Winds Stir Overseas: Indifference and Desperate Pleading

The cold-faced man heard this and his brow finally furrowed.

“You don’t know about the beast tide, Senior? It seems you have been in secluded cultivation here for many years and have no idea what the outside world is like.” The middle-aged cultivator let out a long sigh, speaking somewhat dazedly.

“From your tone, things are quite bad outside.” The man seemed to have taken an interest. Though his voice was still cold, there was a hint of curiosity in his words.

The middle-aged cultivator was momentarily speechless.

‘Bad’ was hardly adequate to describe the situation outside!

It seemed this person was truly an old monster who had been in seclusion for who knew how many years. Otherwise, how could he still be unaware of a major event that had occurred over twenty years ago?

But this realization also put him more at ease.

Given the other party’s level of cultivation and status, under normal circumstances, he wouldn’t bother to harm juniors like them. What could they possibly possess that would catch the eye of such an expert?

With this thought, the middle-aged cultivator’s expression grew even more respectful as he replied:

“Senior, the beast tide happened over twenty years ago. At the time, I was still a Qi Condensation cultivator. Although I didn’t see it with my own eyes, I heard about it from the elders in my sect. They said that, on a certain day, tens of thousands of demon beasts from the Abyssal Sea surged out without any warning. They charged straight for Abyssal Island and besieged Black Rock City, attacking without cease. Though the island was protected by several great formations and guarded by thousands of cultivators and several Nascent Soul elders, the city was breached after a few days. Except for a very small number of cultivators who managed to escape in the chaos, all the human cultivators there were killed in battle.”

As the middle-aged cultivator spoke, a shadow of gloom passed over his face.

“Is that so? What happened afterward? Did the demon beasts retreat back into the abyss?” A trace of shock crept into the man’s voice, but it quickly returned to its usual calm, indifferent tone.

“If they had retreated back into the abyss, things would have been simple. After the Abyssal Sea demon beasts reduced Black Rock City to rubble, they split into several groups. Led by high-grade demon beasts, they began to sweep through other human towns and villages. Though most settlements received early warnings and the people abandoned their homes to hide, many cultivators and mortals still fell victim. Within half a year, not a single human settlement remained on any of the seas around Abyssal Island—everything was completely destroyed. And that was not the end of it. Although most of these demon beasts returned to the abyss, some high-grade ones with considerable intelligence began to actively search for and hunt down any humans in hiding. It is said that before long, the mortal population in the Outer Seas was virtually wiped out, and the human cultivator casualties were catastrophic. The survivors had no choice but to flee far from the waters around Abyssal Island, finding refuge on remote islands and living in hiding. Now, Abyssal Island has become a gathering place for high-grade demon beasts. The moment they catch wind of any human cultivators, they will mobilize again to hunt us down.” The middle-aged cultivator’s expression had turned sorrowful.

The mysterious man was silent for a long while, as if he were deeply shaken by this news and struggling to digest it.

Heh. How ironic. So it seems that in the Outer Star Seas, we cultivators have become the ones being hunted, just like the demon beasts used to be. The man let out a cold laugh, finally speaking again. There was a sharp note of mockery in his words that caught the cultivators off guard.

But the man seemed unwilling to dwell on the subject. He asked several more questions:

“Abyssal Island had several Nascent Soul old monsters stationed there. They couldn’t have all died in the beast tide, could they? Why haven’t they come forward to take charge? And since such a cataclysm occurred on Abyssal Island, surely the Inner Star Seas reacted. Did they send reinforcements? Or has this place been completely abandoned by those factions in the Inner Star Seas?”

Each question was sharper and more to the point than the last. The middle-aged cultivator had answers to some, but not to others.

After a moment’s thought, he replied carefully:

“I heard that two Nascent Soul elders fell during the beast tide, but most of the other seniors managed to escape. There has been no news of them since. However, according to some rumors, these seniors are planning some major action to retake Abyssal Island in one stroke. As for the specifics, I wouldn’t know. As for the Inner Star Seas, all contact was cut off from the very day the beast tide began. No one knows if they are even aware of the details here. Naturally, no reinforcements ever appeared. Perhaps it is just as Senior said—this place has been abandoned by the Inner Star Seas.” When he spoke the last sentence, a shadow of resentment passed over the middle-aged cultivator’s face.

It seemed that the cultivators who had survived the beast tide had unknowingly come to harbor a deep grudge against the Inner Star Seas’ indifference.

The man was silent again for a moment, then asked unhurriedly:

“Since it’s so dangerous, why are you juniors running around outside instead of staying put in your hideouts? Are you looking to die?”

Hearing this, the middle-aged cultivator’s face twisted with bitterness. But before he could explain, the yellow-robed girl who had been standing obediently behind him, after a moment of visible struggle, suddenly darted forward.

“Senior! My father attempted a cultivation technique improperly, causing a true-qi reversal and meridian disorder. He is now paralyzed and bedridden. Senior, with your immense power, you must have a way to save him! If Senior can cure my father, I am willing to be your servant for life, to repay your great kindness!” The girl’s pretty face was full of desperate pleading, and her large, clear eyes were brimming with crystalline tears, on the verge of spilling over.

The other men and women were taken aback, exchanging helpless glances. Only the middle-aged cultivator’s heart stirred, but he immediately scolded her without waiting:

“Xing’er, what nonsense are you talking? Your shixiong has been bedridden for years; it’s beyond any human means to cure. The reason we came out to find some medicinal herbs is only to ease his suffering a little. Even if Senior’s magical powers are unfathomable, this is beyond remedy.” Though his words were harsh, there was a faint, peculiar look in his eyes.

“True-qi reversal, meridian disorder. It sounds like another fool who tried to rush his progress. He definitely hadn’t reached the required cultivation level but tried to force his way into a higher-stage technique. That’s the result.” The man let out a cold laugh, speaking lazily.

This eminent person had accurately diagnosed the root cause without even seeing the patient. A flicker of joy passed over the middle-aged cultivator’s face.

“Senior’s insight is truly piercing. My shixiong’s misfortune was indeed caused by his eagerness to cultivate. Does Senior happen to know of any secret method that could save him?” The middle-aged cultivator first flattered the man, then asked with utmost concern. It seemed his relationship with this shixiong was quite close.

“A minor ailment like that is naturally nothing. But why should I tell you? Do you think I would save someone for no reason at all?” The man seemed to see through their intentions and did not hold back his sarcasm.

Hearing this, the middle-aged cultivator was first stunned, then his face flushed red and went pale. His lips moved a few times, but no words came out.

The yellow-robed girl, however, caught a glimmer of hope from his words.

A flush rose to her cheeks. She gritted her teeth, and with a plop, she knelt down before the light barrier.

Then this delicate girl, her face full of resolve, spoke:

“I, Gongsun Xing, swear an oath here: if Senior can heal my father, I am willing to be your servant for life, with absolute loyalty. If Senior is still not at ease, I will let you place a restrictive technique on me first, before you treat my father.” Having said this, she bowed down toward the light barrier and knocked her head three times on the ground. Then she knelt there, motionless, her expression one of utter determination.

Despite her youth, this yellow-robed girl had a surprisingly unyielding spirit.

“Foolish girl! What stupid thing are you doing? What is Senior’s status? How could he possibly take an interest in an ugly little thing like you?” The middle-aged cultivator was both shocked and angry.

The other men and women also snapped out of it and began to voice their objections.

But the yellow-robed girl paid them no mind, kneeling there as if she would never rise unless her request was granted.

“Uncles, please say no more. I was born unlucky. My mother died giving birth to me. My father was trying to change my bone structure and meridians when he forced his cultivation of the sixth layer of the Azure Spirit Art, which left him bedridden. Now is the time for me to fulfill my filial duty. If I can cure my father, I am willing to serve this Senior for life, without any regret.” The girl shook her head weakly, her voice calm.

“Girl, are you trying to threaten me? If I don’t act, will you kneel here forever?” The man’s voice turned cold.

“I wouldn’t dare. I have no intention of threatening Senior. Senior just saved our lives, and I am already deeply grateful. But since my father fell ill, I have sought help from many fellow cultivators and seniors, and not one of them could cure him. Now that I hear Senior speak of it so lightly, it seems curing this illness is but a trifle for you. That is why I am pleading so desperately. I have no other intention. I only hope that Senior will grant my filial wish.” By the end of this speech, the girl was half-sobbing. Choking back tears, she bowed down and knocked her head again.

A stretch of absolute silence came from the direction of the light barrier.