Chapter 145: Shifting Situation

"What is this..." Jiangnan realized as the surrounding illusion collapsed, water rushed into his nostrils, and the fishy odor was pungent.

He suddenly opened his eyes and found he was still at the lake bottom, the ancient palace having vanished.

"Illusion? Or spatial power?" Jiangnan wondered, his thoughts racing.

Suddenly, a chill swept over him, a cold sensation touching his neck.

A jade‑green Dagger, its edge fully exposed, pressed against his throat; a single light slash could send him to the underworld.

"You, what do you want to do?"

From behind, a woman's questioning voice came, cold and clear, laced with vigilance and murderous intent.

Jiangnan's body tensed, unwilling to move recklessly; he could feel the cold murderous intent emanating from the Dagger.

"I have no ill intent," Jiangnan said slowly, trying to explain.

"No ill intent?" the woman snorted coldly, "Then why are you skulking here?"

"I..." Jiangnan began to explain, but the woman cut him off.

"Stop the nonsense, speak quickly—who exactly are you? What is your purpose here?" The Dagger in her hand moved a few inches closer.

Jiangnan felt a sharp sting at his neck; he knew he had to clarify quickly, or his life would be in danger.

"My name is Jiangnan, and I came here to look for some medicinal herbs," Jiangnan tried to keep his tone calm.

"Medicinal herbs?" a hint of doubt flashed in the woman's eyes, "What herbs are here?"

"Some rare herbs seldom seen outside," Jiangnan replied.

"Rare herbs?" the woman seemed skeptical, "Do you think I would believe your nonsense?"

"Believe it or not, I'm telling the truth," Jiangnan said helplessly.

"Hmph, I see you have no good intentions!" The Dagger in her hand pressed harder.

"Wait!" Jiangnan shouted urgently, "Don't move, let me explain!"

"What else is there to explain?" the woman asked impatiently.

"I truly came for herbs, if you don't believe, watch!" Jiangnan said, reaching for his storage bag.

"Don't move!" the woman barked, "What are you trying to do?"

"I just want you to see the herbs I gathered," Jiangnan explained.

"Stop the tricks!" the woman said, not believing, "I advise you to be honest, or don't blame me for being rude!"

"I'm telling the truth; why won't you believe?" Jiangnan felt a wave of helplessness.

"Hmph, who knows if you're lying?" the woman sneered, "I've seen plenty of people like you!"

"I..." Jiangnan tried to continue, but the woman cut him off again.

"Shut up! I don't want to hear your nonsense!"

The Dagger in her hand moved a few inches closer, the sharp blade nearly touching Jiangnan's skin, delivering repeated stabs of pain.

Jiangnan felt a chill at his neck; he knew that if he didn't clarify soon, he might truly die here.

"Don't get agitated, let me finish," Jiangnan took a deep breath, forcing himself to stay calm.

"I truly came for herbs,"

The woman's gaze flickered, showing some hesitation, yet the Dagger in her hand relaxed not a bit.

"Don't move!" she barked, "What trick are you trying?"

"Open the storage bag, slowly," the woman finally said, her voice still cold.

Jiangnan slowly reached for the storage bag, each movement cautious, fearing to provoke a misunderstanding.

He opened the bag and took out several herbs emitting a faint aura.

"Look, these are the herbs I gathered," Jiangnan displayed the herbs to the woman.

The woman's eyes scanned the herbs, a flash of surprise appearing before being replaced by caution.

"These herbs are indeed extraordinary, but they don't prove you have no ill intent," the woman snorted coldly.

"I truly have no ill intent," Jiangnan forced a wry smile, "I came here only to find these herbs, nothing else."

"Then why are you here?" the woman asked, "This is the Gu Tribe's Forbidden Land!"

"Gu Tribe?" Jiangnan was startled, his heart immediately roiled with turmoil.

He finally understood that the woman before him was from the mysterious Gu Tribe!

"I mean no offense, I merely entered by mistake," Jiangnan explained, "I didn't know this was your Forbidden Land."

"By mistake?" the woman sneered, "Do you think I'd believe your nonsense?"

"Believe it or not, I'm telling the truth," Jiangnan felt a surge of helplessness.

"Hmph, I see you have no good intentions!" the Dagger in her hand pressed harder again.

"Wait!" Jiangnan shouted urgently, "Don't make a move, let me finish!"

"What else is there to explain?" the woman asked impatiently.

"I know your Gu Tribe has recently suffered a great calamity," Jiangnan suddenly said.

The woman's gaze hardened, the Dagger in her hand trembling slightly.

"How do you know?" she asked, a trace of terror in her voice.

"I not only know your Gu Tribe suffered a great disaster, but also that it was caused by the Holy Sect," Jiangnan said astonishingly.

"Holy Sect?" the woman's complexion changed dramatically, "Who exactly are you?"

"Who I am is irrelevant; what matters is that I can help you," Jiangnan said, his eyes blazing at the woman.

"Help us?" a glimmer of hope flashed in the woman's eyes, then faded.

"On what basis would you help us? What purpose do you have?" she asked.

"I have no agenda, I just want to help you get through this hardship," Jiangnan replied sincerely.

"Why are you helping us?" the woman still didn't believe.

"Because…" Jiangnan hesitated, "Because I have a grudge against the Holy Sect."

"A grudge?" a hint of doubt flashed in the woman's eyes.

"Exactly," Jiangnan nodded, "I and the Holy Sect are irreconcilable, and your Gu Tribe is also an enemy of the Holy Sect, so we can join forces."

"Join forces?" the woman seemed somewhat moved, yet still hesitated.

"Exactly, join forces," Jiangnan continued persuading, "Only by joining forces can we oppose the Holy Sect and avenge your Gu Tribe."

The woman fell silent, seeming to contemplate Jiangnan's words.

"Are you truly willing to help us?" after a long pause, she asked.

"Of course," Jiangnan replied without hesitation.

The woman suddenly let out a cold laugh and said:

"Do you really think I would believe your nonsense?"

"Every word I speak is true; why would you bear murderous intent toward me?"

"Enough idle talk!" the woman barked, pressing the Dagger a few inches closer, "I see you're here to pry into the Gu Tribe's secrets!"

Jiangnan realized the situation was critical. He had to turn the tide quickly.

"If I truly harbored ill intent, why waste words with you?" Jiangnan said in a low voice, his gaze steadfast.

The woman flinched slightly, the Dagger in her hand loosening a bit. Jiangnan seized the moment and struck like lightning.

In an instant, a flash of cold steel appeared. Jiangnan easily seized the Dagger and, with a reverse grip, restrained the woman.

The lake water churned, and the two's postures shifted abruptly. Jiangnan finally saw the woman's face clearly, his breath catching.

Moonlight filtered through the lake surface, spilling over the woman. She was drenched, her semi‑transparent clothing outlining a graceful figure.

Jiangnan's mind raced, his gaze involuntarily lingering on her. The woman's face resembled a peach blossom, her skin like jade.

"You…" the woman cried out, her struggle adding a touch of allure. Jiangnan felt his mouth dry, his Adam's apple bobbing.