Chapter 29
“So this is the wealth of a major sect. I thought the Yunshan Sect’s artifact ship was extravagant enough, but when Fellow Cultivator Yu Tai rescued me, I saw the formations and runes covering this hull with my own eyes. How many supreme-grade spirit stones would it take to buy something like this?”
“Senior Brother, you encountered that ship too?” Zhang Xiaoxiao asked in surprise.
The first speaker smiled bitterly. “Yes. At the time, I truly thought I was going to die.”
The moment those people heard he was a Beast-Taming Sect disciple, they steered straight over him without hesitation.
He had possessed some strength before that, but the devastating impact nearly killed him outright when he was already gravely injured.
Yet the heavens had not forsaken him. He encountered Yu Tai of the Qingshan Sword Sect.
She shared medicinal pills with them, treated their wounds, and even provided shelter.
According to Zhang Xiaoxiao, Yu Tai had done all this merely to repay the favor of their Senior Brother allowing her to enter the secret realm alongside the Beast-Taming Sect.
Within this cold and merciless secret realm, someone had actually braved the dangers of the boundless sea to search for them, all because of one insignificant act.
“Once we return, we must thank Fellow Cultivator Yu Tai properly.” His eyes grew hot. The others shared his conviction.
It was impossible to put into words how grateful one felt when someone offered a hand in the depths of despair.
Just as they thought this, the hull suddenly rocked, and something leaped high from the water.
Everyone’s expression turned grim. It was a high-ranked shark demon.
Strands of blood still clung to its enormous teeth, proving its last hunt had ended only recently. Yet the greedy demon beast grew hungry again at the sight of the ship.
They had taken Yu Tai’s medicinal pills. Though not in perfect condition, they were now full of spiritual power and energy.
No fear appeared in their eyes when they saw the demon beast.
They stood on the deck and summoned their contracted demon beasts, forming a tight defensive line before the door to Yu Tai’s room. Their eyes blazed with fighting spirit.
“Protect Fellow Cultivator Yu Tai!” someone shouted. The others echoed the cry.
In their eyes, Yu Tai of the Qingshan Sword Sect was exactly as the rumors described: beneath her beautiful, aloof exterior lay a sacred and gentle heart.
She appeared so frail, yet instead of remaining with her own sect, she piloted this ship alone and searched for them.
They could never fully repay this kindness, but as long as they stood here, no one would harm her!
Having lost her demon-beast pouch, Zhang Xiaoxiao walked to Yu Tai’s door and knocked gently. “Benefactor, something unexpected happened outside. Please stay in your room for now.”
When no answer came, Zhang Xiaoxiao called again. “Benefactor?”
After a moment, she finally heard Yu Tai’s voice. “Mm…”
It was only a single syllable, but the pitch sounded strange.
Zhang Xiaoxiao did not ask about it.
…
Yu Tai had nearly died of fright.
When the knock exploded behind her, Shu Li had her pinned against the door, blocking her lips with his.
The scalp-tingling rush of pleasure nearly made Yu Tai cry out.
Fuck. This bastard was far too good at this.
Only when Zhang Xiaoxiao’s voice came through the door did Shu Li finally show her mercy and draw back slightly.
Yu Tai quickly steadied her breathing and answered.
Yet even pronouncing a single “mm” normally proved difficult.
Zhang Xiaoxiao said nothing more. Footsteps receded, telling Yu Tai that she had left.
Yu Tai had no idea whether she had heard anything suspicious.
If word spread that the Qingshan Sword Sect’s aloof beauty and the fallen former genius ruined for colluding with a demonic cultivator were kissing inside a room, anyone who did not know better would think it was a scene from some scandalous romance.
Fine. That was not the point.
The point was that Yu Tai had experienced Shu Li’s body-trembling skill at kissing for the first time-and forgotten to absorb any righteous qi.
Looking at Shu Li, whose breathing was slightly disordered and whose thin lips were now crimson, Yu Tai stepped forward. “Everyone said Senior Brother Shu Li kept himself pure. It seems those rumors may have been false.”
With kissing skills like that, how pure could he possibly be?
Shu Li smiled. “Those rumors were true. But now that I depend on Junior Sister’s protection, if I possessed no useful talents and you one day grew tired of me…”
He lowered his dim eyes, endless sorrow lingering between his brows.
Paired with that face, could any young woman in the world resist pulling him into her arms and comforting him?
The System: [Yes.]
“Enough nonsense. Come here and do it again.” Yu Tai’s disheveled black hair fell along both cheeks. Her lips were swollen and the corners of her eyes flushed as she crooked a finger at Shu Li like a shameless rogue who had not groped enough.
Shu Li laughed quietly, a faint huskiness entering his normally clear voice.
But he had barely taken one step when-
The ship lurched violently. Yu Tai’s expression changed, and she rose before hurrying toward the door.
As she closed it, she left him with one instruction. “Stay here. Don’t wander off.”
She completely missed the way Shu Li’s eyes darkened.
Even the tamest wolf would grow angry if its meal were interrupted halfway through.
Yu Tai had swept the area with her spiritual sense the first time the ship rocked.
The Beast-Taming Sect disciples were more than capable of handling a single mid-ranked demon beast.
Unfortunately, their attacks made the beast bleed, and the blood dripping into the water attracted others.
Not every aquatic demon beast was lucky enough to enjoy a full meal.
And so, what began as one demon beast attacking Yu Tai’s ship became a horde surrounding it.
The Beast-Taming Sect disciples, who had been confident moments earlier, changed expression.
“Damn it. Why are there so many?” someone cursed.
All they wanted was to survive. Why was that so difficult?!
Fortunately, the ship itself was extraordinarily sturdy. Otherwise, that last impact alone would have shattered any ordinary vessel.
The disciples were directing their contracted demon beasts to withstand the frenzied assault when suddenly-
The blood-crazed demon beasts stopped attacking. Every one of them froze with blank expressions, half their bodies protruding from the water as they began to tremble, as though sensing something terrifying.
The Beast-Taming Sect disciples looked at one another in bewilderment, unsure what to do.
Before they could act, a beautiful figure appeared before them, holding a sword with her back to the crowd. Her robes fluttered, and her waterfall of black hair danced in the wind.
“Benefactor-” Zhang Xiaoxiao had barely called out when the young woman whom everyone had silently agreed to protect tapped one foot against the deck.
Her sword moved faster than the naked eye could follow. With a single strike, every demon beast surrounding the ship lost its head.
Silence descended as their bodies splashed into the water.
“…”
Everyone stared in utter disbelief, as though they had seen a ghost.
So this was the true strength of Yu Tai, the Qingshan Sword Sect’s infamous ornamental vase…
And those rumor-mongers called this an ornamental vase?
Was that short for an ornamental vase forged from ten-thousand-year dark iron?!