Whether it’s the Chain Docks or the Sea-Breaking Alliance, they all treat a Nascent Soul boss as a top-tier offering. In the Howling Fjord, Nascent Soul is already the absolute pinnacle of experts.
One Nascent Soul and three Golden Cores—such a force was already worth an entire warship, greatly increasing Hong Dock’s strength. Good thing Wu Lei stirred up trouble in the middle of the night; otherwise, if the brothers had gotten any crooked ideas, they might have capsized the boat.
Hearing that the four of them were crammed into a single room, Hong Xiufang found it amusing again. This little Brother Ji didn’t seem like someone strapped for cash.
“That rebellious son finally fessed up.”
Yan Bingling obediently pursed her lips, her face breaking into a smile. She got angry fast, but she cheered up just as fast.
The Demon-fallen Master was that easy to soothe—she responded to both soft and hard approaches, with absolutely no rationality to speak of!
As they chatted and laughed, another visitor arrived in the night. An underling whispered in her ear, and Hong Xiufang frowned, sensing that things weren’t so simple.
Only one person came. As soon as he entered the cabin, he raised his hand to signal he posed no threat, his demeanor relaxed, his spiritual breath at the peak of Golden Core.
The rowdy crew members, who had been laughing wildly just a moment ago, wiped the smiles off their faces, each turning into a fierce thug, and stood behind the big sister.
“What wind blows the Young Master Fang here?”
Hong Xiufang let out a cold laugh.
Nobody helped when they got beaten, and now after the fight, they come running to join the fun?
Hong Dock had always been at odds with the other stalls, standing alone in the Chain Docks—that’s why they were the first to be targeted by the Sea-Breaking Alliance.
“Hahaha, isn’t it just to learn a few more tricks from Dock Master Hong? With your skills, why would you need anyone else to meddle?”
The young man pulled out a chair and sat down directly, just as bold, showing no fear of being outnumbered on someone else’s turf.
“This is Fang Ya, the young master of the Fang family in the Chain Docks. He entered the Sect as an inner disciple of the Divine Radiance Sword Sect in the East Pole Province. Not sure if you’ve heard of him, but he’s quite skilled.”
Hong Xiufang quietly introduced him.
Yun Liu discreetly glanced at Yan Bingling. She too had detected the familiar circulation of the Divine Radiance Art.
In fact, the moment he saw this kid, he felt things were getting interesting. Judging by the sword emblem on his chest, he was even a fellow disciple from Falling Cloud Peak.
Well, a former fellow disciple.
Another person from the Fang family?
What a small world… enemies always cross paths…
Fang Ya looked at Yun Liu and smiled:
“Aren’t you going to introduce your new capable lieutenant to your brother, Dock Master Hong?”
“Who the hell is your brother? The brothers who’ve been through life and death with me are right here!”
Hong Xiufang sneered disdainfully, understanding dawning on her.
So this kid had also seen Brother Ji’s abilities and had some scheme.
Seeing the Sea-Breaking Alliance widely distributing Hero Invitations and growing stronger by the day, someone was clearly getting restless.
The Chain Docks had numerous gangs, big and small, no fewer than dozens. If anyone could rival the Sea-Breaking Alliance, it had to be the Fang family—the true overlord of the Howling Fjord, capable of going toe-to-toe with the Wu Family Fortress.
Hong Xiufang was blunt, and Fang Ya could only shake his head helplessly.
He was here for Little Yellow Hair anyway, so he might as well drop the act.
“If you won’t tell me, I still recognize this gentleman here. Little brother, do you happen to know Junior Sister Shiyu?”
Yun Liu rubbed his chin.
He sure called her intimately, but unfortunately, the other party didn’t recognize his true identity.
Fang Ya was the most outstanding inner disciple of the Fang family line. He hadn’t participated in the Great Competition but had instead returned early to the Boundless Sea to take over the Chain Docks. His status and position were incomparable to the likes of Fang Heng and his ilk.
Shiyu?
Shi Yu?
Hong Xiufang was confused.
Yun Liu then explained softly:
“By coincidence, I have a biological sister who also cultivates at the Shenhua Sect, similar in age and appearance. It’s not strange that Young Master Fang finds me familiar.”
“Is that so?”
“Then it all makes sense—we’re one family! Shi Yu is precisely my junior sister from Falling Cloud Peak. I hear she dominated the Five Peaks Chief Disciples at this year’s Cloud Top Go Sword, making her the most prominent figure among the younger generation in the Eastern Pole. I only met her once half a year ago, but seeing you today, I realize that like sister, like brother—truly worthy of being a disciple of the Heavenly Pivot Star’s Palace.”
Fang Ya extended his hand with a grin, giving Yun Liu a brief shake.
No wonder he was so friendly, rushing over late at night without hesitation.
From the sound of it, Brother Ji’s background was no small matter—he’d even lured the Fang family’s young master over.
Hong Xiufang looked between the two.
A shabby little temple had welcomed a great bodhisattva. Tonight was truly goddamn bizarre.
“I see. Greetings, Young Master Fang. May I ask where Shiyu is now? It’s been a while, and I, as her older brother, miss her dearly.”
“That, I wouldn’t know. But Shi Yu is exceptionally gifted and is currently studying the Path of Alchemy at the Rosy Fragrance Pavilion. Perhaps she’s traveling to Penglai Island with the fairies of Clear Mist Peak?”
“Oh.”
Yun Liu nodded, thanking the other for the information.
Fang Ya made some small talk to get familiar, then quickly stated his purpose.
“Brother Shi Yu, how much do you know about the Sea-Breaking Alliance?”
Yun Liu exchanged a glance with Hong Xiufang, a playful smile on his lips.
“Not much, but not little either.”
Fang Ya pounded the table in righteous indignation.
“The people from Wu Family Fortress are putting on a show. They invited a pack of bears to watch the sea, trying to compete with the other four islands for the opportunity at Mirage City. They’re acting as if they’re the masters of the Howling Fjord—how arrogant! And tonight, they even dared to barge into the Chain Docks. But what infuriates me most is that they bullied my Big Sister Hong. If that’s tolerable, what isn’t?”
Hong Xiufang rolled her eyes.
“If it weren’t for my little Brother Ji, you Fangs wouldn’t have lifted a finger even if my boat capsized. Give me a break!”
Yun Liu smiled gently.
“Brother Fang, if you have something to say, just say it straight.”
“One good turn deserves another. The Chain Docks have been truly underestimated by the Sea-Breaking Alliance. Tomorrow is the Wu Family Fortress Heroes Gathering. Why don’t we go stir up some trouble and give them a taste of their own medicine?”
Fang Ya put on an act of being a hot-headed young man, ready to lead people to cause chaos.
His hidden intentions were anyone’s guess.
Hong Xiufang wasn’t so easy to fool. She asked in a low voice:
“Is this Old Master Fang’s idea, or yours?”
“Mine. But the Fang family won’t disgrace itself. We have three Nascent Soul Guest Elders willing to lend a hand, and nine familiar captains will accompany us. If the two of you would join us, the Fang family will surely remember this favor.”
Tsk, young Master Fang really knew how to invest.
It seemed the fight for the title of Lord of the Howling Fjord was truly about to be brought out into the open.
“Shi Yu, what do you think?”
Hong Xiufang frowned.
Strangely enough, she had clicked with Little Yellow Hair right away, as if they were old friends who’d known each other for years. Half a meal and some drinks, and she already treated the young man like a brother, making decisions together.
Logically, neither Fang Ya nor Wu Lei were good people—killing one would be one less. They were clearly trying to use her as a pawn.
“I was just thinking the same thing. I want to get some payback for my good big sister.”
To her surprise, Yun Liu nodded without a second thought.
Big Sister Hong was taken aback for a moment, then also laughed.
“Alright then! Since my little brother has a fiery temper too, I’ll stick with you through thick and thin!”
“Excellent. With both of you helping, the Chain Docks will be like a tiger with wings.”
A sharp glint flashed in Fang Ya’s eyes.
He hadn’t expected it to go so smoothly; he hadn’t even brought out his bargaining chips yet.
Yun Liu wanted to get his hands on a Hero Invitation through Hong Dock so he could scout ahead.
He was just thinking about how to ask when someone delivered it right to his doorstep, and the timing was perfect.
The major gathering of independent cultivators in the Howling Fjord—he’d been worried about not having a Hero Invitation to scout the way.
Wouldn’t it be better to make as much a racket as possible?
To set up an ambush for Yinglong here, he wouldn’t let any opportunity slip by.
A dangerous place like that couldn’t have his two immortal mothers personally charging into battle.