Longevity Martial Arts: Grinding Experience in the Chaotic World

Chapter 745: Chapter 396: Insolence Against Superiors_2

Soon after, the two were just about ready to return to the hut.

"Hahaha... Miss Ziyue, it’s been a while, hasn’t it?"

Suddenly, a burst of mocking laughter shattered the stillness of the surrounding area.

Ji Ziyue looked up and saw a few figures in the distance, with Ji Xia, her elder cousin’s maidservant, leading the group.

Ji Xia was dressed in luxurious attire, accompanied by several attendants trailing behind her.

They seemed to be indulging in lighthearted leisure, their laughter brimming with carefree delight.

However, the moment Ji Xia’s gaze landed on Gu Sheng and Ji Ziyue, her smile froze abruptly.

"Miss Ziyue, what are you doing here?"

Ji Xia’s tone carried a trace of surprise and suspicion.

She quickly strode forward, darting her gaze back and forth between Gu Sheng and Ji Ziyue.

Ji Ziyue’s heart tightened. She knew that if Ji Xia discovered her here, her elder cousin would soon learn about it as well.

Ji Ziyue took a deep breath, doing her best to steady her tone and appear calm: "I was just out getting some fresh air."

Gu Sheng also sensed the tension in the air, knowing that now was not the time to let anything slip.

He slightly nodded in agreement with Ji Ziyue’s words.

Ji Xia scrutinized the two with a probing gaze, as if trying to discern some hidden clue.

After a moment of observation, Ji Xia sneered coldly, "Miss Ziyue, you sure know how to pick a spot for some fresh air. In such a desolate place, aren’t you afraid of encountering danger?"

Ji Ziyue’s heart shuddered—there was an undertone in Ji Xia’s words.

But she didn’t respond directly; instead, she changed the subject: "Why are you here, Ji Xia?"

"Hmph!"

Ji Xia snorted, then said, "Of course, I came to find you."

She immediately noticed the small bird in Ji Ziyue’s hand and exclaimed, "Why is the master’s bird in your hands? Are you intending to kill it?"

Ji Xia’s tone was sharp and domineering, as though she were scolding Ji Ziyue in the name of her master.

But one must remember, Ji Ziyue was a noble daughter of the Ji family, while these people were mere servants.

"Watch how you speak, servant!"

Gu Sheng couldn’t hold back any longer and rebuked coldly.

Ji Xia took another long look at Gu Sheng.

In her eyes, Gu Sheng was nothing more than a low-ranking nobody, far beneath her in terms of realm levels.

Being admonished by him now felt like a slap to her status.

"You boy! How dare you call me a servant? Who do you think you are?"

Ji Xia sneered at Gu Sheng and her temper flared further.

Ji Ziyue caught sight of Ji Xia’s dark expression and immediately sensed trouble brewing.

She gently tugged at Gu Sheng’s sleeve and whispered a warning: "Hey, you’re not her match. We need to think of a way to get out of here."

"Uh... get out of here?"

Gu Sheng turned to glance at Ji Ziyue.

He hadn’t expected that a mere servant like Ji Xia could instill such unease in Ji Ziyue.

When Ji Xia noticed Ji Ziyue and Gu Sheng subtly exchanging glances, she couldn’t help but chuckle aloud.

"Heh heh... You two seem so close—don’t tell me you’re already devoted to each other, all lovey-dovey?"

Ji Xia’s words instantly sparked jeers from the other servants.

Ji Ziyue’s fury erupted upon hearing this, surging like fire to the crown of her head.

"Ji Xia! You’re just a servant—have you no respect for the rules? I am a daughter of the Ji family, and you have no place to prattle here!"

Ji Ziyue’s frosty rebuke radiated her innate authority.

"A noble daughter of the Ji family? Hah!"

Ji Xia snorted coldly, her eyes narrowing as murderous intent leaked through.

"Right now, don’t bother calling yourself a noble daughter. In my eyes, you’re just trash—trash I can toy with as I please!"

As she spoke, Ji Xia quietly unleashed her Divine Power.

Gu Sheng immediately sensed Ji Xia’s strength surging, his heart shuddering in realization.

He hadn’t expected Ji Ziyue’s earlier warning to be entirely true.

Judging by his perception, there was no question—Ji Xia was indeed out of his league.

Gu Sheng watched as the situation rapidly deteriorated. Ji Xia’s words dripped with malice and menace.

This made him fully grasp that Ji Ziyue was not exaggerating.

Faced with this sudden crisis, they had to act without delay.

"Quick! We need to get out of here!"

Ji Ziyue urged sharply.

"Got it."

Gu Sheng responded briskly and pulled Ji Ziyue into the sky.

Ji Ziyue scanned their surroundings and sensed their options narrowing—to escape through the sky now would only expose them further.

"There are Ji family members nearby. We can’t flee upwards—it’ll make us easier to track. Our best option is to dive into the lake and conceal ourselves underwater temporarily."

Ji Ziyue advised.

Gu Sheng didn’t hesitate. Trusting Ji Ziyue’s familiarity with the area, he swiftly grabbed her arm, and the two darted toward the lake like lightning.

As they neared the water’s surface, their bodies blurred and vanished beneath the ripples.

The lake surface quivered with spreading waves, rippling outward.

"Trying to escape?"

Witnessing this, Ji Xia’s eyes flashed with surprise before twisting into rage.

She hadn’t anticipated Ji Ziyue and Gu Sheng actually daring to plunge headlong into the lake.

Without hesitation, she led her attendants in pursuit, plunging into the water herself.

The lake was icy cold and profound, Gu Sheng and Ji Ziyue navigating its murky depths with urgency, seeking a hiding spot.

Both had some familiarity with the underwater terrain, hoping to shake off Ji Xia’s relentless chase.

"Over there—there’s energy fluctuation."

As they swam, Ji Ziyue pointed toward a seemingly unremarkable underwater glow.

Gu Sheng understood instantly. This had to be the hiding place of the Mystic Yellow Power.

Guided by her gesture, he brought Ji Ziyue closer and carefully approached the Mystic Yellow Power.

Suddenly, a tactic formed in Gu Sheng’s mind.

Glancing back, Gu Sheng saw Ji Xia on the verge of catching up.

Her gaze was full of rage and killing intent, clearly intent on capturing Ji Ziyue and Gu Sheng.

But this unchecked fury played right into Gu Sheng’s hands.

He deliberately swam over the Mystic Yellow Power, signaling Ji Ziyue to stay alert.

"You won’t escape—prepare to die!"

Ji Xia and her followers charged toward Gu Sheng and Ji Ziyue, single-mindedly focusing on their quarry without noting their surroundings.

Her subordinates also kept up the pursuit, fixated entirely on apprehending Ji Ziyue.

As the critical moment arrived, Gu Sheng triggered the Mystic Yellow Power.

Like a slumbering dragon jolted awake, its energy erupted underwater, forming a colossal shockwave that surged toward Ji Xia and her group.

"This... what? The Mystic Yellow Power?"

Having spent years in the Ji family, Ji Xia naturally knew a few things about the Mystic Yellow Power.

When she saw its golden brilliance surging toward her, her expression morphed into dread.

"Boom!"

A thunderous rumble resounded.

Instantly, Ji Xia and her companions were struck by the Mystic Yellow Power.

They hadn’t imagined the Mystic Yellow Power would be hidden underwater, let alone that Gu Sheng would activate it.

In the blink of an eye, they were battered and thrown into disarray by the shockwave.

A single stroke of Mystic Yellow could topple a mountain.

And this was them taking the full brunt at its source.

Seizing the opportunity, Gu Sheng and Ji Ziyue swiftly swam to the lake’s surface and scrambled ashore.

The once-calm lake now churned with chaos, waves surging violently.

It was clear how formidable the Mystic Yellow Power was—it seemed it might overturn the entire lake.

"They should all be dead now."

Ji Ziyue exhaled slightly, sensing relief.

Gu Sheng nodded.

Soon, several bodies floated to the surface.

These were the corpses of Ji Xia’s companions.

Gu Sheng counted them, but one was missing.

"Why is there one fewer?"

Gu Sheng frowned slightly, puzzled.

"Maybe it hasn’t floated up yet?"

Ji Ziyue offered casually.

"That’s unlikely. The Mystic Yellow Power is so overwhelming, if it killed someone, the body would float up quickly."

Gu Sheng furrowed his brows deeper, intent on counting again.