Chapter 616

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Chapter 616: Between a Rock and a Hard Place

Chao Lake, also known as South Chao Lake, is located at Chao Lake, Jiaohu.

One of the five major freshwater lakes in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River.

South Chao Lake can cut off the Heavenly Moat of the Yangtze River to the south, control the crucial gateway of "Huai Right" Lu Prefecture to the north, is flanked by the Dabie Mountains to the left, and threatens the ancient capital Jinling City to the right. Therefore, its military position has always been considered a "strategically vital area in times of turmoil."

Chao Lake is very big and wide, perfect for practicing naval maneuvers.

It is located near Luzhou, and Bai Wei plans to pass through here to avoid drawing attention.

Most people could guess that Bai Wei might pass through Chao Lake, but they can’t stop him.

Because the actual manager of Chao Lake is Lord Chaohu, who is Ying Mu’s father.

Once inside Chao Lake, any followers’ gazes will be cut off. Bai Wei can leave whenever he wants, making it an easy choice for him.

Leaving Chao Lake, passing through Luzhou, and two checkpoints will lead to the middle reaches of the Huai River.

But for Xue Hanlei, it’s different. She looks dejected, from being joyful to all gloomy, like a character with no emotion.

After all, Chao Lake is Ying Mu’s hometown. For Xue Hanlei, going there feels like pinching her nose and going inside with a brave face.

But she has no choice. Bai Wei gave her an ultimatum – either walk there yourself or he will carry her there forcefully.

She shamefully chose the former.

When they arrived at the shore of Chao Lake, a heavy fog covered the area, blocking their sight.

Bai Wei took out a blue scale from his hand and threw it into the lake. After a moment, the pale green lake water parted, revealing a ship being pulled by a large turtle.

The aquatic creatures on both sides respectfully bowed, "Please."

Bai Wei boarded the ship, followed by Xue Hanlei. As the ship sank into the water, the air remained in the cabin, without feeling any water pressure.

Although Chao Lake is vast and wide, even at its highest water level, it is not more than eight meters deep.

This place, blessed by nature, is abundant in freshwater products like fish and shrimp, with a wide variety of delicious and rich flavors.

Silver fish, lake crabs, and white shrimp are known as the three specialties of Chao Lake.

These are all accurate records of history.

Since the Dragon Clan decided to live here, the water in the lake is not deep enough. They have expanded the central area to create living spaces for the Dragon Clan and the Water Clan. This doesn’t affect the water level of the Chao Lake much.

As they reached the palace gates, Ying Mu, dressed in red, was already waiting. She smiled slightly, not as warmly as usual, and greeted them, "Welcome to Chao Lake. It may not be as grand as the East Sea, but the scenery is beautiful. Just relax and make yourself at home."

Some ladies have a graceful demeanor.

A Water Clan member presented an item, a pearl placed on a red silk cloth. "This is the Mermaid’s Breath. Holding it in your mouth allows you to breathe underwater."

Instead of accepting it, Bai Wei looked at Xue Hanlei, who shook her head slightly. He then turned to Ying Mu and said. One may not be enough, right?

The Dragon Palace is underwater, and humans cannot breathe underwater. Bai Wei can hold his breath for half a day or even a full day with his true qi cultivation, but still needs to come up for air.

Ying Mu blinked. Oh, I forgot about that. You can’t freely move underwater now… I’m sorry, my mistake…

She was pretending.

Xue Hanlei ignored the provocation and rolled her eyes coldly.

The fish said. Let’s go get the second token.

"No need to make it complicated." Ying Mu calmly approached, a token emitting a red light floated out of her partially opened mouth. The dragon ball was dazzling, she casually spit out a pearl, grabbed it with her hand, and said. Don’t we still have dragon balls?

The fish on the side were shocked, "Your Highness, absolutely not!"

"Nonsense, are you the Highness or am I the Highness? The dragon ball is mine, not borrowed from you."

Ying Mu confidently retorted.

Even if the dragon ball temporarily separated from the body, it would not immediately affect cultivation, unless the connection was severed. Voluntarily giving it up and being robbed are two different concepts.

Xue Hanlei’s eyes widened.

Bai Wei hesitated whether to accept it or not.

Ying Mu was playing mind games again, showing off to Xue Hanlei on purpose or deliberately asserting dominance?

"Here you go."

Ying Mu said. Hold it under your tongue.

Emphasized intentionally once more.

Bai Wei looked at the red glowing pearl, embodying half a dragon’s lifetime of cultivation. Although he had held it briefly in the past, the situation was completely different now. It represented full trust and a bond of life and death.

Even as close as a married couple, it would be difficult to achieve this.

Dragons might manage it, but humans might not.

…It’s too precious, very difficult to accept.

Bai Wei noticed Ying Mu’s gaze and sensed a hint in her eyes that he should accept it.

He then took the dragon pearl, put it in his mouth, and held it under his tongue.

Ying Mu smiled happily, the dragon ball was her own part, does this mean it will melt in her mouth?

"How does it feel?"

"It tastes like cherries."

"Oh, maybe it’s because I drank cherry flavored cola before. I should have known I should drink Yoli."

Facing the slightly bold ‘flirting’ behavior of the two, Xue Hanlei’s expression became stiff, even slightly distorted. For a moment, countless words couldn’t be said, her feelings were very complex, and she was starting to feel unable to watch.

A few days ago, she could have watched Ying Mu’s performance without expression, because it was none of her business, completely unrelated to herself. She didn’t care at all, but now the situation was different. She was tied to Bai Wei, yet she had to see this scene, causing her to feel annoyed and frustrated.

If, if I could go back to my original self…

Next time, I will definitely push him against the wall in front of you…

A positive thinking technique helped Xue Hanlei feel better. She stepped off the boat and said. Have you thought about your reputation at home? With so many eyes watching, if you keep acting like this, strange rumors might spread before you get married.

Ying Mu touched her chin, glanced around, and asked. Will it work?

The aquatic creatures that were seen all lowered their heads.

"It’s okay, it’s better if it spreads, everyone work hard."

Ying Mu took Bai Wei’s arm and said. Let’s go, I’ll take you to meet my father.

Bai Wei tried to pull his right hand back, but Ying Mu held him and said. You should act closer to me, so that my father will believe…

"Believe what?"

"That you and Xue Hanlei have no special relationship." Ying Mu lowered her voice, "Your position is delicate right now, if you seek my father’s help, you need to prove yourself innocent, and show that you’re not someone who likes to steal others’ wives…"

Bai Wei asked in surprise, "Does your father care about this?"

Ying Mu nodded solemnly and seriously, "My father hates this kind of thing the most, he always gets extremely angry whenever he encounters it. Even if he had a good impression of you before, this time you have stepped into his minefield."

Could Lord Chaohu be a warrior of pure love?

Bai Wei touched his head, dispelling his sense of unease.

It’s okay, I’m not a bull, I don’t have horns.

Two dragons and one person, two sandwiches with cheese, went straight to the palace and arrived at the study courtyard.

Ying Mu was still very respectful towards her father, she knocked on the door for permission and only entered after receiving the butler’s response.

Xue Hanlei was also unfamiliar with Lord Chaohu, and it was the first time Bai Wei had met him. Judging from Ying Mu’s attitude, it was probably a parenting style focused on letting go.

While Bai Wei speculated, he walked through the corridor and before reaching the door, he saw Lord Chaohu from afar across the open railing.

He was wearing a white coat, shorts, clean-shaven, short hair, looking like a middle-aged gentleman coming out for morning tea in Guangzhou if he was holding a thermos cup.

There was absolutely no grandeur.

Does he need to be formally greeted like this? Your father looks like a typical office worker, he could star in a countryside love story now.

Bai Wei looked puzzled at Ying Mu, she glanced sideways and pointed to the other side. Normally no one would mind, but this time there was someone to consider.

His gaze shifted to the other side, he saw a military uniform, epaulettes, and a hand playing with black chess pieces.

Then, he saw an eye, a stoic masculine face.

Bai Wei suddenly halted, his brows furrowed.

He pondered whether to retreat, was it too late to leave now?

At such close range, the other person must have sensed it, he was torn between advancing or retreating.

"What’s wrong?" Ying Mu and Xue Hanlei both noticed Bai Wei’s unusual expression.

Bai Wei shook his head slowly, sighed internally, life is not easy.

Oh… brave spirit.