Chapter 120: The Crisis Returns
This novel is translated and hosted only on BCatranslation
“Respected elder, you’re too kind. I’m starting to feel a bit guilty,” Yu Zhao said, her lips curving into a shy smile.
The old siren remained silent, though his thoughts were anything but calm: Guilty? Then return what you took! How cunning these humans are! He still couldn’t fathom how he had been so easily outmaneuvered.
“Elder, rest assured. Since I’ve accepted your gift, I will do everything in my power to fulfill my promise,” Yu Zhao continued with an air of sincerity.
The old siren, barely containing his anger, snapped, “Not ‘do your best,’ but ‘you must’—you must fulfill it!”
“Yes, yes,” Yu Zhao agreed quickly, her tone smooth and agreeable.
Watching how easily Yu Zhao complied, the old siren couldn’t shake the growing unease in his chest. He was certain now that he had boarded a thief’s ship—there was no getting off without a loss.
“Elder, if there’s nothing more, I should be on my way,” Yu Zhao said, glancing around as if she had more pressing matters. She had originally come to the Southern Waters to gather information on Shui Qing Yue but had ended up staying for an entire month due to unexpected events. With the Great Competition in the cultivation world approaching, she still needed to visit the swamp forest and the Green Wood Sect. Time was slipping through her fingers, and she wasn’t sure if she’d manage to complete everything on her list.
The old siren’s eyes darkened at the mention of her leaving. Despite his frequent displays of displeasure, he had grown fond of Yu Zhao in his own way. But deep down, he knew they were not meant to walk the same path. Forcing her to stay would only delay the inevitable parting.
“Very well, I’ll see you off,” he said, his voice heavy with reluctance.
“No, that’s really not necessary,” Yu Zhao replied, her expression twitching slightly as she glanced at the old siren’s cumbersome ride.
Ignoring her protest, the old siren patted the large shell beneath him. The massive shell began to inch forward through the palace at a pace slower than a snail’s crawl. Yu Zhao watched from behind, feeling a headache coming on. With a subtle flick of her fingers, she used a gentle force to lift the shell, causing it to move significantly faster.
As they approached the grand palace hall, a faint metallic scent reached Yu Zhao’s nose. Her expression darkened, foreboding filling her chest. When they entered the hall, her fears were confirmed. There, lying together on the cold floor, were Zhao Xian and Wang Zhen, each with a dagger plunged into their chests. Zhao Xian’s face was contorted in agony, his eyes wide open, refusing to close even in death. In contrast, Wang Zhen’s face was serene, almost as if she were merely sleeping—if not for the cold stillness of her body.
Nearby, Boss Wu’s lifeless body lay sprawled on the ground, a gaping hole where his heart had once been. The bloodied organ was discarded a short distance away, as though it had been carelessly tossed aside.
Lady Hua was kneeling on one knee, her hand pressed against her abdomen where blood steadily seeped through her fingers. At her feet lay Boss Wu’s iron axe, slick with fresh blood.
She raised her head, her eyes moving past the elderly siren to focus on Yu Zhao’s impassive face. A bitter, mocking smile twisted her lips.
“When did you figure it out?” Lady Hua asked, her voice strained.
“I knew from the start,” Yu Zhao replied calmly, her tone cold as ice.
“But why? Boss Wu and I never made contact!” Lady Hua’s voice quivered with a mix of frustration and disbelief.
“It was precisely because you kept your distance that it was suspicious,” Yu Zhao explained, pointing at Boss Wu’s corpse. “When we first boarded the ship, Boss Wu introduced you to us. It was clear from your interactions that you two were familiar with each other, yet you pretended not to be. Why the act? And when you tried to provoke Ji Han Zhou on the ship, did you notice Boss Wu’s gaze? He was already contemplating killing Ji Han Zhou back then.”
From the moment Yu Zhao had set foot on the ship, she had sensed that something was amiss with the crew. The strong were too strong, and the weak were too weak. The Long brothers were undeniably powerful, but Boss Wu, who was supposedly alone, seemed out of place. When she learned that Boss Wu had assembled the crew, she immediately suspected he had a hidden accomplice on board. Given the circumstances, Lady Hua was the only logical candidate.
Lady Hua let out a bitter snort. “I thought our disguise was flawless, but you saw through it from the beginning.”
The treasure hunt in the siren’s territory had been Lady Hua and Boss Wu’s plan all along. After acquiring the map, Lady Hua decided it was too risky for just the two of them, so they recruited the Long brothers and the Zhao Xian couple to share the danger. If they found nothing, the next targets would have been the Zhao Xian couple and the Long brothers. Yu Zhao and Ji Han Zhou had been unexpected bonuses—more prey for their hunt.
Lady Hua had never imagined that the plan she had meticulously crafted would ultimately be ruined by Yu Zhao. Nor had she anticipated that Boss Wu, who had been so affectionate with her, was merely using her all along. The moment he succumbed to the temptation of his inner demon, his first instinct was to kill her and take the treasure for himself. Her entire life had been one of misplaced trust.
“Yu Zhao!” Lady Hua suddenly burst into laughter, tears of rage glistening in her eyes. “I don’t regret losing to you! Remember, it was you who killed me—not him!”
With those final words, Lady Hua exhaled one last time. Her body crumpled backward, her arm falling limply to the ground, revealing the fatal wound across her abdomen—a wound so deep it nearly cleaved her in two. The attack had been vicious, leaving her with no hope of survival. It was no wonder she had felt so hopeless, so resigned, as she spoke her final words.
“She was a pitiful soul,” the old siren remarked, his voice tinged with sorrow.
Yu Zhao simply nodded, her expression unreadable. “She was the one who obtained the map,” she stated.
The old siren glared at her, his eyes narrowing. “So what? I didn’t kill her. If there’s anyone to blame, it’s their own greed,” he snapped.
Yu Zhao realized he was right and chose to remain silent.
“When you leave, take their bodies with you. I don’t want their corpses defiling my people’s land,” the old siren said, his tone dripping with disdain.
Yu Zhao nodded in agreement and swiftly gathered Lady Hua’s and the others’ bodies into her storage space, planning to dispose of them once she reached the shore.
“Wait, there’s someone still alive,” the old siren remarked, his keen eyes spotting another figure.
“That’s my junior brother,” Yu Zhao quickly clarified, sensing the underlying tone in the siren’s words.
The old siren merely shrugged. “Take him with you. I’ll see you both off,” he said.
“Thank you, elder,” Yu Zhao replied gratefully, using her spiritual energy to lift the unconscious Ji Han Zhou.
The old siren’s fingers danced in the air, swiftly forming a series of intricate hand seals. Moments later, a whirlwind stirred at their feet, rapidly forming a small vortex. As the vortex spun, its pull grew stronger, stretching upward until it vanished into the distant sky.
“Don’t resist,” the old siren instructed.
Yu Zhao heeded his words, relaxing her body as the powerful force lifted her and Ji Han Zhou into the air, pulling them upward at an incredible speed. The palace below shrank quickly, the ocean’s deep blue gradually lightening as they ascended.
Before long, they burst out of the sea and landed back on the desolate island where their journey had begun. Yu Zhao took a deep breath of the fresh, familiar air, feeling her tension ease. She had always preferred the solid ground of the land.
“Yu Zhao, don’t forget your promise,” the old siren reminded her, still seated on his shell, his wrinkled face solemn.
This novel is translated and hosted only on BCatranslation
Yu Zhao nodded firmly. “I won’t forget,” she promised.
The old siren waved her off, signaling that she could leave. Yu Zhao retrieved a boat from Boss Wu’s storage pouch and placed it in the water. Just as she was about to board, a massive dark cloud appeared on the horizon, racing toward the island with terrifying speed. The sky darkened, and an overwhelming pressure descended upon them.
Yu Zhao and the old siren’s faces paled.
A Nascent Soul cultivator was coming for them!