The Night Owl

A ship sailed across the calm sea.

It wasn’t large—in fact, it looked rather shabby—but it flew a red flag, the highest-ranking banner.

Aside from the Qin family of Heaven-Earth Island, this was likely the only vessel permitted to hoist a red flag in the Celestial Domain.

This was the ship bound for Heavenly Poison Island.

Onboard, the crew was sparse. Apart from the elder leading the group and his young attendant, there were only sailors and guards from Heavenly Poison Island.

And, of course, the two most crucial volunteers.

On the deck, several people sipped fragrant tea, their moods exceptionally light.

"Ahhh, after all this effort, I’m finally going to die."

Yi Feng inhaled the sea breeze with relish, his spirits soaring.

"Ahhh, I’m about to get my precious disciple."

Beneath his bamboo hat, the elder rubbed his hands together, grinning as he sat there, unable to stop his legs from jiggling in excitement.

"Ah, I thought this trip would yield no recruits, but who knew we’d find two such formidable heroes?"

The elder from Heavenly Poison Island stroked his beard, beaming.

The three of them harbored vastly different thoughts.

"Would you two heroes care for a game of chess?"

After a while, the Heavenly Poison Island elder produced a chessboard, addressing the other two, eager to stave off their boredom.

Hearing this, the bamboo-hatted elder’s eyes lit up, his gaze locking onto Yi Feng.

He hadn’t forgotten his defeat at this young man’s hands back on Moonlit Isle.

"No."

To his surprise, Yi Feng refused outright. In his current euphoric state, chess held no appeal.

Besides, after his systematic training, he was invincible at the game—playing against anyone else was like facing the easiest AI opponent, utterly devoid of challenge.

"No way!"

The bamboo-hatted elder nearly lost his temper.

Seeing Yi Feng’s puzzled look, the elder quickly explained, "I mean, wouldn’t you be bored without chess?"

With that, he placed a piece on the board, forcing Yi Feng into the game.

"Fine, fine."

Yi Feng sighed in resignation and agreed.

Soon, the board was filled with black and white stones, the two locked in a fierce battle.

"Hmph, brat, last time I lost because my mind was on conversation."

"This time, you’ll see just how formidable your future master is."

The bamboo-hatted elder was fiercely competitive, unwilling to leave any blemish on his record in front of his prized disciple.

If the disciple was exceptional, the master had to be no less.

He’d already fallen short in terms of ideological enlightenment regarding humanity’s greater good—he couldn’t afford to lag behind in any other aspect.

Only by surpassing his disciple in every way—overwhelming him, earning his awe and admiration—could he hope to secure his willing submission as a disciple.

The bamboo-hatted elder’s schemes clattered loudly in his mind as he lifted a piece, pondering how to corner his precious disciple. But then he realized his hand had frozen mid-air.

It dawned on him too late—he was already completely surrounded by Yi Feng’s forces.

By the time he grasped the situation, there was no escape.

"You lose."

Yi Feng smiled faintly.

"Wha—how is this possible?"

The abrupt collapse of his plans left the bamboo-hatted elder reeling, his face a mask of disbelief.

"No, no—another round!"

The elder couldn’t accept defeat. Losing to anyone else might have been tolerable, but losing to his future disciple? Unthinkable.

"Tch, alright, alright."

Yi Feng sighed.

Since he was bored anyway, and the game had already started, he might as well indulge in some one-sided domination.

This match unfolded exactly as Yi Feng expected. The bamboo-hatted elder was toyed with on the board, lasting even less time than before.

Yet, stubborn as ever, the elder insisted on continuing.

And so, they played five more games.

Each subsequent match ended faster than the last, the elder’s resistance crumbling quicker with every defeat.

At first, Yi Feng had shown some mercy, sparing the elder’s dignity. But seeing his refusal to concede, Yi Feng stopped holding back, dismantling him with ruthless efficiency.

By the end of the chess marathon, the bamboo-hatted elder’s morale was in tatters.

Beneath his hat, his face was drenched in sweat.

He had to admit it—when it came to chess, he was no match for Yi Feng.

"It’s fine, it’s just chess. Doesn’t affect me taking him as a disciple."

"Besides, I’m not teaching him chess. As long as I surpass him in other areas, it’s fine."

"Right, it’s just a game. Who says a master has to be better than his disciple at everything…"

The elder consoled himself, and his mood improved slightly.

As they whiled away their leisure time, the ship drew closer to Heavenly Poison Island.

Even from a distance, the air was thick with the pungent reek of medicinal herbs.

Not a single living creature could be seen in the sky or the surrounding waters.

Heavenly Poison Island lived up to its name.

Upon disembarking, the island’s barren landscape confirmed its reputation—barren rocks, not a speck of green in sight.

Without prior knowledge, one might mistake it for a forbidden land.

Finally arriving at his destined grave, Yi Feng was thrilled.

In contrast, the bamboo-hatted elder remained indifferent, showing little reaction.

"Honored heroes, I’ve already informed Lady Night Owl of your arrival. I’ll now escort you to her."

The elder from Heavenly Poison Island led the way respectfully.

At the mention of "Night Owl," however, the bamboo-hatted elder’s steps faltered slightly.

Yi Feng noticed the odd reaction and couldn’t resist asking, "Elder Fu, is this Night Owl someone formidable?"

Through their conversations onboard, Yi Feng had learned the elder’s name was Fu Nantian. From beneath his hat, Fu Nantian replied, "A terrifying woman."

"Known as the Venomous Star, she’s only a half-saint, but even true saints avoid crossing her. Her mastery of poison is peerless—even a saint could fall victim with a single misstep."

"She oversees Heavenly Poison Island."

"In short, when you meet her, keep your distance. She’s drenched in toxins—one wrong move, and it could cost you your life."

Fu Nantian warned Yi Feng cautiously.

Though he was confident in protecting Yi Feng from any real harm, dealing with the Venomous Star’s toxins would still be a hassle.

"I see…"

Yi Feng stroked his chin, filing away the information.

Soon, they arrived at a black hall.

At its head sat a raven-haired woman, her posture languid yet serpentine, her striking figure accentuated by form-fitting black armor that hugged her long legs.

Her features were delicate—a classic oval face—but her complexion wasn’t pale. Instead, her eyeliner and lips bore a dark, ashen hue. To Yi Feng, she embodied the gothic aesthetic of his past life, though far younger than he’d imagined.

At this moment, her delicate hand was gently stroking a venomous lizard, her captivating gaze fixed with keen interest on Yi Feng and Fu Nantian, whom she had brought in.