Chapter 363

Chapter 363: Flirts With Many and Still Plays Innocent

Du Zi Heng shot a disapproving look at his former would-be brother-in-law and was about to step out to help, when Jiang Liu Yi suddenly turned the point around and said clearly: “But those bones were buried before my sister came back-they had already turned white.” He looked at the middle-aged man and the earlier loudmouth youth with a mocking glint: “Your information network is impressive, but the person feeding you news doesn’t have much of a brain-can’t tell old bones from a fresh body.”

Everyone knew a corpse takes a long time to become white bones. If buried in the earth, it needs at least one or two years. Counting carefully, Yu Zhi Yi had been back at the Martial Alliance for only half a month. In such a short time, anyone buried would barely be rotting, not bones.

The two men caught by Jiang Liu Yi’s gaze went red with shame and looked sick. Du Zi Heng halted mid-step and thought with relief: [At least he isn’t too dumb.]

Outside, the wind howled even louder. The sky above Mount Ming was so heavy and dark it felt ready to fall. People on the mountain were anxious; if you listened hard, you could hear horses screaming and dogs barking.

Jiang Liu Ting strode in, leaned to whisper something in Jiang Liu Yi’s ear, and Jiang Liu Yi’s face sank; he turned and walked out at once. The people in the hall stared, confused, craning their necks to see what the Jiang brothers were going to do. A few bold ones even wanted to follow. After a moment’s thought, Du Zi Heng lifted his feet to go too.

You Bing Yue bit back her anger, cursing in her heart as she followed: [This ungrateful dog of a man! This is his last chance. If he disappoints me again, I’m done with him. Who needs a “male lead”? I’ll support a brand-new one. Don’t tell me I can’t find someone better!]

Once the group stepped outside the dining hall, they noticed something strange. The wind on the mountain sounded wild enough to make your scalp prickle-but the moment you left the house, there was almost no wind on your body at all. It was…mysterious.

The Jiang brothers exchanged a look, both faces grave. From the first blast of wind to now had been barely more than a quarter of an hour. The people inside hadn’t sensed it, but the brothers had. At the very beginning, the wind really had been fierce-trees thrashed like they’d be torn up by the roots, and the buildings trembled as if their roofs would fly off. Then, all at once, that terrifying wind-pressure vanished. What remained was only a gentle breeze that didn’t feel bad at all-almost pleasant. They had come out to check because of this odd change, and on the way they’d heard the uproar in the dining hall.

People inside soon noticed the difference outside and cried out in surprise: “What’s going on? This wind on our bodies doesn’t even sting like a palm strike!” “Look out there-stones are being blown away. Why do we barely feel anything in here?”

A thought flashed for Du Zi Heng, and he said quickly: “It’s Yi’er! She can set up a defense array. I think the array is blocking the wind.” The Martial World guests blinked in disbelief: “A defense array? Isn’t that something from fantasy tales about spirits and demons?” Another pressed up to the window and muttered: “But look-it does seem like that. Outside is roaring, inside is steady.” People in the Martial World admired strength more than anything. A defense array was beyond even top-tier martial arts, so their eyes lit up with awe. Curious, they asked at once: “Young master, who is this expert you’re talking about?”

Du Zi Heng opened his mouth to answer, but You Bing Yue cut in first, voice calm: “Second Miss Jiang.” Her words hung there, plain and definite. Someone quick-tongued snapped back at once: “You expect us to believe Second Miss Jiang set up a defense array? You’ll make up any lie to whitewash her!” Another scoffed, all sarcasm: “That delicate Second Miss Jiang knows arrays? She’s probably never seen a storm like this. The moment she did, her legs would shake and she’d freeze on the spot!” The crowd found their own jokes hilarious and laughed so loudly their voices almost drowned the wind.

“Enough,” Jiang Liu Yi said with a frown, cold authority in his tone: “This defense array was set by Jin’er. Believe it or don’t-it’s a fact. If you keep insulting her, then leave Mount Ming now.” Enjoying his sister’s protection while mocking her-what kind of logic was that?

Seeing a few people still wanting to argue, he shot Du Zi Heng a cool glance and added, each word deliberate: “I forgot to mention, before my sister Jiang Si Jin returned to the Jiang Clan, her name was-Zhi Yi.” He let that sink in, then finished with a razor-thin smile: “Some shameless people, thinking they’re close to her, dare to call her ‘Yi’er.’”

Silence fell. No one had seen that twist coming. Most still doubted that Second Miss Jiang could arrange an array, but Second Young Master Jiang spoke with iron certainty. Everyone knew he was upright and disdained lying.

Li Chang Huai seemed to realize something too. He gave Jiang Liu Yi a complicated look. The two of them had been rivals half their lives. Li Chang Huai never thought himself much worse; he believed that with the right chance, he could step on Jiang Liu Yi one day. But when it came to his sister…he truly couldn’t compare. Not only could his own sister not compare to Jiang Liu Yi’s sister-he himself couldn’t compare either. Thinking of Second Miss Jiang-Official Yu-he found he had no resistance at all.

He sighed and admitted frankly: “As much as I don’t want to say it, I have to. Second Young Master Jiang, your sister is much stronger than you. And this defense array is far from her only method.” He had, after all, seen her defeat a long-famous river pirate with his own eyes-and then, as if it were nothing, perform rites to send off dozens of restless ghosts.

If only Jiang Liu Yi had said these things, even his good reputation wouldn’t keep people from suspecting he was covering for his sister. But with Li Chang Huai saying it as well, there was no room left to doubt. In this world, plenty of people might lie for Jiang Liu Yi-everyone knew-but Li Chang Huai would never. The whole Martial World knew they were born rivals, like that old saying: “Since Yu exists, why be born Liang?” And Li Chang Huai was the “Yu”-the one who came first and refused to yield. If their relationship ever softened, it would be because Jiang Liu Yi extended the goodwill, not Li Chang Huai. Li dreamed every day of kicking Jiang Liu Yi off the top-genius seat; he would never help him. That was why Li Chang Huai’s words now were especially convincing.

You Bing Yue was so angry she nearly spat blood. One after another, they had all been bewitched by that woman. Her gut feeling had been right: that woman was not the quiet, well-behaved type. A “proper lady” from a good family? [Bah!] What kind of respectable young lady tangled herself up with so many men? The worst part was that she could hook a crowd of young heroes-and still try to play the innocent. Disgusting!