Mistaken Era 95

Chapter 95

The recruiter was overjoyed to see these attractive individuals agree to join the crew.

As if fearing they might change their minds, he hastily gathered the other few recruits they had managed to find and set sail.

Once aboard, Cui Xiao Xiao and her group finally met the ship’s owner.

He was a merchant in his thirties, his demeanor shrewd and calculating. However, the burly servants surrounding him, their faces scarred, their bodies radiating a thuggish aura, were unlike any merchant’s entourage.

As they sailed, Xiao Xiao, her sharp eyes scanning the horizon, noticed another ship trailing them.

Her keen eyesight allowed her to recognize the occupants – Qin Lingxiao and his father.

She whispered to Wei Jie, who scowled. “Cowards! They don’t dare confront us directly, resorting to stalking! Has the Soaring Cloud Pavilion fallen so low? And this… this is the future leader of the number one Sword Sect? Are there no decent cultivators left in your time?”

Xiao Xiao, skilled in soothing the volatile demon, quickly placated him. “He stole your power, remember? He wouldn’t be so powerful without it.”

His anger momentarily appeased, Wei Jie’s expression softened. But then he remembered Qin Lingxiao, empowered by his stolen cultivation, proposing to Xiao Xiao, and a wave of disgust washed over him.

If he hadn’t promised Xiao Xiao to control his demonic nature, he would have leaped onto their ship and killed that traitor!

Xiao Xiao also found their presence unwelcome. She chanted a wind spell, summoning a strong gust that filled their sails, propelling them forward, leaving the Qin family far behind.

The burly servants, who had been ordering Tang Youshu and the foxes around, were surprised by the sudden surge of speed.

They exchanged glances, attributing their smooth sailing to good fortune. And the wind, as if understanding their needs, seemed to guide them, always blowing in the right direction.

Relieved, the servants turned their attention to the two young women aboard.

Yu Ling’er and the foxes, however, were suffering. Accustomed to the mountains, they had never been to sea before.

The rocking of the ship, the endless waves… it made them dizzy and nauseous. They staggered onto the deck, vomiting uncontrollably.

The ship’s owner, surnamed Jia, scoffed, muttering to his recruiter, “They look strong enough, but they’re useless. Just to be safe, add some sleeping herbs to their food. We’ll dump them on the island when we arrive.”

Yu Ling’er, despite her nausea, her fox ears sharp, overheard their conversation.

Tang Youshu had been right. This was a cursed ship!

The recruiter, receiving his orders, his gaze lingering on Cui Xiao Xiao and Yu Ling’er, whispered to the burly servants behind him.

Such beautiful women were a rare sight, and here were two, ripe for the taking. It would be a waste not to… enjoy them.

And those weaklings who had been vomiting… they wouldn’t be a problem. The recruiter decided to take Cui Xiao Xiao to his room before even drugging their food.

After all, a conscious woman was far more entertaining! The thugs hired by the ship’s owner were criminals, accustomed to violence and cruelty. A little entertainment before reaching their destination…

The recruiter and his men, their faces twisted into lecherous grins, approached the two women. “Ladies, why don’t you come rest in my room? The bed is big and soft. We can chat, have some fun… it’ll distract you from the seasickness!”

Their intentions were clear.

Before Wei Jie could react, his anger mounting, Yu Ling’er, having recovered slightly, interjected, “They’re right! I need a distraction! I’m about to vomit my guts out! I’ll go first!”

Without waiting for an invitation, she rushed towards the recruiter’s room, her skirt swirling around her.

The thugs, surprised by her eagerness, their lust overwhelming their reason, forgot about Cui Xiao Xiao, crowding around the door, hoping to catch a glimpse of the action.

But a moment later, earsplitting screams echoed from the room.

The recruiter, his pants unbuttoned, his eyes wide with terror, stumbled out, yelling, “Demon! Demon! There’s a demon inside!”

A large, white fox, its three tails swishing menacingly, leaped from the room.

Having absorbed the spirit stone’s energy, Yu Ling’er’s two tails had split into three, her size increasing significantly. Her bared fangs and ferocious growl intimidated the thugs.

The ship’s owner, Jia, who had emerged upon hearing the commotion, was stunned. “Kill it! Kill that beast!”

The thugs, snapping out of their trance, drew their swords and charged at the fox.

But to the new Fox King, they were nothing but a light snack.

Her seasickness vanished as her predatory instincts kicked in. With a roar, she lunged, her claws raking their faces and chests, leaving them bleeding and screaming.

She licked the blood from her paws, her voice filled with delight. “Human blood… it cures seasickness! Try it!”

The recruiter and his men watched in horror as the other foxes, who had been vomiting moments ago, transformed, leaping onto them, their fangs bared.

What… what had they brought aboard?

Before they could react, they were overwhelmed, their bodies torn and bloodied.

Cui Xiao Xiao sat on a chest on the deck, Wei Jie beside her, his cloak draped over her head, shielding her from the wind and sun.

She watched the foxes wreaking havoc, enjoying the spectacle, sipping from a pouch of wine Tang Youshu had offered her, her leg propped up on the chest, her hair flowing in the wind, the picture of a pirate queen.

Looking at the ship’s owner, Jia, dragged before her by a black fox, she said, her voice calm and steady, “You have a choice. Tell me everything about this ship, or become fox food.”

Jia, his body covered in wounds, his face smeared with blood, begged for mercy. “Spare me! I’ll tell you everything!”

He was a porcelain merchant.

One day, he had been invited on a sea voyage by an old friend. They had landed on an island.

The island was like paradise, with beautiful pavilions, gardens, and even a gambling den.

He had initially observed his friend and the others gambling, but unable to resist, he had joined them.

He had been lucky at first, winning hand after hand. He had earned more in one night than he did selling porcelain in a year.

But his luck had changed. He started losing, his winnings dwindling, then his own money disappearing.

Gambling… it was addictive, fueling a dangerous sense of hope, a belief that the next hand would bring a reversal of fortune.

He had pawned his jade pendant, his gold rings, but he had lost everything.

Desperate, the dealer had offered him a chance to gamble with his life.

The other gamblers, stunned, had assumed it meant suicide.

But the dealer had chuckled, explaining that lifespans varied. Some lived to be ninety, even a hundred.

But true happiness… it was usually experienced in the first few decades. Why cling to a long, miserable existence when you could trade those empty years for present luxury?

They simply had to write down the number of years they were willing to wager on a promissory note, and they would receive a corresponding sum of money.

The gamblers, initially skeptical, had found it absurd. Gambling with their lifespans? A simple note could bind them?

But someone had to be the first, and they had nothing to lose.

The dealer had even provided a list with their names and lifespans, allowing them to calculate their wagers.

A skinny gambler, seeing his lifespan listed as thirty, had laughed, claiming he was already twenty-nine, healthy and strong. He wouldn’t die so young.

Defiant, he had wagered his remaining year, borrowing as much money as he could. The others, also skeptical, had followed suit, maximizing their wagers.

The ship’s owner, Jia, a man who didn’t believe in the supernatural, had seen his lifespan listed as seventy. He was only thirty. He had wagered twenty years.

And they had indeed received a large sum of money. The skinny gambler had even won a hand, doubling his money.

But as he laughed, collecting his winnings, he collapsed, his eyes rolling back, his breath ceasing. The others, horrified, realized the wagers were real.

Those who had wagered recklessly were now terrified, demanding their money back. But the dealer had said wagers were final. They had traded their lifespans. They should enjoy their remaining time.

They had tried to fight back, but the island vanished, and they found themselves in the water. A voice echoed through the air, offering them a chance to redeem their lost years – they could trade other lives for their own.

Jia realized then that his friend, who had invited him, had disappeared shortly after arriving on the island.

He had been lured there as collateral.

Their return journey had been delayed by a storm. By the time they reached the mainland, several more gamblers had died, their wagered lifespans expired.

Jia was terrified. He had been cautious, leaving himself ten years, but to have his lifespan cut short… he couldn’t accept it.

So, he had followed his friend’s example, luring unsuspecting crew members onto his ship, transporting them to the island.

But the debt was like a bottomless pit. The interest, calculated daily, kept growing.

He had sacrificed two crews, but he had only managed to redeem two years of his life. Desperate, he had hired thugs to deal with the families of the missing crew members, continuing his deception.

And now… he had brought aboard a ship full of flesh-eating foxes.

Xiao Xiao, after hearing his story, turned to Tang Youshu. “Wasn’t it on Zhangwei Mountain that Wei Jie gambled and won the Zhulong statue? Could that island be connected to Zhangwei Mountain?”

“I wasn’t there,” Tang Youshu said. “I only heard about it from Master. He didn’t mention any details.”

Xiao Xiao nodded, understanding. Wei Jie, these days, was quiet, only speaking freely with her, ignoring everyone else.

Yu Ling’er, back in her human form, exhausted, leaned against Tang Youshu.

He wiped the sweat from her brow, his voice filled with concern. “Did you hurt your teeth? Those humans… they’re tough.”

She was a picky eater, preferring only the tenderest parts of a chicken. After biting so many people… her teeth must be aching!

He thought he sounded like a caring grandfather, doting on his granddaughter.

But Yu Ling’er, sensing his affection, leaned closer, clutching her cheek, her voice weak. “That island… it sounds scary. Let’s not go there. I’m scared.”

Xiao Xiao, oblivious to their interaction, pointed ahead. “Too late. We’re here…”

Yu Ling’er, supported by Tang Youshu, looked towards the horizon. An island, shrouded in dark clouds, had materialized out of the endless expanse of the sea.

The ship slowly approached the island’s dock, where numerous women, dressed in fine silk, their faces adorned with welcoming smiles, greeted them.

A woman, seemingly older than the others, approached them, her gaze searching. “Where is Master Jia?” she asked, not seeing the ship’s owner.

Xiao Xiao smiled. “He’s suffering from seasickness. He’ll join us later. May I ask your name?”

The woman, studying them, said, “I’m the island master’s housekeeper. You can call me Madam Fu. Please, enjoy yourselves.”

As Jia had described, the island was like a paradise, filled with pavilions, gardens, and artificial mountains. The island master was generous, offering a variety of delicacies, served by scantily clad maids.

But they were cautious, refusing to touch the food. Even Yu Ling’er, a known gourmand, declined the beautifully crafted pastries.

They weren’t the only visitors. Several other ships arrived shortly after.

Xiao Xiao, her sharp eyes scanning the crowd, spotted Qin Lingxiao and his father disembarking from one of the ships.

Qin He, his body frail, his face aged, leaned heavily on his son for support.

Qin Lingxiao had been following them.

He couldn’t find Prince Can, and his only hope was the demonic bead.

There were two – one with Cui Xiao Xiao, the other with Tang Youshu. He had to obtain one to save his father.

But with Wei Jie present, he didn’t dare approach them. And Wei Jie… his demonic nature was growing stronger, his power increasing.

He could only follow them, waiting for an opportunity.

He knew Tang Youshu was kind and compassionate. Perhaps he could appeal to his empathy, convince him to relinquish the demonic bead.

That was why he had followed them.

But he had lost track of them at sea. He had thought he had lost them for good, but the wind, as if guiding them, had brought them to this island.

As he helped his father disembark, he saw Cui Xiao Xiao and her group, Wei Jie’s arm draped possessively around her shoulders.

He couldn’t understand why they were together again.

And what alarmed him even more… Wei Jie’s purple eyes were turning black, his demonic aura intensifying.

Why hadn’t Xiao Xiao left him? Didn’t she realize how dangerous he was becoming?

Xiao Xiao and her group, sitting on a veranda, watched Qin Lingxiao and his father approach, but no one acknowledged them, not even Yu Ling’er.

Qin Lingxiao, gritting his teeth, his voice low, addressed Xiao Xiao and Tang Youshu. “You know why I’m here. My father is dying. If you can save him, I’ll give you anything, even my own life… Senior Brother, you wouldn’t let him die, would you?”

Tang Youshu’s brow furrowed. He couldn’t bring himself to be cruel.

Although Wei Jie had been wrongly accused, his actions, once his demonic nature took over, had been unforgivable.

Qin Lingxiao, by killing him, had earned the world’s praise. Even he, Wei Jie’s senior brother, couldn’t condemn him.

They had become estranged, and Qin Lingxiao had never addressed him as “Senior Brother” since.

Tang Youshu might be gentle, but Cui Xiao Xiao wouldn’t tolerate Qin Lingxiao’s attempt to guilt him.

Although their relationship was strained, she wouldn’t allow anyone to treat her former master like a fool!

“The first part of your plea was almost decent,” she said, her voice laced with sarcasm. “But ‘Senior Brother’? You were never Wei Jie’s disciple in this life. You have no connection to him! And your father’s predicament… it’s his own fault. He chose to join the Demonic Ghost Sect, to become Prince Can’s pawn. He should have known there would be consequences. His life or death… it has nothing to do with us.”

Qin Lingxiao, speechless, realized she was right. In this life, he wasn’t Wei Jie’s disciple, which meant he wasn’t Tang Youshu’s junior brother. Even his attempt to feign familiarity was invalid.

He had always been proud, only humbling himself before Wei Jie. To think that in this life, his situation was even worse…

He knelt before Tang Youshu. “Senior Brother, I know you possess it. It’s of no use to you. Please, give it to me. Save my father.”

In his past life, he had knelt before Wei Jie, seeking revenge for his father. And now, in this life, he was kneeling again, begging for his father’s life. Was this… his inescapable fate?

Before Tang Youshu could respond, Madam Fu, the housekeeper, accompanied by several maids, appeared, their smiles unwavering. “Young master,” she said, addressing Qin Lingxiao, “if you desire something so desperately, why beg? Don’t you know that on this island, with enough skill, you can obtain anything you desire?”

Qin Lingxiao, unaware of the island’s true nature, scoffed. “What I seek… it’s beyond your comprehension.”

Madam Fu, however, smiled, her long, red-painted nails flashing as she gestured, a bead materializing in her palm.

The bead, a mesmerizing purple, surrounded by a faint glow, was a demonic bead.

“Young master, is this what you seek?”

Qin Lingxiao’s eyes widened in alarm. He hadn’t explicitly mentioned the demonic bead during his conversation with Cui Xiao Xiao.

How did this woman know?

And she possessed no spiritual energy. She was just a charming, middle-aged woman. Who was she, to casually hold a demonic bead?

“This demonic bead,” Madam Fu continued, her voice smooth and alluring, “it belonged to the Demon City’s ruler, five hundred years ago, when the Wei Feng Divine Lady led her army, slaughtering everyone, leaving no survivors. He witnessed the deaths of his wife, his children, his entire clan. Its demonic energy hasn’t faded. In fact, fueled by his resentment, it has grown stronger. Whoever possesses it will gain immense power.”