Chapter 126

The "Jiao's tail" stretched into the lake, madly drawing in the waters of Taihu to feed the ever-lengthening "Jiao's body," which then wound and coiled all the way until it reached them, lying low at everyone's feet.

Seeing such a miraculous sight, the women could not help but cheer, then impatiently stepped onto the "Jiao's head."

As for the "Water-Controlling Pearl," Sishui already showed it to the five women and Bai Feifei separately during breakfast and on the way here.

Watching the women get ready, Jiang Sishui suddenly caught sight of a little maid in green not far away.

It was Youcao, whom he had run into yesterday when he first arrived at Mantuo Shanzhuang.

At this moment, Youcao's face was full of shock; looking at Ah Zhu and Ah Bi on the "Water Jiao," her eyes brimmed with envy.

Having witnessed everything that had happened from yesterday until now, she understood in her heart that her two young ladies had "flown up to the branch and become a phoenix"—their status had soared, and they were no longer someone a servant like her could compare to.

This left her sighing and filled with emotion, as if a lifetime had passed.

Just then, a stream of water stretched over, surged beneath her feet, gently lifted her up, then slowly drew back.

Her cloth shoes stepped on the water without getting wet in the slightest; all the water vapor, as if sentient, gathered entirely within the current.

The sudden change left Youcao momentarily stunned.

By the time she came back to her senses, she was already in front of Jiang Sishui.

"Miss Youcao, would you be willing to come with us?"

Jiang Sishui's smile was like a warm spring breeze, warming the heart, and Youcao was so stunned she froze.

From childhood till now, no such handsome man had ever smiled at her so gently...

It made Youcao feel as if she were in a dream.

Just as she stood dazed and lost in thought, her arms suddenly tightened—left and right, each arm was held by someone.

Ah Zhu and Ah Bi exchanged a glance, then smiled at Jiang Sishui together: "Of course Sister Youcao is willing!"

Youcao now came to her senses as well; realizing her own gaffe, a blush rose to her cheeks and she hurriedly said, "Youcao is willing. Many thanks, Young Master Jiang."

At this moment, she was utterly overwhelmed by the unexpected favor; she had never imagined that a lowly maidservant like herself could receive such an honor.

Looking at Jiang Sishui again, her young heart could not help but flutter, and the blush on her pretty face deepened by several shades without her noticing.

Jiang Sishui gave a slight nod, then suddenly turned his head to look at the other side.

There, Jin Lingzhi was being sent over, bound by a "water rope."

Originally she should have been carried over as well, but Jin Lingzhi had tried to "jump off the carriage" midway, so the "water bridge" turned into a "water rope" and tied her up to bring her here.

Jin Lingzhi's face was dark, and upon seeing Jiang Sishui, she was so angry her gums itched.

This bastard—truly not a moment passes without him bullying this old lady!

He had just kissed her lips, and now he was forcing her again.

Jiang Sishui stepped forward with a smile; looking at Jin Lingzhi's fierce, puffed-up appearance, his mood was inexpressibly delighted.

Unfortunately, one person's joy cannot equal another's; seeing his smiling face, Jin Lingzhi wished she could stamp a shoe print right on it!

"Young Lady Jin, why do you look unhappy? Has someone been bullying you?"

Jin Lingzhi was nearly choked to death by Jiang Sishui's words. Hearing this, she rolled her eyes hugely and said irritably, "Only a bastard would bully me!"

Jiang Sishui, however, acted as if he couldn't tell she was cursing him indirectly; hearing this, he nodded and said, "That's perfect—I've come to make you happy."

Having said this, without waiting for Jin Lingzhi to mock him, he activated the "Water-Controlling Pearl," commanding the "Water Jiao" to carry them charging toward Taihu!

Once they reached the depths of Taihu, they saw vast waves stretching for ten thousand leagues on all sides, endless mists and clouds, no one in sight—only then did Jiang Sishui begin his true performance.

He controlled the water flow to steady the women's figures, then drove the "Water Jiao" into a frenzy of rolling.

At times it soared into the azure sky, shoulder to shoulder with the white clouds, competing in height with the heavens.

At times it roamed the lake's depths, dancing with fish and shrimp, exploring the secrets hidden in the water's deeps.

Rising to the sky, diving into the water—unobstructed at every turn, as if truly riding a dragon.

The unprecedented thrilling experience left the women both frightened and exhilarated; amid the stimulation, they screamed one after another.

Even Wang Yuyan, a lady from a noble house, was no exception.

The wild wind tousled her black hair; the heavenly fairy who had descended to the mortal world seemed to have returned to the heavens once more.

Jiang Sishui, amid the bevy of beauties, occasionally played small tricks—for instance, slightly weakening the steadying force of the water flow on one person, which would make her scream in fright, then cling desperately to the Jiang Sishui beside her.

And so, a moment later...

Looking at Jin Lingzhi, who was clinging to him like an octopus and wouldn't let go, Jiang Sishui took the chance to kiss her again.

Jin Lingzhi, who was in the midst of the thrill and had no time to mind anything else, did not get angry this time, but gave him a great eye-roll in return.

Infinitely charming.

140. Pride Goes Before a Fall—The Liu Sheng Sisters' Killing Strike

Dongying.

Night fell; the vast Wushen Juegong blazed with brilliant lights, standing majestically against the dark curtain of night, as dazzling as a fallen star from the heavens.

Yet where there is light, there is shadow; even in the most magnificent of places, shadows exist.

At this very moment, two slender black shadows moved through the shadows—rising high, crouching low, running across eaves and walls—moving as nimbly as cats, their bodies light as feathers.

The two worked in perfect tacit understanding, watching over each other, evading countless patrols and hidden sentries, silently making their way toward a certain building.

Closer... even closer...

However, just as one of them leapt onto the last wall first, a great net came rushing fiercely from the opposite side, descending to envelop her head-on!

An ambush!

Realizing she had been discovered, the person on the wall flew backward while drawing the warrior's blade at her waist; wrapped in a surge of saber Qi, she slashed viciously at the great net.

"Clang clang clang clang—"

Sparks flew in all directions; crisp metallic clangs rang out in a continuous stream. The great net was undamaged under the sweep of the saber Qi, clearly made of extraordinary material.

The net's momentum was fierce and urgent, and having struck first, it actually caught up to her.

Just as she was about to be enveloped, her retreating figure suddenly plunged sharply downward and backward!

The sudden burst of speed caused the net to snatch at empty air.

"Sister, run!" It was Liu Sheng Piaoxu's voice.

The one who had just leapt onto the wall was none other than Liu Sheng Xueji. She untied the silk sash that had somehow wound around her waist and, at the last critical moment, had pulled her clear of the great net, and gave a slight nod.

Without a single wasted word, the two of them stopped holding back and burst forth with full power, cutting their way out of the palace.

At the same time, shouts rose from all around; countless torches lit up the night sky, and the palace guards of the Wu Xia Jue Palace swarmed in like a colony of ants.

"Quick! Whoever catches those two women for me, the Young Master will reward them handsomely!"

A rather frivolous, clear laugh rang out. A young man, flanked by his attendants, strode forward with great steps, his gaze toward the Liu Sheng sisters burning hot.

It was none other than the second Young Master of the Wu Xia Jue Palace — Jue Tian.

And beside Jue Tian followed a young swordsman with an expression of cold indifference.

The swordsman cradled his blade against his chest, eyelids slightly lowered, not even glancing at the battlefield.

(Note: Wu Xia-style swordsmen from the Eastern Isles all seem to like using a saber to execute Sword Techniques, so this is not a typo. This was already explained once in chapter 116; considering some readers who subscribed mid-way might have missed it, I'm explaining it again here. It won't be mentioned again later.)

His gaze was utterly indifferent, as if devoid of all human emotion; nothing in the world could stir his heart.

Hearing Jue Tian's voice, the palace guards were as if injected with chicken blood, hurriedly forming up and charging forward.

In the Wu Xia Jue Palace, who didn't know that Jue Tian was the most favored son of Palace Master Jue Jue Wushen? To earn his appreciation and promotion, one's future would surely be a smooth road.

And conversely, if they hung back timidly and earned Jue Tian's grudge, they'd be done for.

Therefore, driven by the lure of heavy reward with no retreat, the palace guards surged forward fearless of death.

"Be careful! Don't hurt the beauties — the Young Master wants them taken alive!"

Jue Tian still felt uneasy and hurriedly called out a reminder, afraid that this lot might lose their heads in the heat of the moment and hack the beauties to death.

The swordsman beside him shot him a sidelong glance, his eyes full of mockery.

What an idiot — wasn't this just telling the Liu Sheng sisters they could go ahead and kill with abandon?

The Liu Sheng sisters, though surrounded, did not panic. They reached back and undid the bundles on their backs, then their ten fingers flew as they hurled black, ball-shaped objects one after another into the crowd.

Boom boom boom—

Gravel flew, dust billowed; amid the ceaseless explosions, the crowd was blasted apart wave after wave.

And the Liu Sheng sisters used the blasts to blast open an escape route, charging all the way out of the Wu Xia Jue Palace.

"Thunder Bolts? Let's see how many Thunder Bolts you have left to use!"

Although the casualties were heavy, Jue Tian did not mind in the slightest, because these "small fry" were meant to be used up as cannon fodder.

And once the Liu Sheng sisters ran out of tricks, it would be time to take them alive.

"After them!"

At Jue Tian's command, the crowd surged after him in hot pursuit.