Down in the lowest tier of the iron ship, Shi Yan tapped and prodded the ironwood planks with a grave expression.

Xia Xinyan stood beside him, silent, merely watching his movements with unwavering attention.

"The iron ship is sturdy, but it won't stop me; if I give it my full strength, I can certainly blast these planks open." Shi Yan paused his tapping, his expression relaxing into a slight smile. "We’ll wait right here. If any true master comes for us later, I’ll simply bore a massive hole and lead you to escape by jumping into the sea again."

Xia Xinyan nodded lightly. "Li Wei won't let this go easily; he should be bringing people over soon."

"Xinyan, your charm is truly astounding. Even disguised like this, you still attract admirers, tsk tsk," Shi Yan shook his head in mock lament. "If your true face were revealed, every man on this iron ship would surely go mad. It seems we truly cannot linger here; the sooner we leave, the better."

"You're the one attracting admirers, you boorish man." Xia Xinyan rolled her eyes, though she wasn't truly angry; a flicker of secret delight warmed her heart.

Though Shi Yan’s words were coarse, they were, in a way, praise for her beauty. In the past, she might have dismissed such comments, but now, she felt a certain measure of contentment, and she found this fellow Shi Yan less irritating than before.

The image of Shi Yan, standing alone before the doorway, single-handedly defying four Hundred Tribulation martial artists, had left a deep impression in her mind, stirring faint ripples across the lake of her heart...

"This is the first time I've seen you fight; I didn't expect your strength to be quite so impressive," Xia Xinyan hesitated, a hint of curiosity lighting her bright eyes. "It's rumored that before you were seventeen, you hadn't practiced martial arts at all, yet you reached the Innate Realm overnight. Is that true?"

"Yes, I had some fortuitous encounters," Shi Yan replied calmly, unwilling to delve deeper into that topic. He smiled faintly. "It wasn't that I was exceptional; it’s just that Li Wei and those four were too mediocre. They lack Martial Souls, and their internal essence isn't robust enough; they shouldn't be equivalent to Hundred Tribulation martial artists of the same level."

"You observe very closely," Xia Xinyan conceded with a nod. "In the Yin-Yang Cave Heaven, many disciples indulge themselves in romantic pursuits rather than diligent cultivation. The dual cultivation martial arts of the Yin-Yang Cave Heaven are a double-edged sword; while they allow disciples to strengthen their essence through shared practice, they also erode their will. Many disciples with promising talent gradually fall into dissipation due to excessive preoccupation with intimacy, losing their drive and finding breakthroughs impossible."

"Indeed, the essence of most disciples here is impure. Although Li Wei possesses the cultivation base of the Second Heaven of the Hundred Tribulation realm, his essence purity is less than that of an ordinary First Heaven Hundred Tribulation martial artist. Against me, he naturally wouldn't gain any advantage, especially since he possesses no Martial Soul."

"Li Wei may be lacking, but you are overwhelmingly too strong," Xia Xinyan slightly furrowed her delicate brows. "Even when I was at the First Heaven of the Hundred Tribulation realm, I couldn't have dealt with Li Wei so easily, unless I used my Reincarnation Martial Soul—but that would count as cheating."

Both Shi Yan and Xia Xinyan were extraordinary; after injuring Li Wei, they dared to joke and laugh on the enemy's territory, seemingly unaware of the meaning of death.

As they chatted and laughed, three hours slipped by unnoticed.

Unexpectedly, Li Wei did not return. Instead, the young woman Xiao Feng brought food and fresh water ahead of schedule.

When Xiao Feng arrived, her eyes were bright. She set down the provisions and looked at Shi Yan with a degree of curiosity.

Shi Yan wasted no words, moving over to open the food container, then suddenly smiled. "Xiao Feng, what's gotten into you today? This spread is quite lavish."

Inside the basket, there were no longer just salted fish buns; there was roast beef, fragrant roasted chicken, and a small flask of wine. The fresh water supply was also increased to a large jar.

This meal was a clear step up from previous ones, leaving Shi Yan somewhat bewildered.

"You injured Li Wei, didn't you?" Xiao Feng asked curiously.

"That's right." Shi Yan paused, noticing Xiao Feng’s slightly excited demeanor. "What? Is Li Wei your enemy?"

"I wish I could kill him," Xiao Feng ground out through clenched teeth, her eyes filled with deep hatred. "Li Wei tormented three of my sisters to death. If I had the power, I would have killed him long ago."

"I would like to help you, but Li Wei seems to be the nephew of Protector Li Zhuang. If I injured him, I probably won't be able to stay on your ship much longer." Shi Yan tore off a chicken leg, stuffing it into his mouth and chewing heartily, then took a swig of wine. He casually handed the large chunk of roast beef to Xia Xinyan. "Wife, eat more. You need strength to escape."

Xia Xinyan stood behind him, stealthily pinching his waist hard. She glared at him resentfully before stepping out from behind Shi Yan as if nothing had happened, accepting the piece of beef, and immediately moving away, a hint of triumph flashing in her beautiful eyes.

Shi Yan grinned, shaking his head wryly. "You little shrew who refuses to be bested. Wait till I deal with you later."

Xiao Feng seemed to catch the small exchange between them, but she paid it no mind. She explained, "Although Li Wei is Protector Li Zhuang’s nephew, he wouldn't dare act rashly. After learning that you injured Li Wei, I immediately reported to Protector Ju. Protector Ju asked me to investigate the situation, and as long as it wasn't your fault, Protector Ju will protect you."

Shi Yan's heart stirred. He immediately realized that Protector Ju must be at odds with Li Zhuang. His injury to Li Wei likely pleased Protector Ju, who seized the opportunity to undermine Li Zhuang.

"The situation is this: Li Wei was vile and shameless, actually attempting to lay hands on my wife, so I..." Shi Yan embellished the tale, showering Li Wei with the harshest possible slander.

"I understand now," Xiao Feng nodded, flashing a brilliant smile. "Li Wei is indeed despicable and shameless. What you said was perfect. I will report this to Protector Ju right away. Don't worry, Protector Ju thinks highly of you and will definitely protect you." With that, Xiao Feng turned and gracefully departed, quickly ascending the stairs.

"That Protector Ju must be the woman who spoke up for you initially, the one who allowed us onto the ship," Xia Xinyan remarked suddenly after Xiao Feng left.

"Mm," Shi Yan smiled. "It seems we don't need to jump overboard and flee after all. If the two Protectors are fighting, and we are caught in the middle, there might still be opportunities."

"That woman seems to have taken a liking to you. Perhaps she will accept you as a disciple; you should consider it carefully."

"Accept me as a disciple?" Shi Yan looked stunned.

"In the Yin-Yang Cave Heaven, Protectors and Elders have the qualification to take disciples. Usually, it’s men taking female disciples, and women taking male disciples. The relationship between master and disciple in the Yin-Yang Cave Heaven is exceptionally intimate, so intimate that it requires ** to transmit the teachings—yes, I know you understand, don't you?" Xia Xinyan said lightly.

"A gigolo?" Shi Yan exclaimed.

"Something like that. They maintain the facade of master and disciple in front of outsiders, but at night, they sleep together. I don't know how many disciples Protector Ju has, but if you become one, you will likely be favored for a few days every month. Then, you will naturally learn some of the secret arts of the Yin-Yang Cave Heaven, which is what you wanted, isn't it? You should be happy about this?" Xia Xinyan said with neither warmth nor coldness.

"Several disciples?" Shi Yan's face gradually darkened.

"A few is on the low side. Some female Protectors have dozens of disciples. Besides formal disciples, they have all sorts of partners. If they encounter a friendly faction and take a liking to a man, they can discard their robes anytime. 'Lotus arms embraced by a thousand pillows, fragrant lips tasted by ten thousand men'—that's what they call the women of the Yin-Yang Cave Heaven."

"Aren't they worse than prostitutes?"

"No, it's different. Those people do it out of interest and don't charge money. Do you understand? It's a hobby, just like some people like flowers and plants, others like gold and jewels. The people of the Yin-Yang Cave Heaven simply enjoy this kind of interaction. They don't see anything wrong with it; they call it a way for people to connect. Well, you will be meeting Protector Ju soon; you'll understand then." Xia Xinyan casually laid bare these hidden truths.

Shi Yan's face grew progressively uglier.

"Knock, knock, knock."

As expected, Xiao Feng returned quickly, standing by the staircase with a smile, beckoning Shi Yan over. "Protector Ju requests your presence; she has something to discuss with you. Your luck has arrived. Once Protector Ju approves of you, Li Zhuang definitely won't dare to touch you. Hurry up; Protector Ju is waiting for you."

"I'm feeling a bit unwell; perhaps another time," Shi Yan clutched his stomach, his face etched with pain.

"You must have been injured by Li Wei too?" Xiao Feng looked a little surprised, then nodded. "It's fine; Protector Ju has plenty of healing elixirs. Perhaps you will be bestowed with some, and your injuries will recover quickly. This is a great opportunity; don't miss it. Hurry up."

Shi Yan still shook his head.

"What? You're scared?" Xia Xinyan felt a secret satisfaction and spoke indifferently. "I, your wife, don't mind; what are you afraid of?"

"Fine, I'll go!" Shi Yan's expression hardened. He suddenly flashed beside Xia Xinyan, forcibly grabbing her small hand. "Come with me!"

Xia Xinyan's jade hand was plump and soft as if boneless, feeling like a piece of warm, smooth, exquisite jade in his grasp.

Alarm flickered in Xia Xinyan's eyes. She struggled fiercely a couple of times, her voice turning cold. "Let go! You can go by yourself; why are you dragging me?"

Shi Yan held her tightly, refusing to release her no matter how she struggled. He said coolly, "I won't be at ease leaving you here. Who knows if Li Wei will come while I'm gone? From today on, you are not allowed to leave my sight. Wherever I am, you must follow."

"You!" Xia Xinyan cried out. She was both angered and annoyed by Shi Yan's domineering nature, yet she also felt a spark of emotion. She gazed at Shi Yan with an incredibly complex expression for a few seconds, finally ceasing her struggle with resignation. Her neck flushed, and she allowed Shi Yan to hold her small hand.

"I can go, but she must accompany me. I cannot leave her here alone," Shi Yan looked at Xiao Feng.

"Alright," Xiao Feng conceded with resignation. "When we reach the entrance, I will ask Protector Ju for instructions. Let's go."

"Mm."

Xiao Feng led the way, and Shi Yan, grasping Xia Xinyan's slender jade hand, followed behind with a natural composure, heading toward the third tier of the ship.

Xia Xinyan kept her head lowered. Her face showed no change due to the disguise, but a rosy flush gradually spread across her neck; she was intensely ashamed.

At that moment, Shi Yan’s large face stealthily leaned closer again, approaching her ear.

Xia Xinyan's heart trembled. She immediately glared at him fiercely, signaling him not to cause trouble.

Shi Yan ignored her. His mouth moved toward her flushed little ear, and he whispered softly, "That woman might become angry and embarrassed later. Pay close attention to my signal; jump into the river first, and I will follow right after."

"Mm... you... be careful," Xia Xinyan murmured almost inaudibly, like the whisper of a fly, then quickly widened the distance between herself and Shi Yan. A blush spread across her snow-white neck.

...

: Monthly tickets, begging for monthly tickets, gently begging for monthly tickets... A

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