Chapter 541: Someone Outside

Chen Wuji suddenly woke up, looking around somewhat dazedly.

The room had a lamp lit, only illuminating the area by the window; everything else fell into darkness.

He stretched his numb arm, and after a while realized where he was and what had happened.

That sleep just now gave him a fleeting feeling of having transmigrated again.

After finally having a good day, he certainly didn't want to suffer another transmigration ordeal.

He pushed aside the great coat on him, Chen Wuji got up and poured a cup of tea still warm, gulped it down in one go, still feeling not quenched, and was about to pour a second cup when the door of Qinzhi Hall was pushed open, Huo Sanniang walked in holding a tray.

"San Niang?!"

Chen Wuji stared blankly at the woman before him, who looked even more lovely and bright than before, and without hesitation raised his hand and slapped himself.

He must be dreaming!

This lousy dream, how could it feel so real?

Smack!

"Hiss..."

Huo Sanniang was startled, quickly put down the tray, went around to the back of the table, and said, "Why are you hitting yourself for no reason, you restless hand?"

"Am I not dreaming?" Chen Wuji muttered.

Really, he was sleep‑muddled.

"Of course not, we entered the city this evening." Huo Sanniang said with a lost laugh, "You Wei and Hong Dou have also come; we originally planned to give you a surprise, but seeing you like this, you seem more startled."

"What startle? I'm just sleep‑muddled." Chen Wuji waved his hand, "I took a nap this afternoon, and absent‑mindedly ended up like this; you came suddenly, so I'm even more muddled."

Huo Sanniang couldn't help laughing, "I just wanted to give you a surprise..."

"It's a surprise!" Chen Wuji laughed and gave Huo Sanniang a tight hug.

Just as his hand got a little restless, Huo Sanniang blushed and quickly pushed him away, saying, "This is your quarters; first have some soup. I figured you'd be hungry, so I just cooked a bowl of broth and prepared a few side dishes."

These words sounded extremely familiar to Chen Wuji; after a moment he recalled, sat down, and chuckled, "I usually say this to Zhanhong; she wouldn't care whether this is my quarters."

"She's always been like that, and you know it." Huo Sanniang took the soup and dishes from the tray and placed them before Chen Wuji, then said, "When we're not around, have you and Zhanhong and Yu Ji been playing wildly?"

"When you're here you don't play any less wildly? Actually, the more people, the more fun." Chen Wuji laughed, "San Niang, sit down and eat something together."

Huo Sanniang inadvertently dug herself a hole, immediately shut up and didn't mention that topic, just waved her hand and said, "Go ahead and eat; we've already eaten."

"Good thing some people didn't bad‑mouth me, otherwise..."

A voice suddenly sounded from behind, startling both Chen Wuji and Huo Sanniang.

The two turned their heads sharply and saw Qin Zhanhong walking out from the shadows in a scarlet long dress.

"Don't you know scaring people can scare them to death? Your shout made me instinctively reach for a knife." Chen Wuji, somewhat annoyed, said, "Come over, bend over, take your punishment!"

This guy can't be left unchecked; he's getting more and more mischievous.

Qin Zhanhong giggled, lightly stepped forward to stand beside Chen Wuji, then naturally turned, placed her hands on her knees and lifted her round buttocks, saying, "Husband, punish me harder."

Chen Wuji's hand, about to fall in a slap, instantly lost the desire to strike.

If that slap landed, he probably wouldn't be able to eat dinner tonight.

"Stop grinning and be serious!" Chen Wuji snapped with a stern face, gave a meaningful slap, and said, "Stand over there!"

"Ah..."

A soft, alluring voice suddenly welled up from Qin Zhanhong's little mouth.

Chen Wuji hurriedly stopped her, "Ancestor, don't shout, there's still someone outside!"

"I know, but don't worry, I already had Shi Yi Shu guard outside the courtyard; they're not around the house." Qin Zhanhong laughed.

"How many of my personal guard could you beat?" Chen Wuji's expression turned odd.

"About half, not counting your Chen clan's twenty‑eight." Qin Zhanhong thought and gave an answer.

"I'm talking about these twenty‑eight!"

"No, your Chen family are all just like you, utterly wicked and good at hiding. As for these personal guards of yours, I initially thought they only knew a little martial arts, but after testing them once I found they were actually quite capable, comparable to me. Later, after seeing them fight in person, I realized that when they sparred with me, each one held back their strength!" Qin Zhanhong suddenly shouted angrily.

"I now suspect they hold back even on the battlefield; it's not their true strength."

Chen Wuji gave a light snort, "They even deceive me—what's that to you?"

"Besides, don't change the subject. What I want to tell you is that they're stubborn; sometimes they don't even listen to my orders. You let the overt people leave, but there's definitely someone lurking within ten steps of me in the dark."

"Impossible, I may not be a top‑tier expert but I'm not weak either—how could anyone still be there?" Qin Zhanhong completely disbelieved this, "I'll go out and look; when I'm sure there's no one, I'll come back and tell you."

Having said that, she lightly leapt up, flipped open the window and jumped out.

Huo Sanniang smiled helplessly, lightly patting her heaving chest, "You've practically turned Zhanhong into a young lady; frankly, as a grown girl, she's become a bit mischievous."

"Who says otherwise? But being a bit mischievous is fine; I quite like mischief." Chen Wuji said, Qin Zhanhong is like a two‑faced person—outwardly a cold, arrogant sword knight, inwardly a mischievous little sprite.

She draws a clear line between her outer and inner selves, as if she lives as two completely different people.

This utterly clear distinction has actually always been useful to Chen Wuji.

Nobody dislikes this special treatment.

In a moment, Qin Zhanhong returned, the corner of her mouth curled enough to tie a donkey.

"Wasn't I right?" Chen Wuji asked, unable to keep from laughing.

Qin Zhanhong was somewhat annoyed, "I didn't spot them, but I feel someone's watching around. I can't figure out how they could hide in such a small place."

"I don't know either," Chen Wuji spread his hands, "my orders sometimes don't work on the clan; they've always held back against me. As for what you just said, I didn't know that before this personal guard was formed, and I'm even less clear about what their actual strength is."

"Ask Shi Yi Shu; he just says, 'Barely has any strength, can beat a few.'"

Qin Zhanhong sat down angrily, "You're not afraid of them..."

Her words weren't finished before Chen Wuji cut her off, "No fear; they'll only die in front of me."