Chapter 39

A Young Lady of the inner chambers, yet she knows of matters on Wuliang Mountain, a thousand li away — how could this not arouse suspicion?

But hearing Mu Jianping speak with such solemn conviction, and her attitude so resolute, Fang Yi called together several experts from the Mu Wang Fu to escort her here.

"Because I… I… ah, I just know! Senior Sister, I didn't lie to you."

Mu Jianping felt a twinge of guilt — after all, the treasure hadn't been found, they had come up empty, and had made everyone make the trip for nothing.

Afraid the others would think she was playing them for fools, Mu Jianping hurriedly explained again: "Really! I really didn't lie to you! It's just… it's just that we arrived late, and someone beat us to the treasure."

How could the guards dare accept her apology with peace of mind? They all said they dared not.

Fang Yi, half-believing, half-doubting, said: "Fine, I believe you. But, Little Princess, surely you can tell me now — what is this treasure you speak of?"

"It's two martial arts manuals." Mu Jianping had originally wanted to give Fang Yi a surprise, but now that they had come up empty, there was naturally no need to hide it.

Martial arts manuals?

The Mu Wang Fu had no shortage of martial arts manuals themselves, yet the Little Princess was so fixated on these — they must be no trivial matter.

So Fang Yi asked again: "What Grade of martial art is it?"

Mu Jianping tilted her head and thought for a moment, then said: "At the very least, a Divine Art."

"Divine Art?! At the very least?!"

Fang Yi was stunned for a moment, wondering if she had misheard.

A Divine Art is no cabbage — even the great Mu Wang Fu didn't possess a single one.

They used to have one. The Mu family's ancestors had campaigned east and west alongside the Founding Emperor of Ming, so naturally they were no ordinary lot — what they practiced was even half a fragmentary Holy Scripture!

But a hundred years had passed, and in that time the Mu clan had gone through several internal struggles, several times nearly splitting apart, so many martial arts had been lost along with the deaths of their practitioners.

Even that half of the Holy Scripture grew more and more fragmentary, until by now it could no longer be practiced.

Now, upon suddenly hearing that the treasure on Wuliang Mountain was a manual starting from Divine Art, Fang Yi's first reaction was disbelief.

Seeing this, Mu Jianping could only repeat herself once more.

Then, under Fang Yi's pressing questions, she laid out everything she could say clearly.

Fang Yi, having heard it all, grew even more eager, and immediately ordered everyone to spread out and search.

Although Mu Jianping felt someone had already gotten there first, Fang Yi still clung to a sliver of hope.

Mu Jianping watched Fang Yi's busy back and sighed softly to herself.

【Character: Mu Jianping】

【Appearance: 8】

【Favorability: 8】

These were her scores — just meeting the standard.

But Mu Jianping had always been unconvinced; she felt it was only because she was too young and her body hadn't grown yet — otherwise she was sure she could have scored higher on Appearance.

And upon learning that Fang Yi had no diary copy, she was quite astonished inside.

After all, her own Senior Sister was truly very beautiful.

Beyond her surprise, she used her authority to look up Fang Yi's scores.

【Character: Fang Yi】

【Appearance: 9】

【Favorability: 5】

Indifferent!

The diary's owner was actually indifferent toward his own beautiful Senior Sister — this didn't match his roguish nature at all.

So Mu Jianping began to speculate: did the diary's owner simply not know of his Senior Sister? Or was it that, because of certain matters, he held a grudge against her — one that even an Appearance score as high as "nine" couldn't make up for?

She still hadn't figured it out to this day.

At the same time, she also felt sorry for Fang Yi — missing out on the true qi reward of one month per day just like that.

"If I bring Senior Sister right to him, and he sees her, he'll definitely take a liking to her. Once the Favorability goes up, won't Senior Sister be able to receive this blessing too?"

She and Fang Yi were both master and servant, and fellow disciples of the same sect; Fang Yi had always treated her very well, and Mu Jianping kept it all in her heart.

Therefore, whenever there was something good, she wanted to share it with Fang Yi.

Her little head turning with the thought, the little loli began to scheme for her own beautiful Senior Sister.

042 A Beauty to Slay All — Man, Woman, Young and Old

Jiang Sishui and Zhao Qiying were being lovey-dovey in the carriage, as if it were another peaceful day.

Suddenly, Zhao Tianhao's shout came from outside the carriage: "Halt the advance!"

The two immediately felt the carriage come to a stop.

Something's happening!

Exchanging a glance, they gripped their long swords at the same time, flung open the curtain, and leapt out.

They saw that the escort had already reversed formation — rear to front — every escort gripping a blade, expressions grave, the atmosphere heavy.

The two went straight to Zhao Tianhao's side, about to ask, when they saw Zhao Tianhao staring fixedly straight ahead.

So they followed his gaze.

There, at the edge of their vision, two figures side by side simultaneously Unleashing Lightness Skill, wide sleeves flapping, sprinting toward them at great speed.

"What incredible speed!"

Zhao Qiying's expression shifted slightly — at such speed, let alone her, even her father might not be able to match it.

This meant the newcomers were either a Grandmaster like Yun Zhonghe, who excelled in Lightness Skill, or a true Great Grandmaster!

Either way, they were no easy opponents.

And now, the other side was charging toward them — could they be coming for them?

No wonder Zhao Tianhao was so battle-ready.

Jiang Sishui's right hand slowly climbed onto the sword hilt, the sword intent within his body held but not released.

If the other party came with ill intent, he would absolutely not mind giving them a sword strike!

Although the current "Heavenly Sword Drawing Technique" only possessed the ultimate killing power equivalent to the Second Layer of Grandmaster, if a Great Grandmaster looked down on him and gave him the chance, he could still be slain in a single blow.

After all, apart from martial artists who cultivated External Hardening Arts, the human body itself was extremely fragile.

As long as the protective true qi was broken open, even a child holding a kitchen knife could hack a non-resisting Great Grandmaster to death.

They drew closer, and the crowd could now clearly see they were two young men in their twenties.

One of them, around twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, wore a light blue robe, a long sword hung at his waist, his features were handsome, his bearing dashing and elegant, and as his Lightness Skill unfolded, he was like a flowing cloud unfurling and curling.

With such looks and bearing, even Zhao Tianhao could not help but secretly praise in his heart: truly a dragon among men, a phoenix among women!

The other, however, was the complete opposite of him in every way.

Not only was he a little monk, he was an ugly monk.

Bushy brows and big eyes, upturned nostrils, flapping ears, very thick lips, looking simple and honest and wooden, the very picture of someone easy to bully.

Yet Zhao Tianhao did not dare to underestimate him in the slightest, for this ugly monk's Lightness Skill was in no way inferior to that Young Master's.

The two chased each other, arriving like the wind.

Seeing they were about to reach the escort convoy, that Young Master did not pause his steps, nor did he go around, snorted, gathered his qi and leapt, vaulting straight over the heads of the escort guards.

Light as a swallow, soaring into the boundless heights.

This was extremely rude, but by the time the escort guards shouted out, he had already gone far away.

The ugly monk, on the other hand, stopped in front of the escort convoy, pressed his palms together, and gave everyone a Buddhist salute.

"Forgive me! Forgive me! My apologies! My apologies!"

After hastily begging forgiveness, the ugly monk went around the escort convoy, his gaze resolute as he continued the pursuit, and soon vanished from sight.

On the spot, the crowd exchanged glances, looks of surprise on every face.

But since these two were not coming for them, that was naturally for the best.

Zhao Mengjiao giggled and said: "This little monk is really ugly enough, I've never seen such an ugly person. Dragons beget dragons, phoenixes beget phoenixes, I really wonder what his father and mother look like."

Though her words were the truth, they were especially grating.

Zhao Tianhao heard this and was greatly displeased in his heart. He rebuked sharply: "Hold your tongue! Appearance is born of heaven, what can a person do about it? This little master's character is pure and good, how can you judge a person by their looks!"

Zhao Mengjiao saw the anger on her father's face and did not dare to talk back, but in her heart she remained unconvinced.

Safe and sound, Zhao Qiying breathed a slight sigh of relief, turned her head and saw Jiang Sishui looking somewhat distracted, so she asked: "What's wrong with you?"

Jiang Sishui came back to his senses and smiled: "It's nothing, just thought of some things."

Zhao Qiying's heart stirred, and she vaguely formed a guess.

It seemed Jiang-ge had run into an "acquaintance," and had recognized them.