The memories of all humanity are awakening, except for mine.

"Xiao Man still loves me the most."

Young Master Ye put his arm around the girl's slender waist and kissed her on the pink cheek, making Xiaoman giggle.

Fan Su frowned.

"Xiao Man, be mindful of your behavior."

"Oh dear, Sister Su is just too serious~"

Xiao Man popped out of Young Master Ye's arms and made a face.

"Brother Ye isn't like those stinky men; he treats us so well!"

Young Master Ye smiled without saying a word, but his gaze passed over the two women and looked towards the lake.

There, a small boat is slowly approaching.

A young man in a blue robe stood on the boat. Although he had made simple disguises, his figure could not fool his eyes.

"interesting."

Young Master Ye closed his folding fan and said to the servant beside him.

"Go, waive that man's boarding fee, and invite him aboard."

The boy took the order and left.

Fan Su followed Young Master Ye's gaze and frowned slightly.

"Young master, that person seems to be..."

"Shhh."

Young Master Ye gently pressed his index finger against her lips.

"Tonight we'll only talk about romance, nothing else."

Before long, the young man in the blue robe stepped onto the top deck of the giant ship.

His gaze paused slightly when it met Young Master Ye's.

"Brother Jiang, how have you been?"

Young Master Ye laughed loudly, seemingly unaware that the other person's body tensed up instantly.

Jiang Chuan never expected that his impromptu decision to sneak onto the pleasure boat would lead to an encounter with an acquaintance, let alone that this acquaintance would so openly recognize him.

"Young Master Ye has quite the refined taste."

Jiang Chuan cupped his hands in greeting, his voice neither humble nor arrogant.

"I am just passing through this place, I apologize for disturbing you."

"Passing by?"

Young Master Ye pushed Xiaoman, whom he was holding, toward Jiang Chuan.

"Since you're here, you're a guest. Xiao Man, please treat Young Master Jiang well!"

Caught off guard, Xiaoman screamed and fell towards Jiangchuan.

Jiang Chuan instinctively reached out to support her, and the girl's soft body bumped into him, a faint fragrance wafting into his nose.

"Young Master."

Xiao Man looked up and met Jiang Chuan's clear eyes. Her pretty face immediately turned red, and she quickly stood up straight, awkwardly adjusting her clothes.

Jiang Chuan was also a little embarrassed, so he coughed lightly and let go of her hand.

"Is the girl okay?"

"N-nothing."

Xiao Man's voice was barely audible, completely lacking the liveliness she had shown earlier.

Seeing this, Fan Su stepped forward to block Xiao Man and curtsied to Jiang Chuan.

"Please forgive me, Young Master Jiang. Xiao Man is young and doesn't know the rules."

Young Master Ye laughed heartily from the side.

"Brother Jiang, it seems you don't know much about the pleasures of brothels! How can you be so polite to a girl?"

He turned and winked at Xiaoman.

"Go, pour some wine for Young Master Jiang, let him taste our Drunken Immortal Wine from Fengyue Pavilion!"

Xiao Man then came to her senses, took the wine pot from Fan Su's hand, and timidly walked up to Jiang Chuan.

"Please have some, Young Master Jiang."

Jiang Chuan took the wine glass and noticed that Xiao Man's fingers were trembling slightly.

He looked up and saw that the girl's almond-shaped eyes were full of curiosity and shyness, which was completely different from those women in the pleasure quarters who were used to seeing the world.

"Thank you girl."

Jiang Chuan smiled gently, tilted his head back, and drank the wine in one gulp.

The wine burns like fire upon entering the throat, yet transforms into sweetness in an instant, leaving a lingering aftertaste.

Jiang Chuan couldn't help but admire it.

"Good wine!"

Seeing that he liked it, Xiaoman's eyes lit up and she poured him another cup.

This time she was bolder, and when handing him the wine, her fingertips "inadvertently" brushed against Jiang Chuan's lips.

That brief touch made them both tremble slightly, as if they had been burned.

"Oh~ Xiao Man has taken a fancy to Young Master Jiang?"

The young noblemen who were watching the spectacle cheered.

"Young Master Jiang, don't let a little girl look down on you!"

"Exactly! Let's have a few more drinks!"

Young Master Ye waved his folding fan, his smile carrying a profound meaning.

"Brother Jiang, you have been deeply indebted to this beauty; you must not betray her kindness."

Jiang Chuan's ears felt slightly hot, but he quickly composed himself and laughed heartily.

"In that case, I, Jiang, will humbly accept your offer!"

After saying this, he drank three cups in a row, which drew cheers from the whole room.

Xiao Man watched him drink heartily, her eyes sparkling with admiration.

Even the usually aloof Fan Su couldn't help but glance at Jiang Chuan a few more times.

Young Master Ye suddenly leaned close to Jiang Chuan's ear and whispered something.

"Brother Jiang, you have quite the audacity. You're wanted throughout the city, yet you still dare to come here to seek pleasure."

Jiang Chuan's expression remained unchanged, and he also lowered his voice.

“Young Master Ye knows who I am, yet he still dares to invite me onto the ship. He has quite the courage.”

The two exchanged a knowing smile, each understanding the other without saying a word.

The giant ship moved slowly, its bow breaking the surface of the water and creating ripples.

"Brother Jiang, are you satisfied with the experience at this brothel?"

Ye Liangchen raised his glass and chuckled, a hint of mischief in his eyes.

He was dressed in white, his clothes as white as snow, with an ancient longsword hanging at his waist. He had a dashing and elegant demeanor in every gesture.

Jiang Chuan shook his head and smiled bitterly, then downed the wine in his cup in one gulp.

"Brother Ye is too kind."

His gaze was fixed on the distance, his brows furrowed, clearly preoccupied.

Xiao Man filled Jiang Chuan's wine glass at the perfect moment, her movements as light and graceful as a swallow.

She wore a light green dress, with only a wooden hairpin in her hair, exuding a simple yet lively charm.

The wine jug was tilted, and the amber liquid traced a graceful arc before falling perfectly into the glass.

"Brother Jiang, is something troubling you?"

Ye Liangchen put down his wine glass and said seriously.

"Since we've met, if there's anything I need, Liangchen will definitely help."

Jiang Chuan was about to speak when suddenly—

"Woo——"

A long howl, like a thunderclap, shook the lake and caused ripples to spread.

The giant ship rocked violently, its lanterns swaying and casting interplay of light and shadow.

Xiao Man swayed slightly, but the wine cup in her hand remained steady, without spilling a single drop of wine.

Jiang Chuan was somewhat surprised and couldn't help but take another look at the maid.

Ye Liangchen's expression changed drastically. He crushed the wine glass in his hand, and the porcelain shards pierced his palm without him even noticing.

"It's him."

He murmured softly, a complex expression flashing in his eyes.

"Ye Qiu! You've been hiding for ten years, and today I've finally found you!"

The sound was like a booming bell, making everyone on the ship's eardrums ache.

A fiery red figure appeared, stepping across the water and leaving burning footprints on the lake with each step, reaching the bow of the boat in an instant.

The newcomer was an elderly man in his sixties, with fiery red hair and a red robe that fluttered in the wind, as if surrounded by flames.

He stood with his hands behind his back at the bow of the ship, exuding an imposing aura.

Jiang Chuan's pupils contracted slightly—this voice, this aura, was none other than the mysterious person who had shattered the divine senses of three fourth-realm supreme beings in the dark alley that day!
"Elder Lu, how have you been?"

Ye Liangchen slowly stood up, his carefree smile returning to his face.

"However, you have mistaken me for someone else. My name is Ye Liangchen, not Ye Qiu."

"fart!"

Lu Jianxiong roared, the sound so powerful that several nearby maids fainted. "Even if you turn to ashes, I'll still recognize you! Ten years ago you killed my beloved disciple, and today I'll make you pay for this in blood!"

The guests on the boat were in chaos. Some of the more timid ones had already jumped into the lake to escape, while the rest retreated to the side of the boat, watching the scene in horror.

"Elder Lu, there must be some misunderstanding here."

Ye Liangchen helplessly shrugged.

"I, Ye Liangchen, am only twenty-five years old this year. Ten years ago, I was just a child. How could I possibly kill your esteemed disciple?"

Lu Jianxiong sneered.

"Ye Qiu is proficient in disguise and bone-shrinking techniques. What's so difficult about him pretending to be young and innocent? Enough talk, take this sword!"

Before he finished speaking, a crimson sword light flew out from between his eyebrows, transforming into a three-foot-long sword. The blade was as red as blood, and flames flowed around its tip. It was his natal flying sword, "Chonghua".

Ye Liangchen sighed, knowing that things would not end well today.

He formed a sword shape with his right hand, and with a gentle stroke, a cyan sword light burst forth from his fingertips. After swirling once in front of him, it condensed into an ancient longsword. The blade was as clear and lustrous as jade, without any sharp edge or gleam, yet it possessed a dignified aura.

"The Azure Destiny Sword?!"

Lu Jianxiong's anger intensified.

"Still denying you're Ye Qiu! This Azure Nether Sword is an heirloom of the Ye family. Who else but Ye Qiu can wield it?"

Jiang Chuan was shocked upon hearing this—the Ye family? Could it be the sword-wielding family that was wiped out twenty years ago?
Two flying swords faced each other in mid-air, their sword energy surging, and the lake surface began to churn violently.

The giant ship creaked under the strain, and cracks began to appear in its planks.

"Elder Lu, since you insist on this, Liangchen has no choice but to offend you."

Ye Liangchen's entire demeanor changed drastically, transforming from his previous carefree attitude to a cold and ruthless one.

"Come die!"

Lu Jianxiong shouted loudly.

The "Chonghua" sword transformed into a crimson rainbow, carrying the force of burning the heavens as it aimed straight for Ye Liangchen's throat.

Ye Liangchen neither dodged nor evaded, but with a light flick of his Qingming Sword, seemingly casually, he precisely struck the weakest point of the Chonghua Sword.

The two swords clashed, producing a deafening metallic clang.

"boom--"

Sword energy surged forth, and water columns several meters high erupted from the lake surface.

The keel of the giant ship cracked under the strain, and the hull began to list.

Jiang Chuan gripped the railing, his eyes filled with shock.

Although he was not proficient in swordsmanship, he could still see the mystery of Ye Liangchen's sword strike—it seemed simple and unadorned, but in fact it was extremely skillful and could directly neutralize the full force of a fifth-realm sage's attack!
"Brother Ye, be careful!"

Jiang Chuan suddenly shouted.

Lu Jianxiong made a hand seal with his left hand and pointed his sword with his right.

The "Chonghua" sword suddenly split into three, attacking Ye Liangchen from tricky angles.

Ye Liangchen remained calm and composed, drawing a perfect circle in front of him with his Qingming Sword. The sword light was as smooth as water, blocking all three crimson rainbows.

With each sword strike he received, his face grew paler, clearly indicating that his cultivation was still inferior to Lu Jianxiong's.

"boom!"

Another violent collision occurred, and the giant ship finally could not withstand it. The keel broke completely, the hull split open, and lake water rushed in wildly.

"Ah—help!"

"The ship is sinking!"

"Jump ship!"

Chaos reigned on the ship, with cries and screams echoing everywhere.

Some of the young masters from prominent families fled in terror.

Some took the opportunity to protect the woman they liked and jump off the boat to escape.

"Lu Jianxiong! Have you gone mad?!"

Ye Qiu's voice boomed over Moonlit Lake.

His jade sword emitted a dazzling silver light, colliding fiercely with Lu Jianxiong's crimson flying sword.
Two completely different sword energies intertwined and tore at each other, creating huge waves tens of meters high on the lake surface.

"Boom——"

The shockwave swept in all directions, and the giant ship groaned under the strain.

The ship tilted, and the tables, chairs, cups, and plates on the deck slid into the water.

Guests screamed and scattered in all directions, creating chaos.

Jiang Chuan grabbed a mast to steady himself, but his eyes were fixed on the two figures in mid-air.

Ye Qiu's swordsmanship appears simple and unadorned, yet each strike is exquisitely subtle.

Lu Jianxiong's "Fire God Sword Technique" is characterized by its sweeping and powerful movements; wherever the sword passes, the lake water boils and steam billows out.

Elder Lu!

While fending off the attacks, Ye Qiu shouted sharply.

"There are many scions of prominent families in the county town above Moonlit Lake. If you lose control of your sword energy, the consequences will be unimaginable!"

"Cut the nonsense!"

Lu Jianxiong's hair and beard stood on end, and his eyes were bloodshot.

"Even if I destroy this entire Longhai County today, I will still take your life!"

Before he finished speaking, he formed a hand seal, and eight more crimson flying swords appeared behind him, forming a nine-palace sword formation with the original one.

Once the sword formation was complete, the temperature within a radius of a hundred feet suddenly rose, and the lake water evaporated at a visible speed!

"Nine Flames Burning Heaven Formation?!"

Ye Qiu's expression finally changed.

"Are you really going to destroy everything?"

His response was a deafening roar.

"die!"

Nine flying swords shot out simultaneously, transforming into nine fire dragons that rushed towards Ye Qiu.

Wherever it passed, the air distorted, water vapor rose, and even the moonlight was stained blood-red!
Such power was beyond human resistance! Just as Jiang Chuan was about to jump off the ship to escape, he suddenly felt a weight in his arms as a soft body bumped into him.

"what!"

Xiao Man exclaimed in surprise and threw herself into Jiang Chuan's arms.

Jiang Chuan instinctively caught her, but was surprised to find that this seemingly delicate girl had no true energy fluctuations at all!
In such a chaotic situation, ordinary people would have been terrified, but Xiaoman, though her face showed panic, had unusually clear eyes.

"Is the girl okay?"

Jiang Chuan asked tentatively, while secretly probing her meridians.

Xiao Man shook her head, a blush rising on her face.

"Thank you very much, young master."

Her voice was barely audible, yet she skillfully evaded Jiang Chuan's detection.

Just as the two were lost in their own thoughts, a clear, cold sword cry suddenly came from afar!
"Zheng——"

The sword's cry instantly dispelled the scorching heat in the air.

A white figure rode in on a sword, and wherever he passed, the boiling lake water returned to calm.

"Master, stop!"

The newcomer was a seventeen or eighteen-year-old girl in white, with exquisite features and a cool, aloof demeanor.

A jade gourd hung from her waist, emitting a faint, cold light.

"Wu Shuang?!"

Jiang Chuan stared wide-eyed at the familiar figure.

The girl seemed to hear the call and turned to look in the direction of Jiang Chuan.

She was pleasantly surprised when she saw Jiang Chuan's face clearly.

"Jiang Chuan? What are you doing here?"

Before Jiang Chuan could answer, Wu Shuang had already made a hand seal and chanted an incantation. Suddenly, the gourd at her waist flew up and spat out a crystal-clear, ice-blue flying sword.

"Winter Solstice, let's go!"

The flying sword shot out and plunged straight into the center of the lake.

In an instant, the lake surface began to freeze rapidly, centered on the flying sword!
"Click, click-click."

The ice spread at an astonishing speed, freezing the wreckage of the soon-to-capsize giant ship in the blink of an eye.

The ship stopped sinking, and everyone on board was finally able to catch their breath.

Lu Jianxiong was furious upon seeing this.

"Shuang'er! What are you doing?!"

Wu Shuang flew to her master on her sword and bowed respectfully.

"Master, the prefect of the city has already mobilized the city's defensive formations. If we continue fighting, I'm afraid..."

Countless runes suddenly lit up on the distant city wall, and a golden light curtain slowly rose.

Lu Jianxiong's expression shifted between light and dark. He snorted coldly and withdrew his sword formation.

"Ye Qiu! You're lucky today!"

Ye Qiu smiled slightly and returned the jade sword to its sheath.

"Elder Lu has too much of a temper; be careful not to harm your health."

"you!"

Lu Jianxiong was so angry his beard stood on end, but Wu Shuang pulled him back. (End of Chapter)