Sword Aura to the Heavens-Chapter 261 - 256: Traitor

Wenren Qiu frowned deeply. This was his first sea expedition and such bad luck to encounter bandits?

Or perhaps, were they after him?

He looked toward Tuozi, noticing that Tuozi was gazing in a certain direction. Not only him, but those who stood up were also looking at a corner ahead.

In that corner, a figure had its back to them, drinking alone.

The figure raised a cup, pouring the liquor into his mouth, then turned around to face the crowd.

This person wore simple, unassuming cloth clothes and a bamboo hat. Sitting upright, he removed the hat and tore off a human skin mask from his face, revealing his true appearance.

It was a middle-aged man over forty, with a scar on his face and a few cold glints in his dark eyes.

"Wei Zhou." Wenren Qiu recognized him when he saw the face.

"Wei Zhou..." Many people had heard of this name. Wei Zhou was from Yazhou City, and the Wei Family was a renowned family in Yazhou.

But a year ago, the Wei Family suffered a tragedy, having colluded with demons to rob ships and was confiscated by the government. Wei Zhou escaped.

Now, Wei Zhou appeared here. Was he coming for Wenren Qiu?

"Does Master Wenren recognize me?" Wei Zhou placed both hands on either side of the table, his eyes sharp and filled with hostility.

"You are a wanted criminal by the court, of course I recognize you," Wenren Qiu said. "A year ago your Wei Family colluded with demons to rob ships, but you managed to escape. Today, are you using the same old trick?"

"Officials have two mouths; as you accuse me of colluding with demons, then not colluding would be a waste." Wei Zhou took a sip from his cup, saying, "Yazhou Governor Mansion exterminated my entire family, so today, I’ll take you as my companion to the grave."

So, it was indeed Wenren Qiu he was after...

"Mr. Wei, since it’s a personal vendetta between you two, I’m just passing by. May I leave?" A person stood up and said. No sooner had the words left his mouth than a flash of blood appeared, and his head was severed from behind.

The crowd erupted in chaos. Many people’s mana was flowing, and they glared at Wei Zhou with ill intent.

"Stay calm."

Tuozi squinted his eyes, scanning the crowd. Under his gaze, everyone felt extremely uncomfortable, with many looking quite distressed.

Were they so unlucky today as to lose their lives here?

"Is it only these people you have?" Wenren Qiu asked. These people, it seemed, couldn’t hold back the cultivators on the ship, right?

Behind him, two cultivators stood up simultaneously, one on the left and one on the right, standing behind Wenren Qiu. They were both cultivators of the Condensed Core Realm.

At the same time, others entered the hall from outside, the ship’s escorts led by an old cultivator, also in the Condensed Core Realm.

"Might you have broken the rules of my ship?" The old man’s aura spread out, and those following him were not weak, either. Along with the cultivators on the ship, there were five or six Condensed Core Realm cultivators in total.

This somewhat reassured those on the ship; such a lineup was already quite strong and should be able to deal with the bandits, right?

"Little Meng, come over here." Sun Zhao said to Yan Qingmeng beside him.

"Okay..." Yan Qingmeng replied softly, moving next to Sun Zhao, with Tan Yue naturally following.

"Mr. Yang." Yan Qingmeng called out to Li Fan.

Li Fan understood her intention for him to come over, he nodded and smiled in acknowledgment but did not get up. Instead, he watched the ongoing conflict.

Yan Qingmeng was taken aback; this person remained so calm he could still smile.

Li Fan glanced outside, and moments later, the crowd heard the sound of fighting and screams from outside. The old cultivator of the Condensed Core Realm frowned and looked back.

Bam...

A figure flew inside, crashing into the crowd behind him. He quickly dodged aside to see a figure fall to the ground, flesh blurred.

"Demon Energy."

The old man’s face turned grim, then he saw a group of figures entering.

At the front was a young man looking around thirty, with horns on his head, skin like scale armor on his face and neck, long green hair, and eyes filled with sinister charm.

"Jiao..." Li Fan took one look at him. The young man walked forward and sat beside Wei Zhou, asking, "How do we divide?"

"We already agreed before; I only take a part to appease my brothers. The rest is yours." Wei Zhou said, "Provided you help me kill them."

"Does that even need to be said?" The Jiao Demon replied.

"Jiao Demon Island." Wenren Qiu stared at the young man, guessing his origins.

This Jiao Demon Island was one of the many islands of the West Sea. The island master was a Jiao Demon King, a Six Realm Great Demon, known for causing trouble in the West Sea, which even his father found hard to handle.

"Refreshing." The Jiao Demon smiled, then turned his mischievous eyes back to the crowd, thinking it would be a good feast.

Moreover, there were Condensed Core Realm cultivators that made for a substantial supplement.

His gaze paused on Lu Yuan, chuckling wickedly, "Indeed, human women are still the best-looking, with delicate skin, unlike those gaudy on the island."

Lu Yuan raised her brow slightly, a hint of coldness flashing through her clear eyes. Li Fan also narrowed his eyes and drained his cup of wine.

"Buzz..."

Suddenly, a flash of thunder light appeared, and a figure behind Wenren Qiu suddenly struck, wielding a Thunder Whip that resembled a purple thunder snake, exuding a destructive aura.

The Thunder Whip lashed out fiercely toward the Jiao Demon, a streak of thunder light splitting the air.

Yet, from behind the Jiao Demon, an Old Demon stepped forward. The water surged, transforming into a water veil, and the Thunder Whip swept down, striking the water sphere without finding purchase.

"Boom..." Suddenly, in the hall, thunder rampaged. A cultivator in the Condensed Core Realm made a move, and in an instant, thunder snakes raged in the sky, engulfing the entire hall in thunder light, those Thunder Whips slashing down like thunderous swords.

Meanwhile, the water sphere spread out aggressively. When the Thunder Whip slashed through the waves, its power was diminished, landing on the enormous turtle shell with a thunderous blast, yet unable to break through the turtle shell’s defense.

A massive wave surged out, engulfing the cultivator wielding the Thunder Whip, covering his body. He tried to retreat, but it was as if he encountered a great resistance.

The Old Demon suddenly appeared before him, throwing a massive punch as sturdy as a turtle shell.

"Bang, bang..."

Continuous loud explosions sounded. The cultivator in the Condensed Core Realm was sent flying, while simultaneously the hall’s tables and chairs were overturned, and the ceiling was shattered by the terrifying wave’s impact.

Outside, demon energy filled the air. Everyone looked up to find demon silhouettes everywhere above them.

In front of Li Fan, Sword Intent transformed into a Sword Veil, blocking the water waves before dissipating.

The surroundings were already in chaos.

"A Sword Cultivator?" Not far away, Yan Qingmeng glanced at Li Fan’s side. Was that Sword Intent just now?

"Wenren Qiu, your father exterminated my Wei Family. Now, be prepared to die." Wei Zhou spoke coldly, standing up. A violent aura swept out from him.

He moved forward, raising his hand to grab Wenren Qiu. But another cultivator in the Condensed Core Realm stepped forward from behind Wenren Qiu, flames surging out, his body like a furnace with a scorching heat wave spreading.

Wei Zhou clashed his palm against him, the resulting storm sweeping around. Wei Zhou said coldly, "Old thief, you were involved too. Die."

He pressed his palm hard, but the opponent soared up into the sky, rushing outside. Wei Zhou also shot up, killing intent overwhelming.

"Young Master, can we start killing now?" the Sea Demon on the ceiling asked the seated youth. The Jiao Demon seemed to enjoy it, smiling as he said, "No rush. Let’s give Wei Zhou a chance to kill to his heart’s content today."

"My Prefecture and Jiao Demon Island have no deep grudges. Aren’t you afraid of court retaliation for doing this?" Wenren Qiu looked at the Jiao Demon and said.

"Threatening me?" The youth laughed, "Once you’re all dead, who will know? The West Sea is so vast, can the court manage it all?"

"Jiao, there’s no need for a deadly fight," Chi Yu beside Wenren Qiu said with a smile. "Perhaps we could cooperate. What Wei Zhou can offer, we can too, without the risk from the court. What do you think?"

"Oh?" The Jiao Demon’s eyes revealed a mocking hint, "And what can you offer me?"

Wenren Qiu looked at Chi Yu, and Chi Yu replied, "Given the current situation, we must find a way to survive."

He continued, "What Wei Zhou can do, we can do too. Besides, there might be opportunities for future cooperation."

"Chi Yu..." Someone angrily looked at Chi Yu. Is this guy colluding with demons too?

"Mr. Wenren, don’t forget your identity. You are the Lord Governor’s son," someone expressed concern that Wenren Qiu might agree with Chi Yu.

"Interesting." The Jiao Demon showed a playful grin, humans, tsk...

"In that case, first bring her over." The Jiao Demon pointed at Lu Yuan’s side, feeling it might be amusing to toy with these humans a bit.

Chi Yu looked at Lu Yuan, demons were indeed lustful.

However, even he was tempted by such a girl, let alone a demon.

"Jiao has a good eye. This human girl is indeed a rare beauty. I will bring her over for Jiao to enjoy." Chi Yu stepped forward, walking towards Li Fan and the others.

Huang Xiong had already stood up, his eyes blazing with anger.

Li Fan also put down his wine cup, looked up at Chi Yu.

"Miss, you heard it. Will you go yourself, or should I act?" Chi Yu looked at Lu Yuan and said.

Yan Qingmeng watched nervously, but in the current situation, she had no way to intervene. Tan Yue didn’t dare to speak as well, only contemplating how to escape today.

"Are you afraid of demons but not me?" Li Fan raised his head, looking at Chi Yu and asked.

Chi Yu paused, glanced at Li Fan. At such an age, even with high talent, how strong could his cultivation be?

Li Fan raised his arm and made a grasping motion in the air. A dragon roar was heard, and a Jiao Dragon’s phantom appeared, its massive claw reaching for Chi Yu with the Jiao Dragon Capture Technique.

Chi Yu only realized it when it was too late. His head was gripped by the Jiao Dragon’s claw, which seemed almost tangible, lifting his body into the air.

Chi Yu’s face turned pale, struggling but unable to break free.

"Chi Yu..." The person behind him moved forward, but Li Fan grasped through the air with force. With a dragon roar, the claw smashed Chi Yu’s head into the ground, blood splattering, killing him instantly.

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