Chapter 691: Chapter 361: The Flower Thief Confesses, Where Is Li Xian, The Jade Girl Is Furious, Who Dares Defy My Will (Part 3)
A grand suppression bandit expedition. There were a total of seventeen large boats and twenty-six small boats... Martial arts heroes, local fishermen, and government constables, all participated. Yet the lake area was vast, and despite the grandeur of the force, once they reached the depths of the lake, the clamor was suppressed.
After searching for several days, they found not a single clue. The silver tael allocated by the Nangong Family and the Bian Family was quickly consumed. Seeing the bandit suppression efforts failing, everyone was at a loss and felt particularly desolate. Bian Bianyun sighed, "Sister Qiao, it’s not that we aren’t doing our best, but the Flower Thieves are cunning, a chronic disease and malignant tumor of the Jianghu, very difficult to easily eradicate."
Bian Qiaoqiao understood it was not possible to force the issue, her eyes reddened, she remained silent. At this time Zhao Ranran slowly said, "Such a mere Flower Thief, how difficult could it be to suppress them?"
Nangong Xuanming asked, "Oh? I have long heard of the famous Jade Girl of Daoxuan Mountain, do you have a clever plan?"
Taishu Yuzhu clasped his hands and said, "Since Junior Sister has spoken, she must have a clever plan." Zhao Ranran said, "Ranran cannot bear to see Sister Bian in distress, this journey should be helped with all my might. You all come from great families and have countless ties with Daoxuan Mountain, older in age than Ranran by many years, truly as elder brothers and seniors. In acting, you naturally have your own judgment, Ranran dares not rashly take charge, lest harm the camaraderie between sects and displease everyone. In the past few days, I’ve only been observing and not speaking. When everyone’s capabilities are fully displayed, if things don’t succeed, then allow Ranran to take charge."
She seemed polite, yet was extremely impolite and blunt in truth. But her voice was beautifully melodious, making it like a refreshing breeze on one’s face, making it hard for one to get angry. Nangong Wuyang said, "If Miss Zhao had a plan, she should have proposed it early on. If it were feasible, would we not comply? At this moment... the funds are nearly exhausted, even with a scheme, there’s no energy to execute it now!"
Zhao Ranran smiled, "No worries, my strategy doesn’t require much money. You all just need to follow my orders, and we can completely defeat the Flower Thieves."
Everyone felt a slight displeasure at hearing the word "orders." Zhao Ranran had not yet made a public name, only had a reputation without tangible feats, and since everyone was older and their martial arts cultivation was not weaker than hers, the use of "orders" was extremely inappropriate.
Taishu Yuzhu immediately said, "Junior Sister, you go ahead and give orders. Yuzhu will certainly follow." Su Lanfeng laughed, "Indeed, indeed."
The Bian and Nangong families, seeing this, all cupped their hands to indicate their willingness to follow orders. Zhao Ranran then spoke, "Finding the location of the Water Altar is actually not difficult. My Jingyao Divine Bird can look down from the Nine Heavens and observe from the clouds and mist."
Bian Chengfeng said, "I’m afraid it’s not easy, there must be a trap near the Water Altar. Even if birds and beasts fly in, they’d find it hard to escape the terrain." Zhao Ranran said, "Little Jing is gifted and unafraid of the traps."
Nangong Xuanming said, "Though the Jingyao Divine Bird can reach there, we cannot. We cannot ride the clouds and fog, only travel by water."
Zhao Ranran was too lazy to explain further, only said, "You all just need to listen to my command, not only can we defeat all the Flower Thieves, it can be done without bloodshed." She said no more, instructing everyone to gather their momentum and remain silent for a while, after which each found a way to kill an elder of the Flower Cage Sect.
Following her plan, Nangong Xuanming, Bian Bianyun and others, all quite capable, each captured a Flower Thief, bringing back the corpses of elders Liu Yu, Gao, Luo, and others. Zhao Ranran took out a jade mirror and hung it on the neck of the Jingyao Divine Bird. This was the "Linked Eyes Mirror," a treasure and strange object, with two mirrors that were reflective to each other.
She then dispatched the divine bird to fly high and look down. Though the Five Elements traps were complex and profound, they ultimately could not cover everything. Once the divine bird flew high, the traps could not take effect. Past Vice Envoys of the Water Altar would never have expected the divine bird to come into being, and the layout of their life’s pride was easily broken in an instant.
The divine bird, carrying the "Linked Eyes Mirror," spied on the Water Altar in detail. It discovered inside there were several elders, Shi Yufei, Jin Shichang, Yan Hao, and others, along with ordinary people living there. Fearing the divine bird being detected, she did not dare fly low, knowing the enemy leaders, she did not probe further. She already knew how to deal with the situation, as the saying goes, cutting the weeds and removing the roots, she chose to remove the roots before cutting the weeds.
A scheme to destroy the "Water Stone Treasure Tripod" would surely draw out key figures. The Water Stone Treasure Tripod was forged from Water and Wood Essence, Water and Stone Essence. It only required two mundane and ordinary things, "Rotten Water" and "Stinky Stone," to cause its corruption.
She then dispatched Nangong Xuanming and Bian Bianyun to make preparations. Both were highly capable, with exceptional methods and deep in intrigue, and quickly accomplished it. She then used the Jingyao Divine Bird to secretly damage the Water Stone Treasure Tripod. Afterward, she waited quietly for the opportune moment.
Just as she expected, later an elder raised the tripod, detecting the treasure’s corruption. Shi Yufei and Jin Shichang hurried out of the Water Altar overnight, intending to find the tripod and return to the altar. Zhao Ranran set layer upon layer of traps for safety, guiding Shi Yufei into a trap, then once fully set, ambushed and killed him. By the time Shi Yufei sensed something was wrong, even fighting desperately, it was already too late, and he was beheaded. Before his death, he sent back a message bird. She did not prevent it.
With everything ready, only the east wind was missing. Zhao Ranran then led her ship toward the Water Altar. Though the maze around the Water Altar was difficult, with the guidance of the Jingyao Divine Bird ahead, they could steadily approach the Water Altar. But the turbulent currents, dangers, reefs, and treacherous shoals along the way... could not be easily resolved.
Only all the champions could use their skills to adapt to the circumstances, resolving each challenge as it came. The strange terrain of heaven and earth made it hard to say there was no danger at all while in it.
Upon entering the lake, there were originally three government ships, but two were destroyed en route. Although Zhao Ranran was confident, passing through this waterway, she sighed inwardly, "What a trap, if not deeply involved, it would be hard to conceive. No wonder the Flower Cage Sect has committed so many evils, yet no one could punish them."
Along the way, they encountered Jin Shichang ferrying Yan Hao off the island to set up the Five Elements. Jin Shichang was killed on the spot, Yan Hao jumped ship to escape, most likely with no survivor outcome. Calculating that five days remained to reach the Water Altar, she then used the divine bird to send a message, declaring within ten days the Flower Thieves would be completely suppressed, spreading anxiety and terror, breaking through the elders’ defenses.
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