Return to Cold Wind City
"Waaaaah--!"
With a long and deep blast of the ship's horn, the massive ship slowly approached the shore, casting a huge shadow on the dock.
Nearly a year later, the giant ship finally returned to Cold Wind City of the Great Han Dynasty.
The warriors on the ship cheered and rushed to the gangway, stepping onto the solid ground and breathing in the familiar, salty sea air.
The Grandmaster, who was in charge, stood at the bow of the ship, his gaze slowly sweeping across the disembarking crowd. When he realized that he still couldn't see the mysterious figure wearing a bamboo hat, a subtle emotion flashed in his eyes—a sense of relief mixed with a hint of regret.
Wang Pangzi looked around but couldn't find Dongfang Yueming. He sighed and muttered to himself with some disappointment, "Alas, Brother Dongfang... we're ultimately not meant to be."
The dock was bustling with people.
Jiao Yu'er also came here today. She stood gracefully in the crowd, her gaze frequently drifting towards the giant ship, a hint of expectation on her beautiful face.
I wonder... how is he?
[However, with his talent, he must be doing quite well in the Central Continent.]
[...]
Her mind was filled with mixed emotions, and she felt somewhat anxious and uncertain.
Just then, an annoying voice rang in her ear.
"Oh, isn't this Miss Jiao Clan? What, coming to the docks in person to pick someone up? Are you perhaps waiting for your 'savior'?"
A tall, frivolous-looking young man, accompanied by several followers, walked up to Jiao Yu'er while fanning himself with a folding fan.
This person is none other than Hong Tao, the young master of the Hong family, one of the three major families in Cold Wind City. He himself is also a Qi Refining Minor Achievement success of Qi Refining, and can be considered one of the best among the younger generation in Cold Wind City.
Jiao Yu'er frowned and said coldly, "Hong Tao, what I'm doing here is none of your business."
"Of course it concerns me." Hong Tao chuckled, pointing his folding fan in the direction of the Yi family. "Now, our Hong family and the Yi family have formed an alliance. The Jiao Clan is isolated and helpless. Doesn't Miss Jiao want to consider her future?"
"You're talking nonsense!" Jiao Yu'er's pretty face changed. "The Yi family has always been neutral. How could they possibly collude with your Hong family!"
"Things have changed." Hong Tao's smile grew even more smug. "The Yi family has produced a genius who cultivates lightning-attribute techniques. It's a pity, however rare and precious are the Grandmaster martial arts of the lightning attribute. Without follow-up methods, he'll never be able to reach the Grandmaster level in his lifetime. The Yi family is currently sending people everywhere to search for him, but they haven't returned yet. Tell me, aren't they anxious?"
"What does this have to do with you?" Jiao Yu'er asked warily.
"Of course there's a connection!" Hong Tao folded his fan, took a step closer, lowered his voice, and looked Jiao Yu'er up and down with an aggressive gaze, saying ambiguously, "As long as the Yi family can't find a Grandmaster- level martial art with the lightning attribute, they won't dare offend our Hong family. And our Hong family... hehe, we've already made connections with the Bai family of the Cloud Water Dynasty in the Central Continent!"
His eyes gleamed with greed. "Although the Bai family has declined, their foundation remains, and they happen to possess a Grandmaster -level lightning-attribute inheritance! Once the Bai family family arrives, do you think the Yi family will choose to continue struggling, or will they choose to pledge allegiance to us in exchange for that coveted cultivation technique?"
Hong Tao looked at the giant ship, smugly calculating in his heart.
[Judging by the time, the Bai family should have already disembarked and are heading towards my Hong family! Soon, the Yi family will turn against us! At that time, won't your Jiao Clan be at my mercy?]
Thinking of this, he could no longer suppress his desire and reached out to grab Jiao Yu'er's fair wrist. "Yu'er, a wise person knows when to yield. As long as you submit to me, I promise..."
"Get out of my way!" Jiao Yu'er was both shocked and furious. She quickly retreated, circulated her inner energy, and struck Hong Tao with a palm.
"You'll regret it if you don't listen to reason!" Hong Tao's face darkened, his flippancy instantly replaced by a chilling expression. He no longer held back, his Qi Refining Minor Achievement 1 True Qi erupting forth as he met the attack with a palm strike!
"Bang!"
As their palms met, Jiao Yu'er felt a surge of powerful true energy far exceeding her own, causing her to stagger backward, her blood churning, and her pretty face turning deathly pale.
Seeing this, passersby quickly moved aside, fearing they would be drawn into the conflict between the three families.
Having landed a successful blow, Hong Tao's eyes flashed with a ferocious glint as he lunged forward, intending to capture Jiao Yu'er.
Just as his hand was about to touch Jiao Yu'er's shoulder, a hand, an ordinary-looking hand, appeared out of nowhere and casually blocked his palm.
"Um?"
Hong Tao felt as if his palm strike had vanished into thin air, disappearing without a trace. Startled, he looked up abruptly and saw a man wearing a straw hat standing silently between him and Jiao Yu'er.