Shu Yu pupils shrank. Her jaw tensed. Something old and bitter stirred deep in her chest.
Ao Clan… you're here too?
Without a word, her spiritual aura began to flare. A deep chill blanketed the sky around her, and faint cracks of frost appeared along the blade of the flying sword.
Gao Tian immediately noticed the shift in temperature. He turned his head, eyes widening slightly.
"Shu Yu...?"
But she didn't respond.
Her focus was fixed entirely on the ships.
Without hesitation, she leaned forward and the sword surged ahead with incredible speed, cutting through the sky like a comet of icy light. The air around them howled as her cultivation energy pulsed outward in rhythmic waves.
Gao Tian braced himself, barely holding on as the acceleration caught him off guard.
"Hey! What are you—"
His voice was lost in the rush of wind.
Shu Yu's gaze was sharp, deadly. Her aura continued to rise as frost crept around her hands. Her heart pounded in her chest, not from fear—but from rage.
The sword sliced through the sky with fierce velocity, wind whipping past as Shu Yu's aura surged wildly around her. Her crimson eyes were locked onto the ship ahead—an Ao Clan vessel. Her expression, usually cold and expressionless, now revealed a flicker of something deeper: fury.
Gao Tian, standing behind her on the flying sword, was confused. He had seen Shu Yu composed in the face of death, silent when surrounded by killing intent—but now, her energy was unstable, her movements reckless.
She accelerated further.
The moment they reached the rear of the ship, Shu Yu prepared to leap. Her body shifted, knees bent slightly, her spiritual energy compressed beneath her feet. Killing intent radiated from her like a raging storm.
Just as her figure moved to jump, Gao Tian reacted.
His arms wrapped tightly around her waist from behind, pulling her against his chest. He gritted his teeth and refused to let go, sensing clearly that if he did, she'd dive straight into that ship—and do something she would regret.
Ruler Dog, seated lazily on Gao Tian's shoulder, opened his eyes.
His gaze shifted to Shu Yu, sensing the bloodlust coursing through her aura. His eyes widened.
Why is Master acting like this?
Shu Yu struggled violently, her voice rising. "Leave me! I said leave!"
But Gao Tian held her tighter, jaw clenched. He didn't reply—he just held on.
From the deck of the ship, several Ao Clan guards rushed to the edge, their boots thudding against the wooden floorboards. Dressed in dark armor, they carried halberds and swords, their sharp gazes locked onto the flying sword trailing just behind the ship.
One of the guards stepped forward, brow furrowed.
"What are you two doing here?"
They all paused, immediately feeling Shu Yu's killing intent sweep toward them like a crashing wave.
In an instant, weapons were drawn. Blades gleamed. Halberds lowered. The guards stood in tight formation, a defensive arc aimed directly at Shu Yu and Gao Tian.
Shu Yu was about to shout back, but before she could speak, Gao Tian swiftly lifted his right hand and covered her mouth.
"Ahahaha… sorry!" Gao Tian said awkwardly, forcing a grin. "She's just upset because I didn't give her… her favorite food."
His voice cracked slightly as he glanced at the weapons aimed at them.
Shu Yu's eyes widened in outrage beneath his hand. "Mmff… ggarhgh!"
Ruler Dog stared nervously at Shu Yu from Gao Tian's shoulder.
The guards glanced at one another. One of them lowered his weapon slightly.
"If that's the case," the man said coldly, "get away from our ship. Or we'll attack."
Gao Tian nodded quickly. "Of course, of course! Sorry again!"
He channeled spiritual energy into the flying sword and veered sharply away from the ship. Below, a rugged mountain range stretched into the distance. He descended rapidly, directing the sword toward a flat, open plateau between the peaks.
Once the sword landed, Gao Tian dismounted, still holding onto Shu Yu.
Only after ensuring they were far from the ship did he release her.
Shu Yu turned on him at once, her aura flaring as a wave of cold spiritual energy burst outward. Her crimson eyes glowed faintly, filled with unspoken fury. Even the air around her trembled.
Gao Tian raised both hands with a forced smile. "W-We can talk, right? Just talk. What happened back there?"
But Shu Yu didn't answer.
With a sharp twist of her wrist, she called her sword. It came whistling through the air from where it hovered nearby, landing perfectly in her outstretched hand.
She rushed forward, her energy bursting to life.
Gao Tian flinched slightly, sweat forming on his brow.
She's really going to kill me this time…
Ruler Dog jumped down from Gao Tian's shoulder and darted into the trees, hiding behind a thick trunk.
This bastard made my master mad... now she'll show him what real power is.
Shu Yu landed in front of Gao Tian. Her blade sliced downward with a force that cracked the ground. Gao Tian's eyes widened. He leapt back just in time.
That was a clear attempt to kill me.
She didn't pause. Her next strike came swiftly, horizontal and deadly. Gao Tian spun to the side, narrowly avoiding the sharp edge, then rolled forward and came up behind her.
Ah, this is going to be rough.
She turned swiftly, her crimson eyes burning, red aura swirling around her like a storm.
"Hey, Shu Yu!" Gao Tian raised his hands. "Don't attack. We can talk. Just tell me what happened."
But she didn't hear a word. Another swing came, diagonal and sharp. Gao Tian clenched his fist and met the blade with it. Sparks burst out. The impact tore his skin open.
Still, she didn't stop.
With fury still in her eyes, Shu Yu thrust her sword forward, aiming for his heart. Gao Tian dodged, spinning out of her path. But the momentum carried her forward—she couldn't stop in time.
Before she could recover, Gao Tian slipped behind her. In one smooth, decisive motion, he struck her wrist with the edge of his hand.
The sword dropped from her fingers, clattering against the earth.
Ruler Dog watched from the shadows of the trees, stunned.
He… he actually disarmed her? He's weaker in cultivation. How did he…?
Shu Yu clutched her wrist, stunned, her eyes welling with tears. "Why did you stop me there?"
Gao Tian stepped closer, his voice calm. "Because that was dangerous. If you'd gone in like that… it would've cost you your life."
He had sensed it—many high-level cultivators were aboard that ship. If she'd leapt in, they would've killed her without hesitation.
Shu Yu backed away, trembling. "Don't come near me."
"Hey, just listen—"
"Shut up!" she screamed, her voice breaking. Tears streamed down her cheeks. "You don't know what they did to my teammates!"
Gao Tian froze, his expression clouded with confusion and dread.
"What… what did they do?"
Her voice trembled. "They… they raped my teammates. Brutally. Then they killed them. Right in front of me. We were sent to assassinate Ao Liuzi… he was a monster. He kidnapped girls from villages, used them, then discarded them."
Gao Tian's fists clenched at his sides. A silent rage stirred within him, deep and ancient. For a moment, it felt like the sky above them would split. The air pulsed with killing intent.
Shu Yu cried harder, collapsing to her knees.
Gao Tian stepped forward, slowly. He knelt and wrapped his arms around her. She gripped his robes, sobbing into his chest.
"Did they do something to you?" he asked gently.
She shook her head. "No. My teammates protected me… they died… to keep me safe."
Gao Tian stroked her hair softly. "Shu Yu… I swear, I'll protect you. And I'll wipe out the Ao Clan. Every last one of them. But right now, rest."
As he spoke, Gao Tian's golden eyes glowed purple for a fleeting second—then returned to gold.
Shu Yu, exhausted, broke down completely. Her body slumped forward, unconscious in his arms.
Gao Tian caught her gently, lifting her into a bridal carry.
Ruler Dog leapt onto Gao Tian's shoulder again and curled up on his head, gazing at Shu Yu with concern.
Is she… okay?
Gao Tian steps were slow but firm, eyes cold and unwavering.