Chapter 977: Chapter 223 Full House
On the road, Jiang Wang still didn’t know that his creditor had chased him to Eternal Winter Island. It wasn’t that he was intentionally defaulting; he simply hadn’t thought of it temporarily.
After returning from the Lost World, his attention had been focused entirely on the End of the World Platform. He initially only recalled the debts that had occurred there.
Binghuang Island lies to the north of the Near Sea Archipelago. The place is covered with snow all year round, and the glaciers do not melt.
Frankly speaking, it is a bitterly cold region, some distance away from the thriving areas of the Near Sea Archipelago. The resources there are relatively sparse. The Shimen Li Clan started developing overseas rather late.
Unlike the Da Ze Tian Clan, which was among the first to respond to Qi Ting’s call for overseas expansion and developed the best among the aristocratic families.
As a latecomer, when other powers were locked in fierce conflicts, the Shimen Li Clan chose a different path, starting from the edges.
But only a family like that from Shimen County, forged in harsh conditions, would possess the resilience to face a bitterly cold region and the courage to develop barren lands.
On the unyielding glacial ice, they carved out the future for a top-tier family.
Now, Binghuang Island had been developed well. Moreover, the environment exceptionally suited Li Fengyao’s Divine Skills, facilitating her cultivation. Hence, she almost visited Binghuang Island every year, and now she was essentially managing the island.
The dragonbone ship headed north.
The fate of Jiang Wang and Li Longchuan began with that Qiushan Bow. They hadn’t spent much time alone together privately, as they were always accompanied by other friends. This joint voyage was a rare experience.
Jiang Wang, a veteran of countless battles, and Li Longchuan, with his deep family learning, also came from a Military Clan. His experiences were certainly not few.
The two sat cross-legged on the deck, facing the sea wind and sky. Whether discussing cultivation or combat, they always had something to talk about.
"Speaking of which, Elder Qin Zhen of Diao Hai Building was also extremely lethal in his youth..." Li Longchuan spoke as usual, but his eyes glanced towards the cabin.
Jiang Wang immediately picked up the signal—there was something going on in the cabin!
Li Longchuan possessed the Candle micronotice Divine Skills, and Jiang Wang never doubted his keen sense of perception.
"If even someone from the Military Clan like you says he was lethal, then he must really be severe..."
As Jiang Wang spoke, he responded with his eyes to Li Longchuan, indicating that he was ready. He continued, "Isn’t she the second elder among the Elder Jinghai?"
No sooner had the last word fallen than clank!
The sword was unsheathed as Jiang Wang burst into the cabin!
Considering the sailors on the other side of the cabin, he did not start with a wide-range Dao Technique.
Instead, a semi-transparent arrow shadow flew past Jiang Wang. With a thought, Li Longchuan sent an arrow to scout ahead!
However, the moment he broke down the cabin door,
a panicked voice cried out: "Lord Jiang, it’s me!"
The haggard middle-aged woman curled up, shivering, was indeed an acquaintance—elder Fan Qingqing of the Five Immortal Sect!
Jiang Wang stopped and held his sword,
and Li Longchuan’s arrow of thought hovered before the woman—if she had uttered a sound a moment later, she would have been gone.
Fan Qingqing, at the Inner Mansion level, could be somewhat significant on Youxia Island but stood no chance against the attacks of either Jiang Wang or Li Longchuan, let alone against both of them.
What was surprising was... how had she managed to sneak into the cabin quietly, eluding Jiang Wang’s perception?
Though not as perceptive as Li Longchuan, Jiang Wang was still recognized as the strongest Inner Mansion overseas, much stronger than Fan Qingqing!
"How is it you?" Jiang Wang asked, frowning.
Fan Qingqing immediately had red eyes, on the verge of tears.
Before she could burst into tears, Jiang Wang quickly asked, "Elder Fan, what happened?"
The boatman steering the dragonbone boat at the other end of the cabin only realized something had gone wrong when he hurriedly picked up an iron oar and barged into the cabin. His eyes turned to Li Longchuan, "Young Master?"
Without special reasons and under circumstances that prohibit direct flight across domains, traveling from No Winter Island to Binghuang Island by boat required a considerable amount of time. Therefore, Li Longchuan had specifically arranged for a boat to come, crewed by locals from Binghuang Island.
Seeing Jiang Wang recognize the suddenly appearing middle-aged woman, Li Longchuan dispelled the Thought Arrow, waved his hand, and said, "It’s nothing. Go back to steering the boat."
The boatman turned and left the cabin without hesitation, following orders strictly as if he were in the military. This revealed a glimpse of the Shimen Li Clan’s family governance style.
However, the interruption allowed Jiang Wang to roughly guess what had happened.
The Five Immortal Sect had testified for Jiang Wang at the End of the World Platform, taking No Winter Island’s side to lean towards Qi Country by ties with No Winter Island, thus escaping from the exploitation of Granny Bizhu and her backing forces. But now... something had obviously changed.
There was no need to think deeply; this was most likely related to a retaliation orchestrated by the Gu Huaixin faction.
While he and Ji Shaoqing fought a life-and-death battle atop Tian Ya Platform, others were not idle, and the world still moved on with its earlier momentum.
And the protection promised by No Winter Island... obviously had not taken effect.
It might be that No Winter Island never really cared about the Five Immortal Sect, or perhaps No Winter Island was willing but powerless, or even, notwithstanding the willingness and power, they simply hadn’t had the chance to do anything yet.
Fan Qingqing, being of an advanced age and having experienced countless storms, wouldn’t normally lose control of her emotions. Turning red-eyed in front of a young man upon their meeting indicated nothing more than her seeking some sympathy to secure more aid. Jiang Wang’s intervention was timely, preventing her from continuing to gather her tears.
But she did not answer his question right away; instead, she glanced at the exceptionally heroic Li Longchuan.
Jiang Wang spoke directly, "This is my good friend Li Longchuan. Feel free to speak any matter."
"Carry on with your chat," Li Longchuan abruptly turned and walked towards the deck outside.
Jiang Wang trusted him, but he did not feel it necessary to pry into every secret of his friend. A mediocre woman of the Inner Mansion Realm who prized confidentiality deserved to have her wishes respected.
Once Li Longchuan left the cabin, Fan Qingqing pinched a magic gesture, isolating the cabin’s interior and exterior sounds.
The Five Immortal Sect specialized in "shape, sound, smell, taste, touch."
In terms of these aspects, they naturally had their unique insights.
All external sounds were completely isolated, creating an illusion of being inside a Silent Beheading Order.
"Even if he wanted to pry, no matter how exquisite your magic techniques are tenfold, they couldn’t stop him," Jiang Wang shook his head and asked, "What is the matter that you need to keep so secretive?"
Thump!
Fan Qingqing knelt down in the cabin, "Lord Jiang, I beg you to save me!"
This kneeling was truly sudden!
When she had first met Jiang Wang, she had addressed him as "little brother." But now, she could only dare to call him "Lord Jiang."
This change demonstrated both the difficult situation she was currently in and the extent of Jiang Wang’s reputation after the battle at Tian Ya Platform.
Jiang Wang promptly sidestepped, not accepting her kneeling.
No matter the reason, considering that she had testified for him at Tian Ya Platform and was much older than him, he simply could not bring himself to accept her kneeling; he merely gestured with his hand and said, "Tell me what happened first. Then I’ll know what I should do."
He did not promise to help.
Those who value trust, do not promise lightly.
Fan Qingqing didn’t rise, her eyes red as she said, "The Five Immortal Sect is finished!"
"The Sect’s grand hall has been destroyed,"
"All the elders are dead!"
"The Sect Leader is dead too!"
