172. Slaughtering Pirates to Save the Island

Naturally, the pirates had no idea who Xie Wuji was.

When they caught sight of Xie Wuji's mount, the Fiery Demonic Chicken, they trembled with excitement.

"Wow, such a huge chicken! It must be exceptionally delicious. Should we roast it or stew it?"

"Brother, I think boiling it in plain water is best. That way, you get the pure, original flavor. And once the meat touches some soy sauce, oh man, the taste is indescribable."

A few of them chuckled obscenely.

This infuriated the Fiery Demonic Chicken, which immediately let out several clucks of protest.

Xie Wuji stepped forward and said, "You must be the pirates operating around here. Are all these people your handiwork?"

The pirate leader approached. He was a rough-looking man of about forty, with a distinct tic-tac-toe-shaped scar on his face that gave him a ferocious and menacing appearance.

Furthermore, one of the pirate leader's arms was a puppet-like wooden limb, which looked to be a spiritual artifact.

The burly man came closer and said, "I get it now. Kid, you must be a cultivator. After all, there are quite a few small sects around these islands. I suppose you got lonely and wanted to trade a sweet, tender demonic beast with us for slaves or money? But I'm awfully sorry, we've taken a fancy to your demonic beast. Today, we're going to boil it in plain water and then deep-fry it, hee-hee-hee!"

As he spoke, the man closed in, drawing a rather exquisite long saber that featured remarkably fluid patterns along its blade.

Xie Wuji thought to himself that this was a pretty decent spirit blade, but right now, his attention wasn't on the weapon. Instead, he was looking at the fishermen scattered around. Some of them looked listless and clearly showed signs of having suffered from the cold. If these people were taken out to sea, they would undoubtedly meet their deaths.

After all, the pirates of this era lacked comprehensive medical supplies, so ordinary folks simply could not withstand the tossing and turning of the open sea.

Once any trouble arose, death would be their only outcome.

Xie Wuji stepped up and said, "Release these people, and I won't make a move."

An immediate and utter silence fell across the ship. After a brief moment of quiet, an overwhelming roar of laughter burst out, echoing far and wide.

In the distance, on the coastline, Song Xiaoyu and Tang Xueyan looked at each other in bewilderment. Song Xiaoyu asked, "What on earth are they doing on that ship? Why are so many people laughing like that?"

"Maybe Wuji used some strange pill again," Tang Xueyan replied.

Meanwhile, the pirates on the ship all shook their heads at Xie Wuji.

"This kid has a death wish. What kind of act is he trying to pull, coming onto our ship to play the big shot? Does he really think he's a heavenly deity descending to save the common folk? Hmph, looks like he has no idea about the rules of the Misty Sea."

The Misty Sea was the general name for the Southern Sea, though it was commonly referred to simply as the Southern Sea.

Xie Wuji shrugged his shoulders, and instantly his bracers and shoulder armor erupted with a golden radiance. He walked over, grabbed a cannon with one hand, and smashed his other fist directly into the muzzle.

Thud...

With a muffled sound, the cannon immediately exploded from the backfire!

The pirate ship itself was blasted open, leaving a terrifying gaping hole. Everyone froze, still maintaining their previous smiles, which now looked intensely ironic.

They looked at one another, completely at a loss.

Xie Wuji said, "Do I need to provide any further proof?"

"Damn it, do you really think we're just ordinary pirates? Do you have any idea who the Three Overlords of the Misty Sea are?" the pirate leader demanded.

Xie Wuji sat down and asked, "Are you talking about the Sea Emperor, the Sea King, and the Sea Demon?"

"Ha, at least you have some sense! And this ship of ours is registered under the banner of the Sea Emperor. Do you see the golden crown on our pirate flag? That is the proof! If you dare to harm us, the Sea Emperor will certainly not spare you. Have you heard that loud and clear?" The enemy captain was clearly extremely wary of Xie Wuji.

However, Xie Wuji despised being threatened the most. Without hesitation, he slammed directly into the ship's main mast.

Thud...

As it turned out, the impact was so violent that not only did the mast snap, but a massive fissure also appeared right across the ship's deck!

The crack rapidly spread in all directions. Just then, a pirate rushed up from the cargo hold: "Bad news, Captain! The lower deck is taking on water!"

The captain's legs shook violently: "My lower deck is taking on water too..."

As it turned out, the captain had pissed his pants. He collapsed to the ground with a thud: "You—you were actually planning to sink our ship!"

"Will you release them or not? I just arrived here and don't want a massive bloodbath," Xie Wuji said.

Helpless, the captain shouted to those around him, "Turn the ship back immediately! Release the prisoners and start repairs!"

At his command, the crew began turning the vessel around. Yet when they reached the shore, the fishermen swarmed forward in a dense crowd, completely blocking the ship from all sides.

By this time, Song Xiaoyu and Tang Xueyan had also approached. After clarifying the situation, Tang Xueyan's expression turned frosty. "You mean these people all surrendered?"

"Yes, they've handed the villagers over and let them go," Xie Wuji said.

Tang Xueyan remarked, "Wuji, they agreed verbally for now, but what about afterward? Once you leave, no one will be around to threaten these pirates. Do you really think they'll obediently stay in line?"

"Then what do you suggest..." Xie Wuji looked at her.

Tang Xueyan suddenly turned, her hands casting out a flurry of black silk threads.

Upon hitting the ground, those black threads instantly transformed into slender black snakes.

The serpents slithered toward the enemy. How could the crew members, busy repairing the pirate ship, possibly anticipate that danger was already closing in?

Before long, countless individuals—specifically the pirates—were entangled by the venomous snakes. Not a single fisherman was injured.

Xie Wuji stared in utter astonishment. By the time he moved to intervene, it was already too late, as all the pirates had already perished.

"When dealing with pirates, you can never afford to be soft-hearted. Showing them mercy is equivalent to harming others," Tang Xueyan stated.

Xie Wuji fell silent, unsure of how to respond. Meanwhile, Tang Xueyan had people carry out all the food, gold, and silver from the ship's hold. She announced, "Fellow villagers of the island, these pirates have caused losses for all of you. Use these riches as compensation."

At her words, the surrounding crowd cheered with joy. After all, having food meant survival, and staying alive trumped everything else.

The two women had also gathered plenty of ghost mushrooms, and soon they returned to the camp along with Xie Wuji.

A fire was already blazing brightly in the camp.

The surroundings lively and bustling, Xie Wuji brought out a large quantity of coconuts and coconut crabs and began cooking for everyone.

The crowd originally assumed Xie Wuji would just do some simple barbecuing. However, after bringing out his seasonings and brushing them over the ingredients a few times, those ordinary-looking coconut crabs instantly transformed into an extraordinarily delicious feast.

Song Xiao laughed heartily, "It seems my nephew hasn't lost his touch—I'm talking about his culinary skills, of course."

"With a skill like this, you could get by anywhere."

"If Xie Wuji hadn't pursued the Dao, he would undoubtedly have become a master chef. Who knows, he might even have made it as an imperial chef!"

Everyone showered Xie Wuji's culinary craftsmanship with boundless praise. Furthermore, Xie Wuji turned several coconuts into coconut jelly, chilling them with the stored ice. The refreshing and delicious flavor instantly drew endless accolades from all around.

People praised him from every side.

Their voyage across the sea did not last much longer. By around sunset, the group set off once again. Fortunately, these transport jellyfish traveled swiftly beneath the water's surface. Riding inside them felt exceptionally smooth, almost as if one were lounging on their own bed at home.

Xie Wuji was quite intoxicated by this comfort, which felt much like a high-speed train. He hastily turned onto his side to get some rest, only to find Song Xiaoyu gazing at him with a gentle smile as soon as he rolled over.

It was the standard posture of a resting beauty. Xie Wuji's gaze involuntarily drifted downward, but right before he could peek at her vital points, he instinctively reined in his sight, flipped back over, and faced the other way.

However, the other side proved even more overwhelming. Tang Xueyan pressed a finger against her lips, looking at him with a mischievous, teasing gaze. She tapped herself on the chest with her finger, then extended her soft, delicate tongue to lick the tip of it, before instantly flashing Xie Wuji a provocative wink.

Xie Wuji immediately turned to face the ceiling, refusing to look at either side as his heart pounded wildly.