Chapter 165

The half-masked man found Du Bingyan's speech far more pleasant to the ear than Li Yuhu's, and couldn't help glancing back at her.

Unlike the earlier casual glance, this time he looked at her very intently.

As lovely as a flower, as beautiful as a heavenly fairy.

Du Bingyan's beauty was nearly unmatched in his life; the half-masked man couldn't help being dazed for a moment.

Just as the two women assumed he was overcome by lust, a fierce, savage look suddenly crossed the half-masked man's face, his gaze sharp and menacing.

He stared at Du Bingyan and barked, "I'm asking you—do you truly love your husband? Are you truly sincere toward him!"

That furious rebuke left both women stunned.

Looking at the half-masked man's eyes as if they could spit fire, Du Bingyan said cautiously, "You brought us here just to ask this question?"

"Speak! Cut the nonsense—when I ask you, you answer!" The half-masked man was clearly growing impatient.

Before Du Bingyan could reply, Li Yuhu couldn't stand it any longer and shouted, "Hey, are you out of your mind? The men we're supposed to marry—we've never even laid eyes on them! Love their heads, sure!"

The half-masked man's expression faltered; he was left speechless.

But his anger hadn't faded, so he asked again, "Then what about the men you're going to marry? Are they sincere toward you?"

Li Yuhu rolled her eyes. "There's definitely something wrong with you! How other people are—go ask them yourself! You ask us, how would we know?"

The half-masked man was choked silent once more.

And seeing him in such a state, both women began to harbor suspicions in their hearts.

Li Yuhu thought, "This guy's half-crazy—something must be seriously wrong with his head."

Du Bingyan thought, "He lost his composure the moment he saw me, as if he'd been traumatized. Could he have suffered some painful experience that left him with a psychological complex?"

At this thought, she instinctively glanced at the mask covering half of his face.

Suddenly, her gaze collided with the half-masked man's!

The half-masked man said viciously, "Since that's the case, let's see whether your ideal husbands truly care about you enough to come out and look for you! Until then, you'll stay right here!"

Li Yuhu was displeased. "What do you mean by that—you're planning to imprison us?"

The half-masked man laughed despite his anger. "You only just figured that out?"

He was beginning to suspect that the reason these two women weren't afraid of him wasn't because they had any backbone, but simply because they were plain dim-witted.

Saying this, the half-masked man moved to leave the room and lock the door.

Du Bingyan and Li Yuhu exchanged a glance and gave a slight nod.

The two women were about to make a move to stop him when a figure flashed at the doorway—a man and a woman blocking the half-masked man's path.

The half-masked man's face changed; without a moment's thought, he thrust out a palm.

Jiang Sishui saw that his strike was fierce but not vicious, holding back some force, so he simply brushed it aside with a casual wave.

The two palms collided, and the half-masked man staggered, unable to stop himself from being forced back several steps.

"Houqida Sect!"

The half-masked man's face darkened as water. He tucked the hand trembling from the impact into his sleeve, and with the other hand drew a silver flute from his waist.

Seeing him look as if facing a formidable foe, Jiang Sishui said, "Bai Qingshu, stop. I know you've been hurt by love before, but that's no reason for you to act so recklessly."

Bai Qingshu was stunned by the words, then his expression hardened. "You know my identity? You know my past? Who exactly are you?"

Jiang Sishui frowned slightly and said, "How I know doesn't matter, and I don't want to explain it to you."

"Right now, you only need to know one thing—every bride in this room is under my protection."

"Considering your actions have a cause behind them, I'll let you off once. I hope you know what's good for you."

"Of course, you might say I haven't gone through what you've gone through, don't understand your feelings, and have no right to lecture you."

"But right now, I'm stronger than you, so I call the shots."

"Alright, off you go."

Having said this, Jiang Sishui waved his hand impatiently.

Watching Jiang Sishui's casual manner, Bai Qingshu couldn't help tightening his grip on the silver flute, secretly annoyed.

Since he had completed his training and become accomplished, he had never been looked down upon like this.

Yet the palm clash from moments ago kept reminding him that he was no match for his opponent.

The situation being what it was, Bai Qingshu didn't want to die, so he could only swallow his anger.

Just as Jiang Sishui had said: I'm stronger than you, so I call the shots.

Just as he had wantonly abducted brides—only because he was strong could he act so arbitrarily; the weak could only consider themselves unlucky.

Only now, the tables had turned.

With no choice, Bai Qingshu could only leave in low spirits.

Seeing this, the four brides in the room had a strange gleam rise in their eyes.

Originally, in their eyes, Bai Qingshu had already been as powerful as a god, and they had absolutely no power to resist.

Now that Jiang Sishui had arrived, with just one palm strike and a few words, he had actually scared Bai Qingshu off!

While deeply shaken, this also let them see a glimmer of hope for leaving this "cage."

Du Bingyan stepped forward gracefully and gave a proper salute with her hands clasped at her sides. "This young woman is Du Bingyan. Many thanks to Young Master for the rescue. May I ask Young Master's name?"

Jiang Sishui had driven Bai Qingshu away precisely because he didn't want to waste time on some man when there was a great beauty right before him.

Hearing Du Bingyan's words, he smiled kindly and was about to speak.

Just then, Flower Fairy, who had been silent at the side, suddenly stepped forward, hugged his arm, and rested her delicate chin affectionately on his shoulder.

Then she said with a smile, "Miss Du needn't be so polite. My name is Flower Fairy, and he is my husband, Jiang Sishui."

Flower Fairy? Jiang Sishui?

Du Bingyan's heart jolted; a hint of surprise flickered across her lotus-like face, and her luminous, rippling eyes grew even brighter.

Li Yuhu's reaction, however, was far greater—she cried out involuntarily, "You're Jiang Sishui? You're really Jiang Sishui?!"

As she spoke, she leaned in close, a pair of eyes bright and sparkling, staring fixedly at Jiang Sishui without blinking.

Even with Jiang Sishui's thick skin, he felt a bit embarrassed being looked at like that.

Seeing her reaction so intense, he asked in confusion, "Miss, do you know me?"

"... Know you! Of course I know you! The new Sect Leader of the Xiaoyao Sect!"

Li Yuhu patted her chest and said, "My family runs a martial arts hall, so naturally we have to keep up with the big events of the jianghu. You caused such a huge commotion at Leigu Mountain—of course I've heard about it."

"I see." Jiang Sishui nodded.

Du Bingyan, off to the side, secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

This loud and brash Miss Li had, for once, managed to think fast.

Hua Xianzi, however, was very unhappy.

Originally, seeing Jiang Sishui scheming to make moves on the two women, she had wanted to take the chance to stir up trouble and trip him up.

But now, seeing the two women like this, how could she not understand that they too were owners of diary copies?

Then again, given the looks of the two women before him, it would be strange if they didn't have a diary copy.

Thinking of this, Hua Xianzi's smile stiffened somewhat.

Jiang Sishui cast her a sidelong glance.

Of course he understood Hua Xianzi's thoughts, but the moment wasn't the time to quibble—he could only chalk this one up against her.

Taking a closer look at the two women—

Du Bingyan's brows and eyes were like a painting, her features delicate and sweet; her whole person was dignified and elegant, like a lotus just rising from the water.

When she spoke, her voice was soft and gentle; her every gesture was courteous and polite; in both motion and stillness, she fully displayed the bearing of a lady from a great house.

Li Yuhu was fresh and lovely, her looks the typical beauty of a modest household; at first glance, she was like a camellia blossom after a spring rain on an empty mountain.

Her temperament was as graceful as orchids and angelica, yet her personality was bold and carefree, a bit heartless and thoughtless, speaking briskly and crisply, saying things however freely she pleased.

Each of the two women had her own beauty, yet both were devastatingly beautiful.

The two beauties of Gusu's common folk—they could indeed live up to such a great reputation.

At this moment, Li Yuhu suddenly stepped forward, grabbed Jiang Sishui, and dragged him toward a corner.

Jiang Sishui didn't understand what was going on, but he went along with her anyway.

Once Li Yuhu stopped, he cast her a questioning look.

Li Yuhu lowered her voice and said, "My name is Li Yuhu."

Jiang Sishui gave a slight nod: "Miss Li."

"Big Brother Jiang, I want to discuss something with you."

"Miss, please go ahead."