Shu Ni Is Very Cautious

A quarter past the hour of Hai.

Miss Shu pulled Ning Shisi to the Xunyang Marquis Manor.

Zhao Si pushed the door open and said, "Go past the long corridor, and the fifth courtyard on the right is where Jiang Wang is. I'm going to sleep, make yourselves at home."

Watching Zhao Si leave directly, Miss Shu and Ning Shisi exchanged a glance, thinking the rules of the Marquis Manor were truly strange.

Walking in the corridor, Miss Shu said nervously, "Doesn't that Jiang Wang have some kind of scheme?"

Ning Shisi comforted her, "Junior Sister, don't be afraid. If Mr. Jiang wanted to make things difficult, we wouldn't have been able to leave the Marquis Manor then. Why would he invite us here now? Perhaps he really needs our help with something."

Miss Shu glanced at him sideways and said, "You certainly speak highly of Mr. Jiang."

Ning Shisi chuckled awkwardly.

As they passed a certain spot, a sigh was suddenly heard.

Miss Shu exclaimed in alarm, "Could there be a Yao!"

Ning Shisi stopped to observe and said, "If there were a Yao, Junior Sister should be able to sense it."

Miss Shu immediately shook her head.

Ever since she came to Hun City, her courage seemed to be shrinking, she really detested this place.

Driven by curiosity, Ning Shisi followed the sound.

"The woodshed?" Seeing the pile of firewood by the door, Ning Shisi became even more astonished.

To lure out the old man in coarse cloth and hemp, Jiang Wang had even withdrawn the Black Flame Army guarding Su Lingyi, giving the old man ample opportunity to act.

And with just one steamed bun a day, and no physician called to treat Su Lingyi's injuries, only simple bandaging, there was no need to worry about Su Lingyi escaping.

Miss Shu mustered her courage and peered through the gap in the door.

"Who is it..." Lying on the pile of firewood, Su Lingyi, who had lost the will to live, heard the movement outside and asked in a very hoarse voice.

He was disheveled, pale, and extremely weak at the moment.

If he hadn't already completed Foundation Establishment and could borrow the Qi of heaven and earth to survive, given the way Jiang Wang treated him, Su Lingyi would have long since died.

And this was precisely what Jiang Wang had calculated.

"Who are you, and why are you in the woodshed?"

Su Lingyi frowned slightly and asked, "Aren't you from the Marquis Manor?"

Before anyone outside could answer, he continued hoarsely, "No matter who you are, please save me. Jiang Wang, that scoundrel, is hateful. He locked me here and ignored me..."

He struggled to move towards the woodshed door and said again, "I am a disciple of Fish Abyss Academy. If you save me, I will surely reward you handsomely."

Originally, Ning Shisi intended to pull Miss Shu away. Considering Jiang Wang a peak Dongming cultivator, he didn't want to meddle in other people's affairs. However, upon hearing the identity of the person in the woodshed, his body stiffened.

"Fish Abyss Academy?"

In fact, Ning Shisi didn't particularly like people from the Divine Capital's Fish Abyss Academy, but having a disciple of the academy locked up in the Xunyang Marquis Manor in Hun City was a very serious matter.

"Why did he lock you up?" Ning Shisi did not act rashly but inquired about the reason.

Su Lingyi said hatefully, "Jiang Wang wants to use me to coerce Fish Abyss Academy. His motive is obvious. The Grand Chancellor of the Divine Capital is revered as a Confucian Sage and is also the Emperor's tutor. Jiang Wang's actions are tantamount to treason. When I get out, I will definitely report to His Majesty and have Jiang Wang, that scoundrel, cut into a thousand pieces!"

Ning Shisi's expression became solemn.

If what the person in the woodshed said was true, Jiang Wang was indeed guilty of a heinous crime.

Just as he was about to open the woodshed door.

A soft cough suddenly came from behind him.

Jiang Wang smiled and looked at them, saying, "You two, I invited you into the manor, so you are guests. But guests must also understand the rules. How can you wander around my manor as you please?"

Miss Shu immediately said, "It was that one-armed person who told us to make ourselves at home!"

Ning Shisi grabbed Miss Shu and said in a deep voice, "Mr. Jiang, is the person locked in the woodshed truly a disciple of Fish Abyss Academy?"

Even though he feared Jiang Wang's peak Dongming strength, he still had a sense of righteousness when it came to important matters.

"That's right," Jiang Wang nodded and smiled, "Miss Shu should know that I defeated Cai Tanggu on Qixia Street. You can easily find out the cause of the incident. Cai Tanggu wants revenge, so it's not unreasonable for me to take precautions for self-preservation, is it?"

Miss Shu seemed to recall. The Garrison Headquarters had explained the specific details quite clearly. She immediately recounted them to Ning Shisi.

"Even so..." Ning Shisi hesitated, "Mr. Jiang's detention of a disciple from Fish Abyss Academy is also inappropriate. Moreover, there seems to be a misunderstanding in this matter. If Cai Tanggu truly comes for revenge, I can help Mr. Jiang explain. I believe Fish Abyss Academy will give face, so why not release this person..."

Jiang Wang looked deeply at Ning Shisi. To be able to get Fish Abyss Academy to give face, this guy's identity was not simple.

But his heart was extremely malicious.

He actually wanted to intercede for me?

I've spent tens of thousands of words cursing, and painstakingly waiting for Cai Tanggu to return for revenge. Wouldn't your actions ruin my plan?

Is this something a person would do?

Jiang Wang's expression turned cold, and he said in a deep voice, "I invited Miss Shu into the manor. Where did you come from? Be careful, or I'll accuse you of trespassing!"

Ning Shisi froze on the spot.

What was going on?

I meant well.

Miss Shu couldn't help but say, "Jiang Wang, are you really sick? Why can't you tell good from bad?"

Jiang Wang's icy expression instantly softened. He smiled, "Miss Shu, some matters are not for you to manage, nor should you. You don't realize that sometimes good intentions can lead to bad outcomes. Let's just pretend this never happened. Come, I'll treat you to some tea."

Miss Shu said in surprise, "You change your tune so fast."

Jiang Wang cupped his hands, "You flatter me, you flatter me."

Miss Shu pouted, "I've never met such a shameless person."

Jiang Wang waved his hands repeatedly, "Stop praising me, please stop."

Miss Shu: "..."

"Villain! Don't try to deceive others with your glib tongue!" Su Lingyi's voice came from the woodshed, filled with hatred. "When the Chancellor personally arrives in Hun City, you'll have no good ending. Keep being smug, and let's see who laughs last!"

Jiang Wang said helplessly, "Here we go again. If you had any brains, you'd shut up. If you threaten me again, I won't be able to keep you alive."

Su Lingyi actually listened.

After being locked up for so long, he was indeed going mad, but he also understood the importance of knowing when to quit. He didn't dare to risk his life here.

Jiang Wang led Miss Shu and Ning Shisi away from the woodshed.

"The woodshed is simple and unguarded. Mr. Jiang said harsh words, but he didn't actually imprisonement that person. He might be injured, but he shouldn't be unable to escape. Isn't that strange?"

Ning Shisi, following behind, whispered to Miss Shu.

Miss Shu also lowered her voice, "This Marquis Mansion is inherently strange. Jiang Wang looks so frail, yet he has a lame butler who is actually a master. He has a one-armed servant, and a maidservant who always carries a long sword. Aren't they all strange?"

"Whispering behind my back, do you think I won't hear you just because you lower your voices?"

Jiang Wang turned to look at them, thinking they weren't very bright.

Ning Shisi looked a bit embarrassed.

Miss Shu said directly, "Then tell us, what were you thinking, locking someone in a woodshed in a secluded area with no guards?"

Jiang Wang said, "There were supposed to be guards, but they were called away on business. I'm also curious why that guy didn't escape. Was he too seriously injured to even push the door open, or was he foolishly thinking the guards were hidden nearby and he didn't dare to risk escaping?"

Miss Shu was stunned for a moment.

Ning Shisi suspected, "Could it be that he was too cautious? Even if an escape opportunity presented itself, he wouldn't dare to take the risk?"

Jiang Wang chuckled, "So, caution isn't always a good thing. Just like being too clever for one's own good. Being trapped in the woodshed was only because he overthought it."

He didn't really care whether Su Lingyi left the woodshed or not.

Although the woodshed was in a secluded area, to leave the mansion, one would have to pass through many places. Given Su Lingyi's current condition, he couldn't possibly scale the walls. And at the only way out of the mansion, Xiaoyu was practicing her sword.

Xiaoyu was very serious about martial arts.

Except for meal times, sleep, and when Jiang Wang needed her to accompany him, she was basically always practicing her sword.

Moreover, in the Marquis Mansion, Xiaoyu had always been the earliest to rise and the latest to sleep.

Now that she had truly entered the path of a martial artist, any disturbance in the Marquis Mansion couldn't be hidden from her.

Whether Su Lingyi was in the woodshed or not wasn't important, as long as he hadn't left the Marquis Mansion.

Returning to Jiang Wang's courtyard, he walked straight to the rattan chair and gestured for Miss Shu and Ning Shisi to sit.

He got straight to the point, "There are reports that a great Yao may be appearing in Hun City. I've specifically invited the two of you to the manor to help me find the Yao's whereabouts."

Ning Shisi looked around. Besides a rattan chair, there was nothing else to sit on in the courtyard. He could only stand there, confused, "I've seen Mr. Jiang's efforts to subdue Yaos. If you're looking for a Yao, why do you need our help?"

He also thought to himself that earlier he had said he only invited his junior sister, but now he had changed his tune quickly.

Jiang Wang smiled and said, "Because I'm lazy."

Ning Shisi's eyes widened. He hadn't expected that reason at all.

Miss Shu was still suspicious of whether Jiang Wang was a Yao and said vigilantly, "Are you using the excuse of looking for a Yao to harm us?"

Jiang Wang said with a laugh, "Miss Shu, your caution is indeed comparable to Su Lingyi's. When walking in the human world, one should indeed be cautious, but don't be cautious about everything, or you'll miss many opportunities. If you can find the Yao's tracks, just lead it here. You don't need to fight it head-on."

Ning Shisi nodded and said, "If a great Yao truly appears in Hun City, we will naturally do our utmost."

Despite Su Lingyi's precedent, Miss Shu remained very cautious.

She looked at Jiang Wang with a face full of suspicion. She had initially thought that someone good-looking shouldn't be bad, but the reality proved that Jiang Wang was utterly wicked.

Even if she was cautious, she didn't want to be fooled again.

"Miss Shu... what's your name?"

Jiang Wang suddenly asked.

Miss Shu was startled, "I didn't call out, did I?"

Jiang Wang was silent, then asked again, "I mean, what's your name?"

Miss Shu snorted, "Why should I tell you?"

But before she could finish speaking, Ning Shisi had already said, "My junior sister's surname is Shu and her given name is Ni. I am Ning Shisi, from the Divine Capital."

Miss Shu immediately said angrily, "You talk too fast!"