Chapter 119

Outside the Wang Fu.

The silver moon hung in the sky; Nangong Ye, with a long sword on his back, hovered a hundred zhang above the night. Black skirt curtains swayed in the wind; his gaze, through the thin gauze of his hat, surveyed the vast mansion sloping below.

The Wang Fu's environment was elegant. In the western guest courtyard, a Miss in a white dress sat on Bai Shi steps, propping her chin with one hand, staring at a rattan ball rolling back and forth not far away.

A chubby big black eagle stood atop the rattan ball, appearing to perform a trick of stepping on a large vat; occasionally it rolled before the Miss, opening its mouth to beg for food, and after receiving a reward, rolled off elsewhere on its own.

Seeing this scene from afar, Nangong Ye could not help but recall when Linghu Qingmo first ascended Mount Zihui.

Back then, Linghu Qingmo was only three or four years old, with sheep-horn braids, timid and silent before everyone; encountering a white crane, she would even be frightened enough to hide behind her, clutching her skirt and cautiously peering out:

"Master, won't this long-legged goose bite?"

Thinking of past childish fun, Nangong Ye, whose character was like an unmelting ice mountain, still had the corners of his mouth lift into a faint, barely-there arc.

In a flash of over ten years, Linghu Qingmo had grown into a young Miss; looking at her entranced expression, she had even fallen in love for the first time...

A grown daughter cannot be kept...

It's just a pity that the disciple's beloved is not very reassuring...

Recalling Xie Jinhuan's skilled act of picking up women during the day, Nangong Ye could not help but doubt this young man's specific character.

Originally, she intended to secretly observe Xie Jinhuan first to feel out the disciple's situation.

But after Xie Jinhuan returned to the Wang Fu in the morning, he did not go out; later he entered the palace, and had only just returned.

At this moment, Nangong Ye, monitoring from high in the sky, saw Xie Jinhuan first sit in the Princess's room for a while, then quickly come out, and approach the guest courtyard to peek around.

She had thought Xie Jinhuan would rush over, embrace Linghu Qingmo to talk, or even kiss and tease her.

But never in a million years did she expect Xie Jinhuan to glance once, enter the room, then take up his weapon, sneakily climb onto the roof, and go out alone.

Hmm?

Seeing this suspicious behavior, Nangong Ye's gaze naturally tightened slightly, pondering silently:

He goes out late at night; what is he preparing to do?

Listen to songs in the pleasure quarters...

Or meet some mysterious expert...

Could it be that beneath this mask of uprightness, a horrifying true face is hidden?

Thinking thus, Nangong Ye naturally descended silently and followed.

Because she knew Xie Jinhuan was "obsessed with pursuing the culprit" and his perception far exceeded that of ordinary people, Nangong Ye maintained a very great distance.

As a result, not having followed far, she discovered Xie Jinhuan picking up a bamboo hat on East Street and a rain cape on West Street, transforming into a dusty wanderer of the Jianghu!

Even his gait and figure changed slightly; if she had not been following him all along, meeting him suddenly on the street, she might not even have recognized him...

This young man indeed has problems!

Judging by the direction, he is heading to Xiaoyao Cave; who is he preparing to meet?

A Mingshen Sect contact...

Or the Nanjiangwu Alliance, the Dragon Bone Shoal evil path...

Or perhaps a Northern Zhou spy?

Thinking thus, Nangong Ye's brows naturally knitted tightly; she even felt a bit worried that digging out Xie Jinhuan's true face would cause her obedient disciple heartbreak.

But for the sake of her disciple, she must find out Xie Jinhuan's background!

Thus, following all the way, Xie Jinhuan soon arrived at Xiaoyao Cave and silently drilled into a fur shop.

Seeing this scene, Nangong Ye knew a secret was hidden inside the shop; because the distance was too far to hear sounds, she quietly closed the gap and landed on the side of the shop, listening carefully with her ear cocked.

From the house below soon came Xie Jinhuan's disguised, hoarse voice:

"Jiangzhou's pre-rain Silver Peak; you old man are quite particular."

"Uh... who might you be?"

"Who? I am Wei Kun from the Blood Rain Tower. I'm here to ask a few things. A few days ago, someone in Weizhou bought up a lot of 'Zui Gu Xiang'. Who was the buyer? What was it for?"

"This..."

Clang—

The sound of a weapon leaving its scabbard!

"Hey, hey! Great Hero, wait! Um... indeed someone bought Zui Gu Xiang the day before yesterday; the amount was large, but it's unclear if it was one group, and the destination is hard to track..."

"Some time ago, Tai Shu Dan slaughtered hundreds of commoners upstream of Huai River, using Mad Corpse Flowers. Do you think this matter has any connection to the Tai Shu Dan incident?"

Hearing this, Nangong Ye was slightly stunned.

Although she did not understand why Xie Jinhuan used the alias 'Wei Kun', this action now clearly indicated he was investigating the Mingshen Sect demon bandits!

As for hiding his head and covering his face, it was probably to interrogate for information by violent means; if it got out, it would sound bad; she had done the same before...

Thinking thus, Nangong Ye's suspicions vanished completely; a few traces of shock and doubt surged in her eyes, and she thought silently:

Just after attending a banquet, instead of staying home at night with his pink and tender beloved, he secretly ran out to slay demons and monsters...

Are you trying to outwork the righteous heroes of the orthodox path?

Meanwhile, on the second floor of the house.

Bu Hanying held a tea cup, standing before a scroll, sweating profusely as he hurriedly pondered:

"Hmm... Zui Gu Xiang can barely replace Mad Corpse Flowers; the advantage is it's easy to get and store, unlike Mad Corpse Flowers which require advance preparation; but the disadvantages are large dosage, slow effect, and poor efficacy.

"Mad Corpse Flowers only need to kill four or five hundred people to refine a Hua Yao Dan; Zui Gu Xiang requires slaughtering at least two or three thousand people to achieve the same effect. If it is the same group buying Zui Gu Xiang, then judging by the drug quantity, there indeed may be a connection with the Mingshen Sect..."

Xie Jinhuan, with both hands leaning on the Tiansha Ji, stood behind, originally listening intently, but the ghost-like figure that followed him like a shadow suddenly whispered in his ear:

"Someone is outside; it seems to be that Miss Mu who was picked up during the day."

Ah?

Xie Jinhuan, who had not noticed anyone approaching, frowned.

Although he didn't quite understand how Mu Mu Yun Hong could appear here, he still had to continue with the current matter. Hoarsely, he continued asking:

"Blood Demon Pills apparently cannot be mixed with impurities. Finding two or three thousand men who are vigorous, full of desire, and gathered together—where would the Mingshen Sect find them? Even military camps prepare against mutiny; this won't work."

Bu Hanying thought frantically: "If it's around the Jingzhao Prefecture, then probably only the stone quarries and mines, where the inmates are convicts. There would basically be no women or children. Doing heavy labor, holding it in for a long time, eating poorly—their desires wouldn't be low. Appetite is also desire."

Xie Jinhuan did not stay long. He sheathed his weapons and retreated:

"Considering you confessed so readily, I'll spare your life for today. Next time you dare to hesitate, you won't have such good luck."

"Yes, yes, yes..."

Bu Hanying nodded repeatedly. After waiting a long time and confirming there was no movement behind her, she sighed with relief, patted her chest, and muttered to herself:

What does that mean? Has this place been exposed?

Why is someone blocking him every night, either interrogating for information or disposing of stolen goods...

This place can't be stayed in, otherwise sooner or later I'll die here...

—

A short while later.

Xie Jinhuan walked out of the dark alley, carefully surveyed the surroundings, found nothing unusual, and asked in a low voice:

"Is she still there?"

Ye Hongshang, who had been watching the little tail's movements, replied:

"The distance is too far; I can't detect her anymore, but she should still be watching."

"Is she here to kill me?"

"Doesn't seem like it. Hmm... more like she's curious about you. I reckon you were too proactive during the day, making that Miss suspicious. She thinks you're not the righteous young hero from the rumors and wants to check your background."

Xie Jinhuan thought it was possible; after all, hearing about the intricacies of 'Dual Flying Breath Exchange' would make anyone suspicious.

Although he hadn't done anything utterly heinous for now, having a little tail on his back made things difficult. What if he met a Daoist friend he could confide in to get funding? How would he get the silver?

Xie Jinhuan had originally planned to visit Ye Shirong's residence, but now he naturally changed his mind, sped up, and turned toward the Inner City...

Meanwhile, above the complex of buildings.

Nangong Ye saw Xie Jinhuan come out but did not immediately follow, instead pondering silently.

Judging from Xie Jinhuan's conversation with this unknown tongue, the person buying 'Zui Gu Xiang' is likely the Mingshen Sect personnel hidden in Jingcheng.

Using Zui Gu Xiang to enchant two or three thousand people simultaneously is something a Rank 3 Witch cannot accomplish.

The Mingshen Sect belongs to the Demonic Dao. Witches are mostly outsiders. If the one capable of controlling this situation isn't an outsider Witch, then it must be a 'Ghost Envoy' following the Ghost Cultivation path!

Ghost Envoys are usually the Mingshen Sect's overall responsible person for a province. Although they can't be a mole buried in the court, they are still the second-in-command, a very big fish.

This was intelligence Xie Jinhuan had investigated. She intercepted it halfway, which was no different from snatching milk from a child...

After a bit of consideration, Nangong Ye continued to follow, wanting to act as a 'Guardian'.

If Xie Jinhuan could find clues and solve it, she wouldn't reveal herself; if he couldn't, she would provide assistance.

But what Nangong Ye never dreamed of was that as soon as she developed a slight fondness for Xie Jinhuan, he turned around and ruined everything completely!

She saw Xie Jinhuan winding left and right through the city, only to end up back in the Inner City, arriving outside the mansion hanging a lantern with the character 'Lin', and quietly sneaking inside.

Nangong Ye thought this had nothing to do with the Zui Gu Xiang matter. Just as she was puzzled, she noticed Xie Jinhuan running to where the Young Lady lived and lightly knocking on the boudoir door.

Knock, knock~

Soon, the door opened, revealing a face of peerless beauty, looking somewhat puzzled:

"Why are you so late? What are you knocking for... Mmph—!"

Before she could finish speaking, Xie Jinhuan embraced the delicate and charming Miss, lowered his head to cover her mouth, lifted her feet off the ground, and carried her inside. While his hands roamed wildly, he also used his foot to close the door...

Click—

?!

Seeing this impatient look, Nangong Ye's eyes widened like copper bells. Naturally, she understood what was happening.

A proper righteous young hero, sneaking into a Young Lady's room in the middle of the night—this is simply outrageous...

But that Miss seemed to be waiting. If both parties are willing, it's not really stealing...

Doing bad things in someone's house, I wonder if her parents know...

Unworthy of being a gentleman...

Seeing this situation, Nangong Ye naturally didn't dare to eavesdrop on what was happening inside, turned and left, worrying about her obedient disciple along the way.

Xie Jinhuan already has a beloved confidante and has consummated their marriage. What should Linghu Qingmo do...

Could Linghu Qingmo have already...

Never mind. Children will have their own fortune. These matters should be handled by Linghu Qingmo herself. A master can't go around beating apart lovers and then playing matchmaker...

The world's morals are declining, and human hearts are not as ancient as before...

Wait...

Nangong Ye hadn't gone far when her eyes suddenly narrowed, remembering the rumors about Xie Jinhuan—Xie Jinhuan is either slaying demons and monsters, or on the way to slay demons and monsters...

Now that he has obtained important clues, Xie Jinhuan shouldn't be indulging in women and losing his will!

Could it be that he discovered her because she was too close while eavesdropping just now?

Nangong Ye looked back at the lit boudoir, lost in thought...

—

Begging for monthly tickets or 2!

(End of this chapter)