Chapter 175

Although neither Jiang Sishui nor the Flower Fairy projected their aura, both shared an intuition—the newcomer was dangerous!

It was not that the two bore ill will toward them, but rather that the two's strength posed a threat to them, causing them to instinctively grow wary.

One breath... two breaths...

As the two ascended to the second floor, they immediately met the gaze of the big man.

Jiang Sishui smiled slightly and nodded in greeting.

Sensing his goodwill, the big man felt relieved and was about to speak, but then noticed the Flower Fairy, so he swallowed the words already on his lips.

After nodding in return, he continued drinking with the young master.

It seemed that if Jiang Sishui had not been accompanied by a woman, he would have already invited him to join.

After Jiang Sishui and the Flower Fairy took their seats, they called for the waiter and ordered several dishes.

After the food arrived, the Flower Fairy took only a few bites before putting down her chopsticks and stopping.

Clearly, her appetite had been spoiled over the past two days, and the food outside was truly difficult for her to swallow.

Seeing this, Jiang Sishui laughed and said, "See? Now you know the benefits of being my wife, right?"

The Flower Fairy mumbled, "I'm just not hungry. Don't overthink it."

Saying this, as if to prove her words were true, she picked up a few more chopsticks.

Jiang Sishui smiled and did not tease her further.

On the second floor, four people sat: two silently eating, two drinking heartily, their activities clearly distinct.

After a while, the two who had been drinking paid for the wine and left together.

Jiang Sishui finished eating at a leisurely pace, then placed some silver fragments on the table and said to the Flower Fairy, "Let's go, we'll follow them."

"You want to deal with them?" the Flower Fairy asked in surprise, as there seemed to be no conflict between the two sides.

Jiang Sishui thought for a moment and said, "No. However, that possibility cannot be ruled out later."

The Flower Fairy nodded lightly and asked no more.

The two descended the stairs and chased in the direction the big man and the young master had left.

They left the small town and pursued into the wilderness.

The big man and the young master suddenly appeared, blocking the two from front and back.

The big man clasped his fist and said, "Gai Gang's Helmsman Qiao Feng."

The young master closed his folding fan and said, "Dali's Duan Yu."

After introducing themselves, Qiao Feng asked directly, "This gentleman, for what reason do you follow my brother and me?"

Jiang Sishui returned the bow and said, "Xiaoyao Sect, Jiang Sishui."

As he spoke, his gaze swept across Duan Yu's face.

Duan Yu showed no reaction, but Qiao Feng's face displayed surprise: "Are you the new head of the Xiaoyao Sect?"

Qiao Feng was the helmsman of the Eastern Green Dragon Branch of the Gai Gang, stationed in Suzhou, and naturally received an invitation to the Zhenlongqi Society a month ago.

However, he considered himself unfit for the task, and with sect affairs tying him up, he did not go.

But he had heard reports from his subordinates about what happened that day, so he had already heard of Jiang Sishui.

Jiang Sishui nodded: "Indeed, it is I."

Qiao Feng's expression grew slightly solemn, showing more seriousness, and he said deeply, "Head Jiang seeks us out; what instruction do you have?"

Jiang Sishui looked at Duan Yu and said, "I have come for Young Master Duan."

"Me?" Duan Yu was stunned, pointing the folding fan in his hand at himself.

Jiang Sishui pondered briefly, feeling no need to beat around the bush, and asked directly, "Young Master Duan, your home is in Dali; do you know Wuliang Mountain?"

"Wuliang Mountain?" Duan Yu did not understand why Jiang Sishui would ask such a question, but still answered, "I have naturally been there."

"There is a Wuliangjian Sect there?"

"Correct."

"Then have you ever been to the Jade Bell Cave in Wuliang Mountain?"

"Jade Bell Cave? What is that?" Duan Yu's face showed confusion.

"Inside the cave stands a statue of a white jade beauty; have you ever been there or seen it?"

While asking, Jiang Sishui carefully observed the changes in Duan Yu's expression, missing no detail.

Duan Yu, however, heard all this in utter confusion.

After thinking, he shook his head: "I have not been to the place you mentioned, nor have I seen the statue you speak of."

Jiang Sishui read his words and expressions, and since his "Cicada Sense" had never been activated, he already believed him in his heart.

It seemed Duan Yu's fate had changed greatly, differing from the original story.

Those who cultivate the Xiaoyao Sect's divine arts share a special qi sensation; no wonder Duan Yu's use of the "Six Meridian Swords" gave him no sensation.

Furthermore, the Duan Yu before him did not seem as dull as in the book.

Although still elegant, his eyes shone brightly, appearing sharp and capable, very different from Jiang Sishui's old impression of him.

"I see; it seems I misunderstood. I apologize for the disturbance."

Jiang Sishui bowed to the two, then stepped on the "Lingbo Microsteps" and quickly departed.

The Flower Fairy silently activated the "Phantom Fairy Trace," and her entire body vanished into thin air.

When she reappeared, she was already several zhang away.

After several consecutive flashes, she chased after Jiang Sishui.

"Such superb Lightness Skill, such eerie movement technique!" Qiao Feng could not help but exclaim in admiration.

"It seems this truly was a misunderstanding," Duan Yu murmured, his heart now free of doubt.

He knew that Jiang Sishui and the Flower Fairy had shown a move before leaving, simply to convey one meaning—

The two of us are no weaker than you, so there's no need to lie.

194: Ambush and Counter-Ambush, the Sunflower Manual Appears

Looking at the silent Flower Fairy, Jiang Sishui asked in surprise, "Aren't you going to ask me why I asked those questions?"

The Flower Fairy said lazily, "If you want to say it, you'll naturally say it. If you don't want to say it, I'm too lazy to ask."

"Fine, then let's not talk about it."

"Psh, who cares?"

The Flower Fairy didn't care at all.

Because barring any accidents, tonight's diary entry would be written out, and when the time came, she would naturally know.

Jiang Sishui: "..."

This woman is practically a "conversation killer"!

Jiang Sishui was feeling depressed, just thinking about what to say, when his "Cicada Sense" was suddenly triggered!

Jiang Sishui narrowed his eyes slightly, quickly locking onto the source of the malice, then his lips moved slightly, transmitting his voice through true Qi directly into her ear.

The Flower Fairy was slightly startled, but on the surface remained composed.

The two of them walked forward as if nothing had happened.

Thirty zhang... ten zhang... five zhang...

"Screech—"

Accompanying an urgent and crisp sword hum, a cyan-blue sword radiance over three zhang long sprang up, sweeping out like a cascading Tianhe.

Brilliant and dazzling, yet concealing infinite killing intent.

The sword radiance, the length of an arm, and the length of the Lingxu Sword itself—combined, the killing radius reached over four zhang!

Still as a mountain when not moving, swift as Lei Ting when moving—this strike was so swift and sudden that no one could react in time.

A masked man hidden in the bushes had just been about to act, but only half his head emerged before his entire body was cut clean in two at the waist!

Without pausing for a moment, Jiang Sishui said nothing, sheathing and unsheathing the Lingxu Sword, and cut down another masked man.

After losing two companions in a row, the rest finally reacted—

They had been discovered!

And had been counter-ambushed with a stratagem turned against them!

The remaining six masked men were both shocked and furious, drawing their swords one after another. Their figures moved, swift as Lei Ting, thrusting toward Jiang Sishui and the Flower Fairy.

"Come!"

The Flower Fairy was delighted rather than angry, her eyes shining.

These past few days, she had been bullied by both the Immortal Concubine Green Mother and Jiang Sishui, and was nearly bursting from being a "punching bag." Suddenly seeing the assassins before her, she immediately felt an unusual sense of closeness.

Heaven have mercy, it was finally her turn to bully someone else!