With a single sentence, Feng Tongtong’s gaze instantly darkened, and she looked at Jiang Manman with clear displeasure.
Before she could speak, a young lady quickly pointed to a spot not far away, “Look quickly, isn’t that Feng Ninghe? Speak of the devil and she appears.”
“I heard she even became the acting family head, a pity she’s ultimately just a cultivation trash.”
Jiang Manman disdained associating with these sycophants and took a step to leave. But as soon as she lifted her foot, someone tripped her, sending her tumbling into the pond!
In the crowd, Feng Tongtong subtly curved her red lips, unable to hide the triumph in her eyes.
Jiang Manman, who had fallen into the pond, choked on some water. She thrashed in the water, her voice muffled, perhaps from choking, “Help… save me… I… I can’t swim…”
The young ladies on the bank panicked.
One of them was about to step forward to save her, but Feng Tongtong stopped her, “Jiang Manman is considered one of the best among our peers. She’ll surely find a way to get ashore.”
In the past, Feng Tongtong had lost to Jiang Manman in a competition.
Now, seeing the disheveled Jiang Manman, she felt an immense sense of satisfaction.
The young ladies who had intended to save her hesitated.
They did not want to offend the Jiang family, nor did they want to offend Feng Tongtong, who was about to become an imperial consort. They could only stand still.
The area was filled with young ladies, and it was some distance from where the guests were enjoying themselves. Even if there was some commotion, it wouldn’t attract attention.
Jiang Manman felt her head grow heavy. The icy water drowned her senses, and even her strength to struggle diminished.
Logically, a cultivator could hold their breath even when falling into water and leave the pond by circulating their spiritual energy.
But the moment she touched water, images of past nightmares would flood her mind.
Just as she thought she was about to perish, a strong, powerful hand grabbed her.
“Hold on tight to me.”
The female voice was clear and refreshing, like a wake-up call.
It also gave Jiang Manman a glimmer of hope. She tightly grasped this lifeline and, at that moment, saw who had come to her aid.
It was her?
“Feng Ninghe?”
Feng Tongtong let out an incredulous laugh, as if watching a joke, “A mere trash trying to help someone?”
A hint of malice flashed in Feng Tongtong’s eyes. She waved her hand, and spiritual energy condensed in her palm. She intended to strike Feng Ninghe.
Since this wretched woman was so kind-hearted, she might as well take a dip in the pond too!
Xiao Zhao, on Feng Ninghe’s shoulder, seemed to sense something. It swayed its plump body and waved its paws, pouncing fiercely towards Feng Tongtong’s cheek.
“Ah! Damn stupid beast, get away from me!”
Feng Tongtong, fearing her beautiful face would be scratched, didn’t care about anything else and retreated repeatedly.
Her scheme successful, Xiao Zhao stuck out its tongue and used its paws to pry open its eyelids, making a face. Then, just as Feng Tongtong was about to attack, it transformed into a ball of light and entered Feng Ninghe’s dantian.
“Feng Ninghe! If you don’t want to discipline your spirit beast, I don’t mind disciplining it for you!”
Feng Tongtong advanced aggressively, wielding her long whip.
At this moment, Jiang Manman, who had been pulled out of the pond, also regained her senses. Her wet hair cascaded down her face, her features contorted with anger, and her voice, laced with fury, asked, “What wrong is there in saving someone? Do you perhaps not want me to be saved?”
Her words also subtly warned Feng Tongtong.
After all, Jiang Manman was the only daughter of Jiang Bugao. Making an enemy of the Jiang family would do her no good.
Feng Tongtong forced a smile and hastily denied, “What are you saying, Miss Jiang? With so many people present, you won’t be harmed.”
Jiang Manman’s gaze shifted. A bright light flashed at her fingertips, and she used her spiritual energy to change into clean clothes and dry her hair.
Then, she looked at the young ladies watching from the bank with a warning in her eyes, “You’d better pray you never have a chance to face me. My fists don’t have eyes.”
Jiang Manman didn’t believe a single word Feng Tongtong said.
Despite so many people on the bank, no one had come to her aid.
In the end, it was the cultivation-less trash, Feng Ninghe, who saved her.
Upon hearing this, the young ladies quickly found excuses to leave, “I suddenly remembered I have something to do, so I’ll take my leave first.”
“My stomach hurts, I need to go to the latrine…”
In a short while, the crowd that should have been watching dispersed instantly.
Feng Tongtong didn’t linger either and walked away.
After walking a short distance, Feng Tongtong stopped and glanced at Taohua beside her, “You can make your move now.”
Only Feng Ninghe and Jiang Manman remained at the scene.
“Why did you save me?”
Jiang Manman met the gaze of the person before her, her eyes filled with intense inquiry.
Feng Ninghe smiled and passed, her eyes as calm as water, without a ripple, “Does saving someone require a reason?”
These simple words choked Jiang Manman. Her expression became solemn, and she looked at Feng Ninghe earnestly, “I am not an ungrateful person. You helped me today, and I will surely repay you in the future.”
Feng Ninghe nodded generously.
It wouldn’t be easy to reclaim the Zhenguo Duke’s mansion; perhaps there would be a day when she truly needed Jiang Manman’s assistance.
After bidding farewell to Jiang Manman, she turned and left with composure.
Feng Ninghe hadn’t taken a few steps when a crumpled piece of paper was accurately thrown at her feet.
She bent down to pick up the paper and looked around.
There was no one nearby. A faint sound came from the bushes in the dark. Upon closer inspection, she could see a familiar skirt hem hidden in the foliage.
Feng Ninghe’s lips curved upwards unconsciously, her bright eyes sparkling. Her slender fingers gently unfolded the paper.
The paper was filled with a line of text: If you want to know the truth about your brother’s death, come to the rockery in the backyard for a chat.
The truth about his death?
She lowered her gaze, her eyes fixed on the words on the note. Her red lips curved upwards wantonly, and a hint of amusement appeared in her eyes.
Her brother’s death had never been simple, and this note confirmed it.
She wanted to see who was waiting for her behind the rockery.
The backyard was quite a distance from the front courtyard. Guests wouldn’t venture into the backyard unless they had a reason.
Not far from the rockery.
Two figures were hidden in the dark.
“Third Miss, she’s here!”
Taohua, with sharp eyes, spotted Feng Ninghe entering the backyard and quickly reminded her in a low voice.
Feng Tongtong’s eyes instantly lit up. Her brows curved, and a wicked smile spread across her face. Her figure flashed, and she rushed towards Feng Ninghe’s location.
A sharp gust of wind swept towards Feng Ninghe. Her peripheral vision had already caught sight of a figure charging at her.
Feng Tongtong raised her palm and fiercely swung it towards Feng Ninghe’s neck.
*Slap!*
With a palm strike, Feng Ninghe’s body instantly went limp, and she collapsed softly onto the ground.
“This wretched woman has finally fallen into my hands!”
Feng Tongtong threw her head back and laughed, a fierce glint dancing wildly in her eyes, “Today, I will ruin her reputation! Even if she has the backing of Medicine Valley and is a disciple of Immortal Xu, so what? Just a piece of trash, and she dares to dream of controlling the Zhenguo Duke’s mansion? What a fool’s dream!”
Taohua quickly smiled, “Third Miss, your servant will go inform the Madam now.”