Chapter 33
Ultimately, Yu Tai did not care that the Yunshan Sect had refused to save people.
They had never been obligated to help, and their ship had limited space.
What made them disgusting was the way they selected people as though choosing cuts of pork, rescuing only disciples from sects that could benefit them. They could have simply ignored those desperate for rescue. Instead, they personally slaughtered helpless cultivators on the excuse that they were blocking the way.
Some people who might otherwise have survived long enough for Yu Tai to rescue them had probably died because of the Yunshan Sect’s cruelty.
“Don’t worry. I won’t throw you overboard,” she said.
That would be far too boring.
Yu Tai remembered that the Yunshan Sect had also survived in the Middle Realm later in the novel, though it eventually declined.
Meanwhile, the Beast-Taming Sect they had once despised leaped to become the leading sect of the Middle Realm.
When faced with the Yunshan Sect, which had looked down on them and killed their fellow disciples, what would the Beast-Taming Sect do?
The very thought was thrilling.
That was why Yu Tai would not interfere with their fate.
The Beast-Taming Sect should avenge its own grievances.
Besides, Shu Li had asked her to let them aboard.
“Junior Sister, there’s no need to force yourself. If you don’t want them on the ship, simply throw them off,” Jiang Yibai said, gazing at Yu Tai indulgently.
Though the Qingshan Sword Sect disciples wondered where Yu Tai had obtained the ship, with so many strangers present, this was clearly not the time to ask.
The Yunshan Sect disciples’ faces immediately fell. Their leader snapped, “Jiang Yibai! We took you aboard and saved the Qingshan Sword Sect disciples. Now you would destroy the bridge after crossing the river?”
Jiang Yibai’s expression remained calm, but his voice was cold and hard. “I am indeed grateful for your rescue, Fellow Cultivator. But if my Junior Sister is unhappy, I will have to repay this favor in my next life.”
The Yunshan Sect disciples drew their swords in unison. “You go too far-”
Yu Tai found the scene rather amusing and glanced back at Shu Li.
She had previously thought Jiang Yibai resembled someone at times. Unfortunately, his personality was too extreme. Moreover, offending an entire sect for one person was something that gentle genius, kind to everyone, would never have done. No matter how Jiang Yibai imitated him, he could never reproduce even a fraction of that man’s incomparable bearing.
“Senior Brother Jiang, I’m not forcing myself. The Yunshan Sect disciples may stay if they wish. This is no time for infighting. Everyone, look ahead.”
Her words awakened them from their anger, and every gaze turned forward.
Without anyone noticing, the ship had bypassed the deadly whirlpool and was advancing toward the fissure. The lightning grew increasingly fierce, accurately striking the ship again and again with the overwhelming force to annihilate all living things.
No matter how sturdy the ship was, it could not withstand lightning that strengthened with every step closer to the boundary.
“Prepare to abandon ship at any moment.” Lightning flashed across the barrier and reflected in Yu Tai’s pupils as she spoke calmly.
Someone exclaimed in disbelief, “Impossible. This ship is extremely sturdy. If we go outside, won’t the lightning kill us instead?” His voice trembled; the previous encounter had clearly left him terrified of lightning.
Yu Tai did not answer. He could believe whatever he wanted.
She glanced toward the Qingshan Sword Sect and Beast-Taming Sect disciples.
The Qingshan Sword Sect disciples looked hesitantly at Jiang Yibai. He nodded immediately. “Understood.”
The Beast-Taming Sect disciples simply began discussing what they should do when the time came.
The disciples from the other sects remained uncertain. Though Yu Tai owned the ship, this vessel was a precious artifact. How could it break so easily?
While they debated what to do, Yu Tai brought Shu Li back to the room.
After quickly putting away everything inside, she placed Xia Mo into the demon-beast pouch and looked at the silent Shu Li. “Do you think I’m wrong?”
Shu Li shook his head. “You’re right. This ship won’t last much longer.”
Yu Tai used a spell to shrink Shu Li, then picked up the miniature man. Looking at the black hair cascading over her fingers, a mischievous impulse struck her. She set him on the table and, with all the enthusiasm she had once devoted to dressing Barbie dolls, began braiding his hair.
The thunder outside the window grew louder with each strike, and the ship rocked more violently by the moment. Yet in the middle of such danger, Yu Tai remained inside braiding the hair of Princess Barbie Shu Li.
Yu Tai was extraordinarily rough. She yanked several strands from little Shu Li’s smooth black hair, but he merely pressed his lips together. Even when she pulled painfully, he made no sound and allowed her to continue.
The System: […]
For a moment, it did not know whom to pity first.
Only after Yu Tai had played to her heart’s content did she tuck Shu Li into her sleeve. The broad smile on her face instantly turned grave the moment she stepped outside.
At the sight of her expression, the Beast-Taming Sect disciples-who knew Yu Tai’s true strength-felt their hearts sink.
The coming situation would probably be extremely dangerous.
“Benefactor, Senior Sister Zhang once obtained a lightning rod through a lucky encounter. It’s said to withstand even lightning from Tribulation Transcendence. We can use it as bait, then charge through on our flying swords,” Zhang Xiaoxiao told Yu Tai.
Yu Tai looked in surprise at the female cultivator standing behind Zhang Xiaoxiao, whom she had called Senior Sister Zhang.
A lightning rod capable of withstanding the lightning of Tribulation Transcendence, and she had simply revealed it? With anyone else, that could easily invite murder and theft.
But it also proved how deeply the Beast-Taming Sect disciples trusted her.
“An excellent plan. Thank you.” Yu Tai nodded.
At her agreement, Zhang Xiaoxiao and Senior Sister Zhang exchanged smiles.
Several Qingshan Sword Sect disciples approached and shot Zhang Xiaoxiao and the others wary glances.
Sensing their attention, Zhang Xiaoxiao pulled Senior Sister Zhang back toward the Beast-Taming Sect group.
“Junior Sister, you’re too innocent. Don’t trust people so easily. There are far more villains in this world than you imagine,” someone warned.
After learning that these Beast-Taming Sect disciples had spent so long aboard the same ship as their Junior Sister, the Qingshan Sword Sect disciples felt inexplicably uncomfortable.
It was like returning after several days away to discover that someone had stolen their home.
He did not lower his voice, as though deliberately speaking for the Beast-Taming Sect disciples to hear.
Zhang Xiaoxiao and the others were angry, but since he was Yu Tai’s Senior Brother and a Qingshan Sword Sect disciple, they could not openly argue.
“Don’t worry, Senior Brother. I can still distinguish good from evil,” Yu Tai replied coolly.
“Enough pointless talk. The question is how we deal with the heavenly lightning and pass through the fissure before the ship sinks,” Jiang Yibai interrupted, cutting off the exchange.
Yu Tai glanced at him.
He had said nothing earlier, only stepping in to rebuke them like some peacemaker after displeasure appeared on her face.
If someone asked Yu Tai what kind of man she liked, she probably could not answer.
But if they asked what kind she hated, the answer was extremely simple.
A simp.
In her previous life, she had barely escaped that hellhole and found work slaughtering pigs. Her modest life had finally become peaceful and pleasant, only for some idiotic simp to ruin everything before long-and get her killed.
The unpleasant memory made her already chilly expression turn even frostier as she repeated Zhang Xiaoxiao’s plan.
Yu Tai did not say that the Beast-Taming Sect disciples had supplied the lightning rod. She claimed it as her own to prevent anyone with malicious intentions from trying something afterward.
There was no need to doubt it: most Qingshan Sword Sect disciples were not good people.
“Junior Sister’s plan is sound, but there is one problem,” Jiang Yibai said after considering it.
Yu Tai raised her eyes, already guessing what he intended to ask. “Senior Brother wants to know who will carry the lightning rod as bait, correct?”
Jiang Yibai looked at her approvingly, then suddenly asked in a gentle voice, “Where is Junior Sister’s human-shaped demon beast?”