Chapter 948: Called Someone Furious

Relatively speaking, although the Dragon Maiden had never visited the Thousand Reefs Island region, it was a fixed location and lacked a restrictive formation array covering the entire area, making it very easy to locate.

Ying Ruoli did not personally ride a magic cloud or employ evasion techniques, but her inherent magical power influenced the accompanying group of dragons. The flood dragons skimmed swiftly over the sea surface, creating turbulent wakes behind them.

Several days later, at the edge of the dragons' sight, a densely populated area of islands emerged from the sea. Distant islands were merely dozens of li apart, while closer ones might be only a few hundred zhang away. The nearer they approached, the more islands became visible, with many even showing faint spiritual energy swirling around them.

"Your Highness, it should be just ahead."

The female flood dragon beneath Ying Ruoli spoke, and the Dragon Maiden nodded slightly in response.

"Yes, that area should be the Thousand Reefs Island. All of you transform into human forms, and we'll walk across the water."

At the Dragon Maiden's command, shimmering light enveloped the flood dragons. The next moment, a dozen flood dragons—some fearsome, some majestic—vanished, replaced by a dozen men and women of various ages, none appearing older than middle-aged. At the center of this group was the Dragon Maiden, Ying Ruoli.

This group proceeded by treading the waves. In calm waters, they moved with a light, graceful step; amidst strong winds and high waves, they strode powerfully through the crashing surf. Their speed was only slightly less than when they had used evasion techniques, a pace that even ordinary cultivators employing flight abilities might not achieve.

"That island."

The Dragon Maiden pointed ahead and led the way, with the dragon clan members following closely behind. Soon, the dozen-plus individuals gradually emerged from the waves onto a sandy beach.

Fishermen were drying their nets on the beach. Upon seeing the dozen-plus individuals emerge from the sea, they all displayed expressions of slight surprise. However, after a moment's realization, those nearby bowed respectfully to the Dragon Maiden and her companions, evidently assuming them to be eminent figures.

The Dragon Maiden merely nodded to the fishermen, then swiftly departed with her dragon followers like a gentle breeze. As they walked, their appearances subtly changed, mostly in their clothing and accessories.

Their destination was, naturally, the recently established Jade Embrace Treasure Pavilion. Wei Wuwei appeared to have already received word and came out to greet them in advance, respectfully bowing to Ying Ruoli without uttering any exaggerated remarks.

"Please, come inside!"

"Mm."

The Jade Embrace Treasure Pavilion was clearly not as simple as it appeared from the outside. Led by Wei Wuwei, the Dragon Maiden and her party finally arrived in a private room. Inside, there was only a large table and a few chairs, nothing else. Behind the chairs, a glazed window offered a view of the outside, but this window was invisible from the exterior.

It was then that Wei Wuwei once again bowed deeply to the Dragon Maiden.

"Wei Wuwei greets Your Highness Ying and all venerable seniors!"

"Master Wei, there's no need for such formality. I have come precisely because of the contents of your flying sword message. Have you ascertained who they are, and where are they now?"

Wei Wuwei's expression became more serious. He turned and retrieved two portraits from a table in the room. They depicted A Ze and Lian Ping'er in her altered form when she was with A Ze.

"Your Highness Ying, it is indeed these two. I can confirm that the man is named A Ze, which appears to be his true identity. The woman calls herself Ning Xin, but her appearance and name are likely false."

The Dragon Maiden took the portraits and examined them closely. The accompanying dragons also moved closer to observe, while Wei Wuwei continued his narrative.

"I attempted various methods to approach them and gather information. Unfortunately, fearing I might alert the woman, I proceeded with extreme caution and did not achieve significant results. However, I did manage to keep them in the city for a few days. Regrettably, one day I suddenly lost all trace of Ning Xin and A Ze. Still, there is a cultivation family on this island that appears to have some connection to the woman."

Ying Ruoli looked up at Wei Wuwei.

"Where?"

"Your Highness Ying, please don't rush. Allow me to elaborate on the details. Ah, the tea and refreshments have arrived. There's no need to hurry."

Facing so many flood dragons and Ying Ruoli, a true dragon, Wei Wuwei remained composed and unflustered, his manners impeccable and neither humble nor arrogant. As the tea and refreshments were served, he began to recount what had happened after he sent his flying sword message.

The message on the flying sword had been sent in haste, and although Wei Wuwei's spiritual sense was pure, it wasn't particularly powerful, carrying little attached intent. It mainly described a woman impersonating Master Ji's Dao companion, with few details about A Ze. Wei Wuwei's additional descriptions now allowed the Dragon Maiden to gradually understand the full context.

After sending the flying sword, Wei Wuwei, disguised as a transformed woman, "coincidentally" encountered A Ze and Ning Xin twice. The first time, he was given a deep-sea pearl. The second time, "Miss Cai'er" happily wore the processed bracelet, joyfully displaying it when she encountered them again, and expressing profuse thanks.

And since Ning Xin presented herself as quite approachable, "Miss Cai'er" simply seized the opportunity. She feigned unfamiliarity with the cultivation world and a strong desire to grow close to this kind "Immortal Sister" and A Ze, managing to stay with them for three days.

Wei Wuwei had initially thought he could manipulate the two with ease. However, while he didn't sense any immediate danger, he knew better than to overly rely on intuition, so he maintained a very careful balance. During those three days, he even began affectionately calling Ning Xin 'sister'.

It's likely that if Lian Ping'er had suddenly learned one day that 'Miss Cai'er' was a chubby, smiling tiger, she would have been inexplicably astonished and gotten goosebumps.

However, Lian Ping'er was clearly not so easily deceived; she simply vanished one day, without even bidding farewell to 'Miss Cai'er'.

Even so, Wei Wuwei harbored a hidden suspicion, for if there was any significant change on the third day, it was the re-departure of the Xuanxin Manor's flying boat.

Listening to Wei Wuwei casually recount the events of those few days, the dragons all exchanged glances. Many of them looked Wei Wuwei up and down again, finding his account exceedingly strange, with some even getting goosebumps.

Ying Ruoli looked at Wei Wuwei with a half-smile.

"Miss Cai'er?"

"Uh, Your Highness Ying, please don't tease me. It was a measure born of helplessness. If I possessed boundless cultivation, I assure you I would have preferred to simply slap them away."

Ying Ruoli shook her head slightly.

"Master Wei, you misunderstand. While I find it quite amusing, I would never dare to belittle you in the slightest. Anyone who does, I'm sure, would certainly face difficulties. I simply believe that even if Master Wei truly possessed boundless cultivation, he would not succumb to such a quick display of power unless absolutely necessary."

Wei Wuwei, with his characteristic small face, cupped his hands toward Ying Ruoli.

"As expected of Your Highness Ying, you truly understand me. However, Your Highness overpraises me; my cultivation is meager, and I can only rely on Master Ji's guidance and these small stratagems. Oh, and regarding subsequent matters, it would be inconvenient for me to get involved. I ask that Your Highness handle them personally."

"Mm, thank you, Master Wei, for the information."

Ying Ruoli stood up, and Wei Wuwei also promptly rose to see her off.

"Your Highness, please don't say that. Master Ji's affairs are my affairs. On the contrary, Your Highness is helping me."

The Dragon Maiden paused, turned, and gave Wei Wuwei an inscrutable look. He was slightly taken aback, then smiled and bowed again.

"I misspoke. Given Your Highness's relationship with Master Ji, it is naturally your own affair."

"Wei Wuwei, it would truly be a pity if someone like you were to die from exhausted vitality due to insufficient cultivation."

"Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. I assure you, I know my limits!"

The Dragon Maiden said no more. Although Wei Wuwei's cultivation appeared remarkably low, perhaps, as Uncle Ji had said regarding the "contention of a hundred schools of thought," there was another path for him. At the very least, given Wei Wuwei's abilities, Uncle Ji would certainly not begrudge him a mature Fire Jujube, even if it were purely for his benefit.

After exiting the Jade Embrace Treasure Pavilion, a woman beside Ying Ruoli finally couldn't help but speak.

"Your Highness, who is this Wei Wuwei? I've never heard of him before, but he truly possesses some skill!"

"Only 'some skill'? If it were me, I'd be quite unwilling to face him. If compelled, it would be best to strike him down directly with lightning speed."

A man also spoke similarly.

Ying Ruoli smiled.

"No need to overthink. All of you are my trusted confidantes. As long as Wei Wuwei is an ally and not an enemy, the more capable he is, the better. Let us first pursue those two individuals."

"Your Highness, shouldn't we go to the cultivation family first?" "Your Highness believes they are on the Xuanxin Manor's flying boat?"

Ying Ruoli looked at the people behind her.

"That Ning Xin is likely no ordinary person. We won't go to that family's location and alert them; Wei Wuwei will keep an eye on them. As for the whereabouts of those two, although Ning Xin claimed she would take A Ze to find Uncle Ji, finding him is one matter, and even if possible, I doubt she would genuinely dare to do so. The Xuanxin Manor's flying boat has a fairly distinctive and consistent appearance, making it relatively easy to catch up with. Even if we are mistaken, it's better than searching for a needle in a haystack."

"Your Highness is wise!"

The dragons had only just arrived at the island before immediately departing again.

The Dragon Maiden appeared calm on the surface, but a cold glint occasionally flickered in her eyes. Indeed, as she listened to Wei Wuwei's detailed account of his three-day interactions with the pair, hearing the various brazen fabrications Ning Xin had concocted—which, to her, amounted to nearly defiling Ji Yuan's reputation—only intensified her fury.