Chapter 2360 - A Guest, Settling the Score

Su Yi? And he’s here for a visit?

The Spirit Vessel Yao Court disciple guarding the gates was briefly stunned. Then, he completely lost his cool. His hair stood on end, and he broke out in cold sweats.

This terrifying existence has actually come right to our gates! A ‘guest?’ As if! He’s obviously here for revenge!

What disciple of Spirit Vessel Yao Court

didn’t

know who Su Yi was? Even a lowly guard knew all about him!

Including, of course, that Su Yi was the reincarnation of the former greatest ruler of the Endless Ocean, the Master of Sunset Perch Island!

“S-senior, please... please wait for a moment!” The disciple stammered, too startled to even speak clearly.

“Quick, report this to your superiors,” Su Yi said warmly.

“Uh... Understood!” The disciple turned, then dashed off.

Clang——! Clang——! Clang——!

Before long, the ringing of a bell boomed throughout the sect, each ring more urgent than the one before.

It rang nine times in total.

Everyone in the sect was startled.

Medicine refiners kicked over their cauldrons. Those in seclusion shot out of their immortal caves. Those drinking tea shattered their cups, and those still asleep jumped to their feet in fright.

Everything was in complete chaos.

This was because the bell only rang nine times in response to danger sufficient to threaten the entire sect!

When Sect Leader Zhang Wulin heard the news, he gasped.

Su Yi... sure got here quickly!!

They’d only just been discussing Su Yi’s arrival in the Endless Ocean yesterday.

But now, Su Yi had come directly to their gates!

Before Zhang Wushan could give the matter any further thought, the sect’s higher-ups shot out of the grand hall. All of them looked frantic.

Even the Master Gods, old-timers who paid no heed to worldly affairs, emerged one after another. All of them were startled.

They were like the pillars of the sect, but it was obvious that learning of Su Yi’s arrival had left even them unable to stay calm.

Luo Yunxiu saw it all. He couldn’t help but sigh to himself,

This is the Master of Sunset Perch Island’s prestige! You could search the entire Endless Ocean without finding anyone else capable of shaking Spirit Vessel Yao Court like this!

“Sect Master, do you have means of handling this?”

Suddenly, a middle-aged man with a willowy beard, silver robes, and a face like crown jade appeared in the gateway.

When they saw him, Sect Leader Zhang Wushan and the other higher-ups stood and bowed.

This was none other than Ancestor Hunshan, the junior apprentice brother of their founder, Master Golden Crane!

In the modern Spirit Vessel Yao Court, he had the highest position of anyone in the sect. He was the strongest, too!

Ancestor Hunshan had been deep in seclusion over the years, heedless of worldly affairs.

But this time, he’d obviously been startled out of seclusion, too!

“The founder left three brocade bags. He said that if the Master of Sunset Perch Island ever came looking for revenge, they’d be enough to resolve the situation,” Zhang Wushan said gravely.

“So that’s it. I understand,” said Ancestor Hunshan. “Then... do as my senior apprentice told you to.”

“Yes, Ancestor!” Sect Leader Zhang Wushan said with a smile.

......

Outside the gates.

Su Yi heard the bill ring nine times in rapid succession, resounding throughout the firmament.

Then, he watched as all manner of formations started circulating throughout the sect, their power sweeping forth in waves.

It was indistinct, but he could even hear waves of commotion emanating from within the sect.

The sect was typically like an otherworldly pure land, but now, it was extraordinarily noisy.

Two lines of verse rose unbidden to Su Yi’s sea of consciousness: “The gongs and drums boomed, and the fireworks blasted.”

He couldn’t help but laugh.

He didn’t have to wait long. Soon, a grand procession had appeared at the sect’s gates. The sect leader was there, as well as all of the sect’s higher-ups.

When they saw Su Yi standing there alone, the contrast was so jarring that Zhang Wushan and the other sect higher-ups’ expressions grew a bit strange.

“This humble one is called Zhang Wushan. Greetings, Fellow Daoist Su!” Zhang Wulin clasped his fist in greeting. “Might I ask why you’ve graced us with your presence?”

Everything fell silent as all eyes focused on Su Yi. He was the complete center of attention.

Su Yi took a sip of wine and laughed. “Can’t I just come for a visit?”

The crowd exchanged glances.

A guest? What guest? You’re obviously here with malicious intentions!

“Don’t be nervous,” said Su Yi. “I’m here first as a guest, and second to settle a score.”

To settle a score!!

The crowd’s hearts clenched, and their expressions shifted.

“Fellow Daoist Su, are you declaring war against Spirit Vessel Yao Court?” Zhang Wuling couldn’t help but ask.

Su Yi glanced at him. “If you want me to, sure. Otherwise, I’ll just get even.”

The group quickly realized that Su Yi wasn’t here to wage an all-out war. That made things much easier!

Zhang Wulin said gravely, “Might I ask what kind of score it is you wish to settle?”

Su Yi pointed past the gates. “Aren’t you going to invite me to sit down first?”

The group was stunned.

He seriously wants to be our guest?

The atmosphere was stifled. For a moment, no one knew how to respond to this.

If they turned Su Yi away at the gates, there was no way he’d just let this go.

But they couldn’t help but worry about what would happen if they invited him in. How would that be any different from inviting a wolf into their homes?

After a while, Ancestor Hunshan said, “Since you’re here as a guest, we naturally ought to welcome you with the full extent of our hospitality. I trust that no matter what score it is you wish to settle, we can talk things through.”

Zhang Wushan promptly made a decision. “Fellow Daoist Su, please, come in!”

With that, he led the other higher-ups in stepping aside to clear a path.

Su Yi didn’t hold back out of politeness. He walked over, looking perfectly composed. He didn’t seem like a guest at all. Rather, he seemed like a monarch surveying his own territories. It was as if the others weren’t even there...

The Spirit Vessel Yao Court higher-ups’ expressions grew increasingly complicated, and they felt increasingly tense and nervous.

But none of them dared to say anything.

Moments later, in the sect’s grand hall.

Su Yi sat in the centermost seat, entirely unperturbed.

This was supposed to be the sect leader’s seat, and it represented the peak of authority within the sect.

Even a relic like Ancestor Hunshan had to sit to the side in accordance with the sect’s rules.

Yet now, as soon as Su Yi arrived, he plopped down in the sect leader’s seat!

Everyone’s expression instantly darkened.

“What? Is there anything wrong with me sitting here?” Su Yi said calmly. “I recall that long, long ago, when Ol’ Golden Crane invited me here, he offered me his own immortal cave to rest in. Now, all I want is a chair, but you think I’m unworthy to sit in it?”

The crowd fell silent. Su Yi was telling the truth. A long, long time ago, the Master of Sunset Perch Island and their sect’s founder were dear friends, like sworn brothers.

But... All of that was in the past!

Spirit Vessel Yao Court was no longer the Spirit Vessel Yao Court of the past!

But in the end, no one dared say anything.

Sect leader Zhang Wushan had no choice but to smile and say, “It’s just you say, Fellow Daoist. A seat, that’s all. It doesn’t mean anything.”

Su Yi said flatly, “Sit down then, all of you.”

He spoke like a monarch issuing decrees from his throne. He was the guest, but he was acting like the lord of the house!

But no matter how stifling Zhang Wushan and the others found this, they had no choice but to hold their nose and endure. All of them took their seats.

One look at their expressions, and Su Yi could tell how unhappy they were.

They’re likely cursing me out in their heads.

He smiled, not the least bit concerned. “Rest assured. I’m not so bored as to come here just to throw my weight around. There’s no need for that, either.”

The crowd fell silent.

“Here’s the first score I’d like to settle,” said Su Yi, getting straight to the point. “Why go after Yan Beixue? Remember: I want to hear the truth. If you dare to lie to me, you’ll have to bear the consequences.”

Their hearts instantly sank.

Zhang Wushan sighed. “Let me explain. Yes, I was the one who ordered the attack on Yan Beixue. We started making arrangements three years ago.”

When he saw that Zhang Wushang was about to launch into a lengthy explanation, Su Yi interrupted him without the slightest politeness. “What’s with all that chatter? Just tell me why you did it.”

Zhang Wushan was the host, yet he was in the weaker position.

Su Yi was the guest, but he hadn’t just claimed the highest seat; he was rebuking his host, Zhang Wushan, without the slightest reservation. Everyone here felt deeply humiliated.

This... this is just bullying!

Zhang Wushan took a deep breath and said, “We targeted Yan Beixue on the behest of Sect Leader Mo Xuchou of Divine Billows Palace. We’re cooperating with their arrangements.”

Su Yi’s eyebrows rose. “Is it because of the Sunset Perch Dao Assembly?”

“That’s right,” said Zhang Wushan. He knew there was no hiding it, so he said forthrightly, “Yan Beixue is Yan Chizhen’s only son, and as everyone knows, Yan Chizhen was like your sworn brother, and he died avenging you.

“The way Sect Leader Mo Xuchou saw it, there was no way you’d remain a bystander if we captured Yan Beixue.”

Su Yi nodded. “Just as I thought. It’s that same old trick again. You were hoping to use a hostage as a pawn to force me to attend the assembly.”

As he spoke, he looked at Zhang Wushan. “Then how do you think we should settle this score?”

The crowd’s hearts clenched.

The main event has begun!

Zhang Wushan sighed. “The experts we sent to capture Yan Beixue all died by your hand already. Their loss was already a heavy—”

“I asked you a question,” said Su Yi, interrupting him once more. “How do you think we should settle this score?”

The atmosphere was instantly stifled.

In the end, it was Ancestor Hunshan who said gravely, “Fellow Daoist Su, whatever request you have, go ahead and lay it out in the open. Whatever it is, if it means settling this score, Spirit Vessel Yao Court is sure to agree!”

“Very well,” said Su Yi. “I have two conditions. Choose whichever of the two you like.

“First, every debt has its debtor, and every crime has its criminal. Kill Zhang Wushan, the man behind it all, and I’ll consider us even.”

Zhang Wushan visibly lost his cool, and the others were all clearly enraged.

Only Ancestor Hunshan remained calm. “And your second condition?”

Su Yi said casually, “Tell me where Ol’ Golden Crane ran off to and I’ll call it a day.”

The hall was instantly so silent that you could have heard a pin drop.

It was so silent that it was almost terrifying!

Everyone finally realized why Su Yi was really here.

His true goal is to find our founder!

Agreeing to that would be far worse than simply killing Sect Leader Zhang Wushan.

For a moment, everyone’s heart was heavy.

He isn’t just here to get even. He’s obviously here to force us to our deaths!

They even suspected that Su Yi was doing this on purpose. He was using “getting even” as an excuse to attack Spirit Vessel Yao Court!

After a while, Sect Leader Zhang Wushan finally responded, “Forgive us, but we cannot agree to either condition. However, I have here a brocade pouch our founder gave me when he left the sect. He said he prepared it specifically for you, Fellow Daoist. Please, have a look inside!”

As he spoke, he took out the third, as-of-yet unopened, brocade pouch.