The Martial God who started at Mantuo Manor

Page 64

Among them, several footprints had very peculiar shapes, with wide and flat front ends, resembling the wearing of some kind of wooden clogs or straw sandals, further confirming Huang Rong's earlier judgment.

Without the slightest hesitation, all the footprints stretched straight ahead in one direction.

The two followed the footprints, passing through the bamboo forest behind the villa and crossing a desolate wilderness.

The smell of moisture in the air grew stronger, and the gentle breeze, unique to lakes and carrying a slightly fishy odor, began to caress our faces.

In the end, all traces disappeared on a gravel path leading to the shore of Taihu Lake.

Ahead, one can vaguely see the vast expanse of Taihu Lake shimmering white under the sunlight, like a boundless, enormous silk scroll unfurled.

Needless to say, they had already boarded a boat and disappeared into the vast expanse of Taihu Lake.

"Damn it!"

Looking at the boundless expanse of water, Wang Meng cursed under his breath, "They're quite well-prepared; there are actually boats waiting to meet us on the lake."

Taihu Lake is so vast that if they were to escape into it by boat, finding them would be like searching for a needle in a haystack.

"Moreover, the territory of the Murong Clan of Gusu is right across the street!"

However, this time, Huang Rong beside him did not agree. Her gaze did not linger on the disappearing footprints, but was fixed intently, with an almost scrutinizing sharpness, on the seemingly calm lake shore in front of her.

After observing for a moment, her beautiful brows not only did not relax, but instead furrowed even more.

"wrong!"

She suddenly spoke, her voice clear and decisive, resolutely rejecting Wang Meng's judgment.

Wang Meng was taken aback and turned to look at her.

The seriousness that had accompanied the pursuit was gone from Huang Rong's eyes; in its place was an absolute confidence that belonged to an expert.

He had seen that look in the eyes of even the most experienced sailors.

"There's no way to get a boat from here!"

Pointing to the seemingly calm bay ahead, she said with certainty, "The bay entrance is riddled with hidden reefs; it's impossible to dock there!"

Seeing Wang Meng's puzzled expression, she explained further, her voice revealing an undeniable professionalism stemming from her upbringing by the sea: "Young Master Wang, look closely at the water. Although it's not clear under the moonlight, the sound of the waves crashing against the shore is strange."

The short, jumbled sounds indicated that the underwater surface was anything but flat.

Moreover, look at the direction in which the aquatic plants grow on the shore and the black rocks protruding from the water; those are all signs of shallows and reefs.

Any vessel, regardless of size, that dares to approach within a hundred paces of this lake shore will only meet one fate: its life will be torn apart by the 'teeth' hidden underwater, leaving it stranded here.

She stretched out her slender fingers and drew a cold arc in the air: "So, this is not a ferry crossing for rendezvous—it's a dead end."

That group deliberately led the trail here, hoping to make us think they had escaped by boat and thus abandon the pursuit.

They...they're still on the shore!

Wang Meng was taken aback by Huang Rong's reasoned analysis. The impatience in his eyes quickly faded, replaced by a highly focused glint.

Following Huang Rong's train of thought, he re-examined the lake that seemed to be the only way out.

Indeed, the sound of waves lapping against the shore is chaotic and irregular, which is clear evidence of the complex underwater topography.

The group went to great lengths to lure their trail to this dangerous place, their purpose obvious—to escape unscathed.

But they're still on the shore, so where could they be hiding?

The surrounding area was flat, with nowhere to hide these people except for a few sparse woods.

Unless… In Wang Meng’s mind, it was as if a bolt of lightning suddenly cleaved through the thick fog.

Almost simultaneously, he abruptly turned to look at Huang Rong. At the same moment, Huang Rong's bright eyes also shifted from the dark lake, looking at him with an equally astonishing suspicion.

Eyes facing each other.

In that split second, they didn't speak, but they both clearly saw the same spark of sudden realization ignited in each other's eyes!

A thought, a place, a place that even ordinary martial arts practitioners had only heard of in legends, simultaneously surfaced in the minds of the two.

Or rather, the person they were tracking wasn't even on the shore!

If they didn't go by boat, nor did they hide on the shore, then there is only one last, and most incredible, possibility left—they dived underwater!

Underwater!

As if on the same wavelength, their pupils suddenly contracted.

The next second, two voices, almost overlapping, filled with shock and certainty, uttered simultaneously: "Langhuan Jade Cave!"

The entire Mantuo Manor.

It seems that only Li Qingluo knows where the Langhuan Jade Cave is; even Wang Meng doesn't know yet.

But in reality, there is one person who knows exactly where the Langhuan Jade Cave is.

That is—Wang Yuyan, that green tea bitch!

This... makes perfect sense!

Whatever the plan may be.

Wang Yuyan is the real most important person!

"So, where exactly is this entrance?"

Huang Rong's clear, cold voice, like a piece of jade, struck at the most crucial moment.

She looked around; the shoreline of the lake was long and winding, and finding a hidden underwater entrance was like finding a needle in a haystack.

However, her words were like a lightning bolt, cleaving open the deep sea of ​​Wang Meng's memories.

A sensual and alluring scene uncontrollably surfaced in his mind.

That was in Li Qingluo's boudoir, after a passionate and enchanting moment, following the ebb and flow of their lovemaking.

The air was filled with a unique blend of musk and a woman's natural scent; the brocade quilt was disheveled, and the candlelight flickered.

Li Qingluo lay languidly on his chest like a cat, her eyes alluring, her breath hot with desire.

Her fingertips unconsciously traced circles on his chest, her entire being immersed in the afterglow of ultimate pleasure, her mind somewhat clouded. Mei is here, Mei's not free, Lin is here, isn't she...?

Just then, half-drunk and half-awake, she pressed her red lips to his ear and, as if in a dream, softly recited a line of poetry.

"A jade mirror hangs upside down, reflecting Guanyin's face..."

The voice was alluring and captivating, tinged with a hint of drunken murmur, "...The Water Moon Cave has a hidden entrance."

At the time, Wang Meng thought it was just her ramblings in a moment of passion, but he took note of the strange verses.

He never imagined that this casual remark made in bed would be the key to unlocking the biggest secret of the entire Mantuo Manor!

"Jade mirror... Guanyin face..."

Wang Meng's eyes instantly sharpened from his hazy memories.

His gaze suddenly fell on the cliff shrouded in moonlight, and he quickly searched for it against the backdrop of the lake.

Got it!

His gaze was fixed on a naturally formed rock on the side of the cliff!

The rock, eroded by wind and rain, actually bears a striking resemblance to a reclining Guanyin statue, appearing dignified and majestic under the moonlight.

The meaning of the poem "A jade mirror hangs upside down, reflecting Guanyin's face" is now crystal clear!

The Jade Mirror refers to the waters of Taihu Lake.

"Upside down" refers to the reflection in the water.

The real entrance is right where the Guanyin statue on the cliff is reflected in the water!

In this matter, he had an absolute informational advantage over Huang Rong.

He grabbed Huang Rong's wrist, this time with even more decisiveness than before, and pulled her around, running along the edge of the lake towards the secluded cliff.

Despite being pulled so forcefully by him, Huang Rong did not resist in the slightest.

She could feel that the heat in Wang Meng's palm had taken on a slightly anxious tone.

She understood that this was not an impulsive act, but rather a matter of time.

The two ran to the foot of a cliff covered by huge vines, where Wang Meng stopped.

He parted the thick, waterfall-like vines, revealing a smooth, mirror-like black rock behind them.

"The entrance is right below here."

He stared at the dark, murky lake, his tone certain.

"Are you going down?"

Looking at the deep, dark lake that seemed to swallow all light, even someone as audacious as Huang Rong couldn't help but feel a chill run down her spine.

The underwater world is unknown and fraught with danger.

Wang Meng turned and glanced at her. His face, which always carried a hint of wickedness, now revealed a rare and solemn smile.

"Chief Huang, do you believe me or not?"

This question came out of nowhere, yet it seemed perfectly natural.

Huang Rong looked into his deep eyes, which held no hint of jest, only frankness and invitation.

Her heart skipped a beat as she recalled his bold words, his meticulous deductions, and the reassuring warmth of his palm.

As if by some strange twist of fate, she nodded as well.

"it is good!"

Wang Meng laughed loudly and said no more.

He took a deep breath, and his figure, like a lithe cheetah, leaped into the cold, dark lake with a "plop," splashing up a circle of white water.

Without hesitation, Huang Rong followed suit and jumped into the lake as well.

Chapter 35: Fierce Battle (Part 1)

The icy lake water instantly enveloped her entire body, and the biting cold made Huang Rong shiver involuntarily.

But for Wang Meng, this temperature change was nothing.