Chapter 102: The Sword Saint Smiles

This was a simple little courtyard, with only two rooms; inside the yard stood a constable. When Lu Xiaofeng entered the room, he felt dust everywhere… this house was rarely visited.

Jin Jiuling told Lu Xiaofeng to stand still, then went to one of the beds to lay out bedding; this overly attentive behavior made Lu Xiaofeng’s heart sink further.

After the bedding was ready, Jin Jiuling wrapped his arms around Lu Xiaofeng’s waist and placed him on the bed, laughing: “I thought the Cold Rakshasa was soft as boneless flesh, so I expected her to be light as a feather—but this body’s flesh is surprisingly firm and even, truly impossible to guess.”

Lu Xiaofeng sighed deeply, and sighed again.

“Jin Jiuling, you’re the Embroidery Bandit!”

Lu Xiaofeng did not directly expose him, but spoke in the voice of Xue Bing.

“How can you tell?”

Jin Jiuling, now full of self-satisfaction, listened with interest as “Xue Bing” made this accusation.

Lu Xiaofeng recounted Gu Qing’s earlier analysis point by point: overall, after filtering through multiple angles, Jin Jiuling was the prime suspect; today, Jin Jiuling attacked Gu Qing and then kidnapped “Xue Bing,” confirming all suspicions.

“Gu Qing’s method of solving cases is correct. If you follow it, you’ll be uncovered soon.”

Lu Xiaofeng sighed for Gu Qing—this man, too, was a peerless martial genius, yet he died mysteriously in Jin Jiuling’s hands.

Now that Lu Xiaofeng had fallen into Jin Jiuling’s grasp, he felt the deepest dread: if not for Gu Qing’s stubborn meddling, Lu Xiaofeng would have entrusted Xue Bing to the Snake King—and the consequences would have been beyond redemption.

At this moment, Lu Xiaofeng remembered only Gu Qing’s kindness.

“Correct.”

Jin Jiuling confessed openly: “Gu Qing ruined my plans—he made the Pingnan Prince’s mansion launch a strict investigation. If I did nothing, I’d be waiting for death. Fortunately…”

As Jin Jiuling spoke, he clasped his hands together as if praying to heaven: “Fortunately, Gu Qing brought you to find the Snake King. When the Snake King informed me of this, I truly thanked heaven for its protection.”

The Snake King came to see Gu Qing and “Xue Bing” that night—and immediately notified Jin Jiuling.

The troublesome Gu Qing is now dead.

Jin Jiuling will kill Xue Bing and frame the Red Shoes for it…

Jin Jiuling will remain the top constable of the Six Ministries, and still escape unscathed.

“Lu Xiaofeng is your friend…”

Lu Xiaofeng sighed: “Do you have any loyalty to friendship, using him like this?”

At this moment, Jin Jiuling unfastened his belt and gently lifted a strand of Lu Xiaofeng’s hair, smiling: “Cold Rakshasa, bringing up Lu Xiaofeng now only excites me more. The more you say his name, the more aroused I become…”

Fine. This is pure scum.

Lu Xiaofeng had nothing to say.

“Whoosh…”

Outside the courtyard, a strong wind seemed to rush through, rustling everything loudly, with two muffled thuds mixed in. Jin Jiuling looked up sharply: “Lu Shaohua, what’s going on?”

The man standing in the courtyard was Lu Shaohua, nicknamed White-Headed Eagle, the most famous constable in the southeast, feared by all in the underworld.

“Just a gust of wind, Chief!”

Lu Shaohua’s voice came from outside: “Constables guarding the whole scene! Chief rushes to love! Chief, go ahead—don’t hold back!”

“Chief” was how constables addressed Jin Jiuling.

Why does Lu Shaohua talk in such bizarre phrases?

Jin Jiuling smiled, turning to gaze at the “Xue Bing” before him.

“Chief.”

Lu Shaohua’s voice came again: “You just said you get excited hearing Lu Xiaofeng’s name—so if I shout it from outside now, will your excitement grow even more?”

Lu Shaohua’s tone was eager.

“Shut up!”

Jin Jiuling felt his temper flare: “Lu Shaohua, what’s wrong with you?”

“Chief, I just want to improve.”

Lu Shaohua, sensing he’d spoken too much, whispered: “Chief, mount up.” Then he fell silent.

Jin Jiuling turned back to the “Xue Bing” before him, now shocked and furious, grunted, and prepared to lean down and kiss him.

At that moment, footsteps sounded in the courtyard—Lu Shaohua outside seemed to be speaking with someone.

Jin Jiuling strained his ears, listening to the rustling, and shouted: “Lu Shaohua, what’s happening? Who’s here?”—mainly because he’d already taken off his pants; otherwise he’d have gone out to teach these annoying fools a lesson.

“Report, Chief—it’s the Snake King.”

Lu Shaohua’s voice replied.

“Gu Qing’s already been fed to the dogs—and the dogs ate Gu Qing like they ate shit!”

The Snake King, eager to please Jin Jiuling, vividly described Gu Qing’s gruesome end.

Jin Jiuling rubbed his face. Why were all the people he met today so infuriating? But he must act quickly—Xue Bing must die, so Lu Xiaofeng’s hatred would shift to the Red Shoes.

Jin Jiuling leaned down to kiss, then suddenly froze—on the neck of the “Xue Bing” before him, a mark appeared. Jin Jiuling tugged at it, and “Xue Bing’s” face instantly changed: it was Lu Xiaofeng lying on the bed.

“Lu Xiaofeng?”

Jin Jiuling stared in shock at Lu Xiaofeng’s form.

“I should thank myself for eating extra bowls of dog meat—I sweated all over.”

Lu Xiaofeng said: “Otherwise, if you’d really pressed down on me, what would I have done? I sweated, so the disguise wasn’t as secure—and you’re a famed constable, so you spotted the flaw.”

Lu Xiaofeng was furious now—these beasts outside were watching his humiliation! If Jin Jiuling had truly pressed down, they’d probably have cheered him on!

“How are you here?”

The twist was too great—Jin Jiuling was bewildered. He’d taken off his pants, and now the person was Lu Xiaofeng?

“Why is the Chief shouting Lu Xiaofeng’s name?”

A voice came from outside the room.

“You wouldn’t understand.”

Lu Shaohua’s voice came again: “The Chief said he gets excited hearing Lu Xiaofeng’s name—now I realize he was just building up the mood.”

Jin Jiuling had been too eager to act, so he’d ignored odd details. Now seeing Lu Xiaofeng, everything clicked—he smashed the window with a palm strike and saw Lu Shaohua already lying on the ground outside, no Snake King in sight; instead, standing there were Gu Qing, Xue Bing, Hua Manlou, Shi Xiuxue, and a woman of breathtaking beauty—and most crucially, Ye Gucheng.

Jin Jiuling didn’t think Gu Qing was particularly formidable—he’d knocked him down with one palm. Now Gu Qing stood here only because someone had rescued him. But Jin Jiuling knew the terror of Ye Gucheng.

This was a trap!

Realizing this, Jin Jiuling leapt up, ready to break through the roof and flee.

But Jin Jiuling was fast—someone beside him was faster: Lu Xiaofeng. He possessed the Spirit-Link Finger technique, unmatched hand skills, and peerless lightness. Seeing Jin Jiuling’s move, he knew he meant to escape, and without hesitation, he lunged and seized him.

Jin Jiuling yelped in pain, unable to jump.

Shi Xiuxue and Xue Bing couldn’t bear to watch, so they covered their eyes and peeked.

Gu Qing and Gongsun Lan burst into laughter.

Besides Gu Qing, another man laughed in the room—it wasn’t the invisible Hua Manlou, but the stern, humorless Ye Gucheng.

The Sword Saint smiled.

(End of Chapter)