Zhou Chengxue said that Penglai had taken a large sum of money from the King of Poyang to protect his household, but it was clear that the Jiuzhen Sect was very dissatisfied with the Xiao Family. To escort this ship, filled with women, children, orphans, and widows, there were only three Golden Core disciples. Although probably no one in the East Sea dared to hijack the ship, it was apparent that even sending a few more Nascent Soul cultivators to escort them all the way was a gesture of maintaining the face of an ally for so many years that they weren't interested in anymore.
Actually, it's not surprising, since the Lord of the Xiao Family had been playing both sides all along, paying taxes to the Three Realms on one hand and offering tributes to Penglai on the other, a fence-sitter who profited from both sides. Anyway, he had the ability to make money and managed to ingratiate himself with the surrounding powers, maintaining his throne for many years rather securely.