Stranger Danger

"Considering the amount of effort he spent to find us, I do not believe he's merely seeking our acquaintanceship."

Feng Qingyou smiled while basking in the sea breeze. "Let's see what he wants."

"Okay," Ye Qing replied uncaringly.

The duo immediately noticed that Jin Wanliang was following them after they had parted ways with Yu Hongluan. They paid him no heed though. After departing Floating Island, they concealed their tracks and shook him off.

Their action should have made their stance very clear. They did not wish to interact with Jin Wanliang.

A stupid person might not get their meaning, but Jin Wanliang wasn't stupid. On the contrary, he was very intelligent. They were sure he would get their meaning.

What would an intelligent person do in these circumstances? They would quit while they were ahead. After all, to hound someone when they had already expressed rejection was a recipe for distaste and even violence. Jin Wanliang should have stopped there.

And yet, an intelligent man had done something stupid. It could only mean one thing. Jin Wanliang wasn't planning to make their acquaintance. He had another motive.

Feng Qingyou wasn't the only one who was curious. Ye Qing wanted to know what business the first young master of Gold Island had with them as well.

So, Ye Qing stopped the Cloud Boat and concealed its energies. Then, they patiently waited for Jiin Wanliang to show up.

About half an incense stick later, the calm sea surface suddenly churned violently.

The next moment, a massive ship burst out of the sea.

The ship was completely golden as if it was forged from gold. Massive volumes of seawater poured down from the deck like waterfalls, catching sunlight and creating colorful rainbows in the process. It looked gorgeous and profound, luxurious and noble.

After the golden ship stopped in front of the Cloud Boat, Jin Wanliang's voice rang, "Junior Jin Wanliang greets you, seniors!"

Jin Wanliang descended from the golden ship, but he did not board the Cloud Boat recklessly. Instead, he stopped and hovered about three meters away from Ye Qing. It was a good, polite distance.

Jin Wanliang then clasped his fists and bowed. "I'm very sorry for disturbing you. I ask for your forgiveness in this matter!"

Jin Wanliang was acting very humble. His smile was warm and polite as well. He looked nothing like the arrogant, imposing, hedonistic son he was before.

Ye Qing crossed his arms as he asked, "If you know you're disturbing us, then why didn't you leave?"

Jin Wanliang was still bowing as he replied, "I am aware that I have committed a breach of etiquette. I simply have no other choice."

"Just the same, this junior did not wish to offend you at the tearoom earlier. I deeply apologize for my transgressions and once more beg for your forgiveness."

Ye Qing did not respond to his apologies. Instead, he said curiously, "They say that the first young master of Gold Island is arrogant and self-conceited, ignorant and incompetent, but you look nothing like the rumors suggest!"

"I dare not lie to you, senior. I pretend to be ignorant and incompetent because it's the only way I know to hide my true self and stay alive."

Jin Wanliang let out a bitter chuckle. "Like I said, I had no choice."

"Oh?" Ye Qing mused. "You are the first young master of Gold Island, are you not? Worry for basic necessities is beyond you, and both great power and influence are within your grasp. Why would you need to hide yourself, and what could possibly threaten your life?"

"It is precisely because I'm the first young master of Gold Island that I am in constant danger."

Jin Wanliang began helplessly, "I am the firstborn of the Jin Clan, and my mother is the younger sister of the island lord of Bright Moon Island. I am destined to become the next lord of Gold Island from the moment I was born. Yes, my status allows me to enjoy wealth and nobility on a scale that few could scarcely imagine, but it also paints a target on my back and put my life in constant danger."

"My siblings are always wanting to replace me. My relatives are always scheming to kill me and steal my power. The enemies of Gold Island want to kill me for revenge. The greedy want to kidnap me and use me to blackmail Gold Island for wealth. Even the Rakshasa Strangers desire to capture me and put me under their control... One could say that I was surrounded by conspiracies and plots, lies and death from the moment I was born."

"From the moment I started remembering things, one or more 'accidents' would happen almost everyday. I would encounter at least several assassination attempts per month, and be openly assaulted at least several times per year."

Jin Wanliang was full of self-derision when he said this, "My identity may have brought me infinite wealth and power, influence and glory, but it also brought me endless troubles and crises."

"At the age of nine, after I sustained heavy injuries during an attempt on my life and only survived due to a miracle, I knew then that I needed to hide myself; mask myself so that people would not notice my true strength. Only then could I settle down for real and lead a long life."

"So, I began behaving recklessly. I willfully made myself ignorant and incompetent in the eyes of others. I started to eat, drink and play like a hedonistic son would... Gradually, my father despised me, and my mother became disappointed in me. Outsiders ridiculed me, and everyone hated me."

"When those who saw me as the thorn in their sides saw how useless, weak, and foolish I was, they started thinking that I had no chance of inheriting Gold Island or winning my parents' favor. They started to believe that there is no need to kill me or target me on purpose. It was thanks to this decision that I was able to live until now and lead a freer, less suffocating life."

"A great hermit hides in the city; those who seek to settle down must mask their edge. You have some true wisdom in you, Scion Jin!" Ye Qing praised him sincerely.

"You flatter me, senior." That was what Jin Wanliang said, but a bit of pride was peeking through his features.

Ye Qing asked smilingly, "So, why have you sought us out, Scion Jin?"

Jin Wanliang saluted him and Feng Qingyou again. "There is something I deeply need your help with, seniors!"

Feng Qingyou suddenly spoke up in a teasing voice, "I thought you're a smart man who knew human nature so well that you played them all like a fiddle, Scion Jin? Is there anything you cannot do if you put your mind into it?"

"Please forgive this junior, senior. I should not have allowed my arrogance to blind me."

Jin Wanliang instantly understood Feng Qingyou's subtext and let out a bitter chuckle. "I acknowledge that my way of survival is petty at best. It is as fragile as a piece of rotten wood before true strength."

Feng Qingyou did not tease him further and asked, "So, what is this request?"

Jin Wanliang asked, "This junior humbly begs you to save my parents and Gold Island, seniors!"

"Hmm??"

Ye Qing and Feng Qingyou exchanged a surprised look with each other. Neither of them was expecting to hear such a bombastic, almost terrifying request from Jin Wanliang.

Of course, they were even more curious.

"Tell us your story."

Ye Qing added, "However, know that we have not yet agreed to anything. If that troubles you, then you may not tell us about it. We promise we won't spread word of your troubles to anyone."

They weren't Sages after all. They could not accept any and all requests.

One should lend their aid to someone only if they knew if it was within their capabilities to do so, if it was reasonable to interfere with the matter, and if they were doing the right thing. For example, they would not help Jin Wanliang if it turned out that his request was something like an internal strife within the family, a deadly foe seeking revenge against them, a private grudge, or other petty matters.

"This junior is infinitely grateful that you are willing to listen to my story, seniors. I dare not ask for more."

Jin Wanliang was a decisive man at least. He did not hesitate to drop a bomb on Ye Qing and Feng Qingyou, "My parents have gone missing!"