Chapter 166

"Where do you live? Can you take me and Sister Du away with you?"

"…"

Jiang Sishui looked utterly baffled.

He understood every word Li Yuhu said, but when put together, they left him completely lost.

Li Yuhu clearly realized her phrasing was problematic; she scratched her head and decided to start over: "Big Brother Jiang, you've probably heard my name, right?"

Jiang Sishui nodded honestly: "Of course."

"Then do you know that I and Sister Du are supposed to marry the two Young Masters of Chancellor Hua's household?"

"I know."

"Then have you heard that Chancellor Hua's two Young Masters are mentally deficient?"

"I've heard something to that effect."

"Exactly! So tell me—would I and Sister Du willingly marry into that household?"

Jiang Sishui understood: "So you want to run away from the marriage."

Seeing that Jiang Sishui got it, Li Yuhu clapped her hands excitedly: "Exactly!"

"Chancellor Hua's household holds power and influence; our families dare not refuse the match or offend them. Bai Qingshu kidnapped me and Sister Du—but it just gave us the chance to escape."

"And since this incident happened, it's due to Chancellor Hua's household's own failure in protection—it can't be blamed on our families."

"But now Bai Qingshu has been driven off by you; if word gets out, we'll have no choice but to return—so…"

Jiang Sishui smiled and picked up: "So you want me to pretend I've kidnapped you and Sister Du, to throw people off the trail?"

"Mm-hmm!" Li Yuhu nodded eagerly, her eyes shining brightly.

"If Miss Li has a request, I naturally have no reason to refuse—but has Sister Du agreed to this?"

"She'll definitely agree! We're close sisters—I know exactly what's in her heart!"

"Have you known each other long?"

"Yes, I met Sister Du when I was twelve."

"I see…"

"So? All good now? You're in?"

"I'm certainly willing, but I have one question: I've just met you, Miss Li—aren't you afraid I might be a villain?"

"A villain? I'm not afraid!"

"Why not?"

"What worse fate could there be than marrying two mentally deficient men, then being locked away behind high walls and endless courtyards, bound day and night by rigid rules?"

"…I understand. Fine, I agree to you."

"Wonderful!"

"But if we're going to play this out, we must do it fully—there may be some slight impropriety ahead for the sake of realism."

"What of it? Go ahead!"

Li Yuhu looked magnanimous and understanding.

184 Born with a seductive bone, the peerless beauty Qin Keqing

Just as Jiang Sishui was pondering how to make his act more convincing, a soft, fragile voice came from nearby.

"Young Master, thank you for your righteous rescue—I am deeply grateful."

Jiang Sishui's train of thought was interrupted; he turned and looked toward a dark corner.

The next moment, a flash of awe passed through his eyes.

There stood a woman with peach-blossom cheeks, autumn-eyed and spring-browed, cherry lips painted red, willow-slim waist swaying.

She stood quietly, like a pear blossom drenched in rain—ethereal, misty grace; like a cluster of peonies veiled in smoke.

Clad in a crimson wedding gown, her long, disheveled black hair spilled over her shoulders; though unadorned and slightly disheveled, her seductive beauty and enchanting charm could not be hidden.

Yet within her myriad charms lay a touch of gentle elegance, ethereal sorrow, and tender grief.

One looked at her and felt desire surge—but could not help but feel pity, longing to pull her into one's arms and cherish her tenderly.

One part purity, two parts pity, seven parts seduction soaked into the marrow.

In that moment, a single word rose unbidden in Jiang Sishui's mind—

Fox spirit!

A fox spirit born with a seductive bone!

Until now, Jiang Sishui's attention had been entirely on Du Bingyan and Li Yuhu, unaware that in the shadowed corner lurked such a peerless beauty.

In pure looks, she was not quite as stunning as Du Bingyan or Li Yuhu, yet her overall allure matched them perfectly.

In fact, if one had to choose among the three women, many men would likely pick this woman.

No other reason—she was simply too seductive!

So seductive it lowered men's resistance to 350.

This was the first woman Jiang Sishui had ever met who possessed a naturally seductive bone structure.

Noticing Jiang Sishui studying her, the woman softly said: "I am Qin Keqing. Five days ago, I was married; my bridal sedan passed through Red River Valley when I was taken by the… the… by that strange man."

"Today, thanks to your rescue, I have escaped this sea of suffering."

"If you are willing, please come with me to my home for a moment."

"My family must be frantic with worry; if they learn I owe my deliverance to you, they will thank you a thousand times over."

The beauty spoke, her voice soft and sweet, as charming and alluring as her appearance and aura.

Jiang Sishui's expression changed; he looked her up and down: "You say your name is Qin Keqing?"

"Yes."

"You were about to leave the boudoir five days ago — who is the groom?"

"The man this young lady is to marry is the young master of Wansong Shanzhuang, a lay disciple of the Zhouwudang Sect — Liu Ruosong."

"Liu Ruosong…" Jiang Sishui understood.

Seeing something off in Jiang Sishui's expression, Qin Keqing cautiously called out: "Young Master?"

Jiang Sishui did not answer, but raised a hand and pointed.

A beam of white light shot from his fingertip, fell upon Qin Keqing, and then wrapped around her entire body.

Qin Keqing did not understand what was happening, yet did not dare to move rashly.

One breath… two breaths…

Qin Keqing's body glowed faintly with white light, hazy and ethereal — at a glance she looked like an immortal among mortals.

Only when Jiang Sishui drew back his finger did that white light finally recede.

Seeing the satisfied smile on Jiang Sishui's face, Qin Keqing's heart gave a sudden lurch — a sense of foreboding.

Her cherry lips moved, and she forced herself to say: "Young Master, you…"

Jiang Sishui glanced at Li Yuhu, then looked at Qin Keqing and laughed: "From now on, you stay with me."

Qin Keqing was dumbfounded: "Young Master, you… what do you mean by this?"

Jiang Sishui said frankly: "The meaning is plain enough — I've taken a fancy to you! Who could help being moved when they see a beauty like you?"

"Not just you, but also…"

Saying so, he pointed at Du Bingyan and Li Yuhu, in the overbearing manner of a mountain bandit snatching a bride: "The two of you as well — I'll take you all!"

Du Bingyan was briefly startled, then seemed to think of something, and turned her head to look at Li Yuhu.

Li Yuhu winked at her, her face full of mischief, then put on an indignant look: "Hey, how can you be like this!"

"Bai Qingshu left, yet you're even worse than he was."

"I had heard your name and thought you were a heaven-defying hero — I never expected you to be this sort of person!"

"I… I've misjudged you!"

"Sister Bingyan, let's go!"

Saying so, Li Yuhu grabbed Du Bingyan's hand and, huffing with anger, made to run outside.

"Want to leave? Can you even get away? Better behave and submit to me!"

Jiang Sishui wore a roguish grin; his figure flashed and he blocked their path.

"You…"

Li Yuhu had only just begun to cry out in rebuke when a burst of finger-force sealed her acupoints, leaving her unable to move.

Only now did Qin Keqing realize Jiang Sishui was not joking, and her face paled in alarm.

The other three brides were at a loss as well.