Chapter 99: Mysterious Seller

Boom—

Boom—

A faint morning bell rang from the Bell and Drum Tower, and gentle autumn rain sprinkled across the courtyard of Lin Fu.

Inside the boudoir where the Eldest Young Lady resided, it was perfectly quiet, save for two sets of breathing rising and falling in turn.

Within the curtains, Lin Wanyi had been studying the Divine Scripture of Martial Arts all night, falling asleep at some unknown hour; only when the morning bell reached her ears did her consciousness slowly return.

Is it already morning...

Time passes so quickly...

Three hundred and sixty lines; I memorized over sixty last night. It doesn't seem difficult after all...

Recalling the "Enlightenment" ability from last night, Lin Wanyi immediately gazed inward at her Qi Mansion.

But alas, upon waking, she had clearly returned to being a mortal; closing her eyes truly meant just closing her eyes.

Realizing it was merely a dream, Lin Wanyi couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed.

After all, that ancestor's perspective of seeing everything was simply too wonderful; if she truly possessed that realm, handling Little Jinhuan would be as easy as playing...

Thinking thus, Lin Wanyi opened her eyes, wanting to see how Xie Jinhuan was doing.

The result was that, upon looking, she saw a stern profile...

Looking further down, she realized she wasn't hugging a quilt, but a man's arm, with her leg draped over him...

"Ah—!"

A scream immediately rang out from between the curtains!

Xie Jinhuan had been studying his own "Joyful Heart Sutra: Alternating Candle Pouring" all night; caught off guard by the scream near his ear, his figure almost instantly sprang up. His left hand grabbed the Great Star Mace, his right hand protected the person beside him, and his cold eyes swept the boudoir, searching for potential enemies:

"What's wrong? What's wrong?!"

?

Lin Wanyi was suddenly pulled behind him for protection; seeing Xie Jinhuan still scanning the empty air, she was clearly stunned for a moment, then clenched a small fist and punched him on the back.

Thump~

After confirming everything in the room was normal, Xie Jinhuan secretly breathed a sigh of relief, turned his head, and looked at the girl with glasses holding the quilt:

"Why did you hit me?"

You tell me?

Lin Wanyi's face flushed red as she clutched her chest, her eyes filled with shame and anger:

"Why are you sleeping in my bed?"

Xie Jinhuan was utterly baffled: "Wasn't it because holding your neck was uncomfortable, so you lay down to memorize the cultivation technique?"

"Wasn't that a dream? And you... you took advantage while I was asleep..."

"Took advantage while I was asleep to do what?"

Xie Jinhuan sat in front of her, turning the tables:

"It was you who fell asleep halfway through memorizing the technique. I didn't want to disturb you. But such a young Miss is so restless while sleeping; you insisted on squeezing over to my side and even talked in your sleep, saying things like 'Oh, little aunt, I'm probably going to get married'..."

(⊙﹏⊙)?!

Lin Wanyi's expression of shame and anger froze. She wasn't clear on what happened after she fell asleep, but upon waking, she was indeed hugging his arm, which made her feel a bit guilty:

"You... don't talk nonsense. How could I be so improper?"

Xie Jinhuan had fabricated some parts, but last night Lin Wanyi had indeed rolled over and hugged his arm herself; he had merely passively enjoyed it. At this moment, he spoke earnestly:

"You have excessive cold qi, while I have abundant yang qi; it's normal to roll over while sleeping. If I wanted to take advantage, I would do so while you were awake; sneaking around while you sleep isn't my style. If you don't believe me, look."

Saying this, he leaned in toward her face.

"Eh?!"

Lin Wanyi was startled and quickly pushed against Xie Jinhuan's chest, her heart beginning to hesitate.

Indeed, Xie Jinhuan acted openly and squarely; why would he need to sneak around to kiss, touch, or hug her...

Thinking of the supreme yang qi she had seen after "Enlightenment"...

Could it be that last night she really hugged him and rubbed against him, and even said all sorts of nonsense in her sleep...

How embarrassing would that be!

Lin Wanyi's inner shame and anger slowly turned into embarrassment, and her eyes began to avert slightly.

Xie Jinhuan had slept quite soundly; seeing that the girl with glasses wasn't causing him trouble, he also secretly breathed a sigh of relief, stood up, hung his weapon at his waist, and asked:

"How is your cultivation technique study going?"

Lin Wanyi realized the fault seemed to be hers; she definitely couldn't get angry now. Stammering, she said:

"I learned very quickly. Um... it was as if aided by a god, feeling just like an ancestor atop a mountain. Do you have that feeling?"

"I do too. It's good that you can learn it. If it's convenient, please contact me about the medicinal herbs today; I'll come over a bit earlier tonight."

"Uh..."

Coming again? Lin Wanyi was clearly a bit nervous, but since she had already started learning, she couldn't give up halfway. After thinking for a moment, she merely said:

"You... don't bring me things anymore. I don't need those."

"Alright, I'll go first."

Xie Jinhuan said no more, leaped out through the window, and vanished from the room.

Hiss~

After confirming Xie Jinhuan had left, Lin Wanyi lowered her head to carefully inspect her clothes, continuing to suspect whether she had talked in her sleep last night.

But alas, she couldn't remember anything at all. After a moment of silence, she quietly took out the peony flower hairpin and examined it in the autumn light.

The hairpin was a masterpiece of craftsmanship; its market price would certainly not be less than a hundred taels of silver. Among jewelry, it was absolutely a luxury item, and its style matched her temperament and appearance very well...

It seems he really put thought into the selection...

I bought a hairpin for the Miss I like; that hardly counts as spending on the critical point...

Eh...

Lin Wanyi felt the hairpin was somewhat hot to the touch, but after hesitating for a long time, she still picked up the mirror, inserted the hairpin, and turned her head left and right to look.

Hearing the footsteps of a maid coming from outside, she was startled, quickly pulled it out, shrank into the quilt, and pretended to sleep...

——

At dawn, the Eastern Market.

After leaving the Lin family, Xie Jinhuan hurried back to Wang Fu.

But by the Chen hour, it was already time to go to work; Seeing Mo Mo, Yang Dabiao, and others had gone to the county government office, while Young Master Zhao De was still missing, looking as if the money he won hadn't been squandered yet.

Xie Jinhuan had intended to go directly to the county government office, but the Wu Zu serving as the gate guard said a servant had run over in the morning to deliver an invitation, stating that the wealthy merchant Yang Sichen of the Eastern Market wished to invite him over for a chat.

Xie Jinhuan had just learned news about Wu Su from Yang Sichen, only to immediately send Wu Su to the afterlife; even if Yang Sichen wasn't very bright, he could guess who the hero was that had crept into the room late at night.

However, Yang Sichen suddenly sending an invitation clearly meant he wasn't looking to settle scores.

Xie Jinhuan guessed that there was news regarding the 'Jiazi Lotus', so where was the mind to handle a case? He ran non-stop to the Eastern Market of the Outer City.

The Eastern Market gathers rare treasures from the four seas; at dawn, the crowd was dense, not lacking in foreign merchants from various countries beyond the passes.

The Yang Medicine Shop is the wholesale distributor for the Central Plains region; it basically does not sell loose goods, and the merchants coming here are no small figures.

When Xie Jinhuan arrived at the medicine shop, he saw that in the side tea hall, Yang Sichen was discussing medicine prices with an old Daoist Priest; two young disciples were standing at the entrance, and from their attire, they should be people from the Taiyin Palace.

Taiyin Palace is located in Shanyin County of Jingzhao Prefecture, hailed as the ancestral court of the Danding Sect; its previous Zhang Sect was True Person Ziyang, while the current Zhang Sect is Lu Wu Zhen.

True Person Ziyang was of extremely high seniority, a figure from the previous dynasty; when the Wu Sect rebellion began, he was already over one hundred and twenty years old. After suffering heavy injuries in battle, he could only pass the title of Danding Sect Zhang Sect to the vigorous True Person Qixia, and passed away a few years later.

And after suppressing the Wu Sect rebellion, True Person Qixia also seemed to have been injured; he rarely appeared in public, until he entered the Life-and-Death Seclusion over ninety years ago and completely disappeared from sight.

Entering the 'Life-and-Death Seclusion' is not passing away; outsiders cannot determine whether the person in seclusion is dead or alive, so one cannot immediately remove the identity and duties of the Ancestral Elder just because they entered.

According to the traditions of the cultivation path, when an Ancestral Elder enters the Life-and-Death Seclusion, it is usually with a sixty-year cycle as the limit.

Therefore, thirty years ago, the spokesperson of the Danding Sect and the Zhang Sect of Mount Zihui were still True Person Qixia.

Only when the sixty-year period had arrived and it was confirmed that True Person Qixia had long since passed away was the position of 'Zhang Sect' taken over by Lu Wu Zhen, the strongest cultivator of the Danding Sect.

As for the Zhang Sect of Mount Zihui, it was first handled by the Eldest Senior Brother, and later passed to the current Nangong Ye.

Nangong Ye is a disciple of True Person Qixia, but in reality, he has never seen True Person Qixia; it was only when he went up the mountain in childhood that the Zhang Sect was still True Person Qixia, so according to the rules, the Eldest Senior Brother accepted him as a disciple on behalf of the master, and he bowed to become a disciple under True Person Qixia.

Xie Jinhuan had heard these stories of the sages since childhood and knew something about them; at this moment, he began to suspect again whether the Ghost Bride might be True Person Qixia in seclusion.

But the Ghost Bride was like a shadow following him; at this moment, she was standing right in front, examining the medicinal materials.

With such a charming and moving demeanor, and such an open and expansive figure, if he said she was the Zhang Sect of the Hehuan Sect, he would believe it; to say she was the previous Zhang Sect of the Danding Sect, isn't that absurd...

Amidst such wild speculations, the old Daoist Priest finished discussing matters and left the medicine shop with his two disciples; Yang Sichen followed behind, sending them off eagerly:

"Please take your time. Yang will prepare the medicinal materials within three days and send them to Taiyin Palace..."

"Master Yang is too polite..."

Xie Jinhuan waited until they had left before approaching, clasping his hands in a bow:

"Master Yang's business is indeed vast; last time, I offended you."

"Eh~ Young Master Xie speaks too formally."

Yang Sichen was a businessman; as long as there was profit to be made, how would he care about those little Jianghu habits? He raised his hand to gesture toward the tea hall:

"Young Master Xie is a dragon and phoenix among men; for you to seek Yang's help on a case is Yang's fortune. That night, we eliminated the demon bandits who harmed the common people; speaking of it, Yang actually accumulated yin virtue, so it should be Yang who thanks you..."

While exchanging pleasantries, Xie Jinhuan sat down in the tea hall; after the servant who served tea and water left, he went straight to the point:

"Master Yang called me over this morning; does the Jiazi Lotus I asked about last time have any leads?"

Yang Sichen sat on the other side of the tea table and poured tea for him personally:

"Young Master Xie has good luck; I asked around casually yesterday and found some leads around Jingzhao Prefecture."

"Oh?"

Xie Jinhuan's expression became serious: "Which senior is willing to part with it?"

Yang Sichen apologized: "Wealth should not be displayed openly; whoever possesses such an immortal herb will surely be coveted. Yang does not even know the seller's identity, only that contact can be made."

Seeing this, Xie Jinhuan could only ask:

"What price has the seller set?"

Yang Sichen pondered for a moment and sighed lightly:

"Hmm... Has Young Master heard of the Reviving Grass?"

Hearing these words, Xie Jinhuan's brows could not help but furrow.

The Reviving Grass is also a rare immortal herb; its effects are simple and clear—warding off plagues and avoiding poison, washing the marrow and forging the bones.

Its medicinal potency is said to be so strong that it can even cure poison curses cast by Master Sikong using his own vital blood, and it can also heal many types of foundation damage.

For example, if he crazily took pills, he could finish with a Reviving Grass liver-protecting tablet and be fully restored...

If discussing medicinal value, the Reviving Grass and the Jiazi Lotus root and stem are about the same, only their effects differ.

But the Jiazi Lotus can be cultivated within the sect, while the Reviving Grass can only be found in the wild; the difference in scarcity between the two is enormous. If one were to calculate it strictly, this deal would be a loss.

Xie Jinhuan currently had nothing; after thinking for a moment, he asked:

"The Reviving Grass is too rare; does the seller only want this?"

Yang Sichen placed the teacup in front of Xie Jinhuan:

"This senior explicitly stated they do not want other treasures; if there is something to discuss, fine; if not, there is no need to contact them."

Xie Jinhuan felt this problem was a bit too big.

If they wanted silver, even if it were a lot, he could find a kind-hearted Daoist friend, pour out his heart, and beg for alms.

And as for something like Resurrection Grass, rarer even than the Sixty-Year Lotus, what difference would there be between him seeking it and seeking the Sixty-Year Lotus directly?

Just as he was pondering this in silence, the Ghost Wife suddenly whispered in his ear:

"Invite them out first, then we'll see. I'll help you strategize then; perhaps we can get it for free."

Invite them out to get it for free...

Xie Jinhuan was very resistant to this proposal.

After all, anyone capable of producing the root or stem of a Sixty-Year Lotus was either an ultra-rank grandmaster or a patriarch of a wealthy family; if he invited them to meet, it would be no surprise if Cao Fo'er or Lu Wu Zhen showed up.

If he had Resurrection Grass, at worst he would be robbed by someone turning on him.

But if he had none on him and still planned to get it for free, wouldn't he be blasted to death by a single finger?

Yet this was the only path available now; after much hesitation, Xie Jinhuan said:

"Master Yang, how about I speak with this senior face-to-face?"

"This..."

Yang Sichen considered it briefly and warned with grave earnestness:

"I, Yang, will also speak plainly: that senior explicitly stated that talks can only proceed if there is Resurrection Grass.

"Young Master Xie is a dragon among men; in the future, you will surely stand at the mountain's peak, but that is only 'in the future.'

"If you invite this senior here now while your hands are empty, I fear..."

Xie Jinhuan knew this matter was tantamount to courting death, but he had no other path, so he replied immediately:

"I have my own judgment; regardless of the outcome of the meeting, it has nothing to do with you, Master Yang."

"Very well. I will send a message shortly; barring any surprises, there will be a reply by tomorrow morning."

(End of this chapter)