Chapter 115

Everyone turned to look, and amid the tinkling of jade pendants, nine squads of green-clad maids, each wielding long swords, emerged through the flower grove; in an instant, white blades gleamed like frost, their light reflecting off the floral fragrance.

Eighteen swordmaidens formed two lines and walked up close, then halted together, after which a woman stepped forward from behind.

At just one glance, Jiang Sishui felt dazzled, the blinding white expanse before him making him squint.

This cloud is so big… no, this sky is so white…

The newcomer was truly extraordinary; not only did Jiang Sishui, a man, fix his gaze, but even Huang Rong, Zhao Qiying, Bai Feifei, and Jin Lingzhi were utterly transfixed, unable to look away.

Many people make their entrance with a grand sound, but this one broke the mold—she made her entrance with a "first-chest" arrival.

The unbeatable kind!

Then, Huang Rong and the other three women instinctively glanced down at themselves, sinking into gloom.

As for Wang Yuyan, Zhu Zhu, and Bi Bi, either due to innocence or sheer familiarity, they felt little of any great reaction.

Opposite them, Li Qingluo remained composed, showing no exaggerated reaction to the group's "staring ritual."

27 Because she had seen this so many times before, she was long accustomed to it.

Whether man or woman, the first thing they saw was not her peerlessly beautiful face—they all fixated on the exact same "highlight."

"Mother," Wang Yuyan stepped forward and took her hand.

"Auntie," Zhu Zhu and Bi Bi also greeted her.

Li Qingluo's gaze swept over Wang Yuyan, and seeing no sign of illness, she quietly exhaled in relief.

Just as she was about to speak, she saw Jiang Sishui.

Impossible to ignore—he was the only man among a crowd of stunning beauties.

Remembering the message passed by Youcao, Li Qingluo suppressed her urge to scold her daughter and began to closely examine Jiang Sishui.

Meanwhile, Jiang Sishui and the four women were also studying her.

Aside from those unbeatable "weapons," Li Qingluo's face was also exquisitely beautiful.

She looked under forty, her face bearing traces of time and hardship, yet she bore a striking resemblance—five or six parts alike—to Wang Yuyan.

Huang Rong and the others inwardly sighed; no wonder she could give birth to a celestial being like Wang Yuyan—she herself was so beautiful.

This middle-aged woman, still radiating grace and even more captivating with age, was truly a stunning beauty.

Li Qingluo, clad in a pale yellow silk robe, glided gracefully before Jiang Sishui, locking eyes with him, her tone sharp: "You truly came because he sent you?"

Jiang Sishui smiled faintly, said nothing, moved his body—and left a trail of afterimages as he darted swiftly through the flower trees.

"Lingbo Microstep!" Li Qingluo's eyes lit up.

One of her parents' signature martial arts—even after more than twenty years, even though she had been only around ten years old then, she remembered it perfectly, could not possibly be mistaken.

Suddenly, Jiang Sishui flashed close and seized her wrist.

Instantly, Li Qingluo felt her internal Qi begin to leak uncontrollably—she was terrified!

Fortunately, Jiang Sishui released her at once, causing no harm whatsoever—merely a false alarm.

"Northern Nether Divine Art!"

This move was far more convincing than any proof.

Li Qingluo instantly grew agitated, desperate to ask about her father Wu Wu Ya Zi—but the words caught in her throat.

Her expression was profoundly complex: longing, joy, resentment, estrangement—all mingled like a prodigal returning home, trembling at the threshold.

After hesitating, she glanced at those present, realizing this was no place to speak, then said to Jiang Sishui: "Come with me."

Saying this, she walked ahead.

The green-clad swordmaidens were left behind.

She had no fear Jiang Sishui might harm her—his martial skill, as just shown, was unfathomably deep.

If he truly intended harm to the Mantuo Shanzhuang, none of them could resist—so worrying was useless.

Moreover, he was likely Wu Wu Ya Zi's disciple—meaning he was her junior brother.

They were family.

"Big Brother Jiang, my mother has a bad temper—if she says anything wrong, you… you don't hold it against her," Wang Yuyan gripped Jiang Sishui's arm.

Jiang Sishui gave her a reassuring glance and smiled: "Alright, I understand. I'll leave Huang Rong and the others to you, the young mistress of Mantuo Shanzhuang."

Saying this, he lightly flicked his finger against the girl's delicate, upturned nose.

Wang Yuyan blushed deeply at this intimate gesture and murmured: "Big Brother Jiang, go in peace."

Jiang Sishui gently ruffled her hair, glanced back at the women, then turned and followed Li Qingluo.

Seeing dusk approach, Wang Yuyan led the women to select their lodgings.

…

Following Li Qingluo through winding paths in the flower grove, they arrived at a secluded stone pavilion; Li Qingluo hesitated, then asked: "He… how is he now?"

Jiang Sishui answered truthfully: "Master has passed away."

"Passed away… passed away…"

Li Qingluo's gaze grew distant; she murmured: "Of course… all these years—how could he still be alive? If he were alive, why wouldn't he come see me?"

Jiang Sishui knew she misunderstood and immediately explained: "Master passed only recently—less than eight days ago."

"What?!" Li Qingluo gasped.

Jiang Sishui did not prolong her suspense—he recounted the events of that time.

Not knowing how much reality differed from the original plot, he spoke briefly, omitting all details, to avoid misstatements.

But Li Qingluo still understood several things—

When Wu Wu Ya Zi vanished all those years ago, it was not because he abandoned her—he was betrayed by Ding Chunqiu, severely injured and crippled.

And that famed "Zhenlong Chess Puzzle"… was actually set by her father!

Her father had never died—he had lived in seclusion on Leigu Mountain, right within Suzhou, no more than five days' journey from Mantuo Shanzhuang.

Li Qingluo was a bit dazed by all this news, sitting in a daze for quite a while, when she suddenly heard Jiang Sishui say: "That traitor Ding Chunqiu has already been killed by me."

Ding Chunqiu is dead?

Li Qingluo's beautiful eyes gathered a glint, then a layer of murderous aura rose again, and she said coldly: "Good kill! What a pity we couldn't take him alive—otherwise I'd have cut off his hands and feet and thrown him under the datura flowers as fertilizer!"

Jiang Sishui's brow furrowed slightly, but he said nothing.

When Li Qingluo looked at Jiang Sishui again, a hint of softness had crept into her eyes: "Junior brother, what else did your Master say to you? Is there any message you'd like to bring to your senior sister?"

Junior brother? Senior sister?

Jiang Sishui really didn't want to address her that way—otherwise, wouldn't it be terribly awkward for Wang Yuyan to hear?

But this wasn't the time to quibble over such things. Facing Li Qingluo's inquiry, he said frankly: "Master told me to take care of you mother and daughter."

Take care of us mother and daughter?

Li Qingluo was startled.

Recalling how Jiang Sishui and Wang Yuyan had looked and stood when she first saw them, Li Qingluo's heart skipped a beat.

She couldn't help but size Jiang Sishui up seriously once more. After a pause, she asked: "Do you like Yuyan?"

128 Lady, I will take good care of you mother and daughter

"That's right."

Jiang Sishui admitted it directly—there was nothing to hide.

After all, according to the plan going forward, he intended to make Mantuo Shanzhuang one of the future headquarters of his harem, and Li Qingluo would learn of it sooner or later through the Zaowan Society.

Going back to Leigu Mountain every night to share a peak with that lot from the Longya Sect always felt a bit awkward.

Moreover, if his "Water-Controlling Pearl" was to exert its greatest effect, it had to be in a place with abundant water.

This Mantuo Shanzhuang deep in Taihu was undoubtedly an excellent choice.

And here, Wang Yuyan, as well as Ah Zhu and Ah Bi, would also feel familiar and at ease.

Especially Ah Bi—no matter what Taihu lacked, it couldn't lack her elfin singing voice.

As for why not choose Huang Rong's Taohuadao?

That was because there was a Huang Yaoshi on the island.

Although Mantuo Shanzhuang also had an owner, that owner was a great beauty, Li Qingluo…

Li Qingluo wasn't surprised by his answer, and looking at Jiang Sishui's inner and outer qualities, she was actually quite satisfied in her heart.

Besides, she had always disliked how Wang Yuyan couldn't forget Murong Fu, and now this girl had somehow suddenly seen the light and actually shifted her affections.

This was an unprecedented piece of great news!

Li Qingluo couldn't be happier—how could she possibly object?

But Wang Yuyan was her precious daughter, and she couldn't just hand her over so easily.

She hadn't forgotten that there was still a whole pile of beauties, big and small, around Jiang Sishui.