Chapter 54: A True Beauty

On the waters of the Qingyuan River, a boat moved forward at a slow pace.

“It seems the fighting was fierce.”

Staring at the wreckage drifting past in the current, Wang Yuan’s thoughts ran deep. After seeking permission from Jiang Chen, he had brought Shu Tianjiao along to the Qingyuan River. Out of caution, however, he kept his distance from the ambush site of the River Marauders.

“Pick up the pace.”

After a brief pause in thought, Wang Yuan gave the order. He knew danger lay ahead, but fortune favored the bold, and this was precisely what he had come for. As their boat forged ahead, more and more signs of devastation began to appear.

“Everyone here is dead. There was a great fire.”

Taking in the sight of four large ships, now reduced to charred wrecks on the river’s surface, Wang Yuan was shaken. It was unheard of for ordinary flames to consume four ships so thoroughly, especially out on the water.

“This must be the work of a cultivator.”

His fist tightened within his sleeve, and Wang Yuan’s desire only burned brighter. At that moment, one of the sailors dredging the river called out.

“There’s someone over there—looks like they’re still alive...”

He pointed ahead, shouting. The others followed his gaze, glimpsing a flicker of red bobbing in and out of view among the waves—a figure clinging to a piece of floating timber, rising and falling with the river’s swell.

“Bring her aboard.”

Wang Yuan issued the order without hesitation. They had already pulled up a number of corpses, but not a single survivor.

Following Wang Yuan’s command, the sailors sprang into action. Meanwhile, perched atop Wang Yuan’s head, Shu Tianjiao cocked his head as he peered at that crimson shadow in the water, as if puzzling over something uncertain.

Before long, with the combined efforts of several sailors, the woman in red was hauled aboard—none other than Hong Yu.

Just as someone stepped forward to check on her, Hong Yu, who moments before had seemed unconscious and waterlogged, suddenly snapped her eyes open.

With a flick of her hand, she swept aside the sailor nearest her, and her gaze locked onto Wang Yuan. Hong Yu unfurled her Flowing Cloud Sleeves, and in a flash of crimson, the silken bands split the crowd and wound straight toward Wang Yuan.

Caught off guard by the sudden attack, Wang Yuan’s face turned ashen with shock. Her skill was formidable—far beyond what he could withstand. In that instant, he realized she must have feigned unconsciousness.

A heartbeat later, the flying sleeves struck, binding Wang Yuan tightly.

Seeing this, a weight lifted from Hong Yu’s heart. Though she was a strong swimmer, the river’s current was swift; clinging to a single piece of driftwood, reaching the shore unaided would be perilous. The arrival of Wang Yuan’s group presented an opportunity, so she had pretended to be a drowning victim to board the boat.

“This man must be the leader. If I control him, the boat will be mine by extension.”

Her mind racing and strength flowing through her, Hong Yu tried to reel Wang Yuan in. But unexpectedly, he was as immovable as a stone, utterly unfazed by her efforts.

Alarmed, Hong Yu felt a chill. Though the An family had restricted her cultivation—teaching her only a minor rain-calling spell for tending spirit fields—they had not limited her martial training. Through years of quiet diligence, she had reached the level of a third-rate martial artist. Though not exceptional, it was more than enough against ordinary folk.

“Demon!”

At that moment, she finally sensed an aura of spiritual energy. Her eyes darted to Shu Tianjiao, crouched atop Wang Yuan’s head. What she had assumed to be an ordinary pet was, in fact, a demon creature.

“How could an ordinary man have tamed a demon? It makes no sense.”

Certain she had not mistaken the aura, Hong Yu was filled with disbelief. Wang Yuan seemed perfectly mundane—hardly the sort to command a demon.

Just then, as if reading her thoughts, Shu Tianjiao rose on his hind legs atop Wang Yuan’s head, announcing himself as Wang Yuan’s steed.

With a flick of his tail, Shu Tianjiao shredded the Flowing Cloud Sleeves, freeing Wang Yuan from his bonds. Then, in poetic retribution, he bound Hong Yu in the same fashion. Despite her struggles, she was no match for the demon mouse.

Once Hong Yu was restrained, Shu Tianjiao surveyed her, growing more pleased by the moment.

A series of sharp, excited squeaks followed as he communicated his intent to Wang Yuan.

After a round of guessing and interpreting, Wang Yuan finally understood: Shu Tianjiao wished to bring the woman back as a gift for Jiang Chen.

Realizing this, Wang Yuan glanced at Shu Tianjiao with a peculiar look. Offering beautiful women was a classic way for subordinates to curry favor with their superiors; he had never imagined a mouse would grasp such subtleties.

“Master Mouse is truly clever. There must be a reason for this. Could it be our lord really has such tastes? One would never guess—I'll have to pay more attention in the future.”

A calculation forming in his mind, Wang Yuan studied Hong Yu. She had an oval face, fair skin, refined features, and a gentle air—a true beauty.

What he did not know was that Shu Tianjiao’s interest in bringing Hong Yu back stemmed entirely from her status as a cultivator—it had nothing to do with her appearance. To him, all human women were but skeletons with painted cheeks, incapable of stirring his rodent heart.

Soon, at Wang Yuan’s orders, Hong Yu’s joints were dislocated and she was securely bound. With Shu Tianjiao guarding her, Wang Yuan felt confident she could cause no trouble, but he maintained precautions nonetheless. Had the demon mouse not been present, he would already have been a prisoner.

“Who are you, really? What happened here?”

Once certain she posed no further threat, Wang Yuan sought answers from Hong Yu.

After glancing at Shu Tianjiao, Hong Yu selectively recounted her tale: she claimed to be from the Derun Cloth House, that they had been attacked by river bandits, and that a cultivator among the merchants had fought back, unleashing spells that led to the current devastation. She insisted her own survival was mere luck.

Wang Yuan’s expression shifted as he listened, his thoughts unreadable.

“Everyone else is dead, yet this woman survives? It can’t be so simple.”

“And that cultivator may have been Ironman Tu’s true target.”

After some deliberation, Wang Yuan reluctantly gave the order to return.

Though he was far from satisfied—having gained no real information or spoils—there was nothing more to be done. Judging by the traces left behind, the cultivator’s power was terrifying. To pursue further would not be mere risk, but suicide; even Shu Tianjiao would not be able to protect him then.