Chapter 281

"Shadow Division Technique?"

After receiving the reward, Jiang Sishui stirred his thoughts, and the shadow behind him suddenly writhed, then forcibly split out three new shadows.

"Fascinating!"

He knew what the "Shadow Division" could do.

In simple terms: the path walked by the "Shadow Division" was identical to the path he himself had walked, and both could light up the corresponding positions in the "Imperial Aspiration Map!"

This ability offered no boost to combat power, but it could greatly save Jiang Sishui's time.

Jiang Sishui immediately willed them: one toward the Three Northeast Provinces, one toward the Eastern Sea's Zhi Prefecture, one toward the Southwest's Kunlun.

These "Shadow Divisions" were illusory states, so there was no need to worry about encountering trouble on the way.

Watching the "Shadow Divisions" vanish into the night, Jiang Sishui invested his Martial Arts experience into the "Shape-Shifting Technique" —

【Shape-Shifting Technique (Heavenly Art): Minor Mastery (**

"Almost reaching Great Mastery…"

He put away his diary, rose, and stepped out the door.

…

The Hengshan Sect took the "Three Dings" as its leaders, yet the "Three Dings" were only Master-level, so the Hengshan Sect was merely a second-tier force in the Jianghu.

But since it belonged to the White Path and was a native Men Sect of Jinzhou, when the Yanxia Shanzhuang invited all allies, it also sent invitations to the Hengshan Sect.

… … 0

Whether the Hengshan Sect had the strength to join was another matter; at least the Yanxia Shanzhuang had fulfilled the proper etiquette, showing respect to the Hengshan Sect's dignity.

The Paizhang of the Hengshan Sect, Abbess Dingxian, was calm and composed, meticulous and thorough; after weighing the pros and cons, she decided to send a token delegation to go through the motions.

Thus she selected several cautious disciples, led by Abbess Dingjing, to proceed to the Yanxia Shanzhuang.

Before departure, she gave detailed instructions: observe more, listen more, speak less, act less.

Yilin's personality was simple, innocent, and kind-hearted — she was not originally on the list.

Yet she requested to join.

Because she knew how dangerous this journey was for her aunt and the senior nuns, and thought that since she had the Kunji Seal to protect her, she could serve as a shield in emergencies.

It was a heart-rending intention.

But Abbess Dingxian clearly did not know this, so she firmly refused.

She would never joke with her disciples' lives.

Helpless, Yilin did the first rebellious thing of her life.

She secretly slipped down Mount Hengshan.

By the time she caught up with the group, several days had passed, and they were already hundreds of li from Mount Hengshan.

With the matter already done, Abbess Dingjing had no other choice; after scolding Yilin, she took her along to Yanxia City.

During the day, she accompanied Abbess Dingjing to the White Path meetings, watching the various sects bicker for hours — Yilin grew weary and bored.

Back in her room, before even reading today's diary, she fell asleep early.

Suddenly, the candle flame on the table flickered — a breeze entered, and the window was opened from outside.

"Squeak —"

Yilin had been nothing but a novice of the Acquired Realm; only after obtaining the diary's copy had she entered the Primordial Realm.

The sudden sound of the window opening jolted her awake from sleep.

Yet the young nun's alertness was low; when she opened her drowsy eyes, her mind was still foggy.

Until a dark shadow entered her blurred vision and filled her entire field of view.

An invisible pressure descended upon her, and Yilin felt a strong sensation of suffocation.

Carefully discerning the shadow's outline, it was unmistakably a… person!

Someone had broken in?!

Yilin was startled to her core — all drowsiness vanished instantly.

In panic, the young nun was about to scream — but the intruder struck her acupoints first, rendering her mute.

Yilin could not move, could not speak; as the unknown black shadow drew nearer, her large, luminous eyes filled with terror.

Warm breath brushed lightly against her cheeks; a low voice whispered like a demon's murmur: "What a lovely little beauty — even bald, she looks like a celestial fairy. This old man's fortune tonight is great."

As he spoke, one hand pinched her flawless young face, then he let out a lewd, grotesque laugh.

Yilin's heart trembled — her soul nearly fled her body.

In that instant, even if she were the most innocent, she knew she had encountered a flower-plucking rogue!

Instantly, her eyes filled with tears, and droplets rolled down her cheeks.

Unfortunately, this did not stir pity — instead, it only stoked the man's lust further.

The next moment, Yilin felt the world spin — she was slung onto his shoulder.

"Little beauty, this old man will find a fine place to let you enjoy yourself — I'll make you taste pleasures no nun has ever known."

Amid lewd chuckles, Yilin felt herself carried out of the room; in a few leaps, they reached the main street.

Then the black shadow leapt across rooftops, moving like a ghost through Yanxia City, heading toward the city's edge.

Throughout it all, not a single member of the Hengshan Sect noticed a thing.

Swish —

The black shadow leapt over the ten-zhang-high wall in mere bounds.

As Yanxia City grew ever farther behind, Yilin felt utter despair.

Even Yanxia City, teeming with experts, had failed to notice them — now that they were outside the city, what hope did she have?

Was it possible… was it possible that today, she would be defiled by a flower-plucking rogue?

Thinking of this, the little nun's heart trembled with fear, and tears streamed down uncontrollably.

Roughly "Heaven never seals off all paths," or perhaps it was the reward for her usual devout goodness—at the moment of despair, a streak of cyan-blue, resplendent sword-light came flying straight over like a bolt of silk, furiously cleaving toward the black shadow.

Immediately after, Yilin felt her body grow light, then a sensation of riding the clouds and soaring through mist.

With a "bang," Yilin tumbled onto a patch of grass, the pain bringing tears to her eyes.

Though her body ached, her heart was wild with joy.

Because someone had discovered them!

Moreover, the newcomer's strength was not low—on the very first exchange, that detestable flower-picking thief had been forced to put her down.

Yilin could hardly wait to watch the two of them fight.

Unfortunately, her acupoints had been sealed and she could not move; when she landed, her face pointed in the other direction, and even though she strained with all her might to roll her eyes backward, she could not see a thing.

"Where did this stinking brat come from, daring to ruin this old man's good business!"

Roar after roar—Yilin recognized the voice as that of the flower-picking thief.

Yet the one who had stepped in to help, for some unknown reason, never uttered a single word.

But hearing the increasingly fierce clashes of weapons and the explosive bursts of true qi, Yilin knew the fight had already reached a white-hot stage.

The little nun's heart leapt up into her throat.

She could not help, so she recited sutras in her heart, praying that the Bodhisattva would protect that kind soul who had saved her.

Gradually, the sounds of battle grew more distant; the two seemed to have fought themselves into oblivion, the battlefield slowly drifting away from the spot.

In the end, not a single sound could be heard at all.

When Yilin finished piously reciting a whole sutra, she suddenly realized that only she remained here alone.

Yilin was instantly frantic with worry, not knowing how that kind soul had fared.

If something had happened to that person, she would be burdened by guilt for the rest of her life.

But Yilin waited and waited, left and right, and still no outcome came.

Time slipped away drop by drop...

Gradually, Yilin's tense mood eased, and she began to feel a creeping chill.

Only then did she realize that she was lying all alone on the grass in the desolate wilderness....

If some venomous bug or fierce beast came now, she would be meat on a chopping block, with not the slightest power to resist.

At this thought, the heartstring Yilin had just loosened snapped taut again.

The maiden's tender heart pounded wildly, her dewy big eyes darting about in unease.