After patiently listening to the news Liu Yu had heard at the Trade Fair, Zhao Yi sank into thought.
"No wonder Junior Sister Liu from Peach Blossom Island didn't come to deliver spirit peaches this year. So something happened!"
A moment later, Liu Yu interrupted Zhao Yi's thoughts.
"Senior Brother, Three Heroes Island has a stiff spine now. Besides the three brothers themselves, they have two cultivators at the perfection of meridian opening under them. I heard they've even formed an alliance with Ghost Shark Daoist of Sea Shark Island!"
Zhao Yi abruptly raised his head and looked at Liu Yu in surprise. "Sea Shark Island? Ghost Shark Daoist?"
"Yes! What, do you know this Ghost Shark Daoist, Senior Brother?"
"I don't, but Master did. This could be a little tricky."
Zhao Yi unconsciously tapped his fingertips against the table. Seeing Liu Yu's bewildered expression, he slowly explained the whole story.
"Back then, Master caught Ghost Shark Daoist feeding mortals to his ghost sharks. With Master's fiery temper, he killed two ghost sharks on the spot and wounded Ghost Shark Daoist, but in the end, Ghost Shark Daoist still escaped on the remaining shark."
"Afterward, Master decided that since he'd started, he might as well finish the job. He stormed Sea Shark Island and killed Ghost Shark Daoist's two disciples too. That left only some mortals on Sea Shark Island, and Master later relocated them to Linghua Island."
"Then doesn't that make our Linghua Island and Ghost Shark Daoist mortal enemies?"
Zhao Yi nodded and said solemnly, "Neither side will rest until the other is dead. We scraped his entire lair clean!"
"In that case, we can't stay out of this even if we want to. Now that Ghost Shark Daoist is back, he'll definitely seek revenge on Linghua Island!"
"Mm. Tonight, I'll visit Senior Liu aboard Peach Blossom Island's ship. Ultimately, this is a dispute between Peach Blossom Island and Three Heroes Island. Even if we get involved, we can't charge at the very front."
"Ah, a season of troubles!" Liu Yu sighed inwardly.
That night, Zhao Yi changed into a black-and-white Daoist robe, looked himself up and down, and nodded in satisfaction. Carrying two boxes of pastries, he disembarked.
Arriving at Peach Blossom Island's berth, Zhao Yi looked at the ladder propped against the ship, then raised his head toward the guard standing on deck and called out.
"Zhao Yi of Linghua Island has come to pay a visit!"
Before long, a voice came from the ship. "Please come aboard!"
Zhao Yi climbed aboard.
It was late into the night before Zhao Yi returned to the Linghua.
Liu Yu was reading beside an oil lamp. Seeing Zhao Yi return, he asked, "How did it go? What did Senior Liu say?"
Without speaking, Zhao Yi sat down, picked up the teapot, and poured himself some tea. He drank two cups in succession, then let out a long breath.
"I met Senior Liu aboard Peach Blossom Island's ship. Several seniors from Black Wind Island, Haikong Island, Xuanli Island, and Bamboo Sea Island were with him."
"What were they gathered there for?"
"The matter between Peach Blossom Island and Three Heroes Island. Peach Blossom Island has always been like this. When they can't match an opponent's strength, they invite fellow cultivators and friends from far and wide. Didn't our master help fight for Peach Blossom Island once before?"
After a pause, Zhao Yi continued, "Heh, I arrived at just the right time. The feast had only just started, so I helped myself to several spirit peaches."
"When they asked why Master hadn't come, I could only tell them the unfortunate news that he had passed away. I also asked them about Ghost Shark Island's strength."
"Who knows what fortuitous opportunity Ghost Shark Daoist encountered? Not only has he reached the perfection of meridian opening, but his sole remaining ghost shark has also reached the perfection of spirit awakening. Working together, they have few rivals at sea."
"He's also taken on twin disciples, both at the great completion of meridian opening. They were born of the same mother and excel at combined attacks. They haven't come with good intentions!"
"No good intentions? Let them come and try!"
Liu Yu showed a rare flash of killing intent, looking very much like a vicious beast ready to devour someone.
Zhao Yi nodded. "Ghost Shark Daoist has come straight for our Linghua Island this time."
"Liu Yu, I spoke to the people from Peach Blossom Island. Tomorrow morning, they'll trouble themselves to deliver a challenge to Three Heroes Island, saying that Linghua Island challenges Sea Shark Island to a duel of magic! We'll settle life and death at the Harbor Wharf, before the merchant ship arrives tomorrow!"
Zhao Yi averted his eyes slightly from Liu Yu's gaze and spoke calmly.
"Senior Brother, you've gone and decided things on your own again!"
When Zhao Yi remained silent, Liu Yu asked again, "What did Peach Blossom Island say?"
"Get some proper rest and wait quietly for dawn!"
October 24, Year 5493 of the Yuangguang Calendar, just before dawn.
Zhao Yi and Liu Yu brought their weapons to the harbor early to wait. They found a secluded spot, sat down, and closed their eyes to rest.
After an unknown length of time, hurried footsteps approached them.
"Zhao Yi, have you gone mad? Challenging Ghost Shark Daoist? Who knows where that old scoundrel found his fortuitous opportunity? Together, he and his beast have few rivals at sea. What are you going to fight him with?"
"Why stick your neck out? This is between Peach Blossom Island and Three Heroes Island. Hurry up and leave!"
Zhao Yi looked up. Standing before him was Yuan Zifeng, looking at him anxiously.
Zhao Yi smiled and motioned for Yuan Zifeng to sit. When Yuan Zifeng refused, Zhao Yi reached out and pulled him down, making him land seated on the ground.
"What are you doing?"
"What's there to panic about? I never do anything I'm not confident of. Just enjoy the show this time!"
"You're serious?"
"What else? I'm staking Linghua Island's century-old reputation on this!"
"It's over, it's over. This year will be the last time we see each other. Don't worry, I'll remember you!"
Yuan Zifeng sat on the ground with a dejected expression.
"Get lost," Zhao Yi scolded with a laugh. "I'll show you what I'm capable of!"
"Where's Senior Chen?"
"Your master didn't tell you? He's already passed away."
At those words, Yuan Zifeng fell silent.
Seeing Zhao Yi close his eyes to rest again, Yuan Zifeng sighed, took a talisman from inside his inner clothing, and tucked it into Zhao Yi's robe.
"This is my means of saving my life. I'll lend it to you for now, but remember, it's only a loan. You have to return it!"
With that, he stood and left.
Once he was gone, Zhao Yi took it out and looked. A Middle-Grade Golden Light Talisman. He smiled silently.
As time passed, more and more cultivators gathered at the harbor, and the merchant ship was due to arrive soon.
News that Linghua Island would duel Sea Shark Island had spread into a great uproar. People discussed it in groups of three or five, while Zhao Yi and Liu Yu, the central figures, hid in a corner to conserve their strength.
Before long, a group arrived at the harbor. At the sight of them, the surrounding rogue cultivators hastily cleared a path.
Leading them was Mo Wufei, the third of the Mo Clan's Three Heroes. Beside him stood a cultivator with upward-slanting eyes, a goatee, and an air thick with sinister gloom. It was Ghost Shark Daoist.
"Fellow cultivators, I am Mo Wufei of Three Heroes Island. Beside me is Fellow Daoist Ghost Shark of Sea Shark Island."
"Ten years ago, Chen Yihua, a cultivator of Linghua Island, launched an unprovoked, murderous attack on Fellow Daoist Ghost Shark. Outmatched, Fellow Daoist Ghost Shark fled, but Chen Yihua then stormed Sea Shark Island and slaughtered everyone there. Such a blood debt must be repaid in blood!"
His voice rang strong and forceful across the entire wharf. Mo Wufei saluted the Zhao Family cultivators and the surrounding rogue cultivators. "I ask the Zhao Family and all fellow cultivators present to bear witness. Today, the two islands will settle their grievances here!"
With that, he stepped back behind Ghost Shark Daoist and watched quietly.
"Where is Chen Yihua of Linghua Island?"
Ghost Shark Daoist bellowed, his voice full and powerful.
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