The Aloof Lord's Mysterious Wife
Chapter 271: The Puppet Master Behind the Water Ghost

Chapter 271: The Puppet Master Behind the Water Ghost

The female water ghost screamed as the talisman array forced her to the surface. Under the frosty moonlight, her appearance caused the air to chill and a ghostly wind to shake the trees on the riverbank. She struggled against the binding talismans, only to injure herself further, her ghostly form growing increasingly insubstantial.

In the dark, a figure emerged, deftly casting several talismans that shattered the array with a shout. A violent wind swept the riverside, nearly uprooting the willow trees.

The female water ghost, now free, plunged back into the water, her face lighting up with relief. "Chong Jiu, you came just in time."

"Leave," Chong Jiu replied curtly, his youthful face impassive under the moonlight. The water ghost nodded, attempting to escape through another channel of the moat.

However, the array reactivated, its golden light reforming around her. The water ghost, terrified, cried out, "Chong Jiu!"

Chong Jiu narrowed his eyes and drew another talisman. As expected of the renowned Ninth Princess Consort, her formation could indeed make a comeback. He released the talisman, sending it flying towards the formation.

The sound of hooves echoed loudly in the street. Before anyone arrived, a cold gleam had already slashed through the air. Several talismans were cleaved apart by the sword’s aura, gently drifting to the ground.

Trapped again, the water ghost’s screams grew more desperate. Chong Jiu’s expression finally showed a hint of surprise. A troop of riders approached, led by Ye Siheng, who exuded an aura of cold nobility.

"Are you the one controlling this water ghost?" Ye Siheng asked.

"Mind your own business," Chong Jiu retorted, startled but defiant.

Ye Siheng raised an eyebrow. "Seize him."

Qing Feng and the black-armored guards leaped towards Chong Jiu, but he sneered, casting peculiar talismans that made it impossible for them to breathe. They fell into the water, weighed down as if by stones.

Recognizing Chong Jiu’s expertise in Taoist arts, Ye Siheng slashed his sword into the water, dispersing the spell and allowing his men to resurface, gasping for air.

Chong Jiu stared at Ye Siheng in shock. "How did you break my spell?"

And he broke it with one strike.

Ye Siheng wasted no words, his figure already darting forward, sword raised to strike Chong Jiu. His moves were swift, precise, and ruthless, imbued with an imposing sword aura. Chong Jiu quickly drew his own sword to engage. The clash of their swords was as swift as dancing dragons, the sword aura severing the willow branches along the riverbank.

In terms of strength and inner power, Ye Siheng was superior to Chong Jiu. Chong Jiu soon found himself struggling. Though he could parry the incoming strike, his right hand, holding the sword, went numb from the impact. He grunted, nearly spitting out a mouthful of blood.

Chong Jiu staggered backward, pinching a talisman between his fingers, ready to try again. But once more, the talisman was effortlessly destroyed by Ye Siheng. Not only that, but Ye Siheng’s sword, swift as lightning, aimed directly at Chong Jiu’s vital point. With the wall behind him, Chong Jiu had nowhere to escape.

As the sword neared him, an idea flashed in Chong Jiu’s mind. He used a teleportation talisman, shifting his position and narrowly avoiding a fatal blow. Even so, he was wounded, blood staining his clothes, making him look quite bedraggled.

Ye Siheng was unsurprised. Retracting his sword, he turned to gaze at the arched bridge in the distance. On the bridge, Chong Jiu ground his teeth in hatred. Never before had he suffered such a setback. His eyes narrowed, left hand holding several teleportation talismans, and right hand gripping his sword tightly.

The wind whistled. Chong Jiu suddenly vanished from the bridge, reappearing behind Ye Siheng, intending to thrust his sword through Ye Siheng’s back. Sensing the murderous intent behind him, Ye Siheng slightly turned, raising his sword to block the attack. His movements were as quick as lightning, and without even glancing, he slashed his blade towards Chong Jiu’s throat.

At such close range, Chong Jiu couldn’t evade and had to use another teleportation talisman. After several abrupt changes in position, he still couldn’t harm Ye Siheng at all, instead exhausting his own strength and power. Finally, he retreated to a safe distance, panting heavily. Large beads of sweat dripped from his face onto the ground.

Qing Feng and his companions watched the fierce battle, dumbfounded. If it had been them, they would have long since perished under Chong Jiu’s sword.

Ye Siheng, with a hint of disdain, asked, "Is that all?"

Enraged, Chong Jiu prepared another attack but hesitated due to his injuries. Realizing his remaining power was insufficient to break Nanli’s array, he decided to eliminate evidence by hurling a ghost-extinguishing talisman at the water ghost.

The water ghost shrieked, "Chong Jiu, how could you!"

The exorcism talisman transformed into a flickering flame in midair, ready to incinerate the water ghost into ashes. Ye Siheng had not anticipated such a ruthless move from Chong Jiu, and due to the distance, he was powerless to intervene. The flame was about to engulf the water ghost.

Just as Ye Siheng thought the water ghost was beyond rescue, a graceful figure appeared on the riverbank. It was Nanli. She wore a loose outer robe, her hair unbound, and swiftly approached the water ghost. With a single motion, she sliced through the fiery mass. The wind swept her dark hair, drawing a beautiful arc in the air.

Her expression was icy, and with a clench of her five fingers, the fireball was instantly extinguished in her hand. Chong Jiu involuntarily took a step back. This was hellfire conjured by magic, and she had extinguished it with her bare hands?

"The ghost I’ve caught is not yours to deal with," Nanli declared.

Ye Siheng hurriedly warned, "Ah Li, this water ghost is under his command. He’s trying to silence it."

Nanli raised an eyebrow, "Quite the catch tonight, it seems."

Locking eyes with her, Chong Jiu felt a chill run down his spine, breaking into a cold sweat. Without a moment’s hesitation, he used his remaining strength to activate a teleportation talisman.

Nanli acted swiftly, casting a stabilization talisman. It was her latest invention, designed specifically to counter teleportation and transfer talismans. The stabilization talisman flew towards Chong Jiu but was repelled by an unseen barrier, failing to stop him. Chong Jiu vanished from sight.

The stabilization talisman returned to Nanli’s hand.

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