Chapter 87: So You Were the True Power All Along

Clearly, the commotion had caught the attention of the Prison Fish tribe's patrol. The old woman and Mu Xia were each being pursued by three or five women from the tribe, but Lu Ye wasn't particularly worried. Now that the island's magnetic field had returned to normal, the old woman could use her Thunder God Armor again, and Mu Xia was more than capable of defending herself with her own skills.

It was Lu Ye’s own situation that was more concerning. A dozen native girls armed with bows and javelins surrounded him at optimal range, eyes brimming with anticipation as if he were nothing more than prey. The woman wielding a broken blade grinned at him. “Handsome, you’d best put down your weapon and surrender. Your knife may be sharp, but you can’t win against our numbers!”

Her tone and demeanor were exactly like some street rascal flirting with a girl passing by.

Damn it, do I really look so easy to bully?

Without another word, Lu Ye swung his fist straight into the woman’s face, immediately following it up with a kick that sent her flying.

Arrows and javelins whizzed through the air as Lu Ye darted backward, the spot he'd just vacated instantly bristling with missiles.

“Old woman, Xia Xia, over here!” he shouted.

“Oh, coming!” they replied.

Lu Ye sprinted toward Su Qianqian and Mu Xia, intercepting the pursuers, and roared with laughter, “Finally, I can fight in front of the old woman! Hahaha!”

But, as it turned out, there was still no need...

“Attack!” a tumultuous cry rang out from the rainforest.

Before long, Vermilion Red led a charge of Sanye tribe maidens straight into the fray, swiftly overwhelming the women of the Prison Fish patrol.

Lu Ye was momentarily stunned. “Why are you here? And with so many people?”

Vermilion Red smiled. “I was too worried to leave you alone.”

She had brought a force of over a thousand—likely mobilizing more than half the Sanye tribe. On this island, it was an indomitable army.

Lu Ye’s mouth twitched. “Well, thanks, I guess...”

Vermilion Red suggested, “Shall we head back to the Sanye tribe?”

A haughty voice interrupted, “Vermilion Red, you barge into our Prison Fish tribe with such a show of force. Do you think you can come and go as you please?”

At that moment, the main force of the Prison Fish tribe emerged from the rainforest. Their chieftain was a gaudy old woman, her face smeared with the totems she worshipped—though to Lu Ye, they looked like nothing more than scribbles. Naturally, her followers imitated her style. In terms of looks, they were no match for the Sanye tribe; those girls embodied the wild beauty of the jungle—spirits of the forest—whereas the Prison Fish women resembled a motley crew of fiends.

Upon seeing her, Vermilion Red arched her brow and snorted coldly, “Old witch, if you’re dissatisfied, then fight!”

“Old witch” was Vermilion Red’s nickname for the Prison Fish chieftain—aptly chosen.

The chieftain arrived carried aloft, seated upon a pair of benches lashed to bamboo poles, festooned with flowers and vines, which she called her “flower palanquin.” Not only was she reclining on it, she also had a seductive young man in her embrace, cutting the figure of a female pirate captain.

The old witch ignored Vermilion Red, narrowing her already tiny eyes as she appraised Lu Ye from head to toe, her gaze growing more and more lascivious.

“What a fine-looking man. I want him as my consort!”

Vermilion Red exploded, “In your dreams! He’s mine!”

Su Qianqian, hiding behind Lu Ye, whispered, “Well, well, two tribal chieftains are fighting over you. Are you secretly enjoying this?”

Lu Ye’s face twisted in exasperation. “Enjoy it? I feel like my dignity is being trampled underfoot!”

She giggled. “So, do you want to be the consort of the Prison Fish chieftain, or of the Sanye chieftain?”

Lu Ye grinned. “Of course, the Sanye tribe. Vermilion Red is much prettier!”

Su Qianqian feigned annoyance. “Ah, so you really are smitten with her.”

“Shh, quiet. Look, the two of them are about to fight!”

The old witch ordered her palanquin set down, then strode out alone, wielding two curved sabers, to face Vermilion Red. “Let’s duel. Winner takes all!”

Vermilion Red nodded, drawing a slender longsword from her waist, and declared, “Only the strong have the right to mate!”

Both the old witch’s sabers and Vermilion Red’s sword were of ancient design. Lu Ye suspected these weapons had been passed down from their ancestors. The old witch’s sabers were pitted with rust, while Vermilion Red’s sword gleamed with cold light, as if newly forged.

Mu Xia whispered, “If I’m not mistaken, that’s a Longquan sword, bestowed by some Ming dynasty emperor to a vassal state!”

No wonder the sword retained its deadly edge through the ages.

Vermilion Red stepped into the ring, casting a glance back at Lu Ye with a radiant smile. “Don’t worry, I won’t lose you to her!”

The old witch tried to seize the initiative, her twin blades crossing in a deadly arc toward Vermilion Red’s throat.

Steel rang out as Vermilion Red’s swift counter parried both sabers with a single stroke, then raised her sword to cleave down.

The old witch dodged the blow, but Vermilion Red’s swordplay flowed like an endless stream, pressing the attack relentlessly. The old witch was forced onto the defensive, barely able to parry, while Vermilion Red took the upper hand. The clash of blade against blade rang out, sharp and clear.

Vermilion Red’s swordsmanship was self-taught: not the delicate style of a woman, but fierce and aggressive. Frustrated by her opponent’s resilience, she grew impatient.

With a shout, she gripped her sword in both hands and brought it down in a powerful chop.

The old witch raised her sabers to block. Metal clanged—the first saber, struck by the Longquan sword, was instantly notched. But Vermilion Red, unable to check her momentum, left herself open. The old witch’s other blade swept along the sword’s edge and slashed across Vermilion Red’s shoulder, leaving a vivid red gash.

Vermilion Red gasped, stifling a groan of pain as she took the wound head-on.

Lu Ye shuddered involuntarily. Su Qianqian pinched him. “What’s this? You feel sorry for her?”

“A little,” he admitted.

Vermilion Red spun and, with a sudden back-kick, caught the old witch square in the face. Staggering, the old witch retreated; Vermilion Red advanced, thrusting with her sword.

The blade pierced straight through the old witch.

The Sanye girls erupted in cheers. “Hurrah!”

Despite her shoulder wound, Vermilion Red looked unfazed as she walked back, sword in hand, eyes shining as she declared to Lu Ye, “I won. You’re mine!”

Before Lu Ye could reply, Su Qianqian stepped between them.

The Thunder God Armor flared, lightning arcing in all directions.

Su Qianqian assumed a duelist’s stance—but Vermilion Red, curious about the armor, reached out to touch it.

Seeing her childlike curiosity, Su Qianqian couldn’t bring herself to lash out. She slapped Vermilion Red’s hand away. “Are you trying to get yourself killed?”

Vermilion Red smiled and pointed at the crackling arcs. “What are these beautiful blue-violet threads?”

“That’s electricity!” Su Qianqian barked.

Vermilion Red, like an innocent child, was full of questions. “Electricity? What does it do?”

Su Qianqian shook her head with a sigh. “Let me show you!”

Without warning, she threw her arms around Lu Ye.

Electric sparks danced.

“Ow!” Lu Ye stiffened, every hair standing on end. “You’re supposed to demonstrate for her—why electrocute me?”

“Who else? You expect me to shock her?”

Vermilion Red, stunned, exclaimed, “Incredible! No wonder he loves you—you’re the real powerhouse!”

Su Qianqian nodded with mock gravitas. “Exactly. Only the strong have the right to mate. So give up now.”

“I understand,” Vermilion Red replied, staring at Lu Ye for a long moment.

Suddenly, Lu Ye called out, “Vermilion Red, stand firm!”

“Huh?” She turned just as Lu Ye raised his fist. “Here’s my Beautiful Fist in return!”

The wound on her shoulder was already healed, the skin smooth and unblemished.

Lu Ye smiled. “Alright, let’s go.”

Vermilion Red beamed. “Thank you!”

Night was falling fast. Neither Lu Ye nor Su Qianqian wanted to spend the night in Prison Fish territory, so they left with Vermilion Red to stay at the Sanye tribe’s settlement.

With the old witch dead, the Prison Fish tribe was leaderless and would have to choose a new chieftain. Vermilion Red led the way, sword in hand; the Prison Fish women parted for her, not daring to obstruct them.