Chapter 55: Chief Banner Yang, Trouble, Let Me Kiss You?

Originally, the Northern Peacekeeping Office's Peacekeeping Envoy Wan Tong committed suicide in prison; everyone seemed to have expected this.

Yang Hanlu only needed to have her banner officers organize the materials and evidence, compile the charges against the five Wan Tong members, and submit them.

After a whole day, Yang Hanlu was in a daze.

Zou Zhen thought she was exhausted from handling the case these two days and advised:

"Chief Banner Yang, we'll handle wrapping up the case; you should go rest early."

"Alright, what about Young Master Jiang?"

"He might have gone back early after finishing the case; tomorrow I'll go find him, we should have a good drink—this case has kept us busy for days."

"Okay."

Yang Hanlu agreed and left the Southern Peacekeeping Office without looking back, heading home to the south of the city.

By now it was late outside, the passing night market was bustling, but none of it seemed to concern her anymore.

For eight years, since her mother in Dian Prefecture risked her life to help her escape pursuit, her only goal in life has been revenge.

After careful preparation for a long time, she has finally avenged her great grudge.

Aside from relief, Yang Hanlu felt hollow inside, like a walking corpse, as if everything had lost its meaning to continue.

Since joining the Southern Peacekeeping Office, she has been aloof with everyone and never made private friends, partly fearing that a failed revenge would implicate others, and partly because she had made a deal with a demon.

Walking home, Yang Hanlu said to the voice in her mind:

"I'm done; you can have my body, but don't forget your promise: you won't use my body to harm others."

The enchanting voice in her mind replied:

"No need to rush; I can wait until you finish your celebration drink with the little healers from the Azure Medical Hall."

"No need; the longer I linger, the less I want to leave. Besides, I feel guilty toward them—I deceived them."

Yang Hanlu's home is a secluded compound in the southwest corner of Shangyang City; usually untidy and never visited by outsiders, so weeds overgrow the yard, making it look like a haunted house.

But this time upon returning, Yang Hanlu was surprised to find the gate wide open.

At the gate she saw that the weeds had been cleared, the whole compound looked tidied up, and she could even smell a hint of cooking.

Even the demon inside Yang Hanlu let out a sound of doubt:

"Did you go to the wrong place?"

At that moment, Jiang Yunzhou pushed open the door from Yang Hanlu's room and exclaimed in surprise:

"Chief Banner Yang, you've finally returned."

"Young Master Jiang, what is this?"

"Isn't this because we finally caught the culprit? Chief Banner Yang had promised a celebration drink."

"Did you really have to come to my place for that?"

"I thought Chief Banner Yang knew this was his own home—I assumed he was sleeping outdoors—but I looked up the address in the Peacekeeping Office records, couldn't stand the mess, tidied up a bit, and happened to bring food and drink; Chief Banner Yang, let's enjoy them together!"

Yang Hanlu also didn't understand what Jiang Yunzhou was up to, but with a puzzled expression she went inside.

The enchanting voice in her mind chuckled:

"Unsolicited flattery—don't you see? He's into you!"

"Into me?"

"No doubt—otherwise why would he risk helping you solve the case, then rush over alone after to celebrate?"

"I'll reject him; once you have my body, you must not harm him."

"Hey hey hey! Are you stupid for seeking revenge? You actually like him, don't you? Since you're giving me your body, why not go in and have a moment of spring night with him?"

"None of your business!"

Yang Hanlu's room was simply furnished—just a bed, a table, and a cabinet.

But it was clear that Jiang Yunzhou had also cleaned the room, laying out food and drink on the table.

Yang Hanlu asked curiously:

"Young Master Jiang, why just you? What about Lady Zhen?"

"She's too tired and went to rest."

"Zou Zhen said you and Lady Zhen...... have an ambiguous relationship?"

"Elder Brother Zou's loudmouth sure isn't for show," Jiang Yunzhou waved his hand and laughed.

"It's fine—I just rescued Lady Zhen, so she's been wanting to pursue me."

As he said this, Jiang Yunzhou furtively glanced under the bed with the corner of his eye, making sure no talisman was being thrown at him.

The enchanting voice in Yang Hanlu's mind scoffed:

"Scumbag talk."

Yang Hanlu raised her wine cup:

"The case is solved, Wan Tong caught—thanks a lot, Young Master Jiang; I'll toast you first."

They raised their cups and drank them dry, but after barely eating, Yang Hanlu deliberately rubbed her temples and stood up:

"Young Master Jiang, it's not that I'm rushing you—I've been working the case for days straight, I'm really exhausted, I want to rest early; how about we gather everyone else tomorrow instead?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yunzhou came to Yang Hanlu's side, supporting her slender waist and shoulders as they walked toward the bed.

"Then Chief Banner Yang, rest early, but I still need to say this: ever since I stepped on Chief Banner Yang at the Azure Medical Hall that day, I've been tossing and turning, my thoughts entwined with him—I've always felt......"

Yang Hanlu furrowed her brows slightly and pressed her hand to Jiang Yunzhou's lips:

"I understand your feelings, Young Master Jiang, but I really have no interest in that—thank you."

Demon: "You're truly straightforward!"

Jiang Yunzhou's eyes showed a hint of dejection, his handsome face gaining a touch of sorrow, his voice slightly choked as he spoke:

"I didn't expect to be rejected so bluntly—Chief Banner Yang, close your eyes and let me kiss you? Let it be my way of burying this unfruitful affection of mine."

Yao Wu: "My goosebumps have all come down."

The two had already sat on the bedside; seeing Jiang Yunzhou's sincere gaze, Yang Hanlu hesitated a little but still nodded.

She closed those almond eyes that no longer held killing intent, thinking it would be fine to give her first and last kiss to Jiang Yunzhou, as an atonement for having deceived them.

But she never expected that Jiang Yunzhou's kiss would land on her forehead; and just as she felt the touch of their lips, Yang Hanlu suddenly felt a pain in her brow.

Even the seductive voice in her mind let out a startled cry.

Only when Yang Hanlu opened her eyes again did she discover that a needle had pierced her brow.

Jiang Yunzhou actually held a needle in his mouth and drove it into Yang Hanlu's brow.

Yang Hanlu instinctively raised her hand to stop it, but found that silver needles had been stuck on both her hands and arms, rendering her unable to move.

"Young Master Jiang! What are you doing?"

The demon in Yang Hanlu's mind reminded her:

"You still don't see it? This brat is definitely trying to force himself on her!"

Upon hearing this, Yang Hanlu lifted her legs to struggle, but as soon as her legs rose, each received a needle, and they went limp again.

Logically, as a seventh-rank martial artist, Yang Hanlu shouldn't be easily bound by these silver needles, but on one hand this ambush was truly unexpected, and on the other, a surge of thick pure yang energy entered through the needles and blocked her meridians.

Unable to move, Yang Hanlu fell straight onto the bed; relying on her own strength to break free would take some time, so she had no choice but to think:

"Help me break free quickly!"

"That needle in the brow pierced me too; after I catch my breath, this brat is too arrogant!"

"I'm only letting you break free; don't hurt him!"

Immediately, a phosphorescent green qi slowly seeped out from all around Yang Hanlu's body, seeming about to lift her up.

Buzz!

But on the bed, golden talismans suddenly flared up like chains, pressing that green qi back into Yang Hanlu's body.

At the same time, Zhen Qing rolled out from under the bed, got up, brushed the dirt off herself, and, not forgetting, kicked Jiang Yunzhou in the leg, saying:

"Who's chasing you?! Next time you spread rumors about me, I'll seal your mouth!"

Jiang Yunzhou also restored his usual teasing expression, raised his hand, and said:

"Eh eh eh, heroine, business first, business first!"

"I didn't expect you to play such a tyrannical, forceful rogue young master so convincingly; you seem quite experienced in life."

Yang Hanlu, still bound to the bed and not yet clear what was happening, said:

"Young Master Jiang, Heroine Zhen, what exactly are the two of you trying to do?"

Jiang Yunzhou turned back, assumed a solemn expression, and said:

"As I said, I came to celebrate Commander Yang's success—both celebrating Commander Yang solving the case and celebrating Commander Yang personally slaying the murderer who framed Qiu Feng back then."