Chapter 112: A Plain, Unremarkable Dead Island

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“Please disembark,” Big Boss Wu said with a sly grin, addressing Yu Zhao and Ji Han Zhou.

Standing on the deck, Yu Zhao looked out toward the small island ahead. It was surrounded by steep cliffs, with no accessible coastline for docking. As a result, Big Boss Wu had anchored the ship roughly ten zhang away from the island.

The moment the boat steadied, he eagerly urged Yu Zhao and Ji Han Zhou to leave.

Wang Zhen frowned slightly, hesitation flickering in her eyes. Zhao Xian gently patted the back of her hand, shaking his head at her. She lowered her gaze, remaining silent.

Yu Zhao, calm as ever, replied, “Big Boss Wu, this island is Lady Hua and her group’s destination. My junior brother and I might not find it appropriate to intrude.”

“We don’t mind,” Long Two interjected. One of the three Long Family brothers, his eyes were cold and fixed on Yu Zhao like a serpent sizing up its prey, exuding a sinister chill.

“Exactly! The more, the merrier,” Long Three added enthusiastically. “I doubt Lady Hua or Zhao Xian would object, right?”

Lady Hua giggled coyly, offering no other response. Zhao Xian merely said, “Feel free.”

“With such warm invitations, my junior brother and I will take the lead,” Yu Zhao said with a faint smile, signaling to Ji Han Zhou with her eyes.

Ji Han Zhou, looking serious, nodded and stepped lightly onto the air, flying toward the island. Yu Zhao followed closely behind.

The seven people remaining on the ship watched as the duo landed safely on the island without incident, their faces lighting up with joy.

Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!

Several figures raced toward the island, eager to land. Big Boss Wu stayed back to handle the boat, arriving last.

Yu Zhao began surveying the island. It was about the same size as the one she and Ji Han Zhou had briefly rested on earlier. However, this island was entirely barren—nothing but bare rocks, not even a blade of grass. It was like a lifeless island.

What secrets could such an ordinary island hold?

Suddenly, the sound of something slicing through the air came from behind her. Without thinking, Yu Zhao gathered spiritual energy in her feet, leaping away.

Boom!

The spot where she had been standing was blasted, leaving a deep pit three feet wide.

Yu Zhao reappeared on another rock, her expression icy.

Long Three burst into laughter. “Boss, you missed! Want me and Second Brother to help?”

Long One’s face was dark as he barked, “Stop wasting time! Get rid of them quickly. The longer we wait, the more risks we face.”

“Relax. They won’t escape,” Long Three said dismissively. To him, dealing with a Golden Core beginner woman and her delicate junior brother was trivial.

Ignoring the brothers’ casual discussion about how to deal with her, Yu Zhao turned to Big Boss Wu with a faint smile. “Big Boss Wu, didn’t you promise to ensure my junior brother and I would be safe? Does your word mean nothing?”

A cunning glint flashed in Big Boss Wu’s eyes. “I only said I’d safely get you ashore. I never promised anything about what happens after. Blame yourselves for being foolish enough to board my ship.”

“But we paid the fare,” Yu Zhao countered.

“So what? I got you ashore, didn’t I? Keeping your lives intact costs extra,” Big Boss Wu replied smugly.

As Yu Zhao and Big Boss Wu bantered back and forth, everyone else failed to notice a faint wisp of smoke rising from within Yu Zhao’s wide sleeve—except Ji Han Zhou.

“Enough, Big Boss Wu! No need to argue with her. Finish this quickly—we have more important matters to deal with!” Long One frowned deeply, his tone filled with impatience. Ever since they came ashore, he had been uneasy, and the bickering only aggravated his irritability.

Big Boss Wu grunted in acknowledgment but couldn’t resist giving Lady Hua a sly, knowing look. “Lady Hua, should we keep Ji Han Zhou alive…?”

Lady Hua spat on the ground and snapped, “Get lost! Don’t think I don’t know what’s going through that filthy mind of yours!”

Big Boss Wu let out a hearty laugh, but his expression quickly turned sinister. His face darkened, his eyes sharp with murderous intent. “Apologies to the both of you. Allow me to send you off on your final journey!”

With that, he bent his legs, gathering strength, and in a flash, he vanished from sight.

Simultaneously, the Long Family’s three brothers launched their assault on Yu Zhao from three different directions, entirely disregarding Ji Han Zhou. A mere late-Foundation Establishment cultivator was beneath their notice.

Ji Han Zhou, however, had spent enough time alongside Yu Zhao to appreciate the unpredictability of her illusion techniques. He knew his intervention would likely hinder rather than help. Foregoing any misguided sense of male pride, he instead took a position offering both offense and retreat. His Life-Bonded Flying Sword trembled anxiously in his grasp.

Lady Hua and the Zhao Xian couple refrained from joining the fray—not out of any goodwill, but because they believed the combined strength of Big Boss Wu and the Long brothers was more than sufficient to handle Yu Zhao.

To their surprise, Yu Zhao, though young, demonstrated exceptional combat experience. Even under the coordinated onslaught of four attackers, she evaded their strikes with practiced ease.

The Long brothers and Big Boss Wu felt increasingly unnerved. They aimed each attack squarely at Yu Zhao, yet she dodged with uncanny precision, making it seem as though they were deliberately pulling their punches.

“Hold it!” Long One called out abruptly, halting the fight. Continuing like this, he reasoned, might not harm Yu Zhao, but their spiritual energy was depleting rapidly—a liability for what lay ahead.

Though reluctant, Long Two and Long Three obeyed. Big Boss Wu, despite his rough demeanor, was sharp. Seeing the brothers withdraw, he also retreated, his eyes glinting with calculation.

“Lady Hua, Zhao Xian, are you planning to reap all the benefits while we do the work?” Long One demanded.

The Zhao couple exchanged uneasy looks, but Lady Hua scoffed openly. “Blame your own incompetence! You can’t even handle a weaker girl, and now you want to throw dirt on me? Pathetic!”

“Watch it, Lady Hua!” Long Three roared, his temper flaring. “Don’t think we won’t hit you just because you’re a woman!”

“Bring it on!” Lady Hua jeered. “Back when I was thrashing three men like you, you were still hiding in your mother’s skirts!”

“How dare you insult my mother? I’ll—”

“Enough!” Long One silenced him with a sharp glare. “Now isn’t the time for infighting.” Their alliance, tenuous and born of greed, was bound to dissolve sooner or later. But for now, killing this troublesome woman took priority.

Long Three reluctantly bit back his rage, but his vicious, narrow eyes fixed on Lady Hua, and he made a threatening throat-slitting gesture. Lady Hua responded with a disdainful snort.

High above, Yu Zhao surveyed the group’s interactions, a faint, knowing smile tugging at her lips. A fortress often collapses from within.

The real drama was about to begin.

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