Chapter 1626 – Conquering Nan Sheng, Killing An Huan (Thirty-Eight)
Jiang Ji’s live stream was a chaotic mix of characters, with cheeky boys and trashy women popping up everywhere.
As soon as they learned today’s live content would steer away from boring political affairs and dive into a sea of hormones, they couldn’t handle it.
A gang of weaklings clamored about wanting to redouble their enthusiasm for Yang Tao, and the least serious among them were a bunch of cheeky boys and trashy women crimson-faced as they eyed the subtle bulge under Yang Tao’s tight abs. In comparison, no one really paid attention to Jiang Ji. They saw her face every day; it didn’t offer the same view of abs that Yang Tao, the little angel, did—an utterly dazzling sight that could make anyone blush.
Not just the cheeky boys and trashy women clamored for a push towards Yang Tao; an array of lazy stowaway types joined in the cheerleading.
[Genius Guo Fengxiao]: If the next Empress of the Mountain Spirit is a baby, then I must work my hardest to strip down Yang Tao’s big shorts!
[Stowaway Non-Money]: After watching a bunch of experts analyze in the live stream, I felt deeply inferior. Aren’t ancient men supposed to eat poorly? That food doesn’t provide much nutrition, leading to height troubles, ugly looks, and awkward builds…Yet, Yang Tao turned out so masculine?
[Dried Fish]: If only I could travel back in time, I’d love to be the shorts that Yang Tao wears, teasing him every day!
Jiang Ji looked at these utterly useless weaklings and silently shook her head.
Yang Tao could easily lift them with one hand, spin them around twice, and toss them out. What gave them the confidence to think they could take him down, or even joke about it?
Jiang Ji had mastered the control of her expressions to a fiery degree; although she nested countless internal quips, Yang Tao—the very target of all that attention—seemed oblivious to it. He returned from the cabin with two jars of strong liquor, handing one to her, “Never imagined I would share a boat with Liu Gong and drink in the wind.”
“Hard to imagine?” Jiang Ji replied, “I’d say it was expected, utterly unremarkable.”
Yang Tao pondered her words, catching the arrogance and confidence behind them.
He claimed he never thought about it, implying both “I never thought I would lose to Jiang Ji” and “even if I lost, I would gain great favor afterward.”
Jiang Ji’s response was straightforward. She was confident she would win against Yang Tao, and his defeat was entirely within her expectations.
Alas, such a cocky person hadn’t been bagged and beaten up yet.
Yang Tao, with his good-natured temperament, wanted to smash Jiang Ji to bits, showing just how much of a love-hate relationship she inspired.
“Was Liu Gong also like this when he was young?”
Jiang Ji downed half a jar of liquor in one go, leaning back on her hands with her feet submerged in the river, her half-wet, half-dry clothing clinging to her skin, faintly outlining her graceful figure. Yet, much of it was obscured by her cloak; Yang Tao wouldn’t bother focusing too much on women besides his wife, while the guards dared not look, and the stowaways were preoccupied lusting over Yang Tao’s abs—she was virtually ignored.
“What do you think?”
Yang Tao chuckled, “If Liu Gong was like this as a child, he probably wouldn’t be alive now.”
Such a cocky disposition is sure to earn enemies.
Jiang Ji flashed a quick smile, her teeth gleaming brighter than the blazing sun above.
“How could it be? I was much worse as a child. Growing up brings maturity and steadiness…”
She wasn’t lying; her temperament had indeed been poor as a child.
As some old battle buddies would say, every time she looked at someone, it was as if they owed her five million and hadn’t paid up—silent yet foreboding.
Yet, the silent, icy demeanor just made it worse; when she opened her mouth, she wouldn’t stop yapping until the person had a shattered glass heart.
Yang Tao laughed awkwardly.
Now she was considered mature and composed; what on earth was she like as a child?
The two continued to drink, finishing off more than ten jars. By the third jar, Yang Tao was already tipsy.
His liquor tolerance was decent but measured against clear wine—these strong spirits were on an entirely different level of kick!
Strong liquor may be enticing, but excess drinking is frowned upon.
Jiang Ji polished off the remaining liquor and casually tossed the empty jar into the river.
After blowing about in the river breeze for a while, she turned to the guards, “Let’s head back. Remember to brew some hangover soup for him so he doesn’t catch a cold from the wind.”
When they finally reached the shore, Jiang Ji’s clothing had dried almost completely.
She hoisted her God-Slaying Blade onto her waist, restoring herself to her regular attire.
Leaping onto her horse, she was about to issue a return command when suddenly, her brow furrowed as she caught sight of something dangerous flickering in the sunlight—brown eyes peering with a hint of danger.
“Wait.”
The guard asked, “Does the Lord have commands?”
Jiang Ji replied, “You all take Yang Tao back via the waterway; I want to take a walk alone.”
The guards exchanged glances, hesitating, “The military advisers repeatedly instructed that the Lord shouldn’t be left alone…”
Jiang Ji smiled tightly, tightening the reins, the corners of her mouth lifting with indifference.
“I’m the Lord, or are they the Lord?”
Her voice was light yet dipped in a chilling, forbidding authority.
The guards dropped to half-knees, too afraid to lift their heads, and when they came to their senses, they were dumbfounded to discover their backs soaked in sweat.
“I just want some solitude for a bit, hunting some game to bring back. I’ll catch up with you all shortly, just report this to the advisers.”
The guards dared not hesitate and followed Jiang Ji’s command.
They had no guts to inquire why Jiang Ji wanted them to leave; the stowaways, however, remained unafraid.
Jiang Ji stated, “There’s an ambush up ahead; having you follow me only drags me down, and there’s no contribution except leading to death.”
She made no effort to hide her disdain.
Stowaways: “…”
An ambush nearby?
Accurately speaking, there was an ambush in the woods ahead.
It was common knowledge that Jiang Ji was a maverick lord who adored hunting and drinking, often taking people out to hunt for wild game whenever she had free time, and her solo hunting episodes weren’t out of the ordinary. She was bold enough to do this; it came from skill and guts. Though there were those who wished to assassinate her, they resided in another world. With the battle power of this world, she had never shied away. But others thought otherwise, especially her enemies.
[Genius Guo Fengxiao]: I suddenly have a hypothesis: if someone prophesies Xi Qing being unprepared, even with a million troops, it would be like wandering alone in the Central Plains. If an assassin lurks, they would be in a land of one person. From my observation, they’re bound to fall into the hands of a mere man…probably will get slapped back, right?
[Stowaway Non-Money]: Hmph, it’s not just “probably,” they will definitely get slapped. Their faces will swell up till even their own mothers won’t recognize them.
With Jiang Ji’s battle power, one assassin isn’t enough, right?
Without rallying thousands of troops, how could they even hope to brush against the hem of her garment?
The stowaways closed their eyes and praised Jiang Ji, who donned a flowing red robe, tied up in a high ponytail, left hand drawing a bow, the God-Slaying Blade at her waist, heading confidently into the depths of the forest. Once she effortlessly caught two deer, she faintly heard the sound of arrows slicing through the air…
All of those hidden arrows were poisoned, each aimed straight for her vitals.
The assassin, seeing she had not reacted, felt a thrill of secret delight.
But just as his smile soared halfway, it rigidified; instead of collapsing from the arrows, Jiang Ji remained standing.
Squinting closer, he found her right hand gripping a familiar arrow.
A moment of ominous premonition surged through him, yet saw that splash of red charging towards them, revealing a bloodthirsty grin.
