Su Ze’s intentions were blatant, and Yu Nian’s face drained of colour, panic surging in her heart.
She quickly realised someone had stepped in front of her, blocking her from view.
“Which Su family are you from?”
Mo Fan asked calmly, though killing intent had already risen inside him.
Originally he had planned to play along with this fellow, use these cultivators to slip onto Three Saints Island, and avoid any suspicion about his identity.
Now, however, that was clearly unnecessary.
This so-called young master of the Su family was nothing but a lecherous beast whose mind was full of depraved thoughts. There was no reasoning with him.
“How many Su families are there on Three Saints Island?”
“Of course it’s the Su family of Penglai Sacred City!”
When Mo Fan suddenly asked, Su Ze assumed the man was frightened. His smug expression grew even stronger. He grinned playfully and added, “That’s right, this young master is Su Ze. Since you’re from Three Saints Island, you must have heard of my name!”
“So when I want your woman, I’m doing you a favour. Don’t be the fool who refuses fine wine only to be forced to drink a penalty!”
As he spoke, Su Ze yanked the rope in his hand. The woman beside him let out a pained cry and obediently crawled forward like a female dog until she reached his feet.
“See that?”
“This woman is the treasured daughter of the Song family. Her father is Song Renjun, the richest man in Clearwater City. He does the same sea-trading business as you!”
“As a merchant who makes his living on the ocean, you must know Song Renjun’s name. Even his daughter is someone this young master can toy with whenever I please. Are you still not going to offer your own woman to me?”
Su Ze laughed lewdly. The surrounding Su family cultivators watched Mo Fan coldly, their eyes filled with amused mockery.
The master sets the tone, and the lackeys follow.
Mo Fan almost laughed out loud at Su Ze’s words.
He was just about to teach this Su family young master why the flowers were so red when a sweep of divine sense passed over from afar, forcing him to restrain himself instantly.
He looked towards the source and saw a black-robed middle-aged man escorting a bare-chested youth in their direction.
The youth was covered in wounds, his upper body naked, long black hair hanging messily over his shoulders like tangled hemp. His eyes were dull and lifeless, as if his soul had been drained.
Mo Fan only glanced at the youth before shifting his attention to the black-robed man.
“That must be the Core Formation cultivator.”
Mo Fan murmured inwardly. He could sense the man’s Core Formation cultivation but could not determine the exact stage.
His current water-moon clone was only mid Core Formation. If even he couldn’t see through the man, the fellow had to be late Core Formation or possibly peak Core Formation.
It was precisely because of this person’s appearance that Mo Fan suppressed his killing intent.
A clone was not the same as his true body. Without fully understanding the opponent’s strength, even Mo Fan could not guarantee victory.
He needed an opportunity, preferably a chance to kill with a single strike.
Sure enough, the arrival of the Core Formation cultivator immediately diverted Su Ze’s attention.
“Young Master, the person has been brought.”
The Core Formation cultivator approached and spoke respectfully to Su Ze, his cold gaze sweeping across Mo Fan’s group of three.
When his eyes landed on Yu Nian, they paused briefly before moving away again.
Among the three, only Yu Nian had not practised any breath-concealing technique, so the spiritual energy on her was easily detectable by a Core Formation cultivator.
Yet because her cultivation was so weak, she aroused no particular interest, let alone any sense of threat.
“Su Er, why do you always show up at the worst possible moment?”
“Can’t you see this young master was just about to have some real fun?”
Su Ze rolled his eyes, clearly displeased with Su Er.
“Young Master, women can be enjoyed any time. Official business comes first,” Su Er replied flatly.
As an enshrined cultivator of the Su family, although he had been sent to protect Su Ze on this trip, he still possessed the dignity of a Core Formation expert.
Sure enough, at those words the previously excited Su Ze waved a hand in irritation and frowned. “Fine, I know. No need to lecture me.”
He turned back to Mo Fan’s group, the corner of his mouth curling upwards. “You lot are really lucky. You get to watch a good show for free.”
“Men, tie this Xia Ning fellow to the cross stake!”
At Su Ze’s command, cultivators immediately stepped forward, dragged the dazed Xia Ning over, and soon had him bound to a wooden cross.
Once Xia Ning was secured, Su Ze looked around at the calm sea, then laughed coldly and shouted, “Xia An, I know you’re nearby!”
“This young master will give you one final chance!”
“Come out willingly and hand over the Water-Avoiding Pearl, or I’ll have to start with your brother Xia Ning!”
“Oh, that’s right. This time I brought the finest executioner from Penglai Sacred City. He has a unique technique that can slice a person’s flesh away one piece at a time while keeping them alive, forcing them to watch themselves being flayed into a skeleton!”
“It’s said he can make over three thousand cuts!”
“This young master has never seen it before, so we’ll use your brother to broaden my horizons.”
“As an early Core Formation cultivator with vigorous blood and qi, your brother should last longer than most. Perhaps we’ll manage a few extra slices?”
Su Ze’s words made Xiao Huang frown. Yu Nian turned pale with fear.
Mo Fan also frowned slightly and thought, “Isn’t that just the legendary death by a thousand cuts?”
He wasn’t clear on the grudge between this Su family young master and the Xia family, but there was no denying…
