Chapter 416 - 252: Subduing (Part 2)
Thankfully, this Demon Deer had come right to me. Since this beast had the ability to traverse water, it would make a perfect mount.
"I know you can understand me."
Fang Yue spoke slowly, his voice calm yet firm. "Now that I’ve defeated you, you have two choices. One, I kill you. Two, you submit to me."
The Cyan Cloud Deer lay on the ground. Though its eyes had lost their earlier luster, they remained focused on Fang Yue’s face, as if listening to his every word.
Fang Yue could sense the Spiritual nature of this Demon Beast and knew it was no ordinary animal.
Sure enough, a moment later, the instinct for survival took over. The Cyan Cloud Deer slowly lowered its head, signifying its submission.
For a Demon Beast, submitting to a stronger being wasn’t shameful. On the contrary, it could be an opportunity for survival and growth.
Seeing this, Fang Yue nodded in satisfaction.
He reached out and gently placed his palm on the Cyan Cloud Deer’s forehead. Then, he swung himself onto its back. A cool sensation passed through his clothes, bringing a wave of comfort.
The Cyan Cloud Deer didn’t resist in the slightest, as if it had already accepted Fang Yue as its new master.
It lay quietly on the ground, awaiting Fang Yue’s next command.
Fang Yue was secretly overjoyed. ’This Cyan Cloud Deer’s power is extraordinary. With its help, leaving this deserted island will be much easier.’
He gently patted the Cyan Cloud Deer’s neck and said in a low voice, "Let’s go. Take me back to the mainland."
The Cyan Cloud Deer seemed to understand Fang Yue’s words and slowly rose to its feet.
It strode forward, and soon they were on the surface of the sea.
The surrounding scenery flew past their eyes. Waves churned below, yet they failed to even wet the Cloud Deer’s hooves.
~~~~~~~~
Finally, at dusk on the third day, they arrived at a coastal city.
The city’s silhouette gradually sharpened in the twilight, revealing tall buildings, a bustling harbor, and an endless stream of people. Everything seemed so full of life.
As the sun set, they passed through the city gates and officially entered the coastal metropolis.
Riding atop the Cyan Cloud Deer, Fang Yue attracted the gazes of many passersby.
They stopped in their tracks, curiously sizing up the strange pair.
After all, the Demon Deer was simply too eye-catching.
Its body was tall and robust, yet its hooves made almost no sound on the ground, as if it were gliding.
Its cyan body shimmered with a mysterious light in the twilight, making it impossible to look away.
Fang Yue paid no mind to the stares of the crowd, instead heading straight for the Shui Long Bang’s headquarters in the city.
Fang Yue rode the Cyan Cloud Deer through the city’s bustling streets, making his way directly to the Shui Long Bang’s headquarters.
The Shui Long Bang was a powerful force in this coastal city. They controlled its maritime trade and had extensive influence.
Fang Yue had come this time specifically to cause trouble for the Shui Long Bang.
Back on the deserted island, the men from the Shui Long Bang had fled by boat, leaving him there all alone.
Although he had ultimately managed to subdue the Cyan Cloud Deer, the anger in his heart had not dissipated.
He wanted to know why the Shui Long Bang had tried to kill him, and who had given them the order.
The Shui Long Bang’s headquarters was located by the sea, a sprawling manor.
The manor was surrounded by high walls, the tops of which were lined with sharp iron spikes, giving it a heavily fortified appearance.
Perched atop the Cyan Cloud Deer, Fang Yue stared coldly at the Shui Long Bang manor before him.
The manor’s main gate was shut tight, with two burly men standing guard in front. They held long sabers, warily scanning any passersby.
"Get Zhou Kuisheng out here!" Fang Yue shouted coldly from the back of the Cyan Cloud Deer.
His voice wasn’t loud, but it carried clearly to the two burly men’s ears.
The two men were stunned for a moment. Then, they looked Fang Yue up and down, a contemptuous smile spreading across their faces.
"Kid, are you here to start something? Don’t you know where you are? How dare you act so wild here!"
One of them sneered and started walking over, his hand gripping his saber.
Fang Yue raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
’He knew there was no point in talking to these small-fry gatekeepers. Taking direct action was the most effective solution.’
With that thought, he gave a mental command, and the Cyan Cloud Deer shot forward like a bolt of cyan lightning.
The next moment, the sturdy manor gate was smashed to pieces.
Hearing the commotion, members of the Shui Long Bang swarmed out from all directions within the manor.
They brandished their weapons, surrounding Fang Yue and the Cyan Cloud Deer with expressions of anger and alarm.
"Who dares to trespass on the Shui Long Bang’s grounds?"
"Are you tired of living?"
The men shouted angrily, but not one of them dared to make a move.
They were all intimidated by the Cyan Cloud Deer’s divine and majestic aura, a flicker of fear rising uncontrollably in their hearts.
From his perch on the Cyan Cloud Deer, Fang Yue’s gaze swept over the crowd as he said coldly, "Have Zhou Kuisheng come out and see me!"
His voice carried an undeniable authority that made their hearts tremble.
"Our leader isn’t here! He’s not in the headquarters! If you need to find him, Sir, go to the Yan Chun Building in the city!"
Hearing this, Fang Yue’s eyebrow twitched slightly. ’Yan Chun Building?’
That was clearly the name of a brothel. He hadn’t expected the Shui Long Bang’s leader, Zhou Kuisheng, to be in such a place.
’Still, this was for the best. It would save him the trouble of searching.’
"Cyan Cloud Deer, we’re going to the Yan Chun Building," Fang Yue said flatly, patting the deer’s neck.
The Cyan Cloud Deer understood. With a stamp of its hooves, it shot away like a bolt of cyan lightning.
Seeing this, the men of the Shui Long Bang quickly parted to clear a path, not daring to obstruct them.
「Meanwhile.」
「In the Yan Chun Building.」
"My Lord, you’ve certainly come to the right person in Zhou Kuisheng. When it comes to sailing, there are no better ships than those of my Shui Long Bang within a thousand miles."
Zhou Kuisheng was speaking with a middle-aged man dressed in an opulent brocade robe.
The man was fair-skinned and beardless, with a slightly plump figure. One look was enough to tell he was a man accustomed to a life of luxury.
He held a folding fan, which he waved gently, giving him a rather dashing air.
Within the Yan Chun Building, the sound of string and bamboo instruments was endless. Dancers clad in thin gauze moved with graceful postures, adding to the seductive charm of the lavish establishment.
However, Zhou Kuisheng was in no mood to appreciate any of it. His entire attention was focused on the opulent middle-aged man.
This man was said to be from Yujing City—a truly important figure.
"This is the island I want you to find... Once you’ve found it, you will be handsomely rewarded," the opulent middle-aged man said with a slight smile, giving Zhou Kuisheng the details about the island he was seeking.
At first, Zhou Kuisheng listened respectfully, but the more he heard, the more familiar it sounded. He soon realized the island the man was looking for was the very same deserted island he had traveled to with Fang Yue.
Zhou Kuisheng’s heart leaped in shock. He couldn’t understand why this important figure was looking for that deserted island.
He couldn’t help but ask, "My Lord, there’s nothing special on that deserted island. Why are you looking for it?"
’Because he had abandoned Fang Yue on that island. Judging by the time that had passed, the man had to still be alive.’
’There was no way he’d dare go back to that island now.’
The opulent middle-aged man shot Zhou Kuisheng a look and snorted coldly. "That’s none of your concern. Just do as I ask. Don’t pry into matters that don’t involve you!"
The next moment, the man’s gaze turned icy as he stared at Zhou Kuisheng. "Are you hiding something from me!"
Zhou Kuisheng’s heart trembled under that frigid gaze. He hastily bowed his head, beads of cold sweat forming on his forehead.
’He cursed his luck inwardly but didn’t dare hide a single detail. He immediately recounted the entire story of his trip to the deserted island with Fang Yue and how he had later fled back alone.’
After listening to the story, the opulent middle-aged man’s expression darkened instantly.
"So you’re saying someone has already beaten me to the island!"
He slammed his hand on the table and shot to his feet, demanding furiously, "Do you have any idea who that person was?"
Zhou Kuisheng flinched and shook his head frantically. "N-No, I don’t know. The man is incredibly powerful. The former leader of our Shui Long Bang died at his hands."