Chapter 53 Draft - Do Not Subscribe, Please Await Revision
Mid-spring.
②A faint rumble of thunder heralds the first awakening of insects, and a brisk wind blows through the green willows.
You Mingjiang left Pingding Prefecture alone on horseback.
She rode at full speed along the official road to the dock in Zhengding Prefecture.
Hearing that the current Prefect of Kaifeng, Bao Zheng, was incorruptible and a brilliant judge, unlike those incompetent and foolish officials, and that he also had a skilled swordsman like Zhan Zhao by his side, she had no intention of provoking him for the time being. Therefore, she deliberately bypassed Kaifeng on her route, instead traveling east along the Hutuo River, passing the Ziya River and the Wei River, and finally heading south along the Grand Canal to Yangzhou.
After traveling for a short while, she arrived at a dock on the outskirts of Zhengding Prefecture, adjacent to Taipingzhuang Village.
The area is flat and open, and as far as the eye can see, the willow branches along the riverbank have sprouted tender green buds. By the dock, several thick wooden stakes are deeply driven into the ground, with an idle ferry tied to them.
A tall, dark-skinned boatman sat at the bow, and the ferry swayed gently with the current, making a creaking sound.
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You Mingjiang is on a mission this time.
Before the Dragon Boat Festival, she needed to establish a branch in the besieged city as a pledge of allegiance to the Sun Moon Cult.
In fact, she could have joined the cult smoothly after Bat Island, but the elders of Blackwood Cliff seemed to have heard about her past in the Azure Dragon Society and insisted that she make this trip to show their sincerity.
It was the rice planting season, and she had wanted to see the tender green seedlings. When she heard that a water-powered spinning wheel technology had been developed in Yangzhou, she readily agreed and did not refuse.
You Mingjiang dismounted and walked towards the ferry.
Her expression was serene, as if she couldn't perceive that this dock, which should have been bustling with activity, was eerily quiet.
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This young woman seemed shrewd and capable, exuding a cleverness. As You Mingjiang approached, the black bear, disguised as a boatman, revealed a hint of greed in his eyes.
Hmph, the more like this a person is, the more "benefits" they can squeeze out of them. Black Bear licked his lips, thinking to himself: This woman's flesh looks firm and smooth; it should be tender and chewy to eat.
You Mingjiang could tell at a glance that the boatman was a martial arts expert. He was burly and clearly practiced a powerful, forceful style of martial arts. But she didn't point it out; she simply sat down on the boat with a leisurely air.
The dark-skinned bear looked at her, and she looked back at the bear.
Her eyelashes were damp with moisture, but her cool, indifferent eyes pierced through the rain and mist, fixed firmly on him. That gaze was like that of a hungry wolf eyeing its prey, sending a chill down the black bear's spine and raising goosebumps all over his body.
The two northern bears are cannibals, but under her gaze, the black bear felt more like prey.
Fortunately, You Mingjiang simply smiled and politely said, "Let's set sail."
The black bear breathed a sigh of relief, mustered all its strength, and swung the bamboo pole to quickly push the ferry to the middle of the river.
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Seeing You Mingjiang's innocent expression as he unsuspectingly boarded the pirate ship, Black Bear couldn't help but chuckle to himself: "He's nothing special."
He thought to himself: those rumors are mostly exaggerated. No matter how powerful this young lady is, she can't escape his grasp.
Black Bear had even begun to fantasize about how to capture her, a smug smirk appearing on his face.
Seeing that she seemed completely unaware, and that the boat was already in the middle of the river with nowhere to escape, the black bear could no longer contain his excitement. He lowered his voice and said in a sinister tone, "Young lady, have you ever heard of the 'delicacies' on the ferry boat? Generally speaking, there are two kinds: one is called 'board knife noodles,' and the other is called 'wontons'..."
This is the slang of bandits.
"Ban Dao Mian" refers to hacking a guest to death with knives and then throwing the body into the river; "Bao Wonton" means tying up a guest's hands and feet and throwing him into the river to drown.
You Mingjiang blinked and said slowly, "So, would you like to treat me to some sliced noodles, or some wontons?"
The black bear's mouth stretched wider and wider, his ferocious grin growing more intense, revealing a set of menacing yellow teeth: "Those are ordinary meat coupons. For coupons like this young lady's, I usually prefer to work as a laborer, eating human flesh buns—"
Before he could finish speaking, the black bear suddenly pounced on You Mingjiang.
"Flank!" At the same time, the polar bear suddenly dug a hole in the bottom of the ship.
The Twin Bears of the Northern Desert honed their fist and palm skills in the desert, cooperating seamlessly with each other, and were especially adept at pincer attacks. Once they struck, the two attacked from both sides, making them difficult to defend against.
You Mingjiang knew without turning around that the white bear was standing behind her, attacking from both sides, and they wanted to take her life.
She shifted her body slightly, and the black bear's fist grazed her cheek. She grabbed the black bear's pulse point and pushed its body forward, blocking the white bear's attack.
Before the polar bear could stop, its powerful fist pierced through the black bear's navel, instantly causing its intestines to burst open.
Yu Mingjiang was kind-hearted and couldn't bear to let the white bear witness the black bear's miserable state. Taking advantage of the opportunity, he grabbed the white bear by the neck, gently twisted it, and snapped the white bear's head back.
In this way, the polar bear would never again see the black bear's miserable state.
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As the river water gradually overflowed, You Mingjiang sighed softly.
She caught sight of the bamboo pole lying across the river, lightly touched the ground with her toes, and leaped onto it, landing steadily.
Imagine being able to shoot down someone in front of Chu Liuxiang and escape unscathed; even if one's lightness skill isn't unparalleled in the martial arts world, it's more than enough to protect oneself.
The ferry tilted and sank in the torrential rain, disappearing into the middle of the river.
In an instant, more than twenty dark figures sprang up from both banks, their hands gripping bows and arrows, the arrowheads wrapped in tinder soaked in black oil and set ablaze. The burning arrows were not extinguished in the slightest, and they were all aimed at You Mingjiang.
With a light touch of her toes on the bamboo pole, it floated steadily across the middle of the river. You Mingjiang looked up at both banks, and a sudden understanding dawned on her. She wiped the rain from her face and couldn't help but sigh.
Why are they here to kill her again?
This is never going to end.
Whether by water or land, I've lost count of how many times I've done this.
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To some people on Blackwood Cliff, You Mingjiang was a promising talent with a solid foundation in martial arts.
Before going to Bat Island, she could only draw a bow with a draw weight of three jin (approximately 1.5 kg). But after returning from Bat Island, according to reports from her scouts, she practiced lifting stone weights, playing the open bow, and shooting at targets, diligently practicing every day without ever slacking off.
Now, she can draw a bow with a weight of one stone. Such strength is extremely rare among women, truly remarkable. Given time, she may indeed distinguish herself at Blackwood Cliff and become a formidable warrior.
Unfortunately, she had too many unrealistic fantasies.
She probably wanted to be compared to a saint, abandoning her comfortable life of wealth and leisure to make a fool of herself by jumping around. I heard that in order to gain a reputation for virtue, she couldn't even come up with a mere 200,000 strings of cash, yet she insisted on imitating others by distributing porridge. It's simply laughable.
Even if she did that, would those people be grateful to her?
Is a penniless itinerant doctor, holding up a sign that reads "helping the needy and relieving the distressed," waving a tattered tiger-shaped canopy, really thinking of himself as the reincarnation of Sun Simiao, the Medicine King? Or is he thinking of himself as Zhang Jiao from the late Eastern Han Dynasty?
She might be able to save one person, but there are so many people in the world, how could she possibly save them all by herself?
But who would really care?
However, Dongfang Bai's high regard for You Mingjiang was already widely known in Blackwood Cliff.
After You Mingjiang occupied Bat Island, this fact became even more obvious, and even if someone wanted to turn a blind eye, it would be difficult to justify their actions.
However, since she had not yet made a formal appearance at Blackwood Cliff, everyone tacitly kept silent, understanding each other without saying a word.
Initially, Dongfang Bai assigned her the position of "Grand Elder of Law Enforcement," but everyone thought it was just a nominal title and that she couldn't cause any trouble.
Lacking both connections and the ability to cultivate her own power, she faced immense difficulties in Blackwood Cliff.
Aside from the fact that it sounds like he's been outdone by a young girl, it doesn't actually have much of an impact, so there's no need to take it to heart.
But that was then, and now is now.
It now appears that the situation is far from trivial.
First Wanmatang, then Yangtze River shipping, then Bat Island, and even the Palace of Bliss showed her goodwill.
She also befriended some renowned martial arts heroes, with Chu Liuxiang alone being quite influential. It's worth noting that figures like Ye Kai, Fu Hongxue, and Lu Xiaojia are far superior to the likes of Huang Boliu and Zu Qianqiu.
Regardless of whether she can gain any real influence, the threat must be nipped in the bud.
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"Elder You—don't rush off, we haven't had a proper chat yet."
Ji Wushi said loudly, as if inviting an old friend to reminisce, but his tone was forceful and left no room for refusal, "Since we have met unexpectedly today, why don't you stay a little longer and have some fun with us?"
With his eyes half-closed, You Mingjiang stood on the bamboo pole and said calmly, "Unlike you gentlemen, I have plenty of free time. I have important matters to attend to now, so please excuse me. See you at the Dragon Boat Festival banquet another day."
After saying that, she paused, then casually added, "Oh, I forgot, none of you are qualified to enter Chengde Hall."
As soon as he finished speaking, rockets from both sides of the strait were launched at the figure on the bamboo pole.
With a gentle turn of the bamboo pole, water splashed everywhere, creating a glistening mist on the river surface.
The rocket crashed into the water, extinguishing the flames instantly and leaving only a string of rapid bubbles.
The arrow pierced the water and was swallowed up by the rushing river in the blink of an eye. Looking closely, there was no one left in the river.
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The pursuit not only failed to harm her in the slightest, but also resulted in the loss of many of their men.
For a moment, everyone stared blankly at the sunken bamboo pole, the rumbling of thunder and rain seeming to mock their incompetence. No one dared to jump into the water to continue the pursuit; a silence filled the air, a mixture of resentment and fear.
"She got away!" Huang Bolu said in a deep voice. "Let's go back."
Ji Wushi chuckled and interjected, "Backing down when faced with trouble, is that the style of the Tianhe Gang leader?"
Huang Bolu's face instantly turned bright red, and he retorted angrily, "Then what do you suggest we do? Are you suggesting we risk our lives here?"
His roar made everyone's eardrums ache, and for a moment, everyone fell silent.
The red-robed monk Xibao watched with a silent, cold laugh.
He knew Huang Bolu's character all too well: on the surface he pretended to be generous and willing to sacrifice himself, but deep down he was very shrewd. How could he be willing to give up the Tianhe Gang's assets?
“This You Mingjiang is indeed quite capable, but it’s a pity she went to a besieged city.” Tongbai Shuangqi shook his head repeatedly and sighed, “To gain a foothold in a besieged city, she would have to kill the Fearful General. But in this world, ① who can kill the Fearful General?”
"No one can kill the Terrifying General?"
The group of heroes in the martial arts world were skeptical of this absolute statement.
Is there anyone in this world who can't be killed? No matter how formidable an opponent is, they will eventually be killed one day.
The Tongbai Twins were ruthless, but when the topic of the Fearful General came up, their voices became very low, as if they were afraid that the Fearful General could hear their discussion from a thousand miles away and slap them into mincemeat with his giant hand.
The besieged city was a veritable den of dragons and tigers.
Neither the Western Demonic Cult, the Sun Moon Cult, nor the Azure Dragon Society were able to infiltrate their influence.
It was like an impregnable fortress, the formidable stronghold of the terrifying general, which he firmly controlled.
Back then, the Sun Moon Cult spent a lot of money to smooth things over and finally managed to get several capable branch leaders into the city. But not long after, these people were arrested by the Frightened General, labeled as bandits, and became his victims of "killing innocent people to claim credit".
You Mingjiang is doomed this time.
“But, but…” someone hesitated, their voice trembling slightly. How could they explain their unauthorized retreat?
You Xun was always shrewd and cunning, prioritizing his own interests above all else. He smiled easily and said, "Let's go back and report. So many brothers have died; we've done our best. That dangerous city is a place where survival is extremely difficult. Just wait to hear the news of her death."
After a moment of silence, everyone nodded and turned to leave.
Let the people of Blackwood Cliff fight amongst themselves.
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On the banks of the Hutuo River.
Amidst the misty rain, a small awning boat drifted on the river.
With one hand lightly gripping the fishing rod, the boy cast the hook into the river, the fishing line gliding in a half-arc before sinking into the water.
The river surface rippled with tiny waves.
The old fisherman on the shore sighed softly; this man was destined to return empty-handed.
It's late at night and the rain is pouring down. The fish have long since fallen asleep with the stars and moon, so how can you catch any fish?
The boy didn't care. He had grown up in the wilderness since childhood and was used to talking to himself in the silence.
For him, fishing is not just a pastime, but also a form of self-cultivation. It fills the loneliness in his character, awakens dormant inspiration, and helps him sort out his chaotic thoughts.
This boy is cold-blooded.
He wore a straw raincoat, letting the drizzle hit the brim of his hat, his eyes fixed on the fat man, but his mind was filled with thoughts of the arrest mission.
Zhuge Shishu sighed deeply, describing the hardships and dangers of this journey, calling it an unprecedented test.
This is because that terrifying general is the greatest villain in the world.
Even with Zhuge Shishu's prestige, he couldn't help but hesitate to act rashly. Shishu even solemnly handed over the Jue, which the late emperor had bestowed upon him, to himself.
Although Leng Xue wished he could rush forward immediately and fight that villain, Zhuge Shishu's admonition echoed in his ears like a great bell: "Do not be reckless. You must first investigate thoroughly and ascertain the truth."
He knew all too well that this was no simple contest, and that the slightest misstep could lead to total defeat.
He must first learn to calm his mind and learn to be patient.
Only when everything is clear in one's mind and the time is ripe can one strike with certain victory and rid the world of this scourge.
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Leng Xue rested his chin on one hand, motionless, his sword-like eyebrows furrowed as he gazed intently at the misty river surface.
The boat rocked slightly in the wind and rain. Suddenly, a series of bubbles rose to the surface of the water with a "glug" sound.
Leng Xue's grip on the fishing rod tightened slightly. He watched as the float slowly sank, the fishing line taut. He couldn't help but think, "Tonight's fish soup is sorted!"
Immediately afterwards, he flicked his wrist, and a burst of water splashed out!
"Splash—"
Unexpectedly, the big fish that should have emerged from the water turned into a wet young girl.
Raindrops fell on her, splashing up tiny water droplets, and a thin mist, like a veil of water, enveloped her.
The girl looked up, her wrist wrapped with coils of fishing line, and she was tightly holding a live, thrashing fish in her arms.
The two people looked at each other.
The girl was dressed in a narrow-sleeved blouse, with slightly upturned eyes and a high nose bridge. Her skin was not pale from makeup, but as delicate as cream, with a warm, lustrous glow like linden honey.
But what's most eye-catching is her smooth shoulders and back, and her slender forearms clinging to the ship's railing.
She was radiant and bright, extremely beautiful, but not in a delicate way.
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Cold-blooded, he held his breath and asked in a daze, "Who are you?"
"Never mind who I am," You Mingjiang pouted, raising her wrist with fishing line wrapped around it, her tone tinged with helplessness, "Where are you casting your line? Are you fishing for fish, or fishing for people?"
His face flushed slightly, and his gaze unconsciously fell on her. He thought to himself, "Like Jiang Taigong fishing, those who are willing will take the bait," and "Trying to steal a fish from the waves and then faking it, is there no justice in this world?" However, when these words reached his lips, they seemed to be locked by invisible shackles, and he couldn't bring himself to say them.
In the end, Leng Xue pursed his lips, his jaw tightened slightly, and he swallowed those words back.
He has never been good at this kind of frivolous playfulness, and when facing certain people, he even seems clumsy at speaking.
You Mingjiang frowned and tried to untangle the tangled fishing line.
But the fishing line seemed to come alive, becoming increasingly taut and difficult to break free from, splashing water everywhere it thrashed about.
Leng Xue instinctively raised his pole to block, just then You Mingjiang sighed softly, "Ah, never mind."
After saying that, You Mingjiang grabbed the fishing line, flipped in mid-air, and landed steadily in the awning boat.
She casually tossed the large fish into the fish basket, then clapped her hands and turned to look at him.
Her gaze inadvertently fell on the sword at his waist, and her eyes instantly lit up, widening slightly.
"Hey, you're using a sheathless sword too?"
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Author's Note: [Good Luck Lotus] ① Excerpt from "The Blue-Eyed Wolf Cub Fights the General": After the perverted BOSS Ling Luoshi was assassinated many times but was unharmed each time, he instructed everyone to spread the word, "No one can kill the Frightened General. He has a wife, children, family business, power, and the protection of the Bodhisattva."
[Good Luck Lianlian] Quotation from an ancient poem ②: "A faint thunderclap heralds the awakening of insects, a brisk wind blows through the green willows" (from Fan Chengda's "Qin Lou Yue")
[Lucky Lotus] has a cold-blooded personality that is quite interesting. She has a natural reverence for good people and enjoys fighting evil. Although she doesn't kill easily, she also doesn't hold herself back. Her (un)classic line is: "I'll lend you my shoulder to help you out, it won't hurt; but if anyone stands on me and then stomps on my head, I'll make them fall to their death!"
[Eating melon] Cold-blooded sword has no scabbard, Xiaolu's sword has no scabbard, both of them belong to the practical school.
[Qingxin] On who is the real pervert? [Qingxin]
Friend: [covers face and peeks] Gong Jiu and Ling Luoshi, who is more perverted?
Me: [I'm speechless] After Ling Luoshi tortured and killed good people, he even extracted their bones to make weapons, sold their human flesh as pork to the people, and threw their heads into the latrine to let maggots crawl in. He's an epic pervert [I'm speechless]. Even if you combine the entire Valley of Evil and Gong Jiu together, you probably wouldn't be as perverted as him.
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