Stranger Danger

"Let's try then."

Yu Hongluan launched a palm strike at Jewel Tree Prince, but the Stranger didn't dodge. He was wearing an enigmatic smile on his face as well.

Yu Hongluan's palm was several inches away from Jewel Tree Prince's forehead when suddenly, her energies disappeared, and her force receded completely. Then, she collapsed on the floor, unable to move.

"See? I told you you can't kill me, not even when I'm standing right here and doing nothing." Jewel Tree Prince dipped his head slightly to look down on Yu Hongluan.

"What did you do?" Yu Hongluan exclaimed in shock and anger. "The tea! You poisoned it!"

"Yes. It's called Hopeless."

Jewel Tree Prince asked suddenly, "Do you know why the poison is called Hopeless? It's because those who caught it would be robbed of their strength and spirit. They become so weak that they cannot even kill themselves. Like livestocks, they can only wait to die without any hope of recovery. Hence the name."

"By the way, this is the very poison that crippled your father back then. Back then, your father was just as helpless and in despair as you. The only difference is that your father's tea was given to him by his friend, and yours is given to you by your older brother."

"It's amusing, isn't it? Hahaha!"

When she heard this, Yu Hongluan glared at Yu Hongfeng with fury and disappointment. "Why did you do this, Yu Hongfeng?"

"What else? For Floating Island, of course," Yu Hongfeng answered.

"Is that it?"

Yu Hongluan was as angry as she was puzzled. "Just for Floating Island, you would betray the human race and collude with the Rakshasa Strangers? Cooperate with the enemy who killed your father? Kill your own sister?"

"Isn't that enough?" Yu Hongfeng said loudly, "Since I was a child, father has always hated me. He believes that I am incomparable to you in every way. He raised you to become the next island lord while discarding me like worn-out shoes. After we're adults, you became the island lord of Floating Island, but I became nothing. Everyone looks down on me, and everyone despises me. Everyone knows of Yu Hongluan, but not of Yu Hongfeng. Even you treat me with no respect whatsoever and deny me everything. Have you even thought of me as your brother?"

"How is this fair? How is it that you are allowed to enjoy all of father's love, and not me? How is it that you can become the island lord of Floating Island, and not me? And who gave the others the right to look down on me; to despise me?"

Yu Hongfeng's eyes were red with defiance and anger. "I reject this fate! I reject this fate! That is why I want to become the island lord of Floating Island! I want everyone to look up to me! I want everyone to know the name Yu Hongfeng!"

"Is that what you think?"

Yu Hongluan asked with a look of deep disappointment. "You are riddled with ignorance and incompetence, but instead of reflecting on your failures, you blame it all on others and even resent those closest to you? Sigh..."

As if someone had poked him in his reverse scale, Yu Hongfeng flew into a rage, "I'm not wrong! I did nothing wrong! It's everyone else who is wrong!"

"Setting aside the matter of right and wrong for the moment. Do you really think you can become the island lord of Floating Island after you killed me?" Yu Hongluan asked.

Yu Hongfeng said matter-of-factly, "Of course! If you die, then Floating Island will become mine. No, not just Floating Island. The thirty six islands and seventy two islets will all become mine as well. When the time comes, everyone will have to serve me as their lord and master! Everyone must look up to me and respect me!"

"Stupid, foolish, imbecilic! How on earth did I, Yu Hongluan, have an idiotic older brother like you?"

Yu Hongluan shook her head with her lips curled into a scornful smile. "Stop dreaming and come back to reality already. The first thing your 'friends' are going to do after this is over is to kill you."

"Am I right, Jewel Tree Prince?"

The Jewel Tree Prince simply smiled and said nothing. He neither denied nor admitted the accusation.

Yu Hongfeng was speechless at first. Then, he flew into a rage, "You're talking nonsense! They wouldn't do that!"

"Why wouldn't they? Do you think you have any value left once their mission is complete? Even my value is greater than yours despite my state."

Yu Hongluan scoffed. "Floating Island is an important member of the Profound Alliance possessing highly valuable resources and strategic geography. Not only will it be difficult for Jewel Tree Prince to take control of Floating Island, he must not reveal the fact that it has changed masters. After all, the Profound Alliance will pay any price to retake Floating Island if they heard that it has fallen into the hands of a Stranger. He could have three heads and six arms, and he still wouldn't be able to hold it."

"Therefore, they have only two options. One, they destroy Floating Island in the shortest amount of time possible, no matter the cost. If Floating Island is destroyed, then the Profound Alliance would lose a great asset to put it mildly. Two, they secretly take control of Floating Island and slowly infiltrate the thirty six islands, seventy two islets, and even the entire Profound Alliance through Floating Island."

"If they pick the first choice, then you and I will be the first to die. Everyone on this island will go to their graves as well. If they pick the second choice, then they must keep me alive. After all, my death will surely alert the higher-ups of the Profound Alliance, and all of their efforts would be for naught. That is why they must keep me alive. It is their only way to prevent suspicion, and it would be easier for them to assume control of Floating Island and enact their plans through me as well. Again, you have absolutely no use in this matter."

"Therefore, no matter what option they pick, you remain worthless and valueless. With that in mind, why on earth do you think they would keep you alive? For the astounding stupidity that resides in your brain?"

"No! You're lying! You're lying!"

Yu Hongfeng was dumbfounded for a good few seconds. Then, he exploded at Yu Hongluan before looking at Jewel Tree Prince, asking, "You won't treat me like that, right? Jewel Tree Prince?"

Jewel Tree Prince merely smiled and continued to observe Yu Hongluan with a look of interest. So, Yu Hongfeng grabbed his sleeve and shook, "Speak, Jewel Tree Prince!"

"Silence." Jewel Tree Prince impatiently waved his hand and immobilized Yu Hongfeng in an instant. He could not speak or talk as if he had suddenly turned into a puppet.

Jewel Tree Prince paid Yu Hongfeng no attention. He turned back to Yu Hongluan and praised her, "You really are intelligent, Fairy Hongluan."

Yu Hongluan scoffed, "I don't need you to tell me that."

Jewel Tree Prince was not really concerned with her attitude. He asked, "If you are so intelligent, why don't you guess which option I will pick?"

"You will go with the second option."

Yu Hongluan said, "The first option is immediately effective and almost riskless, but although it will deal a huge blow to the Profound Alliance, it cannot truly threaten their roots. The second option is slow and high risk as it takes a long time to carry out, but if all goes well, then it is an act that will threaten the roots of the Profound Alliance and break the spine of the human race. It might even allow the Rakshasa Kingdom to unite this region under its banner and regain its former glory."

"You, Jewel Tree Prince, have a pretty high opinion of yourself. You are not a short-sighted fool either. That is why I am certain you will pick the second option. Am I right?"

"Hahaha..." Jewel Tree Prince laughed heartily when he heard this. "You truly understand me, Fairy Hongluan!"

In fact, I was going to enact this plan thirty years ago. I had advised my father to keep your father alive and make use of him. Alas, my shortsighted father chose to kill your father instead. It is a shame. Otherwise, Floating Island would have become ours thirty years ago. Maybe even the thirty six islands and seventy two islets would have become a territory of Rakshasa."

"A shame... a shame..."