Chapter 99: The Mysterious Seller

Thud—

Thud—

A distant morning bell rang from the Bell and Drum Tower, while a gentle autumn rain fell over the Lin family courtyard.

Inside the young mistress’s chamber, all was silent, save for two alternating breaths.

Behind the curtains, Lin Wanyi had studied the martial divine scripture all night, unaware when she fell asleep—until the bell’s chime stirred her consciousness back to awareness.

It’s already morning…

Time flies so fast…

Three hundred and sixty lines—I memorized over sixty last night; it doesn’t seem so hard…

Remembering last night’s “Enlightenment” ability, Lin Wanyi immediately turned her spiritual sense inward to her dantian.

But sadly, upon waking, she was clearly back to being an ordinary mortal—close her eyes, and she truly just closed them.

Realizing it had all been a dream, Lin Wanyi felt a pang of disappointment.

After all, that ancestral perspective of seeing through all things had been so exquisite—if she truly possessed such a realm, handling Xie Jinhuan would be as easy as playing a game…

Thinking this, Lin Wanyi opened her eyes to check on Xie Jinhuan’s condition.

What met her gaze was a stern profile…

Only then did she realize she wasn’t hugging a quilt—she was clinging to a man’s arm, her leg draped over him.

“Ah—!”

A scream pierced the curtains!

Xie Jinhuan had spent the entire night studying his “Joyful Heart Scripture: Alternating Candle Pouring,” and was jolted awake by the sudden shriek beside his ear—his body shot upright in an instant, left hand gripping the Heavenly Gang Mace, right hand shielding the person beside him, his icy gaze sweeping the chamber for hidden enemies:

“What’s wrong? What’s wrong?!”

?

Lin Wanyi was abruptly pulled behind him for protection; seeing Xie Jinhuan still scanning the empty air for threats, she froze, then clenched her tiny fist and punched him lightly on the back.

Thud~

Xie Jinhuan confirmed the room was perfectly normal, then exhaled softly and turned to face the glasses-wearing girl clutching the quilt:

“Why did you hit me?”

You tell me.

Lin Wanyi’s face flushed crimson as she hugged her chest, eyes blazing with shame and fury:

“Why are you sleeping in my bed?!”

Xie Jinhuan looked baffled: “Didn’t you say your neck hurt lying upright? I just lay down to memorize the scripture.”

“But that was a dream! And you… you took advantage while I was asleep…”

“Took advantage of you how?”

Xie Jinhuan sat upright, turning the tables:

“You fell asleep halfway through memorizing your scripture, and I didn’t dare wake you—then this grown woman, so restless in sleep, kept crawling over to me, hugging my arm, muttering in your sleep: ‘Auntie, I think I’m going to get married…’”

(⊙﹏⊙)?!

Lin Wanyi’s furious expression stiffened—she had no memory of what she’d done while asleep, but waking up with her arms wrapped around his was undeniably true, and guilt crept in:

“You… don’t make things up! How could I ever be so rude?!”

Xie Jinhuan had exaggerated, but last night she had indeed rolled over and clung to his arm—he’d merely passively enjoyed it. Now he spoke earnestly:

“You’re cold-natured, I’m yang-dominant—it’s natural you’d roll over in sleep. If I wanted to take advantage, I’d do it while you were awake, not sneak around while you slept—that’s not my style. Don’t believe me? Look.”

He leaned in toward her face.

“Eh?!”

Lin Wanyi startled and shoved his chest away, her mind wavering.

Yes—Xie Jinhuan acted with integrity; if he wanted to kiss or touch or hold her, he wouldn’t wait until she was asleep…

Thinking of the supreme yang energy she’d seen after “Enlightenment”…

Could it really be that she’d been the one clinging to him last night, mumbling nonsense in her sleep…?

How embarrassing!

Lin Wanyi’s shame slowly turned to awkwardness; her gaze began to flicker away.

Xie Jinhuan had slept soundly; seeing the glasses-wearing girl wasn’t pressing the matter, he relaxed and rose, slinging his weapons onto his waist:

“How’s your scripture coming along?”

Lin Wanyi realized the fault was hers—she couldn’t get angry now. She stammered:

“I learned quickly… almost as if guided by divine aid—I felt like I’d become an ancestral elder atop the mountain peak. Have you ever felt that?”

“I have. Good—you learned it. If it’s convenient, help me arrange the herbs today. I’ll come early tonight.”

“Uh…”

He’s coming again? Lin Wanyi was visibly tense, but since she’d already started, she couldn’t quit now—after a pause, she said:

“You… don’t bring me anything. I don’t need those things.”

“Alright, I’m off.”

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

Phew~

Only after confirming Xie Jinhuan was gone did Lin Wanyi carefully inspect her clothes, still doubting whether she’d spoken in her sleep.

But she remembered nothing. After a moment of silence, she quietly pulled out the peony hairpin and examined it under the autumn light.

The hairpin was exquisitely crafted—its market value surely exceeded a hundred taels of silver, making it a luxury among ornaments, and its design matched her temperament and features perfectly…

Clearly, he’d put real thought into choosing it…

Buying a hairpin for a girl I like isn’t wasting money…

Huh…

Lin Wanyi felt the hairpin was almost burning her fingers, but after long hesitation, she picked up the mirror, inserted it into her hair, and turned her head to admire it.

Hearing maids’ footsteps outside, she panicked and yanked it out, diving back under the covers and feigning sleep…

…

—

Early morning, East Market.

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

But it was already the hour for work—Mo Mo, Yang Dabiao, and others had gone to the county office; Prince Zhao De remained missing, apparently still squandering his winnings.

Xie Jinhuan had planned to go straight to the office, but the Wu Zu guarding the gate told him a young servant had arrived early with a note: Yang Sichen, a wealthy merchant of the East Market, wished to invite him for tea.

Xie Jinhuan had just inquired about Wu Su from Yang Sichen, then promptly dispatched Wu Su—Yang Sichen might be dim-witted, but he could still guess which hero had sneaked into his house at midnight.

Yet Yang Sichen’s sudden invitation clearly wasn’t to settle scores.

Xie Jinhuan suspected news of the Jiazi Lotus had surfaced; he had no patience for investigations and raced straight to the outer city’s East Market.

The East Market gathered rare treasures from all four seas; at dawn, crowds surged, including many foreign merchants from beyond the passes.

Yang’s Herbal Shop was the central wholesaler for the Central Plains, never selling retail—every customer here was someone of consequence.

Xie Jinhuan arrived at the shop and saw Yang Sichen negotiating herb prices with an old Daoist in the side tea hall; two young apprentices stood at the entrance, their attire unmistakably from the Taiyin Palace.

The Taiyin Palace was located in Shanyin County of the Jingzhao Prefecture, hailed as the ancestral seat of the Dan Ding Sect; its former Sect Master was the True Person Ziyang, and the current one was Lu Wu.

True Person Ziyang was of extremely high seniority—a figure from the previous dynasty. When the Witch Cult uprising began, he was already over 120 years old; during the battle, he suffered grievous injuries and passed the Dan Ding Sect’s leadership to the vigorous Qixia True Person, passing away a few years later.

After helping quell the Witch Cult uprising, Qixia True Person also sustained injuries and rarely appeared in public, until ninety years ago he entered a Shengsiguan and vanished completely.

Entering a “ Shengsiguan ” isn’t death—outsiders cannot confirm whether the cultivator inside is alive or dead, so their title and duties cannot be stripped immediately upon entering.

According to cultivation tradition, an elder entering a Shengsiguan typically observes a sixty-year limit.

Thus, thirty years ago, the head of Dan Ding Sect and the master of Zihui Mountain were still Qixia True Person.

Only after the sixty-year term expired and it was confirmed Qixia True Person had long passed did Lu Wu, the strongest cultivator of Dan Ding Sect, assume the title of Sect Master.

The position of Zihui Mountain’s master was first held by the senior disciple, then later passed to the current Nangong Ye.

Nangong Ye was Qixia True Person’s disciple in name only—he’d never met Qixia True Person. When he ascended the mountain as a child, the master was still Qixia True Person, so by tradition, the senior disciple took over as his proxy teacher and formally enrolled him under Qixia True Person’s lineage.

Xie Jinhuan had heard these legends since childhood and understood them well; now he began to wonder—could his ghost bride be the reclusive Qixia True Person?

But his ghost bride, ever-present, stood right beside him, inspecting the herbs.

That alluring, graceful bearing—her figure so open and bold—she might be the Sect Master of Huanhuan Sect, but the idea that she was the former head of Dan Ding Sect? That was absurd…

As he mused thus, the old Daoist finished his business and departed with his two apprentices; Yang Sichen bowed them out warmly:

“Please take your leave slowly—I’ll have the herbs ready within three days and deliver them to the Taiyin Palace…”

“Mr. Yang, you’re too kind…”

…

Xie Jinhuan waited until they were gone, then approached and bowed:

“Mr. Yang, your business is truly vast. I apologize for my earlier rudeness.”

“Ah~ Young Master Xie, you’re being far too formal.”

Yang Sichen was a merchant—so long as profit was involved, he wouldn’t dwell on petty martial grudges. He gestured to the tea hall:

“Young Master Xie is a dragon among men. For you to seek my help in your investigation is my fortune. You eliminated the demon bandits who preyed on the people that very night—I’ve gained merit in the afterlife. I should be thanking you.”

After exchanging pleasantries, Xie Jinhuan sat in the tea hall; once the serving servant left, he cut straight to the point:

“Mr. Yang, why did you summon me this morning? Has there been word on the Jiazi Lotus?”

Yang Sichen sat across the tea table and poured tea himself:

"Young Master Xie is lucky—I asked around yesterday and found a few leads near the Jingzhao Prefecture."

"Oh?"

Xie Jinhuan’s gaze turned serious: "Which elder is willing to part with it?"

Yang Sichen apologized: "Wealth must not be displayed. Whoever possesses such a divine herb will surely draw envy. I don’t know the seller’s identity—only that I can make contact."

Seeing this, Xie Jinhuan could only ask:

"What price did the seller set?"

Yang Sichen paused briefly, then sighed softly:

"Hmm… Have you heard of the Resurrection Herb?"

At this, Xie Jinhuan’s brow furrowed involuntarily.

The Resurrection Herb was also a rare divine herb, its effects simple and clear—dispelling plague, repelling poison, washing the marrow and felling the bones.

Its potency was said to even counteract the death curse inflicted by Master Sikong’s lifeblood, and heal numerous foundational injuries.

For instance, if you went wild taking pills, then swallowed a Resurrection Herb liver pill afterward, you’d return to full health…

In terms of medicinal value, the Resurrection Herb was roughly equal to the Jiazi Lotus root, though their effects differed.

But the Jiazi Lotus could be cultivated within sects, while the Resurrection Herb grew only wild—their scarcity levels differed vastly. If you weighed it strictly, this deal was a loss.

Xie Jinhuan currently had nothing. After thinking it over, he asked:

"The Resurrection Herb is too rare. Does the seller want only that?"

Yang Sichen placed his teacup before Xie Jinhuan:

"The elder made it clear: no Resurrection Herb, no deal. If you have it, we talk. If not, don’t bother contacting him."

Xie Jinhuan felt this demand was too great.

If the seller wanted silver—even vast amounts—he could beg fellow Daoists for donations.

But the Resurrection Herb? Even rarer than the Jiazi Lotus. If he went looking for it, what difference would it make from hunting the Jiazi Lotus directly?

As he pondered this silently, his ghost bride suddenly whispered in his ear:

"First arrange a meeting—I’ll advise you then. Maybe we can score it for free."

Arrange a meeting… and score it for free…

Xie Jinhuan strongly resisted this suggestion.

Anyone who could produce a Jiazi Lotus root was either a top-tier elder or a sect master. If he arranged a meeting, Cao Fuer or Lu Wu showing up wouldn’t be surprising.

If he had the Resurrection Herb, he might just be ambushed and robbed.

But if he had nothing—and planned to cheat? He’d be crushed by a single finger.

Yet this was his only lead. After much hesitation, Xie Jinhuan said:

"Yang Squire, shall I meet this elder in person?"

"This…"

Yang Sichen paused, then spoke earnestly:

"Let me be frank—the elder made it clear: only with the Resurrection Herb can we talk.

"Young Master Xie is a dragon among men—you’ll surely ascend to the peaks someday, but that’s still in the 'someday.'

"If you summon him now and arrive empty-handed, I fear…"

Xie Jinhuan knew this was tantamount to suicide—but he had no other path. He replied:

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

"Very well. I’ll send word right away. If all goes as expected, you’ll have an answer by tomorrow morning."

…

(End of Chapter)