Parting

The Fire Raven cavalry came aggressively to plunder, but less than a hundred riders scattered and fled.

The water turned blood red.

The floating corpse drifted away with the current of the river.

The fire on the ship has been extinguished, but the ship is badly damaged and in imminent danger of collapse.

Jiang Ning appeared, standing like a fairy on the third Ship Tower, her voice melodious. "Gentlemen, after the barbarian bandits of Night City escape back, they will definitely come back with a large army and many experts to take revenge. I estimate that they will come back to this ship in two hours. At that time, everything will be reduced to ashes."

The joy that had arisen from this great victory was instantly extinguished, and the people on the ship were plunged back into fear.

Jiang Ning appeared in front of everyone, so naturally she no longer intended to hide her identity. "Registrant Chen, Commander Wu, shall we all discuss this together? And what about you two secret agents from the Attendant Hall?"

Her gaze fell on Li Ling and Li Weiyi.

Li Ling looked at Li Weiyi, following his lead.

Li Weiyi originally intended to recall the Seven Phoenix Wing Moth Emperors, but the seven little guys actually rushed directly to the third-floor Ship Tower and landed on Jiang Ning, acting extremely affectionately.

Rebellious son!

Seven rebellious sons!

The group quickly gathered in the main hall on the third floor of the Ship Tower.

Jiang Ning's captivating, ethereal beauty was enveloped in a radiant aura of magical energy, appearing hazy and enchanting. "Continue forward; we're only three hundred li from Tiger Roar City, a territory under the jurisdiction of the Imperial Court. However, the Water Lion Beast pulling the boat has been shot down. Sailing against the current, the boat won't go fast, and the Night City barbarian bandits will soon catch up with us."

Yin Thirteen smiled and said, "We will all follow the angel's arrangements."

Upon learning of Jiang Ning Luantai Angel, Wu Zhaonan naturally became extremely respectful and immediately began to flatter and fawn upon her.

Jiang Ning looked at Li Weiyi, who was still wearing the ghost mask. "When the formation broke earlier, Sima's spies didn't choose to escape but stayed to fight the enemy together, which shows they had the intention to save people. In the current predicament, it's either stay and die together, or we try to take away as many people with decent martial arts skills as possible. Everyone or a few, which do you choose?"

Envy flickered in Wu Zhaonan's eyes; he could tell that the Sima spy had caught the eye of the Luantai Angel and was destined for a bright future.

It's something to envy; just the identity of Insect Tamer allows them to rise rapidly in rank.

"It's not a must to choose! If we're going to leave, we can leave together, but we have to work together," Li Weiyi said.

Everyone present was taken aback, wondering if his boldness was just a momentary impulse, forgetting that reality often requires compromise.

Jiang Ning said, "Tell me about it."

Li Weiyi asked, "Everyone here is Imperial Court official, so you should all have Magic Tool Jade Boat, right? How many are there in total?"

"I have a mid-grade Magic Tool Jade Boat, which can travel 1,800 li a day and can carry ten people if squeezed in. But it's a bit of a stretch to get to Tiger Roar City within two hours."

Yin Thirteen took out a delicate little boat, about four inches long.

Wu Zhaonan said, "My Magic Tool Jade Boat, is about the same size as that of Registrar Chen."

Zhuang Yue said, "My Magic Tool Jade Boat is of a high grade and can barely carry twenty people."

"I have a Hundred Character Scripture Magic Tool Jade Boat, which can carry a maximum of sixty or seventy people." Jiang Ning added, "Sima, even that is far from enough to send everyone away, and time is very tight. If we are caught by the Night City barbarians, wouldn't everything be over?"

Li Weiyi spoke at lightning speed, "We'll proceed in three steps. First, all those on the ship with high cultivation levels, exceeding the Six Springs level, will disembark. At their maximum speed, they won't take long to reach Tiger Roar City. Moreover, they aren't the Night City bandits' primary target, making it easier for them to escape under the cover of darkness."

"Secondly, the two of us just used Beast Script to control about fifty fire crows, which can easily carry two hundred people."

"Thirdly, I will arrange for two fire crows to pull this abandoned boat downstream along the Sui River, creating the illusion that we are escaping downstream. This will buy us at least half an hour more time."

"If we're going to save them, let's act now! But Your Excellency is of noble birth and high status; I wonder if you would risk your life for a group of people who are not worth the risk?"

Zhuang Yue said, "Don't look down on me. Do you think my young lady really can't think of a solution? She's just testing you!"

Jiang Ning, with his hands behind his back, led the way out of the main hall, gazing at the vast, misty river. "What's the point of questioning whether it's worth it or not? If everything in the world were based solely on the principle of gain and loss, what a wretched world that would be! Let's take action!"

The three-story ship, brightly lit, sped downstream, pulled by two fire crows.

In reality, the ship was already deserted.

Four Magic Tool Jade Boat, like four white arrows of different sizes, sailed across the river under the night sky towards Tiger Roar City, three hundred miles away.

Nearly fifty fire crows, controlled by Li Weiyi and Li Ling's telekinesis, carried people and flew over the river.

Sitting on the back of one of the fire crows, Li Weiyi couldn't help but wonder, "Is it worth it?" Perhaps, as Jiang Ning said, gains and losses are by no means the only principles for living in this world. Right and wrong are right in front of us; how can we turn a blind eye?

"Shall we come down and talk?"

Jiang Ning's voice, carried by a wisp of magical energy, entered Li Weiyi's ears.

Li Weiyi looked down at the enormous Magic Tool Jade Boat, which was encased in hundreds of complex and profound scriptures and carried many women, children, and infants.

The quality of ritual implements is divided into low-grade, mid-grade, and high-grade.

Further up the hierarchy, there are ritual implements containing Hundred Character Scripture Magic Tool, Thousand Character Scripture Magic Tool, and Ten Thousand Character Scripture Magic Tool.

The more scriptures engraved inside, the stronger the magic weapon will be. Of course, for martial artists at a lower level, a magic weapon is not necessarily better the stronger it is. Activating the scriptures consumes a great deal of magical energy, and it is possible that a single strike could drain all the Qi Sea in one's body.

The interior of high-level magical artifacts actually contains scriptures, but the number is small, less than a hundred characters.

Each of these Hundred Character Scripture Magic Tool is priceless, and not every Dao Seed Realm Martial Cultivator possesses one. Take Jiang Ning's Magic Tool Jade Boat, for example; it can travel four thousand miles a day and also has the ability to fly.

However, even with her cultivation level, controlling the magic energy jade boat to fly would still drain her magic energy quickly.

This is the last life-or-death treasure for escaping a life-or-death situation.

Li Weiyi flew away from the fire crow and gracefully landed on the Hundred Character Scripture Magic Tool Jade Boat.

Space on board is limited.

There was only three feet of space to stand next to Jiang Ning at the bow. Li Weiyi sat down casually beside her, his legs dangling over the gunwale.

Jiang Ning sat cross-legged, part of her long, flowing dress lying beneath Li Weiyi's feet, but she remained unperturbed and asked, "What's your name?"

There was nothing to hide, so Li Weiyi said, "Li Weiyi."

"This name sounds better than Sima Tan."

Jiang Ning said, "But impersonating Attendant Hall is a serious crime. As Luantai Angel, it would be perfectly legal for me to kill you. Chen Chuan will also be implicated; at the very least, he will be imprisoned and exiled to the army."

So close, the fragrance emanating from her dark hair made one feel as if in paradise, forgetting what day it was.

But Li Weiyi remained calm. "With the cultivation level of an angel, if they were to actually do that, we would be utterly powerless to resist."

"Do you think Jiang Ning is that kind of person?" Jiang Ning asked.

Li Weiyi smiled and said, "Not really! But you can't be sure, after all, if you kill me, those seven little guys will be yours!"

"Compared to them, I value you more."

Jiang Ning turned her head slightly, her veiled face revealing a captivating beauty. From her delicate eyebrows and bright eyes to her radiant skin and hair, she possessed a deadly allure that could pull one into the abyss of emotion.

This is the charm of one of the Three Immortals in the world; her beauty alone is enough to make her famous throughout the land.

There are very few men who can sit so close to her; Li Weiyi one.

To get close enough to meet her captivating, mesmerizing gaze is a true test of one's inner strength.

Li Weiyi secretly practiced the Jade Void Breathing Technique, his mind clear, and said, "The angel thinks too highly of me! There are countless heroes in the world, and there are many of my age whose intelligence and martial arts surpass mine. The titles of Luantai Angel and Fairy Yu alone, if I just casually spread the word, countless people would line up to come to my door. The top young talents of the Fifth Realm of the Five Seas are all at your disposal."

Jiang Ning did not deny his charisma; his confidence emanated from within. He said, "I am well aware of your growth rate, so there's no need for modesty. What I value is not only your strength, but also your fighting spirit—the willingness to risk your life for your responsibilities and principles. The current Imperial Court needs people like you most."

"What makes you think I'm that kind of person? Just because of today's battle?" Li Weiyi felt that Jiang Ning was being too idealistic.

Jiang Ning said, "Immortal Burial Town, the Five Seas Realm."

"What do you mean?" Li Weiyi asked.

She said, "I was right there! You were willing to risk your life for those young martial artists of the Jiu Li Tribe, to fight for their survival. I can't do that, so I admire you. I wanted to save you when you were in the most danger and take the opportunity to subdue you, but I was too cunning and missed the best opportunity."

"That's honest enough," Li Weiyi said.

Jiang Ning said, "The stage for the Jiu Li Tribe is too small! Why not join the Imperial Court and fight for the sake of all living beings in this world?"

Li Weiyi laughed and said, "I think you've misunderstood! I'm not that noble. You only saw me fighting bloody battles in the Five Seas Realm, but you didn't see me making a fortune in Immortal Burial Town."

"A misunderstanding? What about today?" Jiang Ning asked.

Li Weiyi said, "Today's harvest was so-so, and we were too rushed to loot the corpses. But these fifty fire crows, if we drive them to Tiger Roar City, should fetch a good price, right?"

Li Weiyi's evasive answer left Jiang Ning unable to continue. She smiled, a rare occurrence, and gazed into the distance, saying, "These fire crows will be confiscated and incorporated into the Imperial Court army when they reach Tiger Roar City. Your get-rich-quick dreams are destined to be dashed."

Li Weiyi was stunned. "How could they do this? Will you help me?"

"I won't help you, because I won't even enter Tiger Roar City. In Zhizhou, if my whereabouts are exposed, it's extremely dangerous." Jiang Ning pleaded again, "Are you really not going to reconsider?"

"My cultivation level is too low; it's not my place to worry about worldly affairs."

Li Weiyi forcibly took the Seven Phoenix Wing Moth Emperors away, then bid farewell and returned to the Fire Crow's back.

The journey was uneventful; any rebel scouts they encountered were killed in advance.

Thirty miles from Tiger Roar City, six patrolling soldiers of the Imperial Court army, riding flying birds, broke through the City Protection Array and rushed towards them.

The four jade boats immediately docked.

Jiang Ning put away the jade boat and spoke to Yin Thirteen, "I have a rough idea of your identity, but it doesn't matter. These are extraordinary times. As long as you have the ability, you will have a place in the Imperial Court. With your abilities, it's a waste to escort the mistresses and families of those incompetent tyrants!"

"Right now, I'm being hunted by a powerful enemy. Come with me and escort me into Qiuzhou, and I'll give you a higher position."

Yin Thirteen looked at Li Weiyi and Li Ling, a hint of hesitation in his eyes.

Jiang Ning said, "Don't bother with them. My adversaries are extremely powerful. Their cultivation is still a bit lacking; it's too dangerous for them to travel with us! Go and say goodbye to them; I'll wait for you up ahead for a quarter of an hour."

Jiang Ning and Zhuang Yue transformed into two afterimages and quickly disappeared into the darkness.

Hearing Yin Thirteen's footsteps behind him, Li Weiyi said, "I heard them all! Jiang Ning is alright. If we latch onto her, Senior Brother Shisan will surely rise to prominence in the future, and at the same time, it will bring more benefits to the Hidden Gate."