Chapter 92

"Is that so? Then I thank Your Highness for your kind intention."

Jiang Sishui looked into Zhu Zhu Zhu Wushi's eyes and spoke word by word: "I wonder if Your Highness has ever heard of the two martial arts, 'Art of Absorbing Merit' and 'Indestructible Vajra'?"

Art of Absorbing Merit!

Indestructible Vajra!

Hearing these eight extremely sensitive characters, Zhu Zhu Zhu Wushi's gaze suddenly turned cold.

At this moment, the surrounding temperature seemed to drop several degrees, changing with Zhu Zhu Zhu Wushi's mood; it was piercingly cold, making one feel as if placed in the harsh winter of late autumn.

Seeing Jiang Sishui's confident smile, Zhu Zhu Zhu Wushi held his right hand behind his back, slowly clenching it where it could not be seen.

He smiled without reaching his eyes and said: "Years ago, a Celestial appeared in the Central Region, calling himself the 'Strange Knight of Tianchi'; his supreme skills were precisely the 'Art of Absorbing Merit' and the 'Sacred Art of Indestructible Vajra'. Is this what you speak of, young brother?"

Jiang Sishui nodded and added: "After the Strange Knight of Tianchi died, his supreme skills did not vanish but were passed down by two successors."

"The intelligence personnel of the Protecting Dragon Manor are spread throughout the world; surely this matter cannot be hidden from Your Highness?"

Zhu Zhu Zhu Wushi's face became as if covered by a layer of frost, and he said coldly: "What do you wish to say?"

Jiang Sishui let his true energy flow, seeming ready to react at any moment, and said: "I hold these two martial arts in great esteem, so I wish to borrow the hands of the Protecting Dragon Manor to ask Your Highness to find them for me."

"In exchange, I will also give Your Highness two treasures of equally priceless value—the Heavenly Fragrance Cardamoms."

"What? What did you say?!" Brilliant light flashed in Zhu Zhu Zhu Wushi's eyes, and he could not help but step forward.

Jiang Sishui retreated three steps instead, saying: "Your Highness, do not rush; if you rush and I panic, I might forget about the Heavenly Fragrance Cardamoms. At that time, no one will be able to produce them again."

Zhu Zhu Zhu Wushi took a deep breath, ceased his advance, and said in a heavy voice: "Do you truly know where the Heavenly Fragrance Cardamoms are?"

"Absolutely certain."

"How am I to believe you?"

"Let it be this way: I will first tell Your Highness the whereabouts of one Heavenly Fragrance Cardamom for you to verify yourself. If I am correct, then Your Highness can bring the secret manuals to exchange for the other one. How does that sound?"

Zhu Zhu Zhu Wushi stared at Jiang Sishui for a long time before saying: "Very well, I, this Marquis, agree; I only hope that everything you say is true."

As he spoke, his gaze, containing an implicit threat, swept over Huang Rong.

Jiang Sishui had not forgotten to bring this woman even while fleeing for his life earlier, showing her weight in his heart; Zhu Zhu Zhu Wushi intended to issue a warning accordingly.

You have your "turtle shell," but she and those few on Leigu Mountain do not; can you still protect everyone?

In fact, Zhu Zhu Zhu Wushi had not failed to consider capturing Zhao Zhao Zhao Qiying, Wang Wang Wang Yuyan, and others to use as leverage.

However, the matter of the Heavenly Fragrance Cardamoms was too critical to allow any error, and since he could not gauge Jiang Sishui's character, he did not wish to take such a risk.

What if Jiang Sishui responded to kindness but not to force, and in a fit of rage tore off all pretenses, smashing the jar in despair so that both parties suffered? In that case, Zhu Zhu Zhu Wushi would regret it too late.

After all, for Zhu Zhu Zhu Wushi, the woman waiting for the Heavenly Fragrance Cardamom to save her life was his "root of life."

Jiang Sishui naturally understood his meaning and smiled: "It seems Your Highness, like myself, is someone who cherishes beauty and pities jade. Then let matters between men be settled between men; that would be best, would it not?"

Zhu Zhu Zhu Wushi felt a chill in his heart and felt even more fortunate that he had not acted rashly just now.

"One Heavenly Fragrance Cardamom lies within the little mermaid pearl of Princess Princess Princess Yunluo. Very well, I shall await Your Highness's good news. Farewell."

Carrying Huang Rong, Jiang Sishui slowly retreated until he finally disappeared from Zhu Zhu Zhu Wushi's sight.

Zhu Zhu Zhu Wushi's expression shifted between gloom and brightness, a mix of joy and worry.

The intelligence network of the Protecting Dragon Manor spanned the world; years ago, they had accidentally gathered news regarding the "Carefree Sect," mentioning that this sect possessed a martial art whose function was similar to his own "Art of Absorbing Merit."

Zhu Zhu Zhu Wushi had immediately taken interest, wishing to obtain it for inspection to see if he could gain inspiration from it to perfect his "Art of Absorbing Merit."

If successful, his cultivation would surely advance another level!

After several years of investigation, he finally fixed his gaze upon Leigu Mountain.

To deal with the "Illusory Array of Zhenlong," he had even paid a heavy price to invite out the Traceless Young Master.

However, although the illusory array was broken, the expected opportunity had been seized first by a mere youth.

To avoid attracting too much attention, he had not appeared at the "Zhenlong Chess Gathering," choosing instead to capture Jiang Sishui in private and pry out the "Northern Nether Divine Art."

But he never expected that he, a Celestial, would actually fail against a Grandmaster!

This had disrupted all his plans.

And his original calculations had come to nothing.

At this moment, Jiang Sishui had unexpectedly proposed a trade with him, and the content of that trade made Zhu Zhu Zhu Wushi's heart pound with fear.

Although Jiang Sishui had not stated it explicitly, every word hinted at a secret deep within Zhu Zhu Zhu Wushi's heart, leaving him torn between shock and rage.

Fortunately, "misfortune is where fortune relies," for he had unexpectedly learned the whereabouts of the Heavenly Fragrance Cardamoms!

This was an unexpected joy, so much so that Zhu Zhu Zhu Wushi's delight immediately overwhelmed all negative emotions.

"Eighteen years; Su Xin can be saved!"

Thinking of Su Xin's former voice and smile, Zhu Zhu Zhu Wushi felt a surge of excitement, turned, and headed straight for Jingzhou.

At the same time, he needed to confirm Su Xin's safety.

Jiang Sishui's words had sounded an alarm bell for him; he had to be on guard.

Along the way, Huang Rong kept turning her head to look at Jiang Sishui, as if she had discovered some rare creature.

Jiang Sishui turned to look at her and smiled: "If you look at me like that, I have no money to repay you... Ah, I know; you wouldn't be blaming me for not taking this opportunity to swindle that man, would you?"

Huang Rong rolled her eyes, could not help but punch him, and said irritably: "Good that you know! What use is there in saying this now?"

"I was just frightened by the Celestial and forgot for a moment," Jiang Sishui said with a face full of regret.

Yet in his heart he thought: Even if I remembered, I would not have said it.

Huang Rong's eyes flowed with emotion, her voice clear and soft: "Hey, actually you're not dull at all; you even dared to set terms with a Celestial, and he couldn't do anything to you."

"I am dull?" Jiang Sishui was speechless: "Only Miss Huang would say such things about me."

"Then if I say such things about you, do you like it or not?" Huang Rong brought her pretty face close, wearing an expression of coercion.

Jiang Sishui smiled: "If you permit me to call you 'Rong'er' in the future, then I will like it."

Huang Rong's face flushed red; she turned away, leaving Jiang Sishui to stare at the back of her head.

"Dreaming so sweetly, it seems the blockhead has truly become a clever melon."

"Then you agree, Rong'er?"

"One million taels!"

"What?"

"If you owe me another million taels, I will let you call me that."

"Fine, one million taels it is!"

"Hee-hee, what a fool."

The young girl let out a laugh like silver bells and darted ahead toward Leigu Mountain.

Thanks to Zhu Zhu Zhu Wushi's interruption, Huang Rong seemed to have forgotten that fatal question from earlier.

Jiang Sishui remembered it, of course, but he was hardly stupid enough to bring it up.

"Rong'er, slow down, wait for me!"

Back at Leigu Mountain, Jiang Sishui introduced Huang Rong to Zhao Zhao Zhao Qiying and the other three girls.

Afterward, both sides stared at each other with a look Jiang Sishui could not decipher.

Although Huang Rong had been present at the Zhenlong Chess Gathering, Zhao Zhao Zhao Qiying and the other three did not know her; moreover, the situation had been so tense then that no one had the mind to notice others.

Thus, this was their first time meeting the girl Jiang Sishui had been thinking of constantly.

Huang Rong, for her part, had seen them all before, but only now was she formally introduced.

The atmosphere grew slightly awkward; Jiang Sishui, who had secretly planned to build a harem, suddenly felt guilty and quickly waved his hand: "Sister Sister Abi, come here!"

"Huh? Me?"

Sister Sister Abi pointed at herself in astonishment, clearly not expecting Jiang Sishui to call on her at this moment.

Jiang Sishui nodded slightly, then turned and walked away with feigned composure.

Sister Sister Abi glanced at the other girls, lowered her head, and hurried to follow.

After walking a long distance to a secluded spot, seeing Sister Sister Abi's anxious eyes, Jiang Sishui said, "Sister Sister Abi, since you belong to our sect, I shall transmit our sect's divine art to you; you must study it diligently."

Transmitting martial arts?

Sister Sister Abi felt a wave of relief, followed by confusion: "With my low seniority, am I allowed to learn our sect's divine art?"

Jiang Sishui smiled and said, "I didn't know before, but now I am the Sect Master, so naturally, my word is law. If I say it is acceptable, then it is."

Sister Sister Abi, understanding and perceptive, realized Jiang Sishui was doing this for her sake, hoping she would possess the strength to protect herself in this martial world that revered power above all.

Therefore, although she had little passion for martial arts, she readily agreed: "Thank you, Brother Jiang; Sister Sister Abi will study diligently."

"Good, sit here!" Jiang Sishui pointed to a large bluestone beside him.