could encompass such love!
Ye Ju found the little girl on the deck. The young girl was asleep. She didn't know that she had become an orphan overnight. Ye Ju felt a surge of anger within her. Adults always acted presumptuously to fulfill their own desires, regardless of whether the children accepted it! In the end, only they were moved by the story, while those left behind still had a long way to live…
Ye Ju flicked her finger, igniting a flame, and burned everything on the ship, reducing it to ashes. Since the little girl was now with her, she would name her Wangyou, hoping she would forget all her troubles!
Chao Yangzi watched all this expressionlessly, not understanding why Fellow Daoist Ye seemed dejected. They were merely strangers who had met by chance.
Ye Ju ignored Chao Yangzi's gaze. At that moment, she found all men displeasing and felt an urge to beat someone. So, she picked up Wangyou and flew away directly.
Upon returning to the Purple Bamboo Boat, she removed the barrier and revealed the hull. She realized that when trouble arrived, no matter how deeply you hid, it would find you.
Xiao Mo sent a message that the storm had passed. Ye Ju immediately ordered Xiao Zi to turn the boat around, as she was eager to return to the island, the most familiar place in this world. Returning home was probably no longer an option.
Chao Yangzi stood on the deck, glancing at Ye Ju. "Fellow Daoist Ye, do you want to fight? Come on, let's have a match!"
Ye Ju…
Was this guy doing it on purpose? She already felt like beating someone, and now he was offering himself. She shouldn't be blamed for using him as a punching bag!
Ye Ju eagerly swung her staff, but Chao Yangzi dodged it by tilting his head. The Divine Wood Guardian Staff missed its target and obediently flew back.
Ye Ju reached out, grabbed it, and smashed it down on Chao Yangzi's head.
Chao Yangzi was a little stunned. Wasn't this Fellow Daoist Ye here for a spar? She was fighting like a thief! He tapped his foot, flying backward and standing in mid-air.
Bai helped his sister carry Wangyou to the room. When he returned, he saw his sister fighting Chao Yangzi. Seeing this, Bai's temper flared. Bullying his sister!
"Ice Blades!" He spat out twelve ice blades that shot forward. Chao Yangzi instantly dodged and flew dozens of meters higher.
"Master, it's my turn! It's my turn!" The Qilin in Chao Yangzi's spirit beast pouch was excited to come out!
Chao Yangzi glanced at Bai, thinking that more fighting would be good, to avoid being captured again due to lack of combat experience. He released the Qilin!
As soon as the Qilin appeared, the sky cleared immediately. A good omen accompanied the appearance of the auspicious beast!
"Come, come, little white fox, am I your opponent? Don't cry if you lose!" The Qilin's voice, resembling that of a young boy, rang out!
"Hmph, where did this mutt come from? Looking for a fight, are you? You're the one who'll cry…"
Ye Ju, who had been brandishing her staff with great power, nearly fell into the sea upon hearing Bai's words. That was a Qilin, not a dog!
Hmm, why did I know this dog was a Qilin? Ye Ju was also confused.
The two beasts were already locked in battle. One breathed fire, the other spat water. One scratched, the other retaliated with a claw.
The Qilin was also determined. Last time, Bai had revealed his true form and exerted his divine beast pressure, forcing the Qilin to bow its head. Now, having returned from seclusion and grown larger, it was time to regain its pride!
Meanwhile, Ye Ju relentlessly struck at Chao Yangzi with her staff, specifically targeting his face. She found his face displeasing and wished she could disfigure it so badly that even his mother wouldn't recognize him!
Chao Yangzi was also frustrated. Why was this sparring session with Fellow Daoist Ye like a shrew's brawl? Either she attacked the lower body, or she went for the face. She lacked any semblance of technique but possessed immense strength.
Using softness to overcome hardness, Chao Yangzi produced a flexible whip and, by borrowing Ye Ju's force, managed to wrap her up like a zongzi. By the time Ye Ju realized what was happening, she was entangled. Chao Yangzi gave a sharp tug, binding Ye Ju tightly. He then dragged her back to the Purple Bamboo Boat, as if she were a mummy.
Bai and the Qilin were fighting fiercely, initially with spells and innate skills… then it devolved into a brawl, no, a biting match. One bit the other, hurting its teeth; the other bit its opponent, getting a mouth full of fur.
After releasing Ye Ju, Chao Yangzi squatted at the bow of the boat and watched, shouting,
"Bai, go for it! Bite it, bite it! Yes, use your tail to wrap it, yes, just like that, keep it up…"
Chao Yangzi watched Ye Ju's frantic cheers, the veins on his forehead bulging…