[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-roaring-dragon":3,"chapter-the-roaring-dragon-the-roaring-dragon-chapter-70":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Roaring Dragon",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2281926,4463,"Chapter 70: Big Pig Trotter","the-roaring-dragon-chapter-70",70,"\u003Cp>The next day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Golden morning light spilled from the horizon, and the banks of the Chongming River grew noisy with activity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jinhuan strolled down the street atop his little red mare, occasionally catching snippets of idle chatter from passersby:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Xie the Great Hero is truly formidable—just a few days in Danyang, and he’s wiped out every demon and monster…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What great hero? He’s a young hero, barely twenty…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“At this rate, in less than ten years, Wei Wuyi of Daizhou will have to step down and yield his place…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jinhuan had vowed at age three to outwork the locals; all he ever wanted was the day he walked down the street and everyone gazed at him with awe and admiration, ladies swooned at his sight, young ladies refused all others, and Meiqiu ate whatever she found on the road.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This scene now matched his childhood fantasy almost exactly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But thinking of the ghost bride about to emerge, he had no heart for pride, and spent the whole journey pondering where to find the Jiazi Lotus for his elixir, lost in such idle thoughts until he and the bird arrived outside the clinic on Ning’an Street.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meiqiu knew the place well; she leapt from his shoulder and landed on the second-floor window, peering inside:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Gujiji?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Meiqiu?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud-thud-thud…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From upstairs came the sound of a chair being knocked over, followed by hurried footsteps.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then a face of peerless beauty appeared at the window, eyes behind golden spectacles filled with anxiety.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jinhuan sensed Lin Da’s concern, dismounted, and moved to greet her—but Lin Wanyi’s expression darkened further:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You finally remember to come back?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She looked just like a wife furious at her husband for staying out all night!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jinhuan’s smile froze; he spread his hands slightly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I just went for a walk. What’s wrong?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re simply…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud-thud-thud…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The figure vanished from the window; footsteps raced down the corridor and stairs, arriving in the first-floor hall, then stormed over with sleeves rolled up, her chest heaving wildly, dizzying to behold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Xie Jinhuan knew she wasn’t about to fling herself into his arms and sob—he raised his hand quickly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m injured. Public displays like this are inappropriate.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Wanyi rushed up, fists clenched, demanding:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why did you run off yesterday without a word? And even after running off, you didn’t wake me up!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I opened my eyes and found myself in bed, with Dan Wang, Director Zhang, and a crowd gathered at the door, and Linghu Qingmo scolding me like a useless ornament. Do you have any idea how I endured it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jinhuan hadn’t expected Dan Wang to come visit; he apologized:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I healed your injury, saw you sleeping soundly, and didn’t wake you. Didn’t I leave a note? Didn’t you see it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Wanyi’s bosom still heaved, ready to complain—but remembering the “Double-Headed Dragon” plan, she held her tongue and instead grabbed Xie Jinhuan’s sleeve, pulling him toward Wencheng Street:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Go pay your respects to Dan Wang right away and learn the Martial Dao Divine Scripture. The day before yesterday, I passed on your words to Iron Lord; Dan Wang read your ambition poem again and was moved to tears, nearly betrothing you to Princess Changning…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jinhuan blinked: “Did Princess Changning agree?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You and Linghu are already entangled; she treats her like a sister—how could she agree without stealing her away?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Wanyi’s gaze darkened: “You’re disappointed, aren’t you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, I believe in love that grows over time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmph…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Wanyi skipped ahead, tugging his sleeve:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Dan Wang holds you in high regard—he’s been searching everywhere for you. Go see him quickly. Just mention you want to learn the Martial Dao Divine Scripture, and you’ll get it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jinhuan truly wanted the supreme divine art—but even the most powerful scripture couldn’t be mastered in twenty days. He paused, then asked:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Zisu’s medicine may be unreliable, but it’s saved lives in critical moments. How much does a Shenglong Huohu Pill cost?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Wanyi frowned: “Don’t put too much faith in Zisu’s medicine. Tenfold potency doesn’t mean tenfold cost—excluding the priceless Jiazi Lotus root, the remaining ingredients alone cost at least this much.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She raised her left hand, holding up three fingers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jinhuan’s steps slowed; his face darkened further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the spectacled lady, this couldn’t mean three silver taels.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To save thirty thousand taels in twenty-one days meant earning ten thousand taels per week.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if he prostituted himself on a steel wool treadmill, he might not earn a fraction of that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even with the Nine-Nine-Seven system raiding illegal gains at high frequency, he couldn’t find enough wealthy, generous Daoists to supply this much.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And this was just for the ingredients—the Jiazi Lotus itself hadn’t even been counted yet…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is the Jiazi Lotus only found on Zihui Mountain?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Zihui Mountain has some, but only living ones. Uprooting them destroys the sect’s foundation—you’d have to annihilate Zihui Mountain to get it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Lin Wanyi spoke, she studied Xie Jinhuan:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So… you really plan to brew the Shenglong Huohu Pill?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jinhuan didn’t want to brew it—he had no choice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The worst-case scenario of the ghost bride exploding the tomb wasn’t that she’d destroy the Thirty-Two Provinces of Da—she’d blow him to dust.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So before that worst-case happened, he needed enough power to seal the Demon-Subduing Tomb, just in case.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But these matters weren’t for the spectacled lady—he simply said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Cultivation is like rowing upstream—stop, and you fall back. When opportunity arises, you must seize it. Whether you succeed is another matter.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Wanyi didn’t believe the elixir’s claim of “tenfold potency, one pill works”—but since Xie Jinhuan insisted, she replied:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Jiazi Lotus is used only by transcendent cultivators. Naturally fallen roots are priceless treasures. Beyond ancient sects, only the Da Kingdom’s imperial treasury holds any. Without transcendent power, you’ll never obtain it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jinhuan only needed to know where it was—he could find a way. He asked again:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“By the way, we agreed you’d teach me the Divine Scripture in three years. If I deliver it in six or seven days, shouldn’t you give me extra rewards?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Wanyi subtly clutched her small purse, speaking timidly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“W-what do you want?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jinhuan glanced at her lush, plump figure and decided she wouldn’t give him anything:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm… I’ll find the Jiazi Lotus myself. Can you help cover the cost of the other ingredients?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Wanyi clutched her purse, thinking—kiss me, touch me, and now you want me to pay? Do you really think I’m your wife and cultivation partner…?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But since he completed his task so quickly, not giving him some reward would seem ungracious. After hesitation, she replied:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The southern wastelands are full of materials. If you insist on brewing, I’ll have Queyue Mountain Villa search for ingredients there. Herbs are cheaper there, and Queyue can smuggle them in, avoiding taxes, transport fees, and middlemen—saving you at least twenty percent.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Twenty percent off meant saving six thousand taels. Xie Jinhuan nodded:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fine, it’s settled. I’ll try to gather the deposit soon.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I advise you not to go through with this—you might spend a fortune and end up poisoned, then blame me for not warning you…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hehe…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two walked side by side, leading their horses, chatting aimlessly, and unknowingly turned into a side street, arriving at the mouth of Qingquan Alley.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Wanyi had planned to head straight to the Wang Mansion, but Xie Jinhuan’s ears twitched—he heard a soft “shasha~” from his courtyard, as if someone was sweeping.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only person who’d clean his courtyard was the kind, beautiful, foolish MoMo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jinhuan turned toward the alley’s depths and saw a coal-red steed tied outside the Yang household, where Yang Dabiao was hanging his satchel and saber from the saddle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang’s wife held a one-year-old girl, eyes full of reluctance as she nagged:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Be good when you’re away. If I hear you’ve been chasing after other women, I’ll take the girl and remarry…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Stop nagging. I’m on official business—do you think I’m going to socialize?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What official business could the government office possibly have? Really… Hey! Young Master Xie’s back.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Dabiao turned quickly, spotting them at the alley’s mouth, and slapped his thigh:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh! Jinhuan? You’re finally back…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same moment, movement came from inside the house.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huh~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Linghu Qingmo, dressed in a snow-white gown, swept up onto the wall with her broom, peering anxiously toward the alley mouth—then sighed in relief, scolding:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I told you not to wander off. Who let you sneak out? Do you know how many people the government office sent to find you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her eyes brimmed with worry and care.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jinhuan handed the reins to Lin Wanyi and walked into the alley:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I meant to visit Zihui Mountain, but climbing those peaks was too much for my body—I came back. I won’t overdo it next time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Linghu Qingmo, relieved to see he was unharmed, quietly exhaled. Seeing the “main wife” standing at the alley mouth, she didn’t dare approach to check his condition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jinhuan stepped closer, noticing Yang Dabiao’s attire, and frowned slightly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Yang, are you preparing for a long journey?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sigh, don’t mention it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Dabiao waved his hand, his eyes full of distress:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Fengshihua  case is solved, but the three skeletons unearthed by the Li family haven’t been traced yet. Master Taishu Dan probably hadn’t arrived in Danyang half a year ago—these people were likely killed by other demonic cultists of the Mingshenjiao .\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You should know about the ‘Mummified Corpses Case’ in the capital this year—seventeen people died from the Soul-Seizing Demon Art, and the circumstances are nearly identical to those three skeletons. The higher-ups suspect a connection between the skeletons and the mummified corpses case, and ordered me to go investigate. I expect to be back in four or five days.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Xie Jin heard they were returning to the capital, his spirits lifted instantly, and he declared solemnly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I was involved in every stage of the Taishu Dan case and know it well—I’d like to accompany Brother Yang on this journey...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before he finished speaking, a sharp female voice rang out from the courtyard wall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Linghu Qingmo, seeing Xie Jin’s old habit of rushing headlong into demonic threats flare up again, refused outright and leapt down from the wall:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’re running off again? You’re injured—you should be resting properly at the Dan Hospital. What good would it do to follow him to the capital?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jin’s presence on the trip to the capital would be extremely useful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wild monsters in Danyang have already been cleared out; they won’t respawn for a long time. He only had twenty days—he couldn’t just sit at home waiting for demons to come knock on his door with silver in hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The capital brims with wonders from all four corners of the land—he’d surely find a Jiazi Lotus there, and making money would be far faster than in Danyang. If he didn’t go now, once he recovered, he couldn’t just go rob Old Man Li.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"All feasts must come to an end. I grew up in the capital, and now that the case is done, I want to return home early. Besides, Brother Yang can look after me a bit.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Linghu Qingmo heard “all feasts must come to an end,” her heart trembled slightly; she glanced toward the courtyard, still being swept:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You... you mean you’re leaving Danyang and won’t come back? You’ve only lived in your rented house for a few days...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jin had no relatives in the capital—he was going purely to make money and kill. Seeing Qingmo suddenly look downcast, he replied:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How could I not come back? I’m just going with Brother Yang to take a look. Once he finishes his business, I’ll return with him.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Linghu Qingmo finally breathed a quiet sigh of relief:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’re injured—how can that rough old man take care of you? Hmm... first go see the Dan King. See if the Prince will let you go.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Wanyi also came forward: \"Yes, go check with the Wang Fu first. I’ll help you pack your room.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Alright...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2034,"2026-06-20T01:38:11.747Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","d21715f4b2bdb9e952106c78e06e60a4dd01d43d6202ef2bdf57b1e56eae35bd","the-roaring-dragon-chapter-71","the-roaring-dragon-chapter-69",252,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-roaring-dragon-cover.jpg"]