Chapter 49: The Landlady (Requesting Monthly Passes)

The outcome was exactly as everyone had expected.

Upon hearing "a bowl in the sky," Lin Wanyi's chest heaved high, her face of peerless beauty turned green; she glared at Xie Jinhuan with gritted teeth for an instant before storming off in a rage, waving her sleeve:

"Hmph..."

None of the Wu Zu dared to stop her.

Although she had barely a few lines throughout the entire scene, the acting in Lin Wanyi's eyes alone was worthy of a Best Actress award.

Linghu Qingmo, having never experienced such a thing, seized the opportunity to run out as well, fleeing the scene of this public execution:

"Physician Lin, wait..."

As the two exited, the voices of Yang Dabiao and his wife could still be heard coming from the main gate:

"Sister Lin, what's wrong with you?"

"My Lord Linghu, Jinhuan he... eh?"

All gazes returned to Xie Jinhuan, each expression different.

Xie Jinhuan slightly spread his hands, embarrassment mixed with a touch of helplessness:

"My Lord Tie, Senior Li, surely this is excessive?

"Recently I've been crawling through mountains of blades and seas of corpses, all to contribute my humble strength to the government office, taking not a single coin nor asking for any merit; yet now, having merely written some nonsense in private, you still... in public..."

"We know, we know!"

As a man, Tie Fengzhang knew how much trouble he had caused Xie Jinhuan; at this moment, he could no longer recall the matter of the 'Blood Fiend Qi'; he rose and bowed repeatedly:

"It was all a misunderstanding; we acted rashly. The government office is quite busy; I, Tie, shall not disturb further. Retreat, retreat."

Seeing that he had accidentally set fire to the young man's private quarters, Li Jing also rose and bowed:

"This old man merely assisted Wang Fu in the case; it was against my will. Calligraphy is like swordsmanship; young friend Xie, your handwriting is truly extraordinary, so your swordsmanship must be no less. When you have leisure, come visit the Academy; let us share a few cups. This old man takes his leave."

With a "whoosh," he vanished without a trace; his lightness skill was truly remarkable!

Seeing this, Xie Jinhuan cursed inwardly: You old rascal, if you're leaving, just leave, but return the book to me; I haven't even read it yet...

As for Ji Shiqing and the others, they left without a word, as if they had never been there.

Of everyone present, only the three Red Scale Guards were utterly bewildered.

Zhou He truly did not expect that in such a short time, Xie Jinhuan could clean up the traces so flawlessly, even intending to lure the snake out to fish him out, and had completely misled the thinking of the government office's experts.

However, since Xie Jinhuan was framed yet chose to cover it up with great effort rather than clear his name publicly, he must surely have something to hide!

With matters having reached this point, Zhou He could no longer use this as an excuse to make trouble; he followed the others out of the room.

Tap, tap, tap...

In just a few breaths, the thirty or forty people in the courtyard vanished without a trace, and the setting sun also hid behind the city wall.

Xie Jinhuan stood at the door, watching the three Red Scale Guards depart with the crowd, his brow furrowing inwardly.

Based on the judgment of the ghost bride just now, it could be confirmed that it was the Hundred Households Zhou He who had struck from behind.

Although he did not understand the underlying reason, since Zhou He framed him yet he covered it up, Zhou He must also be able to guess that he indeed had a problem.

This hidden danger must be resolved as soon as possible!

However, there was currently one more important person to deal with!

Inside the room, Princess Changning and Steward Hou still stood in place.

Steward Hou, pinching his handlebar mustache, sized up Xie Jinhuan's physique;

"You young man are quite something. You've only just arrived and are already eyeing left and right; in a few more days, won't you be coveting Her Highness the Princess and Nangong Xianzi?"

Princess Changning's apricot eyes darkened slightly:

"Get out!"

"Yes, sir."

Having received the order, Steward Hou immediately exited the door and thoughtfully closed it.

Click~

Seeing this, Xie Jinhuan was stunned; he looked at the room containing only a man and a woman, then turned his gaze to the Landlady, whose noble aura was overwhelming, standing by the wardrobe, and thought inwardly—What does closing the door mean? Is she going to seduce me?

He had been practicing the cultivation technique earlier wearing only trousers, and was currently still shirtless; being alone with a woman was clearly inappropriate.

Xie Jinhuan wanted to go to the wardrobe to get clothes, but Princess Changning was blocking the front of the wardrobe, making it difficult to approach; he could only bow with clasped hands:

"These were merely casual scribbles written in private; Her Highness the Princess makes me blush."

Princess Changning's gaze swept over the man's abdominal and pectoral muscles, then she slightly averted her eyes, her voice slightly cold:

"Do you truly think that making jokes can deceive the heavens?"

?

Xie Jinhuan's heart sank; looking at the formidable Landlady, he appeared slightly puzzled:

"What does Her Highness the Princess mean?"

Princess Changning walked to the bedside and sat down; although her appearance and figure were plump and graceful, she crossed her legs, adopting a very domineering lady's posture:

"Yesterday afternoon, Zhou He and others were acting suspiciously near Qingquan Alley; today you were investigated, and the three of them were among the investigators; this cannot be a coincidence.

"The Red Scale Guards never fight battles without certainty; to create such a spectacle, they must have confidence. I, the Princess, intervened because I feared the Red Scale Guards would frame you and pick on you, making it difficult for you to cope, but I did not expect you to resolve it on your own.

"I cannot fathom it: if you were innocent, why stage such a grand performance to cover up the trap the Red Scale Guards set for you?"

Seeing that Princess Changning had guessed the Red Scale Guards were behind the scheme, further pretending would only backfire; thinking it over, he decided to speak frankly:

"Today someone came and left a demonic Dao cultivation technique and Blood Origin Essence in my room.

"Regarding my father's matter, Her Highness has surely heard rumors; I do not know who is plotting behind the scenes, so I dare not rashly enter the game; I could only find a way to clear myself.

"The items are in the tea cabinet at Wu Wei Pavilion; please forgive my presumption."

Princess Changning staying behind alone was clearly not just to give a warning; a hint of suspicion lingered in her eyes:

"The Crimson Scale Guard has frequently used framing to eliminate rivals; caution is not misplaced. However, given the Crimson Scale Guard's modus operandi, if they wished to deal with someone like you who has no background, they could simply cut the roots and remove the weeds, then casually assign a crime afterward.

"Now that they have gone to such great lengths to frame you, I suspect they fear the 'Wind Spirit Valley' behind you and wish to investigate your background thoroughly before making a move.

"In truth, the Wang Fu is also curious about where Wind Spirit Valley is located, but since you act with integrity and have repeatedly achieved extraordinary feats, they have not forced the issue."

Xie Jinhuan belonged to the category of "providing one's own background when away from home."

As long as others could not confirm the existence of Wind Spirit Valley, they equally could not guarantee that it did not exist in the world.

This created the illusion of "having someone above me," while also explaining the mystery of his whereabouts being unknown for the past three years.

Seeing Princess Changning press for the truth, Xie Jinhuan naturally could not confess; with a troubled expression, he said:

"Wind Spirit Valley follows the Hidden Immortal lineage and never interferes in worldly affairs. According to ancient and modern precedent, once a disciple enters the world, they can no longer disturb their masters on the mountain in their secluded cultivation; I, Xie, truly dare not violate my sect's rules."

The Hidden Immortal lineage of the Daoist Sect, since its emergence, has hidden itself within mountains and marshes, never leaving the mountains unless the world is in chaos.

During the chaos of the Wu Sect, many powerful figures of the Hidden Immortal schools emerged to join the battle, and history holds many legends of "hermits teaching and transmitting the Dao."

For instance, it is said that the founding emperor of Northern Zhou helped an old man find sheep, received a scroll of the Heavenly Book, and thus founded a three-hundred-year dynasty that continues to this day!

Of course, some say he went to the grasslands to sell hooks and pulled in aid...

Although there are many such stories, the common people truly do not know where the Hidden Immortal schools' disciples dwell; even if one accidentally finds their location, by the time one returns, the place is empty and the people gone.

Princess Changning knew that disciples of the Hidden Immortal schools would not reveal their sect's location; she spoke with deep concern to remind him:

"Because the Hidden Immortal schools do not interfere in worldly affairs, in past years there have been no shortage of bandits who impersonated their disciples to cover their tracks. Since you cannot state your sect's location openly, how can you prove you come from the Hidden Immortal lineage?"

Xie Jinhuan could not prove it; seeing that Princess Changning insisted on an answer, his mind raced. He looked back, confirmed no one was eavesdropping, and then spoke softly:

"Disciples of the Hidden Immortal schools who descend the mountain in past years usually possess unique secret arts unseen in the Jianghu, such as highly accurate divination, mastery of strange formations, or the ability to see ghosts and spirits..."

Princess Changning had heard whispers of this and asked with curiosity:

"What unique secret art do you possess? This martial skill of yours does not count; although your martial arts techniques are unique, they still fall within the normal scope. The unique techniques of the Hidden Immortal schools are usually incomprehensible to outsiders and impossible for them to learn."

Xie Jinhuan had intended to bluff with the "Silver Dragon Eight Forms," but seeing that Princess Changning would not accept that, he could only respond with grave seriousness:

"Martial arts are merely capital for self-defense; the true unique secret art my master taught me is the 'Heart Eye,' which allows one to see things ordinary people cannot!"

"Oh?" Princess Changning was half-skeptical: "What can you see?"

Xie Jinhuan carefully sized up the golden branch and jade leaf before him, preparing to display his sanctity before others.

And the Night Great Succubus, who followed like his shadow, at that moment, with a telepathic connection, whispered in his ear:

"She wears a corset and leggings made of Ice Soul Silk, embroidered with a wine gourd."

Hah?!

Xie Jinhuan's heart froze; he thought inwardly: I asked about the details of the cultivation technique and flaws in the physique! Don't mess with me, sister! Would I dare say this?

But unfortunately, there was no way to speak in this situation, and the Great Succubus had no intention of correcting herself...

———

It is already early March; an early update requests a few monthly passes or two!

It seems I won't stay on the New Book Rankings for many more days...

(End of this chapter)