Peerless Bodyguard of a Stunning Beauty

The unparalleled beauty looked at Zhao Rong with tear-filled eyes and spoke. ”Sir, you don’t understand,” she sobbed. ”Behind our town, there’s a deep pool. Everyone says a monster lives in it—one that devours any person or animal it sees. It’s incredibly ferocious. But my brother, he refused to believe in such superstitions. He went swimming in the pool, intending to find that monster and kill it. But after he went to that deep pool, he never came back. I suspect he must have been captured by the monster and dragged into the water. So, sir, your martial arts are so powerful and your mana is boundless. I believe if you go to that pool, you can definitely rescue my brother.”

Hearing the beautiful woman’s plea, Zhao Rong immediately decided to help her and save her brother.

He said to her, ”Miss, don’t worry. Lead me to this deep pool now. I guarantee I can save your brother from the monster’s jaws.”

When the three women heard Zhao Rong so easily believe her story and prepare to follow her to find the monster, they grew worried. ”Zhao Rong, have you lost your mind?” they said. ”This woman’s background is a mystery. She just spins some tale, puts on an act, and you believe her? If this is a trap and you follow her into that deep pool, what happens if the monster eats you?”

Lili glared at the peerless beauty before turning back to remind Zhao Rong, ”Zhao Rong, you’re the cornerstone of our team. You can’t afford any mishaps. If something happens to you, our team will have to disband.”

Yu Lan was also skeptical. She said to Zhao Rong, ”I suggest you use the lie detector. Test the truth of this woman’s words before you even consider following her to rescue a boy who was supposedly dragged into a deep pool by a monster.”

Xuelian gave the peerless beauty a thorough look-over, noticing her revealing dress. Furthermore, her style reminded her of a protagonist from an Island Country film. She instantly grew jealous and said, ”Zhao Rong, I feel that the prettier a woman is, the more likely she’s lying. You should think twice before you act.”

In contrast to the three women, the assistant stepped forward. He seemed to fully believe the peerless beauty and tried to persuade Zhao Rong. ”Zhao Rong, look at her! This woman is absolutely stunning. Her lips are so red, her teeth are so white, and her figure is incredible! I believe every word she says is sincere. She definitely doesn’t seem like a liar. So, I think we really should go to that deep pool behind the town, find that monster, and rescue her brother.”

When the three women heard the assistant encouraging Zhao Rong to take such a huge risk to save a stranger’s brother, they immediately became furious and started scolding him. ”Assistant, are you an idiot? Risking Zhao Rong’s life for some strange woman?”

Lili cursed at him, ”Assistant, I can see you’re just a man blinded by lust! The only reason you want to help this strange woman is because you find her pretty and dressed so seductively. That’s why you believe her and are egging Zhao Rong on to take this risk.”

Yu Lan looked as if she wanted to march over and kick him. ”You show-off! I bet if a man had come asking Zhao Rong for help, you wouldn’t have encouraged him to go. But because it’s a beautiful woman, you suddenly change your tune? I think you’re just a pervert!”

Xuelian scolded him even more harshly. ”Assistant, you’re always up to no good! If Zhao Rong gets himself killed helping this strange woman, then you can forget about living.”

Just as the three women were berating the assistant, the peerless beauty suddenly squatted on the ground and began to cry pitifully. Seeing her tears, Zhao Rong’s heart softened. He stepped forward, helped her to her feet, and comforted her. ”Miss, it’s alright. Take me to the deep pool now. If it’s within my power, I will definitely help you.”

When the peerless beauty heard that Zhao Rong was willing to help her, she quickly stood up and thanked him. ”Oh, sir! For you to help me... it is my great fortune. My name is Jinlian, thank you so much!”

When the three women heard that the beauty’s name was actually Jinlian, their eyes widened. They stared at her and said, ”You can’t be serious! Your name is actually Jinlian? Then I can say with certainty that your surname is Pan, right?”

The peerless beauty nodded at Lili, Yu Lan, and Xuelian. ”Yes, my surname is Pan, but it’s the character for ’climb,’ not the Pan from the famous story. My full name is Pan Jinlian.”

Hearing of such a bizarre surname, Lili said doubtfully, ”Really? Your surname is too strange.”

Yu Lan looked at the woman with disapproval. ”You could have any name, and you’re called Pan Jinlian? Don’t you know about the Pan Jinlian from *Water Margin*? She seduced Ximen Qing, murdered her husband Wu Dalang, and was eventually killed by his brother, Wu Song!”

Xuelian also found the name grating. ”Miss, I have to ask, with a name like that, I bet you were teased mercilessly in school, weren’t you?”

Pan Jinlian nodded, looking aggrieved. ”What could I do? My parents gave me this name the moment I was born. Even if I wanted to change it, I couldn’t.”

Just as Lili, Yu Lan, and Xuelian were giving Pan Jinlian a hard time, Zhao Rong stepped forward. ”Miss, let’s go save your brother first. After all, saving a life is worth more than building a seven-story pagoda. If we delay any longer, the chances of saving him will only get slimmer.”

As she led Zhao Rong toward the deep pool behind the town, Pan Jinlian thanked him again. ”Sir, I really can’t thank you enough. May I ask your name?”

Walking beside her, Zhao Rong replied, ”My surname is Zhao, as in Zhao Zilong. My given name is Rong.”

Hearing his words, Pan Jinlian gave him a flirtatious glance and said coquettishly, ”Zhao Rong... that’s a lovely name. I like it.”