Chapter Seventy-Five: If Death Comes, So Be It

At that moment, Chu Youtai clearly saw countless blood-soaked corpses floating in the lake, their appearances too gruesome to bear, as if the flesh on their bodies had been torn apart. In the midst of the lake, a decorated pleasure boat was anchored, bearing the words "Jiaping Court."

Just then, he noticed swarms of locusts scattered across the boat, and those bloodied corpses in the water were being gnawed at by the locusts, until only skeletons remained, sinking to the bottom of the lake. Chu Youtai forced himself to endure the discomfort in his heart, thinking, "Could this be an illusion?"

"If it isn't, then Jiaping Court must already be devoid of living souls. And as for Lady Wen, she might already be..." "So the locust demon is indeed hiding here!" Rage welled up within Chu Youtai.

Before his thoughts could settle, he suddenly saw a boat speeding toward him from afar. The vessel was surrounded by tens of thousands of locusts, appearing as if it were a ship made of insects. The locusts swarmed densely, with hundreds of golden-armored locusts leading the way, their presence ominous and menacing.

Chu Youtai steadied himself and looked closer, his heart suddenly skipping a beat. He saw Yun Cuixian on the boat! What was she doing here? Then, he realized it wasn't just Yun Cuixian—Ju Xue, Hong Yu, the magistrate, and dozens of others were also on the insect ship. He even spotted Shangguan Wanru among them!

At this moment, they all gripped their weapons, forming a defensive circle within the cabin, facing off against the golden-armored locusts. Though their bodies trembled with fear, their eyes shone with determination and unyielding spirit.

Worry surged through Chu Youtai. He hadn't expected the locust demon to abduct everyone from the magistrate’s residence and bring them here! Such brazen madness!

At the same time, his anger boiled uncontrollably. Just then, the insect ship, led by the golden-armored locusts, slowly approached the shore.

Suddenly, a cold, sinister voice echoed from deep within the lake: "With so much blood food, I will be able to restore all of my powers. Then, I'll use that Liushen as a sacrifice!"

Chu Youtai now realized that the willow branch in his arms was growing hot. He understood then that the locust demon must be hiding in the deepest part of the lake, thirty or forty feet below the surface, far beyond his detection.

At that moment, the locust demon leapt out of the water, revealing Song Peng’s body, then lunged toward the ship.

Chu Youtai’s heart clenched; he sprang forth, fish-scale blade in hand, ready to unleash the Crocodile Dragon technique, willing to sacrifice his own life to attack. But just then, an aged voice rang out, causing Chu Youtai to pause mid-motion, halting where he stood.

It was the voice of Liushen, ringing out from across the lake: "Locust demon, I have been waiting for you!"

The locust demon sneered coldly, saying, "Liushen, I’ve finally lured you out! This time, I’ll leave you without even a grave!"

He pounced toward the opposite shore, sweeping a contemptuous glance at Chu Youtai by the lake, then with a flick of his hand, the eyes of tens of thousands of locusts on the insect ship blazed with hunger, surging forth with a devouring intent, ready to consume everyone on the lakeshore.

The people aboard the insect ship were instantly terrified. Shangguan Wanru quickly produced the Snow Ape Stone and performed a curse technique. Instantly, the jade monkey leapt forth, imbued with the spirit of heaven and earth, wielding a giant club and unleashing a strike of earth-shattering force.

With a single swing, sand and rocks flew, the entire lake trembled, and water splashed everywhere. The locusts at the forefront, numbering over ten thousand, were instantly annihilated.

Afterward, Shangguan Wanru collapsed, her face wan and pale; the blow had drained all her strength. Lacking true cultivation, she had spent her life force to invoke the curse. Unlike Chu Youtai, who possessed the Crocodile Dragon Pearl, her lost years would never return, and the damage to her body was severe.

Yet still, tens of thousands of locusts swarmed forward.

Seeing the imminent disaster for those on the insect ship, a faint flute melody resonated, and countless paper cranes swept in from the horizon. Each crane spat beams of spiritual light, striking at the locusts before them.

The master of the paper cranes was Second Madam.

Then, a figure strode upon the waves, parting the water, roaring, "Yan is here!" It was Yan Yunfei, wielding the Dragon-Serpent Sword, which rang with a serpentine melody as he cast a curse technique, slaying another ten thousand locusts.

"This fiend! So many locusts remain!" Yan Yunfei, after casting the curse, felt his vitality ebbing, but continued hacking away, shouting as he fought.

Second Madam frowned, eyeing the hundreds of golden-armored locusts poised to strike, and said gravely, "It seems we’re in real trouble this time. These golden-armored locusts possess intelligence."

"Second Madam, you are bold as the sky—how could you fear these little locusts?" Yan Yunfei called out, slashing another hundred locusts. "Let’s each defend a side, so no innocents are harmed. My flying sword message has already reached the sect two days ago; they should arrive soon."

Second Madam replied calmly, "I do not fear these locusts. What concerns me are the people in Jiaping Court." She pointed toward the pleasure boat.

Just then, a dozen people poked their heads out of the windows of Jiaping Court, their gazes filled with hope. Among them was Lady Wen.

At that moment, over a hundred golden-armored locusts turned, leading ten thousand locusts in a charge toward Jiaping Court.

The women trapped aboard the pleasure boat, thirteen in total, beauties all, turned pale with fright and screamed as the locusts approached.

The golden-armored locusts seemed to grow more excited at their cries, accelerating their assault. In a mere blink, they had crossed the thirty or forty feet to the boat.

Amidst the crowd, Lady Wen’s gaze hardened with resolve.

Last night, her heart had been entwined with Chu Youtai’s. Not only had he lifted her confusion, but he had also captivated her soul; her affections now clung to him completely.

After Chu Youtai left, she returned to her room, donned new brocade boots embroidered with five-colored flowers, and wore a phoenix coronet and a rosy cloak—her favorite attire, and the first time she’d worn it.

She had always imagined that if she were to flee like Lady Hongfu, it would be in such beautiful clothing, to show her devotion and inspire countless tales of her beauty.

She dreamed of her own legend and glory, of a love that would blossom.

At last, she had found the man her heart yearned for.

But soon after, the entire boat was seized by locusts. Though she was of jade origin and could change her appearance, she lacked the strength to fight back against such an onslaught.

Yet in this moment, her spirit did not die, for she felt she had been reborn through Chu Youtai’s words, reborn in the love of humanity.

To die was nothing—what was there to fear?

The locusts now stormed the pleasure boat; in an instant, all the sandalwood tables beneath were devoured. Some golden-armored locusts neared the windows, and the rest swarmed up.

Yan Yunfei, seeing this, could no longer heed danger. He roared, swept aside thousands of locusts with his Dragon-Serpent Sword, and leapt high toward Jiaping Court, but the distance was too great—he could not make it in time.

"What do we do?" The women on Jiaping Court were now ashen-faced with terror, crying out desperately.

"Heavens!"

"Help!"

"I’ll do it!" Lady Wen’s voice was clear as she stepped in front of the others, seized a locust in her jade hand, and crushed it.

A golden-armored locust spat flames at her. Lady Wen dodged aside, evading the fire.

The flames spread fiercely across the deck, and the entire pleasure boat began to burn.

Despair engulfed everyone.

In that instant, a shadow flickered, radiating the light of heaven and earth, piercing countless rays of dawn, surging across the lake with a killing intent that split the golden-armored locust before them in two.

It was Chu Youtai, leaping high through the air, landing on Jiaping Court with his fish-scale blade drawn!