Vol. 2 - Ch. 17 - Plucking Flowers, Snatching Leaves!

"Splash..."

"Splash..."

Two splashes broke the night’s silence.

Murong Longyuan’s wrinkled, old-man-like face froze on the spot.

One second, they were fighting; the next, they ran?

"Hey! Why are you running?!"

"Keep fighting!"

On the boat, the woman tied up with ropes let out a startled scream.

She pulled her hands from behind her back and, in just a few quick motions, untied the ropes wrapped around her.

"Splash..."

Yet another splash followed.

The cross-dressing woman leaped into the water after them.

On Lake Tai, silver waves shimmered under the moonlight, casting a brilliant glow upon the surface.

Murong Longyuan took a deep breath and looked toward the lake.

With a powerful push from his legs, his figure shot five feet into the air.

His black brocade robe fluttered in the night wind.

Murong Longyuan landed on the Six Gates boat, raised a hand, and pointed in a direction with his hoarse voice: "That way."

Several constables from Six Gates swiftly rowed in the indicated direction.

---

Reed Marsh, Lakeshore

"Splash, splash..."

Two drenched figures emerged from Taihu’s waters.

Sun Sheng, clad in black nightwear, was soaked to the bone, his eyes glinting with excitement.

Just now, he had exchanged blows with a seasoned First-Rank master.

And honestly? It wasn’t that big of a deal.

Give him a few more years—once his inner energy reached the First-Rank, Sun Sheng felt he could slap Murong Longyuan around like a grandkid.

Qiong Aohai climbed ashore, his strong, masculine face tinged with an odd expression.

"Splash..."

A sharp sound of water breaking behind them made both of them jump.

"Why are you two running so fast?"

A crisp, melodious female voice called out.

Turning around, they saw the cross-dressing woman swimming toward them.

Sun Sheng’s eyes widened in disbelief.

---

The route he took just now was a secret passage known only to the water bandits.

No outsider should have been able to follow.

Yet, this woman had kept up?!

Sun Sheng wiped his face, brushing away lake water, and stared at her in astonishment.

Qiong Aohai merely glanced at her and said nothing.

The three of them climbed onto the shore together.

"So, what now?"

"Where are we going?"

The woman’s voice was bright with excitement.

Sun Sheng suddenly halted and turned to Qiong Aohai. "You know her?"

Qiong Aohai looked momentarily confused before replying flatly, "Isn’t she one of your people?"

Sun Sheng turned to look at the woman.

She grinned, revealing two small tiger teeth. "What’s wrong?"

"Never met someone who’s naturally friendly?"

"Besides, you rescued me from that nasty boatman."

"As a true hero, shouldn’t you take care of me?"

She waved her tiny fists, her delicate face full of conviction.

Sun Sheng turned to Qiong Aohai.

Qiong Aohai turned to Sun Sheng.

The two exchanged looks, momentarily speechless.

"Whoosh!"

The sound of something slicing through the air came from behind.

Sun Sheng and Qiong Aohai both leaped aside.

"Whoosh!"

A wet bamboo pole stabbed into the soft lakeside mud, its end vibrating violently with lingering internal force.

"You should come back with me, too."

Murong Longyuan’s raspy voice drifted over.

On the lake, the Six Gates boat had somehow closed in without a sound.

Standing at the bow, Murong Longyuan suddenly kicked off, soaring more than ten yards through the air before landing on the shore.

In his right hand, he still held that brass-tipped smoking pipe.

His face, lined and weary, bore an exhausted gaze as he looked at Sun Sheng and Qiong Aohai.

"Are all First-Rank experts this persistent?" Sun Sheng frowned slightly.

This was the first time he had ever fought a First-Rank master.

Before, he’d only beaten up that old turtle, Nan Yiyun.

Qiong Aohai stepped forward, clasped his fists, and said, "Senior, this matter has nothing to do with him."

Murong Longyuan inhaled from his pipe and exhaled a long stream of smoke.

"Under Dawu law, aiding a fugitive is an equal offense."

His hoarse voice carried a weight of finality as he looked at them both.

Sun Sheng laughed. He stepped forward and stood side by side with Qiong Aohai.

"I just like this guy!"

"What’s wrong with helping him?"

Sun Sheng looked at Qiong Aohai, clasped his fists, and said, "I am Sun Sheng, known as ‘White Stripe in the Waves’!"

Qiong Aohai nodded slightly and clasped his fists in return. "Qiong Aohai of the Sea Whale Gang."

The two exchanged a knowing smile.

Nearby, the cross-dressing woman’s bright eyes sparkled with excitement, as if she was just missing a handful of sunflower seeds to munch on.

…

Murong Longyuan let out a long breath, exhaling a three-foot stream of white smoke.

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh..."

Behind him, several elite Six Gates constables leaped from the boat.

There were both men and women, all wielding different weapons.

Murong Longyuan coughed lightly and tucked his smoking pipe into his waistband.

A constable beside him handed over a chain with an iron hook at the end.

"Clang..."

The heavy iron chain unraveled.

Six feet long, its dark metal gleamed ominously under the moonlight.

The other constables swiftly encircled Sun Sheng and Qiong Aohai.

Murong Longyuan gave the chain a slight tug. Internal force surged through it, making it rattle ominously.

Qiong Aohai focused on Murong Longyuan and spoke calmly to Sun Sheng beside him:

"You should go. This has nothing to do with you."

Sun Sheng spat on the ground, looking annoyed.

"This is my turf. Every bandit on Taihu gives me face."

"What makes Six Gates so special?"

Sun Sheng rolled his shoulders and stood firm beside Qiong Aohai.

Qiong Aohai let out a helpless smile.

"If we get out of this, I owe you a drink."

Sun Sheng grinned. "Fine. But I don’t drink cheap liquor."

Qiong Aohai responded flatly, "It will be the finest."

"What kind?"

"The absolute best."

"Good! Then this fight is worth it!"

---

Under the night sky, the thick, gleaming iron chain slithered like a viper, striking at both men.

Sun Sheng dodged left, Qiong Aohai right. Together, they charged toward Murong Longyuan.

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh..."

The chain twisted and coiled as if it were alive, lashing across their bodies.

Murong Longyuan’s immense internal force surged through it.

Both men grunted in pain.

The next moment—

A distinct sound of waves crashing against the shore echoed from their bodies.

Sun Sheng bent his knees slightly. The Hundred Waves energy in his core surged and roared.

The sound of waves striking the sand burst from his dantian.

Beside him, Qiong Aohai’s expression turned solemn. He assumed the starting stance of the Surging Wave Palm, his arms moving like ocean tides.

Murong Longyuan heard the sound of waves and paused for a split second, his eyes filled with shock.

The cross-dressing woman’s bright eyes widened.

She murmured, "So this little water bandit is also one of Grandpa Nan’s disciples."

"No wonder his moves felt so familiar."

Hearing the sound of waves, Qiong Aohai glanced at Sun Sheng, his eyes lighting up.

Sun Sheng simply smiled.

No words were needed.

"Hah!"

Both men shouted in unison.

The surging tide in their bodies erupted violently.

Like raging waves crashing against the heavens!

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

The iron chain twisted and turned like a living serpent, lashing out at Sun Sheng and Qiong Aohai.

A surge of formidable inner strength pulsed through the chain, carrying Murong Longyuan’s power.

Both men grunted in pain.

The next moment—

A distinct sound of crashing waves echoed from their bodies.

Sun Sheng bent his knees slightly, his inner energy surging and roiling like a hundred waves colliding. A deep, rhythmic sound of waves crashing against the shore resonated from his dantian.

Beside him, Qiong Aohai's expression turned serious. He raised his arms into the opening stance of Surging Wave Palm, his movements carrying the rhythmic cadence of a rising tide.

Murong Longyuan hesitated for a split second upon hearing the sound of ocean waves.

His eyes flashed with astonishment.

Watching from the side, the young woman’s bright eyes widened. She muttered under her breath, “So this little river bandit is also one of Grandpa Nan’s disciples.”

“No wonder his moves seemed familiar just now.”

Hearing the waves, Qiong Aohai glanced at Sun Sheng, his gaze filled with excitement.

Sun Sheng smirked.

There was no need for words.

"Hah!"

Both men shouted in unison.

The building tide of their energy suddenly erupted, surging like a tempest.

Like a storm crashing upon the heavens—like a tidal wave roaring forward!

Three moves later—

"Pfft—!"

Sun Sheng spat out a mouthful of blood, his face pale as he staggered back.

Beside him, Qiong Aohai had blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, his expression grim.

“Damn it, this guy is too damn strong!” Sun Sheng cursed, glaring at Murong Longyuan, who looked like an old man but struck like a thunderbolt.

Qiong Aohai simply said, “He is a first-rank expert.”

And with that—

He turned his head slightly, glancing at Sun Sheng, his gaze deep and unreadable.

Qiong Aohai reached into his robes with his right hand and pulled out a silk-wrapped letter, pressing it into Sun Sheng’s hands.

Sun Sheng hesitated for a moment.

"This matter has nothing to do with you. Please, deliver this to my father!"

Qiong Aohai’s expression remained calm as he gripped Sun Sheng’s shoulder, preparing to throw him clear of the fight.

"Whoosh..."

The pitch-black iron chain whipped toward Sun Sheng.

Qiong Aohai struck out with a heavy palm, intercepting the attack on Sun Sheng’s behalf.

Sun Sheng's body was sent flying, landing two zhang away.

He wanted to say something but understood Qiong Aohai’s intent.

Talking now would be a waste of time.

The surrounding Liu Shanmeng constables lunged toward Sun Sheng.

The young woman, who had been watching the fight, clicked her tongue.

"Already saying their final goodbyes? How boring."

Casually, she snapped off a nearby reed, breaking it into several pieces, and flicked them outward with a casual wave of her hand.

"Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!"

The unmistakable sound of sharp objects piercing flesh rang out.

The constables charging at Sun Sheng all collapsed, their faces twisted in pain.

Meanwhile, the iron chain had already coiled around Qiong Aohai’s arm, the hook at its tip aiming for his collarbone.

In the next instant—

Murong Longyuan abruptly retreated, his body shooting backward two zhang as he whipped the iron chain through the air.

"Clang! Clang! Clang!"

A crisp metallic sound rang out as something struck the chain.

Murong Longyuan landed steadily, his expression dark and serious.

Sun Sheng and Qiong Aohai both froze.

The sudden turn of events had caught them completely off guard.

"What are you two waiting for?"

The young woman rushed forward, grabbed them both by the arms, and took off running.

In a blink, the three vanished into the dense reeds along the shore.

The downed constables struggled to their feet, gritting their teeth against the pain, ready to give chase.

Murong Longyuan rasped, "No need."

Disappointment flashed across the constables’ faces.

Murong Longyuan stared into the distance, watching the direction in which the trio had disappeared.

His gaze deepened.

He muttered under his breath, "Plucking flowers and snatching leaves..."

"Someone from the Hua family?"

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