"Chen Xuan! Chen Xuan!" Chen Luo was brought directly to Chen Manor by Wei Yan. The moment he landed, he shouted loudly. Even the servants who had just gone to bed poked their heads out.
Chen Ping asked in confusion, "Young Master, what is this about...?"
"Where's Chen Xuan?"
Chen Ping pointed toward the rear courtyard, and Chen Luo hurriedly dashed that way.
When he entered Chen Xuan's courtyard, it was pitch-black. He did not see that loud Xiao Huan anywhere, and Chen Luo's heart leaped into his throat. Suddenly, a pained groan came from Chen Xuan's bedroom. It was unmistakably Chen Xuan's voice.
Chen Luo's eyes went bloodshot. He kicked the door open and charged inside.
Though there were no lamps lit in the room, the bright moonlight streamed through the window. Chen Luo froze for a moment, then hurriedly turned around.
At that moment, Chen Xuan immediately grabbed a garment from the side and covered her exquisite body. Standing behind the tub, she bent slightly and tried to hide herself, but her tone was sharp and piercing. "Who is it?"
Chen Luo said guiltily, "It's me!"
Chen Luo clearly heard a sigh of relief from behind him. Then Chen Xuan's tone softened considerably. "Why did you come in?"
"I ran into an assassination attempt on the street. I was worried something might have happened to you, so I came to check on you." Chen Luo hurriedly explained.
"You were assassinated?" Chen Xuan's voice rose sharply. A rustling sound followed, and soon she walked up to Chen Luo wearing an outer garment. Concerned, she felt him over from head to toe. "How are you? Are you hurt?"
"No!" At that moment, Chen Luo caught the fragrance emanating from Chen Xuan and took a small step back. "Where's Xiao Huan?"
"That girl wasn't feeling well, so I had her lie down in her own room." Chen Xuan then added, "It's a girl's private matter. Don't ask too much."
Chen Luo nodded. His gaze fell on Chen Xuan, and the scene from earlier flashed through his mind. His face instantly turned crimson. Fortunately, Chen Xuan was blind and could not see it.
Chen Luo asked awkwardly, "Then what were you shouting about earlier? I thought you were in danger."
"I accidentally kicked the tub and cried out because it hurt. Who knew you were outside the door? Don't be so reckless next time!"
"Mm..." Chen Luo had completely run out of things to say when Ji Zhong's voice reached his ears like heavenly music.
Ji Zhong: "Young Master, Great Scholar Wei is still waiting for you in the main hall!"
"Coming, coming..." Chen Luo felt as though he had been granted a pardon. After saying something to Chen Xuan, he hurriedly ran out. As Chen Xuan heard his footsteps gradually fade away, her brows slowly furrowed, as if she were pondering something important...
"Boy, this is Deathly Nether Qi." Wei Yan extended his palm. The wound in the center of his hand had already healed by more than half, but a wound the size of a grain of rice remained. Black qi seeped from it, entangling itself with Wei Yan's Righteous Qi and refusing to retreat.
"Attacks of this kind should only exist in the Nether Land. I never expected them to appear in the Human World. Tell me, who do you think is behind this?"
Chen Luo stared at Wei Yan's wound, his expression solemn. "This junior doesn't know the other party's true identity. I can only work backward and narrow down the likely possibilities."
"This junior is merely a wealthy household in Wan'an County. What ability could I possibly have to offend someone capable of injuring a Great Scholar? After thinking it over, there are only two factions that possess such ability and have a grudge against me."
"The first is the Winged Tiger Clan behind that Tiger Demon. The assassin was a Blood Refining Great Demon, so they are undoubtedly the prime suspects."
"The second is the mysterious force that produced the Literary Heart and traded it to the Tiger Demon. They were able to obtain an unnamed Literary Heart without the imperial court knowing. Their methods must be absolutely extraordinary."
"But no matter which side it is, I think their objective should be to reclaim that Immortal Literary Heart. What I don't understand is, wouldn't today's assassination have exposed their movements?"
Wei Yan smiled faintly. "Killing you was merely an excuse. Their true objective was to draw out Tong Chen, then lure me into taking action and investigate the situation in Wan'an County."
"Startling the snake by beating the grass!" Chen Luo suddenly understood.
Wei Yan reached out and pinched Chen Luo's cheek. "Boy, who did you say was the snake?"
"Ow..."
"Miss, Ma San is dead. A Confucianism disciple was guarding Chen Luo, so this subordinate failed."
At the same time Wei Yan and Chen Luo were speaking, in an ordinary residence in Wan'an County, an Old Woman with an aged face bowed toward a figure completely wrapped in a black robe.
"No matter." A clear female voice came from within the black robe. "He was only an extra piece to begin with. Granny Rong, were you able to find out how many Great Scholars Wenchang Pavilion sent?"
Granny Rong replied, "When Wei Yan took action, this old woman sensed the aura of another Great Scholar hidden and unreleased in the eastern part of the city."
"Another trick of having one in the open and one in the shadows? As expected."
Granny Rong said indignantly, "It's all that Winged Tiger Clan's fault for being more than useless and ruining everything. Otherwise, why would we need to trouble Miss by making her come here personally?"
The black figure merely stretched. Even the broad black robe could not conceal her graceful figure. She let out a light laugh. "I should actually thank them. Otherwise, when would I have had the chance to come out and get some fresh air? Still, I imagine Master won't let them off lightly."
Granny Rong nodded. "Miss is right."
"Sorry for the trouble, Granny Rong. Make the proper preparations. Master's birthday is the day after tomorrow, and I plan to present that recovered Literary Heart as a birthday gift."
Granny Rong performed a proper curtsy. "This old woman understands. I certainly won't disappoint Miss." She then left the room.
The black-robed figure rose to her feet and sighed softly. "I was suffocating to death." She then lowered the hood of her black robe, and a cascade of black hair fell down. A half-face mask still covered her features.
"If I reclaim the Literary Heart, Master will surely be happy..." the black-robed woman murmured inwardly. She then removed the mask as well, and in the bronze mirror on the dressing table appeared a charming, delicate face that could look either sweetly angry or joyfully radiant in an instant.
"Young Master, what shall we do next?" After seeing Wei Yan off, Chen Luo could not conveniently leave again. It was still early, but he really could not sleep. Looking at the anticipation in Ji Zhong's eyes, he sighed. "Go write."
"Young Master is wise." Ji Zhong was beaming. "How many chapters are you planning to update today?"
Having grown familiar with Chen Luo, Ji Zhong had also learned some new vocabulary.
"I'll work hard and finish it today," Chen Luo said. It was not mainly to satisfy Ji Zhong. The assassination had served as a warning to him: he needed to finish The Smiling, Proud Wanderer first and see what kind of Book Spirit it would produce. Perhaps it might improve his ability to protect himself.
"Even if it's Dongfang Bubai or Yue Buqun, I'll accept it. But please, please, don't let it be that weakling Lin Pingzhi!"
A maiden emerging from her bath—what sight under heaven could compare?
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