Chapter 163

Jiang Sishui wandered about with the ladies, a bevy of beauties drawing countless gazes along the way.

If looks could kill, he figured he'd have been sliced to death countless times over by now.

During this time, Jiang Sishui paid extra attention to the Flower Fairy.

In his thinking, this woman hadn't followed him willingly, and given her temperament, she was very likely to seize the chance to escape.

Yet an entire morning passed, and the Flower Fairy made no unusual moves, instead obediently socializing with Huang Rong and the other ladies.

"Has this woman gone possessed? How did she suddenly become so well-behaved?"

Jiang Sishui, caught off guard, muttered darkly to himself.

In truth, he wasn't wrong—the Flower Fairy had indeed entertained that thought.

But she quickly vetoed it herself.

For no other reason than that she was a holder of the diary instance; with the three-month deadline not yet passed, her attacks could not inflict any harm on Jiang Sishui.

Besides, Jiang Sishui still had the "Sun Shadow Golden Wheel."

So even if her strength surpassed Hei Hei Qiling's, facing Jiang Sishui she had not the slightest chance of winning.

Since she couldn't resist, why bother with such a pointless, self-humiliating move?

Before they knew it, it was nearing noon, and Huang Rong and the ladies proposed heading back to cook.

But when it came time to teleport, everyone left, leaving only the Flower Fairy behind.

This was something the ladies had privately agreed on, deciding to give the two of them a little time alone.

Otherwise, every time they faced the outwardly warm but inwardly cold Flower Fairy, they always felt an awkward, uncomfortable sensation.

So it was better to let Jiang Sishui melt this block of ice first before discussing further.

The Flower Fairy saw the ladies leaving her behind and pretty much guessed their intention; her little face immediately darkened.

Jiang Sishui laughed and said, "They're going back to cook—following them is useless. Can you stir the pot, or add firewood?"

Stir the pot? Add firewood?

She, the dignified Grand Steward of Immortal Water Palace, where would she ever need to do such things?

The Flower Fairy was momentarily at a loss for words, yet unwilling to show weakness; she glared at Jiang Sishui and said fiercely, "What's it to you?"

Jiang Sishui was about to speak when suddenly a clamor of gongs and drums came drifting over.

Then the crowd grew noisy, parting to both sides.

Two richly dressed young masters, seemingly shoved by the jostling crowd, stumbled and went barreling straight toward the Flower Fairy.

But immediately after, they felt their bodies grow light, soaring through the air as if riding the clouds, before crashing heavily into the stone wall.

As they hit the ground, they coughed up another mouthful of blood.

They tried to get up, but their whole bodies throbbed with agony; they couldn't muster any strength at all, and could only collapse where they lay, wailing and groaning in pain.

That single blow not only fractured several of their bones but also inflicted no light internal injuries.

Seeing this, the surrounding crowd all moved a bit farther away from the two.

A few who had originally harbored crooked intentions, having witnessed this cautionary example, also gave up the idea one after another.

The Flower Fairy shot the two fellows a sideways glance and said coolly, "With the likes of these two, they can't even touch me. One more step forward, and I'll let them taste the 'Nine Heavens Fairy Needle.'"

"That's different."

"What's different about it?"

"Whether you can deal with them is a question of your ability; whether I step in is a question of my attitude. You're my wife—of course I can't sit idly by."

"Who's your wife? I haven't married you yet."

"Future wife, wife for short."

"……"

While they were talking, the clamor of gongs and drums had already drawn near from afar; two festive big bridal sedan chairs passed one after another down the broad main street, heading this way.

It was clearly the wedding escort of a noble family's young lady leaving the boudoir.

However, at the head and tail of the procession followed a group of martial instructors armed with blades, which struck a somewhat discordant note.

At the same time, the surrounding crowd began whispering among themselves, buzzing with discussion.

"Which family's young lady is getting married? Quite the grand affair!"

"You don't even know this? It's the daughter of the Du family, the richest household in northern Gusu City, and the daughter of Instructor Li of Yangwei Martial Hall in eastern Gusu City!"

"Are the Du and Li family's young ladies very famous?"

"You look like an out-of-towner, brother. These two families' young ladies are said to be as beautiful as flowers; across all of Gusu's common folk, they're among the very finest! These past two years, the matchmakers have nearly worn down both families' doorsteps."

"I see! Two years? That must mean rejecting quite a few people…"

"Ain't that the truth. But who can blame them for being pretty and well-born? With fame like that, marrying into the family would be a real point of pride, wouldn't it?"

????????? Seeking fresh flowers??????????

"True enough. But with the two young ladies so hard to win, who now is the lucky one to have earned their favor—and why are they marrying on the very same day?"

"Heh, then of course it must be someone of even greater rank and power. Otherwise, given the Du and Li families' standards, how could they possibly marry off both daughters?"

"I'd like to hear the details."

"It's the two young masters of Grand Secretary Hua's residence."

"Marrying into the Grand Secretary's residence? That is indeed the two families reaching above their station! The two young ladies are truly blessed!"

"Reaching above their station? That is indeed the case. But whether the two young ladies are blessed is another matter."

"Oh? What do you mean by that?"

........ 0

"…Judging by your face, brother, you're an honest sort too. Very well, cup your ear close, and I'll whisper it to you. But once these words leave my mouth and enter your ear, I won't own them afterward."

"Good, many thanks, many thanks."

"Let me tell you... the two young masters of Grand Secretary Hua's mansion are both simpletons."

"Huh?"

"Pshh—keep it down! You should get it now, right?"

"Got it! Got it!"

Jiang Sishui circulated his internal force and listened clearly to the two men's conversation, a strange look crossing his face.

"The Du family... the Li family... could it be them? But this is Gusu."

Carrying his doubts, Jiang Sishui stepped forward and patted the shoulder of that warm-hearted "big mouth" fellow.

That fellow had failed to keep his mouth shut a moment ago, gossiping about Grand Secretary Hua's mansion with a stranger, and was now feeling a bit of regret and unease.

Suddenly patted on the shoulder, the guilty man was startled at once.

Turning his head and seeing Jiang Sishui's kindly smiling face, his heart settled a little.

Jiang Sishui got straight to the point and asked: "May I ask this big brother, what are the names of the Du and Li family's young ladies?"

Just this?

The man was no longer afraid at once, and explained enthusiastically: "The Du family's young lady is called Du Bingyan, the Li family's young lady is called Li Yuhu."

Du Bingyan! Li Yuhu!

It's really them!

He hadn't expected these two peerless beauties to not be in Yangzhou, but to have run off to Gusu instead.

Jiang Sishui looked toward the flower sedan again, his eyes sparkling, a strong interest showing on his face.

181 The missing bride, the mountain demon's wedding?

The big fellow was startled by Jiang Sishui's gaze and hurriedly said: "Brother, what are you thinking? Those are the in-laws of Grand Secretary Hua's mansion!"

Jiang Sishui smiled slightly, did not explain, and asked again: "I see this wedding escort procession is followed by dozens of martial instructors front and back—could it be to guard against others snatching the bride?"

"Of course! Those jianghu people come and go as they please, acting recklessly, with no regard for the law at all. The two young ladies are so beautiful—how could they not take precautions?"

"So that's how it is."

"And also..." The big fellow suddenly lowered his voice, a hesitant look crossing his face.

Clearly, his reason told him it was best not to wag his tongue too much.

Jiang Sishui saw his mysterious manner and asked: "And also what?"

Once asked like this, the big fellow could no longer hold his tongue.

Looking left and right, the big fellow whispered "three-five-zero": "Judging by your face, brother, you're an honest sort too. So be it, put your ear over here, I'll tell you quietly. But once this leaves my mouth and enters your ear, I won't own up to it afterward."

Jiang Sishui: "..."

The Flower Fairy behind him couldn't hold back either and burst out laughing with a snort.

The laughter also drew the big fellow's attention, and he immediately raised his head to look at the Flower Fairy.