"Hehehehe…"
Lian's ears twitched.
The giggling came from every direction at once.
Kuuuuurr… Kuuuuuurr…
The sound was wet and grinding—like something heavy being dragged across the ship's wooden planks.
"Well, well… what do we have here?"
A loud, mocking voice boomed as a figure stepped into view.
"Heaven's Gate and South Sword this time, ha? Yue seems your reckless hunts had caused rumours to spread; now the Murium Alliance has taken action."
The man was massive.
Flaming red hair cascaded down his shoulders, flickering like living fire. In his left hand, he dragged a limp child across the deck. A grotesque chunk of flesh had been torn from the child's neck, blood still dripping.
"So South Sword's prediction was right," Xiao Bao said grimly.
"That one's definitely a demonic cultivator from the Blood Bloom Demon Sect. You can tell by the red hair—and he's been drinking that boy's blood."
"So, what do we do?" Lou Yi asked sharply.
"Do we run—or fight?"
She stood ready, she had a large chest which chest rising and falling unsteadily as she breathed. Her long braid swayed behind her, and her soft, composed face showed no panic. Twin daggers rested in her hands, faint currents of Wind Qi pulsing along their edges'
"I think we strike," Xiao Bao said, already laying out array panels.
"There's only one of him. Even if he's at a higher realm, together we should be ab—"
He didn't finish.
A hooded figure lunged from behind.
Slash!
Lian's blade flashed, cutting the attacker down mid-air.
"We don't fight—we retreat!" Lian roared, landing hard.
"We're surrounded!"
More figures emerged from the shadows—on the rigging, beneath the decks, crawling from shattered cargo holds.
"They're all demonic cultivators!" Lian shouted.
Then—
Laughter erupted across the ship.
"Hahahaha…!"
"That one's sharp," one of them sneered.
"I bet his blood is overflowing with pure Qi."
As the laughter continued, something horrifying happened.
Hair across the deck—once black, brown, and blonde—began turning crimson.
One by one.
Every single passenger.
The ship had never been empty.
They had been surrounded from the very beginning.
Clang!
The shrill clash of steel rang out, echoing across the deck.
"Tsk—!"
Wang Gu was forced back at the very last moment, his blade stopping mere inches from severing the large man's head.
"Zha Fune," a silky voice purred,
"I told you to pay attention, never underestimate any one or you might end up losing your head."
The one who had blocked Wang Gu's strike stepped forward.
She was a slender woman with long, flowing crimson hair. Instead of a weapon, she had used her fingers—crimson claws adorned with clover-like engravings, the tips sharp and curved like talons.
"Young boy," she said with a smile far too gentle for the situation,
"you seem to have practised movement arts quite a lot. Why don't you come play with big sister for a minute?"
She stepped fully onto the ship.
The vessel creaked and groaned violently, tilting as it struggled to rebalance itself in the air.
"Oh… I see now," Wang Gu said as he drifted back toward his group, eyes narrowed.
"You're Zha Fune and Mai Fune—the Blood-Soaked Demons of Jaya."
At the name, several disciples stiffened.
"Be careful," Wang Gu warned quietly.
"Those two wiped out their entire home village in a single night. Back then, they were still mortals."
His gaze hardened.
"By now… I'm certain they're close to becoming Martial Sovereigns."
"Brother Zha!" Mai Fune laughed, hopping excitedly in place.
"Looks like we're famous!"
"Yeah," Zha Fune chuckled deeply, blood-red eyes gleaming.
"And it seems the batch they sent this time is much better than the trash you slaughtered last time, Mai."
The ship trembled again.
Predators had found worthy prey.
"Wang Gu," Lian said quietly, eyes locked on their enemies,
"Do you think you can keep that large brute occupied while I deal with the woman?"
Wang Gu didn't hesitate.
"I think I can manage," he replied, cracking his neck.
"If I use everything I have."
"We're close to Yùzhàn," Wang Gu continued, voice steady.
"A few hundred meters south and we'll reach port."
He glanced toward the rear of the ship.
"Xiao Bao and the others can handle the remaining demonic cultivators once his arrays are set. If we move fast, this will be an easy win."
Lian slid his sword back into its sheath for the moment.
"Drag them both off the ship the instant Xiao Bao completes his arrays," he said, taking a deep breath as his heartbeat slowed.
His stance shifted.
A martial form— opening his palms.
Golden light bloomed across his palms, soft at first, then growing denser, more radiant.
"There's no better time than now," Lian murmured.
"It's done!
Dragons' hill," Xiao Bao's voice rang out.
There was a bright light that momentarily blinded everyone.
At that exact moment—
Dark smoke erupted into the sky, spreading outward like a curtain pulled across the heavens. It stretched far and wide, swallowing vision and sound alike.
In that brief instant,
Both boys vanished.
A Golden light flew by light a blur.
Each reappeared, gripping their chosen opponent, Qi surging violently as they leapt from the ship, dragging the demonic cultivators with them.
The wind screamed as they plummeted.
"Hahahahaha! That was unexpected"
Zha Fune's deep, thunderous laughter echoed through the air as they barreled downward.
"You want a one-on-one fight, huh?! Then we will give it to you," He said, readjusting himself in the air.