With a sharp, piercing sound, the wheelchair beneath the silver-haired woman suddenly lost control and lurched forward!
It looked as though she and the chair were about to plunge into the water.
Jiang Ying, forgetting all about digging for treasure or the risk of being discovered by Xiao Di, swiftly pulled a Konjac Talisman from her sleeve and threw it toward the water’s surface.
Her Konjac Talisman could temporarily turn the water’s surface into a flexible, gelatinous substance. Since the bamboo bridge was close to the water, even if the silver-haired woman fell, she wouldn't be injured. While the talisman wouldn't last long, it would be enough to pull her back to shore.
No sooner had Jiang Ying thrown the talisman than she noticed the person in front of her move!
Xiao Di had actually stripped off his clothes and jumped!
Was he trying to dive?
At this point, Jiang Ying was certain: the "academy bully" persona was just a facade. This boy was actually incredibly passionate and eager to help others!
It seemed she wouldn't need to lecture him on being a helpful, kind-hearted youth after all.
Jiang Ying revealed herself and hurried forward, intent on grabbing the kid, who seemed to have an endless supply of restless energy.
But it was too late. With a look of absolute, unstoppable determination, Xiao Di charged into the water!
He hit the surface like a torpedo, sending up a massive splash right in front of her.
Suddenly, a torrential downpour of spray showered Jiang Ying. She quickly shielded her face with her sleeves and stepped back.
Through the hazy mist of water, Jiang Ying suddenly realized something was wrong.
Why was the water still splashing everywhere? Hadn't she just turned the surface into konjac? Though her cultivation level was low, her talismans never failed...
On the other side, Xiao Di had dived into the water and circled around, but he couldn't find the silver-haired woman. His breath running out, he surfaced for air.
Just as he was treading water, he suddenly felt something wrap around his ankle!
He kicked out with force, but the thing coiled further up his leg. The more he struggled to kick it off, the more water weeds coiled around him, quickly binding his lower leg tightly and dragging him downward.
These water weeds were incredibly strong; the more one struggled, the tighter they gripped. They were deeply rooted at the bottom of the river, like a fox with a hundred tails pulling someone down—it was impossible to break free, and he would soon be pulled to the riverbed.
Xiao Di’s heart sank.
Could this be the Hundred-Tail Fox Weed?
He had passed by here many times before, yet he had never seen such a vast patch of it.
Fire-type spells were useless underwater. Xiao Di was quickly dragged under, choking on several mouthfuls of water, and he watched as the river surface rose above his head.
*No way,* he thought. *I grew up by the water and I'm an excellent swimmer. Am I really going to fail in this small river?*
Just then, a golden, glowing talisman descended from the sky, landed in the water, and was followed by a sharp command: "Back!"
The golden light rippled outward, and the Fox Weed, startled, went limp, slid off Xiao Di’s leg, and dissipated into the water. Feeling his legs freed, Xiao Di kicked hard and surfaced, gasping for air.
"Junior Brother, over here!"
A beautiful girl stood on the bank, waving at him. Xiao Di swam toward the shore with all his might. Seeing he was nearly exhausted, the girl suddenly reached out, grabbed his arm, and pulled him out of the river with a powerful heave.
She was incredibly strong.
Xiao Di lay by the riverbank, coughing up water, and muttered, "Just now... thank you."
He looked up and realized who had saved him. "Senior Sister Jiang Ying?"
*What? Senior Sister Jiang Ying actually saved me?*
The high-ranking disciples on the Yunzhou Academy combat leaderboard were fond of forming cliques. Although Xiao Di was also on the list, he despised those arrogant disciples and refused to join them. He had always been a loner, carrying the notorious reputation of the "academy bully" and doing as he pleased.
He never expected that Senior Sister Jiang Ying, ranked number one, would save him.
Xiao Di felt awkward. "Senior Sister Jiang Ying, why would you save someone like me?"
Jiang Ying smiled slightly.
"What kind of person are you? Someone who sees injustice and draws a blade, someone who is courageous and eager to help others?"
Xiao Di’s face turned red, and he insisted stubbornly, "Who was being heroic? I just wanted to practice my diving!"
The boy was certainly stubborn.
Jiang Ying didn't bother to call his bluff, simply nodding. "Right, right. Well, next time you dive, remember to keep the splash small."
Xiao Di was stunned and wanted to say something else, but a gentle voice drifted from the air.
"Young people these days, why are they so fragile? Just because of a setback in love, they jump into the river?"
Only then did Jiang Ying notice that the silver-haired woman was sitting leisurely in her wheelchair, floating steadily in mid-air, her silver-red dress fluttering in the breeze. She held Jiang Ying’s Konjac Talisman between her index and middle fingers, while her left hand cradled a lazy, sleepy, fat orange cat, watching them with great interest.
Xiao Di’s face turned black. He snatched up his clothes from the ground, threw them over his shoulder, and growled, "I was going to..."
He stopped suddenly, his mouth hanging open for a long moment, until his tone softened and he said awkwardly, "...take a bath in the river."
He had been hit with a "Silence Talisman."
Jiang Ying said earnestly, "Junior Brother, be polite to your elders."
Being helpful was a good thing, but foul language was not.
Xiao Di’s brows furrowed, and he opened his mouth, clearly wanting to retort, but what came out was a very obedient and mild, "Yes, Senior Sister."
He looked shocked, as if he had never imagined himself speaking that way, and tightly clamped his mouth shut.
Jiang Ying was satisfied and turned to the silver-haired woman. "Senior, he and I are not in that kind of relationship..."
The silver-haired woman did not look young, but her skin was like jade and her charm remained; in her shifting gaze lay the calm and peace of one who had seen much of the world.
Although Jiang Ying didn't recognize her, seeing her control the floating wheelchair and intercept the talisman, she deduced that her cultivation was at least at the Golden Core stage. Hence, she addressed her as "Senior."
The silver-haired woman paused, a faint flush appearing on her fair face. She stroked the orange cat in her arms and said sheepishly, "Oh dear, did I misread the situation again? Then, little friend, why did you jump into the river?"
Xiao Di snorted. Having realized the power of the Silence Talisman, he simply kept his mouth shut and said nothing.
Jiang Ying said, "Actually, my Junior Brother thought you had fallen into the water, so he jumped in to save you."
The orange cat opened its eyes in the woman's arms, gave its owner a look of disdain, and let out a soft "meow."
The silver-haired woman patted the cat’s head and smiled apologetically.
"So it was I who caused trouble for you two little friends. Actually, the build quality of my wheelchair is excellent." As she finished speaking, she tapped the armrest, and the wheelchair landed steadily.
Seeing both of them staring at her in amazement, the silver-haired woman changed the subject, held up the talisman with two fingers, and turned to Jiang Ying.
"Did you draw this, little friend?"
"Yes."
"This Konjac Talisman of yours is truly unique. Would you be willing to give it to me?"