[Wuxia] Embroidered Robes and Cloud-like Hair (Complete) - 16

page views:1 Publication date:2023-03-24

Chapter Nineteen: Escape from Dragon Palace Lake.

Seeing that Zhang Lehua hadn't pursued them, Deng Zhengtong and his daughter quickly grabbed the oars and paddled swiftly, their small boat hurtling through the rapids towards Baishou Village. Jiang Tiantao sat on the swiftly moving boat, slowly circulating his internal energy, trying his best to calm his excited mind. A moment later, he opened his eyes and saw Deng Lizhu still meditating, while only "Flying Dragon" Deng Zhengtong, paddling alternately with both oars, propelled the boat at lightning speed. He wore a kind smile, his tiger-like eyes gleaming with a gentle light, watching the two of them intently.

Jiang Tiantao, afraid of disturbing Deng Lizhu's meditation, only nodded respectfully to the old man. On the south bank of Dragon Palace Lake, as the small boat sped forward, a dark line began to appear, gradually widening and growing until finally, the outlines of villages became visible. At this time, the fourth watch was almost over, and dawn was approaching. A thick fog rose from the surface of Dragon Palace Lake, and occasionally, one or two lake fish would leap from the rippling water.

When they were still a hundred or so feet from the shore of Baishou Village, Deng Lizhu, who had been meditating and practicing her internal energy, had finished. She opened her bright eyes, smiled charmingly, and said, "That was terrifying! I was really afraid we'd collide with their boat."

Deng Zhengtong immediately laughed humorously and said, "Then the three of us can go feed the fish."

Jiang Tiantao shook his head with a wry smile and said, "To be honest, Senior Deng, I think this is a second life."

As soon as he finished speaking, Deng Lizhu's expression suddenly changed. She pointed in the direction of Longfeng Island and blurted out, "What's that?"

Jiang Tiantao and Deng Zhengtong turned around at the sound of her voice and were both shocked. In the misty morning fog, a red light hundreds of feet long appeared in the direction of the center of Beizheng Lake, shooting into the sky like the rising sun. After reading this, Deng Zhengtong exclaimed urgently, "Zhang Lehua is leading a fleet of boats, chasing after us with torches!"

Jiang Tiantao sneered upon hearing this, then said in a deep voice, "She's really asking for it!"

As they spoke, they reached the shore of Baishou Village. Deng Zhengtong rowed the small boat to his backyard, tied it up, and the three of them leaped ashore. Xiaoqing and Xiaohong, nestled in the stable, let out a long, joyful neigh upon seeing Jiang Tiantao and Deng Lizhu. Jiang Tiantao paid no attention to Xiaoqing, glancing again at the lake, and couldn't help but exclaim how fast it had moved. In just a moment, the torches were faintly visible, and the entire lake and half the sky were instantly dyed crimson by the firelight.

After reading it, Jiang Tiantao said indignantly, "Even if we don't kill Zhang Lehua later, we should cripple her martial arts to prevent her from harming people in the martial world again."

Deng Lizhu frowned and said with some worry, "But Rainbow Dragon Girl is still on the boat!"

Jiang Tiantao trembled upon hearing this, his expression changed instantly, and he hurriedly said to Deng Zhengtong, "Senior Deng, since I used Wei Ming's name when I visited the mountain, it's not appropriate to meet Miss Xiao at this time. We shouldn't delay, let's leave quickly!"

Deng Zhengtong glanced longingly at the thatched cottage where he had lived for many years, nodded resolutely, and said, "Alright, let's go immediately."

So, Deng Lizhu prepared the horses, and Flying Dragon Deng Zhengtong locked the door. The three of them led the horses out of the bamboo gate, and upon seeing what they saw, they exclaimed in surprise and were all stunned. In the misty morning mist, in front of the village, on the embankment, and behind the houses, stood many people in tight-fitting clothes and carrying swords. At the same time, a thunderous shout suddenly erupted from the lake behind them, shaking the entire area and soaring into the morning sky. Jiang Tiantao, Deng Zhengtong, and Deng Lizhu were all stunned when they saw the dense shadows of horses on the embankment in front of the village. Especially after hearing the deafening shouts from the lake behind them, they felt as if they were being chased from behind.

Deng Zhengtong, a seasoned veteran of the martial world, remained calm in the face of danger. Seeing the situation before him, he knew things were going badly. He turned around and nudged Jiang Tiantao and Deng Lizhu, whispering, "Quickly, retreat!" Jiang Tiantao and Deng Lizhu hurriedly pulled their horses back into the courtyard, and Deng Zhengtong quickly closed the bamboo gate.

At this moment, flames soared into the sky on the lake, and the sounds of battle were deafening. Baishou Village was now bathed in an astonishing red glow, and the misty morning fog seemed even thicker. Jiang Tiantao glanced at the flickering firelight on the lake, realizing the distance was still far. He turned and pointed outside the courtyard, looking at Deng Zhengtong who had closed the bamboo gate, and asked urgently, "Senior Deng, where did this cavalry come from?"

Deng Zhengtong frowned slightly and said, "They're probably from the Three Beauties Gang on Little Lonely Mountain."

Jiang Tiantao knew that Little Lonely Mountain was right by the river, only a dozen or so miles from the south bank of Dragon Palace Lake, a short distance by fast horse. Before he could finish his thought, he heard Deng Lizhu say with certainty, "These must be the troops that Rainbow Dragon Girl has mobilized. No one else has that kind of authority."

Jiang Tiantao looked at the crimson lake surface, said nothing, and only nodded in agreement. After assessing the situation, Deng Zhengtong decisively said, "Kid, we're being intercepted on the shore and chased on the lake. Do you want to fight or run? I'll listen to you."

Jiang Tiantao, unless absolutely necessary, would never clash with the Three Beauties Gang, especially not wanting to meet Rainbow Dragon Girl in this awkward situation. Hearing that they could leave, he hurriedly asked, "Can we really leave?"

Deng Zhengtong quickly replied seriously, "Of course, taking advantage of the thick fog on the lake, we'll still go by water."

Jiang Tiantao had no time to think and immediately nodded, "Okay, we'll go by water."

Upon hearing this, Deng Zhengtong hurriedly urged, "You two quickly take the horses to the embankment in the backyard." With that, using a row of green bamboo in the yard as cover, he leaped out of the yard.

After Deng Zhengtong left, Jiang Tiantao and Deng Lizhu also hurriedly led their horses to the backyard and headed towards the stone pier they had prepared by the water's edge. By this time, the flames were blazing, and the scenery along the lake was clearly visible. Jiang Tiantao and Deng Lizhu's anxious faces were flushed red by the firelight. Jiang Tiantao watched the approaching fleet, noticing its arc-like formation, and anxiously said, "Zhu-mei, aren't we just going to encounter the fleet if we go by the lake?"

Deng Lizhu pointed to the lakeside and said, "We're going along the lake embankment."

Jiang Tiantao remained anxious and said, "But their horse team will chase us!"

Deng Lizhu immediately replied humorously, "What's the use of them chasing us? Horses can't swim."

Jiang Tiantao was taken aback and pointed to the fleet on the lake, saying, "But they also have..." "A boat!"

Deng Lizhu pointed due east and said, "The Great Reed Forest is less than two li to the east, so we won't be afraid of them."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Tiantao anxiously asked, "What if they use fire?"

Deng Lizhu seemed to sense that Jiang Tiantao was unwilling to see the Rainbow Dragon Girl, so she raised her bright almond eyes, gave a soft snort, and said in a sarcastic tone, "I'm afraid the Rainbow Dragon Girl can't bring herself to be so cruel, can she?" Jiang Tiantao was stunned, his handsome face turning red. Just as he was about to retort, Flying Dragon Deng Zhengtong was already rowing a large fishing boat, speeding towards them. At that moment, a series of chaotic hoofbeats and low neighing suddenly rang out from the lake embankment behind them.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Tiantao exclaimed urgently, "Zhu Mei, the cavalry from Xiaogushan might be charging here!"

Deng Lizhu, while preparing to catch the rope her father threw to her, said firmly, "No, no, if they wanted to charge, they would have already."

Before she finished speaking, the fishing boat arrived. Deng Zhengtong tossed over a rope and shouted, "Quickly, pull the horses up!"

Jiang Tiantao glanced at the boat; it was about six feet wide and only twenty feet long. Fortunately, it had a flat plank deck without a canopy, just big enough to carry horses. While he was looking around, Deng Lizhu had already tied the rope to the wooden stake in front of the dock. Jiang Tiantao led Xiaoqing onto the boat, and Deng Lizhu followed closely behind, pulling the horses aboard. Just then, a flash of light appeared, and a hissing sound suddenly came from the embankment. Jiang Tiantao was startled and turned around to see two flames shooting into the air near the bamboo gate of the front yard, accompanied by a hissing sound.

Upon seeing this, Flying Dragon Deng Zhengtong immediately whispered, "Sever the rope!" As soon as the word "rope" left his lips, Deng Lizhu swung her crimson bow, the back of the bow striking the hemp rope with a sharp "snap." With a flick of her iron oar, Deng Zhengtong propelled the fishing boat backward like an arrow.

Two crisp cracking sounds echoed in the night sky, followed by two brilliant bursts of sparks. Beautiful fireflies drifted down with the lake breeze, and another terrifying scream echoed across the lake. Seeing the sparks, Deng Zhengtong immediately said in a low voice, "They've already reported to the Rainbow Dragon Girl that we've escaped." As he spoke, he turned the boat around and headed straight east.

Deng Lizhu handed the horse to Jiang Tiantao, took up the oar at the stern, sat beside her father, and rowed vigorously, the fishing boat suddenly accelerating. The boat, propelled by the father and daughter, flew swiftly, already a hundred feet away from Baishou Village in the blink of an eye. Just then, another flame rose from Baishou Village, hissing and shooting towards the fishing boat. Deng Lizhu, seeing this, anxiously said, "Father, they're pointing us in the right direction from the shore."

Deng Zhengtong, his brows furrowed, didn't answer, his piercing eyes fixed on the east. Jiang Tiantao followed the rising flame and saw a sharp crack as a magnificent spark exploded dozens of feet above their heads. On the approaching fleet, the flames suddenly flickered, followed by a deafening roar. Jiang Tiantao stood in the center of the boat, gripping the reins tightly, his starry eyes fixed on the approaching fleet. Gradually, they noticed the flames were growing stronger. The left flank of the fleet was rapidly advancing eastward, while the right flank was closing in diagonally at high speed. In an instant, the massive silhouettes of the approaching ships could be vaguely seen.

Upon seeing this, Deng Lizhu anxiously exclaimed again, "Father, it looks like they've surrounded the reed forest!"

Deng Zhengtong didn't answer, still gazing eastward. Jiang Tiantao followed Deng Zhengtong's gaze and saw a vast expanse of reeds to the east, swaying in the lake breeze. It seemed they were still several hundred feet away. He remembered Deng Lizhu saying that once they entered the reed forest, they wouldn't be afraid, and thus, his anxiety gradually subsided. At this moment, the lake wind was strong, the lake water was red, and the morning mist was growing thicker. Due to the speed of the fishing boats, the large ships pursuing from the right flank were now only visible as flames, their silhouettes obscured. However, from the lake embankment several dozen feet away, the sound of galloping hooves and the neighing of horses could be heard. Jiang Tiantao turned his head and saw nearly a hundred strong horses galloping like the wind, their speed like dragons, heading straight towards Baishou Village along the embankment. Meanwhile, the fleet of boats stretching eastward was about to encircle the reed forest.

Seeing this, Deng Lizhu could no longer contain herself and suggested, "Father, let's go ashore here. It seems we can't go into the reed forest."

Deng Zhengtong seemed confident, but asked in a deep voice, "How do we get up?"

Deng Lizhu replied without hesitation, "Zhu'er can use a slingshot to cover you and Brother Tao as we go ashore. If we kill the first few riders, the rest will naturally hesitate..."

Deng Zhengtong glanced at the two and said in a deep voice, "To break through without bloodshed, we have to use our brains. With my old man ..." "With them around, we can't act recklessly. You must know that the one leading the fleet is Rainbow Dragon Girl, no ordinary person. If Xiao Yatou is determined to intercept the three of us, a single command and hundreds of carrier pigeons will be sent. All the river crossings and narrow passes are guarded by the Three Beauties Gang's experts. Can you two possibly kill them?"

Jiang Tiantao and Deng Lizhu were both stunned. The Three Beauties Gang had branches all over the country, with nearly ten thousand experts. Guarding the narrow passes and crossings was absolutely possible; intercepting the three of them would be effortless.

Deng Lizhu still boasted, "Hmph, with the three of us, we're not afraid of not being able to fight our way out."

Deng Zhengtong's eyes widened, and he said seriously, "Don't forget, Jin Xiao Yang De, Yu Jing Liu Heng, and Ba Mian Chui Xiang Jiang Sou are all my old friends. If we encounter them, will you fire a barrage of bullets to kill them, or will you go forward to greet them and kowtow, calling them uncles and elders?"

Deng Lizhu immediately lowered her head upon hearing this. Jiang Tiantao frowned, worriedly saying, "Senior Deng, even if we manage to escape the encirclement through the reed forest, the eastern shore of Bohu is a branch of the Three Hairpins Gang. Xiao Gushan's forces have all been mobilized. Is there no one to intercept us at Bohu?"

Deng Zhengtong immediately replied humorously in a deep voice, "What are we going to Bohu for? To deliver ourselves to Little Duck Sun Jiaojiao's doorstep?"

Upon hearing "Little Duck," Jiang Tiantao's brows furrowed further. He felt that the nickname of Sun Jiaojiao, the Bohu branch leader, was rather unrefined. Just then, Deng Zhengtong said, "Kid, don't worry, I'll guarantee you get out safely."

Jiang Tiantao was still somewhat worried, saying, "Even if we manage to get out safely, the Three Hairpins Gang will still send a large number of experts to intercept us."

Deng Zhengtong shook his head firmly, his tiger-like eyes fixed on Jiang Tiantao, and smiled meaningfully, saying, "No, no, I guarantee that Xiao girl won't..."

Before he finished speaking, they were less than fifty feet away from the rustling reeds. Just then, Deng Lizhu, who had been silently rowing, suddenly brightened up, her face changed drastically, and she exclaimed in alarm, "Oh no! They're going to burn the reeds!"

Jiang Tiantao was shocked and turned around, instantly stunned. He saw dozens of large ships stretching eastward, surrounding the reeds, and amidst shouts, nearly a hundred rockets, burning fiercely, shot straight towards the vast reed forest. Although the flames fell onto the lake surface when there were still more than fifty feet of distance, they would eventually shoot into the reeds as the fleet moved forward.

Flying Dragon Deng Zhengtong was also anxious, muttering to himself in confusion, "The one leading the fleet to chase us is probably not Rainbow Dragon Girl Xiao Yatou, otherwise, why would she do such a foolish thing, ruining her reputation in an instant?" He paused, then his tiger eyes suddenly lit up, and he blurted out in a moment of realization, "Boy, when you and Zhu'er left Qifeng Palace, did Rainbow Dragon Girl see you two?"

Jiang Tiantao was startled, as if he had figured something out, and stammered, "I think she might have seen us."

The worldly-wise Deng Zhengtong slapped his thigh hard with his right hand, saying with great annoyance, "How could you two let her see you both like that? Now we're doomed, the reed forest is definitely going to burn down."

Hearing Flying Dragon Deng Zhengtong's words, Jiang Tiantao anxiously looked towards the lake embankment, and his anxiety only grew stronger as he looked. Nearly a hundred strong horses, hundreds of feet long, galloped along the lake embankment towards the reeds. Judging from the situation, a cavalry force was likely already guarding the embankment near the reeds. The pursuing fleet of ships was ablaze with fire, their battle cries deafening; their silhouettes were clearly visible as they advanced along the embankment. Dozens of large ships stretched eastward, extremely close, their flaming rockets still landing on the lake surface, the closest point less than ten feet from the outer edge of the reeds.

Deng Zhengtong, seeing this, shook his head repeatedly, his rowing speed unconsciously slowing. It seemed he had no confidence whatsoever of escaping. Suddenly, his eyes lit up, and he blurted out, "I've got it!" With that, he vigorously propelled the fishing boat forward like an arrow, heading straight for the gap in the reeds a dozen feet away. Deng Lizhu, knowing her father had made a new discovery, perked up and rowed furiously, the fishing boat speeding into the reeds.

Just as the fishing boat rushed into the reed bed, three rockets rose from the galloping cavalry on the lake embankment, soaring over the reeds and shooting straight east. Immediately afterward, a deafening shout erupted from the surrounding fleet, and the cavalry on the shore also yelled, their horses accelerating rapidly eastward. Jiang Tiantao, seeing the excited look on Deng Zhengtong's face, couldn't figure out what he had discovered. Looking around, he saw only thick, red reeds, each as thick as a child's arm. As the fishing boat entered the waterway, about two zhang wide, its speed seemed even more astonishing. After advancing less than

ten zhang, Deng Zhengtong's eyes suddenly lit up, and he whispered, "Charge into the reeds!" As he spoke, he quickly spurred the oars, and Deng Lizhu rowed with all her might. With a loud thud, the fishing boat plunged into the reeds, startling both horses into a low neigh.

Jiang Tiantao seemed to have already guessed Deng Zhengtong's intentions. He hurriedly tightened the reins of the two horses and asked in a low voice, "Senior, have you decided to go ashore here?"

Deng Zhengtong nodded excitedly and said with a smug smile, "Don't rush, let's go ashore after the caravan passes." He paused, pointed to the Lixing Sword at Jiang Tiantao's waist, and said with a humorous smile, "Pull out your father's ancestral weapon, which made you famous. Use it to easily cut the reeds in front of the boat. We'll approach the shore step by step."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Tiantao was overjoyed and couldn't help but exclaim, "Senior Deng's wisdom is truly extraordinary!"

Flying Dragon Deng's face darkened, but he suppressed a smug smile and said, "Don't be so smug yet. Give me a compliment after we break out of the encirclement!"

Jiang Tiantao had already withdrawn the Lixing Sword. Fearing that its brilliance would be revealed, he dared not concentrate his true energy and gently swept it towards the reeds in front of the boat. The cold light passed by without a sound, and the reeds fell into the water as if cut by a sharp knife. In the blink of an eye, the reeds within five feet in front of the boat were cleared. Deng Lizhu immediately rowed the fishing boat within five feet.

Upon seeing this, Deng Zhengtong couldn't help but laugh and say, "The Lixing Sword is incredibly sharp, capable of cutting through gold and jade. My old brother is more precious than life itself, and you, boy, are using it to cut reeds! What a waste!" Jiang Tiantao, who was cutting reeds, found Deng Zhengtong's sarcastic remarks both amusing and exasperating.

Deng Lizhu immediately retorted, "Didn't Father tell Brother Tao to do this?"

Deng Zhengtong immediately replied seriously, "Yes, that's why there's no other way!" As he spoke, the fishing boat moved forward another five feet.

By this time, the sounds of galloping horses and people could no longer be heard on the embankment, but the snow-white reeds overhead shone brightly red. At the same time, the sounds of anchoring and shouts could be heard from the lake dozens of feet away. Upon hearing this, Deng Zhengtong immediately urged, "Boy, hurry up! The Three Hairpins Gang's fleet has already anchored, and skilled boatmen will be chasing after us soon."

Jiang Tiantao dared not delay. He swung his sword, and with a series of rustling sounds, a swathe of reeds immediately felled. Deng Lizhu seized the opportunity to row forward. In a short while, the outline of the embankment could be vaguely seen through the gaps in the reeds. At the same time, the sounds of boats breaking the water and oars being used could be heard from the lake outside the reeds. Deng Zhengtong knew something was wrong and rushed behind Jiang Tiantao, urgently asking, "Boy, are there any cavalry guarding the embankment?"

Jiang Tiantao glanced out through the sparse reeds and immediately shook his head, saying, "There's no one on the embankment..."

Upon hearing this, Deng Zhengtong immediately urged, "Hurry up and get ashore! Their small boats have already caught up."

Jiang Tiantao hurriedly cut down the sparse reeds in front of the boat, and Deng Lizhu rowed with all her might, the bow of the boat already rushing to the mudflats of the lake. Deng Zhengtong patted Xiao Hong's rump, and the red horse skillfully leaped ashore. Jiang Tiantao also pulled Xiao Qing down from the boat, and Deng Lizhu followed closely behind. Fearing someone might be waiting on the embankment, Deng Zhengtong first darted to the top, glanced left and right, and then quickly turned and waved. Jiang Tiantao and Deng Lizhu dared not delay, hurriedly pulling their horses up the embankment and following closely behind Deng Zhengtong, quickly entering the fields below. Once at the bottom of the embankment, the three immediately hid behind a clump of small trees, and upon closer inspection, the fields were indeed deserted. Deng Zhengtong gave a gesture for mounting, and first leaped onto the saddle of the red horse.

Jiang Tiantao and Deng Lizhu mounted simultaneously, galloping south at breakneck speed. In a short while, they reached the main road, turned their horses, and headed straight west, the two horses galloping like the wind. By this time, it was already broad daylight, and there were already early travelers on the main road, but the thick morning fog made it impossible to determine the exact time. Looking back, a plume of fire still shot into the sky towards Dragon Palace Lake.

Flying Dragon Deng Zhengtong couldn't help but laugh heartily, proudly proclaiming, "My old man's escape has finally succeeded!"

Jiang Tiantao's chaotic thoughts gradually calmed down. Thinking of the hardships and dangers of entering Dragon Phoenix Island, he felt deeply grateful to the Deng family, but also ashamed that they had abandoned their home because of him. Hearing Deng Zhengtong's triumphant laughter, and thinking of the Rainbow Dragon Girl leading her fleet in pursuit, he imagined how frustrated she must be upon discovering her pursuer had escaped. In her anger, she might have burned down the reed forest, or immediately sent messengers to her subordinates to guard all the key routes. In that instant, a three-way intersection appeared ahead.

Upon seeing the fork in the road, Flying Dragon Deng Zhengtong seemed to remember something. His tiger-like eyes lit up, and he suddenly shouted, "Stop! Stop!"

Jiang Tiantao and Deng Lizhu hurriedly reined in their horses. Jiang Tiantao asked in surprise, "What is it, senior?"

Deng Zhengtong immediately smiled and said, "Boy, let's part ways here! See you at Jiugongbao in a few days."

Deng Lizhu said reluctantly, "Father, why?"

Deng Zhengtong looked at the bewildered Jiang Tiantao, pointed to a large town several miles away, and said, "I have an old friend who lives in this Tianluo Town. I must inform him of this matter. Also, I'll make a detour to Fanyang." "Lake."

Jiang Tiantao knew that Deng Zhengtong had reasons for not being able to travel with him, so he respectfully said, "Senior, please go ahead if you have something to do. I will be careful along the way."

Deng Zhengtong immediately said cheerfully, and then urged Deng Lizhu, "Let's go!" As he spoke, he noticed that his beloved daughter was frowning and pouting, looking unhappy. He couldn't help but laugh, then pointed at Jiang Tiantao and said humorously, "Girl, are you afraid you won't be able to accept this disciple who learns water kung fu? Haha, he is the young master of Jiugongbao. We have come to Jiugongbao for refuge. Now, we are only temporarily separated. In three or five days, you will be together again."

Upon hearing this, Deng Lizhu immediately smiled charmingly. She really wanted to say that she wanted to go with Brother Tao, but her cherry lips pursed for a long time, and she felt too shy to speak. Seeing his beloved daughter smile, Flying Dragon Deng Zhengtong also smiled happily, then waved his hand and said loudly, "Boy, goodbye!"

Jiang Tiantao hurriedly cupped his hands and said respectfully, "Senior, take care!" Deng

Lizhu blushed slightly and smiled shyly, "Brother Tao, let's have a race and see who gets to Jiugongbao first."

Jiang Tiantao was amused by her words and couldn't help but laugh. Without thinking, he readily agreed, "Alright, let's see who gets back to Jiugongbao first."

Upon hearing this, Deng Zhengtong immediately smiled at Deng Lizhu and said, "Girl, don't forget your father is on the horse's rump."

Deng Lizhu gave a sweet snort and smiled very proudly, "Father, don't forget my Little Red either, it's a thoroughbred!" As soon as she said "yo," the whip cracked and struck the horse's rump with a "thud." Little Red neighed in pain, raised its head and bristled, and galloped off like the wind, heading straight south.

Flying Dragon Deng Zhengtong laughed happily, "Girl, be careful not to shake this old man's bones." "As they spoke, Xiao Hong had already reached a distance of thirty zhang, raising a cloud of dust, and had instantly galloped four or five li away. Jiang Tiantao, watching the horse's shadow obscured by the dust, knew that Deng Lizhu was intentionally showing off, and couldn't help but shake his head and smile.

Jiang Tiantao turned his horse around and headed straight west. At this moment, his mind, which had been in turmoil all night, gradually cleared, and he calmly considered a series of questions. The first thing he thought of was the Poisonous Lady. According to the usual investigations of the Qi Lu Twin Heroes and Ma Yunshan, among the people most closely associated with Min Wu Kui and the Poisonous Lady, it seemed that the Golden-Faced Nezha of Dahong Mountain in Hubei was not among them." The Water Demon Zhang Lehua reported to Rainbow Dragon Girl that Poisonous Lady had gone to Dahong Mountain. This was inherently suspicious; if Rainbow Dragon Girl hadn't received reports from various branch headquarters confirming Poisonous Lady's arrival at Dahong Mountain, he would never have believed it. Sitting atop his galloping steed, he frowned in deep thought, letting Xiao Qing urge the horse onward. He wanted to figure out why Poisonous Lady had gone to Dahong Mountain instead of Xiangbei or Yunnan. Suddenly, his eyes lit up, and a flash of inspiration struck him. He deduced that Golden-Faced Nezha Shen Qifeng must be a friend of "Water Demon" Zhang Lehua.

With this understanding, he realized that Water Demon's other purpose in sending Poisonous Lady to Dahong Mountain was to prevent Jiugongbao from knowing her whereabouts. However, he happened to encounter Rainbow Dragon Girl, who was deeply concerned about Jiugongbao's affairs. Upon hearing the news of Poisonous Lady's escape, she immediately sent a carrier pigeon ordering various branch headquarters to keep an eye on Poisonous Lady and Upturned Nose. Jiang Tiantao couldn't fathom how Xiao Xiangzhen knew about the Poisonous Lady's escape and the switch of the young master. He no longer wanted to dwell on it, but he was extremely annoyed that he couldn't utilize the Three Beauties Gang's vast manpower to monitor the Poisonous Lady's whereabouts and instead had to constantly guard against their interception. To capture the Poisonous Lady as soon as possible, he resolved to rush to Dahong Mountain day and night to prevent her from fleeing elsewhere.

With his mind made up, he spurred his horse on, galloping westward along the north bank of the Yangtze River. At this moment, his only thought was how to reach Dahong Mountain smoothly and how to avoid being harassed by the Three Beauties Gang; therefore, he had long forgotten about the bet he had made with Deng Lizhu. The sky was still thick with dark clouds, threatening a downpour at any moment, but Jiang Tiantao, anxious to get there, paid no heed to the gusts of cool wind blowing in his face or the rolling dark clouds. From dawn till dusk, though they passed through many bustling villages and towns and encountered many suspicious martial arts figures, they were not harassed or ambushed in any way. Perhaps the experts of the Three Hairpins Gang knew they were no match and dared not act rashly, or perhaps another planned ambush was being set up ahead.

Because of the overcast sky, by late afternoon, the fields were already shrouded in darkness. Lightning flashed incessantly on the distant horizon, accompanied by rumbling thunder. Jiang Tiantao hadn't slept soundly for several days and felt somewhat exhausted. Looking up, he saw several lights ahead, seemingly so far away in the pitch-black night. He thought that since there were lights, it must be an inn. Given the impending rain, he decided to spend the night in that inn and set off early the next morning. After a brisk run, he discovered a dense, winding, hilly, multi-layered forested mountain range ahead, with the lights nestled among the trees halfway up the hill. Jiang Tiantao deduced that it was either a small village or a hunter's settlement, and he thought that perhaps there would be an inn beyond the mountain range. Just

then, a dazzling flash of lightning suddenly streaked across the night sky, followed by a deafening clap of thunder, startling Xiao Qing into letting out a long, angry roar. Jiang Tiantao looked up; the rolling dark clouds in the night sky seemed to have lowered even further. A gust of cold wind blew, and Jiang Tiantao knew something was wrong. Fortunately, he had already reached the foot of the mountain. With a shout, he sharply shook the reins, and Xiaoqing galloped along the gravel path towards the mountainside.

Large raindrops fell with the strong wind. Jiang Tiantao held the reins in one hand and shielded his head with his sleeve in the other, arriving in the blink of an eye before a vermilion gatehouse. He had no time to look closely; his tall figure leaped down the steps and leaned against the threshold. Looking at Xiaoqing again, he saw her running towards a large thatched hut about seven or eight zhang away. Jiang Tiantao glanced around and discovered that from the gatehouse to the foot of the mountain was a lush peach orchard laden with plump, white peaches. Because of the torrential rain, he couldn't peek out to see how tall the gatehouse was or how big the courtyard was. He quickly shook off the raindrops; thankfully, only the hem of his shirt was slightly wet.

Just then, a series of hurried footsteps came from inside the gate. Jiang Tiantao was startled, thinking: I didn't knock! Before he could finish his thought, hurried footsteps echoed from inside the doorway, accompanied by the complaining voice of an old woman.

"Heh heh! You old drunkard, how come you only come back when it's not raining? Knowing Miss is unhappy these past few days, you still dare to drink horse piss outside, hmph..." Before she finished speaking, the door was pulled open.

Jiang Tiantao chuckled; it was the old woman scolding her late-returning husband. Just then, another angry snort came from inside, and the vermilion door swung open with a whoosh, a beam of light shining out. At the same time, a commanding shout erupted: "Come in!"

Jiang Tiantao's heart skipped a beat, and he instinctively took a half-step back. The old woman's voice was not only strong, but the heavy vermilion door opened easily and quickly, proving she was no ordinary old woman. Looking closely, he saw an old woman with white hair, a wrinkled face, carrying a windproof lantern, and dressed in a blue cloth robe. The white-haired old woman was stunned when she saw a young man in blue robes with a sword at his waist standing outside the door. A cold glint flashed in her eyes.

Jiang Tiantao, seeing the old woman's gaze, knew she possessed considerable internal strength. He quickly cupped his hands and said respectfully, "It's raining heavily, and I can't travel. Please, old woman, grant me temporary shelter here. I'll leave as soon as the rain stops."

The old woman's expression was icy, without a smile. She immediately said coldly, "There's a large town ahead. Why didn't you find an inn earlier? Knowing it would rain, you still risked getting soaked?"

Jiang Tiantao, seeing that the old woman was already lecturing him before even agreeing, but considering her age, didn't take offense. Jiang Tiantao, looking on with utmost respect, said, "I will not disturb your residence by entering. I will take shelter here under the gate for the time being and leave as soon as the rain stops."

The old woman, her shrewd eyes gleaming, coldly replied, "Since you are not going in, then you can stand here and wait for the rain to stop..."

Before she finished speaking, a hurried and urgent young girl's voice suddenly rang out from inside the gate: "Oh, Granny Lin, come quickly..."

Jiang Tiantao looked up and saw a girl dressed as a maidservant disappear behind the screen in the darkness. Her pretty face seemed somewhat familiar. However, due to the light in front of him and the fact that he was still a foot away from the screen, he could not see her clearly in the blink of an eye. Just as he was trying his best to recall when and where he had seen that pretty maidservant, everything went black, and with a loud bang, the vermilion gate was slammed shut by the old woman.

Jiang Tiantao, recognizing the pretty maidservant whose face seemed familiar, quickly forgot all about the old, rude, and unreasonable woman's rudeness. He looked up at the dark night sky, where the rain was pouring down, and amidst the intense lightning and thunder, he tried desperately to recall when and where he had seen the pretty maidservant.

His first thought was of his own Nine Palaces Fortress. Of all the maidservants there, aside from his cousin Wang Yanling's four maidservants, Xiao Cuihua, and three others—Huan Niang, Xiang Lian, and Fen He—he hadn't paid any attention to the others. Next, he thought of the Three Hairpins Gang's headquarters. Although there were female leaders, hall masters, and chiefs, as well as hundreds of sword-wielding girls and maidservants, he hadn't paid them any attention then. But this pretty maidservant's face seemed strangely familiar. He frowned, muttering to himself, "Who is this maidservant?" Before he finished speaking, hurried footsteps sounded from behind him through the door.

Jiang Tiantao's heart skipped a beat. He deduced that the person who came was probably there for him, and that this person would be kind and reasonable. With a click of the bolt, the vermilion gate swung open, and a beam of light shone out. Jiang Tiantao stared intently, then froze. It was the same old woman from before. But this time, her wrinkled face was full of smiles, and a hint of peace emanated from her.

As soon as the old woman opened the door, she immediately greeted him with a smile, "My dear husband, I just spoke to you without thinking. Are you still angry?"

Seeing the old woman's obsequious manner, Jiang Tiantao deduced it must be related to the somewhat familiar

, pretty maid. He quickly cupped his hands and smiled, saying, "How could I hold a grudge against an old woman like that?" The old woman laughed even louder, then praised him cheerfully, "You're such a good husband! It wasn't that I was being unreasonable; it's just that we don't have a man in our household. My old man is always drunk and doesn't come home for a day or two. I was in a bad mood just now, and when I opened the door and it wasn't my deadbeat, I got angry and unconsciously spoke to you without thinking. Actually, how could we keep someone out in such heavy rain, right?" As she spoke, she glared at Jiang Tiantao with her old eyes and pursed her thin lips, looking expectantly at him, as if wanting him to praise her for being right.

Jiang Tiantao knew the old woman intended to let him in, so he deliberately smiled and said, "I had no intention of disturbing your household. I was just taking shelter under the gatehouse for a while and will leave as soon as the rain stops. That's why I didn't knock on your door. Please, ma'am, go ahead

if you need anything. The rain has stopped..." Hearing Jiang Tiantao's tone, the old woman panicked when she realized he had no intention of entering. She immediately exclaimed sternly, "Oh dear, how can this be? This rain is so heavy; it won't stop for a day or two, let alone a short while. What kind of talk is this standing outside? Come in! Come in!" With that, she raised the lantern high and hurriedly retreated to the side of the door.

Seeing the old woman's genuine anxiety, and also eager to see who the pretty maid was, Jiang Tiantao quickly cupped his hands and smiled, saying, "Since you are so sincere, ma'am, I have no choice but to disturb you." With that, he lifted the hem of his blue robe and stepped over the high threshold.

The old woman, upon seeing Jiang Tiantao's hem, immediately complained, "Oh dear, look, the hem is all wet! Ah, really..." As she spoke, she quickly closed the door, beckoned to Jiang Tiantao, and said with a friendly smile, "Come, follow me." With that, she picked up the lantern and led the way to the screen door.

Jiang Tiantao nodded in agreement and followed behind the old woman. Looking closely, he realized that the screen door led to the main hall. Just as he was about to examine the hall more closely, he suddenly heard the old woman ask kindly, "Where do you come from, sir?"

Without hesitation, Jiang Tiantao replied, "I come from Longgong Lake."

The old woman seemed somewhat surprised and asked seriously, "What are you doing at Longgong Lake?"

Jiang Tiantao's heart skipped a beat, thinking to himself: How did she know I went to Longgong Lake on business and wasn't staying there? Then, a thought struck him, and he suddenly realized that the familiar, pretty maid must have already revealed his true identity, which was why the old woman had asked that question. His mind raced, and he immediately became alert, hastily replying, "I was ordered to visit a senior named Deng..."

Upon hearing this, the old woman immediately interjected, "Is it Flying Dragon Deng Zhengtong?"

Jiang Tiantao was startled again and hurriedly asked, "Grandma, do you know Senior Deng?" As he spoke, they entered the hallway behind the screen door.

The old woman smiled naturally and said, "He's a famous old water spirit. Anyone who's a few years old knows him." She then inserted the windproof lantern she was holding into the lamp holder on the doorframe. By

the light, Jiang Tiantao saw a large screen inlaid with gold and jade leading to the back hall of the inner courtyard. In the center was a long table displaying antique treasures, a square rosewood table, and two large lacquered chairs. To the left and right were two side rooms with hidden entrances. On the walls of these rooms hung landscape paintings, revealing the refined and elegant nature of the family's owner. As he looked around, he heard the old woman say kindly, "Please have a seat, sir. They'll bring tea and refreshments soon."

Jiang Tiantao quickly replied humbly, "I already feel uneasy staying at your residence; how could I trouble you further?"

The old woman chuckled, and just as she was about to say something, a bright light shone through the jade screen, followed by a flurry of hurried footsteps. The smiling old woman immediately exclaimed, "Ah, they're here!" Before

she finished speaking, seven or eight young maids rushed in from behind the jade screen, some carrying lanterns, others trays, most with bright eyes, secretly glancing at Jiang Tiantao. Jiang Tiantao was eager to know who the pretty maid he had just seen was. Therefore, his gaze swept intently across the faces of the maids. However, the familiar pretty maid was not among them. Jiang Tiantao, already wary of the old woman's obsequious manner, became even more suspicious when he saw the pretty maid dare not show herself. Several maids busied themselves, bringing four exquisite gauze lanterns which were now hung on the left and right longitudinal beams. Simultaneously, light illuminated the dark room on the right.

Looking at the table, four plates of fine dishes and two covered bowls of sweet soup steamed, emitting an enticing aroma. Jiang Tiantao's suspicions deepened at this sight. The way they treated complete strangers seeking shelter from the rain like honored guests was puzzling. He frowned slightly, glancing frequently at the covered bowls, wanting to lift them to take a look, yet fearing it would be impolite.

Upon seeing this, the old woman standing to one side chuckled and said kindly, "That's lotus seed soup that's already been cooked. I added a few slices of ginger so you wouldn't catch a chill from the rain, sir!"

Jiang Tiantao glanced at the smiling old woman in surprise, deciding it was best not to eat the two bowls of lotus seed soup. He forced a smile and said, "I already had dinner in the big town ahead..."

Before he could finish, the old woman said warmly, "Oh dear, sir, please don't be so polite. This isn't dinner; it's lotus and ginger soup to warm you up..." As she spoke, she moved to the table, picked up the lid of the bowl, and continued, "Sir, look!"

Jiang Tiantao was indeed a little hungry, and he couldn't help but peek out. There were plump lotus seeds and pale yellow ginger soup. The old woman looked at Jiang Tiantao kindly and said with a smile, "My silly husband, don't worry, there's no poison in it."

Upon hearing the word "poison," Jiang Tiantao's heart skipped a beat. He shook his head and said, "I'm not very hungry yet, I'd like to eat later..."

The old woman, understanding his intentions, immediately smiled and said, "If you're not hungry, then eat later!" With that,

she casually put down the bowl lid and returned to her original spot. Jiang Tiantao took the opportunity to glance around the hall and noticed that besides two maids tidying the bedding in the inner room, the others stood in a corner, watching him with strange eyes. As they were observing him, he suddenly heard the old woman ask with a smile, "May I ask your surname, sir?"

Jiang Tiantao was certain that she already knew his background, so he replied without hesitation, "My surname is Jiang!" Upon hearing the word "Jiang,"

the bright eyes of the maids simultaneously lit up. The old woman chuckled even louder, then asked, "What's your name?"

Jiang Tiantao replied calmly, "Tiantao!" The moment the name Tiantao left his lips, one of the maids standing in the corner nervously slipped away.

The old woman chuckled happily, praising, "Hehe, a good name, truly a good name." She paused, then continued with a smile, asking, "Your household is..." To

avoid further questioning, Jiang Tiantao simply cupped his hands and said, "I've lived in Jiugongbao, Mufu Mountain for generations. My father is Jiang Haohai."

Upon hearing this, the old woman's eyes widened like beacons. She was first stunned, then excitedly exclaimed, "My goodness! Your husband is truly the young master of Jiugongbao! Last night, I dreamt of a noble person visiting our door. Your husband is sure to be a great benefactor to our family..." As she spoke, she hurried to the table, quickly lifted the lid of a bowl, and presented Jiang Tiantao with the steaming lotus seed soup and ginger broth.

Hearing the old woman's words, Jiang Tiantao became even more wary, and hurriedly bowed, saying, "I'm not hungry yet."

Upon hearing this, the old woman quickly changed her tune, urging, "Since you've eaten, please rest!" With that, she waved to several maids and said sternly, "Xiao Xin, quickly help Young Master Jiang to bed."

One of the maids, a rather pretty girl with a sweet face, quickly and respectfully agreed, leading two other maids into the already lit bedroom. The old woman, seemingly having some urgent business to attend to, also waved to Jiang Tiantao, smiling, "Young Master, you must be tired. This old woman won't disturb you any longer." With a beaming smile, she turned and walked into the jade screen, hurrying away.

Jiang Tiantao, witnessing this, was both suspicious and perplexed, somewhat bewildered. He stared blankly at the gatehouse outside the hall, lost in thought, trying desperately to remember who that somewhat familiar maid was. Once the maid is identified, it's not difficult to determine the owner of the house. Judging from the old woman's statement that there are no men in the house, the young lady who has been unhappy these past few days must be the owner. He thought that if he had seen the familiar maid at the Three Hairpins Gang's headquarters, the young lady must be a member of the Three Hairpins Gang. Golden Hairpin Fu Liying, as the leader of the gang, wouldn't neglect her duties to come here and guard the peach grove.

Jade Hairpin Xiao Xiangzhen is still at Dragon Palace Lake; although her whereabouts are unpredictable, she couldn't have gotten ahead of him. Besides, the old woman said the young lady had been unhappy these past few days. The most likely candidate is Silver Hairpin Huangfu Xiang, but the old woman said there are no men in their house. Isn't Jade Fan Scholar Huangfu Yang a man? Especially since Silver Hairpin Huangfu Xiang is currently angry, and hearing that he came to seek shelter from the rain, she was already lucky that she didn't interrogate him or question him about the reason for Wei Ming's visit. Why would she be so hospitable and treat him like a VIP? Then he thought: assuming he'd seen that maid in his own Nine Palaces Fortress, the mistress of that house must undoubtedly be the Poisonous Lady.

The thought of the Poisonous Lady ignited a surge of anger in Jiang Tiantao's heart, and at the same time, heightened his vigilance. He knew the Poisonous Lady was a walking poison machine; she possessed not only more than seven kinds of highly poisonous hidden weapons, but also various colorless, odorless, smokeless, and tasteless poisons. Thinking of the poisons, he involuntarily glanced at the exquisite pastries and lotus seed soup with ginger on the table. But then he reconsidered, feeling something was amiss. That Granny Lin, though aloof and cold, had suddenly become very warm, yet he couldn't detect any cunning or shifty glint in her eyes.

Before he could finish his thought, the maid called Xiao Xin emerged from the inner room, curtsied, and respectfully said, "Please rest, Young Master!"

Jiang Tiantao's heart skipped a beat. He nodded politely and asked humbly, "May I ask, young lady, the old woman from earlier was surnamed Lin, and you are also surnamed Lin? Is the master of your household also surnamed Lin?"

Xiao Xin's bright eyes flickered, and she smiled charmingly, gently shaking her head and saying, "My young lady's surname is Zhang!"

Jiang Tiantao was preoccupied with thoughts of the Poisonous Lady Zhang Lihua. Upon hearing the surname Zhang, his eyes suddenly lit up, and he asked urgently, "What? Surname Zhang? Which Zhang?"

Several maids, seeing that Jiang Tiantao seemed suddenly surprised upon hearing that their young lady's surname was Zhang, couldn't help but cover their mouths and laugh. Xiao Xin also smiled and explained, "It's Zhang of the Bow and Arrow family."

Jiang Tiantao said "Oh," and his sword-like eyebrows immediately furrowed. He was thinking: He had never associated with anyone surnamed Zhang before, so how did he know a maid from the Zhang family? Driven by curiosity, he blurted out, "What is your young lady's name...?" He immediately realized his slip of the tongue and stopped speaking abruptly, his handsome face turning red.

The maids all covered their mouths and laughed, but Xiao Xin replied mysteriously and generously, "The young master of the fortress will surely know about my young lady."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Tiantao asked humbly, "Which one is it?"

Xiao Xin smiled and said, "Zhang Yunhua!"

Jiang Tiantao was stunned; he didn't recognize this Miss Zhang Yunhua at all. Then, he thought for a moment, and realized something was amiss—why did he feel that Miss Zhang's maid looked somewhat familiar? Before he could finish his thought, he suddenly heard several maids say respectfully in unison, "Good evening, Young Master. We will come to serve you again tomorrow morning."

Jiang Tiantao composed himself and immediately said humbly, "Please, ladies."

The maids responded respectfully, curtsied, and gracefully walked towards the back screen. Watching the departing maids, Jiang Tiantao suddenly had an idea and floated after them behind the screen. Looking around, he saw only darkness behind the hall. The courtyard was small, with a skylight above it, and all the buildings were exquisitely crafted with carved beams and pillars. The main room in the center and the two side rooms were dark. Several maids, embracing each other, whispered amongst themselves as they hurried across the skylight towards the side door under the right corridor of the main room.

Jiang Tiantao, having observed the situation in the front courtyard, knew that Miss Zhang Yunhua must live in the back courtyard. So, after the maids entered through the side door, he nimbly crossed the skylight and slipped behind the door. Peeking out, he saw the maids walking along the eaves corridor towards the circular side door through which lights shone.

URL 1:https://www.sexlove5.com/htmlBlog/6938.html

URL 2:/Blog.aspx?id=6938&aspx=1

Last access time:

Previous Page : [Modern City] Form is Emptiness (Complete) - 5

Next Page : [Wuxia] Embroidered Robes and Cloud-like Hair (Complete) - 17

增加

comment Open a new window to view comments

Contact Information

[Wuxia] Embroidered Robes and Cloud-like Hair (Complete) - 16

comment Open a new window to view comments