Chapter 120: He Came

Outside the window, the silver moon hung like frost.

Lin Wanyi was dressed prettily, sitting upright at the round table, brush in hand tallying accounts. A small lamp burned on the table, and beside it sat a food box containing tonight's dinner — kept warm inside the box so it wouldn't go cold if Xie Jinhuan arrived late.

Beside her hand, Lin Wanyi had also laid out a stack of silver notes — part of it the dowry she had saved herself, part of it the silver Xie Jinhuan had handed her, and part drawn from the family coffers.

With nothing to do at home during the day, she had originally planned to go buy a few new outfits, but at noon Martial Uncle Bu suddenly came running over, saying there was a big job and asking to borrow some money from her.

She asked what the job was, but Martial Uncle Bu played mysterious and wouldn't say, only telling her to lend thirty thousand taels of silver first, with a thirty-percent cut for her afterward.

Such a huge sum — Lin Wanyi certainly wanted to refuse, but Crescent Moon Manor had not only passed down her cultivation method, but back when her father was gravely ill, they had also given her a life-saving medicinal ingredient.

The Manor Master's kindness was right there before her; she couldn't refuse outright, so she prepared to discuss it with her man first before deciding.

After all, Xie Jinhuan was very capable — if something really went wrong, he might even be able to help her get the silver back…

Is this what they mean by having a man to lean on?

No wonder they always told me to find a capable man…

But relying on a man clearly has its risks too — yesterday Xie Jinhuan had the nerve to brazenly hug her to sleep, and today who knows what he might do, she didn't even want to think about it…

If Zisu doesn't come soon, this little aunt of yours is afraid she's going to…

Knock knock~

Just as Lin Wanyi was lost in these wild thoughts, a knock came from outside the room.

She gave a small startled shiver, hurriedly tucked the account book away, tidied her skirt a little, struck a dignified and virtuous pose, and rose to go to the door:

"What took you so long? Why are you knocking… mmph—!"

Before she could finish, the white-robed rogue outside the door — as if a brief parting were sweeter than a wedding night — pulled her straight into his arms, lowered his head to seal her lips, then tightened his grip around her waist, lifted her bodily, and carried her into the room.

?!

Though it wasn't Lin Wanyi's first kiss, caught completely off guard, she was still dumbfounded!

By the time she came to her senses, she had already been carried to the embroidered bed, and her whole body was falling backward!

Thump~

You lecher, what do you think you're doing?!

Pinned on the bed, Lin Wanyi kicked her dangling little legs, and in her panic could only bite Xie Jinhuan's tongue.

But the stinky man on top of her reacted fast — he tilted his head to dodge and covered her mouth:

"Shh~ someone's tailing me."

"?"

Lin Wanyi immediately went quiet, but then felt something was off:

"If someone's tailing you, just cut them into eight pieces — why are you kissing me?!"

Xie Jinhuan wasn't sure whether 'Mu the Heroine' was still following him, hence this desperate measure — though, admittedly, there was some deliberate intent mixed in too.

Pinning down the bespectacled girl at this moment, he said in a solemn, earnest tone:

"I don't know if the person is still outside. Let's put on an act — I'll watch for movement out there, you just play along a little…"

??

Is this an act?

You're clearly here for real!

Pinned on the bedding and kissed, Lin Wanyi's face flushed crimson, her body squirming this way and that but unable to break free. After struggling like this for a while, she could only swallow her shame and anger and play ostrich — eyes shut, neither resisting nor cooperating.

But with a man and a woman pinned together like this, lips and teeth meeting, expecting her heart to be still as water was honestly a bit much…

Lin Wanyi felt her pearly teeth being pried open, her heart nearly leaping out of her collar. She held out only a moment before her hand unconsciously landed on his shoulder, and her breathing grew uneven:

"Hah~…"

Xie Jinhuan secretly had his ghost wife scout the movement outside, but after waiting half a quarter-hour, no one came near at all.

Looks like Mu the Heroine was scared off…

Xie Jinhuan had originally intended to get up, but Wanyi was blushing shyly and clearly enjoying it, not letting him stop — if he stopped now it would clearly be inappropriate…

"Hah~…"

Lin Wanyi was kissed dizzy, her mind a blank, and she didn't know how long it went on, until in her daze she realized something was wrong, then hurriedly opened her eyes to check, and after that pushed at him in a fluster:

"You… don't go too far! Has the person left?"

Xie Jinhuan turned to look toward the door, his expression solemn:

"I'm not sure either."

"You…"

Lin Wanyi wasn't a fool of a little aunt — her gaze turned slightly fierce:

"Take your hand off first!"

"Oh… sorry…"

Xie Jinhuan gave a soft chuckle, rose and looked outside the door:

"Thanks for your hard work — the person should be gone."

"You're absolutely…"

Lin Wanyi had nearly been kissed into a puddle, and hurriedly sat up, tidied her collar, wanting to glare at Xie Jinhuan but afraid of being bullied further, so she switched to hugging her chest, the back of her head turned toward Xie Jinhuan, looking every bit the picture of anger:

"Hmph…"

Xie Jinhuan didn't press his advantage any further, rose and went to the table to open the food box:

"You prepared food for me again? Then I'll dig in first — I still have to go out later."

Lin Wanyi's heart was still pounding like a drum and hadn't settled; hearing this she sounded slightly puzzled:

"Where are you going?"

"I found some traces of the Mingshen Sect — I need to go check things out."

"?"

Lin Wanyi took a gentle breath, intending to say, "I've been waiting for you all day...", but that clearly wouldn't do, so she changed it to a mix of disdain and three parts concern:

"You're just the Princess's personal guard, why such desperation? Even if your heart leans toward the Righteous Path, you must balance work and rest..."

Xie Jinhuan also wanted to let loose and play, but his father had been schemed against by the Mingshen Sect; these people definitely had to be wiped out clean:

"Rest assured, I handle things quickly. I'll come back to keep you company in a while."

Lin Wanyi pressed her lips together. Seeing Xie Jinhuan finish the kiss as if nothing had happened and immediately start eating the meal she had prepared, she wanted to be angry but didn't know how to unleash her fury. After sitting alone for a moment, she still rose and came to his side:

"I won't cook for you tomorrow. Kindness gets bullied..."

Xie Jinhuan's eyebrows and eyes curved into a smile as he apologized softly:

"Someone was truly following us just now. Won't happen again. Come, take a bite of the sour radish..."

"What do you take me for?"

"My little lover. Open wide, ah~"

?!

Lin Wanyi, shamed by his shameless words, wanted to cover her face and flee. She dodged left and right a few times, but couldn't withstand Xie Jinhuan's soft coaxing and hard pleading. In the end, she reluctantly opened her mouth to catch it, and her face turned red as an apple again...

Dim candlelight illuminated several steaming hot dishes on the table.

A man and a woman sat by a round table. The man ate heartily, while the woman sat gracefully and virtuously at his side. Although they didn't look particularly intimate, she occasionally helped pour a cup of wine. The scene looked exactly like a husband who had been rushing about all day returning home to be treated by his still-shy new bride.

Lin Wanyi was initially very embarrassed, but seeing Xie Jinhuan eat seriously, touching her only to tease her and doing nothing else, her mood slowly calmed down. While pouring wine, she said softly:

"Xie Jinhuan, I... I want to discuss something with you."

Xie Jinhuan paused in his movement, looking at the plump, juicy bespectacled lady beside him:

"Asking me to propose?"

"Tsk~ Who would marry you."

Lin Wanyi glared, then furrowed her brows and said:

"It's serious business. The sect contacted me today, wanting to borrow some silver. They offer three percent interest, but the amount is particularly large, and I can't make up my mind..."

?

Xie Jinhuan felt this had circled back around again. Fortunately, Wanyi hadn't asked him to pay the balance first; otherwise, this situation could have deadlocked him immediately.

"Hmm... Just give it to them. If Queyue Manor dares to swindle you of silver, I'll level their Ancestral Hall for them... Why hit me?"

Lin Wanyi lightly patted Xie Jinhuan's shoulder: "Queyue Manor is my sect. How can you level their Ancestral Hall? If the silver is truly gone, just help me chase it back..."

"No problem."

With a man backing her up, Lin Wanyi felt much more secure and helped pour another cup of wine...

A quarter-hour later.

Xie Jinhuan walked out of the boudoir. Lin Wanyi held the door, seeing him off, and instructed:

"Be careful. I'll leave the door open for you. Come back early."

"Rest assured, I kill people very quickly."

Xie Jinhuan waved his hand, letting Wanyi go inside first, then leaped into the courtyard. Scanning the buildings along the way, he asked:

"That big beauty isn't still following me, is she?"

Ye Hongshang carried a small umbrella, surveying the surroundings:

"Anyway, she's not nearby."

Seeing this, Xie Jinhuan said no more, quietly slipping into the night, heading toward Ye Shirong's residence...

——

Outer City, Ye Shirong's Residence.

Although Ye Shirong was a Baron, he was frugal in his public demeanor, purchasing only one mansion in the Shuimen Street area near the city wall in the Outer City.

Past midnight, the white-haired Ye Shirong carried a lunchbox, bypassed the covered walkway, and arrived by the well in the backyard. He leaped into the well bottom, pressed his right hand against the stone wall, and after a flash of flowing light, the stone door moved open by itself, revealing a downward staircase.

Splash splash~

Faint voices also came from the tunnel:

"Did you see? I told you Li Gongpu, that scoundrel, couldn't win a magical duel against Xie Jinhuan, that freak. Not only was the bait eaten, but the entire estate was stripped clean..."

"Zhou Ming'an might have been killed by Xie Jinhuan, but robbing the room of all its treasures, that shouldn't be Xie Jinhuan's doing..."

"That's uncertain. To be honest, I was quite surprised Li Gongpu didn't die last night. But Li Gongpu clearly set a trap; he shouldn't survive tonight..."

Carrying the lunchbox, Ye Shirong followed the tunnel deeper. In a short while, he arrived in an underground chamber.

The underground chamber was filled with the scent of medicine. Two hospital beds were pushed together, with dice and miscellaneous books placed on top to pass the time.

He Can, having rested for a few days, could already move. At this moment, he rested one hand on his knee, vividly spreading alarmist tales.

Zhang Chu, the incense master, still had bandages wrapped around his waist wound. Resting from his injuries with nothing to do, he was also speculating on Xie Jinhuan's next move.

Seeing Ye Shirong enter, He Can quickly sat up straight:

"Old Ye, what did Xie Jinhuan do today?"

Zhang Chu also turned his head, somewhat curious.

Ye Shirong put down the lunchbox, not disappointing the two:

"Just now at the Linde Hall, Xie Jinhuan played a piece of Nuo music. His killing intent was fierce, astonishing everyone with his skill, and he thoroughly slapped the Northern Zhou envoy in the face, earning a heavy reward from the Emperor. Judging by this momentum, this youth truly cannot be held back."

Zhang Chu had heard all sorts of news these past two days and only felt he must have had water in his brain to even think of assassinating such a ghostly thing at the Golden Tower. He frowned and said:

"This youth is highly skilled in martial arts and pursues criminals like a god, fine, but he also knows music? I recall Nuo music is supposedly an ultimate art of the Wu Sect's sacrificial lineage..."

He Can heard these words, slapped his forehead:

"Right. Before the incident at the Peony Pool, my master seemed to say that Xie Jinhuan's beloved might be from Queyue Manor. Xie Jinhuan's origins are mysterious, yet his skills are heaven-defying. Do you think he might be someone trained by Master Sikong, preparing to use him to re-enter the Central Plains?"

Ye Shirong sat down nearby: "We checked within the sect; he is not Master Sikong's person. To possess so many skills, he must seemingly come from the Hidden Immortal Sect. This youth is too unpredictable; the best response is not to startle the snake, but to let him and Li Gongpu fight each other."

He Can shook his head: "Xie Jinhuan is very sinister. I bet ten taels of silver that Li Gongpu won't survive tonight."

Ye Shirong frowned and said: "Today Xie Jinhuan gained the Emperor's favor. Li Gongpu can barely hold him back; he might take a killing intent. Who kills whom first is uncertain."

"Then let me and Old Ye bet against each other, to see who dies first..."

Zhang Chu waved his hand, changing the subject:

"How is the arrangement for the Blood Hua Yao Dan going?"

Ye Shirong ignored He Can, thought for a moment, and said:

"Currently, it is smooth sailing. Third Master personally handled the blade, and even set up false trails in several places; there should be no mishaps. Once you've rested, come over to lend a hand..."

He Can had just opened his lunchbox; hearing this, he poked his head out and said:

"How about I go help too? Experience in ruining things is also experience. I'll have to rely on the sect's protection in the future; I must be given a chance to prove my merit."

Ye Shirong shook his head:

"You are not a disciple of the Mingshen Sect, but a disciple of Tai Shu Dan. As the saying goes, there is no disciple without the master..."

He Can said solemnly: "I am dragged down by my master's reputation. How about this? From now on, I will sever the master-disciple relationship with Tai Shu Dan; I will avenge the master-killing in my next life..."

"Tai Shu Dan is just such a person; it seems you have learned his ways thoroughly..."

"Hey?"

After the three chatted nonsense for a while, Ye Shirong put away the utensils, stood up, and left the basement.

Seeing he couldn't count on Old Ye, He Can turned to his fellow sufferer:

"Zhang Xiangzhu, we've slept in the same bed for a few days; you should have figured out my character..."

Zhang Chu nodded: "Walk the righteous path and you're greedy for life and afraid of death; walk the evil path and you're hesitant; walk the demonic path and you think you're still human, but everything you do is bloody non-human."

"Hey?"

He Can opened his mouth, yet hadn't brewed a rebuttal, when suddenly a sound came from above:

Boom—

The sound of bricks and stones exploding!

Silence instantly fell over the basement.

Zhang Chu quickly grabbed the sword at his bedside, looked up:

"Has the place above been exposed?!"

He Can frowned tightly: "Unlikely; perhaps Xie Jinhuan just came to kill."

"How could he possibly come here?"

"I also want to ask how he possibly ran to the corpse pit, the gambling ship. Where is the back door?"

"Ah?"

(End of this chapter)