Someone deliberately spread the rumour that the Gluttonous Martial Soul had fallen into the hands of Ling Xiao, Heavenly Emperor of the Celestial Dynasty.
This caused all sorts of powerful experts to set their sights on him.
Some were people Ling Xiao had previously offended, while others came specifically for the Gluttonous Martial Soul.
This One-Eye was one of the latter.
His One-Eyed Pirate Crew operated in the waters around Sin City. Though not as strong as the Twin Flowers Pirate Crew, they were still an extremely formidable force. Even the Black Python Clan hoped to win them over and were reluctant to provoke them lightly.
After all, pirates lived with their tongues on blade edges. They were ferocious and mad. Sometimes they truly would do utterly irrational things that left you no way to guard against them.
Such people were what others called lunatics. Even those stronger than them might be challenged, let alone Ling Xiao.
Even though he clearly knew a Cave Heaven Realm expert like Leng Mei stood beside Ling Xiao, he felt no fear at all.
That was how a lunatic operated.
Of course, this particular lunatic did possess real strength. His cultivation had reached the perfect stage of Half-Step Cave Heaven Realm.
He was stronger than both Mang Xiao and Mo Shaoyou.
If no outside help appeared, Ling Xiao might not actually be his match.
Watching One-Eye, Hua Lüyying secretly chuckled to herself. “Ling Xiao, oh Ling Xiao, I warned you long ago. Once you obtained the Gluttonous Martial Soul, trouble would come pouring in. Although One-Eye’s cultivation is inferior to your woman Leng Mei, he has many men under him, and he possesses a special treasure. I’d love to see how you deal with this!”
Her thinking was simple. If Ling Xiao could not handle One-Eye, he would surely need help. At that point, their Twin Flowers Pirate Crew could step in. A beauty saving the handsome hero would be rather wonderful.
At the very least, it would make Ling Xiao owe them a favour.
“One-Eye, don’t cause trouble here. Ling Xiao isn’t coming today,” Mang Tian said coolly.
“Then where is he?” One-Eye demanded.
“Go find him yourself. He hasn’t left Sin City anyway.”
Mang Tian had actually wanted to tell One-Eye exactly where Ling Xiao was, but in the end he did not dare, not while Princess Yunya was still present.
“Let’s go!”
One-Eye glanced at Mang Tian, perhaps realising the man was not lying, then waved his hand and led his people away.
Princess Yunya was anxious to rush back and warn Ling Xiao. She turned to leave, only for Hua Lüyying to block her. “Princess Yunya, let me go with you. An extra helper is always useful.”
“I’m afraid you just want to watch Ling Xiao make a fool of himself,” Princess Yunya said with a smile.
“Your Highness, I’m only seeking a little emotional balance. Even if I do want to see him embarrass himself, I would still help if he were truly in danger. You won’t object to me coming, will you?” Hua Lüyying laughed.
“Come along then. Though I suspect you’ll end up disappointed.”
Princess Yunya naturally understood Hua Lüyying’s intentions, but she also had absolute confidence in Ling Xiao. They had known each other long enough. She might not dare claim complete understanding of his strength, yet she knew well enough that the fellow was not easily provoked lightly.
Moreover, the Moon Maiden beside Ling Xiao was powerful enough to make one tremble. If she acted, forget One-Eye, even the Twin Flowers Pirate Crew would gain no advantage whatsoever.
As they spoke, the two women left Black Wind Inn.
…
Almost at the same moment, a gigantic warship cleaved through the waves as it departed Blue Wave Island, heading straight for Sin City.
Across a thousand miles of ocean, the rolling billows could not contain the hatred of Blue Wave Island’s people.
Mo Shaoyou, the Life-Reaping Sword, third of the Six Gentlemen of the Sword on Blue Wave Island, had actually been killed in Sin City!
Had he been merely the Life-Reaping Sword, it might have been overlooked, but he was also the young island lord. His death sent the entire island into a fury.
Thus, a great ship carrying dozens of experts set sail for Sin City to settle accounts with the culprit.
Yet at that very same time, that culprit Ling Xiao had only just emerged from the Black Python Clan residence. He had gone there today to perform a follow-up examination on Ancestor Changle.
Ancestor Changle’s condition had now completely stabilised, though full physical recovery would still take some days.
“Ling Xiao, we only managed to bring only three Changle Flowers this time. Take them for now. The rest should arrive in two or three days. Immortal Island is rather far from here, after all,” Fengming Piaoxue said.
Her attitude toward Ling Xiao had utterly changed.
From former disdain to present admiration, all because of a single incident.
“No matter. I can wait. The alchemy convention starts tomorrow anyway, and it will probably last two or three days itself,” Ling Xiao smiled. “Miss Piaoxue need not see me off. I’ll return alone and take a stroll through the streets on the way.”
“Be careful. My grandfather said someone deliberately spread word of your deeds at Black Wind Inn. Quite a few people on these streets now bear you ill will,” Fengming Piaoxue warned.
“Thank you for the reminder. I will.”
With that, Ling Xiao set off.
He understood perfectly well that those spreading the rumours were very likely the Black Python Clan. Because they feared the Moon Maiden, they dared not attack him openly, so instead they deliberately placed him in the eye of the storm.
They wanted to borrow others’ hands to kill him.
Ling Xiao thought to himself that perhaps he should make an example of someone. Whoever came looking for trouble first would have to die, otherwise the annoyances would never end.
Walking along the main street, he clearly sensed many people secretly watching him, hesitating over whether to strike.
But these people had obviously heard how he killed Mo Shaoyou and crippled Mang Xiao, so fear held them back from acting.
“Ling Xiao!”
Suddenly, two figures appeared ahead and called out before they even reached him.
“What is it, Princess Yunya? I was just heading back. No need to come fetch me. Has something happened?” Ling Xiao asked with a smile once they drew near.
“You can still smile? You’re done for, you know that?” Hua Lüyying blurted before Yunya could answer.
“Done for?”
Ling Xiao glanced at Hua Lüyying with an amused grin. “Captain Hua, even if I refuse to join your organisation, there’s no need to curse me, is there?”
“Curse you? So in your eyes I’m that kind of woman?” Hua Lüyying said with a wounded expression. “I only like you, that’s all. Is it a crime to like someone?”
“Stop, stop. Let’s not talk about liking anyone. I spoke wrongly, all right? Yunya, what exactly is going on?” Ling Xiao felt he would never get a straight answer from Hua Lüyying, so he turned to Princess Yunya instead.
“Someone intends to deal with you, and he’s an extremely vicious person,” Princess Yunya replied.
“An extremely vicious person?”
Ling Xiao paused.
Hua Lüyying stamped her foot in frustration. “Why are you so calm? The man coming for you is One-Eye! His cultivation may be lower than my sister’s, but he possesses a treasure that even Cave Heaven Realm warriors struggle to breach. That makes him utterly arrogant.
He has always been ruthless in his actions. He even dares provoke the Black Python Clan. This time he’s after your Gluttonous Martial Soul!”
