Chapter 273 The Noble Lady's Shyness, Good and Bad News, Double Pupils Reappear, Flower Cage Gathering
As dusk fell, the afterglow spread, casting fleeting shadows like a golden lacquer. The graceful boat approached the flower boat, and the person inside lightly stepped forward, rising straight up, gliding lightly, before taking a step forward and steadily stepping onto the deck.
The pleasure boat drifted along the river, its deck deserted. The sails were rolled up, and no one knew a guest had arrived; all was quiet as ever.
The person walked straight towards the cabin, her steps graceful and elegant, as if she knew the ship intimately. She navigated the narrow passageway, turning several times, sometimes east, sometimes west.
Must be proficient in feng shui and geomancy, office layout...
Ye Cheng suddenly had a premonition. He pushed aside the women beside him, and they gasped in surprise as their clothes fell to the ground. Ye Cheng casually picked up two pieces of clothing, draped them over himself, put on his shoes and socks, and quickly walked out.
This pleasure boat was named "Jade Flower". It was funded by the Flower Cage Sect and built by Jade City. Later, the sect leader gifted the boat to Ye Cheng, and all the specifications, maps, and functions of the boat were handed over to Ye Cheng.
He studied for several years and mastered all the key passages and layouts. With a quick turn to the left and a sudden movement to the right, he moved nimbly from his secluded third-floor dwelling to a narrow passage on the first floor.
They stood in front of the visitors.
He said respectfully, "I apologize for not greeting you properly, sir."
The person boarding the ship was Jin Shichang, the "Ferryman" of the Flower Cage Sect. The Flower Cage Sect had a long history of evil deeds and was an enemy of many sects in the martial arts world. If they were not careful, they would be destroyed. Therefore, they were very cautious and always needed the "Ferryman" to guide them when they came to important places of the sect.
Jin Shichang said, "It's alright. Even if you wanted to come and greet me from afar, you really don't have the ability." His voice was high-pitched, and he had a feminine appearance despite his male body. He had a slender waist but broad shoulders, cascading black hair but thick arms, and a graceful gait but a rugged face.
Ye Cheng smiled and said, "That's true."
Ye Cheng said again, "Please come in, envoy. I will prepare a banquet to entertain you. Please stay for a few days. Please lead us to the Water Altar to participate in the grand event."
Jin Shichang said, "Okay."
Ye Cheng personally made the arrangements. The third floor was prepared with fine food and wine. The Flower Cage Sect reveres the "Five Elements and Eight Trigrams," "Strange Skills and Ingenious Techniques," "Array Formations and Mazes," and "Feng Shui and Geomancy."
Ye Cheng fled along the way, intending to return to the "Water Altar." He then steered his flower boat, navigating the winding waterways to shake off his pursuers. But even he did not know the location of the Water Altar.
They simply lingered on the river, waiting for the ferryman to arrive, steer the boat, and sail into the water altar. The so-called "ferryman" was a crucial position in the Flower Cage Sect. He spent his entire life at the altar, dedicated to ferrying disciples to and from the sect.
Their status was extremely high.
Ye Cheng dared not be negligent. He needed to trouble Jin Shichang for both leaving and entering the altar, so he prepared jewelry and ornaments in advance to give to him according to his preferences.
Jin Shichang, though male, displayed feminine mannerisms. He had a particular fondness for "jewelry and exquisite artifacts," especially the beads made by the renowned contemporary craftsman "Xuehou." Ye Cheng was slightly disappointed when he was unable to acquire them. However, he had also spent considerable time admiring and handling many other pieces of jewelry and exquisite artifacts, so he was not angry.
He reclined on the third floor, drinking wine and admiring paintings with Ye Cheng, handling jewels and exquisite artifacts. Ye Cheng knew Jin Shichang's temperament well; he disliked women. So he dismissed all his concubines and discussed with him the ways of jewels and exquisite artifacts.
...
...
The setting sun faded, and the water was pitch black. Li Xian, with his double pupils, looked through the river and saw it flowing endlessly, but he had no idea where he was.
The Dawu River system is crisscrossed, winding and twisting like a finely woven fabric. Accompanied by towering mountains and lush forests, even from a high vantage point, it is difficult to discern the river's network.
Wen Caishang's relentless search for her husband forced Li Xian to flee, leading her to stealthily travel along the Biyue River, where she inadvertently boarded a pirate ship. By then, they were already far from the Biyue River.
After several more days of sailing on the flower boats, the river flowed into the canal, and the canal returned to the river... winding and turning. The surrounding mountains and terrain were neither "Chongling Prefecture" nor "Poor Heavenly Prefecture".
Li Xian calmed his mind and breath, closed his eyes to rest. Around dawn, he joined the others in practicing martial arts. He progressed extremely quickly, mastering the [Flying Snake Hand] technique to a minor level. His comprehension was exceptional, and coupled with the principle that "Heaven rewards diligence," hard work inevitably leads to progress, and progress inevitably leads to gain.
The days spent on the pleasure boat were both monotonous and fulfilling.
Several days passed quietly.
We practice martial arts every day from dawn till dusk, and spend the rest of our time studying the "Blood-Spitting Manual" and the "Five Internal Organs' Turbidity Circulation." Li Xian and Qiao Sanyan are acquainted. The rest of us, the others, have not spoken to each other so far.
Since Li Xian had no intention of joining forces, there was no need for further interaction.
As for amusing incidents, there are some. Every day at noon, he would feed Bian Qiaoqiao and Nangong Liuli. Li Xian harbored wicked intentions and could hardly be called a gentleman. He often took advantage of the situation to tease the two girls.
After the drink was finished, Li Xian tidied up the soup box. In the spare time, he started chatting about everything under the sun, including trivial matters.
Taking the opportunity, she inquired about the situation of Xuanshan and the Nangong family. Bian Qiaoqiao was simple-minded, while Nangong Liuli was calm and composed. Therefore, she said that she often chatted with people in Xuanshan and knew some important news. However, the Nangong family was very mysterious and rarely revealed anything.
Nangong Liuli secretly memorized the date of her capture by observing the number of times Li Xian fed her. Through her conversation with Li Xian, her resolve gradually rekindled. Unwilling to succumb to despair, she quickly devised a plan to escape.
However, the method of capturing and binding in the flower cage gate was truly ingenious. He was unable to break free of the shackles, his body swaying with the boat, feeling utterly suffocated.
Li Xian's actions are restricted.
The flower boats have narrow and complex passageways, and one cannot walk on them without permission.
Although Li Xian had relatively much freedom, the only places he could go were his private bedroom, the deck, the lower-level cell, and the dining hall.
The bedroom has very few mechanisms and is not of much research value, but the walls are extremely tough. The deck and dining hall are crowded and conspicuous; revealing double pupils would be tantamount to courting death.
Only in the lower cells can one glimpse the many mechanisms. I ponder their secrets, unsure if they will be of any use, but since I have the spare time, I'll do as much as I can.
He covered the two women's eyes to reveal his double pupils, thus spying on the mechanism.
During this time, he inevitably caught glimpses of the two women's bodies. His penetrating power, unintentionally "harming" them, revealed their alluring secrets. He thought to himself that Nangong Liuli, despite being slightly older, appeared dignified and elegant, but in reality, she harbored a fiery temper.
Spring had given way to summer. The air grew increasingly muggy, the sun blazing down, turning the flower boat into a steamer. The two women found the heat unbearable, sweat dripping from their hair. Bian Qiaoqiao, wearing long, tanned boots, naturally looked dashing and stylish, both beautiful and practical. But this time, however, she suffered greatly, her feet unbearably hot. Glancing sideways at Nangong Liuli, she envied her for having lost one of her embroidered shoes; though her bare feet were exposed, at least she felt cool. Too embarrassed to speak of this, she could only endure it.
That noon, Li Xian carried soup and dishes as he walked through the winding, narrow path, pondering the recent situation. He felt pity for the two women's plight and learned from their conversation that Bian Qiaoqiao was spoiled by nature and Nangong Liuli was generous and proper; neither of them were wicked. If conditions allowed, he would be willing to help them.
However, the more complex the situation became, the more difficult it was to protect oneself.
The boat did not touch the shore; the waters were vast, and the land was nowhere in sight. It seemed as if we had reached the middle of a lake. Yet the lake was like a sea, with waves several feet high splashing and crashing. At night, the bright moon hung in the sky, and the water shimmered with silver light.
The fruits, vegetables, and meat in the cabin had all been eaten. They did not go ashore to buy anything, but instead caught fish on the spot to eat.
The river fish they caught all had sharp teeth and mouths. They were ferocious and would bite anyone they encountered. Even with the Azure Water Pearl, Li Xian would find it difficult to escape by diving into the river. There was no need for the people on the pleasure boat to search for them; the ferocious fish's attacks alone posed a great danger.
In the early morning, white mist shrouds the vast lake, sometimes revealing green vegetation growing from the water.
Li Xian guessed they had reached a hidden waterway. Escape would be extremely difficult. However, he had just discerned something from the mechanism and was beginning to understand it. He couldn't help but hesitate.
Bian Qiaoqiao and Nangong Liuli let out two "woof woof" sounds and swayed their bodies. Although they were disgusted by Li Xian's behavior and cursed him as a "thief," "son of a bitch," and "lecher," they had nothing to do since being captured. Li Xian's words were interesting, and he would come to feed them and chat and joke, which did relieve their boredom quite a bit.
Li Xian skillfully untied the iron chains, pushed open the prison door, and placed the soup and dishes on the table. He then helped the two women calm down. Bian Qiaoqiao and Nangong Liuli spat out the walnuts. They were truly furious about these things, wishing they could crush them into powder.
Bian Qiaoqiao rotated her ankles; her silk stockings were soaked through, and she felt extremely hot. Her cheeks were flushed, and her clothes were damp with sweat from the heat. She said, "Little thief Hua, why are you so late today?"
Li Xian said, "How strange! How did you know I was late? There's no water clock here." Bian Qiaoqiao said, "I guessed, is that wrong?"
Nangong Liuli said in a deep voice, "My sister and I have been captured by you. We have no way to escape and are being hung like this in the air. It is really tiring. Could you please report to the emperor for us and ask that these ropes be loosened a little?"
Li Xian said, "That's possible. But whether it works or not depends entirely on Elder Ye's decision."
Nangong Liuli said, "Then thank you." She felt a pang of distress. She was willing to speak softly to ease even the slightest bit of her discomfort.
Li Xian opened the soup box, which contained fish soup, steaming hot. Bian Qiaoqiao frowned and said, "Why fish again? I've been eating fish for days." Li Xian replied, "Supplies are scarce on the ship; it's good enough to have fish to eat."
Nangong Liuli stared intently, noticing the boat's urgent need for supplies. She immediately deduced that the ship had been traveling for a very long time without reaching the shore, hence the difficulty in replenishing supplies and the need to hunt river fish for food. Her family was unlikely to be able to help, and the vast river... completely obscured her whereabouts. The name "Nangong Liuli" ceased to exist.
Li Xian said, "Alright, let's eat." He picked up a piece of fish and fed it to Bian Qiaoqiao. Bian Qiaoqiao sipped her chopsticks and savored the fish. The meat was slightly fishy, but the cooking was decent, and the seasonings were well-balanced; it wasn't bad at all.
These river fish have a lot of bones. A slight mishap could cause a fish to choke. Li Xian was very considerate; he removed the bones and then fed her the fish meat. Bian Qiaoqiao felt conflicted seeing his thoughtfulness; she enjoyed the caring treatment, but it was also because this thief had captured her.
She said, "Hey, where are you taking us?"
Li Xian said, "I'm just a nobody, how would I know about these things?"
Bian Qiaoqiao said, "To aid and abet tyranny is shameful and wicked." But she did not leave any fish or meat behind.
Li Xian pulled out the fishbone, then paused. He suddenly remembered that he had made some progress in designing the mechanisms and exploring the hidden secrets within the pleasure boat. Saving the two women and escaping might be difficult. But escaping alone might offer a better chance.
But the risks are extremely high. He is now a registered disciple of the Flower Cage Sect, and his life is not in danger. He wants to escape from here because he is unwilling to be complicit in their corruption. If he is going to escape, he must ensure his safety. Otherwise, it would be better not to escape at all.
Escaping at such a perilous risk is hardly a safe option.
Therefore, he hesitated.
But Nangong Liuli and Bian Qiaoqiao might not necessarily resist this perilous opportunity. Trapped in the flower cage, they would likely be willing to risk their lives for it!
Li Xian's eyes darted around as he secretly observed the two women. Bian Qiaoqiao failed to notice, but Nangong Liuli keenly observed, and frowned, saying nothing.
After feeding Bian Qiaoqiao, Li Xian removed the fish bones and prepared food for Nangong Liuli. She casually remarked, "Speaking of which, it's summer now, and with no windows or wind here, isn't it stiflingly hot?"
Bian Qiaoqiao said, "Do you need to tell us? What can we do?" She thought to herself, "My boots are soaked with sweat. I'm dying of heat."
Li Xian removed the fish bones and fed them to Nangong Liuli, catching the two women off guard. Li Xian then gently stroked Nangong Liuli's hair and cut off a strand of her hair.
“Bian Qiaoqiao is simple-minded and not suitable for conspiring. Nangong Liuli, on the other hand, is sharp-tongued and has the demeanor of a great lady.”
He channeled his inner energy and unleashed the power of the "Azure Palm." His energy flowed like silk threads, causing his hair to stand upright. With a flick of his fingers, he unleashed the "Sunset Blood Sword"... using his hair as a delicate, supple sword.
He gently stroked the sole of her bare foot. Nangong Liuli's sole trembled, a strand of hair brushing against it, carrying a hint of heat. The sensation was palpable, reaching straight to her heart.
Nangong Liuli was furious and glared at Li Xian. She was about to speak her condemnation when Li Xian, using a strand of hair as a sword, quietly wrote on the sole of her foot: "Don't speak."
Nangong Liuli was quick-witted. Suddenly sensing something was amiss, she swallowed her angry words. While Li Xian was feeding the fish, she secretly communicated through a strand of hair: "Trying to escape?"
Nangong Liuli was taken aback, wondering, "What does this boy mean? Is he deliberately teasing me? Why doesn't he just say it directly? Why does he have to tickle my feet?"
The slightest touch caused goosebumps to rise on her skin. Li Xian twisted silk between his two fingers. The sword technique he displayed was extremely subtle. Nangong Liuli, while startled and embarrassed, was secretly amazed by his profound swordsmanship.
Li Xian communicated through silk threads: "Don't act strangely. This cell is full of hidden traps. Our conversation will be overheard."
Nangong Liuli nodded. Li Xian twisted his silk thread and said again, "You must not make any big movements. Look at the four lamps in front and behind."
Nangong Liuli looked around, but could only see two lamps in front of her. Suddenly, Li Xian pushed her. Nangong Liuli cried out in surprise and was thrown into the air, swinging like a swing. Her body spun around, and she took the opportunity to see the two lamps behind her.
Nangong Liuli cursed, "You scoundrel! I will never forgive you!" Her anger was intense, yet deliberately feigned. Her skirt fluttered, still not calmed, and her gaze was fixed intently on Li Xian.
The question is: "What is the use of lamps?"
Li Xian was very clever and astute. After observing the mechanism for several days, he had already made progress. He twisted a thread and replied, "The light shines and falls into the dark jade mirror. The light should be able to reach Ye Cheng's bedroom."
Nangong Liuli's heart tightened. She felt utterly desperate. Not only was she suspended in mid-air, but her voice was also being listened to and her body being monitored... Even with the greatest supernatural powers, she could not escape even a fraction of the danger.
"Am I some kind of celestial being? Why the need for such vigilance?" she thought resentfully. In reality, the traps here had been cleverly set up from the very beginning of the ship's construction. Nangong Liuli, however, was unlucky enough to experience them firsthand.
Li Xian twisted his hair and said, "The lights here are dim, and we can only make out the general shape. It's like observing a shadow. That's why I communicate with my hair, so they can't easily detect me."
Nangong Liuli suddenly realized that Li Xian was very thoughtful. He spoke with such conviction that she couldn't help but trust him.
Nangong Liuli opened her mouth as if to speak, but fearing the sound of the cell echoing through, she dared not utter a word. If she remained silent, communication would be impossible, and how could she be saved? She was extremely conflicted.
Suddenly, she felt a tickle on the sole of her foot. A fine strand of hair brushed against her skin, and through the touch, she tried to decipher Li Xian's handwriting. Li Xian communicated, "Don't speak. Just blink. Left eye means yes, right eye means no. What do you want to say? I'll guess."
Nangong Liuli nodded and blinked her left eye.
Li Xian pondered, while casually chatting and communicating through silk threads: "You must be wondering who I am?"
Nangong Liuli blinked and agreed. Li Xian said, "I mistakenly boarded a pirate ship, and to save my life, I joined the Flower Cage Sect."
Nangong Liuli suddenly understood: "Ah! So that's how it is... He once said that when he first entered the Flower Cage Sect, he was also a person with a hard life. I scolded him all the time, but he didn't get angry. Instead, he tried to help me. He really is..."
Her beautiful eyes were filled with gratitude, yet she felt extremely shy. Li Xian fidgeted with her silken thread, secretly communicating: "I had originally planned to escape when the ship docked. As for you two, I will save you if I can, and help you to the best of my ability if I can't."
"However, the situation took an unexpected turn. This ship, which had never docked, was hiding a secret. Now it had sailed into strange waters, having left the river channel. It seemed to be in a lake."
Nangong Liuli felt an intense itching on the soles of her feet, and her face flushed red. Forcing herself to calm down, she tried to decipher Li Xian's words. She then realized her precarious situation.
Li Xian was about to speak again when he suddenly heard footsteps. Qiao Sanyan came over and called out, "Junior Brother Hua, you've been feeding me for so long, are you perhaps lingering too long?"
Nangong Liuli trembled, her eyes filled with worry. The prison cell was indeed equipped with hidden mechanisms. She feared that Li Xian would be exposed and lose his life. The Flower Cage Sect's ability to capture women and kill men was common knowledge in the martial arts world.
Li Xian laughed and said, "Alas, there are so many hidden bones in the fish we eat lately. These two young girls have no hands or feet. Wouldn't they get fish bones stuck in their throats? So I took pity on them and helped them remove the fish bones, which took a long time."
Bian Qiaoqiao glared and said, "Hmph! This is what you should do. To admire my beautiful face, I asked you to remove the fish bones, and you dare to complain?"
Nangong Liuli sneered: "We've given you face by eating. You don't know what's good for you."
Qiao Sanyan said, "Junior Brother Hua, you see, these women don't know how to be grateful. This job is both dangerous and tiring. Should I find someone else to replace you?"
Li Xian said, "Ah! Changing players?"
Bian Qiaoqiao glanced at him, and Nangong Liuli lowered her head, her hope vanishing. Qiao Sanyan said, "Yes."
Li Xian laughed and said, "Senior Brother Qiao, I think it's unnecessary." Qiao Sanyan said, "Junior Brother Hua, could it be that you... like these two women? I must tell you, for ordinary disciples of our Hualong Sect, liking captured women is a major taboo."
Qiao Sanyan sized up the two women and said, "These two women are indeed beautiful. As time goes by, their appearance and smiles will be imprinted in my heart. It's inevitable that feelings will gradually develop."
Nangong Liuli thought to herself, "I'm starting to develop feelings for him. We just met by chance, and he's offering me help. Could it be... could it really be... Oh... if he sees all of this, wouldn't that be embarrassing?"
Her face flushed, and she glanced at Li Xian. A slight itch ran down her soles, and the scene of their conversation flashed before her eyes, now with a touch of allure.
Li Xian said, "Senior Brother Qiao, to be honest," he put his arm around Qiao Sanyan's shoulder, leaned against the cell, and said, "I refuse to be transferred. It's for... to earn merit!"
Qiao Sanyan asked in surprise, "Meritorious service?" Li Xian replied, "Indeed. These two women are extremely virtuous and wanted to starve themselves to death. I have a way to feed them. Elder Ye will naturally notice me."
Li Xian said, "As long as I take on this important task, Elder Ye will know that I am someone important. In the future, if someone is to be promoted, do I have an advantage?"
He knew these words would reach Ye Cheng's ears through the cracks in the cell. He deliberately spoke bluntly.
Qiao Sanyan said, "Junior Brother Hua, you are truly cunning. So this is what you've been planning." Nangong Liuli's heart pounded again upon hearing Li Xian's sincere words. Observing Li Xian's eyes, she noticed that he was elusive and mysterious, sometimes near, sometimes far... It was impossible to discern which of his words were true and which were false... He was hard to fathom.
Would he really lend a helping hand and escape his predicament himself?
Li Xian cleaned up the leftovers and stuffed walnuts into Qiao Sanyan's mouth. Then he left with Qiao Sanyan.
After this incident, Nangong Liuli felt both hope and despair. Her mind was in turmoil, filled with trying to figure out Li Xian's character and true intentions...
Bian Qiaoqiao was confused and, based on Li Xian's earlier remarks, realized that he was treating her as a tool for gaining merit. Feeling extremely humiliated, she resolved never to eat another bite of food from Li Xian.
Iron chains secured the prison doors. Inside the narrow passage at the bottom, Qiao Sanyan and Li Xian stood one behind the other. The candlelight on either side was dim.
Li Xian asked, "Senior Brother Qiao, what is the fate of women like this?"
Qiao Sanyan said, "Sigh... to be honest, even if a woman like this is arrested, her life is still better than ours."
Li Xian said, "Oh?" Qiao Sanyan said, "Our Flower Cage Sect only captures wealthy and beautiful women. Naturally, it's for profit and lust. To tell you the truth, I vaguely heard Elder Ye Cheng mention it."
"The capture of these two women was actually orchestrated by someone hired to do so. It involves some kind of conflict. But I don't know exactly who did it. Moreover, it seems that person handed over the authority to dispose of the two women to my Flower Cage Sect. In addition... the elder who originally captured the two women has been killed."
"If I'm not mistaken, these two women will become [beautiful concubines]."
...
...
Li Xian returned to her bedroom, removed the filth, and calmed her mind to practice internal cultivation. Qiao Sanyan met with Ye Cheng and recounted everything that had been said in the prison cell.
Ye Cheng nodded slightly, quite satisfied. Although the Flower Cage Sect had many disciples, most of them were lecherous and incompetent. This young man, though cunning, was eager to improve himself and could be of use.
Qiao Sanyan asked, "Elder Ye, should we change the feeding clothes?" Ye Cheng thought to himself, "Since this boy is capable, let's give him a chance to show off. Besides, the prison is full of traps and the boat passage is winding and tortuous. Even if she were free to run for several days, let alone being tied up with ropes, she would have a hard time getting out, let alone being tied up with ropes."
Having escaped the encirclement, they were about to enter the Flower Cage Sect's "Water Altar," so their minds were relaxed and their vigilance loosened. The Flower Cage Sect disciples on the boat changed their martial arts practice time to "Chen Si" (7-9 AM).
No more working day and night.
This is Dongran Lake, one of the three major lakes in southern Chongqing. Its expansive waters stretch as far as the eye can see, seemingly endless. It is even hailed as the largest lake in southern Chongqing.
Unbeknownst to Li Xian, he was already touring a rare and unusual landscape. Although all he could see was a thin white mist, there was nothing particularly magnificent about it.
The hour of Chen and Si has passed.
Li Xian leaned against the railing, gazing at the lake. He murmured to himself:
“The waters here are vast, and I sink as soon as I enter. The bottom of the lake is dark and gloomy, making it difficult to discern directions. It must be full of dangers. Even if I sneak into the lake unnoticed, I will find it difficult to escape.”
"I wonder if Nangong Liuli and Bian Qiaoqiao have the ability to escape from such a dangerous place. They come from prominent families and may be able to alleviate the 'pure rises and turbid falls' characteristic. If they really can't, even if they manage to sneak out of the pleasure boat, they will have to accept their fate."
The situation is like water, changing in an instant.
Li Xianqin diligently practiced martial arts, specializing in the "Flying Snake Hand" technique.
[Flying Snake Hand]
[Proficiency: 2569/3000 (Mastery)]
His martial arts skills had gradually reached a high level, his moves returning to simplicity and naturalness. Many disciples of the Flower Cage Sect were far inferior to him. Seeing that Li Xian was indeed a talented individual, Ye Cheng nodded in praise, a smile on his face.
Noon.
The vegetarian restaurant's cooking methods for fish were crude. Fish scales and entrails were not properly removed, resulting in an extremely fishy and foul-smelling dish. Li Xian forced himself to suppress his disgust and finished the fish.
They found Ye Cheng again and told him the truth about the two women's pleas. Ye Cheng said, "They've been hanging there for almost half a month now, and that little vixen isn't causing any trouble. It's alright to relax and stretch your back." He nodded in agreement.
Li Xian prepared the fish soup and entered the dungeon. The candlelight was dim, casting a faint glow. Since yesterday, Nangong Liuli had been preoccupied with Li Xian. Hearing footsteps approaching, she immediately looked up. Her gaze was complex, a mixture of fear and uncertainty.
"Who exactly are you?" I was filled with doubt.
Bian Qiaoqiao glared angrily at him, whimpering, "Well, you scoundrel, you dare to come here again!" Just as Li Xian unlocked the locks and stepped into the cell, Bian Qiaoqiao twisted her waist and swayed her body towards him.
Li Xian reached out and grabbed her, then flung her away. Bian Qiaoqiao screamed in agony as she spun rapidly through the air. Li Xian laughed, "Do you submit?"
Bian Qiaoqiao said, "I give up, I give up." She then admitted defeat.
Li Xian untied the soup box, revealing two steaming red fish. The flesh of this fish was coarse and fishy. Yet, everyone on board, both men and women, was eating this fish.
Li Xian untied the walnut. The two women coughed a few times and were able to speak again. Li Xian smiled and said, "Sister Bian, would you like some?"
Bian Qiaoqiao scolded, "I won't eat!" Li Xian said, "Sister Liuli...would you like some?"
Nangong Liuli frowned and stared at Li Xian. She truly couldn't fathom Li Xian's thoughts. Li Xian was always intelligent and composed, and was highly regarded within her family. She possessed exceptional talent in martial arts, and her management of the household affairs was first-rate.
Judging people and things... should be ruthless and precise. However, Li Xian was facing away from the candlelight, his face dim, sometimes bright and sometimes dark, sometimes near and sometimes far, sometimes intimate and sometimes distant. He was neither a member of a righteous sect, nor a virtuous and rigid gentleman, nor a member of a heretical sect, nor a member of a lewd and dissolute sect.
They're completely unorthodox... They're hard to fathom. Nangong Liuli said, "Bian Qiaoqiao, you shouldn't be angry right now. Only when we're full and satisfied will we have a chance to kill this villain in the future."
Bian Qiaoqiao said, "Alright then."
Li Xian smiled and said, "Sister Liuli is so considerate. I've come today with good news and bad news. Please listen to whichever you like first."
Nangong Liuli said, "Hmph, say it all at once."
Li Xian said, "Good news... Elder Ye Cheng is merciful and has allowed me to put you down and let you get back to earth. But Fairy Mo Zhenhua has drifted away."
Bian Qiaoqiao and Nangong Liuli were both delighted.
Bian Qiaoqiao asked, "And what's the bad news?"
Li Xian said, "Alas...we are about to enter the water altar. When that time comes, even if you have the greatest supernatural powers, you will have no chance of escaping."
(End of this chapter)
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