Jiang Wang reclined against the left side of the ship’s cabin, while Lin Youxie sat directly across from him.

Fan Qingqing huddled in the corner, the old man half-crouching beside her, a hand pressing down on her shoulder.

*Pitter-patter, pitter-patter, pitter-patter.*

It was unknown what hour it was, but rain now lashed down outside, drumming urgently against the cabin roof.

Lin Youxie’s voice was very soft, almost a direct transmission to the ear, clearly not wishing to create any undue disturbance.

Jiang Wang returned from his cultivation state, quickly assessing the situation.

Though he had been engrossed in practicing the sonic aspects of the Five Immortals Like Dream Order, his vigilance had not entirely relaxed. The moment Fan Qingqing made even the slightest movement, he would react.

Thus, the old man’s restraint of Fan Qingqing had been a mere instant.

Jiang Wang did not immediately respond to Lin Youxie. Instead, he feigned indifference to the scene before him, tilting his head to listen to the sound of the rain. Raising his voice, he called out, “Brother Li, the rain is heavy outside, come in and take shelter!”

Li Yin’s voice promptly sounded from without, “No need, Young Master, what is this little bit of rain?”

For cultivators, there was indeed no need to seek shelter from wind or rain.

Jiang Wang’s call was merely to ascertain Li Yin’s state. If anything had befallen him, Jiang Wang truly wouldn’t know how to explain it to Li Longchuan.

Upon receiving Li Yin’s response, he casually formed a hand seal, isolating the sound within the ship’s cabin. The matters to follow did not need Li Yin’s involvement.

This hand-seal secret technique for silencing sound was something he had just gained from his recent practice. It wasn’t as refined as Fan Qingqing’s, but it was sufficient for his needs.

Unclenching his five fingers, Jiang Wang leaned back in a relaxed posture, still not addressing Lin Youxie. He simply turned his face halfway, looking at the frost-haired old man, his eyes devoid of sorrow or joy. “She is my subordinate. She has never violated the laws of Qi. Please release her.”

His voice was level, devoid of threat or anger, but profoundly serious.

Unexpectedly, the old man was quite amiable. He genuinely released his grip, chuckling softly. “My apologies, Head Catcher Jiang.”

Fan Qingqing seemed to have a great weight lifted from her shoulders, instinctively shifting slightly towards Jiang Wang. She knew the terror of this old man; even though he hadn’t harmed her, she hadn’t dared to move a muscle.

Seeing the old man show such deference to Jiang Wang at this moment, she understood even more clearly the weight Jiang Wang now carried in the state of Qi.

A contemporary prodigy who could overshadow cultivators of the same realm from Fishing Sea Tower, someone even God Arrival strongholds were not willing to easily offend!

Lin Youxie, across from him, timely introduced, “This is the renowned Head Catcher Wu Lie, a senior in our ranks, a figure of great virtue and prestige.”

Jiang Wang had not yet offered a greeting to this supposedly famous God Catcher. Of course, given his short time wearing the Blue Card, he truly didn’t know who Wu Lie was.

He simply turned his head back, fixing his gaze on Lin Youxie, and asked impolitely, “Are you still monitoring me?”

It wasn’t that he was without manners or disrespectful towards his seniors.

However, these two had arrived uninvited, intruding upon his ship’s cabin and restraining his subordinate. They had been rude first.

Even a clay figure has three parts of anger, and he, Jiang Wang, had never been made of clay.

As a leading figure in the Inner Mansion realm of the Qi state, he represented the future of Qi, striving for glory beyond its borders. How much renown had he gained from the battle at Tianya Terrace? It allowed the Qi court to reap reputation while sitting idle.

Within the same system of Qi, a retired God Arrival cultivator truly did not necessarily hold a higher status than him now. This weight referred to the value of both parties within the Qi state’s system.

He was entirely qualified to express his dissatisfaction, especially with Lin Youxie’s persistence.

He remembered that they should have reached an understanding last time, yet this time, she had again mysteriously arrived uninvited.

Lin Youxie quickly replied, “It’s not monitoring, it was a mark I casually left earlier. If you truly mind, I will retract it now and apologize to you.”

“No need,” Jiang Wang said coldly. “‘Nian Chen’, right?”

In the very next moment, above the Five Mansions Sea, sun, moon, and stars appeared simultaneously, the divine ability’s light illuminating the entire sea. Three thousand soul-hidden snakes shot out, instantly swimming throughout his body.

He found it!

At the heel of his left foot, there was a mark distinctly different from his own. Powerful soul force swept over it directly, crushing it!

Lin Youxie’s eyes widened, filled with disbelief!

This was her family’s proud secret technique, cracked for the first time by a cultivator below the God Arrival realm! And it was done in such a reckless, direct manner. Soul washing the body!

“‘Nian nian bu wang, ruo xin luo chen’ (Remembered incessantly, like dust settling on the heart),” was the unique secret technique of the renowned Head Catcher Lin Kuang, a masterful application of soul force.

Previously, Jiang Wang had no way against it.

But since his return from the Lost Realm, his soul force had been further enhanced. He had personally witnessed Wang Xiao shattering the Blood King’s gaze, gaining a rudimentary understanding of such powerful techniques. Simultaneously, he had opened his third mansion, greatly advancing his cultivation. The newly acquired divine ability, Buzhou Wind, after integrating with Killing Life Nail, possessed a cruel power capable of annihilating both body and soul.

Combining these factors, he had almost used his powerful soul force to “wash” his entire body, thereby discovering the “dust” attached by Lin Youxie.

Though Lin Youxie was utterly shocked, Wu Lie couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow.

He understood even more clearly the power of the Nian Chen secret technique. While Jiang Wang’s response just now had successfully cleared the Nian Chen, it was devoid of any subtlety. If Lin Youxie had been slightly stronger, perhaps within the Inner Mansion realm herself, Jiang Wang’s method might not have even detected the Nian Chen.

But at the same time, he couldn’t help but admit that Jiang Wang, still in the Inner Mansion realm, could use soul force so lavishly. This almost meant… that his possibility of achieving God Arrival far exceeded ordinary people!

“Head Catcher Jiang, I apologize to you once again.”

Wu Lie remained silent, while Lin Youxie, recovering herself, sincerely and earnestly lowered her head and said, “This uninvited arrival was truly due to extenuating circumstances. Senior Wu Lie was injured during the pursuit of criminals, and we are currently avoiding pursuit. We boldly boarded this ship hoping to borrow your reputation for cover. We are all members of the Blue Card; I hope you will not stand by and watch us perish.”

Injured while chasing criminals? Although it wasn’t obvious, Lin Youxie had no reason to lie.

The battle at Summer Island, where they ultimately lost to the combined efforts of Yin Guan and several Yanluo?

Like Fan Qingqing, are they now also being pursued and killed by Hell No Door?

What, is my place specifically for receiving targets of Hell No Door’s assassination? Do I specialize in saving people from the hands of Hell No Door?

Various thoughts churned in his mind, but Jiang Wang’s voice remained cold. “I reminded you, Head Catcher Lin. Originally, you and I had no conflict. I abide by the laws and regulations and simultaneously bear the Blue Card. Yet you have repeatedly targeted me, questioning and investigating, applying techniques meant for criminals to me. I do not know why. Could it be that I, Jiang Mou, enduring repeatedly, am seen by you as weak and easily bullied?”

“I understand.” Lin Youxie supported her knees with both hands, lowering her head again to express her apology. “We have disturbed you.”

She did not say words like, ‘I will leave, please let Old Wu stay on the ship,’ or any other words of moral binding. Thus, this share of bowed apology at this time held a few points of sincerity.

Wu Lie, on the other hand, was carefree, merely chuckling. “Let’s go, girl.”

Saying so, he reached out to pull Lin Youxie.

“You can use this entire half of the ship’s cabin.”

Before they left the cabin, Jiang Wang reached out in the air, making a virtual draw, and said lightly, “Considering our shared status as members of the Blue Card.”