Chapter 203

Zhou Zhiruo gave Xiao Wu a look, then walked behind the counter with her back to the crowd.

The three mysterious people found a table for themselves and sat down.

The two tables were adjacent, and Du Bingyan curiously looked toward the woman in the snow jacket, clearly wanting to know what she looked like.

Xiao Wu came over carrying the teapot Zhou Zhiruo had brewed, and seeing that the clothes on the three mysterious people were dry, he couldn't help blurting out in astonishment: "Wow, how come not a drop got on you? Was it not raining outside?"

His expression was dumbfounded and confused, looking extremely shocked by the scene before him.

Unfortunately, the three mysterious people had no intention of answering his question.

Xiao Wu had no choice but to suppress his curiosity. As he stepped forward to pour tea, he praised aloud: "The three guests' internal force is truly profound. This little one has been roaming the jianghu for so long, yet this is the first time I've seen someone stroll leisurely in the rain without a single drop touching them."

The middle-aged man took a sip of tea, snorted disdainfully at his words, his face full of contempt: "Internal force? How ignorant!"

"Heichuan!" The old man frowned, his tone carrying authority.

Heichuan's proud expression froze on his face. He lowered his head, not daring to speak again.

Xiao Wu wore an awkward expression and said with a smile: "Please take your time, guests."

With that, he turned to leave.

But the woman in the snow jacket suddenly struck, grabbing his wrist in one swift motion.

In an instant, a fierce wave of cold surged from his wrist through his whole body. Xiao Wu felt as if he had been stripped naked and cast into an icy wasteland (chdh), his entire body frozen stiff.

He tried to break free, but couldn't move at all.

Xiao Wu's face changed drastically, terror flashing in his eyes.

Just then, a wave of heat also surged up within him, offsetting that cold.

With cold and heat balanced, Xiao Wu finally regained the ability to move.

But he didn't break free right away. Instead, staring at the red glow that had suddenly appeared in his palm, he said in shock: "Wh-what's going on?"

The woman in the snow jacket didn't answer. She slowly removed her hat, revealing short hair that reached her ears and a delicate little face.

A youthful maiden's face—not an absolute beauty, but with refined features, the very picture of a modest young lady from a respectable family.

And the most striking thing was her pair of pupils.

They were blue!

The snow-jacketed maiden looked up at Xiao Wu, her blue pupils like two cold diamonds, and said: "You just held the Divine Sword. Have you seen the Sword Boy?"

Though phrased as a question, her tone was utterly certain, with a faint undercurrent of urgency.

"Divine Sword? Sword Boy? Miss, what are you talking about?" Xiao Wu's face was full of confusion.

But to the three mysterious people, that expression looked like nothing more than playing dumb.

Heichuan said: "The red glow in his palm is so obvious—he must have touched the Divine Sword not long ago."

The white-haired old man nodded: "Indeed. I expect the person hasn't gone far."

Saying so, he looked toward the outside and swung out a palm: "Rise!"

No visible fluctuation of true qi, yet the icy rain outside abruptly vanished.

It didn't stop—rather, carried by a gentle breeze, the entire curtain of rain began to move toward the surroundings.

Du Bingyan and Xiao Wu stared, dumbstruck.

Summoning wind and rain?!

What kind of immortal's trick was this!

Du Bingyan was fine—she had after all heard and seen plenty of strange things—but Xiao Wu was completely dumbfounded.

So it turned out this icy rain had been conjured by these three.

After that casual palm strike, the white-haired old man made no further move. He and Heichuan closed their eyes together, as if sensing something.

At the same time, the heat within Xiao Wu began to fade, and the cold once again gained the upper hand.

He tried to pull his hand back, but the snow-jacketed maiden held it firmly.

Soon, Xiao Wu's whole body began to shiver, his lips frozen pale, a layer of frost forming on his eyebrows. He stammered: "Miss, your hand is so cold—have you caught some illness?"

The snow-jacketed maiden looked at him coldly, her tone utterly devoid of emotion: "Tell me where the Sword Boy is, or the one who falls ill will be you."

Xiao Wu: "..."

Just as he was about to give out, the white-haired old man and Heichuan opened their eyes at the same time.

"Found him. Let's go!"

Hearing this, the snow-jacketed maiden finally released Xiao Wu, and the three of them strode quickly out of the tea shed.

Xiao Wu gradually regained his body temperature. Once he had calmed down, a flash of inspiration struck him.

"Divine Sword... Divine Sword... Could it be him?"

Thinking of that sword that could understand human speech, attack on its own, and protect its master, a sudden clarity welled up in his heart.

At this moment, Jiang Sishui called out: "Boss lady, the bill please."

"Yes, coming!"

Zhou Zhiruo, who a moment ago had been hiding to the side without so much as a peep even when Xiao Wu had nearly frozen to death, came over briskly and businesslike.

Jiang Sishui paid for the tea and said with a smile: "Zhou Zhiruo, your tea is very good. It's just that from now on I probably won't be able to drink it anymore."

Zhou Zhiruo laughed: "What are you saying, sir? My little shop is right here. Whenever you want a cup, just come. When would I ever turn a guest away?"

But Jiang Sishui said: "Selling tea is only a small trade. Once Zhou Zhiruo finishes a big deal and her wish is fulfilled, naturally she won't run the tea shed anymore."

"A big deal? What big deal? How come I don't know about it?"

"This big deal is one I want to do with you. But the timing isn't right yet. When the time comes, Zhou Zhiruo will know."

"You want to do business with me?"

Zhou Zhiruo's face was full of suspicion.

Unfortunately, Jiang Sishui didn't explain further. He took Du Bingyan's hand and left.

Watching the two of them leave, Zhou Zhiruo's brows knit tightly, her heart filled with shock and uncertainty.

Bang!

The thud of something heavy hitting the ground startled her.

Zhou Zhiruo turned her head and saw Xiao Wu already collapsed on the ground.

225 Ice Domain Rain Tribe, Witch Honored Hou Jian

The True Qi of the Northern Darkness could be cold or hot; Jiang Sishui used it to dry the horses, and the two continued on their way.

"Jiang Dage, who were those three people just now? They could actually summon wind and call rain?"

Du Bingyan found a comfortable position, leaning into Jiang Sishui's embrace. After a moment's hesitation, she could no longer contain her curiosity and asked the question on her mind.

Those god-like techniques had truly given her quite a shock.

Jiang Sishui pondered briefly and said, "They are people of the Rain Tribe."

"The Rain Tribe? Is it a clan?"

"No, they are not like ordinary great clans. They are a tribal group with a long history."

"A tribe?"

"Yes. This tribe lives in a mysterious place called 'Ice Domain.' Perhaps it's because whenever they appear, a blue icy rain falls, which is why they are called the 'Rain Tribe.'"

"Ah? Do the Rain Tribe people innately know how to summon wind and call rain?"

"I don't know. But I think it should also be related to the witchcraft they cultivate, not just their constitution."

"Witchcraft?"

"You can understand it as something similar to the magic arts in mythological stories, of course the two are not entirely the same. What they cultivate is also not True Qi, but a kind of witch force entirely different from mainstream martial arts."

"Witchcraft... witch force..." Du Bingyan was even more shocked: "An entire tribe is like this?"

Jiang Sishui thought for a moment and said, "An entire tribe is unlikely. It should be that every so often, a few special geniuses appear in the tribe, and only they can cultivate witch force."

"Special?"

"Yes. It should be related to their inheritance or bloodline."

"Inheritance or bloodline..." Du Bingyan seemed to half-understand.

Jiang Sishui did not continue to explain in depth, and shifted the topic: "That young woman just now, though young in age, walked ahead of the other two, clearly holding a higher status. She should be the next-in-line 'Witch Honored' of the Rain Tribe's new generation."

"Witch Honored? What is that?"

"The supreme leader of the Rain Tribe."

"How does Jiang Dage know she is the next-in-line Witch Honored?"

"Because of her eyes."

"Ah, I saw it. Her eyes are blue."

Jiang Sishui nodded slightly: "Only the Witch Honored and those Rain Tribe people who are just one step away from being promoted to Witch Honored will have their eyes turn blue."