Villain: Manipulating the Heroines into hating the Protagonist Chapter 947: Red Coral Island

The Iron-Wood ship swayed with a soft, rhythmic motion, providing a peaceful contrast to the blood-drenched chaos they had escaped in the State of Yue. Here, within the boundless reaches of the Myriad Reefs Sea Domain, the horizon appeared as a flawless fusion of sapphire waves and azure heavens, disturbed only by the sharp cry of a spirit-gull or the sudden splash of a giant, armored fish breaking the surface.

A humid, tropical sun beat down with an intensity that felt thick against the skin, saturated with the pungent aroma of salt and sea spray. While Yue Lingshan remained in the captain’s quarters, slumbering deeply to recover from the emotional exhaustion of exile and the physical vigor of her husband’s "consolation" the night before, Wang Jian stood upon the quarterdeck, observing his new territory.

His attention wandered over the women assembled on the deck. Near the mast, Chen Ying polished her blade with a stoic expression. Liu Ruyan leaned against the railing, her gaze fixed on the dark depths below. The three Shadow Flowers—Qiu Yun, Su Ning, and Bai Xue—conversed in low tones near the bow. Standing by the helm was Mu Lianhua, the former Sect Mistress, who exuded a quiet, restrained power.

They were still dressed in the heavy, layered silks of the mainland, garments designed for the biting winds of mountain peaks and the rigid propriety of a Sect. In this sweltering, briny atmosphere, their attire looked suffocating and entirely out of place. To any observer, they stood out as obvious foreigners.

"This is unsuitable," Wang Jian whispered to himself.

He struck his palms together, the sharp crack echoing over the sound of the wind. "Everyone, assemble."

The women reacted instantly. The discipline he had carved into them—whether through rigorous training or the shattering of their spirits—was total. They quickly formed a semi-circle before him.

"Observe yourselves," Wang Jian commanded, indicating their clothes. "We have left the Mystic Peak Sect behind. We are no longer within the borders of Yue. Wearing these formal, heavy robes here is like donning a winter cloak inside a furnace. To every pirate and sea monster for miles, you look like nothing more than foreign prey."

He turned his gaze toward the trembling captain at the helm. "You. Go to your quarters and bring that chest I saw. The one containing the local silks."

The captain hurried to comply, returning shortly with a large trunk overflowing with vibrant, airy fabrics and regional clothing he had likely acquired through trade or plunder.

"We must integrate," Wang Jian declared, his eyes shining with a possessive glint as he surveyed his harem. "You will all change your appearance. Use lighter, breathable materials. Adopt styles that suit the Myriad Reefs."

Reaching into the chest, he pulled out a garment made of sheer, sea-blue silk, so delicate it flowed like liquid. It was a sarong-style dress, elegant and clearly costly, but by the standards of the mainland, it was scandalous. It was tailored to cling to the form, leaving the arms and shoulders exposed, with a high slit designed to reveal the leg during movement.

He approached Mu Lianhua.

"Sect Mistress Mu," he said, his voice dropping to a low, intimate resonance meant only for her ears. "This is what you will wear."

Mu Lianhua stared at the fabric, a deep crimson flush creeping up her neck. "Master... this... it leaves very little to the imagination."

"It is sophisticated," Wang Jian countered, his fingers grazing her skin as he handed it over. "And it will provide relief from the heat. Go and change. All of you. Make yourselves... comfortable."

He watched as they retreated below deck. This wasn't merely about blending in. The prospect of seeing his collection of beauties in the provocative, exotic fashions of the islands made his blood simmer. He desired to see their skin. He wanted the curves he owned to be highlighted by fabric that accentuated rather than concealed.

A few minutes passed before Mu Lianhua stepped back out onto the deck.

Wang Jian felt his breath catch.

The blue sarong wrapped around her mature, curvaceous frame like a second skin. While the silk was opaque enough for basic modesty, its thinness hinted at the dark circles of her nipples and the indentation of her navel. Her alabaster shoulders were bare, shimmering under the sun. With every stride, her long, toned legs were visible through the slit. She appeared as a regal sea goddess, yet one who was clearly vulnerable to his touch.

Avoiding the gazes of the crew, she walked directly to Wang Jian with her head lowered.

"Is this... to your liking, Master?" she breathed.

Wang Jian moved closer, shielding her from the helmsman’s view. His hand traveled down her naked arm, savoring the warmth of her flesh.

"It is flawless," he whispered. "However, I believe the fit requires a more thorough inspection."

He glanced toward the captain’s quarters where Yue Lingshan was still asleep. "My wife is resting, and the cabin is undisturbed. Follow me, Lianhua. I have certain... instructions regarding our path ahead."

Mu Lianhua understood the true meaning of his 'instructions.' Her pulse hammered, and her pupils widened. "Yes... Master."

He escorted her into the small chart room near the main cabin, securing the door. As soon as the lock clicked into place, the facade of formality vanished.

Wang Jian took a seat in a sturdy wooden chair and pulled Mu Lianhua onto his lap. She complied eagerly, draping her arms around his neck and pressing her soft, heavy weight against his thighs. The thin sarong did nothing to block the heat radiating between them.

"A new territory, a fresh beginning," Wang Jian murmured, his hands immediately sliding beneath the loose neckline of the sarong. He let out a low groan as the weight of her large, unsupported breasts filled his grip. "But your duty remains unchanged, my pet."

Mu Lianhua arched her back, offering her long, graceful neck to his lips. She reached for a bowl of spirit fruits on the nearby table, peeling a grape and offering it to him.

"Yes, Master," she whispered, her voice heavy with the devotion and conditioning he had seared into her very soul. "I live only to serve. My body is yours to command."

For the following three hours, the chart room echoed with the sounds of rhythmic, wet impacts and suppressed cries. Wang Jian claimed her with a ruthless intensity, channeling his excitement for their new environment into her. He hiked up the sarong, admiring the contrast of her pale thighs against the dark wood. He forced her down across the chart table, taking her from behind while staring at the map of the boundless ocean, asserting his dominance over her as surely as he intended to conquer these lands.

He admired the elegance of the dress, but he took greater pleasure in ruining it. He loved how the sheer silk bunched at her waist and how her heavy breasts swung freely with his every thrust. He used the former Sect Mistress as his personal vessel for release, and she accepted it—craved it—finding a twisted sense of peace in the total surrender of her will to his.

When they finally emerged, the sun was high. Mu Lianhua’s hair was disordered, her lips were swollen and crimson, and her skin radiated a post-coital glow that stripped years from her appearance. She smoothed her sarong, quickly regaining the poise of a dignified, if slightly tired, Elder.

On deck, Yue Lingshan had woken and was gathered with the others. She wore a modified version of her Sect attire—lighter and more functional, though still modest. She stood at the rail, looking out at the sea with wide, inquisitive eyes.

"The currents here are strange..." Lingshan remarked as Wang Jian approached, sliding an arm around her waist. "Can you feel it, husband? The water Qi forms natural whirlpools. It feels as if the entire ocean is a massive, fluid array."

"It is truly remarkable," Wang Jian agreed, planting a kiss on her temple as he played the role of the devoted husband. "You should study them. Perhaps we can use these natural patterns for our own protection once we find a place to stay."

"I would enjoy that," she said with a smile, leaning against him. She looked over at Mu Lianhua, who stood nearby with a serene expression. "Elder Mu, are you well? You seem quite flushed."

"It is the sea air," Mu Lianhua replied smoothly, without hesitation. "It is very... stimulating. I was simply meditating on the essence of the water attribute."

Nearby, the five married maids were struggling. They huddled by the railing, their complexions a sickly shade of green. The constant rolling of the vessel, made worse by the erratic waves, was devastating their balance.

Wang Jian walked toward them and frowned. "This is unacceptable."

He pulled a bottle of "Stabilizing Sea Pellets" from his storage ring—items he had confiscated from the captain’s personal supplies.

"Consume these," he commanded, distributing the pills. "They will fix your equilibrium."

As the women took the medicine with looks of gratitude, Wang Jian’s tone became harsh. "But remember, pills are merely a temporary fix. You are now Cultivators, not common mortal women. You must learn to move with the ship’s rhythm, not fight it. Practice your balance. Stand on the railings if necessary. You are useless as my guards or servants if you are constantly sick over the side."

"Yes, Master! We beg your forgiveness!" Li Mei choked out, wiping her mouth and standing tall, desperate not to disappoint him.

High above in the crow’s nest, Chen Ying kept watch. Though the wind tossed her hair, she remained as still as a statue of frozen steel. Her eyes scanned the horizon without blinking. She found peace in the solitude of the ocean. Here, far from Sect rivalries and politics, her goal was simple: protect Wang Jian. This cold clarity brought her comfort.

On the aft deck, Liu Ruyan had arranged a small, mobile alchemy station. She was currently dissecting a bizarre, glowing fish that had landed on the deck earlier.

"Fascinating," she whispered, her fingers stained with blue ichor. "The mercury levels in its blood are incredibly high. It would make an excellent catalyst for lightning-attribute pills." She glanced up at Wang Jian as he walked by, offering him a suggestive, private smile that hinted at different kinds of experiments later.

The ship’s original captain watched all of this from the wheel, his knuckles white from gripping it so tightly. He was paralyzed with fear.

He had initially believed they were merely wealthy refugees. But as he observed them—the way these stunning women looked at the man, the casual use of high-tier pills, and the bone-chilling aura of the woman in blue—he realized he was carrying monsters.

That man, Wang Jian... his Cultivation was lower than the woman in the Core Formation stage, yet he carried himself like an emperor. There was a darkness in his eyes that made the captain’s soul tremble. He was the most terrifying of them all.

"Red Coral Island," Wang Jian said, approaching the helm. "Tell me what you know of it."

"It... it is a major trading center, Senior," the captain stuttered. "Controlled by the Red Coral Ancestor. It is neutral territory. No combat is permitted within the city walls."

"Excellent," Wang Jian nodded. "We require new identities and a primary base. We also need to locate the local resources."

He looked at Mu Lianhua. "Elder Mu, conceal your power. Suppress your Cultivation to the early stages of Foundation Establishment. We wish to be respected, not feared. We shouldn't alarm the local powers into thinking we are an invading army."

"Understood," she replied, and her aura immediately faded, retracting until she appeared merely 'capable' rather than 'unstoppable.'

He then addressed the Shadow Flowers—Qiu Yun, Su Ning, and Bai Xue. They were now dressed in provocative, local-style leathers that bared their midriffs and legs, giving them the appearance of dangerous, alluring mercenaries.

"Once we reach the docks," he told them, "blend in with the crew. Speak to the sailors. Learn their dialect and their ways. I want to know the local rivalries, which businesses are criminal fronts, and what the local laws are. However," his gaze turned cold, "do not lie with them. Your bodies belong to me alone."

"Of course, Master," Qiu Yun said with a smirk, spinning a dagger. "We will simply... charm the information out of them."

Night descended over the sea, and the water began to glow. Bioluminescent algae swirled in the ship’s wake, leaving a path of blue fire. Eerie, glowing jellyfish drifted like phantoms in the deep. Above, the stars were a brilliant tapestry, far clearer than they ever appeared from the mainland.

It was a beautiful, alien world.

Wang Jian retired to the captain’s quarters with Yue Lingshan. He held her as the ship rocked, whispering reassurances about their new life far from home. He played the part of the perfect husband, providing her an anchor in this strange land, while his mind was already calculating his next conquest.

The tranquility of the trip was shattered the following afternoon.

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

The ship’s brass alarm rang out violently.

"Sea beast! Starboard! Brace for impact!" the lookout yelled.

The water beside the ship erupted. A colossal, slimy tentacle, as thick as a tree and lined with hooked suckers, crashed onto the deck. It coiled around the main mast, making the wood groan under the strain.

A monstrous, beaked head rose from the waves. It was a Deep-Sea Kraken, a creature at the peak of Foundation Establishment, nearly ready to break through. Its eyes were massive, glowing with a mindless, ravenous hunger.

The original crew fell into a panic. They hurled harpoons, but the metal tips simply slid off the beast’s rubbery, slime-coated skin.

"We're lost! It's going to pull us down!" a sailor screamed.

Wang Jian stepped out of the cabin, perfectly composed. He looked at the thrashing horror.

"A chance to practice," he declared, his voice cutting through the hysteria. He looked at his three assassins. "Shadow Flowers. Deal with it."

Qiu Yun, Su Ning, and Bai Xue moved without a second's delay, operating with the synchronized precision Wang Jian had forced into them during their harsh training.

"Burn!" Qiu Yun cried, launching a barrage of fireballs. Though the water dampened the flames, the intense heat boiled the sea instantly, creating a cloud of scalding steam that scorched the Kraken’s face. The monster roared in agony.

"Contaminating the water!" Su Ning shouted. She smashed several glass vials into the sea near the beast. The water turned a foul, murky purple. The Kraken convulsed as the toxins entered its gills, dragging at its movements.

Bai Xue was the finishing strike. Moving like a blur, she sprinted up the tentacle gripping the mast. her twin daggers glinted in the light as she sliced through the suckers, cutting the thick muscles. The tentacle lost its hold and retreated into the water.

However, the beast was resilient. Infuriated, it slammed another limb against the side of the ship, causing the hull to splinter and the vessel to tilt dangerously.

Wang Jian stood on the deck with his arms crossed, watching with a critical eye. He did not move to help.

"Target the eyes," he commanded calmly. "It needs sight to hit the ship. If it’s blind, it will lose focus."

Bai Xue took the instruction. Using the railing as a springboard, she propelled herself into the air, twisting to dodge a flailing limb by a hair’s breadth.

She landed squarely on the monster’s head.

With a desperate cry, she plunged her venom-coated dagger deep into the Kraken’s giant, yellow eye.

SCREEEEEECH!

The sound was deafening. The Kraken thrashed in a frenzy, tossing Bai Xue into the air (where she was caught by Chen Ying’s shadow-whip). The creature shuddered as the poison from the blade reached its brain.

It struck the water one last time before going limp, floating like a grotesque, fleshy island.

"Haul it up," Wang Jian commanded the speechless crew. "Sea beast flesh is edible and rich in Qi. We shall not let it go to waste."

The sailors stared at the three beautiful women in shock. These "servants" had just annihilated a monster that would have sunk any normal trade ship in moments. They looked at Wang Jian with a fresh, terrified reverence.

That evening, they held a feast. The Kraken meat was tough but overflowing with spiritual energy. Consuming it sent a wave of warmth through their bodies, restoring the Qi they had used in the battle.

Wang Jian sat at the head of the table, holding the beast core he had carved out. It pulsed with a deep blue radiance.

"Water attribute," he noted. "High quality. Lingshan, this is yours. Or perhaps Su Ning can find a use for it in her toxins."

He looked at his followers. They were laughing and eating, full of confidence. They had encountered the perils of this new world and won. They realized that while the land was new, their power—and their bond under Wang Jian—was absolute.

"Land in sight!" Chen Ying’s voice rang out from the crow’s nest the next morning. "I see the island!"

Red Coral Island was an impressive sight.

As they drew near, the massive landmass became clear. It wasn't made of stone; it was a giant, calcified coral reef that had risen from the sea floor over eons. The island shimmered with a reddish tint under the sun.

The city perched upon it was a explosion of color. The buildings were crafted from polished coral, massive shells, and gleaming pearl-stone. The architecture looked organic and vibrant.

The harbor was a swarm of activity. Numerous flying ships were moored in docking bays. Huge sea vessels were unloading piles of glowing ores and monster parts. Cultivators soared through the sky on swords, magical artifacts, or tamed beasts. The general Cultivation level of the people on the streets was significantly higher than in the cities of Yue.

Their ship arrived at the dock. An official from the Port Authority, wearing robes decorated with coral patterns, flew down to intercept them.

"Docking fee," the official stated bluntly, looking bored. "Ten medium-grade spirit stones per day."

It was an exorbitant price meant to exploit newcomers.

Wang Jian walked forward. He didn't protest. Instead, he tossed a pouch of high-grade spirit stones to the man.

"We plan to stay for some time," Wang Jian said smoothly, projecting the image of a wealthy Young Master who didn't care for petty costs. "Keep the remainder for your assistance."

The official caught the bag, checked the stones, and his eyes nearly popped out. His attitude shifted instantly from boredom to groveling respect.

"Welcome, honored guests! Welcome to Red Coral Island! Please, let me handle your paperwork immediately!"

The group stepped off the ship and onto the strange, hard red surface of the island.

Wang Jian straightened his robes. He had taken on a new persona.