I Ruined the Long Ao Tian Script-Chapter 62

The Pleasure Boat

The sword strike was swift and merciless. By the time anyone noticed, it had already pierced through Wei Xuandao’s chest.

The sword, Shaonian Kuang (Youthful Madness), seemed to know that Xu Shulou sought vengeance for its master. From the moment it was drawn, it rested obediently in her palm.

Xu Shulou watched as the dull, dust-like tarnish faded from the blade. She meticulously wiped the blood off the sword against Wei Xuandao’s robes before turning to the stunned onlookers. "My condolences," she said.

Not just Xiao Ya—everyone present was left speechless by her ruthless efficiency. While the others were still processing what had happened, she had already moved on to offering condolences to the deceased’s loved ones.

"You—how dare you!" One of the elders, seeing Wei Xuandao lifeless, trembled as he pointed at her. "You clearly heard us discussing taking Wei Xuandao back to the sect for punishment, yet you struck first! This was deliberate malice!"

Xu Shulou smiled kindly. "I understand how difficult this must be for you, honored elders. After all, Wei Xuandao was your sworn brother. Asking you to personally execute him would have been too cruel, so I took care of it for you. No need to thank me."

Who’s thanking you?! The elder nearly choked on his fury, stammering, "You—you—!"

"Whether it’s cruel or not is a matter for our Lingxiao Sect to decide," another elder interjected coldly. "For an outsider like Miss Xu to take action is overstepping. Please step aside. Wei Xuandao’s remains must be returned to the Lingxiao Sect."

"Of course," the Dustless Island sect leader agreed readily. After all, we don’t want to keep the body either.

"Wei Xuandao’s Qiankun Ring should also be handed over to us," the elder pressed. "If there are any dangerous artifacts inside, we must deal with them promptly. Though I wonder if someone has already tampered with it. If any of his techniques have leaked, who should be held accountable?"

The implication was unmistakably hostile.

The others quickly caught on—Wei Xuandao was dead, but what if his soul-splitting technique was stored in the Qiankun Ring? Suddenly, no one cared about Xu Shulou’s public execution anymore. They all began echoing the elder’s demands.

Xu Shulou retrieved an ancient-looking thumb ring and presented it to Sect Leader Ling Li. "Sect Leader Ling, this is the storage artifact Wei Xuandao was wearing when he was captured. To open it, one must erase his spiritual imprint and bind it anew. We have not yet done so. Please inspect it."

Ling Li swept his divine sense over the ring and nodded. "It’s untouched."

His expression remained indifferent, showing no greed for the techniques inside. A sect leader’s temperament was naturally steadier than that of his subordinates—or perhaps he was simply confident in his upcoming tribulation and saw no need for such shortcuts.

"Good. Hand it over."

The previously hostile elder eagerly stepped forward, reaching for the ring—only for Xu Shulou to toss it into the air and obliterate it with a surge of spiritual energy, reducing it to dust.

"…!" The elder, who had nearly caught it, let out a strangled cry, clawing futilely at the empty air. He whirled on Xu Shulou, eyes blazing. "Xu Shulou! What is the meaning of this?!"

Xu Shulou dropped the pretense. "You don’t trust us with this technique, and I don’t trust you. Destroying it in front of everyone is the cleanest solution."

The elder’s heart felt like it was bleeding. "That was Lingxiao Sect’s property! Who gave you the right to decide its fate?"

"Because I refuse to watch Lingxiao Sect become overrun with soul-split monsters in a few years," Xu Shulou retorted. "Did you really think this method could deceive the heavenly tribulation?"

"You—!" The elder turned to the Dustless Island sect leader. "Your disciple dares to speak to her elders like this! Shouldn’t you discipline her?"

"Ah, well…" The sect leader stroked his beard. "Haha, Shulou has always been blunt, even in inappropriate situations. Sect Leader Ling, since this matter is settled, why not join me for a drink on my peak?"

"No need," Ling Li declined, rising to his feet. "We’ll take our leave now."

"Shulou," the sect leader drawled, "see them off."

"Of ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‍course." Xu Shulou smiled and gestured politely. "After you."

"Wait—" The elder sputtered. Settled? How was this settled?!

But Ling Li was already soaring into the sky. Left with no choice, the elder shot Xu Shulou a venomous glare, ready to hurl threats—only for her to meet his gaze, blood-streaked and unyielding, sword in hand. "What? If you’ve got a problem, name the time and place. We’ll settle it."

"…!" A duel? No thanks. Though he didn’t know how she’d captured Wei Xuandao, if she could subdue Elder Wei, he stood no chance. Muttering, "So this is Dustless Island’s hospitality. We’ll see about this," he stormed off.

The sect leader watched the group depart with Wei Xuandao’s corpse. "What a mess. Unless Lingxiao Sect finds a competent leader to restore order, who knows how long their glory will last…"

———

Xu Shulou buried Shaonian Kuang before Zhang Baihe’s grave and poured three cups of wine in offering. "Uncle Zhang, Wei Xuandao has been executed, and Shaonian Kuang is returned. Rest in peace."

Zhang Baihe’s resting place was one of Dustless Island’s most serene spots—lush mountains, clear waters, and evergreen willows swaying beside his tomb. As Xu Shulou finished speaking, the willow branches rustled in the breeze, as if answering her.

After paying her respects, she turned to find her junior disciples waiting for her. She smiled reassuringly. "Don’t worry. I’m fine."

Silently, they crossed the emerald-green meadow and took to the skies, returning to Moonlit Peak.

Days later, Xiao Ya and Xiao Ruzhuo visited again to thank Xu Shulou for her aid.

Xiao Ya presented a large wooden chest. "I told my parents about what happened. This is their token of gratitude. My mother also said she’d be honored to thank you in person, if you’re willing."

Xu Shulou chuckled. "No need for that. My friendship with you is separate from the imperial family. I’d prefer to keep my distance."

Xiao Ya nodded. "I understand. But please accept the gifts—they’re all practical items."

"Very well." Xu Shulou didn’t refuse further. "How is Silent Spirit Valley faring?"

"Wei Xuandao was still our master," Xiao Ya admitted quietly. "Even knowing his crimes, his death has left everyone… somber."

"And you? Are you alright?"

"My mother taught me never to pity those who harm you," Xiao Ya mused. "But… I can’t help feeling regret. If only he hadn’t taken that path."

Xiao Ruzhuo also seemed preoccupied. Xu Shoulou gazed at this refined and elegant man. In her dreams, she had never once envisioned him, yet in those dreams, Xiao Ya had ultimately married Lu Beichen. What had happened between them? Could it be that Xiao Ruzhuo had perished in this calamity?

She shook her head, refusing to dwell on the tangled threads of her dreams, and softly reassured him, "Don't overthink it. It wasn't your fault—Wei Xuandao simply reaped what he sowed."

Xiao Ruzhuo smiled faintly. "I understand. Miss Xu, I hope we'll have the chance to drink and chase pigs together again someday."

"Agreed."

Xiao Ya gave her a hug. "Take care."

"You too."

As they departed, Bai Roushuang sidled up to her, cooing playfully, "Senior Sister, do you want to go out and clear your mind?"

"Sure," Xu Shulou replied, then suddenly remembered something. "Oh, right. Earlier, I ran into Xuan Yang at the Discipline Hall. Things were too urgent at the time to speak with him. Why is he still on Dustless Island? Didn’t I say he should only be confined for a year?"

"Oh, him? He’s staying at the Discipline Hall voluntarily," Bai Roushuang laughed. "He’s practically become the mascot of Dustless Island by now. No one’s keeping him locked up anymore—he’s free to come and go as he pleases."

Xu Shulou finally understood how Wei Xuandao must have felt when he invited her back to Lingxiao Sect only to find he couldn’t get rid of her. She chuckled. "Well, let him be, then."

"Senior Sister, where would you like to go to unwind?" Bai Roushuang looped her arm through Xu Shulou’s. freewёbnoνel.com

"Do you have any suggestions?"

"Actually, I do," Bai Roushuang blinked mischievously. "While you were in seclusion these past five years, the cultivation world—led by the City of Nevernight—launched a pleasure cruise. We could go check it out."

"A pleasure cruise?" Xu Shulou hadn’t expected to feel so out of touch with the cultivation world after just five years in seclusion.

"It’s a ship that sails through the sky. They say the City Lord of Nevernight personally planned the route to ensure it passes the most breathtaking scenery, so passengers can lean against the railings and take it all in," Bai Roushuang explained, resting her chin on her hand with a dreamy expression. "The ship also docks at four major cultivation cities: Nevernight, Crystal Palace, Fancheng, and Ice Lotus Palace. It sounds really fun."

Xu Shoulou agreed readily. "Then let’s give it a try."

The two set off without delay, inquired about the departure time, and headed to the nearest docking point to board.

As the massive cruise ship slowly approached from the distance, Xu Shulou was taken aback. "So it’s this big?"

The vessel resembled a multi-storied pleasure barge from the mortal realm, but the laws of spiritual energy in the cultivation world defied reason, effortlessly enabling the construction of ships far grander than anything mortals could achieve. Even an emperor’s pleasure boat couldn’t compare to this spectacle.

Passengers queued at the dock, paying ten premium spirit stones for entry. Thirty stones granted access to a shared bunk, a hundred secured a small private room, and three hundred bought a spacious, elegant suite. Prices climbed from there—five hundred, eight hundred, and so on—catering to every preference, with the most extravagant option being a luxurious suite for a thousand premium spirit stones.

The cruise wasn’t exclusive to cultivators. Mortals who scraped together enough silver to exchange for spirit stones could also board and experience a taste of the transcendent life.

Hearing that the master of the Taixu Realm had invested in this venture, Xu Shulou decided to splurge, booking two of the thousand-stone luxury suites.

The cultivator collecting the fees asked for each passenger’s name, inscribing them on a special-material invitation to serve as boarding passes.

"May I ask the lady’s name?"

"Xu Shulou."

"Xu Shulou?" The moment the name left her lips, someone in the line behind her reacted sharply. "To think I’d run into you here! I’ve searched everywhere, only to find you without even trying!"

The tone sounded less like a friendly reunion and more like a grudge about to be settled.

Xu Shulou could only sigh. "Should I start considering using an alias?"