Master Tao's expression was grave.
He looked at the unusually excited Jiang Wang, nodded, and said, "The problem is very serious."
Jiang Wang grabbed him and said, "Then hurry up and take a look!"
Master Tao said heavily, "My young friend, your problem is very serious indeed."
"I never expected that strand of Fierce Evil Energy to have developed to such a degree. It seems I must risk my life to save you. This is the greatest challenge I have encountered in all my life, but as long as you cooperate earnestly, I still have a sixty percent chance of success."
Jiang Wang: "..."
He had intended to ask Master Tao for help with the issue of the Mirage draining his lifespan, but it was now obvious that Xiaoyu's problem was more serious.
In any case, he was not on the verge of death yet. What if he managed to step onto the path of cultivation within the years he had left?
As long as his lifespan was long enough, he would not need to fear it being drained.
Before the Mirage appeared, Kutan's most renowned Divine Doctor had declared that Jiang Wang would not live past twenty-four.
Yet after that old man at the teahouse accidentally awakened the Mirage's greater power, Jiang Wang had clearly felt his physical condition improve somewhat.
He had been able to run all the way to West City Alley and bring Master Tao back. That was something he could never have done before; he likely would have dropped dead from exhaustion before even leaving Qixia Street.
Jiang Wang guessed that perhaps the Mirage, after draining so much lifespan, had begun feeding it back to him now?
If he truly wanted to unravel the Mirage's secrets, placing his hopes on Master Tao was fundamentally unreliable.
It was only because Master Tao always managed to draw some sort of connection in his words that Jiang Wang found it difficult to completely ignore him.
"As long as you can take good care of Xiaoyu, I'll cooperate. Otherwise, forget it."
This was also a chance to verify whether Master Tao truly had any skill.
But Master Tao had a headache.
No matter how he looked at it, Xiaoyu did not seem to have the slightest problem.
Perhaps he could just fool them?
He nodded and said, "Fine, then I'll take a look."
Master Tao put on a show of examining Xiaoyu, muttering under his breath all the while.
Before long, Xiaoyu had grown sleepy from his chanting.
Seeing this, Master Tao smiled faintly, took out a talisman, and slapped it onto Xiaoyu's back. "The problem has been resolved. The girl will be a little weak, but she'll be fine after some sleep."
Jiang Wang was deeply suspicious.
That solved it?
Who was he trying to fool?
Just as he was about to question Master Tao, the talisman on Xiaoyu's back suddenly turned to ashes. Her head drooped, and she fell asleep on the table.
"My young friend, now it is your turn."
Jiang Wang hesitated.
Then he suddenly heard hurried footsteps outside.
Since the Old Butler was absent and the remaining people of the manor were all here, Miss Shu ran straight inside.
She panted heavily.
Behind her was Hun City's foremost Divine Constable, leading a group of yamen runners.
Because of the incident on Pinglan Street, the people from Garrison Headquarters had arrived a step too late. They happened to encounter the flustered Miss Shu, and after learning what had happened, followed her to the Marquis Manor.
But Hun City's foremost Divine Constable was actually rather embarrassed.
After all, he found it difficult to believe that the Young Marquis of Xunyang Marquis Manor was a Monster.
Yet Miss Shu's status was indeed noble, so he did not dare neglect the matter.
Miss Shu believed she had found the truth. She also guessed that Jiang Wang and Master Tao, both Monsters, were about to make their move. To save Hun City, she needed help, and Garrison Headquarters was unquestionably the best choice at present.
"Young Marquis, Master Tao." Hun City's foremost Divine Constable cupped his hands to the two in greeting. If someone had to be offended, Master Tao was clearly the more suitable target, but Master Tao had saved the Garrison Commander's life. He truly did not know how to begin.
He could only look toward Miss Shu.
He understood his current predicament very well.
"Constable Zhou, what is the meaning of mobilizing such a large force?"
Shan Qiyu strode forward.
Constable Zhou pulled him aside.
Before long, Shan Qiyu glared furiously at Miss Shu. "Miss, do you understand the saying that disaster comes from an unguarded mouth? What are your intentions, accusing our Young Marquis of being a Monster!"
Miss Shu shouted, "I am not talking nonsense! There is a Monster in that Master Tao's home—I saw it with my own eyes! And that Jiang fellow was conspiring with Master Tao. They must be planning to harm Hun City!"
Jiang Wang had already been baffled upon hearing that he was supposedly a Monster. Then, hearing that there was a Monster in Master Tao's home, he was completely stunned.
Master Tao's expression changed drastically as well.
Constable Zhou was, after all, Hun City's foremost Divine Constable. Though he had not believed Miss Shu's words, he had been observing them all along and immediately noticed that something was wrong with Master Tao's expression.
Could it actually be true?!
Since it concerned Monsters, even if Master Tao was the Garrison Commander's lifesaver, the matter still had to be handled.
"Perhaps we need to go to Master Tao's residence and investigate."
Constable Zhou was extremely decisive. He immediately cupped his hands toward Master Tao and said, "If this is a misunderstanding, Garrison Headquarters will certainly apologize to you, Master Tao, and make it widely known throughout Hun City. Zhou will bear the responsibility. But if the matter of the Monster is true..."
He did not continue.
Master Tao hurriedly explained, "It truly is a misunderstanding! I merely captured a Monster and kept it in my home. I would never, ever harm Hun City!"
Constable Zhou frowned. "I naturally know of Master Tao's skill in drawing talismans and expelling Monsters. But if you captured a Monster, why keep it in your home? There are so many commoners in West City Alley. Should anything happen, Master Tao would not be able to absolve yourself of blame. Though I believe you bear no ill intent, a matter involving Monsters has too many implications. Please forgive Zhou for offending you."
Even with Master Tao's explanation, he still had to make a trip to West City Alley.
As Constable Zhou led Master Tao away, Miss Shu pointed at Jiang Wang. "There's still one here!"
Jiang Wang's face darkened. "Where exactly did you see that I look like a Monster? And I went to West City Alley to ask Master Tao to treat my maid. You were there at the time—what did we say that gave you such an idea?"
What truly gave Miss Shu that idea was, of course, not anything Jiang Wang and Master Tao had said. It was simply that once she had formed a preconceived notion, everything looked suspicious. Besides, she really had discovered a Monster.
Looking at Xiaoyu sleeping facedown on the table, then at the one-armed Zhao Si, she felt their threat was low. But if they were all Monsters, then staying here was extremely dangerous.
Just as she was about to run, Shan Qiyu blocked the doorway.
Miss Shu once again felt that she had been too rash.
She looked at Jiang Wang pitifully. "Don't eat me..."
Jiang Wang rubbed his forehead and sighed. "I'm not hungry. I can't eat."
Miss Shu burst into tears with a wail.
He was not hungry now, but once he got hungry, would he not still eat her?
Her crying woke Xiaoyu.
The first thing Xiaoyu did upon waking was stuff several more mouthfuls of rice into her mouth.
"Master Tao, that fraud!" Jiang Wang said furiously. "He hid a Monster in his home. He must be up to no good!"
Xiaoyu let out a full belch and said weakly, "I ate a little too much."
Jiang Wang hurried forward with great concern. "Xiaoyu, it's all my fault. I shouldn't have rubbed your head. Don't worry—I'll sell the pot and break the iron if I have to, but I'll cure you."
Xiaoyu froze for a moment, then suddenly said with delight, "When Young Master touched my head, was it like the storytellers describe—an immortal caressing one's crown? I felt a warm current, as though it were nourishing my body. Then I became very hungry. After eating my fill just now, I felt strength flooding every inch of my body!"
Shan Qiyu frowned. "Xiaoyu has indeed entered the second realm of martial warriors. That should have been Marrow Cleansing, but without proper guidance, it is very difficult to accomplish."
He looked at Jiang Wang.
He was utterly shocked.
According to Xiaoyu, she had broken through merely because the Young Marquis touched her head. But how could that be possible?
Jiang Wang was utterly confused at the moment.
What did that mean?
Had the Mirage's power helped Xiaoyu cleanse her marrow?
Thinking of how Xiaoyu had only just broken through to the second realm of martial warriors, yet had earlier swung a sword with power comparable to the third realm, Jiang Wang now had proof that Xiaoyu truly was a martial arts prodigy.
He realized he had misunderstood.
But he still found it difficult to imagine that the Mirage could have such an effect?!
He immediately stepped forward, rubbed Xiaoyu's head again, and pinched her cheeks.
"Do you feel anything?"
Xiaoyu shook her head.
Jiang Wang sighed regretfully.
But he soon became happy again.
He figured that the Mirage's power had probably not dissipated at the time, while now he himself was merely a piece of useless firewood.
As long as he slowly figured out the trick, or waited until the next time he was in mortal danger, he could rub the head of every member of the Black Flame Army. He might even raise their strength to the Grandmaster realm. Would he not then be able to swagger sideways through Kutan?
He was getting a little carried away.
Jiang Wang very much wanted to have Shan Qiyu give him a slash directly, but knowing full well the Black Flame Army's loyalty to Xunyang Marquis Manor, he knew that even if Shan Qiyu were beaten to death, he would never do such a thing.
And it would be difficult to explain, too.
Though one who did things himself would have ample food and clothing, Jiang Wang had indeed tried it alone in his room on that silent night before. Had Xiaoyu not been living next door and heard the commotion in time, he likely would have lost his life.
Fortunately, Xiaoyu was easy to fool. The Old Butler had not learned of it, and with the few Golden Elixirs left behind by his father, the Xunyang Marquis, his injuries had been healed as quickly as possible.
The facts proved that trying to take shortcuts would not work.
He looked toward the hesitant Miss Shu, and his eyes lit up.
Since Miss Shu suspected that he was a Monster, she must be hostile toward him. All he needed to do was give her an opportunity, and he believed Miss Shu would definitely attack.
He immediately sent Shan Qiyu to West City Alley to take a look.
Then he looked at Miss Shu and revealed a "friendly" smile.
Miss Shu only felt her scalp go numb, as though a venomous snake had fixed its gaze upon her. Instinctively, she raised her long spear.
Jiang Wang was very satisfied.
I haven't even done anything, and she already wants to attack.
She truly could be taught.
"Miss Shu, I have something to say."
Jiang Wang waved to stop Xiaoyu, who was about to protect her master, then half-dragged and half-pulled Miss Shu outside.
Arriving in the courtyard planted with exotic flowers and strange grasses, Jiang Wang took a deep breath. Deliberately turning his back to Miss Shu, he said in a low voice, "You say I am a Monster..."
"I never thought that after hiding for so long, I would still be discovered by you."
He pointed at the flowerbed before him. "No objections to being buried here, right? I chose this spot especially for you."
Jiang Wang waited eagerly.
He had already said this much.
Why weren't you hurrying up and killing me?!
Before you continue