Chapter 247
Chapter 247
The demoness Qiu Yao'er strolled slowly through Raging Tide City. Wherever she went, people fell deathly silent or cleared a path as if she were invisible. No matter how crowded or noisy the street, every man fled at her approach. They dared not come within ten meters of her, fearing her as they would a ghost.
She paid them no mind. She wasn't carrying her broadsword, nor did she have any followers with her. Qiu Yao'er was simply lost in thought as she walked.
At the age of eight, she had been found drifting at sea, all memories of her life before then gone. The only thing that remained was a gentle voice of unknown origin. She vaguely recalled someone telling her stories as she was about to fall asleep. She couldn't guess who it was, but the owner of that voice had become the most important person in her life.
No one had ever entered her heart. She cared for no one, not even her master. Only that indistinct voice carried the most significant weight in her life.
Before falling into the sea, she had suffered a severe blow to the head, erasing everything. The only thing left in her memory was that she was waiting for someone. She didn't know if this person was a man or a woman, dead or alive; she couldn't remember at all. But because of that vague memory, and because Qiu Tianwei had saved her life, she had remained bound to Raging Tide City for twenty long years.
*I won't wait. I won't wait anymore! At least, I won't wait in Raging Tide City any longer.*
If the person was meant to return, it wouldn't matter where she was. If they weren't, it would be pointless for her to keep waiting in Raging Tide City. Her fleet, composed of her two thousand personal female warriors, was fully assembled. Several hundred of the unfortunate women who had lived in the white fortress had also asked to follow her.
Qiu Yao'er didn't even bid Shen Lang farewell. What was the point of saying goodbye to someone she would never see again? But she had lived in this city for twenty years, so she took one last walk around as a farewell to the city itself.
*From this day on, I, Qiu Yao'er, will wander the world. I will follow my dreams and explore the unknown.*
Though she was pregnant, who was to say a pregnant woman couldn't sail? As someone with an extraordinary bloodline, she feared nothing. She decided that in eight months, she would find a new land, dock there, and give birth. After having the child, she would continue her dream of exploring the world.
Raging Tide City was vast, but with her long strides, she completed her circuit in no time. At the docks, countless women stood aboard twenty ships, looking back at the city with reluctance to part. They were sad to leave, but wherever Qiu Yao'er was, that was their home. No matter what, they would follow her to the end.
"Let's go!"
"Wait, wait… Are you really leaving in such a hurry?"
Shen Lang called out as he ran up to her. Qiu Yao'er didn't answer.
"What if Zhang Chong and Qiu Hu come looking for me? Without a fierce general like you by my side, I won't feel safe. Why don't we go to Thousand Winds Island and get rid of Qiu Hu first?"
Qiu Yao'er gritted her teeth. She had no grudge against Zhang Chong, and she had eliminated Zhang Jin for three reasons: first, to vent her anger at the time; second, because he had attacked her; and third, to avenge Xu Qianqian. What did any of that have to do with you, Shen Lang? Qiu Yao'er's relationship with Qiu Hu wasn't bad. Since Qiu Hu preferred men, he had never been improper or disrespectful to her, so she didn't dislike him.
"Are you really going?"
Shen Lang sighed.
"Yes. If you have something to say, say it quickly. Don't waste my time."
*How about a friendly hug before you go?*
Of course, Shen Lang could only think those words. If he had said them out loud, he might not have been beaten to death, but he surely would have had a few bones broken. Shen Lang took out a copy of *Journey to the West* and *Battle Through the Heavens* and handed them to Qiu Yao'er.
"Even if you hate me, don't torture yourself by suppressing your desires. You should still read interesting books."
Qiu Yao'er accepted the two thick volumes.
"What is *Battle Through the Heavens* about?"
"It's about a genius who gets his engagement broken off by his fiancée, then awakens, turns everything upside down, eliminates his fiancée, and sleeps with her master."
Xu Qianqian, standing beside them, rolled her eyes.
"Sounds good. It seems interesting."
Qiu Yao'er took the two books. What she didn't know was that neither of them was complete. *Journey to the West* had only ten thousand words written, and *Battle Through the Heavens* had less than a million.
In any case, just as Qiu Yao'er reached a crucial moment, the book would end. At that point, the demoness would surely grind her teeth in frustration. Shen Lang's spirits lifted just imagining it. Being a man of little means, this was the only kind of petty revenge he could exact on Qiu Yao'er.
*Hah! You demoness, cutting ties so decisively and leaving so heartlessly. I'll make you remember me for the rest of your life. Whenever you think of me, Qiu Yao'er... you'll want to beat me to death.*
Qiu Yao'er left with the two books. Shen Lang wanted to tell her to take care of the child, but he knew she wouldn't listen, so he didn't bother. Qiu Yao'er was already acting as if the child in her womb had nothing to do with him. Before boarding the ship, Qiu Yao'er looked at Xu Qianqian and said.
"Qianqian, come with me."
Xu Qianqian instinctively glanced at Shen Lang. She was struggling with an overwhelming sense of anxiety, which had started the day before. With Zhang Jin dead, she no longer sought revenge. So, what was she to do now? Qiu Yao'er was her absolute idol, the savior who had rescued her soul, the one who had guided her life, a beacon illuminating her path forward. So, her initial intention was to follow Qiu Yao'er.
But… looking at the women around Qiu Yao'er, they seemed to lack any sense of self, like barnacles or clams clinging to a ship. Qiu Yao'er was so dazzling that any woman who got too close lost her own identity.
*I worship you, I look up to you, so I will watch you from afar.*
She looked at Shen Lang. At least this man felt a bit more real. Seeing Xu Qianqian look at Shen Lang, Qiu Yao'er frowned. She didn't want Xu Qianqian to follow such an unreliable man. Qianqian had just escaped the clutches of one man; was she going to fall into the clutches of another? Xu Qianqian boldly met Shen Lang's gaze, seeking his opinion.
*Qiu Yao'er wants to take me with her. Do you want to stop me?*
Shen Lang avoided Xu Qianqian's gaze and said.
"Then you should stay here."
"Stay and be your concubine?"
Shen Lang said gently.
"Concubine? Of course not. How could I ever wrong you? Qianqian, I wonder if you know this saying: 'If love between two people shall last long, why need they stay together from dawn till dusk?' The so-called marriage between a man and a woman is merely a constraint of worldly people. We are not ordinary people, so why must we follow such troublesome rituals?"
"You mean you're too afraid of Jin Mulan to take me as a concubine, so you want me to be your mistress on the outside?"
The word "mistress" was also something Shen Lang had taught her.
*Ugh! I suppose you could interpret it that way. But when you put it like that, I sound like such a scumbag. This woman is never ambiguous. You can't be so precise about everything in life. They say it's hard for smart people to be happy, and that's why you're not.*
Qiu Yao'er said from the side.
"Qianqian, just say the word, and I'll beat that scoundrel to death for you."
Xu Qianqian burst out laughing with a "pfft."
"It's not like this is the first time I've realized he's a scumbag."
"Are you really not coming with me?"
Xu Qianqian shook her head.
"You saved my soul and gave me a new life. To repay that kindness, I will live my own life to the fullest. The fall of the Xu Clan's reputation was due to my father's vain ambitions. I will go back home, rebuild the Xu family business, and restore our family's fortune. Not all of my family is dead. My grandmother and younger brother are still alive, and I must protect them."
Shen Lang, of course, knew that Xu Qianqian had just been teasing him. She had no intention of becoming his concubine or mistress. She intended to transform into an independent businesswoman. While she might not become someone like Qiu Yao'er, she would at least try to emulate her.
*From this day on, I, Xu Qianqian, will never rely on a man again. Zhang Jin was not trustworthy. A scumbag like Shen Lang is charming... but he can't be trusted either. I, Xu Qianqian, will rely only on myself!*
Qiu Yao'er bent down and voluntarily hugged Xu Qianqian, then turned away. A short while later, Qiu Yao'er's fleet departed. As the sun set in the west, the entire fleet disappeared over the sea. The demoness was gone. The legend of Raging Tide City's invincible warrior was gone. She was off to explore the world she desired and fulfill her dreams. Left alone on the pier, Xu Qianqian wept silently.
* * *
On the highest floor of the fortress on Thousand Winds Island.
Zhang Chunhua knelt before her father. Zhang Chong, too, seemed to have aged ten years; his back, once ramrod straight, was now bent. He sat hunched over, motionless. Night had already fallen, but they hadn't lit any candles. It was so dark you couldn't see your hand in front of your face; only the occasional beam from the lighthouse across the sea illuminated the room. The room was so quiet that only the sound of the waves outside and Zhang Chunhua's sobs could be heard.
"Father, we've lost Raging Tide City. Brother is… probably dead."
Zhang Chunhua wailed, clutching her father's legs.
"I know, I know..."
Zhang Chong reached out and stroked his daughter's head. His voice was hoarse as if his throat had been scorched. Zhang Chunhua gritted her teeth and said.
"I swear it. I will avenge my brother, and I will tear Shen Lang to pieces."
"No. Do not seek revenge. In politics, there are only enemies, not mortal foes. Tomorrow, I will go to Raging Tide City and negotiate with Shen Lang to put an end to this matter!"
* * *
After a tumultuous day, Raging Tide City grew quiet once more. Although it had undergone the great upheaval of a change in leadership, the people of the city slept peacefully. After all, no one who lived in Raging Tide City was faint of heart. But just then, the sharp ringing of a bell sounded once more from the docks and the lighthouse. Instantly, everyone in the fortress awoke, grabbing their weapons and preparing for battle, while the merchants in the city pricked up their ears.
*Whose fleet is attacking this time? Could it be Zhang Chong? That can't be right. The Jin Clan has already taken control of the main fortress. Even if Zhang Chong brought an army of ten thousand, he'd have no chance of taking it. Besides, where would he even get ten thousand troops? He's not a madman like Qiu Yao'er who would attack indiscriminately... What on earth is happening?*
But then, the sound of the bell from the docks swiftly changed from a piercing alarm to a pleasant, gentle chime. It was a signal that the approaching fleet was not an enemy, but an ally.