Chapter 217 - 217 – Swindlers Swindling Swindlers
Two unfamiliar men headed her way. Zhuang Huanling squinted and frowned, instinctively annoyed. She was about to leave when she saw the handsome man in the front stride forward, blocking her path.
“Ahem, hello senior sister, I was wondering if you could tell me how to get to the Scripture Storehouse?”
Jiang Xiaobai, standing in front of Zhuang Huanling, asked with a smile, demonstrating impeccable politeness.
Zhuang Huanling was taken aback, Senior sister?
Only then she remembered: when she was imprisoned, Zhuang Yuling had specially arranged this disguise as an inner disciple of Wuhai Academy to avoid attracting attention.
At the same time, for reasons unknown, Jiang Xiaobai and AnRan also wore the attire of external disciples.
So Zhuang Huanling finally realized, they had mistaken her for a fellow disciple.
“You don’t even know where the Scripture Storehouse is?” She huffed in disbelief.
Jiang Xiaobai wasn’t surprised; he’d done his homework prior to this.
“To be frank, Senior Sister, we’ve only recently joined the academy. We have focused on meditative cultivation since our arrival, but now we want to make use of the opportunity to visit the Scripture Storehouse this month.”
Upon hearing this, Zhuang Huanling nodded and pretentiously replied, “Impressive, closing yourself off to cultivate right when you join, such diligent cultivators. You guys are bound to achieve great feats in the future.”
With that, she prepared to walk away.
However, Jiang Xiaobai stopped her again, “thank you for your high praise,
Senior Sister. By the way, could you tell me how to get to the Scripture Storehouse?”
Zhuang Huanling’s expression froze.
How to get to the Scripture Storehouse?
Ignorant of the academy layout, she fumed internally.
“I have important business to attend to, don’t bother me, find your way there yourselves!”
Zhuang Huanling snorted coldly and turned to leave.
However, as she turned, she spotted Gong Shuier leading a search party through the crowd. Realizing her escape had been discovered, she gasped in dismay.
“Has my escape been discovered so quickly?”
“No, I can’t be captured, if I am, my aunt will surely put me under strict surveillance.”
“When that happens, there’s a high chance of getting caught and I’d probably be forced to apologize to Hong Shixian. Should he refuse to show up, I will be dragged over to apologize to him. How could I bear that?”
“When have I ever been humiliated like this in my life? No way, never!”
Zhuang Huanling promptly turned back around with a glint of anxiety in her eyes, planning to leave quickly.
But she forgot about Jiang Xiaobai and AnRan behind her and turned back to collide with Jiang Xiaobai.
“Why don’t you watch where you’re going?”
Zhuang Huanling snapped, looking up to find Jiang Xiaobai looking at her with a grin. She faltered.
She didn’t dare to act rashly, terrified that Jiang Xiaobai would discover her true identity.
If he shouted in this crowd, it would most certainly lead Gong Shuier straight to her!
Zhuang Huanling decided to suppress her annoyance and quickly leave.
But who’d have thought, Jiang Xiaobai suddenly grabbed her wrist.
Zhuang Huanling instantly froze as if being electrocuted, looking at Jiang Xiaobai in disbelief.
Never in her life had a man laid his hands on her!
“Looks like you are in quite a hurry, senior sister,” Jiang Xiaobai said with a grin.
Feeling that Gong Shuier and her party were getting closer, Zhuang Huanling was burning with anxiety. She suppressed her anger and nodded.
“Yes, I have pressing matters to attend to.”
“Oh? What’s that about?”
“None of your business! You have just entered the academy, do you intend to boss around your senior sister?” Zhuang Huanling warned, showing her aggressive side.
Jiang Xiaobai replied nonchalantly, glancing over at Gong Shuier who was eagerly looking for someone.
Of course, he recognized Gong Shuier. Given her current state, she was clearly searching for someone.
But whom?
Turning to Zhuang Huanling, Jiang Xiaobai pried lightly, “Senior sister, are you hiding from the people behind us?”
“What are you trying to do?”
Zhuang Huanling was infuriated. How dare this jerk block her exit?
If worse comes to worst, she’ll let herself be discovered. Then this Wuhai Academy disciple would be in big trouble, she was sure she could find a hundred ways to make him pay.
“Are you not a Wuhai Academy disciple?” Jiang Xiaobai asked abruptly, his face as cold as ice.
“What business is it of yours? What, planning to report me?” Zhuang Huanling scoffed, already plotting in her mind how she’d deal with this Wuhai Academy disciple.
As she saw it, this disciple must’ve mistaken her for a bounty.
If he reported an intruder, Wuhai Academy would undoubtedly reward him.
Exactly, that must be it!
However, Zhuang Huanling was mistaken.
Being a good judge of character, Jiang Xiaobai had already deduced that Gong Shuier was looking for Zhuang Huanling, and that she was not a Wuhai Academy disciple.
If he did report it, it would not benefit him but might instead bring more trouble, potentially exposing his own identity as well.
With this in mind, Jiang Xiaobai suggested a deal to Zhuang Huanling, “How about this? If you go with me, I won’t expose you.”
Zhuang Huanling was at a loss. What was he trying to say?
She studied Jiang Xiaobai from head to toe; something seemed off about this boy.
When she felt Gong Shuier nearing, Zhuang Huanling didn’t want to risk being dragged back after struggling to escape, so she decided to comply with Jiang Xiaobai’s proposal for now.
Shortly, Jiang Xiaobai led her in the opposite direction of Gong Sheiur. The two soon disappeared into the crowd.
Behind them, Gong Shuier was searching anxiously with furrowed brows.
“That’s not right! Given Linger’s temperament, she should be stirring up something if she escaped. Could it be that she’s no longer in Wuhai Academy and got away?
The more Gong Shuier thought about it, the more likely it seemed. Promptly, she turned around to find Zhuang Yuling and report the situation.
Wuhai Academy was vast. Even though they were currently hosting guests and various banquets, some places remained quiet.
These were locations Jiang Xiaobai and AnRan had surveyed before, knowing them to be rarely visited and thus, quiet and secluded.
On reaching an apparently abandoned courtyard, Jiang Xiaobai finally let go of Zhuang Huanling’s hand. He turned to find her rubbing her wrist, looking at him sideways, coldly sneering.
All the while, Zhuang Huanling rubbed her wrist and sneered, “Boy, do you realize what you just did?”
“I regretfully inform you, now, you’re in my territory.”
But to Zhuang Huanling’s disbelief, Jiang Xiaobai did not show any sign of fear.
On top of that, she suddenly felt a peculiar sensation in her stomach.
Something was off. Very off..