Chapter 94: Unrest in Death

The two stood side by side on the roof ridge; they had exchanged barely two sentences when the main force of the Golden Tower came charging in full force.

Linghu Qingmo surged to the front, his face pale, rushing toward Xie Jinhuan's body:

"Why are you outside? Are you not injured?"

Xie Jinhuan had just gone to assassinate Han Jingchuan, but this was clearly not something he could say outright:

"I was just wandering the corridor a moment ago, heard some commotion outside, so I came out to check. Who would have thought I'd see someone sneaking around outside my window? Then a fight broke out. It looks like two separate groups, both trying to kill me."

"These scum!"

Linghu Qingmo burned with rage, wishing he could draw his sword and return to whip the corpse:

"If I had known, I would have guarded right beside you. Your injuries aren't healed yet; you should have called for help when you heard the disturbance, not charged up alone again."

"Sigh, I didn't know they were assassins. Things happened as they did; there was no choice..."

Linghu Qingmo was truly terrified that Xie Jinhuan would be harmed by demonic people; he had already made up his mind in his heart: from now on, even when sleeping, he would sleep in Xie Jinhuan's room!

Zhang Huaiyu stood in the crowd, originally intending to interject a few words, but before he could open his mouth, he heard angry curses coming from behind at the Golden Tower:

"This damn Red Scale Guard is utterly lawless! Laifu! Go to the Imperial Bureau and summon eight hundred Imperial Guards to surround the Wangjing Thousand-Household Office. Remember the Wang... No, report my father's title!"

"Young Master, please calm your anger; this matter has not yet been investigated..."

"What is there to investigate? Han Jingchuan, a mere Thousand-Household Commander, wearing night-clothes and carrying a blade, drilling into the Golden Tower. If he wasn't here to assassinate, could he possibly be here to pay New Year's greetings?"

"Uh..."

"I knew it! A tall tree attracts the wind! This Young Master has always hidden my talents and dirtied my reputation, yet I never expected to be targeted..."

"Ah?"

Inside the Golden Tower, it was quite quiet; it seemed the furious Prince Dan's heir had silenced everyone!

Xie Jinhuan knew very well whom he had killed; he had risked his life to fight a quick battle, fearing that if the fight dragged on, the Red Scale Guard's identity would be discovered, making it impossible to draw his blade again.

However, at this very moment, Xie Jinhuan naturally could not be too straightforward; he frowned and walked toward the Golden Tower:

"Red Scale Guard? How is that possible! The person just now was clearly a demonic bandit from the Mingshen Sect; the others remaining even burst out from my room..."

Wei Lu and others rushed out from the Golden Tower, seeing the layers of ghostly shadows and several figures in night-clothes carrying blades; at this moment, they spoke all at once:

"Yes, how could the Red Scale Guard be colluding with the Mingshen Sect?"

"Young Master Xie, rest assured; we saw with our own eyes the demonic bandits surrounding and attacking you. We can testify for Brother Xie."

"Yes, we all joined the fight! The Red Scale Guard did not wear official robes; they wore night-clothes, masked their faces, and forced their way in. They even entered and exited together with demonic bandits. Even if it was a mistaken killing, they brought death upon themselves."

"This cannot be a mistaken killing. Could it be that if the Red Scale Guard attempts an assassination, we are to simply submit and do nothing?"

In the span of a few sentences, everyone returned to the main hall.

All the guests in the building had hidden around the four sides of the main hall; the singing girls and musicians were also so frightened that their faces turned deathly pale.

A huge hole was broken in the Golden Tower's wall; Han Jingchuan, dressed in night-clothes, crashed through several tables and chairs, falling onto the floor. His chest was almost shaken into minced meat, his spine piercing through flesh and skin, blood staining the three feet around him red.

Because his foundation was quite thick, Han Jingchuan had not yet completely lost his breath; his face mask had already been pulled down, revealing blood gushing from his mouth and nose like a spring, his eyes gradually becoming dull.

Zhao De had just been carrying the 'Righteous Gentleman' plaque around, nearly getting crushed to death by the flying-in Han Jingchuan; now, burning with rage, he questioned:

"Han Jingchuan, confess honestly: who sent you to assassinate this Young Master?!"

Han Jingchuan was clearly unable to respond anymore.

Yang Dabiao and others formed a human wall to guard beside Zhao De; although they were on high alert around them as if facing a great enemy, they also understood in their hearts that no matter who the Red Scale Guard was ordered by, they could not possibly be here to kill the Young Master.

After all, the Prince Dan's heir belonged to the standard category of 'low value, high risk'; killing him would shake the entire court and empire, but the effect would merely be helping Prince Dan bypass the ancestral law of 'establishing the eldest and the legitimate heir' to replace him with a more reliable son.

One might guess that even Prince Dan himself would feel 'both joy and sorrow'; what could the mastermind behind the scenes possibly gain?

However, even if the possibility was extremely small, the guard duty still had to be performed; several Wu Zu surrounded the Prince Dan's heir in the middle, forbidding anyone from approaching.

Xie Jinhuan quickly arrived at the main hall; after confirming no children had been accidentally injured, he squatted beside Han Jingchuan, slightly examining the injuries—hitting the center of the chest and smashing the chest cavity and spine; such injuries were beyond even a god's ability to save, and he would not live past one minute...

Discovering death was certain, Xie Jinhuan felt quite gratified.

However, with so many eyes around, he could not say anything too harsh; he merely looked at Han Jingchuan's eyes and asked:

"Thousand-Household Commander Han, I am Xie Jinhuan. Why were you hiding in my room just now?

"If you were ambushing demonic bandits, and I accidentally injured my lord, please speak plainly.

"I, Xie Jinhuan, dare to act and dare to take responsibility; I will absolutely not evade the imperial court's pursuit..."

"Heh..."

Upon hearing the words, Han Jingchuan's dull eyes actually regained a bit of light; he stared fiercely at the white-robed man just inches away, attempting to say something, but with his chest pulverized, even breathing was a luxury.

Thinking that his ambush had failed, that he had blocked a wave of assassinations for Xie Jinhuan, only to be tricked to death by Xie Jinhuan, Han Jingchuan could be said to have eyes bulging with rage!

But the return of vitality lasted only an instant; his eyes became completely dull, and his breath stopped entirely.

Xie Jinhuan had been staring at Han Jingchuan's eyes; his words were upright, but his gaze was like that of a god stepping on an ant beneath his foot. Only when Han Jingchuan's eyes completely lost their light amidst boundless unwillingness and resentment did he withdraw his gaze, stand up, and ask:

"Young Master, what shall we do now?"

Everyone present saw the emotion in Han Jingchuan's eyes, 'wishing to tear his flesh and eat him alive'; the Prince Dan's heir spoke coldly:

"Dressed like this and sneaking into your room, could it possibly be an ambush on demonic bandits?

"If they dare to kill this Young Master's friend today, will they dare to kill this Young Master tomorrow?

"Truly lawless... Laifu, prepare the carriage; I shall go to the palace immediately to present a memorial to the Emperor!"

"Yes..."

Laifu hurriedly ran down to make arrangements!

Xie Jinhuan knew that since Han Jingchuan had come to deliver himself, he bore no risk whatsoever; he said nothing more, stood up, and joined everyone in checking the other corpses.

Lin Wanyi had not been able to rush out just now; only now did she hold the Zhenglun Sword, quietly approaching, and asked in a low voice:

"Xie Jinhuan, are you alright?"

"It's nothing."

Xie Jinhuan tried to take the sword back, but Lin Da the beauty hadn't let go yet!

Lin Wanyi had been pondering the meaning for a long time and could no longer hold back; she glanced left and right, saw everyone was focused on the corpse, leaned in close, her eyes filled with suspicion:

"You giving me the sword means..."

Linghu Qingmo, who was frowning while examining the corpse, twitched an ear at the sound, stood up a bit straighter without making a sound, and secretly eavesdropped.

Xie Jinhuan had just been acting mysterious before, with no specific meaning; now he thought for a moment:

"Just like last time, seeing you had no weapon, I let you hold it for self-defense.

"I felt something was off today; since you and I are close, I feared some evil cultivator might target you, so I wasn't entirely at ease."

That explanation was quite reasonable.

Linghu Qingmo suddenly understood, thinking inwardly: "No wonder... but why not say it outright? Afraid I'd get jealous?"

Lin Wanyi's face turned red; cared for by Xie Jinhuan like this, she bit her lower lip, not knowing what to say, and simply returned the sword to Xie Jinhuan:

"You don't need to worry about me; I know some self-defense skills too. Just be careful yourself..."

Seeing no one was paying attention and the atmosphere had reached this point, Xie Jinhuan raised his hand, gently brushed the hair from beside the glasses-wearing girl's ear, his eyes holding a hesitant longing as if "a day apart feels like three autumns."

?

Lin Wanyi instantly grew nervous, quickly pulled Xie Jinhuan's hand down, glanced sideways, and whispered:

"What are you doing? Miss Linghu is here. It's getting late; I should be going back. You..."

Xie Jinhuan understood the meaning, smiled brightly:

"It's too chaotic here; you go back first. Once I finish my business, I'll come to Lin Fu to pay my respects."

Pay my respects...

Don't you dare use the main gate, or if I see you, I'll jump into Luohe and still won't be able to clear my name...

Lin Wanyi pressed her lips together, dared not say more, bowed politely like a proper young lady to take her leave, then turned and departed.

Qinwen had been playing with Meiqiu the whole time; only now, still reluctant to part, did she follow and leave.

"Gugu~"

Meiqiu politely shook her head and swayed her body to bid farewell...

(End of this chapter)