Chapter 90

Huang Yaoshi looked at the large hole in the ground as if it had been blasted by a siege crossbow, and could not help sighing: "Your Current skill is profound now. That single Finger Art strike of yours is even more fearsome than my ten-odd years of tempering."

Jiang Sishui smiled faintly, not feigning modesty, and said: "Many thanks, Senior, for the grace of teaching me Wu Gong."

Huang Yaoshi shook his head and said: "My Finger Art can only barely enter the ranks of 'Divine Art,' and it's far inferior to your movement art and Sword Technique."

Jiang Sishui laughed: "This junior has merely basked in the lingering shade of his predecessors. Senior, who created Wu Xia of your own, is the true pioneer of the martial Dao."

Hearing this, Huang Yaoshi chuckled, a rather proud look crossing his face.

The Wu Xia achievement he was most proud of in his life was not his Buruda Sect cultivation, but two other things.

First, when he was at the Grandmaster stage he first created "Flicking Finger Divine Power," and upon stepping into Buruda Sect he perfected it, finally bringing it into the ranks of "Divine Art."

Second, through exchanges and discussions with the Night Emperor, he created an even stronger Divine Art—Great Wave Washing Flowers!

"Great Wave Washing Flowers" had even earned the Night Emperor's approval; he said that among "Divine Art" it was not top-tier, but it had already reached the upper-middle rank.

This made Huang Yaoshi immensely proud.

Pleased in his heart, he was also unstinting with praise on his lips: "Your Wu Xia talent is very high. If you are willing to put your mind into studying it, accomplishing such a thing would not be hard."

Jiang Sishui smiled, and with a sidelong Yu Guang, as if just noticing Feng Heng and her daughter who had entered, he turned his head to look.

Ignoring Feng Heng, every gaze focused on the young girl beside her.

The girl in the courtyard had long hair draped over her shoulders, dressed entirely in white, with a gold ribbon binding her hair. The sunlight glinted off it, dazzlingly radiant, as if a fairy descending to the mortal world.

Looking more closely, though the girl was still young in years, she was truly a beauty unparalleled in his life. As her autumn glances flowed, her radiance startled the world, making all the beauties under heaven seem dim as dung and dirt.

One glance back, a smile, and a hundred charms were born; the painted faces of the Six Palaces lost their color.

Her beauty held the dewy freshness and poetic charm of the Jiangnan water country, clear and translucent as dew condensing among flowers.

Her skin outshone snow, her brows and eyes were like a painting, slender and exquisite, fair and ethereal. In the clear breeze her Bai Shan robe stirred gently, like a lily in full bloom.

Her eyes were crystalline and limpid, incomparably lively, possessing a light, nimble, transcendent, and otherworldly purity of beauty.

The corners of her mouth always carried a faint Ren Yingying smile, her beauty matchless, yet with a touch of innocent playfulness, possessing an additional natural beauty of pure mischief and heaven-born perfection.

Jiang Sishui felt dazzled, his breath catching, as if breathing too heavily would shatter the picture of beauty before him that seemed not of this mortal world.

This was the first time the two had gazed at each other at close range.

Seeing the dazed look in Jiang Sishui's eyes tinged with a trace of infatuation, Huang Rong felt both shy and delighted in her heart—her careful dressing today had not been in vain.

Though quite satisfied with Jiang Sishui's reaction, she showed not the slightest hint on the surface, and instead said with a teasing face: "Hey, surname Jiang, come back to your senses! Are those eyes of yours trying to swallow me whole?"

As she spoke, her fair-as-snow delicate hand waved in front of Jiang Sishui's eyes.

Her voice was clear, soft, sweet, and crisp.

Jiang Sishui came back to himself slightly, and saw Huang Rong giggling at him.

Beside them, Feng Heng's expression was complicated, while Huang Yaoshi's face was wary.

Jiang Sishui felt a wave of awkwardness in his heart.

This was the second time he had become lost staring at a woman.

The first was Wang Yuyan—after all, the looks and bearing of "Immortal Sister" were too outstanding.

After all, facing one of the most outstanding women in the world in appearance, probably no normal man would remain unmoved.

Huang Rong was actually half a notch below Wang Yuyan, but alas, the halo around her was too great!

When people spoke of Wu Xia in his past life, they would think of Jin Lao.

And when mentioning the female characters under Jin Lao's pen, most people would probably think of Huang Rong. Even if she were only one of those recalled, she would certainly not be absent.

Coupled with all of Huang Rong's inner qualities, her attraction to Jiang Sishui ended up surpassing Wang Yuyan's.

099 Huang Rong: Little bitch, let's see how you compete with me

Looking at Huang Rong's clever and playful expression, Jiang Sishui nearly let his mouth run away with him in flirtation.

Fortunately, he realized in time that there were still others around, and promptly gathered himself, smiling: "Miss is right—I do intend to swallow it."

The moment these words came out, all three of them were stunned.

That had been Huang Rong's joking remark, her teasing words—how could Jiang Sishui just admit it?

This was far too awkward!

Huang Rong's toes curled up inside her shoes.

Huang Yaoshi, on the other hand, flew into a rage.

This brat—learning his Wu Gong was one thing, but now he actually had designs on his daughter, and spoke so insolently…

Unable to bear it any longer, Huang Yaoshi was about to open his mouth to rebuke, when he saw Jiang Sishui reach out and take the food box from Huang Rong's hands.

"But I am a person—how can a person eat a person? Of course I meant eating this! So Miss Huang was only half right."

The three: "…"

That's it?

No, will it kill you to not pause for breath between sentences?!

Just as the three were speechless, Jiang Sishui had already opened the lid of the box.

The food box was very large, divided into three layers. The first held a bowl of smoked frog legs, a braised duck stuffed with eight treasures, and a pile of snow-white silver-thread rolls.

The second layer held dumplings, fried rice, flower rolls, and shredded tofu.

The third layer held Huang Rong's signature dishes—"Who Listens to Falling Plums by the Jade Flute," "Moonlit Night on the Twenty-Four Bridges," and "Good Match Soup"—these three dishes had cost her the most time.

The aroma of the food came rushing forth, and the stomachs of both Jiang Sishui and Huang Yaoshi growled in unison.

Jiang Sishui had just taken a deep breath when the food box was snatched back by Huang Rong: "I worked hard to make this, it's not for you to eat. If you want to eat it, it won't be that easy!"

Jiang Sishui mused: "Not that easy—so there's still a chance?"

The girl said with a smiling face: "That depends on your sincerity."

"Then what kind of 'sincerity' counts as sincere?" Jiang Sishui pressed.

Huang Rong's eyes darted cleverly, and she said: "I want you to trade for it with the Sword Technique you performed yesterday!"

"Good."

"Add the footwork you used yesterday!"

"Good."

"I want your Xiaoyao Sect's martial arts too! I want it all!"

"Fine! I agree to everything, is that enough?"

One made an outrageous demand, the other accepted it without hesitation—Huang Yaoshi, standing beside them, was left speechless.

Though Huang Rong was his own daughter, even Huang Yaoshi felt her demands were excessive.

And Jiang Sishui had agreed without hesitation?

Has this boy's brain been soaked in water?

Feng Heng, however, did not think as he did; she looked thoughtful.

Jiang Sishui's affection for Huang Rong was unreservedly recorded in her diary, so what seemed absurd to outsiders did not surprise her at all.

If she could see it, how could Huang Rong not see it too?

Huang Rong already knew how Jiang Sishui would answer—so why did she go through the trouble of making this "harsh" request, forcing him to say it again?

Without warning, Feng Heng glanced at Huang Yaoshi, and suddenly understood.

This was likely done deliberately for Huang Yaoshi's benefit.

The purpose was simple: to let Huang Yaoshi see Jiang Sishui's true feelings.

As long as Huang Yaoshi approved of Jiang Sishui, he would not interfere in their relationship.

As long as he did not meddle, Jiang Sishui would not raise his fist against his father-in-law.

It was beneficial to both sides.

In an instant, Feng Heng understood Huang Rong's thoughtful intentions.

Jiang Sishui did not know Huang Rong had a copy of the diary, so he could not have imagined any of this.

He simply answered whatever Huang Rong asked, from the heart.

Huang Rong handed him the food box, then patted Jiang Sishui's shoulder and said, "There! Just teasing you. I don't want your martial arts—I'm selling you these dishes because I happen to like you."

"Sell?" Jiang Sishui was startled.

"What? You're disgusted? Unwilling to buy? Or do you want to eat and run?" Huang Rong glared.

Jiang Sishui nodded quickly: "Buy! Buy! I'll buy them! Such a good deal—others would beg for it. How could I refuse?"

Seeing Jiang Sishui's anxious expression, as if afraid she might change her mind, Huang Rong smiled softly.

At the same time, a warmth spread through her heart.

She knew well that this man's inner nature was extremely domineering (chdh).

The diary entries were proof; yesterday's ruthless, merciless slaughter was further evidence.