Chapter 517 - 232: Chaos and the Daoist

Chapter 517: Chapter 232: Chaos and the Daoist

Zuo Xuan and Zuo Hong nodded immediately.

Luo Shuqing was even more impatient. There was water in the cabin, so she quickly washed her face with it.

Fang Shuwen turned to Zhou Zhengze.

"Your face... it won’t cause any trouble, will it?"

Zhou Zhengze shook his head repeatedly.

"No, no. No one recognizes me."

Hearing this, Fang Shuwen relaxed and then asked Zuo Xuan:

"What do you know about Emperor Guixu, one of the Four Saints of the East Sea?"

’That title sounds so grandiose,’ Fang Shuwen thought, feeling a little embarrassed even just saying it.

’I wonder if that Taishi Cheng blushes when people call him that to his face.’

Zuo Xuan knew why Fang Shuwen was asking; he had also heard Sikong Cheng’s dying words.

He immediately said with a serious expression:

"None of the Four Saints of the East Sea are ordinary individuals. They are all peerless masters who stand at the very pinnacle of the East Sea.

"I have indeed heard legends about Emperor Guixu... but the stories are conflicting, and it’s hard to tell fact from fiction.

"The one thing I can confirm is that he once went to Hengyang Island and fought its master at the time, Huang Jiushang.

"That battle reportedly lasted for three days and three nights, with the two exchanging thousands of blows.

"In the end, Huang Jiushang was narrowly defeated by a single move, and Taishi Cheng took something from Hengyang Island.

"But as for what it was... no one knows."

He paused slightly before continuing.

"However, the Eight Forbidden Lands of the East Sea also have intricate connections with one another.

"After Taishi Cheng forced his way into Hengyang Island, he was supposedly hunted down by a joint force of the Sect Leaders from four of the Forbidden Lands: Celestial Water Palace, Profound Ice Hall, Wuyan Island, and the Lingbo Sect.

"But this is only a rumor. Whether it actually happened is also a matter of debate.

"All that’s known is that afterward, Taishi Cheng announced he was entering secluded cultivation on Donghuang Island and hasn’t emerged since. It has been at least thirty years now.

"Hengyang Island has since changed its Island Master. Ten years ago, Huang Jiushang passed the position to his son.

"That would be the current Island Master of Hengyang Island, the ’Jiuyang Young Monarch,’ Huang Lie."

Fang Shuwen nodded.

"Donghuang Island, Taishi Cheng, the ’Great Son’... What is the strength of this group?"

"Well..."

Zuo Xuan gave a helpless smile.

"Most factions develop their power in the shadows.

"After all, on the surface, they’re just islands. Aside from those who have made a name for themselves and formed alliances to intimidate other Jianghu people, no one else would announce how much power they’ve amassed, no matter how great it is.

"Take the ’Great Son,’ for example. Him teaching the Guixu Divine Technique to Sikong Cheng and secretly taking control of Nameless Island—that’s not something outsiders would know."

Fang Shuwen nodded slightly.

"I think I get it. In other words, the East Sea is a minefield. You never know when one might go off.

"So, everyone needs to be on high alert from now on.

"And I have two requirements for all of you..."

"Hero Fang, please just give us your orders. As long as we can protect the Young Mistress and get her back to Mi Yin Island, I, Zuo Xuan, would die ten thousand deaths without regret."

Zuo Xuan’s words were utterly sincere.

Fang Shuwen nodded.

"First, if anyone discovers our whereabouts, your primary mission is to protect your Young Mistress.

"Zhou Zhengze, you need to help out with this as well, to the best of your ability."

Zhou Zhengze nodded.

Zuo Xuan and Zuo Hong had no objections to this; it was their duty, after all.

"Second... Although I probably won’t need you, if by some chance there are too many of them and I can’t stop them all..."

Before Fang Shuwen could finish, Zuo Xuan was already patting his chest and declaring:

"Don’t worry, Hero Fang! We will fight to the death!"

Fang Shuwen shot him a look.

"What I mean is, I need your help to stop them from running away.

"We’ll strive to make sure that whoever finds us is killed. Every single one of them. No one gets away."

"..."

Zuo Xuan was speechless. ’So after all that, *this* is what he meant?’

He found himself agreeing more and more with Fang Shuwen’s title of ’Human World Demon God.’

He immediately nodded to show his willingness to cooperate.

"Then it’s settled."

Fang Shuwen waved his hand.

"It’s been a long night. Get some rest."

’I’m actually starting to see the benefits of being at sea,’ Fang Shuwen thought. ’Drifting on the ocean, at least you won’t end up sleeping in the wilderness.’

’At worst, you still have a roof over your head.’

No one spoke further. They all closed their eyes to rest.

As usual, Fang Shuwen sat cross-legged at the cabin entrance, meditating.

「The night passed uneventfully, and soon it was the next morning.」

Early in the morning, a ship’s hand could be heard telling people to come out of their cabins for a headcount.

Fang Shuwen and the others walked out of the cabin and onto the deck.

Soon, a large crowd had gathered.

The headcount and collection of the fare were standard procedure.

But as Fang Shuwen’s gaze swept across the deck, he spotted an old Daoist priest in tattered robes lying nearby.

He was lying on his side on the deck, sleeping soundly.

Seeing the old Daoist sleeping with the peacefulness of a baby, Fang Shuwen couldn’t bring himself to wake him.

Just then, some of the ship’s hands came over, holding out their hands for the silver. But one of them tripped and was nearly sent sprawling by the old Daoist.

Anger flared within him. He hauled the old Daoist up and delivered two hard slaps.

SLAP! SLAP! The crisp sounds echoed.

The old Daoist groggily opened his eyes. Seeing the ship’s hand gripping his robes, who now had two large red Palm Seals on his own face, he burst out laughing.

"My, my. The rouge on your face is quite interesting."

Zuo Xuan was stunned. The hand had clearly been slapping the old Daoist, but after the two sounds, the slaps had somehow landed on his own face.

He hadn’t been able to see what had happened at all.

He couldn’t help but look at Fang Shuwen.

But Fang Shuwen didn’t explain, only smiled.

The hand knew he had messed with the wrong person. Even after being slapped twice, he didn’t dare show any anger. He forced a smile and said:

"Daoist Master, please forgive my foolishness. It was my mistake; I was blind and failed to recognize a great man. About the fare..."

"Not paying, not paying."

The old Daoist yawned.

"This Daoist Master was sleeping soundly. You hauled me up from the deck, gave yourself two big slaps without a word, and disturbed my pleasant slumber.

"And now you want money from this Daoist Master?

"Do you have any idea who this Daoist Master is?"

The hand’s anger flared as he listened to the first part, but he forcefully suppressed it.

When he heard the end, however, he couldn’t help but feel a surge of fear.

He knew this old Daoist’s Martial Arts were extraordinary, so he likely had a formidable background. He asked cautiously:

"Then... then who exactly are you, Daoist Master?"

The old Daoist’s eyes bulged and his beard bristled.

"A poor man!"

A roar of laughter erupted from the crowd, and the hand grimaced.

The hand knew the old Daoist was just toying with him and was wondering whether he should call the ship’s captain.

Just then, the old Daoist suddenly shaded his eyes with his hand, gazing into the distance.

"Your ship is about to run into trouble. This humble Daoist has read the signs, and I see a bloody disaster ahead.

"How about this: Today, this humble Daoist will avert this calamity for you, and you can waive my fare. What do you say?"