Chapter 27: Spare the Hero

After waking, Yan Buji looked at the tattoo on his body and frowned.

"Better not keep this thing on the body; it's a liability."

It's not that the earlier illusion was hard to break free from; the point is, if it suddenly appears while I'm handling real affairs, what then?

Yan Buji wiped it with his hand, and indeed the ink could be erased.

Seeing the marks disappear, Yan Buji breathed a sigh of relief.

It's already bizarre that something of unknown origin and unknown function can induce hallucinations...

Wait?

Yan Buji suddenly felt his aura fading... not fading, but turning into a state similar to an ordinary person!

"What's going on? This diagram... could merely copying it grant such mysterious power?"

If one could avoid the hallucination, it would truly be an extraordinary treasure!

If Yan Buji weren't shameless enough to treat worldly rites as trash, he'd have been scared stiff by that Yan King long ago.

After thinking it over, Yan Buji decided to observe it for a while; if it truly doesn't affect normal life, he wouldn't mind keeping the tattoo permanently.

But if it recurs from time to time, it's better to remove it early.

Given that, Yan Buji even looks forward to the potential uses of Avici Hell and Asura Blood Sea, yet for now there's no need to add more variables.

Just the ability to completely conceal his aura, to the point that even he must strain to detect it, is already enough.

Thinking that, Yan Buji carefully added a few brush strokes over the spot he just wiped, and only after the ink dried did he dress.

Having entered the Guān Tiān Dēng Mó Zhuàng foundation and begun to cultivate inner Qi, and with the Yan King's Soul‑Inspecting Diagram on his body, Yan Buji no longer worries about others detecting his strength.

It is now mid‑February.

There are less than twenty days left until the Spring Literary Assembly, and the arrangements need to be gathered.

"Lord, are you recovered?" Lao Qian said happily.

"Hmm, Lao Qian, how's business lately?"

"Thanks to your grace, it's fine. This month's dividends have been sent to the account office; you can take a look when you have time."

"No need, can I still be worried about you?" Yan Buji laughed.

Lao Qian's face was moved; he rubbed his eyes and said, "Lord, you truly are kind‑hearted."

"Alright, you go set up your stall as well."

"Yes, Lord!"

After Lao Qian left, Yan Buji nodded.

The flower used in Lao Qian's flower cake can be combined with Rou Er's scented powder rouge, a highly aphrodisiac concoction; however, few likely know this, as it was Yan Buji's accidental discovery.

Otherwise, Zhou Hua's old trick might not have caught Rou Er's eye.

Hehe.

Come to think of it, this afternoon is a good time to scout Lingshan Academy.

Although it's highly unlikely the academy houses any martial arts masters, if I go personally, Zhou Hua will inevitably find out, and then who knows what he'll do to Rou Er.

Better to disguise myself and go.

Yan Buji reached the doorway and suddenly felt a faint, imperceptible gaze fixed on him.

What's happening?

Someone tailing?

Who's watching me—could it be someone from the Iron Tiger Guard?

Yan Buji calmly left the main gate and boarded the carriage.

The driver asked, "Lord, where are you heading today?"

"To the Prefect's residence."

"Very well!"

The carriage headed toward the Prefect's manor; Yan Buji disembarked, and the gate guard announced his arrival before entering.

Yan Buji walked in, saw Sun You looking radiant, and curiously asked:

"Brother Sun, why so cheerful? Did something good happen?"

Sun You smiled broadly and said, "Little brother, you've been convalescing and didn't know—the Three Mountains Bandits entrenched outside the city were wiped out overnight, completely vanished!"

Yan Buji's eyes widened, unable to hide his surprise: "Who's so powerful that they dealt with those damned Three Mountains Bandits? Did they capture the so‑called Outer Demon Grand Boss?!"

"Well… they say they killed him on the spot," Sun You's expression changed, he said with a smile.

Yan Buji looked puzzled: "Brother Sun, you… didn't do it yourself, did you?"

"Of course. If I had that ability, could the credit belong to anyone else?"

Yan Buji rolled his eyes: "So is this news true or false?"

"It's absolutely true; the Three Mountains Bandits have indeed been wiped out, but I can't say who did it. Still, this great news coincides with your recent recovery, little brother, worthy of a hearty drink!" Sun You laughed loudly.

Yan Buji nodded: "Indeed worth celebrating, but this time I'm here to discuss serious matters."

"Oh, little brother, what's the matter?"

"It's like this: the Yan family's assets have been mostly sold off, and I'm thinking of moving to the capital once Rou Er's studies are accomplished."

"The capital? The Huang Du region isn't easy to get into; Yan little brother, have you really thought this through?" Sun You asked in surprise.

Yan Buji smiled: "Huang Du is vast, and the capital is famed as the largest city of the Kun Dao; how could it not accommodate a father and daughter? Thanks to your support over the years, I think I'll be gone within a few years."

Sun You's eyes flickered, realizing Yan Buji certainly had his own plans; he didn't say much, since most of his assets had already been taken over by his own people, and said, "Then we don't know how many years before we meet again… sigh, parting is the most heartbreaking! Little brother, let's not talk about that today; just enjoy ourselves!"

"Fine, as you say, brother!"

From morning till afternoon, Yan Buji was also carried out of the residence.

After returning to Yan Residence, Yan Buji, his face flushed, lay on the bed.

In no time, a masked figure appeared at the window, eyes shifting.

In an instant, a flying dart shot toward the sleeping Yan Buji.

Yan Buji made no move; the man's heart twitched, and he swiftly produced two red threads that, in an instant, seized the dart aimed at Yan Buji's temple.

Indeed, he has no martial skill at all, though his blood and vigor surpass that of ordinary people. It seems this Yan Buji is not the person we're looking for...

Having said that, the person left.

But Yan Buji lay in bed for a long time, unmoving.

As evening fell, Yan Buji, lying in bed, clutched his head and suddenly vomited a few mouthfuls toward the bedside.

Ugh ugh ugh!!

Yellow-white substance came up; Yan Buji covered his head and wiped his mouth with the bed curtains.

Ah, this is really unpleasant.

Just as he tried to sit up, Yan Buji raised his head and suddenly saw a sharp sword stabbing at him—someone in the room was preparing to assassinate him. He shouted in fear and hastily retreated to the wall beside the bed.

Hero, spare my life—I'll give you all my money!!

Instantly, Yan Buji, scared sober, clutched the blanket and pulled his head under it.

The sword pierced the quilt and, with a downward slash, cut it in half in one blow.

Yan Buji knelt on the bed, head in his hands, wailing: 'Hero, hero, I, Yan Buji, have never done anything wicked in my life! Take my money, just don't kill me! Wahhh!'

Seeing Yan Buji so fearful, weeping bitterly, the masked person sheathed his long sword and finally relaxed.

It seems he's not pretending, nor did he discover that feigning drunkenness would make him unafraid of probing.

A martial artist's reaction wouldn't be so slow; from just now until now I've been aiming at his vital points—if he were truly a martial artist, he would have instinctively struck back.

But if he dared to fight back, he would surely die here today!

Only then did he look like an ordinary person who had never practiced martial arts.

The masked person turned and leapt out the window; the servant outside, seeing this, rushed in immediately and was startled by the mess in the room.

Master!!