"Demon King, this junior seeks your guidance."
Shu Fu saluted the Lich King Wu Yao with her sword, the tip pointing downwards, her eyes lowered and demeanor restrained, perfectly adopting the posture of a respectful and humble junior.
"Hmph, you're quite the clever one."
The princess-syndrome old flood dragon was indeed pleased, his golden serpentine eyes curving like a pair of clear, cold crescent moons hanging on his face. "I sense Jiang Tan's aura on you. What, are you the new fledgling he's brought back?"
"Fledgling what?"
Shu Fu always felt this term was a bit off, carrying a somewhat inappropriate, adult connotation.
But upon second thought, Wu Yao's true form was a flood dragon, which at first glance wasn't much different from a large snake. He probably often raided bird nests or snatched eggs. For him, "bringing back a fledgling" might be no different from an ordinary person saying "picking up a child," with no special meaning.
However, why would he use this term to describe Jiang Xuesheng, who wasn't serpentine?
Just as Shu Fu pondered this, she heard him click his tongue lightly and continue, "You're just a tiny human, with no rare bloodline, nor are you some once-in-a-century genius. This lord truly cannot fathom what that finicky Jiang Tan sees in you."
Shu Fu: "Uh..."
You ask me, but who do I ask?
She recalled the circumstances of her meeting with Jiang Xuesheng and thought to herself, maybe he just finds me cute.
"Demon King, you jest. No matter how picky Master is, he can't compare to you."
Liu Ruyi, unable to bear Wu Yao belittling Shu Fu, deliberately adopted a feminine voice and spoke with sarcastic mockery. "I still remember, when you were seeking a Dao companion back in the day, you listed your conditions on a full eighteen jade slips. You scared all those female demons coveting your beauty, leaving them dumbfounded and fleeing in panic."
He cleared his throat with great seriousness and began counting them off: "Cultivation must be high, appearance must be good, voice must be sweet, temper must be gentle, attire must be elegant, demeanor must be dignified, speech must be straightforward. Must not be rude or contradict, must not flatter or fawn. Cannot sleep in late in the morning, cannot be greedy with fine wine..."
"Sometimes I wonder, with you being such a picky, fastidious clean-freak of a long worm, are you a Demon King or an immortal lord from the Nine Heavens? Are you picking a Dao companion or a subordinate?"
Wu Yao's face began turning green again. "I... I was just talking! Besides, what's wrong with having some requirements? The Cloud Flood Dragons of Witch Mountain are descendants of the Dragon Clan. How can we casually engage in... engage in..."
Shu Fu blurted out: "Mating?"
Wu Yao choked on his breath, turned his head, and glared at her. "You little girl, barely bigger than a speck, how can you just toss that word around so casually?"
"This... I'm just saying it. Aren't you the one actually doing it?"
Shu Fu asked with an expression of utmost sincerity.
Wu Yao: "..."
The thousand-year-old, pure-hearted flood dragon who cultivated the Path of Joy, unexpectedly run over by the verbal wheels of a young human girl, was momentarily left speechless.
Shu Fu couldn't help but wonder, with a personality like his, could he really succeed in finding a female Dao companion?
Liu Ruyi soon answered her doubt: "Wu Yao is 1,008 years old and has only had three Dao companions. One didn't outlive him, passing away peacefully five hundred years ago, and he dutifully observed mourning for several years. One grew tired of his lack of romance and ran off with a Heavenly Fox from Qingqiu two hundred years ago; they're now as sweet as honey and often invite him to visit. As for the last one..."
Wu Yao said with a frosty face, "The last one was an assassin sent by Lingxiao City. After being my Dao companion for ten years, she laid a trap that left me severely injured, forcing me to cooperate with the Jiuhua Sect and retreat here to recuperate. Satisfied?"
Shu Fu: "..."
Too tragic!
The Lich King's life is too tragic!
Is this something a person would do?
Oh, almost forgot.
Lingxiao City doesn't count as people.
"You understand now."
Liu Ruyi knew when to stop and lowered his head to preen his feathers. "Wu Yao, your romantic path has always been rocky. Why get so furious just because you mistook me for a woman? Other things aside, you actually plucked my feathers!"
Shu Fu: "..."
Indeed, having his feathers plucked was to Liu Ruyi what romantic relationships were to Wu Yao—an unbearable pain in life.
And so, amidst Qi Yuxuan's pained groans and Fang Wanqing's impotent rage, Shu Fu, Liu Ruyi, and Wu Yao moved to another location to begin Shu Fu's "seeking guidance" from the Lich King.
Of course, Shu Fu didn't forget to leave a sealing talisman behind, trapping the two of them in place, allowing Fang Wanqing to wholeheartedly perform "What Can I Use to Save You, My Love."
"Hmph. A little girl as bold as you are is indeed rare."
Seeing her determined to try, Wu Yao also slightly reined in his disdainful attitude and seriously prepared to meet her challenge.
He stood idly in place, holding the bamboo branch horizontally. Beyond his refined and elegant bearing, he now carried a dashing, heroic air, further accentuating his divine clarity and handsome features—truly a jade-like gentleman rarely seen in the mortal world.
Shu Fu thought: With looks like these, yet still lonely and single at such an advanced age... It seems he really is excessively picky when it comes to finding a partner.
As a "woman," Liu Ruyi indeed had beauty where beauty was needed, cultivation where cultivation was needed. His temperament was free and easy, his character upright, his demeanor graceful, and he possessed an enthralling, goddess-like voice.
Moreover, flood dragons are descendants of the Dragon Clan, and swan geese are of the Phoenix lineage. The two could indeed be considered a match in terms of status.
It was just a pity that Liu Ruyi was a straight man.
Why does this plot feel familiar?
Senior Brother Liu, just how many men have shed tears for you?
What a karmic entanglement.
Shu Fu sighed inwardly, assumed her starting stance, saluted Wu Yao once more, and then thrust her sword forward.
"My cultivation is lowly. This time, I seek your guidance in swordsmanship. Senior, I apologize in advance!"
"Oh? The little girl has courage. If you can land a single winning move on me, I'll consider it your victory."
Wu Yao raised an eyebrow. Without dodging or evading, his casually hanging wrist lifted slightly, and the bamboo branch traced a cunning arc, meeting Shu Fu's blade precisely.
Spiritual energy clearly flowed along the bamboo branch. With a clear clang, the Solitary Light Sword in Shu Fu's hand was forcefully parried away!
Shu Fu: ???
What kind of ultra-reinforced bamboo is this, that it makes a sound like clashing metal?!
She didn't dare slack off. Before her move was fully spent, she quickly stepped forward, lowered her body, and swept her sword backhand towards Wu Yao's lower body.
"Heh, a petty trick."
This time, Wu Yao finally moved—as if teasing her, he retreated a step, unhurried.
Shu Fu's strike missed again, but her mind remained utterly calm. She calmly withdrew her sword, changed techniques, turned, and struck again, treating Wu Yao as nothing more than a human-shaped training post, while she herself was an emotionless sword-practice machine.
Every move, every stance, had been practiced thousands of times on Yaoguang Peak. She had committed every minute variation to heart.
Wu Yao's swordplay was indeed exquisite, his spiritual power formidable, but her every response was composed, calm, and methodical, striving for flawless defense. Relying further on her petite, agile frame and nimble footwork, she weaved around him, and for a time, showed no signs of defeat.
Wu Yao, a veteran of countless battles, quickly saw through it. "Little girl, you have quite the nerve. Counting on this lord not to strike to kill, you're using me to feed your techniques?"
Shu Fu halted her steps, raised her face, and smiled at him. "Not at all, I wouldn't call it nerve. If I didn't know you were kind-hearted and soft-handed, I wouldn't dare play like this."
The implied meaning, of course, was an admission.
Wu Yao, however, was not annoyed. The green bamboo branch in his hand whistled through the air with such speed it became a blur, dazzling to the eye. Yet, upon closer inspection, each move and stance flowed like drifting clouds and running water—natural and unrestrained, without a single trace of flashy, showy technique.
Shu Fu could tell he wasn't just going through the motions; he was genuinely crossing swords with her, relying on pure swordsmanship.
Setting aside cultivation realms and ingenious spells, just this skill of his with a mere bamboo branch lived up to his reputation as the "Demon King."
The saying, "Flying leaves and plucked flowers can all injure," probably referred to something like this.
Admiration welled up in Shu Fu's heart. Her hands moved faster, her eyes unblinking as she tried to find a flaw within the swirling mass of green light that was the bamboo branch.
But how easy could it be to find a flaw in a Demon King?
The fact that he was willing to assume a human form to spar with her was already an immense courtesy. To expect him to condescend and go easy on her would be asking too much.
Wait. Go easy on her...
A spark of inspiration struck Shu Fu, and a bold idea surged into her mind. She abruptly halted her sword's momentum, made a sharp turn with her feet, and "swished" around to Wu Yao's back.
She had tried this back-attack maneuver several times before, each time easily blocked. Wu Yao didn't take it seriously. "What, this move again?"
"......"
Shu Fu kept her cool and didn't make a sound, nor did she rush to strike him with her sword.
Finding the right position, she suddenly tossed her long sword aside, leaped into the air on the spot, and threw herself onto Wu Yao's back, using her arms to tightly lock around his neck.
Shu Fu: Take this! My powerful chokehold!
Wu Yao: "..."
He had no intention of harming a junior; on the contrary, he held some intent to guide her. His bamboo branch had only ever deflected Shu Fu's sword, never aimed at her body. He simply never imagined that Shu Fu would exploit this restraint of his and directly launch into close-quarters combat.
This was too reckless.
Even more reckless than he was in his youth.
The arm strength of a teenage girl, even if trained, was insufficient to restrain a Demon King.
But the problem was, although Wu Yao had been forced to cultivate that damned Path of Dual Cultivation, he was not a promiscuous, philandering flood dragon. By nature, he had always been quite reserved, his face as thin as a sheet of paper.
Now that he was older and held a higher status, he could use "annoyance" and "anger" to mask "embarrassment," but after all, it's easier to move mountains than to change one's nature.
In short, the Demon King was not very accustomed to physical contact with the opposite sex.
The moment Shu Fu locked her arms around his neck, she realized this awe-inspiring old flood dragon suddenly stiffened all over. His raised wrist halted mid-air, frozen in place just like that.
Clearly a cold-blooded creature, a thin layer of pink now swiftly climbed up his cheek, even emitting faint wisps of heat.
Shu Fu was a bit bewildered. "You're so old, yet you still get embarrassed?"
"Outrageous!"
Wu Yao desperately tried to maintain a stern expression, but his suddenly sharp voice betrayed him.
Shu Fu nearly burst out laughing, but the arm locked around his neck didn't loosen; instead, she added a bit more force. Using all four limbs, she clung tightly to Wu Yao's back like an octopus while boldly shouting, "I am being outrageous! Solitary Light!"
The Solitary Light sword trembled in place a couple of times, emitting a protesting hum, as if unable to bear the sight of its master's actions.
But it was, after all, a loyal and good sword. After its protest, it dutifully turned its tip and thrust towards Wu Yao's side.
Wu Yao's pupils constricted. Immediately, no longer caring about physical contact, he reached back, grabbed Shu Fu by the collar, swung his long arm, and hurled this presumptuous young girl away.
Of course, before acting, he had carefully observed, ensuring he didn't throw her against rocks or large trees, but instead chose a flat, soft patch of earth.
Knowing he was harsh in words but soft in heart, Shu Fu felt no panic. She executed a mid-air somersault to adjust her posture, landed steadily on her toes, and with a wave of her hand summoned the Po Yue Qin. "Go!"
Po Yue: "..."
Solitary Light, ah, brother is here to join you.
As for wielding the qin in this manner, Shu Fu was a novice the first time but familiar by the second. With her heel planted firmly, one hand gripping the qin's long tassel, she started off with a swift, whirling "great windmill." Wu Yao had never seen such a bizarre move before. For the first time, he failed to dodge in time. The heavy body of the qin brushed past the side of his face, knocking loose the green bamboo branch he used to tie up his hair, releasing a cascade of raven-black hair like brocade.
Having succeeded with one strike, Shu Fu didn't get greedy. She immediately cupped her hands towards Wu Yao. "Senior, this round goes to me."
Wu Yao: "..."
What kind of damned move is this? Are you messing with me?
Naturally, Wu Yao refused to acknowledge such an unorthodox series of actions from Shu Fu. Raising his hand, he thrust the bamboo branch towards her face again. "That was you cheating just now. That move doesn't count. Again!"
"Demon King, you can't bully a junior like this."
Shu Fu wasn't afraid of his anger at all. With a light backward hop, she nimbly avoided the strike, her face wearing a cheeky, irreverent smile. "We agreed on one move, and it's one move. I think you're the one who's being unreasonable..."
"Eh?"
Then, a sudden change occurred.
As Shu Fu's foot landed this time, she didn't feel solid ground. Instead, it was as if she had stepped into quicksand or mud, sinking straight down.
What's going on?
Thinking she had stepped into a trap within the secret realm, she immediately flung out a red rope to entangle the surrounding trees, trying to pull herself out.
However, the patch of earth beneath her foot seemed to have torn open a devouring maw. The soil clung to her skin like powerful glue, dragging at her leg with extraordinary force, pulling her entire limb downward. Trying to break free by force would likely tear off a layer of skin on the spot.
At the same time, Shu Fu saw a spark emerge from the soil.
Fleeting, yet bright enough to sting the eyes.
Fire?
A chill ran through Shu Fu's heart. She immediately looked around and saw, not far away, the fleeting figure of a graceful woman in purple robes, her hair in disarray, tightly clutching a spirit talisman in her hand. Who else could it be but Fang Wanqing?
"......"
What happened to the promised deep love and devotion, little sister?
Shu Fu truly hadn't expected Fang Wanqing's obsession to be so strong. To seize the chaos and kill Jiang Ruoshui, she could not only break through the talisman seal but even abandon the half-dead Qi Yuxuan.
Come on, your boyfriend is about to kick the bucket! Do you really love him?
For the first time since crossing over, Shu Fu felt a subtle sympathy for Qi Yuxuan.
But right now, she needed to worry more about herself.
Just moments before, Fang Wanqing had been able to unleash that awe-inspiring heavenly thunder, clearly by relying on some treasure or tool. That meant she could also use another tool to instantly dig a pit under Shu Fu's feet and drag her into a fiery pit to roast.
As a reborn supporting female character, these two tumultuous lifetimes of hers had not been in vain.
If it were the original Jiang Ruoshui, she likely would have been done in during the first encounter.
Within mere seconds, the soil gripping Shu Fu's ankle rapidly heated up. Sparks flew everywhere with crackling sounds. Waves of intense, burning pain assaulted her. A perfectly good leg was about to start emitting the aroma of roasted meat, just like Qi Yuxuan's.
"Little girl, what's wrong?"
"Junior Sister, be careful!"
At the same time, Wu Yao and Liu Ruyi also noticed something was amiss. One flew forward, the other flapped his wings and flew over to grab her collar.
"Wait, don't pull yet!"
At the critical moment, Shu Fu suddenly noticed the slender bamboo Wu Yao used to tie his hair had fallen right beside her foot. The bamboo branch was a vibrant, dripping green, with a few clear dewdrops still hanging from its leaf tips, clearly preserved with careful spiritual energy. Up close, she could even feel the abundant moisture emanating from the slender bamboo.
For a secretly stylish old dragon, he was quite meticulous about his appearance.
To nurture a plant and keep it fresh and dewy, both wood-element and water-element spiritual energy were indispensable.
The five elements generate and counteract each other. Wood overcomes earth, water overcomes fire. Which means...
"Senior, I'll borrow your hairpin!"
Without a moment's hesitation, Shu Fu reached out, grasped the slender bamboo branch, aimed at the soil near her feet, mustered all her strength, and stabbed it down hard.
The moment the bamboo pierced the earth, the force binding her legs and feet abruptly loosened, and the eagerly flickering sparks were instantly extinguished.
Success!
Shu Fu seized the chance immediately, yanking her leg free with force while simultaneously throwing herself forward in a roll, putting distance between herself and that man-eating patch of land.
Seeing her out of danger, Wu Yao casually flicked his long sleeve, grinding that patch of land into a cloud of scattering dust, leaving only a deep pit in the ground.
After dealing with it, he swept up his now-loose long hair with one hand, his expression darkening as his dangerous gaze, full of hidden menace, fell upon Fang Wanqing's hiding spot.
"Very good. You are truly something."
He said in a low voice, "It's rare to find a human who, time and again, breaks my rules like this."
Wu Yao seldom harmed examinees, but Fang Wanqing's repeated sneak attacks made him determined to teach this ill-intentioned young woman a lesson.
However, just before he could act, Shu Fu, having just finished her roll, sprang to her feet. In one fluid motion, she grasped Gu Guang in her hand and shot forward like an arrow from a bow.
Fang Wanqing, who thought herself perfectly hidden, had no time to react. All she felt was a sharp sword aura brush past her ear, so fast she barely registered the pain.
Instinctively, she reached up to touch it, only to feel her hand come away wet with dripping blood and a small piece of her earlobe, cleanly sliced off by the sword energy.
"Jiang Ruoshui, you—!"
Before Fang Wanqing's scream could fully escape her throat, Shu Fu had already closed the distance in a straight line. One hand seized Fang Wanqing's hair bun, and then Shu Fu slammed her into the ground as if kneading dough.
The force of this slam was tremendous. Fang Wanqing's carefully nurtured, delicate face smashed against the ground, the rough gravel embedding itself into her skin. Instantly, her once flawless, tender face became a bloody mess, a large patch of skin on her cheek scraped raw and torn away.
"Jiang Ruoshui, have you gone mad?!"
An excruciating pain shot through Fang Wanqing's face. Utterly terrified, her screams grew more and more frantic. "Let me go! Do you know who I am?! I'm from the Fang family! How dare you treat me like this?!"
"What wouldn't I dare?!"
Shu Fu paid her no heed. Without another word, she first dislocated both of Fang Wanqing's shoulder joints, then pressed the back of her head down hard, mercilessly grinding her face repeatedly into the dirt. "You wanted to kill me, right? Wanted to cripple my legs, right? What else did you want to do? Go on, tell me!"
As she spoke, she increased the pressure, almost burying half of Fang Wanqing's head in the soil.
"Miss Fang, if you've thrown away all face, of course I dare to tear yours off. As the saying goes, courtesy demands reciprocity, harmony begets wealth. If you have a grievance and don't seek revenge, you might as well hang yourself."
"Even if the Fang family raises this to your own parents, for the trouble you've stirred up, you will bear the consequences yourself.",, Everyone, please bookmark the site or remember the site address. The site is free, no theft, no anti-theft. Report errors in chapters, seek books, find books, and chat with book friends about books.
