Chapter 164

Chapter 164: An Unexpected Meeting with Lu Yao

"Senior, your ship is incredibly luxurious! It completely outshines Senior Xiong's old vessel," Ye Shi exclaimed, gazing at the opulent interior.

Ji Feiyan replied with a modest smile, "My ship isn't that special. However, it definitely surpasses Ah Wei's shabby one by several blocks."

Ye Shi: "..."

"Senior, aren't you afraid of being robbed?" Ye Shi curiously asked, eyes wide.

Xiong Wei rolled his eyes, replying sarcastically, "Robbed? She doesn't fear robbers. Robbers fear her." Ji Feiyan has such a notorious reputation that any bandit encountering her is doomed.

Ji Feiyan gave Xiong Wei a playful glare, "Ah Wei, what nonsense are you spouting?"

As she spoke, Ji Feiyan reached out and gave Xiong Wei a hard pinch, causing him to grimace in pain.

Reflecting on the conversation, Ye Shi commented, "Senior Ji, if even Senior Xiong fears you, the bandits must be terrified of you too."

Xiong Wei glared at Ye Shi, "Who said I'm afraid of her?"

Ye Shi muttered under his breath, "Clearly, you are. Just won't admit it."

Xiong Wei turned livid, while Ji Feiyan's face bloomed with laughter.

"Ye Shi, you jest. How could I, a mere woman, not be afraid when encountering bandits? But with Ah Wei by my side, I feel secure," Ji Feiyan said, leaning affectionately against Xiong Wei's shoulder.

Watching the interaction, Mu Chen stifled a chuckle. Xiong Wei looked as if he had a ticking time bomb on his shoulder, rather than a beautiful woman.

Xiong Wei rolled his eyes again. Ji Feiyan was infamous for causing trouble, with countless bandits having met their end at her hands. Just hearing her name would send many running.

...

A melodious tune of stringed and wind instruments drifted over.

Ye Shi raised an eyebrow, "What's that sound?"

"It's the 'Rainbow Skirt and Feathered Robe' melody. Likely from the Lu family's old man. That geezer always had a penchant for such eccentricities," Ji Feiyan remarked, a hint of annoyance in her gaze.

Ye Shi looked out the window, spotting a magnificent flying ship passing by.

Atop the ship, over a dozen women, each playing instruments like zithers and lutes, produced the entrancing music.

"So many beauties!" Ye Shi murmured.

"They are all concubines of the Lu family patriarch," Ji Feiyan remarked casually, looking disinterested.

Ye Shi blinked in surprise, "So many! All of them? How does he manage?"

Ji Feiyan scoffed, "Is it really that many? There are only a dozen or so here. In total, the Lu family elder has perhaps a hundred."

Ye Shi's eyes widened in astonishment.

Ji Feiyan chuckled softly at his reaction.

At the level of the Lu family elder, having many offsprings was crucial. It's not uncommon for powerful warriors like him to have numerous concubines. In contrast, bachelors like Xiong Wei were a rarity.

Ye Shi gazed enviously at the ship outside, "That ship looks really powerful!"

Ji Feiyan's ship surpassed Xiong Wei's by a large margin, but the one outside even outshone Ji Feiyan's.

"That's a Level Six ship, worth 300 million. Both its defense and speed far exceed mine. Naturally, it's impressive," Ji Feiyan explained calmly.

"So it's a Level Six! No wonder..." Ye Shi couldn't help but glance at Xiong Wei.

Despite both being of the same powerful warrior status, while one enjoyed the company of many women, Xiong Wei remained a bachelor. One was immensely wealthy, while Xiong Wei was relatively poor. Aside from perhaps being a bit heavier, Xiong Wei seemed inferior in all respects.

Annoyed, Xiong Wei shot Ye Shi a glare, "What are you staring at?"

Though Ye Shi remained silent, his expressive eyes gave away his thoughts.

Ye Shi looked meaningfully at Xiong Wei, sighed, and remarked, "Senior Xiong, you really need to reflect on things." Being a powerful warrior and yet so down on his luck was quite a disgrace.

Xiong Wei: "..."

"Senior Ji, when you mentioned the elder from the Lu family, were you referring to Lu Yao's grandfather, Lu Xingfeng?" Mu Chen pondered and then inquired.

Ji Feiyan nodded, saying, "Indeed, while Lu Xingfeng has taken over a hundred consorts, few have borne him heirs. Lu Yao is the grandson he values most. Have either of you had any past grievance with Lu Yao? The stronger a cultivator, the harder it is for them to have offspring."

Ye Shi shook his head, replying, "No."

Ji Feiyan remarked nonchalantly, "Good. The elder of the Lu family is quite vindictive."

Ji Feiyan had heard that Mu Chen and Ye Shi had a conflict with Lu Yao in a secret realm. Even more, the life-saving token the Lu family elder left on Lu Yao had been activated, shielding him from an attack. She wondered how they had managed to escape.

…………

Gazing out of the porthole, Ye Shi frowned, murmuring, "I hope that old man from the Lu family doesn’t share our same intentions."

Ji Feiyan agreed, "Most likely, they do."

Ye Shi silently hoped that Lu Yao was not present.

No sooner had this thought crossed his mind than Lu Yao and Zhuang Yu emerged from the cabin across, entering Ye Shi's line of sight.

Seeing Zhuang Yu, Ye Shi felt an overwhelming sense of despair.

Gritting his teeth, Ye Shi had hoped that by parting ways with Zhuang Yu and Lu Yao, their paths would never cross again. Yet here they were, a twist of fate.

Noticing the abrupt change in Ye Shi's expression, Mu Chen followed his gaze, his face tensing up.

Lowering his head, Mu Chen clenched his fists, sensing that some unseen force was pulling them all together. If they couldn't avoid this confrontation, they might have to eliminate Zhuang Yu and Lu Yao just as they did with Lan Ruofeng.

"Lu Yao is with that old monster from the Lu family, and that pretty boy Zhuang Yu is there too!" A murderous glint flashed in Xiong Wei's eyes.

Ye Shi's face darkened, his hands balling into fists.

"Lu Yao has advanced to a four-star martial spirit, and Zhuang Yu is a three-star. Be vigilant, Ye Shi. Don’t let them get ahead," Xiong Wei remarked, having sensed their energies.

Ye Shi nodded seriously, "I understand."

To think Zhuang Yu was a three-star martial spirit – his progress was swift. Ye Shi's eyes bore into Zhuang Yu with intensity.

Ji Feiyan looked at Ye Shi, barely holding back a chuckle.

…………

From across, Lu Yao's voice rang out, "That's Elder Ji Feiyan's vessel. Elder, would you care to join us?"

Ji Feiyan responded loudly, "Young Lu, you're becoming more handsome by the day! Alas, I'm preoccupied and cannot join."

An odd look flashed across Lu Yao's face upon hearing Ji Feiyan's words.

"Is Ji Feiyan really that formidable?" Zhuang Yu asked, puzzled.

Lu Yao furrowed his brow, "That woman... she’s an enigma and a legend."

His grandfather once held a fascination for Ji Feiyan. Dominating such a rebellious woman was a dream for many. However, the formidable Ji family stood behind her, so his grandfather never acted.

"Lu Yao, come back," the voice of Lu Xingfeng beckoned.

Hearing this, Lu Yao hesitated before returning to his cabin.

"Grandfather, Ji Feiyan says she's occupied and won't be joining us," relayed Lu Yao.

Lu Xingfeng smiled faintly, "She has guests; it’s only natural she'd decline."

"Guests?"

Lu Xingfeng nodded, a hint of malice gleaming in his eyes, "It's Xiong Wei."

Lu Yao was taken aback. The matter between Ji Feiyan and Xiong Wei was once the talk of the town. He thought their connection had ended years ago.

"Besides Xiong Wei, Ji Feiyan is accompanied by two youths, both four-star martial spirits. They must be the ones you mentioned, Mu Chen and Ye Shi," Lu Xingfeng said calmly.

"Both are four-star martial spirits?" asked Lu Yao.

Lu Xingfeng confirmed, "Yes."

Lu Yao's expression shifted. When he had just ascended, Mu Chen was newly minted as a martial spirit. Now, both Mu Chen and Ye Shi were his formidable rivals.

Zhuang Yu lowered his gaze, a shadow passing over his eyes. To think that Ye Shi was already a four-star martial spirit, just when he believed he had surpassed him.

"Is the 'Body Tempering Technique' with Mu Chen?" Lu Xingfeng inquired.

Lu Yao acknowledged, "Yes, my oversight led to its loss."

Lu Xingfeng shook his head, saying nonchalantly, "It's fine, there will always be another chance. Time is on our side."

Lu Xingfeng's spaceship was a Level 6, significantly faster than Ji Feiyan's. In no time at all, Ye Shi could no longer see the silhouette of the other ship.

"They've left," Mu Chen said, his brows deeply furrowed.

Ji Feiyan sighed softly, "The speed of a Level 6 ship can't be matched by a Level 5."

Ye Shi tilted his head playfully, "Elder Xiong, look at them go!"

Xiong Wei rolled his eyes, replying, "Look at what?"

Shrugging, Ye Shi quipped, "Just see how formidable they are! They've left you in the dust so fast. To be a true Martial Emperor, one must reach such levels. Compared to that, you seem like a pretender."

Xiong Wei glared at Ye Shi, thinking, "Why did I ever bring him along? Was it just to get annoyed?"

"If you're so capable, why don't you rise to their level?" Xiong Wei retorted.

"Elder Xiong, you underestimate me. I might be young now, but I'll surely surpass him in the future. I won't end up like you," Ye Shi confidently stated.

Xiong Wei: "..."

Mu Chen stood by the ship's railing, letting the wind ruffle his hair, his eyes shimmering with deep emotion.

After Lan Ruofeng's demise, Lu Yao would be next. As long as the 'Baiduan Body Technique' was with him, Lu Yao wouldn't let him go.

Fate had made them adversaries.

Approaching Mu Chen, Ye Shi softly asked, "Mu Chen, are you okay?"

Mu Chen smiled gently at Ye Shi, extending his arms towards him.

Ye Shi's cheeks flushed as he stepped into Mu Chen's embrace.

Holding Ye Shi tightly, Mu Chen whispered, "Shi, I'll take care of those who hurt you."

"Huh?" Ye Shi looked up, puzzled.

Mu Chen grinned, pulling Ye Shi closer, "Just stay by my side."