Chapter 475: You Don’t Deserve to Eat Something Like This!

Several more days passed. It had been over half a month since everyone landed on the island.

The temperature here continued to rise. It was at least thirty percent hotter than when Yang Ling and the others had first set foot on Fire Flood Dragon Island.

Many people had already taken a second Flame-Averting Pill.

Their hearts were heavy.

A single Flame-Averting Pill could only last half a month. If the Star-Sea Fishing Alliance didn’t release them after that, they might well be roasted alive on Fire Flood Dragon Island.

“Prince Pingrong, what do you think they’re really up to?”

Yang Ling glanced around. Quite a few Fifth-Rank experts from the Star-Sea Fishing Alliance were personally stationed nearby, keeping a close eye on their every move.

From time to time, Sixth-Rank martial artists would also come by to patrol the courtyard.

He Tongchen and Jie Shu looked toward Zhao Zheng as well.

Their little group was very conspicuous in this courtyard.

No matter where they went, the Sixth-Rank martial artists from Zhao State and the Rong tribe would give them a few extra glances.

Chu Ling in particular. Whenever Yang Ling stepped out of his room, she would immediately fix her gaze on him.

“As you can see, the Star-Sea Fishing Alliance brought quite a few martial artists this time. They’ve been searching this place for something for days.”

Zhao Zheng’s gaze was grave.

“I suspect they’re looking for an entrance.”

An entrance? He Tongchen and Jie Shu fell into thought.

“An entrance? Could there be some kind of secret chamber here?”

Yang Ling’s expression shifted.

Zhao Zheng gently shook his head. “I know very little about the Crimson Refined Fire Flood Dragon Sect.

“But the Star-Sea Fishing Alliance used to be a vassal of the Crimson Refined Fire Flood Dragon Sect. Perhaps they know something. If there really is a secret chamber here, it may well contain the Crimson Refined Fire Flood Dragon Sect’s inheritance.”

“First-Rate Internal Techniques and Martial Arts Techniques…”

He Tongchen murmured to himself, his eyes burning with anticipation.

Jie Shu nodded thoughtfully.

“Prince Pingrong’s guess is reasonable. This humble monk has also noticed that they’ve been searching for something lately.”

“Half a month has already passed. I wonder if Lord Xie and the others have noticed anything unusual here?”

Xu Qingnian asked quietly.

Everyone felt rather uneasy. Even now, they couldn’t be sure whether the Star-Sea Fishing Alliance would let them live.

After all, this was the open sea, no longer the territory of Zhao State or the Rong tribe.

“What are you all sitting around chatting about?”

A Fifth-Rank expert slowly approached.

It was the 103-year-old Upper Fifth-Rank expert whom Hua Jinsong had mocked, River Elder’s junior brother.

The martial artists from Zhao State and the Rong tribe all looked at him warily.

Chu Ling had been staring intently at Yang Ling, but when the man arrived, her expression grew more solemn.

“Senior, we’re just enjoying the sea breeze and making small talk.”

Zhao Zheng smiled and cupped his fist.

The man gave Zhao Zheng a cold glance.

“Best keep it that way. If you’re plotting to escape, I advise you to abandon that idea now, or else… Hmph!”

Zhao Zheng smiled and saluted. “We wouldn’t dare.”

Jie Shu wore a broad smile and echoed, “We wouldn’t dare.”

Only He Tongchen’s expression stiffened. He clearly had no desire to back down in front of this fellow.

Fortunately, the man ignored him. He merely said to Yang Ling, almost offhandedly,

“Come with me. Hua Jinsong and River Elder want to see you.”

In an instant, the courtyard fell silent.

Hua Zhuo, Qin Kunlun, Zhao Yingying, and the others instinctively shifted their gazes between Yang Ling and the man.

Two Fourth-Rank Grandmasters wanted to see Yang Ling?

They were a little suspicious.

Zhao Zheng’s expression changed slightly. Before Yang Ling could speak, he smiled and hurriedly asked,

“Senior, may I ask why the two Grandmasters want to meet Chief Constable Yang alone?”

“Don’t ask so many questions.”

The Upper Fifth-Rank expert frowned.

“How would I know what Fourth-Rank experts are thinking?”

Then he urged Yang Ling on again.

“Prince Pingrong, this subordinate will go with Senior for a while.”

Yang Ling cupped his hands, then followed the Upper Fifth-Rank expert out of the courtyard, gradually disappearing into the distance.

He Tongchen’s gaze turned grave.

“Yang Ling may be in danger.”

Jie Shu said, “Amitabha. This humble monk thinks so too. Benefactor Yang is likely in trouble.”

“In this situation…”

Zhao Zheng knitted his brows.

“If they really make a move, we won’t be able to resist at all. We can only hope Chief Constable Yang can get through this himself.

“Perhaps Senior Hua really does want to see him. He was willing to give Chief Constable Yang a Golden Dragon Treasure Fish, after all. If something truly happens, he’ll likely try to help smooth things over.”

Everyone sighed inwardly. That was all they could do but hope.

Fortunately, Hua Jinsong, a Fourth-Rank Grandmaster sympathetic to Zhao State, was on Fire Flood Dragon Island.

If trouble arose, at least there would be another factor in play.

“Senior Brother, Yang Ling’s been taken away. I’m afraid that man has his eye on Yang Ling’s Golden Dragon Treasure Fish.”

Tong He spoke softly.

Qin Kunlun remained expressionless.

“He should have expected this day to come. In circumstances like these, carrying a treasure like the Golden Dragon Treasure Fish is bound to make people covet it.”

“Looks like even the Fourth Prince’s side… can’t protect him.”

A trace of schadenfreude appeared in Tong He’s eyes.

When the people from the Rong tribe saw Yang Ling being taken away, quite a few of them laughed outright. Their mocking conversation made no effort to hide itself from the people of Zhao State.

“Commandery Princess Chu, Yang Ling really thought he could leave Fire Flood Dragon Island safely and eat the Golden Dragon Treasure Fish later.

“You were right. He’s a fool who thinks he’s clever.

“He shouldn’t have accepted that thing in the first place.”

A Sixth-Rank Heavenly Wolf Guard came to Chu Ling’s side with a smile.

“Though you lost to Yang Ling that day, weren’t you also lucky to have avoided a disaster?”

Chu Ling looked at him coldly.

The Sixth-Rank Heavenly Wolf Guard’s smile froze.

“Do you really think we’ll be able to leave here alive?”

Chu Ling said slowly.

The Sixth-Rank Heavenly Wolf Guard looked somewhat taken aback.

“They haven’t attacked us even now. Isn’t that because they’re afraid of offending the Rong tribe?”

As he spoke, he clenched his teeth, his voice turning cold.

“If we die here, once the Heavenly Wolf Guard Commander learns of it, he’ll surely lead troops to wipe out the Star-Sea Fishing Alliance!”

“It’s not that simple…”

Chu Ling murmured.

“What do you mean, Commandery Princess?”

Chu Ling didn’t answer. She merely looked at him, shook her head, and walked away.

……

Yang Ling followed the man deeper into the Crimson Refined Fire Flood Dragon Sect. At first, he could still see some disciples of the Star-Sea Fishing Alliance, but gradually, fewer and fewer people appeared nearby.

“May I ask your name, Senior?”

Yang Ling asked casually.

The 103-year-old Upper Fifth-Rank expert smiled.

“This old man is Shi Jinglong.”

“Senior Shi, what do Senior Hua and the others want with me?”

Yang Ling asked.

Shi Jinglong replied, “You’ll find out when we get there.”

With that, he fell silent.

Yang Ling followed without a word.

The atmosphere grew quiet.

A quarter of an hour later, Shi Jinglong led Yang Ling over a threshold and into a dilapidated courtyard. A great hall stood there.

The hall was already overgrown with vines, and its walls were pitted and crumbling.

“Go inside. The two Fourth-Rank experts are waiting for you.”

Shi Jinglong stopped and spoke indifferently.

Yang Ling thought for a moment, then entered the great hall.

Creak—

Shi Jinglong turned and shut the main doors.

At the same time, two more figures emerged from inside the hall. Both were Upper Fifth-Rank experts.

One of them said with a chuckle,

“Brother Shi, does he have the Golden Dragon Treasure Fish on him?”

“Of course. If he isn’t carrying something like that, where else would he put it?”

Shi Jinglong slid the bolt into place, then turned to look at Yang Ling. The smile on his face slowly faded.

“Hand over the Golden Dragon Treasure Fish. You don’t deserve to eat something like this!”