Chapter 54

"Ah, I don't want it! If I eat this piece of meat, I'll gain ten jin again." Zhao Zhao Zhao Mengjiao looked utterly disgusted, her attention instantly diverted.

Zhao Zhao Zhao Qiying, however, said, "Eating only vegetables without meat, how can you have any strength? We'll arrive at Drum Mountain today; that place is a mix of dragons and snakes, so be careful."

"Don't worry, I've already mastered seventy percent of Father's 'Seven-Star Sword Art.' If any blind fool comes looking for trouble, they'll have to answer to the sword in this young lady's hand first!" Zhao Zhao Zhao Mengjiao declared with full confidence.

Zhao Zhao Zhao Qiying shook her head and stopped persuading her.

She knew Zhao Zhao Zhao Mengjiao's nature well and never expected her to listen; she had only reminded her to change the subject.

Zhao Zhao Zhao Mengjiao was forgetful; sure enough, she didn't bring it up again, saving Zhao Zhao Zhao Qiying from embarrassment.

After the meal, the escort team set off again, beginning the final day of their journey.

"Zhao Zhao Qiying, are you alright?" Jiang Sishui helped Zhao Zhao Zhao Qiying sit down.

Zhao Zhao Zhao Qiying lowered the carriage curtain, finally letting out a long sigh of relief. She shot Jiang Sishui a dirty look and said testily, "My father kept staring at the way I walked just now; do you have any idea how hard it was for me to pretend?"

Jiang Sishui wore an apologetic smile and said, "The first time is unavoidable; it won't happen again."

Zhao Zhao Zhao Qiying's face flushed red. She spat, "Bah! You're like a wild ox."

Jiang Sishui, thick-skinned, leaned close and whispered into her ear, "If I don't act like a wild ox in the future, you might not even be happy about it."

Warm breath brushed against her earlobe, and hearing Jiang Sishui speak such ambiguous and shameful words, Zhao Zhao Zhao Mengjiao's mind involuntarily conjured images from the previous night.

She immediately burned with embarrassment, punched Jiang Sishui hard, and said, "You need to find time to air out your bedding, or it will grow mold."

"Alright~ I'll listen to my wife," Jiang Sishui understood, his smile growing even brighter.

Under his scorching gaze, Zhao Zhao Zhao Qiying found it hard to bear.

However, she was naturally a generous and poised heroine; after the initial shyness passed, she gradually calmed down and changed the subject by discussing sword techniques.

Jiang Sishui suddenly let out a soft "Eh?" and said, "Zhao Zhao Qiying, your swordsmanship has improved since yesterday."

"Of course, because I broke through," Zhao Zhao Zhao Qiying explained happily.

Jiang Sishui suddenly understood.

Chapter 20 of "The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber" contains a passage like this—

During the duel between Yin Tianzheng and Song Song Yuanqiao, the spectator Zhang Zhang Zhang Wuji spotted many flaws in their moves and wondered why neither exploited the openings to attack; could they be intentionally holding back?

But this was actually because Zhang Zhang Zhang Wuji possessed the two supreme skills, the "Nine Yang Divine Art" and the "Great Shift of Heaven and Earth," making his martial cultivation and internal power incomparable to theirs.

To use an analogy—

Yin Tianzheng and Song Song Yuanqiao were like a wild wolf and a hound on the ground, while Zhang Zhang Zhang Wuji was a golden eagle soaring in the sky.

Seeing the wolf and hound fight, the golden eagle couldn't help but think, "Why not fly high and dive down to secure an inevitable victory?"

Yet wolves and hounds cannot fly; how could they fly high and dive down?

Not only could they not do it, they would never even think in that direction.

In other words, Zhang Zhang Zhang Wuji overwhelmed them through a higher realm.

Precisely because his cultivation was high and his power deep, even with extremely lacking combat experience, he could still sweep across the Six Major Sects.

This was also the reason Jiang Sishui had remained so low-profile until now.

Because he lacked internal energy and true qi, even though his "Heaven-Slaying Sword-Draw Technique" could kill a Celestial Being with one strike, anyone could easily kill him.

But once he inherited Wu Wu Ya Zi's entire lifetime of internal power, that would be the moment he "soared to the sky in a single flight"!

With Zhao Zhao Zhao Qiying's cultivation improved, her insight became sharper; she could now break sword moves she previously couldn't, so the two of them dissected techniques with even greater enthusiasm.

Suddenly, Zhao Zhao Tianhao's robust voice rang out from outside the carriage: "Island Master Huang, long time no see; how have you been lately?"

A carefree voice replied, "Good, naturally good. Thank you for Chief Escort Zhao's concern."

"Is Island Master Huang heading in this direction to go to Drum Mountain?"

"Mr. Congbian sent someone to deliver an invitation, so I am going to take a look at this 'Precious Dragon Chess Assembly.'"

"I see. Given Island Master Huang's vast knowledge and talent, receiving such an invitation is only to be expected."

"Is Chief Escort Zhao also going to Drum Mountain?"

"Indeed, but I have no invitation; I am going uninvited, an unexpected guest."

"Haha, in this vast world, did it belong to any particular family or surname from the very beginning? If one wants to go to Drum Mountain, one goes; if one wants to leave, one leaves. Where is the need for anyone's invitation or permission?"

"Island Master Huang is truly a master beyond the mundane world."

"Peach Blossom Island is no paradise either; it's just that I happen to dislike listening to other people's rules and reasoning."

Inside the carriage, Jiang Sishui's heart gave a sudden leap.

"Island Master Huang? Peach Blossom Island?"

These names were far too familiar!

Jiang Sishui couldn't resist lifting the carriage curtain to look outside.

He saw that beside Zhao Zhao Tianhao traveled another carriage, not far away.

The coachman driving it was unmistakably a scholar dressed in a green straight-hemmed robe, wearing a square cap of the same color.

"Huang Huang Yaoshi?"

Although he hadn't seen the man's face directly, Jiang Sishui was almost certain it was him.

"Huang Huang Yaoshi acting as a coachman; who could be inside that carriage? It can't possibly be Rong'er, can it? Rong'er is so lively and active; would she sit obediently in a carriage?"

Jiang Sishui was highly skeptical about this.

With a mixture of nervousness and excitement, he stared intently at the carriage.

At that moment, as if sensing his gaze, the scholar in green turned his head.

Jiang Sishui caught it in his peripheral vision and looked over as well.

He saw that the scholar's form was lean, his bearing handsome and refreshing, his demeanor aloof and elevated, his eyes clear and divine.

Just one glance left a profound impression.

There was no second possibility; it was undoubtedly Huang Huang Yaoshi.

Huang Huang Yaoshi glanced at Jiang Sishui and said coldly, "Boy, if you keep looking around recklessly, watch out for your eyes."

Anyone could hear the threat in those words; Zhao Zhao Tianhao and Zhao Zhao Zhao Qiying both felt their hearts tighten and secretly went on guard.

Jiang Sishui, however, felt no fear at all; calm and composed, he smiled and said, "The world is vast—does it mean one is forbidden from looking wherever one wishes from the very start?"

"Since we are walking on this broad road, then everyone has the right to look."

"If I like to look, I look; if I don't, I don't. Why should whether I look or not have to obey anyone's rules or reasoning?"

At these words, the several people present were all momentarily stunned.

This reply was extremely clever and sharp, using Huang Huang Yaoshi's own words to stop his mouth, turning his spear against his shield, and making him lift a stone only to drop it on his own foot.

If things went poorly, Huang Huang Yaoshi would surely lose face terribly.

Suddenly, a corner of the curtain opposite was lifted, revealing a face of exquisite, otherworldly beauty.

A pair of bright, apricot-shaped eyes gazed over from within, seemingly stirred to a flicker of curiosity by Jiang Sishui's words.

Jiang Sishui's attention had never left the carriage, and he looked over immediately.

Upon seeing that woman, he immediately ruled out Huang Rong.

The eyes are the windows of the soul; the woman in the carriage had a gaze that was soft and gentle, like a well-bred young lady from a noble house, vastly different from Huang Rong's quirky, lively, and mischievous demeanor.

Therefore, although that woman was beautiful, she could absolutely not be Huang Rong.

Moreover, judging by Huang Huang Yaoshi's age, Huang Rong was now merely a young girl in her teens, which clearly did not match the beautiful mature woman in the carriage.

"A beautiful mature woman whom Huang Huang Yaoshi serves as a coachman... Could she be Rong'er's mother, Feng Heng? Is she not dead?" A thought stirred in Jiang Sishui's heart.

Hearing Jiang Sishui's sharp retort, Zhao Zhao Tianhao, worried that Huang Huang Yaoshi would feel embarrassed and fly into a rage, was about to speak up to mediate and smooth things over.

Huang Huang Yaoshi, however, burst into loud laughter first, his voice clear and resonant, unrestrained and free, containing not a trace of anger born of shame.

Suddenly his laughter ceased; Huang Huang Yaoshi narrowed his eyes slightly, fixed his gaze on Jiang Sishui, and said grimly, "Boy, I see you are nothing but a weak scholar, yet you dare utter such arrogant and rebellious words before me. Are you not afraid I might kill you with a single palm strike?"

Jiang Sishui was not intimidated; instead, he countered, "Then, Senior, would you dare to speak those same words before the Heavenly Beings or even the Demigods?"

"Of course I dare, but I would not," Huang Huang Yaoshi replied without hesitation, feeling not the slightest embarrassment.

"Since you, Senior, dare, then naturally I dare as well."

"But I would not."

"If Chief Escort Zhao were not here, and I faced you alone, Senior, then I would not dare either."

Huang Huang Yaoshi was stunned for a moment; glancing at Zhao Zhao Tianhao, he understood immediately and could not help but burst into hearty laughter once more.

"Interesting! Truly interesting! This is the first time I have encountered such an interesting young man!"

After laughing for a while, Huang Huang Yaoshi turned to the woman inside the carriage and said, "Ah Heng, don't you think this boy is far more interesting than that boy Chu?"

Feng Heng replied in a gentle voice, "He resembles you; Chu Liuxiang is more honest."