35: Chapter 35 Want to stay? What will you offer in exchange for your ship ticket?

The night wind raged on the deck.

Gu Yi held Junior Sister Lin Wanying's wrist and turned to walk into the corridor leading to the top-level cabin.

Behind them, Liu Qingwan let out a lazy chuckle, accompanied by the sound of liquid sloshing in her wine gourd, carrying a hint of mischievous amusement at watching the show.

Gu Yi only felt a dull throb in his temples.

Just as they stepped into the corridor, under the dim yellow light of the Formation lamps, two elite Disciples responsible for guarding turned their heads at the sound.

Seeing Gu Yi leading a disheveled-looking young girl by the hand, both of them were stunned.

"Senior Brother Gu, who is this..."

Gu Yi sighed, a hint of weariness and helplessness appearing on his face.

"Junior Sister Lin was feeling playful and hid in a supply crate to sneak onto the flying ship. I will handle this matter myself. You have been guarding for most of the night and must be tired. Go and rest on the side; there is no need to wait here."

The two Disciples believed Gu Yi's words without question, bowed respectfully, and retreated into the depths of the corridor.

Pushing open the heavy spirit-wood cabin door, Gu Yi led Junior Sister Lin Wanying into the room.

Accompanied by the soft click of the cabin door closing, he casually pinched a spell, raising a sound-dampening and concealment Formation around the cabin.

As soon as the Formation's light screen formed, Junior Sister Lin Wanying pounced like a koala, her arms wrapping tightly around Gu Yi's waist.

"Senior Brother! You are so good; I knew you loved me the most and definitely wouldn't send me back!"

She lifted her pretty face, which was stained with two streaks of mud, and gazed at Gu Yi expectantly, trying to use coquetry to get away with it.

Gu Yi reached out, grabbed her by the back of her collar, peeled her off himself, and pressed her onto a nearby grandmaster chair.

He looked down at this daring little girl, deliberately putting away his usual gentleness and straightening his face.

"Who said I wouldn't send you back? Is the Xuantian Sect's flying ship something you can just board whenever you want?"

The smile on Junior Sister Lin Wanying's face froze, and her large eyes quickly clouded over with a layer of mist.

"But... the flying ship has already left the Xuantian Sect's territory. Are you really going to throw me out halfway?"

"Even if it has left, it can still dock at markets along the way."

Gu Yi leaned down slightly, resting his hands on the armrests of the grandmaster chair, trapping her in that small space.

His mouth curved into a mischievous arc. "It's not impossible for you to stay. The journey to the Central Plains is long, and even Inner Sect Disciples must follow the rules and pay Spirit Stones. You snuck out—did you bring money to buy a ticket?"

Junior Sister Lin Wanying subconsciously touched the Storage Pouch at her waist and was instantly dumbfounded.

As the dignified daughter of the Sect Master, she was used to getting whatever she wanted in the Sect; she had no habit of carrying large amounts of Spirit Stones with her.

This runaway attempt was purely an impulsive decision, and her pockets were cleaner than her face.

"No money?" Gu Yi raised an eyebrow, his tone revealing the face of a mercenary capitalist. "Since you can't pay for the ticket, you'll have to use yourself to pay off the debt. From today on, serving tea, pouring water, making the bed, and folding quilts in this cabin will all be your responsibility. If you don't do it to my satisfaction, I will immediately find some desolate wilderness to throw you into to feed the Yao Beasts."

Junior Sister Lin Wanying was stunned for a long while. Watching the undisguisable amusement in Gu Yi's eyes, she finally realized she had been played.

Senior Brother was clearly just trying to scare her and watch her make a fool of herself!

She wrinkled her nose in exasperation, lunged forward, grabbed Gu Yi's arm, opened her little mouth, and bit down hard through his clothing.

Gu Yi gasped, but he didn't shake her off.

Watching her puffed-up appearance, like a little kitten guarding its food while venting her dissatisfaction, he finally couldn't hold back and laughed out loud.

"Alright, are you a dog?" Gu Yi used his other hand to pinch her puffed-up cheeks, forcing her to let go.

His gaze softened completely, and his large palm covered her head, rubbing it vigorously twice, turning her already messy hair bun into a bird's nest.

"Since you've boarded the pirate ship, stay obediently. Go wash your face and get some sleep. With Senior Brother here, no one can drive you away."

The grievance in Junior Sister Lin Wanying's eyes instantly vanished, and the corners of her mouth couldn't help but curl up wildly.

She nodded heavily and ran off joyfully to roll around on the jade couch in the inner chamber.