Chapter 179
Chapter 179: Is This Forcing Her to Use Soul Force?
The subtle glances that fell upon Shi Zi Chu felt as though they were looking at some loose woman, a discomforting sight. Yet, there was no sign of discomfort or awkwardness from Shi Zi Chu. She remained poised, her noble aura unchanged.
With a smile, she turned to Chu Zhi Rou and asked, “Junior Sister Zhi Rou, are you able to use the storage space?”
“Of course.” Chu Zhi Rou answered, trusting her.
Once again, Shi Zi Chu and Jiang Wan Sheng tried, but once more, they were unable to access the space. Chu Zhi Rou, unable to stand seeing Shi Zi Chu remain so composed, bit her lip. Her gaze, full of unspoken complexities, darted back and forth between the two.
Finally, she seemed to muster some courage and spoke, “Second Senior Sister, forgive my intrusion, but… Rising Succession Peak…”
“If you know it’s an intrusion, why say anything at all?” Jiang Wan Sheng sneered.
After his mockery, Shi Zi Chu raised her hand and lightly tapped his arm, chiding, “Don’t speak like that about Junior Sister Zhi Rou. She’s only concerned for me.”
Jiang Wan Sheng snorted derisively but didn’t continue his words.
Chu Zhi Rou, observing the back-and-forth between the two, couldn’t help but feel a cold sneer in her heart.
Shi Zi Chu smiled apologetically at Chu Zhi Rou. “Since Junior Sister Zhi Rou can use the storage ring, might I trouble you to lend me a skirt?”
“Shi Zi Chu, have you really fallen so low that you can’t even afford a dress?” Chu Zhi Sheng mocked.
Chu Zhi Rou was about to stop him when Chu Zhi Sheng pressed down on her hand and continued to mock, “If you can’t buy a dress, why not ask Young Master Jiang for one? The Young Lord of the Jiang Family is wealthy, after all!”
Shi Zi Chu held onto Jiang Wan Sheng’s arm, her expression still calm and serene.
Just as Chu Zhi Rou was about to reprimand Chu Zhi Sheng, Shi Zi Chu smiled softly and said, “It seems Junior Sister Zhi Rou and I still have some discord.”
With that, she turned and walked away, pulling Jiang Wan Sheng along.
The smooth progress of their relic exploration had made Chu Zhi Rou forget her situation on Rising Succession Peak. Seeing Shi Zi Chu’s retreating figure, her heart lurched, and she hurried to chase after her. “Second Senior Sister, please wait!”
She reached out, but the passing knife blade slashed across her hand.
Suddenly, the mechanisms on both sides of the wall were activated, triggering a series of traps.
“Get back!” Chu Zhi Sheng yanked Chu Zhi Rou to safety, summoning a defensive magic artifact and raising a barrier to block the arrows from the traps.
Meanwhile, Shi Zi Chu and Jiang Wan Sheng had already vanished from sight.
They moved with incredible speed, passing through the passage to a hidden room.
This room was nothing like the shabby underground chambers. The space was filled with heavenly treasures, but sadly, there were no dresses.
“The traps should hold them for a while.” Shi Zi Chu leaned against the wall, watching.
The malicious spirits of Ascending Towers Island were so intent on targeting her that the entire passage had been rigged with traps. It was originally meant to deal with her, but they had failed, and now the traps were all set for Chu Zhi Rou and the others.
At this thought, Shi Zi Chu’s smile brightened.
What if it’s a dead end? She would carve out a path to survival.
“How did Qing Qing manipulate those traps?” Jiang Wan Sheng asked, rummaging through the room.
He knew there were traps in the passage, but they hadn’t been triggered when they passed through. Now, with Chu Zhi Rou and the others, the traps had gone off. It seemed that Qing Qing had tampered with them.
Shi Zi Chu merely smiled and didn’t answer.
The air in the room was not dry but contained moisture, which could be useful to her.
After they finished looting the room, Jiang Wan Sheng set off a small explosion before leaving.
Meanwhile, Chu Zhi Rou and the others had navigated the dangerous passage and arrived at a dilapidated secret room.
…
On their side, Shi Zi Chu and Jiang Wan Sheng ran into Pei Qing You and his group.
Pei Qing You greeted them and asked, “What’s going on here?”
Shi Zi Chu’s robe didn’t fit properly, and she was barefoot. In a place as dangerous as the secret realm, this attire stood out.
“A bit of a mishap,” Shi Zi Chu said kindly. “Has A’Xiu not joined you?”
“We haven’t encountered her yet,” Pei Qing You replied, then delicately asked, “Have you run into any trouble?”
He didn’t believe that Shi Zi Chu and Jiang Wan Sheng’s storage rings didn’t have spare clothes. Given the situation, Jiang Wan Sheng must have lent her his outer robe. Clearly, they had run into trouble.
Shi Zi Chu answered, “Jiang Wan Sheng and I cannot use the storage ring.”
No wonder.
Pei Qing You offered, “I have a dharmic robe in my storage ring. When we get out, you can pay me back in spirit stones at the original price.”
As he spoke, he pulled out a beautifully wrapped box and handed it to her.
“Thank you, Sect Master Pei.” Jiang Wan Sheng accepted the box. “I will repay you when we’re out.”
Shi Zi Chu nodded. “I will remember Sect Master Pei’s kindness.”
Pei Qing You waved his hand. “It’s a simple transaction—fair and square.”
Having received the dress, they needed to change.
After bidding farewell to Pei Qing You and his group, Shi Zi Chu and Jiang Wan Sheng went to find a place to change.
One of the disciples, following behind Pei Qing You, boldly asked, “Young Sect Master, have you changed your ways?”
The Young Sect Master had once looked down on Shi Zi Chu, but now he was helping her. Furthermore, the dharmic robe he gave was clearly a gift meant for Chu Zhi Rou.
Pei Qing You snorted, “What’s wrong with being kind?”
The disciples fell silent. The Young Sect Master wasn’t a bad person, but he definitely wasn’t kind-hearted.
Pei Qing You couldn’t be bothered to explain. He had simply felt pity seeing Shi Zi Chu in such a sorry state, so he helped her out with a small favor.
“A’You?”
At that moment, Chu Zhi Rou and her group appeared, looking somewhat disheveled.
“Rou Rou?” Pei Qing You immediately approached her. “Are you injured?”
Before Chu Zhi Rou could answer, Chu Zhi Sheng pulled her back, glaring at Pei Qing You with an unfriendly expression.
The tension was palpable.
At the same time, Shi Zi Chu, after blood-binding the dharmic robe, changed into it.
The robe was a perfect fit, a peach-pink, wide-sleeved gown that brushed the floor, accentuating her graceful figure. She looked both ethereal and delicate.
Hearing Shi Zi Chu’s voice, Jiang Wan Sheng, who had been standing outside, pushed the door open and entered.
His eyes lit up when he saw her, and Shi Zi Chu raised an eyebrow, her eyes twinkling with a playful gleam.
“Qing Qing is beautiful,” Jiang Wan Sheng said, walking over to her. He placed his hands on her waist and lifted her, setting her on the nearby table, then nuzzled her neck.
Shi Zi Chu, feeling the clingy Jiang Wan Sheng, lightly nudged his leg with her foot. “Go put on some clothes.”
Jiang Wan Sheng obediently walked over to change.
Sitting on the table, Shi Zi Chu swung her legs. Her bare feet peeked out from the hem of her gown, delicate and pale, like works of art.
Jiang Wan Sheng, now dressed, couldn’t help but glance at her again.
Once they had finished looting the room, they set off an explosion before leaving.
The malicious spirits watching from the shadows were enraged.
Relying on its status as the spirit of Ascending Towers Island, it had tried to force Shi Zi Chu and Jiang Wan Sheng into a dead end!
Not long after, two branching paths appeared before them.
Shi Zi Chu and Jiang Wan Sheng exchanged a glance before splitting up.
The moment Shi Zi Chu stepped into the path, she was instantly transported away.
“A fine beauty!”
“Ha ha ha! We’re in luck!”
Several vulgar, disgusting voices echoed in Shi Zi Chu’s ears.
Just as she was about to react, she realized her hands had been bound behind her. Her spiritual power was sealed, and darkness surrounded her.
Tsk.
Is this forcing her to use soul force?
Before Shi Zi Chu could unleash her soul force to strike, the sound of blades slicing through flesh echoed.
“Daoist Shi seems to be in a bit of a predicament,” a soft, cultured voice teased.