Chapter 91.2: The Hundred-Year Thunder Fruit and Seventy Cauldrons of Strength (II)

Lu Changsheng made it back to the inn without incident. Though the trip had taken a few unexpected turns, the Hundred-Year Thunder Fruit was finally in his possession. Even better, he had saved nine thousand taels of silver in the process. Given the situation, the Xiao Clan would not have dared to demand money.

As expected, the blade is more efficient than words.

The Xiao Clan had undoubtedly been in the wrong, but that had never mattered. They never cared about right and wrong in the first place. Had Lu Changsheng not gone to their doorstep himself, and had he not been of the Divine Strength Realm, the Xiao Clan's Divine Strength martial artist would not have yielded so easily.

They surrendered only because of the saber in Lu Changsheng's hand. As long as his blade was sharp enough and his strength overwhelming, they had no choice but to obediently hand over the Hundred-Year Thunder Fruit.

The experience left Lu Changsheng feeling a curious sense of ease, as though something deep within him had been satisfied. Perhaps, at heart, he truly did prefer a life without restraint, answering only to his own will.

Lu Changsheng wanted to refine the Hundred-Year Thunder Fruit immediately. However, no matter how confident he was that the Xiao Clan would not dare make a move, caution was still necessary. People of the martial world were capable of all manner of underhanded schemes, and an inn was hardly a secure location.

I should return to the Far Ocean Merchant Guild's ship. Three days have passed anyway.

Lu Changsheng had originally planned to wait another day before returning, but now that he intended to refine the Hundred-Year Thunder Fruit, there was no safer place than on the ship. With that, Lu Changsheng checked out of the inn and returned to the Far Ocean Merchant Guild's ship.

When he boarded, he saw that there were not many people aboard except for a handful of guards and sailors. Suo Fei had gone ashore to enjoy herself, leaving the ship quiet and undisturbed.

Lu Changsheng welcomed the silence. He returned to his cabin and took out the Hundred-Year Thunder Fruit. He closed his eyes and proceeded with the Celestial Treasure-Refinement secret technique. This was not his first time refining a rare treasure, and the process came to him with practiced ease.

Several hours later, Lu Changsheng slowly opened his eyes.

Another marrow transformation and blood replacement. I should now possess the seventy cauldrons of strength.

[Status Panel]

Host: Lu Changsheng

Perception: 824 (Hidden Dragon in the Abyss)

[Skills]

Blood Qi Sword Crafting: Sword Crafting, 3 months and 24 days

Wave Intent: Progress 5%

Celestial Treasure-Refinement: Second Layer

Ninefold Carp-Dragon Ascension: Second Stage

Nine-Character Thunder Chant: Perfection (Incomplete)

As expected, his Celestial Treasure-Refinement had advanced to the second layer. Lu Changsheng could feel it intuitively. His condition had been improving steadily of late. Even the third ascension through the Dragon Gate felt within reach.

***

On the fourth day, Long Sha returned to the ship. The moment he spotted Lu Changsheng on the deck, his posture shrank instinctively. He lowered his head at once, looking as though he wished he could hide it inside his clothes, as he hurried back into his cabin without a word.

Suo Fei returned as well. She was clearly delighted when she saw Dao Shier.

"Mr. Dao, you came back quite early," Suo Fei remarked with surprise.

"I returned not long ago," Lu Changsheng replied. After a brief pause, he asked, "Miss Suo Fei, have you seen Yun Haitang?"

"Miss Yun hasn’t returned?" Suo Fei asked, equally puzzled.

They asked around the ship, and it soon became clear that Yun Haitang had indeed not yet returned. However, the Far Ocean Merchant Guild's ship was not scheduled to leave the Fire Dragon Kingdom until the next day, so there was still time.

However, when the following day arrived, Yun Haitang was still nowhere to be seen. Lu Changsheng assumed that something had delayed her, or that she would not be coming back to Zhanhai City for the time being. Either way, he did not dwell on it. The Far Ocean Merchant Guild’s ship would not postpone its departure for a single person.

One by one, sailors and guards returned to the vessel. The Far Ocean Merchant Guild’s crew began hauling aboard crate after crate of cargo. Suo Fei opened one of the boxes and examined its contents carefully.

"Not bad," she said with satisfaction. "Spice production was low this year. So these should fetch a good price."

Just as the Far Ocean Merchant Guild’s crew were busy loading fresh cargo onto the ship, a sudden commotion erupted on the docks.

A group of people charged in from the pier, heading straight for the Far Ocean Merchant Guild’s vessel. Sensing trouble, the guards aboard the ship immediately rallied and formed a line at the dock to block them.

"This is a merchant ship of the Far Ocean Merchant Guild. Who are you?" one of the guards demanded.

"A Far Ocean Merchant Guild ship? Then this is exactly what we’re looking for!"

"Everyone off the ship. Until Yun Haitang is found, this vessel is not leaving."

The group of martial artists shouted loudly, their voices full of menace.

"Yun Haitang?"

Everyone of the Far Ocean Merchant Guild’s crew knew that name. Yet Yun Haitang had never returned to the ship. No matter how many times they explained this, it made no difference.

"We are disciples of the Divine Fire Palace. Yun Haitang stole fire seeds belonging to our sect. We suspect she fled onto your ship."

The disciples of the Divine Fire Palace surged forward, faces flushed with anger and killing intent radiating from them. It was obvious that the missing fire seeds were a matter of great importance.

The Far Ocean Merchant Guild often did business in the Fire Dragon Kingdom and frequently docked at Volcano City, so they were well aware of the Divine Fire Palace. With a Divine Strength martial artist guarding it and immense influence across Volcano City, the Divine Fire Palace was not an enemy they could afford to provoke.

Suo Fei stepped forward and spoke calmly. "Yun Haitang did travel with us to Volcano City. However, once we reached the docks, she disembarked and disappeared. She has not returned to the ship since. If you don't believe us, you are welcome to search the vessel. But if you do not find her, may we then depart?"

Suo Fei did not mind allowing the Divine Fire Palace disciples to search the ship if that meant the ship could sail as soon as possible. If the Divine Fire Palace truly detained their vessel, and they failed to return to Zhanhai City in a timely manner, the losses from this voyage would be severe.

"Search the ship!" one of the Divine Fire Palace disciples yelled.

The disciples of the Divine Fire Palace surged onto the ship at once and began their search. They pried open crate after crate, revealing nothing but spices and local specialties from Volcano City. Every cabin was inspected, every noon and cranny checked. Nothing was left untouched.

Several hours passed. By the time afternoon arrived, Yun Haitang had still not been found.

Suo Fei finally spoke up. "You have searched our ship thoroughly and found nothing. That proves that Yun Haitang is not aboard. May we depart now?"

The Divine Fire Palace elder's expression darkened. He glanced at Suo Fei, then said coldly,

"Consider your ship detained. Until Yun Haitang is found, you are not leaving."

"What? That's absurd!" Suo Fei blurted out, unable to hold back her anger. "This is a merchant vessel of the Far Ocean Merchant Guild. If our journey is delayed, the goods will go to waste. Do you have any idea how much we will lose?"

"No matter how great your losses, they cannot compare to the fire seeds stolen from the Divine Fire Palace," the elder spat. "Enough talk. Neither you nor this ship are going anywhere. If anyone attempts to set sail, they will be killed on the spot."

Suo Fei could not help but turn toward Dao Shier, her eyes filled with helpless appeal.

"Mr. Dao..."

Lu Changsheng had been watching silently the whole time. Under normal circumstances, he would not have interfered. The troubles of the Far Ocean Merchant Guild were theirs to resolve. But if the Divine Fire Palace refused to let the ship depart, then it concerned him directly. If the ship did not leave, when would he ever return to Zhanhai City?

"Miss Suo Fei," Lu Changsheng said calmly, "I know the Far Ocean Merchant Guild is not hiding Yun Haitang. You hold reason on your side. However, in the jianghu, reason is spoken with blades."

With that, he stepped forward. The people of the Divine Fire Palace were about to shout at him, but their voices caught in their throats. With every step Lu Changsheng took, his aura intensified and his blood qi surged more and more, swelling with terrifying force.

By the time he stood before the disciples of the Divine Fire Palace, his blood qi had gathered into a crimson cloud. His aura weighed down on them so heavily that the disciples felt as though they could barely breathe.

His gaze was as sharp as a blade as it swept across them one by one.

"I say the ship sails. Does anyone here have a problem with that?"