Chapter 17: The Desire to Kill Yang Yun!
Stone sculptures lined every side of the square—lions, tigers, dragons, phoenixes, qilins, and black turtles were everywhere, each one showcasing the profound heritage of the Duke’s estate.
In the center of the square, a woman in a white dress, ethereal and otherworldly, drew every eye. At the sight of this strange beast, Shen Yan could not help but recall the day this creature discovered he had hidden a Crimson-Gold Silver-Eyed Fish.
Looking at the woman before him, as cold and distant as a celestial maiden from the Moon Palace, Shen Yan felt not a trace of wicked desire. In his eyes, she radiated a vast, overwhelming pressure that made his heart clench with unease.
“Compared to a few days ago, the fleeting flashes of lightning around her have vanished, but she appears even more imposing. Has she learned to control her power?” he wondered.
Just as these thoughts flitted through his mind, Yang Yun’s gaze settled on him.
“So you are the servant who caught two Crimson-Gold Silver-Eyed Fish in succession?”
Her voice was frosty and aloof, momentarily startling Shen Yan.
“Yes, that’s me.”
“What is your name?”
“Replying to the young lady, my name is Shen Yan.”
“Shen Yan?” Yang Yun fell silent for a moment, then nodded.
“To be able to catch two innate spirit creatures in a row, luck must be on your side. From now on, your primary task will be to search for such spirit creatures for me. As long as you serve faithfully, I will not withhold my rewards.”
Her words made the eyes of every servant laboring around the square brim with envy. Shen Yan appeared utterly ordinary, yet the young lady had singled him out. Such fortune was enough to make the others burn with jealousy.
For Shen Yan, however, as Yang Yun spoke, the Heavenly Emperor’s Seal on his chest grew faintly warm, instantly alerting him to the powerful malice emanating from her.
“This spiteful woman is up to no good. Is she planning to use me as an ingredient for her alchemy?”
Among the servants, there were always dark rumors circulating: that some nobles in the Yang estate enjoyed eating human hearts and drinking blood. Some, it was whispered, would even use people to refine medicines or as fodder for their cultivation.
No one doubted these tales, for servants who had committed no crime often vanished without a trace. Besides, Ming Yue had once threatened to cook him alive.
“Thank you, young lady, for your favor. To serve you is the greatest honor of my life,” he replied, all smiles and deference on the surface, though his heart remained utterly unmoved. This foolish woman was simply inviting a wolf into her home.
Once I’ve uncovered your secrets, I’ll set the Yang estate ablaze, slaughter every man, and sell every woman into the pleasure houses—then you’ll know what it means to live a fate worse than death.
“Just do your work well from now on,” Yang Yun said, dismissing him. He was nothing more than a treasure-hunting boy; once he was wrung dry, she would simply let him fend for himself.
She strode forward, a crowd of stewards and servants flocking to follow. Though still a servant, Shen Yan now enjoyed the young lady’s special attention and was spared from menial labor. He obediently followed at the rear of the group as they headed toward the sea.
The Jade Immortal Sect was an overseas immortal order, its base located on the ocean itself. As a cultivator, Yang Yun could travel there alone without need of a ship. However, the sect had assigned her quarters on Still Cloud Island, between the East Sea and Jinzhou Bay, and since she was bringing six mortals along, a large vessel was required.
At the edge of Jinzhou Bay, the nobles of the Yang family stood on the shore, bidding Yang Yun a cheerful farewell. Amidst this galaxy of admirers, Yang Yun, dressed in flowing white, seemed nothing short of celestial.
“Father, with me watching over Fourth Brother at the Jade Immortal Sect, you need not worry,” she assured Yang Zeh. Then, turning to gaze at the boundless sea, her bright eyes flashed with resolve.
“On this journey to Still Cloud Island, I know many are waiting for me to fail. But am I one to cower before adversity?”
“To the ship!”
With characteristic decisiveness, Yang Yun refused her brother’s offer to send guards with her. As a cultivator at the peak of Qi Refinement, if she truly found herself in danger, what help could mere mortals offer? More likely, she would have to protect them instead.
Shen Yan fell in line at the back as they filed onto the ship—seven in all. Yang Yun, as a personal disciple of the Jade Immortal Sect, was naturally the leader. Of the remaining six, all but Shen Yan were scions of noble houses; their roles had been assigned—one as an outer-sect disciple, five as menial servants.
Yang Lie, Yang Yun’s own brother, was of course given the status of outer-sect disciple.
“Once inside the Jade Immortal Sect, your past identities will be as fleeting as smoke. Within the sect, there are menial, outer, inner, and personal disciples. If you wish to live, never provoke those above you. Even I may not be able to save you,” Yang Yun declared sternly from the deck, laying out the rules.
“Now, the five menial disciples will take charge of the ship and set sail for Still Cloud Island.”
At her command, four of the young nobles hurried to the task, fumbling awkwardly with the ship’s controls. Pampered as they were, none had ever sailed a ship before, and chaos quickly ensued.
“Shen Yan, teach them how to sail,” Yang Yun ordered coldly. She had already notified their families to have them learn the basics of sailing, but clearly, though they understood the theory, none had bothered to practice. Such people were not worth cultivating; once at the Jade Immortal Sect, she would simply let them fend for themselves.
As their only support within the sect, Yang Yun’s first command had been met with such indifference that her disappointment was palpable. In that moment, she resolutely sealed off any hope these four might have had for advancement in the immortal path.
“Yes, young lady!” Shen Yan replied respectfully, then turned to the four bewildered scions.
“Come with me.”
They quickly followed; after all, to be chosen for the Jade Immortal Sect, none of them could be fools. Though they resented taking orders from a mere servant, none dared voice their displeasure.
“These are the sails. With the wind behind us, raising them will increase our speed…”
“This is the anchor. If we encounter storms and rough seas, drop it to steady the ship…”
And so on—Shen Yan assigned tasks to each, then took the helm himself, guiding the ship in the direction Yang Yun had indicated.
“Take me to the place where you caught the Crimson-Gold Silver-Eyed Fish.”
Lost in concentration at the helm, Shen Yan was startled to find Yang Yun suddenly at his side with this abrupt command.
His heart stirred—this woman was even greedier than he’d imagined, or perhaps the value of the Crimson-Gold Silver-Eyed Fish exceeded his expectations.
“Yes!” he replied with deference, while inwardly scheming whether he might repeat his old trick, and send Yang Yun and Steward Liu to a watery grave together.
Even as he considered this, he analyzed his chances of success should he dare confront Yang Yun directly.