Chapter 222: A Man Lost Can Be Replaced
This novel is translated and hosted only on Bcatranslation
“They’re coming! They’re coming!”
“Who do you think won?”
“Isn’t it obvious? It’s definitely Qing Yan. Ji Yuan always lets him win; this time is probably no different.”
“I’m not so sure. Ji Yuan looked pretty upset this time, so he might have gone all out.”
Several sect leaders had lingered to see the outcome of the confrontation. They had sent their disciples ahead on flying boats, but they themselves waited at the main route leading back to the Five Elements Dao Sect, eager for a glimpse of the results. This was why when Sect Master Ji Yuan called out, Sect Master Wu Sang rushed over so quickly.
“Ji Yuan, you and Qing Yan…”
As the flying boat approached, Sect Leader Chong Yang was the first to inquire. However, before he could finish his sentence, the flying boat zipped past, speeding off with a sense of urgency.
“Hey, why did they leave?” The sect leaders looked at one another in confusion.
Sect Master Ji Yuan was known for being forthright and easygoing, not the type to hold a grudge. The leaders had stayed behind to watch the drama unfold, confident that their curiosity wouldn’t offend him. Yet, his silence and abrupt departure struck them as unusual.
“Could he have lost and taken it hard? That doesn’t sound like him.”
Scratching their heads, the group could only watch as the flying boat disappeared into the distance.
Not long after Yu Zhao entered her room, Yao Wu Ji snuck in, moving stealthily. Her eyes sparkled mischievously as she stared at Yu Zhao without saying a word.
“Before I answer your questions, you need to recount how you encountered Wang Sheng. Don’t leave out a single detail,” Yu Zhao said seriously.
Yao Wu Ji hadn’t expected Yu Zhao to bring up Wang Sheng. Her eyes darted as she grinned playfully. “Why? Have you taken a liking to him too?”
Yu Zhao: …
“Listen, sister, it’s not that I’m stingy, but Wang Sheng is a gift I’ve prepared for my master. How about this: if my master doesn’t fancy him, I’ll pass him on to you. That’s fair, right?” Yao Wu Ji elbowed Yu Zhao and raised her eyebrows in jest.
A man lost can always be replaced. Friends, however, are irreplaceable.
“No, thank you. Let your master enjoy him,” Yu Zhao replied with a forced smile. “Now tell me about his background. His sudden appearance on the Floating Island seems suspicious. I feel like there’s more to him.”
At the mention of serious matters, Yao Wu Ji grew more solemn. “I wasn’t lying when I told Senior Sister Zhou how I found him. He really was someone I picked up. At that time…”
Listening to Yao Wu Ji describe Wang Sheng’s immunity to poisons and his companionship with poisonous creatures, Yu Zhao couldn’t help but think of Wu Shao Zhen. Among the people she’d encountered, Wu Shao Zhen had been the unrivaled master of controlling venomous creatures—even Yao Wu Ji couldn’t compare.
But she was certain she had killed Wu Shao Zhen back in Dragon Roar Valley. To ensure his death, she had stabbed him multiple times, each blow fatal. Besides, Wang Sheng’s appearance was entirely different. She dismissed the notion as overthinking.
“Alright, I’ve told you everything you wanted to know. Now it’s your turn—did you find the Longevity Fruit?” Yao Wu Ji asked, her eyes filled with curiosity. She had spent enough time with Yu Zhao to understand her well. Yu Zhao wouldn’t bother asking questions if she hadn’t achieved her goal. The answer was clear.
Yu Zhao’s lips curved into a smile, but before she could respond, Yao Wu Ji shrieked with excitement and threw herself at Yu Zhao, enveloping her in a tight hug and planting a playful kiss on her cheek.
“Yu Zhao! Yu Zhao! You’re amazing!”
Before this moment, Yao Wu Ji hadn’t held much hope that Yu Zhao would find the Longevity Fruit. She had prepared Wang Sheng as a backup plan for her master. Yet the unexpected had happened—Yu Zhao not only located the fruit but was also willing to honor their previous agreement and hand it over.
Yao Wu Ji was overwhelmed with emotion. Aside from her master, no one in the world had ever treated her so well.
“Yu Zhao, from today onward, you are my life-and-death ally,” Yao Wu Ji declared solemnly after releasing Yu Zhao. “No matter if it’s climbing a mountain of knives or descending into a sea of fire, just say the word, and I’ll follow.”
Yu Zhao’s eyes lit up with a smile. “I’ll hold you to that.”
To others, Yao Wu Ji was a rebellious and ruthless woman, known for her bold and unrestrained personality. But to Yu Zhao, who had grown weary of deceitful hypocrites, Yao Wu Ji’s straightforward nature made her a worthy friend.
“Absolutely genuine!” Yao Wu Ji grinned slyly. “So, about that Longevity Fruit…”
“Here.” Yu Zhao casually handed over a jade box.
Yao Wu Ji fumbled to catch it in mid-air, throwing a reproachful glance at Yu Zhao before carefully opening the box. Inside was a golden, infant-shaped fruit, its aroma soothing and intoxicating.
She inhaled deeply, momentarily entranced, but quickly shut the box before her growing desire got the better of her. For the sake of her survival, she knew better than to indulge.
After parting with Yu Zhao, Yao Wu Ji decided she would entrust the Longevity Fruit to Sect Master Ji Yuan for safekeeping.
…
Meanwhile, in another room, Ye Cong Xin paced nervously. Her mind was consumed with worry about Master Qing Yan’s condition. Sect Master Ji Yuan and Sect Master Wu Sang had deliberately kept everyone else out of the conversation, leaving her to guess at the dire situation.
Ye Cong Xin owed much of her elevated status within the Five Elements Dao Sect to her master. If Master Qing Yan passed away, others might remain unaffected, but the loss would devastate her. Neither Lan Zi Yu nor Su Ming could compare to Master Qing Yan’s strength, which she heavily relied on.
“System,” she muttered, “is there a way to extend Master Qing Yan’s life, even just a bit longer?”
If she could buy time to grow stronger herself, Qing Yan’s value to her would naturally diminish.
Ding! The system responded, ?This system serves only the host. However, considering the host’s upcoming strategy tasks, the system can temporarily unlock the shopping mall, allowing the purchase of necessary medicines.?
Ye Cong Xin’s eyes lit up with hope. But when she realized she’d have to spend her hard-earned Luck Value, her heart ached.
During the recent cultivation competitions, she had tirelessly worked to exploit opportunities, catching only one diminished big catch—Li Jing Rang. The rest of her efforts had yielded barely enough luck to rival his.
On the Floating Island, she had attempted to gain Unworried’s favor, but his indifference to women left her without a single chance. Her recent exchanges of Luck Value for spiritual energy and insight had already depleted her reserves.
She consoled herself inwardly. Sacrifices were necessary to trap the wolf. With that thought, she began browsing the system’s mall.
“Too expensive. This one too. And this one is even worse!” she grumbled.
The system’s prices were nothing short of extortionate. The medicine selections were so overpriced that even buying them for herself seemed unbearable, let alone for someone else.
Sensing her indecision, the system chimed in, ?Ding! Host, you might find a satisfactory option on the last page of the mall.?
“You could’ve said that sooner,” she muttered under her breath, flipping to the final page. There, a discounted potion caught her eye—priced at less than one-tenth of the others.
She gasped. “Why is this potion so cheap?!”