Chapter Seventy-Six: Excitement

Jiang Xiaotian held his breath, fully concealing his presence. Unlike ordinary martial artists, his Dragon Breath Technique could be used for both attack and defense. As long as he willed it, no one would even notice he was there.

The sound of footsteps crunching on dry leaves grew louder, and suddenly, several figures emerged from the trees. Jiang Xiaotian’s eyes widened in shock.

There were three of them: one woman and two men. He wasn’t mistaken—the girl was the same ethereal beauty he’d seen during the day!

No—something was off.

Jiang Xiaotian looked more closely and realized that her expression was completely different from what he’d seen before. During the day, she’d been gentle and enchanting, soft and sweet as a cloud of spun sugar. Now, though, her face was set with determination, and her gaze held a strength few could possess.

She glanced quickly in his direction, her brow furrowing in suspicion, but in the end, she seemed unconcerned.

Was this really the same girl? Unless his memory was playing tricks on him, she should have been an ordinary person, without a trace of martial power. Yet now, the energy radiating from her was as powerful as Chen Yu’s at his peak—perhaps even stronger. There was no doubt: she was a master of inner strength.

Jiang Xiaotian had never expected that the first martial artist he would encounter in Longcheng would already be at such a level.

The two men flanking her seemed even more formidable.

They didn’t interfere with the “ethereal beauty.” A single look from her was enough, and the two immediately spread out to keep watch.

Jiang Xiaotian felt a bead of cold sweat. How could he be sure that even masters of inner strength wouldn’t sense him? Thankfully, his Dragon Breath Technique was just a step above.

But he didn’t want to leave now; his curiosity was piqued. Who was this girl, really? What business did she have at the lakeside so late at night?

He watched without moving, as still as a statue.

The girl stretched languidly, as if the world around her didn’t exist.

Then, to Jiang Xiaotian’s utter shock, she began to undress—slowly, deliberately.

His eyes nearly popped out of his head.

She did not hold back, and in the blink of an eye she slipped out of her clothes and waded naked into the lake.

Moonlight, water, and a beautiful woman.

A young man, heart racing, nosebleed threatening.

Who could withstand such a sight? Yet he was still a virgin and, timid by nature, quickly turned his head away. “Merciful Buddha, forgive my sins!”

Only then did he notice that the lake was not ordinary; the spiritual energy within its waters was richer than that in the air.

Soaking in it, as she was, wouldn’t allow her to absorb spiritual energy, but it would still benefit the body.

The more he watched, the more he felt the girl wasn’t the “ethereal beauty” he’d met before.

A face might deceive, but eyes never did.

Jiang Xiaotian continued to watch her, not out of lust, but to confirm her identity.

Perhaps he was too absorbed, but his hand slipped and brushed the trunk of a tree.

A rustle—his whole body tensed in alarm.

The girl in the lake instantly turned, her eyes flashing with murderous intent.

“Who’s there?”

Damn, this definitely wasn’t the gentle beauty from before!

In the next instant, Jiang Xiaotian sensed two people charging at him, their killing intent unmistakable.

He panicked—he wasn’t afraid of one master, but three?

He turned and ran, channeling spiritual energy into his legs and leaving behind a blur.

Seeing they couldn’t catch him, the two men launched attacks without mercy.

Jiang Xiaotian felt a surge of inner force behind him. Instantly, he summoned the Dragon’s Fury. Flames erupted around him, and the powerful strikes from the inner strength masters collapsed the moment they touched those nameless fires, vanishing instantly.

All three were stunned.

The girl, still steaming with fury in the distance, now looked astonished. “What? How is that possible?”

Her anger melted away, replaced by baffled curiosity.

One thing was certain: her two subordinates would never catch someone like that.

She immediately came ashore, dressed, and called the two back.

“My lady, it’s our fault. We failed to catch him. Don’t worry, I’ll have the entire city searched!” one of the men said.

The girl snorted. “Forget it. If he could neutralize your attacks so easily, do you really think anyone can catch him if he wants to hide?”

The two men fell silent.

“Enough, let’s go back. We’ll come again tomorrow, at a different spot.” She shook her head, no longer interested in bathing.

But to the two men, her reaction was a complete mystery.

Everyone knew that the young lady of the Ouyang family had a hot temper. She’d just been seen naked and failed to catch the culprit, yet she wasn’t angry at all?

“What are you waiting for? Get ready to leave,” she ordered sharply.

“Yes, my lady!” They dared not speculate further and hurried to prepare the way.

Little did they know, Ouyang Zijin felt not anger, but a faint thrill.

The Ouyang family had owned most of this park for decades, all to investigate its geomantic properties.

They’d even hired geomancers from afar, but their efforts yielded little.

The only discovery was the existence of a mysterious force within the park, which made its feng shui exceptional, the vegetation lush, and the people who visited always cheerful.

But they didn’t know it was spiritual energy, nor did they know how to use it.

What outsiders didn’t know was that, to the Ouyang family, this park was one enormous array. Ordinary martial artists stood no chance of hiding here; even masters of inner strength—or those on the level of spirit force—could never conceal themselves within.

Yet just now, that stranger had slipped in right under her nose. How could she not be shocked?

Unless he possessed the same kind of power, there was no way he could have escaped the eyes of all three.

And that special martial art he used to escape... Ouyang Zijin felt a surge of excitement. She had to find him and get answers.

“By the way, did either of you see the man’s face?” she asked.

The two martial artists exchanged a glance and shook their heads, apologetic. “Sorry, my lady, we didn’t get a good look. But his clothes were ragged and his hair was a mess—he looked a bit like a beggar.”

Ouyang Zijin frowned. “A beggar?”

That hardly seemed likely. Besides, beggars were forbidden in the city; no one would dare wander in.

But she had no clues for now. With a sigh, she said, “Spread the word. Find him if you can, but keep it discreet.”

Troublesome as it was, Ouyang Zijin wasn’t worried.

As long as he was in Longcheng, she would turn the city upside down to find him.

After all, the Ouyang family was one of the city’s true three great clans.

As for Jiang Xiaotian, he was running for his life.

He was terrified.

Three masters of inner strength—no matter how strong he was, he could never take them all at once.

Without stopping, he dashed straight back to the slums and collapsed onto his shabby mat, as if nothing had happened at all.