[Wuxia] Embroidered Robes and Cloud-like Hair (Complete) - 14

Chapter Seventeen: Fishing Village, Three or Five Houses

. Xiao Qing raised its head and neighed angrily, its whiskers bristling and tail throbbing, galloping like the wind along the wide official road straight towards Xiushui. The road was bustling with pedestrians, and every now and then a horse or two would gallop past, mostly anxious martial arts figures. Each rider cast a surprised glance at Jiang Tiantao. Jiang Tiantao, though his gaze was fixed ahead, paid no attention to the passersby. He was preoccupied with how to reach Baishou Village in Longgong Lake to visit the reclusive old fisherman, how to enter Longfeng Island, capture the Poisonous Lady, and force out the whereabouts of Xiuyi, among other questions.

He arrived in Xiushui at noon. Xiao Qing was already sweating from the gallop. Jiang Tiantao hadn't slept for several days and decided to rest in the city for half a day before setting off again after the first watch of the night. At that time, the fields would be lush and the official road deserted; he could travel hundreds of miles overnight, and by the next morning, he could cross the Kuling Ridge and reach Jiujiangkou.

He went into the shop to rest and fell asleep fully clothed. However, a number of martial arts masters on horseback had already gathered around the shop, and their numbers were increasing. These masters all looked tense and anxious, but they stood at a distance, none daring to approach the shop. The sharp-eyed shopkeepers had already noticed the tense atmosphere outside.

Seeing the martial arts figures standing at a distance, all staring intently at the shop entrance, they knew it was an unlucky day, and something bad was bound to happen inside. The accountant quickly calculated that it was likely related to the young man in blue who had just entered the shop. He quietly sent someone to bring a pot of tea, but when he peeked in, the young man was already asleep. The accountant

frowned, secretly anxious. He knew better than anyone that in the martial arts world, killing and revenge were always done at night. With the young man asleep, he was sure he was well-rested and ready to act. Then, the shop would surely be ransacked, with doors broken, windows smashed, and tables and chairs flying everywhere. As the sun gradually set, the accountant and the shopkeepers' hearts pounded with anxiety.

Suddenly, a shop assistant rushed in nervously, saying that the young master had ordered the horse to be prepared. Upon hearing this, the accountant silently chanted a prayer, then peeked outside. Sure enough, the magnificent blue horse with its richly decorated saddle and handle had been led out. Immediately afterward, the handsome young man in blue, a sword at his waist, also emerged from the shop.

The accountant and the shop assistants knew that as soon as the young man in blue stepped out, the martial arts figures who had been watching from afar would whistle and swarm him. But looking again, the experts who had been watching from afar had already vanished, and they immediately realized that this young man in blue must be an extraordinary person.

Jiang Tiantao, who had taken Xiaoqing from the shop assistant, was completely unaware of the tense situation outside. He looked up at the darkening sky, mounted his horse, and rode straight east. Jiang Tiantao rode his galloping horse, braving the night wind, along the official road leading to Jiujiang. The surrounding area was silent; the hoofbeats kicked up dust, startling the insects in the roadside grass into silence.

Before the inn in Xiushui City, despite the many skilled warriors surrounding him, there was not a single person in front of him or behind his horse. However, as he arrived in Wuning at midnight and circled the city, he noticed a pair of eyes glancing in the roadside bushes and trees. Jiang Tiantao noticed them but didn't pay them any mind. In the martial world, such situations were commonplace; as long as those people didn't attack him or surround others, he naturally didn't need to concern himself.

Dawn broke, and after passing Kuling Ridge, he arrived at the large town before the Jiujiang ferry crossing. The sun was rising, and the sky was ablaze with the colors of dawn. Upon entering the town, he heard the roar of the rushing river, mixed with the sounds of people and horses. Looking ahead, the river surged and roared, its waves crashing against the horizon, obscuring the opposite bank. A fierce wind howled, whipping up towering waves that roared deafeningly.

Jiang Tiantao, witnessing this awe-inspiring spectacle, unconsciously furrowed his brow. Further along the riverbank at the ferry crossing, goods were piled high, and a large crowd stood. Nearly a hundred large riverboats with three masts and six sails were gathered along the shore. Amidst the throng of people, a cacophony of voices rose and fell. The porters, carrying heavy loads, called out rhythmically as they loaded the cargo onto the boats.

Jiang Tiantao reined in his horse briefly, then spurred it towards the crowd on the bank. Just then, a long, resounding neigh echoed from the town behind him. Jiang Tiantao knew a fast horse was approaching, but he didn't bother to turn back. Xiao Qing, however, wagged its tail and neighed softly, appearing somewhat impatient. With the approaching, rapid hoofbeats, a large chestnut horse galloped past Jiang Tiantao's horse with a whoosh. Jiang Tiantao instinctively looked up, his eyes suddenly lighting up. On the chestnut horse, already seven or eight zhang away, sat a slender, beautiful young woman with flowing hair, dressed in a red satin outfit. Jiang Tiantao

was overjoyed, recognizing her as Zhu Caidie, the female disciple of the blind nun Jin Fu of Mount Fanjing. He blurted out, "Caidie, Caidie!" With that cry, he spurred Xiaoqing, and

the girl in red on the chestnut horse gave chase. Hearing the call, the girl quickly reined in her horse. She reached the front of the crowd, not turning her horse, but slowly turning her head to look. Jiang Tiantao, galloping forward, was startled at the sight. He shouted and quickly reined in Xiaoqing. Xiao Qing let out a long, painful neigh, her forelegs suddenly rearing up, her body spinning rapidly several times before finally settling down.

Jiang Tiantao, sitting on his horse, stopped, his starry eyes wide with shock. Five zhang away, a red-clad girl turned to look at him. She had a cotton-like face, willow-leaf eyebrows, bright, large eyes, rosy lips, and delicate, fair skin. She was now staring at him with a frosty expression.

But seeing Jiang Tiantao's stunned expression, the red-clad girl blushed slightly, then chuckled, covering her mouth with her hand. Jiang Tiantao hadn't expected to be so careless, mistaking someone for someone else, especially a young girl. Although she had laughed and hadn't questioned him, he still felt embarrassed.

Seeing that Jiang Tiantao hadn't apologized immediately, the red-clad girl seemed quite angry. She gave a soft snort, turned her face away resentfully, and looked up at the morning sky. Upon seeing this, Jiang Tiantao realized his rudeness for not apologizing. Now that the other person had turned away, he had no choice but to let it go. A commotion arose from the shouts of the crowd on the shore.

Jiang Tiantao looked closely and saw that three large riverboats were already moored at the dock, with people scrambling to board. Because he hadn't apologized to the girl in red, Jiang Tiantao felt embarrassed to go first. He decided to board another boat after she did, avoiding sharing a boat with her. However, the girl in red remained gazing at the morning sky, showing no intention of boarding. Just then, a young man in plain clothes hurried past, walked to the front of the horse, bowed respectfully to Jiang Tiantao, and said, "Young master, do you need to cross the river? The Zaixing is clean and spacious, and all the ships are helmed by experienced old helmsmen. We guarantee your safe crossing and a smooth journey!"

Jiang Tiantao's heart skipped a beat. He glanced warily at the girl in red five zhang away and lowered his voice, asking, "Which ship is the Zaixing?"

The young man in plain clothes turned and pointed, saying respectfully, "That one."

Jiang Tiantao looked in the direction he was pointing and saw that it was the largest riverboat furthest from the riverbank. He then quietly waved his hand and whispered, "You lead the way!"

The young man in plain clothes respectfully replied and turned to walk towards the riverbank. Jiang Tiantao slightly shuddered and followed closely behind the young man. When they arrived at the Zaixing, they saw a magnificent riverboat, at least twenty zhang long, with three masts as thick as a person's embrace. It stood upright for half a day.

Guided by the young man in plain clothes, Jiang Tiantao boarded the ship via a ramp from the hatch. The hold was loaded with cargo, and he then climbed onto the deck via another ramp inside the hold. The young man helped Jiang Tiantao secure Xiaoqing to a specially made horse stable, and found him a seat near Xiaoqing before standing to the side with a smile.

Jiang Tiantao was satisfied and handed the young man a two-tael silver ingot, telling him to pay the fare and keep the remainder as a tip. The young man thanked him profusely and left. Jiang Tiantao glanced around the deck and noticed that most of the passengers were merchants, with a few martial arts figures among them. Jiang Tiantao hadn't slept all night, and although he didn't feel tired, he was bored and decided to take a nap.

Just as he closed his eyes, the sound of hooves echoed from the hold ramp. Jiang Tiantao was startled and opened his eyes to see the girl in red leading her chestnut horse, looking displeased, onto the deck. Only then did he notice that a delicate, slender, vermilion slingshot was still hanging on the right side of the chestnut horse's saddle.

Jiang Tiantao didn't want to meet the red-clad girl's gaze again, so he glanced at her and quickly closed his eyes, this time feigning sleep. Although his eyes were closed, he listened intently; judging from the sound of hooves, the girl was not far away. Suddenly, a middle-aged man's voice rang out excitedly from afar, "Miss Zhu, the old man hasn't come out!"

Then a delicate, clear voice replied, "He's too lazy to move; he's hiding at home."

Jiang Tiantao recognized the voice as addressing the red-clad girl, and based on the address, he mistakenly assumed her surname was Zhu. The middle-aged man's voice again spoke humbly, "Miss Zhu, please sit here!" The

red-clad girl replied modestly, "Thank you, but I still have to take care of Xiao Hong."

Hearing "Xiao Hong," Jiang Tiantao knew he was referring to the red horse. A moment later, a faint fragrance wafted on the river breeze. Jiang Tiantao didn't need to open his eyes to know that the red-clad girl must be sitting nearby. Amidst the sounds of swaying oars and shouts, the boat began to rock, followed by the creaking of the hoisting sails. Jiang Tiantao knew the boat had set sail. He glanced to his left at the stable and saw the chestnut horse affectionately nestled against Xiaoqing.

Looking to his right, he was startled to see the girl in red sitting on the opposite bench, her cherry lips tightly pressed together, her face frosty, her bright eyes coldly staring at him. Seeing this, Jiang Tiantao deeply regretted not apologizing earlier, and now, finding it even more inconvenient to speak, he simply closed his eyes again.

The current was swift, and the river wind was strong, making the giant sails creak and the boat rock violently, yet its speed was astonishing. Fortunately, this section of the river wasn't too wide, and after only half an hour, they reached the other side. A large town lay on the shore, and the riverbank was similarly filled with goods and people. The giant sails had already been lowered in order, and amidst the busy shouts of the boatmen, the boat finally slowly approached the shore. As soon as the gangplank was lowered, the passengers who had been waiting at the side of the boat filed out. Jiang Tiantao, who had a horse, had to use the cabin ladder. He glanced around and saw the girl in red leading her horse towards the cabin door.

The door was already wide open, and those with horses were all pulling their mounts towards it. Jiang Tiantao intentionally distanced himself from the girl in red, deliberately walking last. By the time he pulled his horse ashore, she had already galloped into the town. He then mounted his horse and headed straight for the town entrance.

Looking ahead, his expression suddenly changed. Under a large, lush tree at the town entrance stood a girl in pink—it was Xiao Fen, the personal maid of Huangfu Xiang, the Silver Hairpin. Jiang Tiantao, upon seeing this, suddenly realized that the martial arts figures staring at him were undoubtedly experts from the Three Hairpins Gang's local branch. He wondered if Huangfu Xiang had already arrived.

Especially since this place wasn't far from Dragon Palace Lake, these experts might all be subordinates of Zhang Lehua, the Water Demon. Then, upon further reflection, he realized something was amiss. Huangfu Xiang, having left Jiugongbao, would never have returned to Dongliang Mountain before coming here again. With this thought in mind, he concluded that the maid named Xiao Fen must have been instructed by Jinchai Fu Liying to go down the mountain to find Huangfu Xiang. Perhaps Fu Liying believed that wherever Jiang Tiantao went, Huangfu Xiang would follow. Therefore, after someone in Xiushui discovered Jiang Tiantao's whereabouts, they immediately sent carrier pigeons to notify various places to pay attention to his movements. Understanding this, he suddenly realized he had to find a way to shake off the experts of the Three Beauties Gang; otherwise, it would not only seriously affect his entry into Longgong Lake, but also endanger the old fisherman, Feijiao Deng Zhengtong. In that

instant, he arrived at the large tree where the maid Xiao Fen stood. He noticed Xiao Fen's pair of dark, bright eyes looking at him, her cherry lips moving as if she wanted to ask him a question. Jiang Tiantao was startled. Pretending not to notice, he spurred his horse straight to the town. He feared that if he spoke to Xiao Fen, it would be difficult to shake off the Three Beauties Gang's surveillance. The town was wide and filled with carriages and horses. Jiang Tiantao glanced around and saw that the girl in red was nowhere to be seen among the crowd.

Looking up at the sky, he realized it was just past dawn. He resolved to reach the south bank of Dragon Palace Lake before sunset. The journey was smooth, and when he arrived at the south bank, the sun was about to set. On the lake, the green waves were vast, dotted with returning sails, and the dragon and phoenix birds standing majestically in the center of the lake were faintly visible in the evening glow. Since it was late, Jiang Tiantao decided to rest for the night and visit Flying Dragon Deng Zhengtong again the next morning. So, he stayed in a fishing village with an inn. He handed his horse over to the innkeeper, chose a room, and ordered some food.

During the meal, Jiang Tiantao asked the innkeeper and learned that Baishou Village was only a few miles away, with only three or four households. An idea struck him; since it was so close, why not go and check it out after the meal? Finding Feijiao Deng among those three or four households wouldn't be difficult. After finishing the meal, he extinguished the lights, sat cross-legged, and meditated, preparing to act at the appointed time. Just as he was meditating, a very familiar, angry neigh of a wild horse suddenly rang out not far behind the house. Jiang Tiantao was startled, abruptly opened his eyes, and blurted out, "Ah, Xiaoqing!" As he spoke, he floated up, pushed open the back window, and leaped out.

Looking up, he gasped in surprise, then froze. Before the manger where Xiaoqing was tied, a person with a black veil covering their head and dressed in black was forcefully pulling on the reins, attempting to steal the struggling Xiaoqing away. Jiang Tiantao's startled cry startled the man in the long robe and black veil. Turning around, he saw Jiang Tiantao and panicked, dropping his horse's reins and leaping onto the roof. In a flash, he vanished.

Jiang Tiantao, regaining his composure, cried out, "Miss Xiao!"

With that, he soared into the air, flying over the stable, giving chase. Reaching the edge of the village, he saw the broad, dark figure, like a wisp of black smoke, rushing towards a large, dense forest two or three miles away.

Anxious, Jiang Tiantao called out again, "Miss Xiao, stop!"

But the man didn't turn back, his speed increasing. Jiang Tiantao was puzzled. Could it be Rainbow Dragon Girl? But who was this person? Then it dawned on him—perhaps the mysterious woman who had led him to the Three Hairpins Gang's headquarters that night. But he couldn't fathom the woman's motives for stealing the horse.

In the blink of an eye, the person veiled in black was not far from the dense forest. Jiang Tiantao's heart raced; he couldn't let that person enter the forest. So, he used two-tenths of his strength, and in the blink of an eye, he was close behind. The veiled person seemed to realize Jiang Tiantao was approaching. She hurriedly turned around, her cold, piercing gaze shining through the veil. Because of her frequent turning, Jiang Tiantao noticed that the veiled person was much taller than Rainbow Dragon Girl Xiao Xiangzhen. She also didn't resemble the mysterious woman who had led him into the Three Hairpins Gang's back mountain that night.

This discovery ignited a surge of anger within him. He hated not only this person for stealing his horse, but also for wearing the same clothing as Rainbow Dragon Girl. With this thought in mind, he roared, "Horse thief, leave your life behind!"

With that shout, he leaped into the air, executing the "Soaring Eagle Takes Down the Rabbit" move, extending his right arm, fingers bent, and lightning-fast grabbing at the man about to run into the forest. Just as he was about to strike and seize the man's back, a bowstring twanged from within the dense forest, followed by two sharp, cold arrows, accompanied by a chilling whistle, already flying towards him. Jiang Tiantao was startled and hurriedly looked up; the two arrows had already grazed past his ear.

With a cry of alarm, he plummeted downwards, his haste in catching the man causing him to lose control, nearly bleeding on the spot. Regaining his footing, he looked up again; the man with the black veil had not only escaped into the forest, but the one who had drawn the bow and fired the arrow was also gone. Jiang Tiantao stared blankly at the tree where the slingshot had been fired, a chill running down his spine. The opponent's archery skills were not only exquisite enough to break a string at a hundred paces, but their wrist strength was also astonishing.

Those two silver bullets had not only been fired with restraint, but also with perfect timing—a fraction too early, a fraction too late—just as he looked up, the two bullets grazed past his ear. Imagine if those two bullets had been fired directly at his eyes—what would the consequences have been? Thinking of this, Jiang Tiantao felt both grateful and angry towards the person who had fired the slingshot. He stared blankly at the dark forest for a while, knowing that the two people in the forest were already far away, and had no choice but to use his lightness skill to quickly return to the shop.

Upon arriving at the shop, he leaped inside. The two shop assistants were looking at the horses in a panic. When they saw Jiang Tiantao land in front of the horses, they were startled and said in a flustered voice, "A thief just stole your horses."

Jiang Tiantao smiled calmly and said, "I know." As he spoke, he took out a piece of silver from his pocket and continued, "Quickly prepare my horses. This is the shop fee." After saying that, he handed the silver to one of the shop assistants.

Since the guest was leaving, the innkeeper had no reason to ask where he was going in the dark. So, one innkeeper prepared the horse, and another went to open the inn door. Jiang Tiantao led his horse out of the inn, asked the innkeeper to point out Baishou Village, then leaped onto his horse and galloped away. It was almost the end of the first watch of the night, the sky was full of stars, and a crescent moon was hidden behind the clouds. A gentle night breeze carried the treacherous sound of the water on Longfeng Island Lake, which sounded particularly eerie in the stillness of the night.

Looking ahead, there was indeed a small village of three or four households two or three miles away, and several hundred feet behind the village was the large, dense forest he had just encountered. Upon seeing the forest, Jiang Tiantao immediately thought of the extremely unpleasant incident that had just happened, especially the man's astonishing archery skills and wrist strength, which were truly admirable. Then, his eyes lit up, and he suddenly remembered the girl in red he had met at the ferry crossing. He thought, wasn't there a delicate, slender, vermilion-lacquered slingshot hanging from her saddle? Thinking it over, he suddenly realized that the person who had fired the slingshot must have been the girl in red. For a girl to possess such exquisite archery skills and powerful wrist strength was truly unbelievable.

At the same time, this also proved that in the vast sea of people, countless extraordinary women, no less capable than men, were hiding their tracks, performing acts of justice and upholding righteousness. At this moment, he completely understood who the horse thief was—it must be a friend invited by the girl in red, who intentionally stole the horse to retaliate against him. Then, he thought again, something seemed amiss. Why was the horse thief dressed like the Rainbow Dragon Girl when punishing a traitor in the gang? Could this also be a coincidence?

Before he could finish his thought, Xiao Qing had already galloped into the small village. Jiang Tiantao was startled, realizing something was wrong. He quickly reined in his horse, thinking: "Galloping into the village so hastily will surely wake everyone who's sleeping." Sitting on his horse, he looked around and indeed saw only four households. Three houses stood below the embankment, one by the lake, all with bamboo fences and thatched huts. It was impossible to tell who was rich and who was poor, or which house belonged to Flying Dragon Deng. He thought he'd check out the one by the lake first. So, he quietly flicked his silken belt and headed towards the house.

As he walked, he discovered a small courtyard within the fence, with two rows of green bamboo on either side, two rows of flowering trees in the middle, and in the very center was the thatched hut, one bright and two dark, with Dragon Palace Lake in the backyard. Jiang Tiantao looked around and shook his head with a sigh. He thought to himself, how peaceful and tranquil it would be to live by such a beautiful lakeside, with two clumps of bamboo and three thatched huts, free from worldly strife and obstacles.

Before he could finish his thought, a bowstring suddenly twanged. Jiang Tiantao, lost in thought, hadn't had time to see if a cold star had struck. Startled, he tumbled off his horse, his expression like that of a frightened bird. Just as he tumbled off his horse, a powerful, angry shout suddenly rang out from inside the thatched hut: "Where did this thieving brat come from, daring to steal from an old man's doorstep? He's utterly audacious, courting death, and utterly despicable..."

Before he finished speaking, the door swung open, and a bald, silver-bearded, long-browed, tiger-eyed old man in plain clothes with a furious expression stepped out. Jiang Tiantao, fearing a misunderstanding, hurriedly stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said loudly, "I am Jiang Tiantao, a native of Jiugongbao. Tonight I have come to your esteemed village to pay my respects to Senior Flying Dragon Deng, and I hope you will show me Senior Deng's residence."

The bald, plain-clothed old man was stunned upon hearing "Jiugongbao." Just then, a sweet laugh suddenly came from inside the thatched hut, followed by an urging, "Father, our honored guest has arrived! Why are you standing there like that?"

The bald old man snapped out of his daze, slapped the back of his head, and laughed heartily in a tone of sudden realization, "I really am getting senile." As he spoke, he darted to the gate, pulled it open, and waved repeatedly, laughing happily, "Young Master Jiang, please come in quickly, young man. This old fellow is Deng Zhengtong. You've come to the right place."

Jiang Tiantao hadn't expected such a coincidence; the old man before him was indeed Flying Flood Dragon Deng Zhengtong. Although he already knew the old man's temperament, he still couldn't help but take a few steps forward, bow deeply, and respectfully say, "Junior Jiang Tiantao kowtows to Senior Deng, wishing you good health!"

The bald old man, Deng Zhengtong, hurriedly smiled and said, "No need, no need, I really don't deserve such praise." After saying that, he laughed heartily. Jiang Tiantao

was already kneeling on the ground, bowing his head in kowtow.

Suddenly, a clear, delicate voice said unhappily, "Father, really! Forget it, forget it! If you're going to waive it, at least help him up!"

Deng Zhengtong, who was laughing heartily, couldn't help but chuckle and said humorously, "I said 'waive it' was just a formality. If he didn't have the airs of a young master, he would have kowtowed."

Jiang Tiantao was both amused and exasperated, unsure of what to say. Flying Dragon Deng Zhengtong pointed to the door and said, "Come in, the lake wind is strong outside." As he spoke, he glanced at the Lixing Sword hanging at Jiang Tiantao's waist, turned around, and walked straight to the front of the house. Jiang Tiantao respectfully responded and followed the old man respectfully. As

Flying Dragon Deng walked forward, he asked with concern, "How has my old brother been these past two years?"

Jiang Tiantao knew he was asking about his father, so he quickly replied respectfully, "Thanks to your blessing, senior, my father has always been very well." As they spoke, the two had already entered the room.

There were no lights in the room, but Jiang Tiantao could still see the furnishings at a glance. In the center was a poplar wood eight-immortal table, with a wooden chair on each side. Near the left and right doors, there was a stool and a tea table on each side. There was nothing else.

As Jiang Tiantao was looking around, he suddenly heard Fei Jiao Deng laughing and scolding, "You little devil, why aren't you lighting the lamp? It's not like you're ugly and can't be seen by anyone. Come out and greet your young master brother." As

soon as he finished speaking, a clear voice suddenly rang out from the left bedroom, saying aggrievedly, "I can't find any kindling!"

As his mood gradually calmed down, Jiang Tiantao thought the voice sounded somewhat familiar. After thinking about it carefully, he suddenly heard Fei Jiao Deng say in a deep voice, "Nonsense, bring out the lamp. I have one here."

As soon as he finished speaking, a figure flashed at the door of the inner room, and a girl in red carrying an oil lamp walked out quickly with her head lowered. As Fei Jiao Deng was striking a fire, he saw his beloved daughter's coy behavior and immediately said with displeasure, "Hey, you little devil, what's wrong with you tonight? Everything about you is so strange."

As he spoke, the fire in his hand snapped open. Jiang Tiantao glanced at it in the firelight and exclaimed, "Ah!" He was immediately stunned. He saw a girl in red, her head bowed to her chest, her face flushed with shyness, suppressing a coquettish laugh, her almond-shaped eyes fixed on the oil lamp with a charmingly innocent look—it was none other than the Pearl Girl he had met at the ferry.

Hearing Jiang Tiantao's soft "ah," Flying Dragon Deng, who had been holding the lamp, couldn't help but quip, "Boy, what's wrong with you now? Did you see our little Zhu girl and think she was a fairy incarnate?"

Jiang Tiantao regained his composure, his handsome face turning red, and hurriedly bowed, saying, "This junior and Miss Zhu were crossing the river together in the same boat..."

Before he could finish speaking, the girl in red burst into laughter again, then said with a laugh, "Father, he's the one who called me 'sister' and didn't apologize to me."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Tiantao's ears turned red, and he was about to hurriedly explain when he suddenly saw Flying Dragon Deng say seriously, "Why should I apologize to you? He should have called you 'sister' in the first place!"

Upon hearing this, the girl in red quickly buried her blushing cheeks in her slender hands, too embarrassed to look at Jiang Tiantao again. To appear humble, Jiang Tiantao hurriedly bowed and said, "I dare not, I dare not..."

Upon hearing this, Flying Dragon Deng glared at him and immediately rebuked, "What do you mean you dare not? You dared to loudly call out 'sister' in public, but now, in front of this old man, you dare not call out at all!"

Jiang Tiantao was speechless with embarrassment, unable to explain himself to this seasoned veteran. Just then, a deafening neighing of a horse suddenly rang out from behind the house. Jiang Tiantao was startled. The girl in red blurted out "Little Red," and in a flash, Flying Dragon Deng Zhengtong was nowhere to be seen. Immediately afterward, a powerful, gruff voice came from the backyard: "You rat, do you think you can escape without leaving your life?"

Upon hearing this, the girl in red took down a slingshot from the wall and said urgently, "Let's go quickly, there are people in the backyard."

Jiang Tiantao nodded in agreement and followed the girl in red, leaping towards the backyard. Upon reaching the backyard, following the direction the tall, chestnut horse was gazing, Jiang Tiantao saw two white streaks of water, one after the other, rushing towards the center of the lake. The latter, in particular, resembled a flying fish cutting through the waves, its speed astonishing. Jiang Tiantao knew that the person chasing closely behind was none other than the Flying Flood Dragon, Deng Zhengtong. At that moment, the night sky was high and clear, dotted with countless stars, and the crescent moon hanging obliquely in the sky shone even brighter, reflecting off the two approaching white streaks of water on Dragon Palace Lake, splashing up rolling silver flowers.

Jiang Tiantao and the girl in red stood side by side on the lake embankment in the backyard, anxiously watching the flying dragon Deng Zhengtong and the person swimming ahead like lightning. Just as they were about to catch up, the person in front suddenly vanished with a swirl of water. Flying dragon Deng Zhengtong let out a cold snort and sank to the surface as well. Suddenly, the water churned, and with a splash, the person resurfaced, glanced nervously at the lake, and then sank back into the water. Jiang Tiantao, who couldn't swim, watched with secret admiration, resolving to learn swimming skills in his spare time.

Before he could finish his thought, he heard the girl in red beside him smile and say, "Caught him!"

Jiang Tiantao was startled, looked at the lake—calm and still—and was just beginning to doubt when suddenly, a swirl of water appeared, and Flying dragon Deng Zhengtong's bald head emerged from the water, slowly swimming towards the shore. Suddenly, the girl in red raised her voice, "Father, who is it?"

Flying Dragon Deng Zhengtong shook his head and shouted back, "I haven't seen it yet."

The girl in red raised her voice again, "Where is he?"

Flying Dragon Deng Zhengtong smiled and said, "Riding on my lap."

Jiang Tiantao was taken aback. He stared intently and saw that Deng Zhengtong in the water was indeed riding a whale. No wonder he wasn't in a hurry to swim ashore. Suddenly, the girl in red giggled and said loudly with a hint of reproach, "Father, take a look!"

Flying Dragon Deng Zhengtong spun around in the water and lifted a young man dressed in black water armor from the surface. Jiang Tiantao stood on the lake shore. Although he was still eight or nine zhang away from Flying Dragon Deng Zhengtong, he could still see the man's face clearly. The man was about twenty-eight or twenty-nine years old, with a fair complexion, slanted eyebrows, a not-so-prominent nose, tight lips, and closed eyes, seemingly still arrogant and defiant.

As they surveyed the scene, they suddenly spotted Deng Zhengtong, the flying dragon in the water. A cold glint flashed in his tiger-like eyes, and he said hatefully, "Zhu'er, it's a water bee."

Upon hearing this, the girl in red's face turned ashen. She raised her eyebrows and gritted her teeth, shouting angrily, "Father, lift him up! Let Zhu'er use him as a live target!" As she spoke, she raised her red bow and swiftly pulled out a large, crystalline silver bullet from her pouch.

Deng Zhengtong in the water flicked his silver beard and resolutely agreed, then raised the man even higher. Jiang Tiantao was startled. He feared it was someone from the Three Hairpins Gang. Suddenly, he heard the girl in red shout sharply, "You villain, prepare to die!"

The word "prepare" was uttered, the bowstring twanged, and a silver flash, like thunder, shot straight at the man's face. The cold light vanished, and a piercing, ear-piercing scream erupted, shaking the lake. The man's face was mangled, blood splattered everywhere, and half his head was gone.

Flying Dragon Deng Zhengtong roared in the water, "Go!" With a powerful leap, he flung the man's corpse out of the water, sending it flying several feet away. Jiang Tiantao was startled; he hadn't expected the old fisherman's skill to be so astonishing.

With a loud splash, a spray of water erupted as the man's body sank to the bottom of the lake, its blood instantly staining the water red. Then, the old man, Flying Dragon Deng Zhengtong, moved with the speed of a flying fish, already reaching the shore. Suddenly, the girl in red beside him calmly said, "Father, go change your clothes!"

In a flash, the old man, Deng Zhengtong, leaped ashore, nodded in agreement, pointed at Jiang Tiantao, and smiled, "Girl, chat with your young master brother for a while, I'll go change."

The girl in red gave Jiang Tiantao a charming glance, then giggled and replied, "Yes." Jiang Tiantao was stunned. Just moments ago, the father and daughter had been burning with rage, their faces filled with murderous intent, as if they harbored some deep-seated hatred for the man nicknamed "Flower Water Bee." Now, however, the father and daughter were laughing and joking, seemingly completely forgetting what had just happened. Seeing the old man return to his room to change clothes and instruct the girl in red, he hurriedly and humbly said, "Please, senior!"

The drenched flying dragon Deng Zhengtong waved cheerfully, a smile on his face, and walked straight to the front courtyard. Jiang Tiantao was eager to know the man's background. As soon as Deng Zhengtong turned the corner, he asked in confusion, "Miss Zhu, who is that man?"

The girl in red, upon being asked, seemed to reignite her anger, which had just subsided. She angrily exclaimed, "He's a notorious lecher!"

Jiang Tiantao suddenly realized, "So he's a lecher! He deserves to die!" He immediately frowned, puzzled, and asked, "Do the reclusive heroes near Dragon Palace Lake just let him run rampant like this?"

The girl in red immediately said angrily, "This villain is extremely cunning, his whereabouts are secretive, he's skilled in using sleeping potions, and his water skills are especially superb. Apart from my father, he has almost no match for him..."

Jiang Tiantao immediately interjected, "He must have a place to stay, right? Why didn't you send someone to secretly investigate him?" "His lodging."

Upon hearing this, the girl in red pointed to the faintly visible Dragon and Phoenix Island and said in a deep voice, "Look, that's where he's staying!"

Jiang Tiantao looked and couldn't help but ask anxiously, "Is he a subordinate of Zhang Lehua, the Water Demon?"

The girl in red blushed slightly and said disdainfully, "He's not only Zhang Lehua's subordinate, but also her third husband."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Tiantao immediately said in annoyance, "Oh no!" As

soon as he finished speaking, a strong and questioning voice came from inside the back window: "What's wrong? Come in and tell me."

The girl in red glanced at the back window and then said to Jiang Tiantao, "Go and tell my father quickly."

Jiang Tiantao nodded, then glanced warily at the lake and the surrounding area before walking side by side with the girl in red towards the front yard. Upon arriving at the door, Flying Dragon Deng Zhengtong, having changed into dry clothes, was sitting in the chief wooden chair. Seeing Jiang Tiantao and the other man enter, he immediately asked in confusion, "What's wrong? Sit down and tell me."

After Jiang Tiantao sat down, he briefly recounted the reason for his visit to Deng Zhengtong, his own background and experiences, and his encounter with the Three Hairpins Gang's experts who were following him at the ferry. Finally, he said uneasily, "Therefore, I fear that Hua Shuifeng is acting on orders from the Three Hairpins Gang's superiors to secretly track my movements. I am not afraid, but I am afraid of implicating you, senior..."

Before he finished speaking, the old man Deng Zhengtong laughed loudly, then said in a clear voice, "As the saying goes, no one visits the Three Treasures Hall without a reason. As soon as you arrived, I knew things were not simple. Although Hua Shuifeng is audacious, I doubt he would dare to make a move on my Zhu girl. According to what you said, this guy must have come on orders." He paused, looked at Jiang Tiantao, who looked slightly uneasy, and said in a deep voice, "As for whether Zhu girl and I can continue to stay here, that's none of your concern. I'll ask you, how did you become so entangled with the three girls of the Three Hairpins Gang?"

Jiang Tiantao blushed and had no choice but to recount the story of Yu Chai's provocation and his being ordered to pay a visit, but he omitted the part about returning Yu Chai and going upstairs to see the doctor. Finally, he respectfully requested, "In order to capture the Poisonous Lady and retrieve the embroidered garment made by my late mother, I beg you, senior, to find a way to send me to Dragon Phoenix Island."

Flying Flood Dragon Deng Zhengtong laughed heartily and said, "This is my duty, why make it sound so pitiful? Let me ask you first, are you planning to openly break in or secretly?"

Jiang Tiantao was overjoyed to see Flying Flood Dragon Deng Zhengtong readily agree and hurriedly said respectfully, "To avoid alerting the enemy, it's

better to secretly break in than openly." Flying Flood Dragon Deng Zhengtong readily agreed, stood up from his chair, and said to Jiang Tiantao, "You two talk here for a while, I'll go to the lake to find a boat." As soon as he finished speaking, his figure flashed and he was already outside the door. By the time Jiang Tiantao bowed and watched him go, Deng Zhengtong's figure had already disappeared.

Jiang Tiantao exclaimed in admiration, "Senior Deng, not only is your water skill superb, but your lightness skill is also astonishing!"

The girl in red smiled and said jokingly, "Judging from your movements while chasing the horse thief, your lightness skill is also astonishing!"

Jiang Tiantao smiled awkwardly and said modestly, "Compared to your best friend, I, Jiang Tiantao, am still a step behind..."

The girl in red was taken aback, her bright almond-shaped eyes widening in surprise as she asked, "What did you say? My best friend?"

Jiang Tiantao immediately became serious and said, "Wasn't the person I chased at the beginning of the night your best friend?"

Upon hearing this, the girl in red immediately scoffed, then suppressed a laugh and said, "I, Deng Lizhu, have lived for seventeen or eighteen years, and I know nothing about best friends!"

Jiang Tiantao was unconvinced and asked seriously, "Just now in front of the woods, why did you save that person?"

Deng Lizhu's face flushed, her delicate nose twitched, and she smiled shyly, saying, "I wanted to punish that person who likes to take advantage of others."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Tiantao immediately understood that Deng Lizhu's purpose in saving that person was to retaliate for not apologizing to her at the ferry. However, thinking of the person with the black veil covering their head, he couldn't help but mutter to himself, "Who is that person?" "?"

Deng Lizhu's almond-shaped eyes lit up, and she said urgently as if she had realized something, "It's probably Hua Shuifeng!"

Jiang Tiantao shook his head without hesitation and said, "No, it was a woman."

Deng Lizhu asked dismissively, "How do you know that person was a woman?"

Jiang Tiantao explained, "I noticed that her hands, which were pulling the horse, were fair and slender, with delicate fingers..."

Just then, a figure flashed outside the bamboo fence, and Flying Dragon Deng Zhengtong rushed into the yard, saying urgently, "The boat is ready, bring the horse in!"

Jiang Tiantao respectfully replied, "Yes," and rushed to the fence, pulling Xiaoqing into the yard. At this moment, Deng Zhengtong had a heavy, shiny black iron oar in his hand. As soon as Deng Lizhu bolted the gate and said "Let's go," he leaped out of the yard first. Jiang Tiantao tied the reins to the saddle and followed closely behind Deng Lizhu. Four or five small fishing boats were moored side by side along the lake shore. One of them, a long and narrow boat, was only three feet long, with sharp, upturned ends and four oars—a nimble

, shuttle-shaped vessel. Deng Lizhu leaped onto the boat first, her landing causing it to sway slightly. Jiang Tiantao, observing this, gained a deeper understanding of Deng Lizhu's skills. In an instant, Deng Lizhu beckoned to him, gesturing for him to sit in the center. Jiang Tiantao leaped onto the boat, but before he could even sit properly, Deng Zhengtong had already untied the mooring rope and landed on the boat. Deng Lizhu, her almond-shaped eyes sparkling, smiled and whispered, "Do you know any water skills?"

Jiang Tiantao's handsome face flushed slightly, and he immediately shook his head. Deng Zhengtong snorted and said humorously, "So you're just a 'bottle'!" With the word "bottle" uttered, both oars began to move, and the boat was already far from the shore. Jiang Tiantao, puzzled by the "bottle" in question, was stunned!

Deng Lizhu laughed and said, "People who live on the water call those who can't swim 'oil bottles.'"

Jiang Tiantao's handsome face flushed even more upon hearing this, and he couldn't help but laugh self-deprecatingly, saying, "I must learn water skills in the future."

The old man, Deng Zhengtong, immediately joked, "Then you'd better take Zhu'er as your master; I guarantee you'll drink a few mouthfuls of lake water first."

As soon as he finished speaking, all three laughed happily. The laughter rippled across the rippling lake, lingering for a long time. Only then did Jiang Tiantao realize that with four oars propelling the boat forward like an arrow, it had already left the lakeshore dozens of feet away. Looking up at the night sky, he saw patches of dark clouds, a gentle lake breeze, and the crescent moon had disappeared. Looking again at the two islands, Dragon and Phoenix, standing majestically in the center, a faint light shone directly into the sky. A thought struck him, and he asked in a low voice, "Senior Deng, do you know which island the Water Demon Zhang Lehua usually resides on?"

Flying Dragon Deng Zhengtong snorted disdainfully, "That lowly woman claims to have a Phoenix destiny, so she lives on the smaller Phoenix Island."

Jiang Tiantao continued, "Senior, have you ever been to Phoenix Island?"

Flying Dragon Deng Zhengtong shook his bald head, saying, "Since Zhang Lehua occupied Dragon and Phoenix Island, this old man has never been there." He paused, looking at the somewhat disappointed Jiang Tiantao, pointed at Deng Lizhu, and continued, "She knows the situation on the island." Jiang Tiantao's

spirits lifted, and he turned to look at Deng Lizhu, asking with delight, "Miss Zhu, have you been there?"

Deng Lizhu lazily shook her head, saying indifferently, "The island is heavily guarded, with numerous checkpoints. To go deep inside is no easy feat. I only looked around from the edge of the island."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Tiantao's two sword-like eyebrows immediately furrowed. Flying Dragon Deng Zhengtong chuckled, then humorously said, "You're being a bit too stingy, kid. Calling her 'Sister Zhu' wouldn't hurt you much!"

Jiang Tiantao, upon hearing this, suddenly understood, and retorted confidently, "But Sister Zhu hasn't called me 'Brother Tao' either!"

Old Man Deng Zhengtong glared at him, suppressed a laugh, and snorted, saying, "You two are evenly matched, neither of you should complain." With that, Jiang Tiantao and Deng Lizhu both laughed happily.

Just then, the sound of rushing water could be heard in the distance. Deng Lizhu immediately stopped laughing and said with concern, "Brother Tao, hold on tight, you'd better hold onto the oars with both hands. We're almost at Dragon's Eye Whirlpool."

Jiang Tiantao was startled and turned to look; Dragon Phoenix Island was already two or three miles away. On the distant lake, waves surged, whirlpools flew, and splashes of silvery spray rose from the water. At the same time, the nearby currents gradually intensified. But the shuttle-shaped boat remained swift as an arrow, rushing straight into the whirlpool. Its bow cleaved through the raging waves with a loud splash, sending sprays of water flying a foot high. The boat moved downstream, growing faster and faster. Only Deng Zhengtong held the heavy iron oar; the other wooden oars were placed inside the boat.

Deng Lizhu gripped the port and stare at Jiang Tiantao with slightly tense eyes, saying again with concern, "Brother Tao, you mustn't be careless! Hold on tight! We'll be at Dragon's Eye Whirlpool in the blink of an eye."

Jiang Tiantao obeyed, gripping the gunwale. He looked at Flying Dragon Deng Zhengtong, his expression solemn, his tiger-like eyes fixed intently on the front. At that moment, the boat sped off like an arrow released from a bow, the roar of the water terrifying. Jiang Tiantao looked again and realized that Dragon Phoenix Island, which had been in front of him, was now on his right. Suddenly, the boat tilted sharply, moving with lightning speed. Flying Dragon Deng Zhengtong said in a concerned voice, "Follow the boat's momentum; do not recklessly use the 'Thousand-Pound Drop' technique."

Jiang Tiantao's heart skipped a beat upon hearing this, as he was about to use his internal energy to sink himself. Hearing the old man's words, he immediately relaxed his muscles and gripped the gunwale tightly. In that instant, Jiang Tiantao felt a bone-chilling cold, a biting wind stinging his face, swirling stars in the night sky, and the surrounding lake water swirling. He could no longer distinguish east from west, nor could he see the vast lake surface.

Suddenly, a cold glint flashed in Flying Dragon Deng Zhengtong's tiger-like eyes, and he said solemnly, "Be careful!"

Jiang Tiantao was startled and gripped the gunwale tightly. He saw Flying Dragon Deng Zhengtong's tiger-like eyes stare at the deep whirlpool in the center, about three zhang in diameter. Suddenly, he let out a deep shout, the iron oar was thrust back into the water, and he swung his arm. With a whoosh, the small boat rose diagonally like an arrow, as if flying through the air. Jiang Tiantao dared not sink himself, but the immense force nearly threw him overboard. The small boat rocked violently several times, but gradually stabilized under the skillful oarsmanship of Flying Dragon Deng Zhengtong, though its speed remained unchanged.

Jiang Tiantao knew they had passed the treacherous Dragon's Eye Whirlpool, but the currents and roars below were still incredibly powerful. Just then, Qin Ran's giggles rang out behind him. Jiang Tiantao turned around and saw Deng Lizhu, composed and suppressing her laughter, her hands naturally paddling the oars, her bright eyes fixed on his handsome face. Seeing Jiang Tiantao

looking at her, Deng Lizhu immediately smiled and asked, "Brother Tao, how was the experience of crossing the Dragon's Eye Whirlpool?"

Jiang Tiantao knew Deng Lizhu was laughing at his terrified state, so he could only shake his head sincerely, smiling as if still shaken, and said, "It was indeed extremely dangerous. What if the small boat had plunged into that deep Dragon's Eye Whirlpool..."

Flying Dragon Deng Zhengtong immediately joked, "Then we'd have to make a scene in the Dragon Palace tonight."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Tiantao couldn't help but laugh, his mood instantly lightening. At this moment, Flying Dragon Deng Zhengtong said in a deep voice, "You should prepare how you're going to get up there."

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