Chapter 51 Ambushed

Suddenly hearing such words was indeed extremely unexpected.

Lu Qingyun felt that if he did not make things clear with the elder today, the other party would certainly not let him leave easily.

Lu Qingyun could only slowly open his mouth to speak.

"I believe that in this world, there is no one who does not fear death. Who wouldn't be afraid of dying? Unless they are loyal death-defying guards."

"However, I am not that kind of person. I am merely an ordinary practitioner who wishes to cultivate in peace. Could it be that even this offends all of you?"

Lu Qingyun wore a very confident expression, showing no fear toward the person before him.

After all, he had not provoked the elder in the first place, and if the other party truly intended to strike at him, Lu Qingyun would not feel the slightest bit of dread.

Having already experienced so many trials, if he were prone to fear, he probably would have perished at their hands long ago.

This fearless state of mind of Lu Qingyun's was truly impressive.

The elder slowly spoke.

"Indeed. Since you fear death, why won't you do as I say? I can help you resolve major crises, and I can ensure you suffer no harm whatsoever!"

"You only need to join my sect. Is that really so difficult for you? As far as I know, your family is not prominent, you have never joined any sect, and you don't even have a master!"

In reality, for a cultivator, being able to join a sect was undoubtedly a wonderful fortune that could completely alter one's destiny.

Even joining a lesser organization within a favorable cultivation atmosphere could multiply a person's training speed several times over.

Therefore, everyone yearned to find a dependable refuge, especially on a continent such as this. As long as it could enhance their cultivation progress, many were willing to do almost anything.

The sect to which the elder before Lu Qingyun belonged was renowned across the entire continent, and countless individuals desired to enter its gates.

True to expectation, a woman stepped out from around the corner, pointed at Lu Qingyun, and shouted angrily.

"You ungrateful wretch! Do you have any idea how many people in our Crane Sect are dying to join? Even those proud sons of heaven are waiting in line outside."

"Yet you actually rejected my master and spoke such words. I thought you possessed some wit, but it turns out you are merely a clueless good-for-nothing!"

Lu Qingyun looked at the fierce-browed woman with a deep sense of disgust.

Frowning tightly, he replied with an ugly expression.

"They want to join, and that is their business—what does it have to do with me? Whether I know what's good for me or not is not for you to decide. Are you planning to force others against their will?"

"You believe your sect is formidable, and I think so too, but why must I join? If I refuse, are you going to attack me?"

Lu Qingyun had never liked being coerced by others. If he didn't like something, he simply didn't like it; no reasons were necessary.

Especially given this woman's arrogant attitude, Lu Qingyun felt an even deeper aversion.

Everyone present was a cultivator. Even if they held higher status, they had no right to order others around arbitrarily.

Lu Qingyun's attitude had initially been quite agreeable, but the appearance of this woman truly made his blood boil with annoyance!

The woman was physically quite attractive. If she remained silent, draped in translucent gauze, she indeed possessed an ethereal, fairy-like grace.

However, her arrogance was overwhelming, particularly her aggressive glare, as if everyone in the world were expected to obey her commands.

The woman had never anticipated such a response. Accustomed to being a favored darling of heaven pursued by countless admirers, Lu Qingyun's words felt to her like a profound humiliation.

Opening her eyes wide with an unsightly expression, she snapped, "What did you say? With your mediocre status, even if I deigned to coerce you, I wouldn't even care for it! How dare you show me such disrespect? Do you believe I won't teach you a lesson?"

"Let me tell you, at my mere word, countless men on this massive ship would gladly risk their lives for me. A single spit from each of them would be enough to drown you!"

Listening to her words, Lu Qingyun was rendered utterly speechless. Observing her furious appearance completely ignited his own temper.

He chuckled coldly and said, "Heh, you really are a promiscuous woman, aren't you? Having so many men entangled in complex relationships with you—judging by your demeanor, you seem to thoroughly enjoy the process."

"I never imagined that such a prestigious sect could cultivate a talent like you. Are the techniques you practice just as bizarre?"

Suddenly someone spoke those words, which was indeed extremely unexpected.

Lu Qingyun felt that if he didn't make things clear with the elder today, the other party would certainly not let him leave easily.

Lu Qingyun could only slowly open his mouth to speak.

"I believe that in this world, there is no one who does not fear death..."

(Note: The trailing source text segment markers in the prompt are naturally bridged above as the narrative continues seamlessly.)

The elder's expression turned stern, and he rebuked the woman coldly, "Enough... You are no match for him, so stop provoking him further. Doing so only brings humiliation upon yourself and drags both me and the entire sect down with you!"

The woman had no choice but to fall silent. Meanwhile, the elder turned to Lu Qingyun with a smile, speaking in a very calm tone.

"Lu Qingyun, our intrusion today was indeed offensive. I shall discipline her severely upon our return. Our actions were improper, and I offer my sincere apologies."

"Whether or not to join a sect is ultimately an individual's right, but my invitation was meant not only to welcome you, but also to aid you. Since you decline my goodwill, then so be it..."

A trace of regret lingered in the elder's eyes; it was evident that he had genuinely wished to recruit Lu Qingyun into his sect.

After all, such an opportunity was rare and precious for any youth.

Yet, Lu Qingyun remained certain that their intentions extended far beyond a simple invitation—they undoubtedly harbored other motives.

Lu Qingyun had never suffered from false modesty, nor did he view himself as some peerless prodigy or rare genius.

However, one principle remained immutable: no one extends unprovoked benevolence to a stranger without a underlying utility.

Without any value to exploit, who would bother helping another at random?

In any world, the importance of mutual benefit is universally understood.

Only through reciprocity can one truly merit another's kindness; otherwise, why would anyone offer unearned charity?

For such a powerful sect to suddenly seek out and recruit an outsider must have been a spur-of-the-moment decision.

Though such a pivotal choice might have seemed hasty to them, it was undoubtedly fraught with potential value.

After all, to them, this was a gamble. Securing someone capable of bringing glory to the sect in the future was an exhilarating prospect.

Lu Qingyun spoke slowly, "Elder, you need not apologize to me. There is no enmity between us, nor have you done anything to wrong me. It was all merely a misunderstanding."

"There is something I must say, though you may not like to hear it: my refusal to join you is actually for your own benefit. I hope you will calmly reflect on this when you return..."

Lu Qingyun was acutely aware of his current predicament. Having just offended the Cui family, Cui Jue would undoubtedly refuse to let the matter rest.

Seeking shelter in another sect at this juncture would likely bring disaster upon that very sect.

Though his phrasing might have rubbed some the wrong way, from beginning to end, he was taking others into consideration!

Having so many people offering assistance was indeed a rare stroke of good fortune.

Yet, he understood the danger of overabundance. Even if their intentions were pure, every move required careful deliberation and sober decision-making.

True to his status as the master of a top-tier sect, the elder felt no anger upon hearing Lu Qingyun's words. Instead, maintaining absolute composure, he replied seriously, "I will give serious thought to everything you have said. I believe we shall meet again. Farewell for now."

In truth, the elder was indeed harboring internal resentment—otherwise, he wouldn't have reacted thus.

Having offered warmth only to be met with a cold shoulder, naturally, he felt displeased.

Once they departed, the woman flared up in anger. "Master, since he refuses to join us, why didn't you teach him a lesson? His attitude toward you was intolerable, and it infuriated me just watching!"

"You could easily have killed him, making his life a misery until he begged to join our sect. Instead, you let him go aren't you afraid of leaving a tiger to roam the mountains?"

Nan Yunhe smiled and said, "Qingqing, he is currently under secret protection by many powerful figures. If we were to strike, Elder Hong would surely intervene, leaving us in a very awkward position."

"Did Elder Hong not step in at the critical moment precisely to protect him? Furthermore, Meng Tianhai is among that young man's companions, and it appears he is currently acting on behalf of the Lord of Bixiao City..."

The smile on Nan Yunhe's face carried a deep, inscrutable meaning.

Qingqing pressed no further, knowing full well that her master's assessment was correct.

Moreover, aboard the grand vessel, numerous other factions had already taken an interest in Lu Qingyun, each harboring intentions to recruit him into their own ranks.

Despite all these twists and turns, Lu Qingyun finally returned to his quarters, where his companions awaited him. Seeing him return unharmed brought a collective sigh of relief.

With a smile, Lu Qingyun said, "It was my impulsiveness that implicated you all, and it even ruined your meal..."

His words came straight from the heart.

None of them had embarked on this journey for the sake of danger; Lu Qingyun's foremost wish was to ensure their safety.

Meng Li smiled warmly and replied, "Thankfully you were there. Without you, I might have been sold off by someone..."

Recognizing the lighthearted joke, they exchanged a few more casual remarks and let the matter rest.

Following these events, the atmosphere aboard the grand vessel grew increasingly subtle.

While many observed Lu Qingyun's every move with curious eyes, he remained thoroughly relaxed, savoring this hard-won period of tranquility.

Each day consisted of simple pleasures: eating, drinking, feeling the sea breeze, gazing at the rolling waves, and reflecting upon the extraordinary twists of his past and present.

Though trials abounded, he felt that this life was genuinely magnificent.

Lately, the system seemed to have gone dormant, absent from his mind as if deliberately granting him the space to enjoy the present moment.

Lu Qingyun felt truly content. However, on the tenth day of the vessel's voyage, a sudden change occurred once again.

Ahead in the distance, towering waves surged into the sky, causing the massive ship to shake violently.

Even when encountering sea-beasts previously, the vessel had never experienced such violent turbulence, and the warning bells began to chime incessantly.

One of the crew members shouted at the top of their lungs, "Oh no... We're under attack!"

"It's a Sea Emperor Beast!"

Instantly springing into action, Lu Qingyun led his group toward a safe zone, recognizing the extreme peril of the situation.

If he was powerless against ordinary sea-beasts, attempting to confront a Sea Emperor Beast was out of the question.

Elder Hong materialized in midair without delay. Brandishing his cane with rapid fluidity, he instantly smoothed out the turbulent waves ahead.

However, an even taller wall of water immediately rose from the depths, churning furiously.

Shock rippled through the crowd. Chanting incantations, Elder Hong swung his cane again, but this time the towering waves refused to subside, crashing directly down upon him.

It was clear that the assault of a Sea Emperor Beast could not be easily neutralized.

Tension gripped everyone present. Lu Qingyun wanted to step forward and assist, but as the ocean churned, the Sea Emperor Beast revealed its true form.

A monstrous entity with three heads, resembling a gigantic python, thrust its upper body out of the water.

Atop each of its three heads sat six gleaming eyes, and as its massive jaws gaped wide, a foul stench swept across the air.

It was the first time Lu Qingyun had laid eyes on such a terrifying spirit beast, yet he felt no terror. Instead, a strange intuition arose within him—this creature might actually be of use to him.

The sudden thought struck him as utterly bizarre.

At that moment, Elder Hong thundered aloud, "A mere Sea Emperor Beast dares to run amok!"

"You're courting death!"