novelraw Chapter 246 : It’s Her, It’s Him!
Chapter 246 : It’s Her, It’s Him!
Chapter 246: It’s Her, It’s Him!
Dark clouds loomed across the sky, lightning and thunder crashing overhead.
Under the dim skies, a storm swept across the ocean, stirring up waves thousands of feet high.
There were no storm-defying seabirds like Ji Yuan had imagined—only pitch-black seawater and the endlessly churning clouds.
Bolts of lightning tore through the sky and struck the sea, forming enormous pillars of light where the heavens met the ocean.
Within the illuminated sky, it seemed as if terrifying demons beyond the world were struggling and roaring in fury.
Faced with this apocalyptic sight, even Ji Yuan, a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator who had weathered countless storms, felt a flicker of unease.
Yet, the Whale Patrol Boat beneath his feet pressed straight into the heart of the storm, as if... courting death.
Some Qi Refining cultivators on their first voyage turned pale at the sight, backing away several steps in fear.
Old Huang, puffing on his dry tobacco pipe, sneered.
“If you’re scared, go hide in your cabin. Cowards like you standing here watching—aren’t you afraid of your mental state breaking down?”
At his words, the Qi Refining cultivators hurried back into the cabin.
Ji Yuan, of course, did not move, remaining on the deck to observe the rare and magnificent sight. For a moment, he was even a little curious—if the storm zone was already this terrifying, then what would the thunderstorm at Thunder Marsh be like?
That was a place where one could condense the Thunder Punishment Sword using Thunder Punishment Profound Liquid. Surely, the thunderstorm there wouldn’t be any less impressive than this.
As Ji Yuan watched in fascination, Old Huang came over and chuckled, “Fellow Daoist, to be so calm your first time here—seems like you're destined for Core Formation.”
Ji Yuan gave him a glance and pulled out the wine jar he hadn’t finished last time from his storage pouch, placing it in the old man’s hand.
Old Huang beamed and offered a few congratulatory words.
“But you’d better enjoy it while you can, Fellow Daoist. Around noon, Captain Luo will make us all return to our cabins.”
“No matter. I’m content just seeing it.”
So Ji Yuan waited until noon, during which time the entire Whale Patrol Boat rose and fell violently in the wind and waves.
Only then did Luo Sifu’s voice ring out on the deck.
“All right, the patrol is about to enter the sea. Please return to your cabins to avoid any accidents.”
There weren’t many people left on deck anyway, and Ji Yuan followed Old Huang back inside.
But just as he stepped through the door, he saw a woman standing at the entrance to Room Heaven-Two, whose door had remained closed since the beginning.
The woman had ordinary features but a graceful figure. At that moment, she was resting her hands on the railing, gazing intently at the lower part of the ship.
Perhaps because of her presence, the entire cabin was quiet. Even those standing in the corridor dared not speak loudly.
The reason, of course... was her cultivation.
Peak Foundation Establishment.
Ji Yuan was naturally surprised to see her, but not because of her cultivation. What shocked him was... her face.
Because he had seen her before—he had even worked with her.
Ye Zhiqiu.
From the Great Love Sect. The quiet woman who followed the Mourning Taoist.
Back when Ji Yuan and the Mourning Taoist were searching for the Corrupt-Firefly Yin Locust, Ye Zhiqiu had helped speak up for him.
But why is she here? If she’s here, then where is the Mourning Taoist?
Just as Ji Yuan hesitated, an old man with a snake-headed cane emerged from Room Heaven-One. His hair was disheveled. He merely glanced at Ye Zhiqiu, and she followed him back inside.
Ji Yuan averted his gaze, lowered his head, and quietly returned to his own cabin, shutting the door behind him as if nothing had happened.
Only once he sat down on the meditation cushion did a strange expression flicker across his face.
“They… damn it, how are they on this ship?”
This was Ji Yuan’s first and biggest question upon seeing the Mourning Taoist and Ye Zhiqiu.
He had previously suspected that the Mourning Taoist and his group, who had vanished from the Ghost-Seeking Pit, might have come to Southern Sea City.
And when he learned about the Ephemeral Bloom Boat from Xie Wan, he had even suspected that the Mourning Taoist was one of the Ephemeral Bloomers.
That was actually one of the reasons Ji Yuan avoided the Ephemeral Bloom Boat.
It wasn’t until he encountered that group before boarding the island that he realized they weren’t the same.
But no matter how he calculated, he never expected the Mourning Taoist to be aboard the Whale Patrol Boat!
Damn it, how are they here?
Are they heading to Ice-Fire Island too, or do they have some other scheme in mind?
Ji Yuan naturally hoped for the former—that they were just coincidentally heading to Ice-Fire Island on the same boat, and that they could all mind their own business.
A hopeful fantasy, really.
But reason told Ji Yuan that the odds of that... weren’t great.
Given the Mourning Taoist’s opportunistic nature, his presence on the Whale Patrol Boat most likely meant he had plans in motion.
If so, what should he do?
This was Ji Yuan’s second major concern.
Should he escape now and try to catch the Ephemeral Bloom Boat instead?
But this was a boundless sea. Whether he could even find the Ephemeral Bloom Boat was questionable. He might as well just return to Southern Sea City and wait.
Besides, if he tried to escape now, the Mourning Taoist would likely act immediately.
And this was all still just his own speculation—he might as well ask and find out what that old man was up to.
With that in mind, Ji Yuan quietly released his Divine Sense.
As expected, the highest cultivation aboard this Whale Patrol Boat was the Mourning Taoist at the Pseudo-Core Realm.
Aside from him, there was Ye Zhiqiu, who had reached Peak Foundation Establishment, and the ship’s captain, Luo Sifu, also a Peak Foundation Establishment cultivator.
No Core Formation cultivators meant no one could detect his Divine Sense.
So, seated cross-legged on the meditation cushion, Ji Yuan silently spread his Divine Sense.
At first, he scanned the corridor outside his room. But as he tried to probe into other cabins, he felt a faint resistance.
He could break through, but there was no need to waste his energy.
This also told him that the ship’s cabin restrictions could only block Divine Sense below the Core Formation level. Anything stronger would breach it.
To set up stronger defenses would require a Core Formation cultivator’s involvement—and clearly, the Luo clan ancestor wouldn’t bother with such trivial matters.
As Ji Yuan’s Divine Sense reached the top-floor cabins, he saw Ye Zhiqiu exiting the Mourning Taoist’s room. With no expression, she turned and returned to her own room.
Ji Yuan’s Divine Sense followed her in.
As Ye Zhiqiu shut the door, the connection was briefly cut, but fortunately, it quickly reestablished.
Once inside, Ye Zhiqiu pasted a few talismans on the door and windows, then began to... change clothes!
Sensing something amiss, Ji Yuan quickly sent a voice transmission into her Divine Consciousness:
“Long time no see, Fellow Daoist Ye.”
Startled, Ye Zhiqiu hastily pulled her clothes back on. In the next moment, a flying sword hovered before her while the string of treasure pearls around her wrist shimmered with green light, forming a protective shield around her.
“Who’s there!”
The voice was familiar to her, but she couldn’t believe it.
That’s why she took a defensive stance, though she didn’t release any overt spiritual energy fluctuations. Otherwise, the Mourning Taoist next door would’ve noticed.
“It’s me—Qiu Qianhai of the Great Love Sect. Has Fellow Daoist Ye forgotten me?”
Ji Yuan’s voice carried a hint of sorrow, as if he were hurt.
“It’s not that… Fellow Daoist Qiu, what are you doing here? And you can even transmit your voice to me?”
Once Ye Zhiqiu confirmed it was really him, she withdrew her Bamboo Flying Sword, though she still looked a bit bewildered.
“I didn’t expect to run into you either. As for the voice transmission… I just happened to be able to bypass the cabin’s restriction. Nothing to be alarmed about.”
Ji Yuan made up an excuse. Whether she believed it or not was up to her.
“I see… By the way, Fellow Daoist Qiu, where have you been these past years? Back at the Ghost-Seeking Pit, I saw that Blood Demon go after you. I searched for you for a long time afterward but couldn’t find you.”
Ye Zhiqiu asked hurriedly.
“Sigh.”
Ji Yuan sighed. “Don’t even mention it. I had to use my only life-saving treasure to escape with my life. After finally finding some peace, the world went into chaos again.”
“I just wanted to get away from the mainland and cultivate on Ice-Fire Island for a while… and now I run into you and the Sect Master again.”
“Must be fate.”
“How have you and the Sect Master been? If all is well, I’d like to go pay my respects and return to the sect.”
“Don’t—”
Ye Zhiqiu, who had just sat down, immediately refused.
“Hm? Why not?”
Ji Yuan feigned confusion.
Ye Zhiqiu fell silent. This time, she didn’t answer right away, instead thinking it over carefully. After a long pause, she asked:
“Fellow Daoist Qiu, can I trust you?”
Ji Yuan recalled how “Qiu Qianhai” had once been—a bold, carefree man with little concern for rules. So without hesitation, he laughed:
“Old Qiu here trusts Fellow Daoist Ye. Whether you trust me or not, that’s up to you.”
“...All right. Listen to what I have to say, and you’ll understand.”
Ye Zhiqiu spoke through Divine Sense:
“After leaving the Ghost-Seeking Pit, I fled west, far away, and hid in a small city.”
“I thought I’d be safe, but three months after escaping… the Mourning Taoist suddenly appeared at my door.”
“Without a word, he struck me down, leaving me gravely injured. Then he asked if I would continue to follow him. I didn’t understand his intentions, so I nodded. He told me to hand over a wisp of my Divine Soul. I hesitated for just a moment—and he struck again.”
“He said he’d already given me a chance and warned me not to be ungrateful.”
“He told me that when he found Deng Pinghai, he didn’t even give him a chance. He just killed him outright.”
“I had no choice but to hand over a wisp of my Divine Soul to survive.”
Ji Yuan fell silent for a long moment before speaking again. “So—”
“So if you reveal yourself now, he’ll most likely demand your Divine Soul too. He won’t trust anyone otherwise.”
Before Ji Yuan could finish, Ye Zhiqiu had already picked up the thread.
“Most likely.”
Ji Yuan feigned a sigh, as if deeply disappointed at being unable to return to his sect.
“What about that Blood Demon who was chasing us back then? Did the Mourning Taoist really kill it?”
If that old bastard could defeat the Thousand-Heart Blood Demon, then he might have Core Formation strength—meaning Ji Yuan would need to be even more careful in dealing with him.
“No. He sought out that Core Formation cultivator deep in the Ghost-Seeking Pit. The two of them sealed the Blood Demon there together… That demon was immensely powerful, and the Mourning Taoist spent great effort raising it. He definitely wouldn’t be willing to kill it.”
Perhaps because Ji Yuan had once saved her life back in the Ghost-Seeking Pit, or maybe it was something he had just said—
Whatever the reason, Ye Zhiqiu was now speaking to Ji Yuan without reservation, answering his every question in full detail.
“I see… Then, Fellow Daoist Ye, why are you all aboard the Whale Patrol Boat? Don’t tell me the Mourning Taoist intends to hide out on Ice-Fire Island as well?”
The moment Ji Yuan asked this question, he noticed Ye Zhiqiu glance to the room on her left.
That room was where the Mourning Taoist resided.
“Fellow Daoist Qiu, I don’t know if this is fate or what,” Ye Zhiqiu sighed.
“What do you mean?”
Ji Yuan had already sensed something was wrong from her words. He had anticipated it—nothing good ever came from a harbinger like the Mourning Taoist being on this ship.
“We’re not going to Ice-Fire Island. Our purpose this time is... this very Whale Patrol Boat.”
“The Whale Patrol Boat… You want to hijack it?!”
“Not exactly. The Mourning Taoist just wants to make a fortune off the opportunity. As for hijacking… Luo Sifu has already betrayed the Luo family and plans to escape with the ship. He won’t give it to us.”
…So even the captain had defected?
What the hell, was this whole ship full of pigs to be slaughtered?
Ji Yuan fell silent.
He was just considering whether he should flee immediately when the entire ship suddenly trembled violently.
Ji Yuan quickly extended his Divine Sense out toward the deck and discovered—
The Whale Patrol Boat had submerged.
Great. Now escaping would be even harder.
Seeing Ji Yuan go quiet, Ye Zhiqiu quickly added:
“But you don’t need to worry, Fellow Daoist Qiu. The Mourning Taoist and the others are only after money, not lives. And Luo Sifu wouldn’t dare kill everyone aboard—he doesn’t have the strength.”
“How about this: just make sure your identity is well-disguised. Later, when I come by to collect storage pouches, just hand me an empty one. I’ll cover for you.”
“That’s all. That old thief’s calling me.”
With that, Ye Zhiqiu stood and left the room.
Ji Yuan quickly sent a voice transmission, “I’m in Room Earth-One.”
He then saw the Mourning Taoist emerge from Room Heaven-One, while Luo Sifu also exited the helm. The three gathered in the cabin.
They stopped in front of the Heaven-Class cabins on the fourth floor.
Ji Yuan didn’t know what had happened to cause a powerful cultivator like Luo Sifu to betray the Luo family and do something like this.
The Mourning Taoist and Luo Sifu clearly had an arrangement.
The two exchanged a glance and nodded slightly. Then Luo Sifu’s voice echoed through the entire Whale Patrol Boat.
“Everyone, I am Luo Sifu. Apologies… I’ve sold you out.”
No pretense. Just cold, hard truth.
“No need for long-winded speeches. I, Luo, want money, not my life. In a moment, a senior will arrive. All you need to do is hand over your storage pouches—all your valuables. That’s it.”
“Once this matter is done, I’ll personally send you to Ice-Fire Island.”
“Of course, if anyone is unwilling, you’re free to open your door and step out. I’ll be happy to explain things to you.”
Once his voice faded, the entire ship fell silent.
Only the undercurrents of the endless sea below rumbled against the hull.
Four or five breaths passed before a man’s voice finally echoed from Ji Yuan’s floor.
“Fellow Daoist Luo, doing this—aren’t you afraid the Luo family will punish you later? Or… is this the Luo family’s decision?!”
“Exactly. Why go this far, Fellow Daoist Luo?”
Others chimed in.
Luo Sifu burst into laughter. “Let’s not pretend anymore. I’ll be blunt—I’ve defected from the Luo family. And really, did any of you think the Luo family are saints?”
“All right, enough small talk. If you have questions, come out and discuss them.”
Despite the offer, no one dared step out.
No one was foolish. Everyone knew Luo Sifu needed someone to make an example of.
And no one was willing to be the first to die.
Yet at the same time, no one resisted… No one wanted to be the bird that stuck its head out.
“Good. Since everyone is willing to cooperate, all the better.”
With that, Luo Sifu and Ye Zhiqiu descended from the fourth floor and arrived at Ji Yuan’s door.
The Mourning Taoist, now at the Pseudo-Core Realm, remained on the upper deck without moving.
Ye Zhiqiu looked at the room number on the door and couldn’t help but tense up.
But at that moment, Ji Yuan opened the door himself.
His face was dark as he handed over a storage pouch, glaring viciously at Luo Sifu with gritted teeth.
“Fellow Daoist Luo, I’ll remember this favor today!”
Expressionless, Ye Zhiqiu took the storage pouch from Ji Yuan’s hand and turned to the next room.
Luo Sifu gave a self-deprecating chuckle and shake of his head but said nothing, simply following behind Ye Zhiqiu.
Ji Yuan shut the door with a heavy thud. Then, his expression instantly returned to normal.
…So it seemed Ye Zhiqiu could be trusted. She really hadn’t sold him out.
Ji Yuan returned to his meditation cushion and sat down again.
Now, he just had to wait for Ye Zhiqiu and the others to finish looting the cultivators and divide the spoils.
Once that was done, Luo Sifu would deliver everyone across the storm zone.
And the matter would be resolved.
Of course, that was the ideal scenario.
As for what could go wrong… Ji Yuan had no idea.
In any case, he kept his Divine Sense tightly focused on Luo Sifu and Ye Zhiqiu as they looted cabin after cabin.
The Foundation Establishment cultivators had no choice but to obediently hand over their storage pouches when faced with two Peak Foundation Establishment powerhouses.
But Ye Zhiqiu wasn’t always so lenient.
“This is all you’ve got in your storage pouch?” she asked with a frown as she confronted the same Foundation Establishment cultivator who had spoken earlier.
Luo Sifu swept him with his Divine Sense—and a Water-Piercing Dagger instantly pierced through the man’s forehead.
He didn’t even give him a chance to speak.
Then Luo Sifu calmly retrieved a second storage pouch from the man’s chest and tossed it to Ye Zhiqiu.
He then raised his voice again. “Everyone, Fellow Daoist Tian here was dishonest, tried to hide things, and ignored my warning. So I’ve sent him to feed the fish in the storm zone. I hope the rest of you won’t make the same mistake.”
The warning had been made.
After that, every Foundation Establishment cultivator handed over all their valuables obediently.
Even if they tried to hide something, it was at most one or two Spiritual Artifacts.
Luo Sifu didn’t seem too ruthless—sometimes, even when he clearly knew someone was hiding something, he wouldn’t call them out.
No one at the Foundation Establishment Stage dared resist.
And those Qi Refining cultivators in the lower cabins? They wouldn’t even think of resisting.
Still, Luo Sifu and Ye Zhiqiu personally went down to rob them too.
Not a grain was left behind.
But just when Ji Yuan thought everything would go smoothly, a young man on the lowest floor suddenly stood up, his face dark with rage as he pointed at Luo Sifu and shouted:
“When I descended the mountain, my master told me the world was filthy—I didn’t believe him. But today, seeing all of you, now I do!”
“You’re all scum of the cultivation world!”
With that, the young man in black robes flung a miniature short sword into the air.
He himself disappeared from the ship in an instant, using some unknown treasure.
But the sword he left behind rapidly expanded and unleashed a brilliant sword light on its own.
With a single strike, it cleaved Luo Sifu in two.
And it didn’t stop there—it split the entire Whale Patrol Boat… in half.
Ji Yuan, who had been seated, leapt to his feet.
He couldn’t help but shout:
“NO, WHAT THE F—!!!”