Chapter 634: The Black Jiao of Black Water Ridge

The ship swayed, tipping perilously as if something were upending it from below.

People on the ship struggled to keep their balance, while Xie Pan’Er held Xiaosuisui tightly in her arms, trying hard to protect her.

However, Xiaosuisui was not as weak as Xie Pan’Er thought.

Her little head kept poking out!

"Princess, don’t move, it’s dangerous. Be careful not to fall into the sea."

"It’s fine, pretty sister, I want to see what’s happening outside. It seems like something is bumping the ship from below."

"Oh dear, Princess, what else could be bumping the ship from below? It’s probably just some creatures from the sea, like rotten fish and shrimp. What else could it be? Let’s ignore those things. Let’s wait for the National Master and the Seventh Prince to drive off Mr. Wu, and we can take a look when we’re safe, okay?"

At Xie Pan’Er’s words, Xiaosuisui’s mind began to work.

"That’s right! The thing rocking the ship must be a school of fish. Why didn’t I think of that?"

Xiaosuisui’s eyes suddenly widened, her large eyes darting around.

"Did you think of something?"

Xie Pan’Er, seeing Xiaosuisui’s reaction, felt her heart beating faster.

"Pretty sister, do you think there are many big fish under our ship right now?"

Xie Pan’Er, feeling the ship rocking, gave a wry smile and said, "With the ship swaying this badly, there must be many fish below!"

Xiaosuisui became excited. She wriggled out of Xie Pan’Er’s grasp, ran over, and fetched the fishing net that Ji Youzhi had found on the ship earlier.

"Pretty sister, let’s go fishing!"

Xie Pan’Er looked at the fishing net, which was taller than Xiaosuisui herself.

Countless frustrations danced in her mind.

"Your Highness, it’s dangerous! Grab the railing tightly, be careful not to fall."

Xie Pan’Er watched as Xiaosuisui stood by the railing with the fishing net, lowering it into the water. She instantly understood what Xiaosuisui wanted to do.

"My goodness, Princess, what are you thinking? At a time like this, you’re still thinking about fishing!"

Xie Pan’Er had no sooner said these words than the Emperor and Ji Youzhi overheard them.

The two men were stunned for a moment before reacting. By then, they had already dealt with the sailors and bailiffs on board. Their only remaining enemy was Mr. Wu, who was levitating in the air, facing off against the National Master.

"Youzhi, go assist the National Master. I’ll go fish with Suisui."

"The National Master doesn’t require assistance. Let’s all accompany Suisui to fish!"

Hearing the conversation between the Emperor and his minister, the National Master was so exasperated he almost laughed aloud.

"You two are too much! It’s one thing for me to deal with Mr. Wu alone, but you’re actually thinking of playing around? That’s truly outrageous."

The National Master held his sword in one hand and formed a hand seal with the other. He was preparing to charge off the ship at any moment for a life-and-death battle with Mr. Wu, who was shrouded in a black robe.

"We’re doing this for your benefit. After all, you’re the National Master. If word got out that you, the National Master, couldn’t even defeat a mere Mr. Wu, how would you maintain your prestige? Go on, I’m waiting for you to take that Mr. Wu down!"

Ji Youzhi’s words were incredibly cutting, leaving the National Master feeling thoroughly humiliated.

"If that’s the case, then watch carefully how I, *the* National Master, take down this good-for-nothing Mr. Wu!"

Outside, Mr. Wu was still playing his mournful bamboo flute, while seagulls, large swallows, and other flying creatures attacked the mast.

Beneath the ship, large fish and various marine creatures were ramming the hull.

The National Master knew that if he could just defeat Mr. Wu and stop his flute playing, their current peril would be resolved.

"Mr. Wu, show me your skills!"

The National Master shouted, then, pushing off the mast with his foot, he lunged towards Mr. Wu, thrusting his sword.

Mr. Wu retreated repeatedly as countless water columns around him transformed into Water Dragons, lunging at the National Master.

The National Master, his robes fluttering, dodged the vital attacks several times, striking straight for the ’Yellow Dragon’—Mr. Wu’s critical point.

Outside, it was truly a clash of titans. Mr. Wu was forced to stop playing his flute and concentrate fully on dealing with the National Master.

The ship suddenly stabilized, and Xiaosuisui hauled up a net brimming with fish, shrimp, and seafood.

"Come and help! There are so many big fish!"

She yelled, and Xie Pan’Er quickly ran over to help her pull the fishing net up. It was only then that she noticed Princess Ata’s flute had also fallen silent.

"Princess Ata! Are you... are you okay?"

Seeing Princess Ata’s pale complexion, Xie Pan’Er asked with concern.

"I’m fine. Mr. Wu’s abilities are simply too formidable. I was struck by his flute’s sonic attacks several times, and now my Divine Soul feels somewhat unsettled!"

Hearing Princess Ata’s words, Xiaosuisui quickly took an elixir from her pouch and gave it to her to eat.

"Quick, eat this. This is an elixir for nourishing the Divine Soul, refined by my second maternal uncle!"

"Thank you, Princess. We’re still within Black Water Ridge. It’s best if Your Highness stops fishing. Be careful not to disturb the Jiao Dragon in this sea, or we won’t be able to cross Black Water Ridge."

As soon as Princess Ata spoke, everyone turned to look at her.

"Princess Ata knows Black Water Ridge very well!" Ji Youzhi remarked, looking at Princess Ata coolly.

"The reason this place is called Black Water Ridge isn’t because the water is black, nor because it’s particularly dangerous. It’s because, within this fog-shrouded area, there lies a Black Jiao Dragon, said to have existed for nearly a thousand years. It guards this place, and typically, no one can pass through."

Ji Youzhi had never heard this origin of Black Water Ridge that Princess Ata described. In fact, not just Ji Youzhi, even the National Master was unaware of the Black Jiao Dragon’s existence here.

"How did you know about this?" Xie Pan’Er instinctively asked.

"I am the princess of Nanjiang, which is renowned for its Witchcraft. To practice Witchcraft, one must naturally understand many secrets."

"So, the Black Jiao Dragon of Black Water Ridge is also one of these secrets?"

"That’s correct. Look, Mr. Wu is constantly evading the National Master’s attacks and deliberately luring him deeper into Black Water Ridge.

I think he intends to provoke the Black Jiao Dragon here and use it to kill us—borrowing a knife to kill, so to speak!

"

Princess Ata pointed to where the National Master and Mr. Wu were fighting, showing everyone.

Ji Youzhi also had a sudden realization.

No wonder Mr. Wu asked us at our first encounter if we knew why this place was called Black Water Ridge! He knew about the Black Jiao Dragon here all along, and his plan was to use it to kill us!

Ji Youzhi was suddenly enlightened, his face filled with unease.

The Emperor also grew worried.

"Will the National Master lose to Mr. Wu?"

"Your Majesty! Even if the National Master can beat Mr. Wu, we are still doomed," Princess Ata said with a worried look.

She could already feel the seawater surging violently and sense the awakening of the Black Jiao Dragon!

Xie Pan’Er’s eyes suddenly widened. She pointed to the sea surface not far off and screamed in terror, "Look over there! Is that a large, dark mass rising to the surface?"